26-0308p Transcript

(0:04) Well, once again, here I am for tonight. (0:12) This morning, we discovered the word (0:18) hate can mean to choose or elect or adopt. (0:28) Tonight, we will investigate these terms.

(0:34) Now, since it comes from this morning’s lesson, (0:47) that I had to give it a different title, (0:51) and it’s titled, Chosen, Elected, Adopted. (0:58) And we’re going to look at these terms tonight. (1:05) First of all, we’re going to look at the word choose (1:12) or any variation of the word that may be like chosen or choose, (1:20) choice.

(1:22) But first of all, in Matthew 24, 16, (1:31) and I had the wrong verse from Matthew 20. (1:40) I don’t know why I put verse 10 when I was looking at this. (1:49) It didn’t have what I wanted.

(1:54) It’s in verse 16 that Jesus really was talking about (2:06) those that came and worked for this master. (2:16) And I went out and found others out standing around, (2:27) and they were told that I could go and work for their master (2:37) for a certain amount. (2:41) And so that happened.

(2:46) And then those about the 11th hour (2:51) went out and got some more to go and worked (2:57) the remaining part of the day. (3:00) So whenever the time came to pay, (3:08) the ones that were given were brought in at the 11th hour. (3:16) They received a denarius.

(3:20) That was a denarius for a day that he agreed with the laborers. (3:33) But there were those that didn’t like that (3:37) because they thought that the ones that came in (3:42) the 11th hour should have received less. (3:49) They came in at the 11th hour.

(3:52) They only worked an hour. (3:58) But then they went to the master (4:04) and complained to him about that. (4:12) And he told them, he answered one of them (4:22) and said, friend, I am doing you no wrong.

(4:29) Did you not agree with me for a denarius? (4:36) Take what is yours and go your way. (4:41) I wish to give to the last man the same as to you. (4:50) Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? (4:58) Why is your eye evil? Because I am good.

(5:04) And this is what Jesus said finally at the end of this thought. (5:13) So the last will be first and the first last. (5:20) For many are called but few chosen.

(5:27) And this goes along with Matthew 7, 13 and 14 (5:37) where Jesus is telling the people that they are to enter a narrow gate. (5:53) For broad is the gate, or rather wide is the gate. (6:00) And broad is the way that leads to destruction.

(6:05) And there are many who go in by it. (6:09) Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life. (6:19) And there are few who find it.

(6:25) Now the few who are chosen are not chosen (6:32) because God is particular about who he chooses. (6:41) God would rather that everyone be saved. (6:47) He is not willing that any should perish.

(6:52) The few are chosen because there will be few (6:58) that will obey God. (7:04) As we learn here that wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction. (7:13) And there are many who go in by it.

(7:21) It is because the wide gate is easier. (7:29) The broad way is easier. (7:31) It’s easy to go with the multitude.

(7:38) But narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life. (7:50) Now he’s letting us know that we think it’s easy. (7:57) It’s not going to be easy.

(8:00) But few will find it and it leads to life for those who find this narrow and difficult way. (8:18) But then in Ephesians 1 and verse 4. (8:24) Want to look at that? (8:28) We will see in verse 4 of Ephesians 1. (8:39) Actually we’re going to read verse 3. (8:43) Blessed be the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, (8:50) who has blessed us with every spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ. (9:00) Just as he chose us in him, that is Christ.

(9:06) God chose us in him. (9:11) And he tells us that he chose us in him before the foundation of the world. (9:24) We find that now that God chooses us.

(9:30) We’re going to talk more about this, about getting into Christ. (9:41) But these things are in him, these spiritual blessings. (9:49) And he chose us in him.

(9:54) And then in 1 Peter 2 and verse 4. (10:01) I had a terrible time getting it straight. (10:06) I wanted to write 1 Peter all the time, or the first chapter all the time. (10:17) But it’s 1 Peter 2 and verse 4. (10:24) Coming to him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by man, (10:35) but chosen by God and precious.

(10:40) Now, this means that to be disallowed of men, but chosen of God. (10:55) We come to him as a living stone. (11:01) Of course, he was rejected by men, but chosen by God and precious.

(11:12) And then in verse 9, and I should have, the scripture reading was in 1 Peter 2, 9 and 10. (11:31) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. (11:42) His own special people that you may proclaim the praises of him (11:49) who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

(11:57) Who once were not a people, but are now the people of God. (12:07) Who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (12:19) You know, I was thinking on this lesson, and thinking about myself.

(12:28) You know, if someone was to mention to somebody else, (12:37) you know, Mike Mathis said this, or Mike Mathis did this, so and so. (12:46) Who is Mike Mathis? (12:50) Because see, I wasn’t born a rich, into a rich family. (12:58) Or as I was growing up, we sometimes almost were out of food.

(13:12) And lived in houses, especially one that I can recall that wasn’t really in good shape. (13:26) Especially the kitchen. (13:28) And you know, the winters that we had, or those were winters that we had one year.

