The God Of Peace

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Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,

think on these things.

Those things, which you have both learned and received and heard and seen in me, do,

and the God of peace shall be with you.

This final portion of this section on peace looks at the peace that we can experience with God himself.

In fact, peace with God is foundational to this entire discussion of peace in Philippians chapter 4.

Philippians 4 · chapter mention

Now, the internal peace that we studied in verses 4 through 7,

and the external peace that we studied in verses 2 and 3,

are actually impossible to achieve without first experiencing the peace of God,

and peace with God, that Paul now speaks of in verses 8 and 9.

There really could be some of us that are here today,

and the greatest issue or the greatest search of our life perhaps right now in this season

is that we would be at peace within,

that we would have this inner peace,

that this turmoil that is unrest in our hearts and in our minds,

and we're searching for that,

and we're looking for ways that we can just be at peace within.

Others of us may be looking for peace with others.

Maybe there's a measure of our life where we're looking to be at peace with our spouse,

or we're looking to be at peace with our neighbor or our coworkers,

and we're searching for peace in our lives.

But the whole discussion of internal peace and external peace

is worthless and vain unless we first are at peace with God.

And it's for this reason that Paul addresses this instruction in verses 8 and 9

to believers and not unbelievers.

Look with me at verse number 8.

Finally, brethren, he designates specifically who it is that he's addressing in this moment.

He's addressing Christians as he's done time and time throughout this book,

but it's just another reminder that what I'm about to tell you

is something that's going to apply specifically to those who are already at peace with God.

And the reason for that is because an unbeliever's attempt

at maintaining the life that is described in verses 8 and 9

is merely moralism.

And it in no way can actually bring you true peace with God.

Those who would attempt, apart from a relationship with God through Jesus,

to live in such a way as to be good enough in order to have peace with God

or to be moral enough to have peace with God,

will never actually achieve it.

It's just moralism.

It's ultimately vanity.

The Bible teaches that apart from a relationship with God through Christ,

a person wouldn't even desire to pursue this morality

or this biblically moral life.

Remember 1 Corinthians 2 and verse 14,

Paul wrote that the natural man, the unbeliever, the unsaved man,

does not accept the things of the Spirit of God,

for they are folly to him.

It's not only that an unbeliever does not pursue a biblically moral life,

but they would believe that morality to the extent

that God has instructed us in the Scriptures is actually foolish.

That to go so far as to say that we would live our lives in this way

and that this is what pleases the Lord,

to them is not only something that they're unwilling to pursue,

but they actually think the pursuit of it is foolish.

It's folly to them, he says.

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God

for their folly to him,

and he is not able to understand them

because they're spiritually discerned.

Because there is this spiritual discernment,

in other words, something that comes directly from the Spirit of God,

it's impossible for an unbeliever to fully comprehend

and understand the need for the morality that the Bible teaches.

So Paul's objective here is not to instruct unbelievers to adopt a moral life.

He's instructing believers to live the way that God has told us in his word to live.

Those who have abandoned their moralism

and have trusted Christ alone for the forgiveness of sin

are given the capacity through the Holy Spirit of God

to actually live in faithful obedience,

to actually understand what faithful obedience even is.

Moral goodness does not bring peace with God,

though peace with God does bring moral goodness.

That is meant to be a demonstration of genuine faith and conversion.

So if my desire today is to be at peace with others

and my desire today is to be at peace within,

and I've come to understand that I can't achieve either one of those things

apart from being at peace with God,

how then is peace with God even made possible?

How can we truly be at peace with God?

Of course, there are certain prerequisites

for understanding this possibility of peace,

not the least of which is acknowledging God's existence

and then recognizing that it is his desire in love

to be at peace with you.

Peace with God is not something that the natural man seeks for.

So this whole possibility and design of peace

is not the idea of man.

It's not the search of man looking for God.

It's the idea of God making it possible because of his love

and his desire to be at peace with us.

Both of these truths are assumed in the creation account of Genesis 1 and 2.

The scriptures teach that God created man and woman in complete goodness.

In fact, at the end of creation,

he looked on what he had created just after creating Adam

and he looked on it and he said,

it is very good.

