Chosen In Him

Introduction

Good morning. I have to worry about an illustration that begins with 30 years ago. But that’s how far it’s going back. Thirty years ago, I was a sophomore at Florida College and sitting in Pharaoh Jenkins’ scheme of redemption class. Some of you may have had Faral Jeenkins for the scheme of redemption. He has a whole book on it. And I remember what I don’t remember a lot of the lectures, but what I do remember about the class was that to get a good grade in the class, you had to go into Pharaoh’s office, and you had to quote, Ephesians chapter 1, verses 3 through 14. That’s a lot of verses. But I believe the reason why Pharaoh had us do that is because of the rich nature of these verses, describe the salvation that is in Jesus.

And I want to read these passages to you this morning. I want to start to say, some preachers and I have discussed this, who the us is in verse 4 and verse 3, who has blessed us. Some would say that in verse 12, it is to those who hoped in Christ at the first. But if that is the case, certainly the blessings that are being talked about extend to the Ephesians and others, like us who have listened to the message of truth, verse 13, and have found our blessings in Christ. But anyway, in verse 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just 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 to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the kind intention of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the beloved. In him, 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, he made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his kind intention, which he purposed in him, with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in heavens and things upon the earth. In him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to his purpose, who works all things after the counsel of his will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of his glory, but in him you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, having also believed, you were sealed in him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession to the praise of his glory.

God chose us in him before the foundation of the world. You might have noticed, as I tried to emphasize in reading these verses, the emphasis that Paul places on being in Christ Jesus or in him. God chose us in him before the foundation of the world. God planned.

He brought about his great salvation. And notice this grace that he extends to us in him is for those who are holy and blameless. Don’t miss that part of it. God chose us in him, he says, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless. But all do not receive the provisions of God’s grace. In John chapter 1, when it speaks of the word becoming flesh and coming into the world, it says, He came to his own, but his own received him not. He made the world, but the world did not know him. And in verse 12 of chapter 1, he says, But as many as received him. Look, if we in him listening to the truth, the gospel of our salvation, we can find ourselves in him.

This passage also is saying, but as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God. Even to those who believe in his name, who were born not of blood. This is not about your heritage, who your parents were, what nation you live in, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh. It’s not simply something that man determines, nor of the will of man, but of God. Individuals who, because of their belief in him, have been given the right to become the children of God, and they are thus born of him. When Paul was writing to the church at Corinth in 2 Corinthians chapter 6, verses 1 and 2. He’s speaking to those who are in him. He’s talking to the saints of God in Corinth.

And he says, we need to work together with him. And he says, in working together with him, and that’s part of that holy and blameless that we read in Ephesians chapter 1. Working together with him, we urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. Not everybody receives the blessings and the benefits of his grace. And even those who are in him must be careful that they do not forfeit those benefits. Now is the accepted time. Now is the day of salvation, he would say to them in verse 2. One more passage, and this is the one that really struck my attention a couple of weeks ago that I’ve not really talked much about. In Hebrews chapter 12, Hebrews chapter 12, 14 and 15.

He’s going to ultimately talk about the godless and immoral man Esau, who sold his birthright, and all of the spiritual provisions attached with that, and then he couldn’t find it again, though he sought it. And he says, don’t be like him. And he says in verses 14 and 15, pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification or the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God. Look, if you come short of it, you don’t have it, and you don’t possess it. And again, he’s writing like Paul was in 2 Corinthians. He is writing to those who are in Christ. Now there are a lot of passages earlier in the book of Hebrews where he warns them about departing in their unbelief from the living God.

And to be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. He warns them about that. And he talks about those who would crucify afresh the Son of God. He talks about those who go on sinning willfully after receiving a knowledge of the truth, Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 26. And he’s already talked about coming short of his rest. In chapter 4, verses 1 through 10, or neglecting so great a salvation, Hebrews 2 and verse 3. And so when we come to, that’s probably why I haven’t emphasized this passage a lot. There’s so much earlier in the book of Hebrews about this, but that when he says, see to it that no one comes short of the grace of God. What a powerful passage. Next time you talk to someone about the false doctrine of what saved always saved, set it up for them, like I just did, about the book of Hebrews being written to believers, and he’s warning them to not come short of the grace of God, that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.

And then he talks about the immoral and godless man Esau that I mentioned. Alright, so that set up what I’m about to say this morning. Are you in him? Because this is high and lofty and exalted as a place to be.

