amen and good morning King's cross my name is Clint one of the pastors of this church if it's your first time with us just want to welcome you and thank you for joining us uh even as we continue our study uh this morning as As We Gather and sit under God's word sing his Praises pray to him cry out to him and respond in Fellowship even to one another the Westminster divines begin their shorter longer catechisms with the question what is the chief end of man and the answer man's Chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever again what is man's Chief end what's the whole point and purpose of all of human life of all of humanity indeed all of human history man's Chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever this morning we conclude our series uh on the five Solas those five Latin phrases that summarize the teachings of the Protestant Reformation we've covered these over the last 5 weeks the first one being solos script Torah that the scriptures alone are the final Authority for our faith and practice soless Christus that salvation is In Christ Alone solar gratia that that salvation is by grace alone solid that salvation is by grace alone but through faith alone and then finally so Deo Gloria salvation is for the glory of God Alone indeed all things are for the glory of God Alone Now we consider a solely de of Gloria by diving into one of the most theologically jam-packed and glorious sentences ever written by a human being even any written by a human being inspired by the Holy Spirit Ephesians chapter 1 3 through 14 in its original Greek language is one long run-on sentence as one who has a degree in English I have a really hard time with that but as a Christian who's diving into the lavish Riches of God's grace it is sweet to the soul it's made up of over 200 plus original words 200 words about God's Sovereign Grace to those who are united to Christ by faith John Calvin the reformer said of these verses the mercy of God is nowhere acknowledged in more elevated language the main point this morning if you want to hook kind of to hang your hat on the primary theme every glorious gift of Grace in Christ is given to us for the glory of his name every glorious gift of Grace in Christ is given to us for the glory of his name let's pray one more time and ask for God's help and let's dive into the glories in this text Father God we ask that you would help us even now even now by the power of the spirit help us meditate on the astonishing blessings you have given to us in Christ and by the Holy Spirit help us respond with grateful humility unshakable confidence and passionate praise for your glorious name you are worthy God God you are worthy you are worthy of all glory get your glory and give us your joy by your sweet grace even now in Jesus's glorious name we pray amen first I just want you to see the end goal of all blessings namely so Deo Gloria the Ino of all blessings what why does God give to us any blessings namely for the glory and praise of his name Paul opens up this Rich sentence saying blessed be the God and father of our our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the Heavenly places so he opens up and says I'm about to get into the glories of the gospel and I'm going to unpack the implications of the Gospel later in this epistle but first I just want to say the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has shown us generous favor in Christ by giving us every spiritual blessing is worthy to be blessed worthy to be praised the point of everything is to say God is good the point of all blessings is to say glory be to the name of Christ Christ that's the underlining theme of the text as we go through these verses today we see this as he opens saying blessed be the God and Father our Lord Jesus Christ in verse three you skip down to verse six we see that we're adopted by the father why to the praise of his glorious Grace skip down to verse 12 we find out we're United to Christ so that we are those who are first to Hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory and then in verse 15 we're sealed by the Holy Spirit to make sure we get this Glory inheritance why to the praise of his glory Glory so from the beginning of verse three all the way to 14 the refrain and hook is everything good that you have is to the praise of God's glory and grace now God is worthy of Praise because he's poured out every single spiritual blessing by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone who's currently seated at the father's right hand in the Heavenly places interceding for us that's what we've studied up to this point in this series but understanding all of that means all of it then is ultimately for the glory of God Alone and again this is true of all things not merely our Salvation God is worthy of all the glory now there could be a little bit of a stumbling block in your mind in understanding why God is worthy of Glory at this point that we should address we should not misunderstand God's passion and motivation for his own Glory as a need to get something that he's lacking so God is worthy of all glory it's not as if he's desperate for likes on his Cosmic social media page so he's not saying give me Glory cuz I have need Within Myself to get something from you he's not trying to make up for something that he lacks when he commands us to give him glory now it's sad and and pitiful in the literal sense of the word when people desperate to get attention and Applause and everyday life or when they're obsessed with likes on social media and why is that pitiful meaning why do we show pity for that scenario because it's obvious that they're trying to fill up what is lacking Within by getting praise from other people therefore we sense and feel kind of the the awkwardness because if they were worthy of so much attention they wouldn't be so desperate to get it the desperation itself exposes the insecurity and