He created it in complete goodness

and his relationship with them

was characterized by perfect peace

and intimate communion.

Adam and Eve disobeyed the Lord

by eating the fruit of the one tree

that God had said,

don't eat of it.

And we read about that in Genesis chapter 3.

Genesis 3 · chapter mention

Now the issue wasn't the fruit itself.

There was no poison in the fruit.

It wasn't that God instructed them to avoid it

because it in and of itself would be harmful to them.

The fruit of this tree was probably just like the fruit

of every other tree in the garden.

The issue wasn't the fruit.

The issue wasn't that they desired the fruit.

The issue was God said,

don't eat of it

and they disobeyed the word of God.

And that is the very definition of sin.

It's doing those things that go against what God has said.

It's not an issue of fruit.

It's an issue of obedience.

And God had warned them

that disobedience would result in death

and man's relationship to his creator

that at one time was characterized by perfect peace

would then be characterized by hostility and alienation.

And that's exactly what happened with the first sin

and it's exactly what has been perpetuated ever since then

in each and every one of our lives.

We are not by nature the friends of God.

We are by nature the enemies of God.

We are by nature in hostility with God.

We are by nature against him

and alienated from him.

And the tragedy is that there was no way

for Adam and Eve to restore that relationship.

There was nothing that Adam and Eve could do

to all of a sudden restore peace

between them and their creator.

No matter how much they wanted it,

there was nothing they could do to restore that peace.

Their only hope was that God in his grace

might intervene with a work of grace

that only he could perform.

And that's what's so amazing about the gospel message.

It's not that we recognize our wickedness

and we seek out a way to get to God.

It's that God recognizes our wickedness

and he has made a plan

and established it before the foundations of the earth

in order that he might restore peace with us

out of his love.

And then everything we read in the Bible

is ultimately about God's plan

to restore this peace,

this peace between himself and mankind,

his creation.

And in order for that reconciliation to take place,

a sacrifice had to be made

that was sufficient enough

to fully satisfy God's wrath against sin.

And this atonement could only be made sufficiently

by one being,

a perfect being that was not tainted by this disobedience.

And it had to be by God himself.

And so all of scripture speaks of this peace

and all of it culminates

as we get to the new covenant in the gospels

and we learn about this man, Jesus.

And we begin to understand exactly who he was,

that he was the only begotten son of God

and that not only was he the only begotten son of God,

but he's that second person of the Trinity.

He is God himself.

And he became that sacrifice that we desperately needed.

And he proved his divine power over the death

that we were destined for by raising from the dead.

Think back to Philippians chapter two.

In fact, your Bibles are probably open to it already.

Look at verse five.

Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Jesus Christ,

who being in the form of God,

thought it not robbery to be equal with God,

but made himself of no reputation

and took upon him the form of a servant

and was made in the likeness of men.

And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

Why?

So that God could have peace with man.

And then what has God done?

Verse 10 or verse nine,

wherefore God has highly exalted him

and has given him a name which is above every name.

What name is that?

Lord.

That at the name of Jesus,

every knee should bow of things in heaven

and of things in earth and of things under the earth

and that every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord.

That is who Jesus is.

That is Jesus's purpose.

He is God's plan to make a sufficient payment for our sin.

The only way to peace with God

is peace through Jesus Christ.

And his purpose in all of this

was the restoration of peace that we could not provide.

And he offers this eternal peace

to anyone who will trust Christ alone for salvation.

And he turns no true believer away.

That's the magnificence of God's love.

And the awesomeness of God's grace

is that anyone who will come to him

believing in Christ for salvation

will receive that salvation.

He turns no person away.

Jesus himself said in John 6, 37,

all that the father gives me will come to me.

And whoever comes to me,

I will in no wise cast out.

I will never cast away.

No person will ever call upon the name of Jesus

and be rejected.

All who come to him will be accepted in love and in grace.

And that's the prerequisite

to what Paul is instructing in verses 8 and 9.

His attention then is given to those

who are already at peace in salvation.

He's not teaching that salvation comes by works,

that if you achieve all the things in verses 8 and 9,

then the God of peace shall be with you.

That's not what he's teaching at all.

He's addressing those who are already at peace.