In him. I was going to say this in the sermon I preached on contentment a few weeks ago. What we learned in 2 Corinthians about Paul’s troubles. You remember that lesson? And I had a section in there when I sat down. I hate it when I do this. I sat down and I said, oh man, I wanted to say that. Because when we get discouraged, sometimes we look around and say, well, this is just pretty small. I mean, you got about 120 people here today. And from the way we judge things at times, as Paul warns about in 2 Corinthians, don’t judge things as they appear outwardly. We will do that. There’s greater numbers in other churches, but they don’t believe and practice the truth. But there are even some who, I believe, practice the truth.

They’re greater numbers than us. And so we look at our small little group out here in Decker Prairie compared to a lot of others. And so when we get discouraged and downcast, we think, well, is this really worth the contribution I’m giving to it? Is it really worth all the effort to make the services and to be involved with this group of people? I mean, there’s some people out there that rub me the wrong way. I’d be one of them. And you know, you there are people out there that I struggle to get along with, perhaps, or don’t like a whole lot. Is this really all that significant? It’s interesting that Paul closes 2 Corinthians, and this is what I wanted to point out to you.

Despite all the troubles, remember all the troubles we talked about in regard to Paul’s relationship to the church at Corinth? Despite that, Paul says in verse 9 of chapter 13, we rejoice when we ourselves are weak, but you are strong. This we also pray for. That you be made complete. Verse 11 Finally, brethren, rejoice. Be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you. Do you realize that? You know, you pursue your part. You live in peace, and the God of peace shall be with you. This is the high and lofty and exalted nature of being in him. And then this, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, verse 14. He’s already urged them not to receive the grace of God in vain.

Chapter 6 and verse 1. We quoted that a minute ago. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. How awesome is that.

1. In Him We Find Sin's Solution

We have heaven’s attention. We have the adversaries. Attention. And we are involved in a great spiritual warfare. Which the forces of good and righteousness are destined to win. God chose us in him before the foundation of the world. And I want to make four observations about that quickly this morning about being in him, holy and blameless. Number one, in there, in that place, in that situation, in him. We find sin’s solution. Forgiveness and redemption are in him. So how do I get in him? Romans chapter 6, verses 3 through 5 suggest, as we quoted last night with Sheree, that we are buried with him in baptism. And we rise to walk in newness of life. And just like we’ve been in the likeness of his death, we shall be with him in the likeness of his resurrection.

How did we come into him? We were baptized into him. And that’s why when you start looking at these passages, Ephesians chapter 1 with Romans chapter 6, how can you say baptism isn’t a part of the process? It most definitely is. We are buried with him into his death. Colossians chapter 2. Colossians chapter 2 speaks of how we come into him when it says, having been buried with him, Colossians 2 and verse 12, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with him through faith in the working of God. What Sheree knew last night, and what we all knew when we were baptized into Christ, that when we came up out of the water, God was raising us up spiritually.

We had every confidence in the working of God. It wasn’t about what we were doing. It’s about what God was doing in cleansing us from our sins. Through faith and the working of God who raised him from the dead. You have any question about God’s ability to do that? To cleanse you in this act? No, we believe God has the power to cleanse us spiritually and to make us alive again because he raised Jesus from the dead. That’s awesome power. And he says in verse 13, and when you were, that’s before you were buried with him, when you were dead in your transgressions, you weren’t here yet. You were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive together with him.

Having forgiven us all our transgressions. We’re the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. We believe Jesus Christ is the solution to our problem of sin. We’re the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have clothed yourselves with Christ. And then coming full circle back to Ephesians chapter 1, remember that passage we read at the very end? In him you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, having also believed. You were sealed in him with the Holy Spirit of promise, that text says.

2. In Him Is Life's Purpose

Life’s purpose. So, what’s so different about someone who is in him? Is it about, okay, I was, I am now forgiven, and I was once unforgiven. I am now cleansed, and I was once filthy. I am now saved. I was once lost. I am now redeemed. I was once imprisoned by sin. God washed me, He cleansed me, He saved me. Is that all it is? Oh no, it’s much more than that. Because we are in Him, the way we look at ourselves, the way we look at others, the way we think. All of that changes. I want you to turn over to 2 Corinthians if you’ve already, you might still be there. 2 Corinthians chapter 5 this time. Prior to him urging them not to receive the grace of God in vain, he says in 2 Corinthians 5 verse 14, and this will be an introduction to tonight’s sermon, for the love of Christ controls us.

Having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died. And he died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves. That describes this relationship here. That they should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died and rose again on their behalf. Therefore, from now on, we recognize no man according to the flesh. Doesn’t matter who your parents were, where you grew up, what your heritage is. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yes, Jesus came and inhabited human flesh, yet we know him thus no longer. He ascended. He is no longer in that physical body. That body died upon the cross and he was resurrected. We know him thus no longer. Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature.