(13:39) What I can know of, that a blanket was put up to the door leading from the kitchen into what is used as a bedroom. (13:58) Because the kitchen, the walls, see through the walls, the cracks in the walls. (14:08) There was a room there, where someone took away, left part of it.

(14:21) And the wall that we had, you could see through the cracks. (14:29) And the cold winter that, those winters that we had. (14:35) We had to be in, use just one room.

(14:41) There actually was three rooms, but we only used two. (14:47) And it would be so cold that my stepfather would go in, start the fire, make the coffee, (15:01) and he would rinse cups out for the coffee, set them, the cups on the table, (15:13) without drying them really, they were wet on the outside, set them on the table, (15:19) turn around and get the coffee to pour into the cups. (15:23) The cups were frozen to the table.

(15:26) So, you can understand how that is. (15:33) I haven’t done anything great like anybody would know me as a well-known person. (15:42) I haven’t done something remarkable.

(15:49) So, they would say, well, who’s Mike Mathis? (15:55) But God knows me. (15:58) And God knows the people that were considered not a people to begin with, (16:12) but now are people of God, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (16:28) But there is one thing that throughout my life that I’ve tried to do, (16:38) is to be faithful to God, believe and trust in Him.

(16:44) That was even when we didn’t have a congregation that I could go to for a while. (16:54) But I remember the verses said, keep the faith, keep the faith. (17:08) Our God provides mercy, and I know that God has been my guide (17:20) through all the difficult times that we’ve had, that God’s been with the family, (17:29) even when we were down and out.

(17:36) Now, let’s look at the word elect. (17:40) Elect could also mean to choose. (17:45) It also means those that are being chosen.

(17:54) In Matthew 24 and verse 22, we have Jesus talking about the elect. (18:16) In verse 22, let me get in the right chapter here. (18:27) He said, unless those days were shortened, (18:33) talking about the tribulation that would befall the people.

(18:42) And he said, but unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved. (18:49) But for the elect’s sake, those days will be shortened. (18:59) So he’s saying that, and this is going to be at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem.

(19:14) And then in verse 24, reading verse 23, (19:26) God, if anyone says to you, look, here is the Christ, or there, do not believe him. (19:37) For false christs and false prophets will rise (19:41) and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the elect. (19:52) The elect are those that are chosen of God, (19:57) those that are believers in him, (20:02) and those that would be his disciples, (20:11) and also be the church.

(20:18) Now, we know that this would be talking about the destruction of Jerusalem. (20:27) It’s going to be common. (20:32) But he doesn’t tell them exactly when, but he says, (20:39) in verse 34, (20:42) Assuredly I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away (20:49) till all these things take place.

(20:55) So we know that the things that he’s talking about, (21:03) before verse 32, (21:07) is going to take place, (21:10) and it’s going to be talking about the destruction of Jerusalem. (21:18) Of course, he doesn’t mention when that would happen, (21:21) but he would refer to that as the coming of the Son of Man, it would be. (21:36) But after he said that, (21:42) from verse 36 to the rest, (21:46) he’s talking about when he is going to come physically (21:56) and meet the saints in the air.

(22:02) He’s going to come and take those who are his saints. (22:11) And as we were talking this morning about (22:16) all that are in the graves (22:19) shall hear his voice and come forth, (22:25) some to the resurrection of evil (22:30) and some to the resurrection of life. (22:34) And so we find that.

(22:40) But we’re also told that we know not the day nor the hour (22:48) in which he will come. (22:55) He doesn’t tell us. (22:58) He didn’t know then.

(23:04) But in 2 Thessalonians 2 and verse 9, (23:17) Paul is writing to the Thessalonians (23:27) about the lawlessness that’s going to arise, what’s going to happen. (23:34) He says, starting with verse 7, (23:39) For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. (23:47) Only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.

(23:56) And the lawless one will be revealed, (24:01) whom the Lord will consume with the breath of his mouth (24:10) and destroy with the brightness of his coming. (24:16) The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan (24:24) with all power, signs, and lying wonders, (24:35) with all unrighteousness, in verse 10, (24:40) with all unrighteous deception among those who courage, (24:46) because they did not receive the love of the truth, (24:52) that they might be saved. (24:54) So these are going to have signs.

(24:59) They’re going to perform signs and lying wonders. (25:03) And they’re doing that even to this day. (25:08) They are deceiving people into believing that they are performing miracles.

(25:21) And then in 1 Peter 1 and verse 2, (25:33) I’m going to read verse 1. (25:36) Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, (25:42) to the children of the dispersion (25:45) in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, (25:54) elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father (26:03) in sanctification of the Spirit (26:07) for the obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, (26:18) sprinkling of the blood, not sprinkling of water, (26:27) but sprinkling of the blood of Jesus. (26:30) But notice this, elect according to the foreknowledge. (26:37) Notice that elect of those that are chosen.