And he's instructing them to live lives of holiness.

So clearly, the daily benefit then

of experiencing the peace that comes from God

is affected by the way in which we live.

Our judicial standing before God as believers

is secure for all of eternity.

But our daily fellowship with God

can be hindered by sinful behavior.

The peace of God doesn't exist in a vacuum.

It's felt in all its fullness

as we willfully walk in faith and obedience to Christ.

And Paul's purpose here is to instruct and encourage us

on how to continue with that peace.

You say, I'm a Christian.

I know that I've been made at peace with God

through salvation, but I still have this peace,

this lack of inner peace within.

And I still have this lack of peace with others.

And it feels like my life has just contention

and conflict all around.

Could it be that you have not chosen as a believer

to live faithfully to the description of verses 8 and 9?

But rather, even beyond your conversion,

I've chosen to live a life of sinfulness

and a mindset that is not indicative of one

that is pleasing to Christ.

Well, Paul gives us this instruction and encouragement.

And he says, first of all, in verse 8,

that it is a matter of thought.

It's a matter of thought.

Look with me at verse 8.

Finally, brethren, and he goes through this list.

Look at the last phrase.

Think on these things.

There's no less than five different Greek words

used in the New Testament

that are translated in English as think.

The word that Paul uses right here in verse number 8

is actually a mathematical term.

It's logizmi is what it's called.

And it's the same word that we get our English word logarithm.

It means to calculate or to reckon objective facts

in order that we might draw specific conclusions.

In other words, Paul is instructing these believers

to meditate on these truths,

to meditate on these things

in the same way that a mathematician

meditates on an equation

and contemplates an equation.

It's not a passing thought

that kind of rolls around in his head

and then he moves on.

No, it's intense.

It is intentional.

And he focuses in on the problem that's at hand

and he draws specific conclusions

that are based on objective facts,

in his case as a mathematician, numbers.

Paul is saying that believers

are to look at the description in verse 8,

see them as objective facts

that come from the truth of God

and they are to meditate on those things.

And of course, the truth is

that you are what you think.

You are what you think.

The Bible tells us that.

Proverbs chapter 23 and verse 7,

Proverbs 23 · chapter mention

for as he thinketh in his heart,

so is he, Solomon wrote.

Jesus said in Mark chapter 7,

Mark 7 · chapter mention

what comes out of a person

is what defiles him.

For from within, out of the heart of man

come evil thoughts,

sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,

coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality,

envy, slander, pride, foolishness.

All these evil things, Jesus said,

come from within

and they defile a person.

What you are is what you think

and what you think

is influenced by your meditation.

The things that you give your attention to

and your affection to,

these are the things that influence your mind

and they shape your heart.

In other words,

what we allow to be the meditation

of our minds will shape our hearts

and eventually be reflected in our behavior.

And the believer's meditation,

according to Paul in verse 8,

is to be on the things that are acceptable to God,

the good things,

the true things,

as he goes through the list.

And we're reminded of David in Psalm 19

as he wrote,

let the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight.

Oh Lord,

my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 119.97,

the psalmist says there,

oh how I love your law.

It is my meditation

all the day.

So let's look at what Paul wrote

was to be the focus of our thoughts.

He gives us six individual words

and then he gives two summary statements.

Look with me at verse number eight.

Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things are true

is the first thing

that is to bring the focus of our thought.

Truth is something

that many people no longer believe in.

But it's significant

that Paul begins his list with it

because every other item in this list

flows out of truth.

Everything else comes out

of this first dynamic of truth.

If you don't have the focus of truth,

it's not even possible

for you to have the focus

of the other things.

Focus on truth,

Paul says.

Well, what is truth?

Some would say that it's relative,

that it depends on who you are

and the circumstances

in which you find yourself

is what determines truth.

Others would say

truth doesn't actually exist at all,

at least in any absolute sense.

But Christianity understands

and believes truth

to be that which comes

from the perfect character of God,

namely,

his word.

So Paul's instruction here

is an instruction

to meditate

on the Bible.

As again,

the psalmist wrote

in Psalm 119.11,

thy word have I hid in my heart

that I might not what?

Sin against thee.

