Thanksgiving is time to rejoice in God's gifts of grace!

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time for reflection, times to remember the many blessings we have. Our nation has provided us with many opportunities not available to most people. We have personal freedoms and financial blessings. Most importantly, we have had religious freedom. In the midst of holiday activities, let’s consider our spiritual blessings.

Paul was overwhelmed by what God had done for him, 2 Corinthians 9:15, Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! According to verse 14, the gift is the surpassing grace of God that He has given you. How can such a gift be described? From the divine side, Paul gives a beautiful description of God’s indescribable gift in 2 Corinthians 8:9, For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. The indescribable gift is God’s gift of His Son which is received by grace through faith.

On the human side, how can we attempt to describe this indescribable gift? I would encourage you to meditate on the following words: foreknowledge, adoption, justification, sanctification, and glorification. These are theological terms that help us grasp, to a small degree, the indescribable gift of God’s grace.

Foreknowledge

• Augustine, God elected believers in order that they might believe, not because they already believed...It is only by an act of great compassion that He saves anyone. The condemned receive just what they deserve. The elect receive more than they deserve.

• Romans 8:29, For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

• What a gift of grace!

Adoption

• It is the act of God which places believers in His family. We who were separated from God because of sin and enslaved to sin, are now part of His family.

• Ephesians 1:5, he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

• What a gift of grace!

Justification

• It is the act of God whereby we who were dead in sins are declared righteous.

• 2 Corinthians 5:21, For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

• What a gift of grace!

Sanctification

• It is the work of God whereby we who are justified are being conformed to the image of Christ.

• Hebrews 10:14, For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

• What a gift of grace!

Glorification

• It is the work of God whereby we who are justified and being sanctified will be fully conformed to the image of Christ.

• Romans 8:30, And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

• What a gift of grace!

Paul rightly calls God’s gift of grace indescribable. Yet, I encourage each of us to think biblically and thank God for His grace: He called us; He places us in His family; He gives us right standing; He enables us to live for Him; He is sufficient to bring us blameless into His presence. What gifts of grace!

CONCERNING GOD AND MANKIND

DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY

Understanding divine sovereignty

• God is the supreme being in the universe.

• God is supreme in power in the universe.

• Robert Lightner, God is the absolute and sole Ruler in the universe.

• God is God and I’m not!

Principles of divine sovereignty

• God has an all-inclusive plan which He controls.

• God has the freedom to do what He deems best.

• God is only bound by Himself.

• God is always consistent with Himself.

• James MacDonald, God completely controls the universe - with His feet up! He’s not stretched or stressed in any way.

Biblical evidence for divine sovereignty

• Psalm 135:6, Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.

• Ephesians 1:11, ...we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.

• Romans 11:33-36, Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to Him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY

Who is in control concerning salvation, God or man?

• God takes the initiative by calling people to Himself through Jesus.

• Individuals choose to place faith in Jesus alone.

Glimpses of the process of salvation from John 6

John 6:28-29, Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

• Merrill Tenney, To Jewish questioners, attaining eternal life consisted in finding the right formula for performing works to please God.

• Leon Morris, ... "What must we do?" shows that the questioners had not grasped Jesus' point that life was his gift. They looked for salvation as the result of their own effort (as people in their natural wisdom always do).

• Charles Swindoll, The only "work" required is belief in the Son, which involves no work at all.

John 6:37, Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away;

• Warren Wiersbe, These are among the most profound words He ever spoke, and we cannot hope to plumb their depths completely. He explained that salvation involves both divine sovereignty and human responsibility. The Father gives men and women to the Son (John 6:37, 39; 17:2, 6, 9, 11–12, 24), but these men and women must come to Him, that is, believe on Him.

• Leon Morris, People do not come to Christ because it seems a good idea to them. It never does seem a good idea to sinful people. Apart from a divine work in their souls (cf. 16:8) people remain more or less contentedly in their sins. Before they can come to Christ it is necessary that the Father give them to him.

• Kenneth Gangel, The Father literally gives certain believers to the Son. On the other hand, the gospel always proclaims, “Whosoever will may come.” Does God choose us or do we choose him? The only possible answer is, “Yes.”

• A church member asked Charles Spurgeon how he reconciled divine sovereignty and human responsibility. His response was, I never try to reconcile friends.

John 6:40, This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.”

• Leon Morris, This thought is of the greatest comfort to believers. Their assurance is based not on their feeble hold on Christ, but on his sure grip on them (cf. 10:28f.).