emptiness this is not the case with God he does not need human beings to bless or praise His name or glorify him because he lacks anything he is simply the best for God to demand glory is for him to demand you fall in line with reality there is no one as beautiful as him there's no one as powerful as him there's no one as pure as him there's no one as righteous as God is there's no one as patient or as just or as perfect as him there's no one as gracious as him as merciful as him as faithful as him there's no one as kind as him as wrathful as him as forgiving as him there's no one as brilliant as him he is him and he's the only one worthy of saying that about he's the only one who could factually say I am him and and make that claim unconditionally and it be true he has no Rivals he has no equals he has no comparison no no competition he has no fear he has no weaknesses he has no deficiencies no external limitations no insecurities no beginning nor end he has no need for anyone or anything else to help him be in a state of perfect bliss from eternity to Eternity he's the one true and holy God who needs and lacks nothing everyone and everything else are flawed imitations of that he demands Glory because he is the most glorious therefore for him to call us to glorify anything else would be him calling us to glorify something less than that which is the most glorious so again he's worthy of Glory because of who he is he's the most glorious even throughout the Old Testament we see titles in the New Testament he's the king of a king of glory of Israel he's the glory of Israel 1st Samuel 15:29 he's the king of glory Psalm 2 48 he's the god of Glory Psalm 29:3 and acts 72 he's the father of Glory Ephesians 1:17 he's glorious and awesome Deuteronomy 28:58 he makes it clear therefore he will not share his glory with Idols Isaiah 428 I am the Lord that is my name my glory I give to no other nor my praise to carved Idols we see God's glorious nature in creation psalm 19 the psalmist says the heavens declare the glory of God the sky above proclaims his handy work we see God's glory in Redemption think about Israel getting delivered out of Exodus Exodus 14:18 the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord when I've gotten Glory over Pharaoh his chariots and his Horsemen then Israel sang about his glory in Psalm 96 the the psalm that inspired the song Jonathan wrote that we sang this morning Psalm 96 verse1 oh sing to the Lord a new song sing to the Lord all the Earth sing to the Lord bless his name tell of his salvation from day to day declare his Glory among the Nations His Marvelous Works among all peoples ascribe to the Lord oh families of the peoples ascribe to the Lord glory and strength ascribe to the Lord Glory do his name bring an offering come into the courts Worship the Lord in splendor of Holiness tremble before him all the Earth he's worthy of all glory we see God's glory in shepherding his people think of Psalm 23 and how much comfort it's brought for how many thousands of years to God's people and the psalmist in Psalm 23 says he restores my soul he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake he Shepherds us we see God's glory and his Covenant faithfulness the psalmist Psalm 575 be exalted oh God above the heavens let your glory be over all the Earth verse 10 for your steadfast Love is Great to the heavens your faithfulness to the clouds be exalted oh God above the heavens let your glory be over all the Earth we see God's glory in being patient with stubborn people Isaiah 48:9 n the Lord says for my name's sake I defer my anger for the sake of my praise I restrain it from you that I may not cut you off behold I've refined you but not as silver I've tried you in the furnace of Affliction for my own sake for my own sake I do it how should my name be profaned my glory I will not give to another we see God's glory in the Cross of Christ even as Grant prayed this morning Humanity's greatest problem is our sin and our sin is revealed and that we r Rob Glory from God the Creator and give it to created things in his place we've all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God but this is the very thing Christ came to seek and save us what from being lost from we know that because literally we we get a view into what he was praying about and what he's thinking about before he goes to Calvary the high Priestly prayer what's he praying about John 17 when Jesus spoke these words he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said father the hour has come glorify your son that he the son may glorify you since you've given him authority over All Flesh to give eternal life to all whom you have given him and this is eternal life that they know you the one true God and Jesus Christ whom you've sent I've glorified you on Earth having accomplished the work you gave me to do and now father glorify me in your presence with the glory I have with you before the world existed and you skip down to verse 20 he actually prays for you he prays for me I do not ask for these only but also for those who will believe in me through their word that they may all be one just as you father are in me and I in you that they may also be in us so that the world may believe you have sent me the glory you have given me I've given to them that they may be one even as we are one I and them you and me that they may become perfectly one so that the world may know that you sent me and love them even as you loved me father I desire that they also whom you've given me may be with me where I am to see my glory that you have given me because you love me before the foundation of the world we see God's glory and forgiveness the psalmist prays help us oh God of our salvation for the glory of your name Deliver Us and atone for our sins for your name's sake we see God's glory alone in the church 1 Peter 2:9 you're a chosen race a royal priesthood a holy nation a