The pathway to holiness,

the pathway to experiencing

the peace that comes from God

is the pathway of the word of God.

It is to focus on the truth of God.

What is truth?

Truth is God.

Truth is the Bible.

Truth is Jesus.

Truth is the gospel.

Think on these things.

Meditate on them,

Paul says.

Jesus said in John 17

in his high priestly prayer,

sanctify them in truth.

Your word is truth,

he prayed to the Father.

In Psalm 19,

we read,

the law of the Lord

is perfect,

restoring the soul.

The testimony of the Lord

is sure,

making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord

are right,

rejoicing the heart.

The commandment of the Lord

is pure,

enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the Lord

is clean,

enduring forever.

The judgments of the Lord

are true.

They are righteous

all together.

And in Titus chapter one,

Paul wrote to Titus,

a faithful pastor,

in the hope of eternal life,

which God,

who cannot lie,

promised long ago

at the proper time

manifesting even his word

and the proclamation

with which I was entrusted

according to the commandment

of God.

What is truth?

God's word is truth.

The gospel is truth.

Let that be your meditation.

And if you will meditate

on that which is true,

the rest of this list

will naturally fall into place

exactly where it needs to be.

Focus on the truth.

Think on these things,

Paul says.

Then he says,

secondly,

whatsoever things are honest.

The intention of this word

is to communicate

that which is venerable

or honorable.

We're to set our minds

on things that are dignified

and respectable.

There's a certain dignity

and respectability

that is to come along

and be indicated

in the life of a believer.

Because they have set

their focus on the truth,

there is a certain dignity

with which they live their lives.

It's the outflow

of our meditation on truth.

Paul says,

think on these things.

Think on the things

that are honorable.

Thirdly, he says,

whatsoever is just.

This is what is righteous.

Equity.

It means doing the right thing.

And it brings into view

a pursuit of godly wisdom.

And in his grace,

God has given us

entire books of the Bible

dedicated to making us wise.

Proverbs.

Proverbs.

Ecclesiastes.

Job.

The full intention

of those books

is God's way of saying,

this is how to think wisely.

This is how to live

in godly wisdom.

Think on these things,

Paul says.

My dad had a practice

when I was growing up

and still does it to this day

that I've tried to adopt

even as my own personal practice

of reading a chapter

in Proverbs every day.

Every morning,

it's the first part

of my devotions

is to read a chapter

in Proverbs.

Why?

Because it's full

of God's wisdom

and I want to live

in wisdom.

James says we're to pray

for wisdom

and that any that lacks it,

if you pray,

that God will give it

generously to him

and will not abrade him

but will generously

give that wisdom.

Well, God has already

provided the truth

of wisdom in the Bible.

Read the book

of Proverbs.

Read Ecclesiastes

about the vanity

of life

and how to enjoy

and obey the Lord

in the midst

of the chaos

that is life.

Read the book

of Job

and learn about

the goodness

of God

even in the midst

of intense suffering.

Learn to be wise

because it's an overflow

of the truth of God.

Then he says,

whatsoever things

are pure.

This refers to that

which is chaste

and modest

and innocent.

it's the antithesis

of the sensuality

that is pervasive

in our culture.

Then he says,

whatsoever things

are lovely.

These are things

that are acceptable

and pleasing

both morally

and aesthetically.

I think God's intention

is that we set

our minds

on beauty.

One of the ways

that we bear

the image of God

is in beauty,

recognizing the beauty

of creation,

mimicking that beauty

in the way

that we carry ourselves,

in the way

that we approach

our work,

doing things,

setting our minds

on things

that are lovely,

acceptable,

pleasing.

And then the sixth one

he says,

is whatsoever things

are of a good report.

That which is reputable,

spoken well of.

It's the opposite

of conniving

and questionable ethics.

And then we immediately

figure out

that Paul could have

gone on and on and on.

He could have written

an entire book

just listing all the things

that we're to think on.

So he helps us

by giving us

two summary statements

at the end.

What does he say?

If there be any virtue

and if there be any praise,

if there's any moral excellence,

and if there's anything

that's worthy

of commendation,

think on these things.

What does that have to do

with being at peace

with God?