(26:42) Now, in Ephesians 1, we know that He chose us in Christ, (26:54) and that was before the foundation of the world began. (27:04) We see Peter agreeing with Paul on this, (27:09) that it was before the foundation of the world that Christ, (27:19) that it was chosen just as He chose us in Him (27:28) before the foundation of the world, (27:30) that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. (27:41) Now, let’s look at the third word, adoption.

(27:51) Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself (28:07) according to the good pleasure of His will. (28:15) And notice this. (28:17) We then, in verse 6, (28:25) to the praise and glory of His grace by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

(28:36) In Him we have redemption through His blood, (28:40) the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace, (28:47) which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom. (28:54) Notice what it does here. (29:01) Having predestined us to adoption.

(29:10) You know, when someone adopts a child, (29:18) it goes through the court and, (29:28) excuse me, (29:30) and after all the supervision and the checking that is done (29:46) in order to make sure that the ones who are wanting to adopt this child (30:02) go finally into the court in order to make the final decision (30:11) to find out that the parents or parents or the guardian that wants to adopt that child (30:30) to make sure that they understand what’s going on (30:35) and then ask the child or children that is to be adopted (30:43) if they understand and are willing to go with these people. (30:56) And after that, then the judge then signs to the effect (31:06) then that the child or children, as the case may be, (31:15) will be legally the children of those parents or guardian, whichever, (31:28) that they become the parents for adoption. (31:36) They will have the last name, (31:40) bearing the last name of those guardians, parents forever.

(31:54) So now, especially how do we become adopted as children? (32:06) We’ve got to go through some things (32:12) in order for God to adopt us and make us his children. (32:22) Galatians 3, (32:25) go back a book, (32:28) Galatians 3, verses 26 and 27, (32:40) we have in verse 26, (32:46) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (32:55) Verse 27, (32:58) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ, (33:11) and there is neither Jew nor Greek, (33:15) there is neither slave nor free, (33:17) there is neither male nor female, (33:21) for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

(33:26) And if you are Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed (33:31) and heirs according to the promise. (33:35) But now listen to this, (33:43) beginning in verse 4, (33:45) But when the fullness of time had come, (33:49) God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, (33:53) born under the law, (33:56) to redeem those who were under the law. (34:01) Now those we know that were under the law were the Jewish people.

(34:09) Those are the ones that had the law. (34:13) That we might receive the adoption as sons. (34:22) And because you are sons, (34:27) God has sent forth the spirit of his Son (34:31) into your hearts crying out, (34:35) Abba, Father.

(34:37) Now how did this adoption happen? (34:41) It happened when we were baptized into Christ (34:48) and we put on Christ. (34:52) We were baptized into him and we put him on. (34:59) And we become his children.

(35:07) And he adopts us. (35:14) In Romans 8, we have what we find in Romans 8, (35:26) verses 15 through 17, (35:31) we have, (35:45) For you did not receive the spirit of bondage against fear, (35:50) but you received the spirit of adoption, (35:57) by whom we cry out, Abba, Father. (36:02) It sounds similar to what Paul was saying to the Galatians.

(36:10) The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit (36:14) that we are children of God. (36:19) And if children, then heirs. (36:24) Heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.

(36:28) If indeed we suffer with him, (36:33) that we may also be glorified together. (36:39) So there is the spirit of adoption (36:48) witnessed by the Spirit of God. (36:54) The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit (36:58) that we are children of God.

(37:02) See, we become children because we want to obey God. (37:09) We obey his commandments. (37:12) We obey what is needed to be in him, come into him.

(37:23) And now we must remain his children by still obeying him. (37:34) But our three are chosen by God. (37:42) This is why we are chosen to be his children.

(37:50) And it is through Christ that we become his children. (37:58) So, in 2 John, (38:05) in the epistle of 2 John, (38:12) we have in the Bible, (38:34) the elder. (38:38) John apparently is elder.

(38:43) He says the elder to the elect lady, (38:51) or chosen lady if you want to use that, (38:56) and her children to whom I love in truth. (39:02) And not only I, (39:04) but also all those who have known the truth. (39:10) So we have then, (39:13) what we, the chosen, the elect, (39:18) which are the chosen, (39:20) and adoption that could also come from being chosen by God.

(39:30) And the elect lady would be to the church. (39:36) The truth is known by this elect lady. (39:41) There are others who can know the truth.

(39:44) Because the truth abides in us (39:48) and will be with us forever. (39:56) Are you one of God’s chosen? (40:00) If not, you may through faith become his children. (40:07) And we laid it out in Galatians 3, (40:12) verses 26 and 27, how you can do that.

(40:17) And if you want to become one of his chosen, (40:22) will you not do that as quickly as possible? (40:30) And if anyone is subject to the gospel invitation in any way, (40:36) you may do so while we stand and while we sing.