• Charles Swindoll, God in human flesh, came to earth to gather His own, who can be identified by their belief in Him.

• Grant Osborne, The final balance between security and responsibility is a mystery and will never be truly solved until eternity arrives.

• I believe divine sovereignty and human responsibility are parallel lines that only cross at the heart of God.

John 6:44-45, No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.

• Edwin Blum, No one can come to Jesus or believe on Him without divine help. People are so ensnared in the quicksand of sin and unbelief that unless God draws them (cf. v. 65), they are hopeless

• Leon Morris, The thought of the divine initiative in salvation is one of the great doctrines of this Gospel, and indeed of the Christian faith. People like to feel independent. They think that they come or that they can come to Jesus entirely of their own volition. Jesus assures us that this is an utter impossibility. No one, no one at all, can come unless the Father draws him.

• William Hendriksen, The drawing of which these passages speak indicates a very powerful—we may even say, an irresistible—activity. To be sure, man resists, but his resistance is ineffective. It is in that sense that we speak of God’s grace as being irresistible ... both at the beginning and throughout the entire process of being saved, the power is ever from above; it is very real, strong, and effective; and it is wielded by God himself!

John 6:47, Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life.

• Leon Morris, Jesus’ main concern is with life and how people obtain it ... Now he solemnly repeats the way to life.

• Thomas Constable, In spite of the truth of the Father's drawing the elect to Himself, it is still imperative that they believe in Jesus. This is the human responsibility. However, belief in Jesus is not something that deserves a reward from God; it is not meritorious. It is simply the proper response to God's working.

THE INTERACTION BETWEEN DEITY AND HUMANITY

God’s process in election

• At times, I wonder why God chose me for His Son. The God of all creation adopted me. The price God paid for me was the life of His only Son, Jesus. It is beyond the scope of my understanding.

• I don’t know why but I am committed to honor Him with the new life He gave me. My privilege is to live under God’s sovereign, loving, and gracious control.

• There is no injustice with God in condemning; salvation is a matter of grace, Ephesians 2:8, For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—

Human responsibility in sanctification

Introduction

• Christians are to be conformed to the image of Christ.

• We are called to participate with the Holy Spirit in becoming more like Christ in our behavior not just in position.

• John Stott, ... becoming a Christian is one thing, being a Christian is another.

What must I do?

Acknowledge need

• Ask God to make you hungry for Him, Psalm 107:9, For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things.

• George Whitefield, The renewal of our natures is a work of great importance. It is not to be done in a day. We have not only a new house to build up, but an old one to pull down.

Accept responsibility

• We are to actively pursue a life in the Spirit, Galatians 5:16-17, Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want.

• There are serious consequences for those who live for the flesh, Romans 8:6, To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

• Jerry Bridges, The pursuit of holiness is a joint venture between God and the Christian. No one can attain to any degree of holiness without God working in his life, but just as surely no one will attain it without effort on his own part.

Meditate on the greatness of our Triune God

• Who else called you to newness of life for eternity?

• Who else is always faithful?

• Who else gives peace today and hope for tomorrow?

Pursue spiritual disciples

• Study the Bible daily

• Pray daily

• Fellowship and worship regularly

• Observe the ordinances of baptism and communion.

Expect success

• He has given us new hearts, Jeremiah 31:33, But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

• Martin Luther, We are not what we shall be but we are growing toward it; the process is not yet finished but it is going on; this is not the end but it is the road. All does not yet gleam in glory but all is being purified.

Be an example

• Blaise Pascal, The serene beauty of a holy life is the most powerful influence in the world next to the power of God.

• J.C. Ryle, Sound Protestant and Evangelical doctrine is useless if it is not accomplished by a holy life.

SUMMARY

• Consider several key lessons from this message: God calls people to Himself. People respond to His call. God keeps those who are called. Believers have daily choices.

• Robert Lightner, The sovereignty of God and the responsibilities of man are parallel truths in Scripture ... It remains a mystery how God an be altogether sovereign and yet allow for genuine human responsibility in His sovereign plan.

• James MacDonald, There is in every human heart a propensity “to leave the God we love” unless we are continually gripped by His greatness, unless on a regular basis we allow our hearts and minds to be rocked with the truth of all that He is.

• I pray that for me. I pray that for you.