To meditate

on these things

is to exemplify

those qualities

in the way

that we live.

And this holy life

brings the peace

of pure,

intimate communion

with God.

If my meditation

has been taken off

of the sinful distractions

of the world,

and it has been primarily

placed on the truth

of God's word,

the natural result

and overflow

of that

is an intimacy

with God

like you will never

experience in anything else.

And what does intimacy

with communion

with God bring?

Peace despite circumstance.

Peace despite conflict.

Peace in every area

of life,

both inward peace

and external peace.

If sinful thinking

and behavior

is what separated

man from God

in the beginning,

we can't expect

that God would be pleased

to supply us

with his blessed peace

if we follow

after sin

after we're converted.

At some point

along the way,

there is this

antinomianism

that has

pervaded

Christian churches

that says

that once I settle

things as far

as my faith

is concerned,

then I'm

at liberty

to live

however it is

that I want to live.

And they expect

to have God's blessing

on their life

despite living

a life

that is completely

antithetical

to what God

has said

to live

in his word.

And you may be here today

and you've got

this inner conflict.

Maybe you constantly

are doubting

your salvation

and you can't

figure out

why you have

these feelings

of doubt

in your life

and you trace back

well what is it

that I believe

and you believe

all the things

about the gospel.

Maybe the problem

is not your belief.

Maybe the problem

is that your life

has been spent

focused

and meditating

on the things

of this world.

How could you

possibly expect

to sense

the security

and assurance

of your salvation

when your life

is lived

as an enemy

of God?

How could you

possibly expect

to have inner peace

when your life

and the way

that you live

is not indicative

of anything

that God

has told you

to do

and what he

has told you

to be?

Paul emphasized

the positive here

but it is helpful

for us to consider

the negative

the inverse.

Consider reading

it like this

whatsoever

is false

dishonorable

unrighteous

impure

unlovely

without excellence

and unworthy

of praise

do not think

on these things.

You said

Paul's command

calls for a life

of conscious negation

thinking as we

ought to

demands

the discipline

of refusal.

It's impossible

to think purely

when your meditation

is filled

with suggestive material

and pornographic

images.

It's impossible

to think honorably

when our

playlists

are replete

with music

that exalts

drunkenness

and sensuality

and rebellion.

it's impossible

to think

on truth

when our

meditation

is set

on the

perspectives

and strategies

of the ungodly.

The peace

of God

comes through

holiness

and holiness

is first

a matter

of the mind

and the way

that we think.

You say

what do I do?

Whatever you

have to do.

Whatever you

have to do.

Jesus said

in Matthew 5

if thy right

eye offend

thee

pluck it out.

If your right

hand offend

thee

cut it off.

He's speaking

in hyperbole

to reference

the severity

of sinful

behavior.

What must

you do

to set

your meditation

right?

Maybe it means

getting rid

of the TV

for a little

while.

Maybe it means

using the

smart phones

to give us

that indication

that once

we've spent

half an hour

on social media

for the day

we're done.

Do whatever

you have to do

to set your

meditation

on what is right

and to refuse

the things

that will lead

to sin

and complacency.

Cut out

the things

that shape

your heart

and sin

and embrace

wholly

the Bible

prayer

relationships

and media

that shapes

your heart

in righteousness.

So Paul says

it's first

a matter of

thought.

Much more

quickly than that

he says

it's a matter

of practice.

It's a matter

of practice.

Look at verse

nine.

Those things

what things?

The things

in verse

eight that he

just said.

Those things

do

do them

he says.

The descriptions

in verse

eight are not

meant to be

abstract ideas

to consider

but characteristics

to be practiced

in daily living.

Thinking right

is useless

if it isn't

worked out

into practical

behavior.

Not only are we

to refuse

wicked things

but we're

to practice

the good things.

this word

do

is that

very word.

It's the

word for

repetition.

The word

for practice

like an

athlete

who works

hard at

his craft

repetitiously

taking the

shots

repetitiously

doing whatever

he has to do

in order

to be the

best that he

can be

at his

position.

We're to

repetitiously

incorporate

holy living

into our

daily lives

in a pursuit

of being

conformed

to the

image of

Christ.