people for his own possession why that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of Darkness Into His Marvelous Light and then Peter says keep your conduct therefore among the Gentiles honorable so when they speak against you as evildoers they may see your good deeds and what glorify God on the day of visitation God's glory is what our individual lives are about even small things so Paul says whether you eat or drink do it all for the glory of God the Apostle Paul knows his Bible he knows the chief end of man he knows these verses and hundreds more like them that's why he opens up blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who's blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the Heavenly places the entirety of the Glorious blessings to follow are only available in Christ this phrase in Christ or in the Lord Jesus or in him occurs over 40 times in the book of Ephesians so what that means is then Union to Christ by faith is the seed on which all the Glorious blessings of God rests therefore as we dive into the Mariana Trench of God's grace in Christ what we study should lead us to shout in all of life so Deo Gloria all glory be to Christ Alone deep Dives and Doctrine should lead to doxology or we're doing it wrong so we don't want to just get knowledge to puff up our brains we want to get knowledge of God so that our hearts uh expand in worship and love for God so let's jump in I want to summarize all the Glorious blessings into three categories and I want to look at kind of each person of the Triune godhead getting glory and working in this if you're in Christ then you're chosen by the father for adoption purchased by the son for Cosmic reconciliation and sealed by the spirit for your guaranteed inheritance let's dive into these blessings first chosen by God the Father to be adopted verse four even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him in love he predestined us for adoption to himself as Sons through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will to the praise of his glorious Grace with which he has blessed us in the Beloved so notice a few things first we notice the what the what is God chose us if you're in Christ is because God chose CH you not because you chose him now I believe this election is individual and corporate in other words God chooses people and he chose a people just think about Biblical history God chose Abraham God chose Isaac God chose Jacob God chose Joseph God chose Moses Jesus chose 12 disciples Jesus chose the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus Christ himself clearly taught no one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws him the Apostle John States clearly we love because he first loved us so God chooses individual people but also we see throughout Ephesians God chooses a people again think about the old Covenant he chose Israel out of all other nations Deuteronomy 76 for you are a people holy to the Lord your God the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasure possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the Earth as we just read in 1 Peter 2:9 God chose the church and then notice do you see and pay attention when this choosing happened he said before the foundation of the world okay you know the little Emoji that's got like the like that's what's happening right now okay wait a minute so before anything was set up the Triune godhead had this plan of redemption he had his affection set on people before the world existed chosen in eternity pass we were chosen before Adam and Eve existed and the Apostle Paul says this is not something to be ashamed of or embarassed by 2 Timothy 1:8 he says therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord nor of me is Prisoner but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God who saved us and called us to a holy calling not because of our works but because of his own purpose and Grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus when before the ages began in Christ God chose you before the foundation of the earth Before Time existed now what should this do to us as the people of God it should lead to Humble worship at his knowledge that little emoji experience ought to lead to Psalm 139:16 you saw my unformed substance in your book were written every one of them the days that were formed from me when as yet none there was none of them how precious to me are your thoughts oh God how vast is the sum of them if I could count them with the more than the sand I awake and I'm still with you clearly then if he drafted us on his team by uh before the foundation of the Earth he did it all by Grace he couldn't have picked us based on our performance because we didn't even exist Calvin again says the very time when the election took place proves it to be free for what could we have deserved what Merit did we possess before the world was made we were all lost in Adam and therefore had not God through his own election rescued us from perishing there was nothing to be foreseen he chose us before the foundation of the world but why and what what did he do to be holy and blameless adopted children our God is holy and righteous God he's a god who's so holy he habach 113 says he he can't even look upon sin because of his Holiness one sin disqualifies us from the joys of Heaven's God therefore Sinners have no hope to be in God's presence in the Heavenly places unless God himself acts to make us holy and blameless but the good news of this text is he chose us before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in Christ so that he might present the whole church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing that she might be holy and without blemish like a bride on her wedding day Paul in Colossians 1:22 says it like this he's now reconciled in his body of Flesh by his death in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him or as he says in our text