The Key to the End Times

INTRODUCTION

A. How should Christians view the troubling events in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon?

1. Does it fit into what the Bible teaches in Revelation?

2. Are we on the cusp of eternity or in just another time of turmoil?

B. Why should Christians study eschatology (end times)?

1. Prominence of prophecy in the Word of God - 20% of Bible is prophetic.

2. Importance of prophecy

a. The promised return of Christ.

b. Promised hope for those who trust God’s Word, the Bible.

c. It should encourage Christians to faithful service as we anticipate our Lord’s

return.

d. The proper study of the Bible enables one to know fact from fiction.

e. It was important to the disciples of Jesus, Matthew 24:3, As he sat on the

Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when

will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end

of the age?”

C. Concerns in study of prophecy

1. It can be a divisive issue in Christianity - be gracious to those who don’t have the

same understanding.

2. Seek God’s wisdom on disputed issues.

3. Keep the right perspective - major on majors.

D. Principles for interpreting prophecy

1. A literal method of interpretation

a. It is historical - cultural background and circumstances of the prophets are

considered.

b. It is grammatical: words are taken in a normal sense unless it is evident that a

figure of speech or symbol is used but it does allow for figurative and

symbolic language.

c. It is Christological.

2. Compare parallel passages

a. Recognize principle of perspective - events separated by many years are

seen together.

1) Isaiah 9:6, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the

government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

2) The Church Age is between Christ’s first and second coming.

b. Fit prophetic passages together in a unified whole.

1) Daniel and Revelation

2) Have a comprehensive grid for all prophetic passages.

3) The grid I recommend is Pretribulation Premillennialsim.

PRETRIBULATION PREMILLENNIALISM

A. Pretribulationism

1. Definitions

a. Pretribulation - all Christians will be raptured by Christ to Heaven before the

Tribulation.

b. Rapture - instantaneous gathering up of the entire church to meet Christ in

the air by resurrection of the dead and translation of the living from the

earth.

c. Tribulation - 7-year period before 2nd Coming of Christ during which there

will be great suffering on earth.

d. Second Coming of Christ - bodily return of Christ with His church to the earth

in glory.

2. Why will Christians not go through the Tribulation?

a. Purposes

1) It is to prepare the nation of Israel for her Messiah

a) Jeremiah 30:7, Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a

time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it.

b) Deuteronomy 4:30-31, When you are in tribulation, and all these

things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the

LORD your God and obey his voice. 31 For the LORD your God is

a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the

covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.

2) It completes the salvation of Gentiles through preaching by a saved

remnant, Revelation 7:9, 13-14, After this I looked, and behold, a great

multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes

and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the

Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands ... Then

one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in

white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir,

you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the

great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in

the blood of the Lamb.

3) It pours out judgment on unbelieving people and nations.

a) Isaiah 26:21, For behold, the LORD is coming out from his place to

punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth

will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain.

b) 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, Therefore God sends them a strong

delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all

may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure

in unrighteousness.

b. The Tribulation is not for the Church

1) There is no reference to Church in Revelation 6-18, chapters dealing

with the Tribulation.

2) The church is saved away from the coming wrath.

a) 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, For they themselves report concerning us

the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to

God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for

his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who

delivers us from the wrath to come.

b) Romans 8:1, There is therefore now no condemnation for those

who are in Christ Jesus.

3) The restraining ministry of the Holy Spirit must be removed from earth

before the Tribulation.

a) 2 Thessalonians 2:7, For the mystery of lawlessness is already at

work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the

way.

b) The restrainer is the Holy Spirit so Christians must be removed

since we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

c) The Tribulation pertains to Israel, "time of Jacob’s trouble,”

Jeremiah 30:7, Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it.

d) The Tribulation pertains to the world which rejects Christ,

Revelation 6:15-17, Then the kings of the earth and the great ones

and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone,

slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of

the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us

and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and

from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has

come, and who can stand?”

3. Why will there be a rapture?

a. The Rapture of the Church is the key to the end times. The timeline of the

Book of Revelation can’t begin until every Christian is removed from earth.

At that point, the Tribulation begins.

b. Distinctives of the Rapture

1) There is comfort for believers.

a) John 14:1-3, Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;

believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it

were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for

you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again

and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

b) 1 Thessalonians 5:9, For God has not destined us for wrath, but to

obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

c) 1 John 3:2-3, Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will

be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we

shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And

everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

2) It is imminent with no events necessary before it takes place, James 5:7-

8, Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how

the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about

it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient.

Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

3) It is not a reward for faithful service but the fulfillment of Christ’s

redemptive work, Philippians 3:20, But our citizenship is in heaven, and

from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

4) Distinctions between Rapture and Second Coming

a) There is a necessity for an interval between these two events

b) Rapture - Christ will come for His saints

c) The Second Coming - Christ will return with His saints to establish

the Millennial Kingdom.

B. Premillennialism

1. Definitions

a. Premillennial - Jesus Christ will return bodily to earth and establish His 1,000-

year earthly kingdom.

b. Millennium - 1,000 years mentioned in Revelation 20:1-6 during which Christ

will reign on earth.

1) Satan will be bound for 1,000 years.

2) He will be loosed for a short period of time.

3) Martyred Tribulation saints are given special resurrection and share with

other saints in Millennial reign.

4) Wicked dead are not raised until after the Millennium.

2. Why is Premillennialism so important?

a. God made unconditional covenants to the nation of Israel.

1) Abrahamic Covenant, Genesis 12:1-3, Land-Seed-Blessing

2) Davidic Covenant, 2 Samuel 7:12-16, Name-Land-House-Throne

3) New Covenant, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Heart

b. All promises made to Israel have not been fulfilled.

c. The church does not fulfill God’s unconditional promises to Israel because

the Church has not become Israel.

c. God keeps His promises to Israel during the Millennium.

3. Purposes of the Millennium

a. Promises made to the nation of Israel will be fulfilled in the Millennium,

Jeremiah 31:33, But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of

Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will

write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

b. The kingdom promised David will be instituted, note Revelation 19:15-16,

From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations,

and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury

of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name

inscribed, “King of kings and Lord of lords.

c. The dual role of Jesus’ ministry will be completed during the Millennium -

suffering Messiah when He died on the cross and rose from the grave. We

expectantly await His return to earth to fulfill His role as King, sitting on the

throne of David in the Millennial Kingdom.

C. What is the timeline for the Premillennial - Pretribulational View?

1. Rapture of the Church to heaven with Jesus Christ, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, For

the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice

of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in

Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up

together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always

be with the

Lord.

2. A seven-year time of trouble - the Tribulation, Revelation 3:10, Because you have

kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is

coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

3. Israel turns to Christ during the Tribulation, Jeremiah 31:33, For this is the

covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the

LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be

their God, and they shall be my people.

4. The Second Coming of Christ to earth with the Church -, Matthew 24:29-30,

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the

moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of

the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of

Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of

Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

5. Satan imprisoned for 1,000 years in the abyss, Revelation 20:1-2, Then I saw an

angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless

pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the

devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,

6. The physical reign of Christ in the Millennium, Isaiah 40:11, He will tend his flock

like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his

bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

7. Satan released from the abyss and defeated at Armageddon, Revelation 20:3, and

threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not

deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he

must be released for a little while.

8. Judgments, Revelation 19:15-16, He will tread the winepress of the fury of the

wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name

written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

9. New Heaven and New Earth, Revelation 21:1-3, Then I saw a new heaven and a

new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea

was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of

heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a

loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with

man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be

with them as their God.

10. Eternal State, Revelation 11:15, Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and

there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become

the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.

WHEN WILL THE RAPTURE TAKE PLACE?

• The disciples wanted to know when Jesus would return and Jesus said to look for signs

of the times, Matthew 24:5-13. false teachers, wars and rumors of wars, famines and

earthquakes, persecution of Christians, apostasy, false prophets, increase of

lawlessness, love will grow cold.

• Only our Heavenly Father knows the date and time of the Rapture, Matthew 24:36, But

concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the

Son, but the Father only.

• Why has God withheld judgment?

Some say time to repent was granted by God since the death of Christ, Luke 23:34,

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

God wants none to perish, 2 Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as

some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but

that all should reach repentance.

He is waiting for the last person to be saved in this age of grace, Matthew 24:14, And

this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a

testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

• How close are we to the time when the last person is saved?

Consider a new company that is using AI (artificial intelligence) to speed the process of

taking a people group’s verbal only language and making it a written language, as

well. Then, they take the Bible and translate it into that language. It normally takes

missionaries 24 to 30 years to accomplish that invaluable task. The AI method takes 18

months! Let me quote Matthew 24:14 again, And this gospel of the kingdom will be

proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end

will come.

EVEN SO LORD, COME QUICKLY!