He says

all these

things in

verse number

eight

practice

them

repetitiously

in your

life

practice

them

yeah

you're

going to

fail

and you're

going to

fall

and there's

going to be

some times

that you

fumble

through

the keys

but just

keep

practicing

and just

keep

practicing

and even

when you

fall

just get

right back

up

and keep

doing it

again

and keep

doing it

again

and what

you'll

find

is that

God

in his

power

and through

the Holy

Spirit

begins to

shape our

hearts in

that way

as we

focus on

those things

so that we

can live

lives of

true holiness

and true

righteousness

that's pleasing

to him

and that

brings his

peace and

communion

and then he

says right

in the middle

of this

those things

which you

have both

learned

and received

and heard

and seen

in me

do

he basically

leaves these

believers without

an excuse

they couldn't

plead ignorance

in this

well we just

didn't know

what we were

supposed to

do

we didn't

know we

were supposed

to live

that way

we didn't

know we

were supposed

to do

those things

they couldn't

possibly plead

ignorance

learned and

received our

references to

instruction

heard and

seen our

references to

example

in other words

the Philippians

had everything

that they needed

in the word

of God

and in the

spiritual leaders

that God

had given

them

and so

do we

Christian you

cannot plead

ignorance in

this

we are more

blessed

than any

Christian

in the history

of the world

to be able to

have such

great access

to the word

of God

and not only

the word

but good

translations

that help us

and in various

languages that help

us understand it

and we have

access to great

writers and

theologians

through history

that God has

blessed us with

their minds

and helping us

to understand

the word of God

he's blessed us

with spiritual

leaders historically

spiritual leaders

presently that

serve as wonderful

examples there is

no way that you

can plead ignorance

in this if you

are living a life

of disobedience

it's only because

you have chosen

to it's not because

you don't know

what to do

so think on

these things

and the things

that you've been

instructed in

and the examples

that have been

given to you

follow them

then he says

finally and

most encouragingly

it's a matter

of promise

it's a matter

of thought

it's a matter

of practice

and it's a matter

of promise

look at the

last phrase

in verse 9

and the God

of peace

shall be with you

and the God

of peace

shall be with you

now I want you

to look at

verse 7

remember the promise

that we studied

last week

that the peace

of God

shall keep

your hearts

and minds

through Jesus

Christ

in that

we're promised

the peace

that comes

from God

we're promised

something

that God

gives to us

in verse 9

we're not promised

the peace

of God

we're promised

the God

of peace

you see the difference

on one hand

we're promised

the blessings

that only can come

from God's hand

on the other hand

we are promised

God himself

intimate communion

intimate fellowship

intimate relationship

with our creator

Paul didn't mean

this to be

a conditional promise

that was contingent

on our ability

to earn God's presence

that's not what

he's saying

he's not saying

that if you think

on these things

if you practice

these things

the God of peace

will be with you

that's not what

he's saying

he's saying

that as

you think

on these things

and as

you practice

these things

God will

be with you

why

because you

belong to him

the awesomeness

of this promise

is that it stands

even when we

fail

the greatness

of God's grace

and salvation

is that we

couldn't restore

that peace

only Jesus

could restore

that peace

God views you

not on the basis

of who you are

and what you've

done

he views you

as a believer

on the basis

of what Christ

has done

for you

therefore

even when you

fall beyond

your conversion

he does not

take away

his presence

from you

that is yours

forever

and ever

for all of

eternity

so revel

in the promise

of God

that he is

with you

and think

on these things

to live a life

that is pleasing

to him

so that you

can possibly

experience the

blessings

that come

from his

hand

the natural

consequences

of righteousness

rather than

the natural

consequences

of sin

what a wonderful

truth

that his presence

is on the basis

of what Christ

has done

not what we

have done

all who receive