in love he predestined us for adoption to himself as Sons with which he has blessed us in the Beloved but not just to be holy and blameless generally so he doesn't say I'm going to make you a holy and blameless stranger no no no I make you un holy and blameless that you might be my adopted beloved child this sets Christianity apart the holy God is our heavenly father before the foundation of the earth he chose us to be holy and blameless that he might adopt us and have us as his beloved children his sons and daughters that we might have a perfect father we might be those beloved children of this perfect God why ultimately according to the purpose of his will begin at verse six to the praise of his glorious Grace so again there's plenty of things about this that is mind-bending and I'm sure you have some questions I'll address in just a second but you just need to stop and say everything that he's done before the foundation of the earth that now by his grace I'm involved in is all that he might get great praise to his name Calvin warns us saying no Doctrine is more useful provided it be handled in the proper and cautious manner of which Paul gives us an examp example when he presents it as an illustration of the infinite goodness of God and employs it as excitement to gratitude let me give you a few pastoral exhortations in light of these glorious truths that will help common objections and even potential misunderstandings number one if you're a Christian You Must Believe In election now we can have friendly discussions about how Corporate and how individual how God's Sovereign Choice fits together with human responsibility and free agency with the Bible also teaches but we cannot debate election itself it's a beautiful Doctrine taught throughout the pages of scripture I remember the first time I sat in a church and was reading this passage now the guy was preaching on another passage but I was sitting beside my friend looking at these verses and I had been taught growing up that predestination was like a curse word that's what those morons who want to do whatever they want to do believe so they can just justify whatever they want to do so that's how I thought about predestination then I looked down I'm like wait a minute Paul said that word is Paul cursing in the Bible like what is happening and then suddenly I'm like okay wait a minute this is all over the scriptures I got to do something with it so I've been told it's bad the problem is the Bible says it's good so I got to say wait a minute maybe my understanding of it is bad but I have to believe in it and again good faithful Christians can disagree about the details and their finer points and that's fine but we must believe that God is Sovereign secondly understanding election and adoption should lead to Great security so this is not to be arrogant in debate theology understanding this insecurity goes away when the god of the universe is your father we can be like the kid on the playground talking about my father can be beat up your father and if we're in Christ we could say that to the most wicked demon on the planet and it's true when we understand God the father has adopted me through the son by grace alone through faith alone not because of anything I've done then not that ought to bring to US security such that we lay our head on the pillow at night and we sleep super hard because we know our father's in charge that's the whole point is the praise of his glorious Grace So Deo Gloria again not so you can argue so my third pastoral exhortation is understanding election and adoption should lead to Great humility not Pride we are considering some of the great mysteries of an infinite God like he's infinite so our puny little brains cannot fully get around how he can be totally Sovereign and us be morally responsible that's all right he's infinite we're not we're finite if we could get our heads around all of it perfectly that would mean we're equal to him and he has no Rivals so we must trust him again Calvin warns let human presumption restrain itself and in the judging of the succession of events let it bow to the Providence of God the whole point is the praise of his glorious Grace solely day of glory and not so you can arrogantly argue theology so therefore let me warn you if your doctrinal uh doctrinal convictions lead to argumentative Pride you're doing it wrong you're missing the entire Point fourthly understanding election should lead to bold and non-manipulative evangelism knowing our father's in charge means he can save anybody he got me listen if he got me I promise he can get anybody that should be the posture of the one who understands this Doctrine even in Acts chapter 18 when they're planting churches the Lord says to Paul One Night in a vision acts 189 do not be afraid go on speaking and do not be silent for I'm with you and no one will attack you to harm you for I have many in this city who are my people they hadn't become Christians yet God shows up to Paul like don't sweat it keep preaching the gospel I got some people to go get here so this ought to lead to so we're not going to be manipulative we're not going to twist your arm we're not going to try to play with your emotions we're going to preach the gospel knowing our God's grace saves so again in summary if you're United to God's son and you receive all of God's blessings because you're chosen by God in eternity past to be holy and blameless before him you're adopted by God you can call god father and know that you are loved with the very same love that he has Christ for the son all of this is according to his plan the purpose of his will and all of it to the praise of his glorious Grace solely Deo Gloria you are chosen by God the Father to be adopted secondly you are purchased by God the son as we await Cosmic reconciliation you're purchased by God the son as we await Cosmic reconciliation verse 7 in him that is in Christ we have Redemption through his blood the Forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace which he lavished Upon Us in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time to unite all things in him things in heaven and things on earth in Christ beloved you are Redeemed by his blood you have Redemption forgiveness of your trespasses and sins the ones you've confessed the ones you haven't confessed the ones you you know about the ones you don't know about the ones other people know about the ones other people do know about and don't know about in Christ you've been forgiven of all your sins now redemption in the Old Testament even as Pastor Conrad talked to us a few weeks ago was the price paid to red or set free a slave so God purchased Israel's Freedom From Slavery by by parting the Red Sea and delivering them he redeemed them out of that bondage if God chose us to be holy and blameless children before him he had to do something with our great sin problem why well because we're naturally slaves to sin we're in captivity to sin's Reign and rule we need to be delivered we need to be redeemed we need to be bought back Jesus came for us to redeem us to forgive us and to reconcile us that's why the Angels Sing when the shepherds are finding out about Christ's birth and we're going to celebrate it kind of coming up during Christmas season that's why they respond glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace be among those with whom he is pleased we need to be purchased by the one who loves us that we might gain freedom from the penalty power and eventually even the presence of our sin we needed to be made holy and blameless we need some way somebody to pay our sin debt to God praise God Christ did it he purchased us he redeemed us and it cost him his life now as many have said salvation is free but it ain't cheap salvation is free to the recipients Christ had to pay with his life so it's free to you to receive it freely because he paid the bill for you that you might have it for free it's free to us but our Redemption is only possible if Christ the son of God became the sacrificial lamb to shed his blood on Calvary and to atone for our sins but notice did you see the rich language in our text that he's rich with Grace he's loaded with grace that he lived a perfect life life for us earning our seat in the Heavenly places he earned our Resurrection he earned our inheritance and yet shed his blood on the cross to purchase our freedom from slavery he shed his blood on the cross to cast your sins as far as East is from West he shed his blood on the cross that the father might adopt you and call his beloved you his beloved child so God the father chose and adopted us Christ the son paid the bill and purchased us he redeemed us this is the gospel that only God could come up with so that God gets the glory and we get the good it's interesting because this gospel says Glory comes but through suffering this confuses the world like the world is like no I'll take a god of Glory if he shows up and wrecks shop and gives me power but the god of Glory says the way I'm going to reveal my glory is by the humiliation that that the King of Kings the highest of highest would go to the lowest of lowest and suffer and live a common ordinary life never sin on his own and then suffer the most gruesome humiliating death possible and then raised from the dead Glory comes through suffering even in during the Protestant Reformation Martin Luther talked about this he talked about the Theology of Glory versus the Theology of the Cross he wasn't disagreeing with what we're saying about Glory what he was talking about is kind of worldly Glory that people either have a Theology of Glory bigger better powerful stronger but the the glory of God is revealed through the suffering of the Cross so God turns everything upside down greatness has turned upside down power is not about dominating and getting power power is about loving and serving and giving love he turns it all upside down so Luther talks about the Theology of the cross the world the wisdom of this world doesn't understand this this is why Paul says the of the Gospel in 1 Corinthians 1 it's like foolishness to the world it makes no sense the king of glory would suffer and die how can God die that makes no sense to the world unless the holy spirit opens up your heart and mind to understand the gospel that's why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:8 none of the rulers of this age understood this for if they had they would not have crucified the Lord Of Glory again Luther talked about this Theology of the glory in the cross and War warn this makes no sense apart from the work of the spirit but then Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:4 those who don't understand this in their case the God of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God Luther warns us it is not sufficient for anyone and it does not it does him no good to recognize God In His glory and Majesty unless he recognizes him in the humility and shame of the Cross but by the spirit beloved he has illuminated our hearts and Minds to this good news we see the Crown of Glory came on the other side of the Cross we understand that Christ as Hebrews says is the radience and glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature and he upholds the universe by the word of his power after making purification for sins he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high The Mystery of the Old Testament has been revealed in the gospel of Christ and this is why Paul talks about all things be United in him all this is verse 9 second half according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time to unite all things in him things in heaven and things on earth now think about Christ in his Earthly Ministry he began his Earthly Ministry by saying reent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand the time is fulfilled therefore repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand Christ inaugurated the cosmic reconciliation of all things and you and I as those who've been saved by Christ if you're in Christ or even if you come to Christ today we've been caught up in that beautiful story in that meta narrative we've been rescued by the hero of the story therefore our Redemption our forgiveness leads us to G gladly anticipate the great uniting of all things in heaven and on Earth in Christ so we anticipate that Cosmic uniting coming when everything that's broken is made right Paul talks about it in Colossians 1 by him all things were created in heaven on Earth visible and invisible whether Thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things are created through him and for him for his glory that's why it all exists in then verse 20 and through him to reconcile so sin has broken it but through him to reconcile to himself all things whether on Earth or in heaven how Making Peace by the blood of his cross we have the Peace of redemption as those purchased by the blood and so we gladly anticipate this Cosmic reconciliation to come and we see this Theology of the Cross wrapped up in how God gets glory in Philipp Philippians 2: 9-11 that great humiliation text Christ being found in human form humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death even death on a cross therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that's above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on Earth and under the Earth every tongue confess Jesus Christ is Lord why to the glory of God the Father all things for his glory we are reconciled in Christ and we await final reconciliation to the glory of God the father so again in summary if you're United to the son you are redeemed forgiven lavished with Grace illuminated to the purpose of his will and gladly anticipating Cosmic reconciliation chosen by the father for adoption purchased by the son for reconciliation all according to God's plan all because of God's grace all for the praise of his name solely day of Gloria thirdly the Holy Spirit wants in on this party we're sealed by God the spirit as we await our inheritance we are sealed by God the spirit as we await our inheritance so again notice God the father has chosen us for adoption God the son has purchased us for Cosmic reconciliation and now the holy spirit says I want you to understand my role in this celebration this Redemption party verse 11 in him we've obtained an inheritance in Christ having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will now brothers and sisters Even in our text today God's purposes are sometimes mysterious but we can trust them that that they're always good because they will ultimately bring him glory and they'll bring Eternal joy and good to his people like when we get to heaven we're not going to be like Yo God I disagree with how you did that like when we get to Glory it's be like oh that's why you did that now I now that I can see like you see now I get it now now that I understand the way you understand and I see your Holiness and your Justice your mercy and your wrath and how it all comes together in the person work of now I see according to your plan it's perfect you know why I know this is true well Isaiah 4013 asks a a kind of a sarcastic question who has measured the spirit of the Lord or what Man shows him his counsel like God didn't get anybody's advice when he did all this so throughout this text you find out everything's for his Sovereign glory and everything's according to his plan he had no advice in this he didn't need it he's the most brilliant he's the best he's the most pure he's the most right he knows but what's good about and mysterious about his purposes he's let us know enough and he's let us know enough about why and how look at verse 12 so that we who were the first to Hope in Christ might be what to the praise of his glory Sol de o Gloria from beginning to end and in each person of the Triune God where's the spirit at verse 13 in him you also when you heard the word of Truth The Gospel of your salvation and believed in him were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it why to the praise of his glory I can't help but an old think about an old friend's rap lyrics he said I don't catch the spirit I'm all filled up I can't lose them either I'm all sealed up the holy spirit is God's stamp of approval God's signature on you the Holy Spirit deposited dwelling within you is the guarantee you will get the inheritance promised the the holy spirit is the power now that dwells within you to say I'm going to get you the glory and we're going to celebrate forever the very presence of God Christ was God with us the spirit is Christ God within us this is sealed up he's God the spirit by whom we Crow ABA father through Christ Our beloved Lord what a rich blessing of Grace God living US in US his promised Spirit only those who have the Seal of the Holy Spirit can cry out God is my father but brother and sister in the spirit I even want may may God's spirit minister to you even now through his word by the spirit you're reminded and you can say I am adopted I am loved I am chosen in Christ I am Holy and blameless I am redeemed I am purchased I am forgiven I am reconciled I will be adopted finally and fully I'll be reconciled finally and fully I have an inheritance that is mine forever kept in heaven safe for me and I he will get me safe to Glory that's true if you have the Holy Spirit because in Christ you are sealed by the spirit of whom you received the fullness of the spirit when you heard the word of Truth The Gospel and believed in Christ Colossians 1 5-6 the spirit who will keep you safe until you get that inheritance kept in heaven for you 1 Peter 1 4-6 Peter actually prays later specifically for the ministry of the spirit to us in verse 18 and notice what he prays