The old things passed away. Behold, new things have come. We’re about to see. I am resolved. Things that are higher, things that are nobler. These have allured my sight. In him is life’s purpose. Thoughts of God. He’s included in my life. Because I am in him, I now think thoughts like Philippians chapter 4 and verse 8. I’ve got to pursue thinking about what is true. Because what is true is consistent with a God who is true. I’m going to focus on that. Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever’s decent, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence, and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. You see, we’ve changed. If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature.

The way we look at other people. What do you see when you look at somebody else? An annoyance? Someone who gets under your skin or drives you crazy. When you look at somebody, what do you see?

I see a person that God wants to save. I see a person that God loves. Are you? You mean God loves them. Who doesn’t God love? And it doesn’t matter in regard to the things they’ve done, however heinous that they are. They are the object of God’s love. Oh, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to receive the grace of God, but that’s what God wants for them. That’s what God wants for all of us. And that needs to be behind the nature of all of our relationships and all of our interaction out there in the world with those people. Those people are objects of God’s love. They are souls that need saving. And that’s what Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 9. I’ll tell you what’s changed about us.

We’re not just cleansed and forgiven from past mistakes. The way we view others changes. Paul says, I become all things to all men that I might by all means save some.

To the weak, I became weak. To the strong, I became strong. I do all things for the sake of the gospel that I might become a fellow partaker of it. Everyone who has this hope fixed on him purifies himself just as he is pure. I’m going to pursue moral purity and purity in my thought. Again, those who are in him, who were chosen him before the foundation of the world, that’s not talking about, you know what? I sort of like Steve Brumfield. He’s going to live in around the 2,000 era, and I’m going to select Steve to be in me. That’s not how this works. These people who are now the Decor Prairie Church of Christ, yeah, God chose you before you were ever born. He said, I’m going to choose Amy and I’m going to save her.

That’s not how that works. God chose a particular kind of people. Those who would choose his holiness, who would choose to pursue a life of blamelessness, who would listen to the message of truth and obey the gospel of their salvation. He chose them. And as a result of being in him, I tell you, it’s not just about something I did in the past and God fixed the problem. God is still fixing the problem. He is changing the way we look at ourselves, the way we look at others, and the way that we even look at our world around us as very temporary and hoping for something better. And as challenging as this purpose can be, we need assistance and help. I mean, when we were doing things our own way, that’s what got us into trouble to begin with.

3. In Him We Have Heaven's Aid

The way of man is not in himself. It is not in man that walks to direct his own steps. So now that we are in Christ, God isn’t just shoving us out the door saying, now get out there and make me proud. He’s helping us. He comes to the aid of the tempted, Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 18. He is our high priest. Whoever lives to make intercession for us, just as the Holy Spirit makes intercession with groanings too deep for words. Romans chapter 8 and verse 26. We have members of the Godhead interceding for us. What does that mean exactly? Remember when all those shenanigans were going on with the golden calf down in the camp? That the Israelites, the graven image that they had made.

And God says, Moses, you better get down there. There’s problems in the camp. And God says, just let me obliterate this people. Did God really think he was going to obliterate Israel and start a new nation after Moses? Because that’s what he sort of offered him. Probably God knew that Moses was going to intercede on behalf of the people. But it says he changed God’s mind about that. And I don’t know how all that works. But I know Moses interceded for the people.

4. The Disciple's Hope In Him

And just like he was concerned, he pleaded their case before the throne of God. Our high priest Jesus pleads our case at God’s throne. We have heaven’s aid. And finally, those in him must continually assess the status of our affections for him and for his will. We have hope in him. That’s why we need to examine ourselves to see whether or not we be in the faith. 2 Corinthians 13 and verse 5. And then this passage, I want you to flip over quickly as we conclude this morning in Revelation chapter 3. Revelation chapter 3. Remember that church in Laodicea that had all the problems about being lukewarm. You see, they weren’t really living up to this in Him status. Holy and blameless. They’ve sort of gotten tepid in the pursuit of holiness and blamelessness.

Started taking it for granted, not working really hard, working together with him. And they’ve grown lukewarm. And so Jesus says, you need to be able to assess your spiritual condition. You think you’re healthy spiritually, you’re rich. He said, but you’re not. You’re poor and you’re miserable and you’re blind and you’re naked. And he says, you need to come to the source. There’s assistance from heaven to fix your problem. You need to ask for me, Isaac. Yeah, I don’t know. If you have any problems with your eyes, Jesus Isav is the best. There’s no product on the market better. Because his is for our spiritual eyesight, our spiritual vision. I can give you gold spiritual, of course. My gold refined with fire, that you might become rich and white garments.

I tell you, that’s the garments of cleansing you can find. Isn’t it interesting that he says? And I wanted to talk to you about this verse this morning. If we walk in the light as he is in the light. Remember I quoted earlier, 1 John 3, same book. Everyone who has this hope fixed on him purifies himself just as he is pure. If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, with others who are doing the same. And the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. All sin. There will be struggles along the way. Missteps, shortcomings. Jesus can still cleanse. That’s why we’ve got to buckle down sometimes and say, you know, I’ve not been walking in the direction that I need to.

I’ve been wayward. I’ve not been pursuing this with all the diligence that I should. I’ve languished in my faith. I must walk in the light. And so we pick ourselves up and say, Lord help me to go this direction again, and we keep walking in that light. And the blood will cleanse us. And that’s really what’s going on here in Revelation chapter 3. Right now, things are not well. The shame of your nakedness may be revealed. He says, You buy these things for me so that it may not be revealed. I have to anoint your eyes. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline. But then this be zealous, therefore, and repent. That’s at the heart of all real change. Repent. That’s what that’s what began it all.

When we got ourselves into him, we said, you know, I’m not going to go this direction anymore. That’s awful. Jesus paid a horrible price for my sins. This godly sorrow works repentance. I’m going to go a new direction. I’m going to be in him, a new creation. And sometimes we come back to that very foundation decision, and we need to make that decision again. Repent. The godly sorrow that works repentance. And then he says this. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will dine with him and he with me. And he who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with me on my throne as I overcame and has sat down with my Father on His throne.

And so as I talk about our the disciples’ hope and that hope being in him, we should not stay focused horizontally for very long. We must stay focused on the unseen, upon heaven, and ultimately the Lord’s return. As week after week goes by, I just want to ask you. How much are you thinking about the unseen? Had any thoughts of heaven this week.

Where thoughts of the unseen do not cross our mind.

Conclusion

Because we have sin’s solution and life’s purpose and heaven’s aid, the disciple’s hope needs to be fixed on him. And what you see in all of this, and I’ve used the word, I wanted to refrain from using the word all the way to the end, but I blew it about 20 minutes ago. It is the word relationship. This is the language of relationship. And that’s what we read here. Revelation 3, verse 20. I will dine with you. And you will dine with me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with me on my throne. You think it’s lofty now. We have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, and one day he’s going to invite us to sit down with him on his throne.

You can begin to imagine how awesome that’s going to be. As he sat down when his work was completed with his Father on His throne. You know what’s great about this relationship? This is really great. If only all relationships on earth work like this. You know, relationship involves two people. Imagine that. A relationship involves two people. Perhaps that’s why he gave us this whole husband and wife relationship thing. So we’d understand the difficulties in relationship. But you know what’s interesting about this relationship with God? He’s always perfect. Always. But really, that’s a comforting and assuring thing. God is faithful. Even if we are faithless, Paul says, he remains faithful. Now that doesn’t mean that I can be faithless and God’s going to save me anyway. But if it is our determination that we are going to be faithless, I’ll tell you, God can only be faithful.

And to everyone who is in him.

Every moment of every day that we live, loyal and faithful. Because that is his character. So the issue is not in this relationship, God’s part. God’s part is reliable and sure. And you take that for granted. I know you do, don’t you? We all do. We never say, well, I wonder if God’s going to love me today. I wonder, I wonder if God is going to be faithful to the things he’s promised. I don’t know if he’s really going to do what he said here. We don’t ever do that. We trust in that. That on God’s side of this relationship, he is faithful. He says, you know, hey, lay out of sins, you guys wake up. You buy from me the gold and the I salve.

We’re going to have supper together. It’s going to be awesome. And you’re going to sit down with me at my Father’s throne. We’re going to reign with him, Paul says in 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 11. God is faithful. And here’s the question. What about you? You see, that’s in a relationship, it involves two parts. How are you doing on your end of the deal? God chose us in him before the foundation of the world. That we should be holy and blameless. That doesn’t mean we’ll never sin again. That just means we work to produce the kind of character that is in his image. We strive to put on the things he wants us to put on and to jettison the things that he wants us to put off.

And there are so many passages about that in the New Testament. We need to become His objects, His sacred objects. So that He can dwell in us. And we in Him. God is faithful. Are you? Have you taken the steps that we looked about under point number one in sin solution? Taken the steps? Have you been buried with him?

What an invitation. An invitation to all the spiritual blessings in heavenly places. They’re only found in Christ. If you’re subject to his call, won’t you come while we stand this thing together?