this reconciliation

through Christ

will enjoy

peace

peace with

God

forever

and I want

to close

this morning

by referencing

Spurgeon

once again

the 1800s

when he was

preaching on

Philippians chapter

Philippians 4 · chapter mention

4

the third

point of his

message

was focused

in on this

phrase in

verse 9

the God

of peace

and the

heading of

this third

point was

the triune

God

its author

the triune

God

its author

and he took

time to

expose

each role

that the

person of

the Trinity

has

in salvation

and providing

true peace

with God

first he said

God the

Father

is the

planner

he's the

giver of

the son

in fact

flip just a

couple of

pages

before

to the

left

and turn

to Ephesians

Ephesians 1 · chapter mention

chapter 1

God the

Father

is the

planner

this was

his idea

not our

idea

he did

this

look with

me at

Ephesians

1

look at

verse 3

blessed

be the

God

and

Father

of our

Lord

Jesus

Christ

who

hath

blessed

us

with

all

spiritual

blessings

in

heavenly

places

in

Christ

listen

to

this

according

as he

hath

chosen

us

in

him

before

the

foundation

of

the

world

this

was

his

plan

that

we

should

be

holy

and

without

blame

before

him

in

love

having

predestinated

us

unto

the

adoption

of

children

by

Jesus

Christ

to

himself

it

was

his

plan

it

was

his

goal

it

was

his

work

according

to

the

good

pleasure

of

his

will

it

was

all

his

idea

he's

the

planner

he's

the

giver

of

the

son

to

the

!

What a

wonderful

truth

who is

this

God

of

peace

he's

first

the

father

the

planner

the

giver

of

the

son

secondly

he's

God

the

son

God

the

son

Spurgeon

said

was

the

procurer

he

was

the

covenant

fulfiller

and

covenant

sustainer

flip

to the

right

just a

few

pages

to

the

book

of

Colossians

and

look

with

me

at

Colossians

Colossians 1 · chapter mention

chapter

1

just

probably

a

couple

of

pages

to

the

right

from

where

you

were

in

Ephesians

Colossians

Colossians 1 · chapter mention

chapter

1

look

first

with

me

at

verse

14

speaking

of

Jesus

in

whom

we

have

redemption

through

his

blood

even

the

forgiveness

of

sins

who

is

the

image

of

the

invisible

God

the

firstborn

of

every

creature

for

by

him

were

all

things

created

that

are

in

heaven

he's

speaking

of

his

deity

and

that

are

in

earth

visible

and

invisible

whether

they

be

thrones

or

dominions

or

principalities

or

powers

all

things

were

created

by

Jesus

and

for

Jesus

and

he

is

before

all

things

and

by

him

all

things

are

held

together

and

he

is

the

head

of

the

body

the

church

who

is

the

beginning

the

firstborn

from

the

dead

that

in

all

things

he

might

have

the

preeminence

made

peace

through

the

blood

of

his

cross

by

him

to

reconcile

all

things

unto

himself

by

him

I

say

whether

they

be

things

in

earth

or

things

in

heaven

and

you

that

were

sometime

alienated

and

enemies

in

your

mind

by

wicked

works

yet

now

hath

he

reconciled

in

the

body

of

his

flesh

!

He's

the

procurer!

He's

the

one

that

achieves

the

peace!

He's

the

covenant

fulfiller

you're

in

Colossians

1

look

at

Colossians

2

look

at

these

two

verses

verse

13

and

14

and

you

who

were

once

dead

in

your

sins

and

the

uncircumcision

of

your

flesh

hath

he

made

alive

together

with

him

having

forgiven

you

all

trespasses

listen

to

verse

14

I

love

this

verse

blotting

out

the

handwriting

of

ordinances

that

was

against

us

which

was

contrary

to

us

and

took

it

out

of

the

way

nailing

it

to

his

cross

what

a

wonderful

truth

of

God

the

son

it's

a

scene

of

it's

a

judicial

scene

it's

a

courtroom

scene

where

there's

God

the

father

who

is

the

judge

and

it

is

us

who

have

come

to

answer

for

our

sins

and

on

one

hand

there's

a

board

that

has

listed

the

handwriting

of

ordinances

that

was

against

us

all

the

things

of

God

that

we

disobeyed

all

the

law

of

God

that

we

went

against

and

on

one

hand

is

the

great

accuser

Satan

the

devil

himself

going

to

the

judge

and

saying

look

here's

here's

Bob

and

here's

Brian

and

here's

Julie

and

here's

all

the

things

that

they

did

to

break

your

law

cast

them

into

eternal

punishment

and

then