Holy Spirit Paul's praying Holy Spirit help them that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you what are the risks Riches of his glorious inheritance in the Saints it's the Holy Spirit who helps us Behold The Glory of Christ and become more and more like him Paul shows us this ministry of the spirit in 2 Corinthians 3:1 17 now the Lord is the spirit and where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom you're no longer in bondage to sin when you have the spirit you're set free to now see the glories of Christ and he continues verse 18 and we all with unveiled face beh beholding the glory of the Lord are being transformed into the same image from one degree of Glory to another for this comes from the Lord who is the spirit the spirit helps us behold and become like Christ I'm not sure what's happening with the lights but I think the spirit is moving but the Holy Spirit helps us behold and become like Christ listen it is just true whatever you behold is what you become like think about this is just Humanity you look up to your Heroes you imitate them you become like them you pick whack Heroes you're going to become whack you behold Christ by the power of the spirit you're becoming like him from one degree of Glory to another so the spirit says my mission is to show you Jesus to dwell within you fix your eyes on Christ and make you like him from one degree of Glory to another until you get the inheritance and that that prize which is to see him face to face look again what he prays in for the spirit to help us with 18 to 21 so again having the eyes of your hearts enlightened that you may know what is the hope to which he's called you what are the riches of the Glorious inheritance in the Saints and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the Heavenly places far above all Rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named not only this age but in the one to come the spirit lets you know you're raised with Christ and you're seated with him in the Heavenly places even right now in part now fully then that inheritance we await is when our faith becomes sight when we are with him he is our God we are his people that inheritance will be glorious because Christ is our inheritance the most glorious one the one true God so in conclusion in Christ there are astonishing blessings because of God's Sovereign Grace and according to God's Sovereign plan and for the praise of God's Sovereign name if you United to God's son by grace through faith you receive all of his gifts you are chosen by God the Father for adoption you are purchased by God the son as you await Cosmic reconciliation you are sealed by God the spirit as you await your guaranteed inheritance you had declared holy and blameless in Christ you're a beloved Son son or daughter in the beloved one you are redeemed through his blood you're forgiven of all your trespasses you are lavished from the wealth of his grace with wisdom and insight into his Redemptive plan in Christ his will is no longer a mystery to you you wait for the cosmic reconciliation you know is to come with hopeful anticipation you have eternal hope you have confidence that everything will work out for your good and for his glory you heard the gospel of Christ you believe the grace of Christ you're sealed up by the spirit you have a guaranteed inheritance you're going to get that inheritance he will be your God and you'll be with him and his people forever all of these blessings are yours according to his plan all of these blessings are because of his grace all of these blessings are for the praise of his name the five Solas matter because this is what we believe about and from God's word and about what he reveals about salvation that we saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone for the glory of God alone if you mess with any of those other ones you rob him of the glory this is why we care about this Doctrine if we think it's by Grace plus our good works and effort well then he gets some glory and we get some if we understand it's by grace alone through faith nothing I did contributed to this he gets all like my boast is Christ and Christ Alone now here's the great irony and goodness of our God as we give him the glory for it all that's where we get joy like he's rigged the game as we bring glory and honor to the one who made us in His image as we Behold Him and are transformed from one degree of Glory to another that's where we have joy if we try to take the credit the irony is it steals our joy if we steal Glory from the only one who really is worthy of Glory we lose the joy we could have in Christ that's why the five solers matter this is why Doctrine matters this is why it matters what you believe what you believe determines how you live we right things about God then we have right relationship with God we have right love for the people of God we have right love for those who don't know God and we live this life knowing he's taken me to Glory walking by the power of the spirit for the glory of God John Newton famous or inFAMOUS for participating in slave trade and then famous for coming to Faith and fighting against slave trade at the end of his life said my memory is nearly gone but I remember two things that I am a great Sinner and that Christ is a great savior this is what these doctrines teach us we are great Sinners our God is a great savior that multiplies joy in us joy that leads us to Faithfully suffer for Christ come what may but also to go love and serve every tribe tongue and nation and take this good news to all people knowing he can save any and all people people and therefore we cry out with the psalmist in Psalm 115 not to us oh Lord not to us but to your name give glory for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness Christian may this be true in your life individually and King's cross may this be true of our life as a church let's close in prayer