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[Music] welcome to everyone it's good to be back in the house of God on the Sabbath evening if you would turn with me in your Bibles to Isaiah the prophet for our call to worship Isaiah chapter 42 Isaiah 42 I'll begin reading in verse 1 behold my servant whom I uphold my elect one in whom my soul delights I have put my spirit upon him he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles he will not cry out nor raise his voice nor cause his voice to be heard in the street a bruised Reed he will not break and smoking flax he will not quench he will bring forth justice for truth he will not fail more be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth and the coastlands shall wait for his law thus says God the Lord who created the heavens and stretched them out who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk on it i the lord have called you in righteousness and will hold your hand i will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people as a light to the gentiles to open blind eyes to bring out prisoners from the prison those who sit in darkness from the prison house I am the Lord that is my name and my glory I will not give to another nor my praise to carved images behold the former things have come to pass and new things I declare before they spring forth I tell you of them amen well please turn in your Trinity Psalter to Psalm 93 Psalm 93 will stand as we sing together [Music] [Music] [Music] amen let us pray God in heaven it's a blessed joy for us to gather again on this Lord's Day to sing your praises to call upon you in prayer and to hear from the Word of God and we pray that you would receive our worship now that it would be done in spirit and truth not because we are good or upright but because you are God of grace and a God who supplies that which is lacking in our own hearts and lives may we extol thee may we blessed name may we lift your holy name and may we bow before you and and treat you with that reverence we saw was necessary and essential with reference to the the book of Malachi this morning may we tremble in the presence of the the thrice holy God but as well may we have great joy knowing that our sins are forgiven because of what Christ has accomplished on our behalf we praise you and we bless you for your glorious gospel a free and sovereign grace we thank you that you chose us in him before the foundation of the world that in your time he came forth he was born of a woman born under the law to redeem those under the law and we thank you for his his death at Calvary and for the satisfaction the payment rendered for the sins that we had committed we thank you for His resurrection the third day in this current session at your right hand and we do look forward to that time when he will return in glory to judge the living in the dead and may it be the case Lord God Almighty that all of us would be clothed in that righteousness when we see him that all of us would stand before that throne not not clothed in our own filth but clothed in that righteous garment secured by the Lord Jesus Christ we ask our Father that this would be true not only of adults here but of our children and our young people God our desire is is that they would know you from their youth and they would serve and glorify and honor you because God you are worthy as the the writer says you are altogether lovely in chief among ten thousand and that one who is worthy of praise and worship and adoration do forgive us again for our sins and our transgressions Lord God we lament the fact that there is remaining corruption in our hearts that we know keenly that battle spoken of by the Apostle in Romans 7 in Galatians 5 how we thank you that Christ is the victor Christ as the champion Christ is our advocate at the right hand of the Father and so we plead his merit and we plead his mercy even now and we ask that you would wash us in that fountain that is open for sin and for uncleanness and God we do pray that others would come to know this blessed joy of having the forgiveness of sins having a righteousness that is not from the law but but through faith in Christ and so to that end we pray that you would bless the preaching of your gospel that that word would go forth conquering and to conquer that multitudes would hear of the Savior and multitudes by grace would come to the Savior but we know just as the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up that those who look to him will indeed live and know eternal life father bless your word as it goes forth tonight bless your word as it continues to be spoken of in private conversations at family worship wherever people gather together to understand to listen to the truth of God we pray that by the power of the Holy Spirit it would take root in the hearts of sinners we ask as well father for those in our church are our congregation here that have needs we know that you know them intimately we know that you supply especially what is wanting or lacking and we would just commit the sick into your hand we would pray God that you would just alleviate these trials and these difficulties or give the grace necessary to continue to pass through them we rejoice in the Psalms and the psalmist says that yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death thou art with me we know that you are present even in the midst of the storms and the trials the afflictions and the difficulties we face and God this does indeed encourage our hearts we do pray that you would comfort each and every one in this congregation that suffers with physical trials we pray that though the outer man does decay the inner man would be renewed day by day we pray father that you would be merciful to other churches here in Arkham you we thank you that we're not alone here we pray for those that are preaching the truth that you would bless and prosper them that you would encourage them Lord God and that you would cause many in this city to come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior as we drive down town as we see the various sinners various persons in this community we know that ultimately it's not money it's not politics it's not any other thing save the gospel the free grace that is going to to most help the people that stand in need in this city so we pray that you would bless the churches that are faithfully preaching the truth that you would cause them to know your nearness and your kindness and your goodness unto them and again father bless the churches that are abroad bless those that are persecuted for the cause of God and truth we know and read this morning of two men that have recently been sentenced to death in Pakistan we know father that this is a grave and a serious thing and so we commit these brothers to you and we pray that they would be released that they would be vindicated that they would be able to return home to their families and God while they are incarcerated while they are awaiting this we pray that they would not lose heart we pray that you would encourage them that you would build them up in the in the inner band that you would strengthen them and help them to bear faithful witness and testimony to the Lord Jesus in this time bless those in China God we see the great great persecution the continued opposition of the people of Christ and we would pray to you Lord in heaven that you would be merciful to your Saints there that you would surround them with your protection specifically we pray for our missionaries the ones we know and love and support we pray that they would have safety that they would have peace that they would have the ability to continue to proclaim the truth as it is in Jesus Christ and all over the earth Lord God we pray that your word would go forth that you would let the nation's be glad that you would cause your face to shine upon the peoples and that the way of God's salvation would be known from sea to sea and we pray these things through Jesus Christ our Lord amen please turn with me in your Trinity hymnal to him number 127 hymn number 127 will stand as we sing together [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] well you can turn to the Prophet Zechariah for our scripture reading this evening we find ourselves in Zechariah chapter 4 Zechariah chapter 4 as we considered last week we see that this is a post-exilic prophet this is at the time that they are rebuilding the temple there's a series of visions that the Prophet gives in order to encourage the people with reference to this temple building enterprise last week we looked at chapter 3 that cleansing of Joshua the high priest that glorious doctrine of justification by faith alone illustrated in the transaction between God and that sinful man and tonight we look at chapter 4 vision of the lampstand and olive trees God's presence restored through the rebuilt temple beginning in chapter 4 verse 1 now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me as a man who is wakened out of his sleep and he said to me what do you see so I said I am looking and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps to olive trees or by it one at the right of the ball and the other at its left so I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me saying what are these my lord then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me do you not know what else these are and I said no of my Lord so he answered and said to me this is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel not by might nor by power but by my spirit says the Lord of hosts who are you a great mountain before saruba belt you shall become a plane and he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of grace grace to it moreover the word of the Lord came to me saying the hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple his hands shall also finish yet then you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you for who has despised the day of small things for these seven rejoice to see the plum wine in the hand of Zerubbabel they are the eyes of the Lord which scan to and fro throughout the worth then I answered and said to him what are these two olive trees at the right of the lampstand and at its left and I further answered and said to him what are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains then he answered me and said do you not know what these are and I said no my lord so he said these are the two anointed ones who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth amen again this is a series of visions given to encourage the people in the building of the temple and certainly there would be discouragement if you go back to the book of Ezra when they first lay the foundation they start the construction some of the older people wept and they grieve because that second temple lacked the splendor and the glory and the pomp and and majesty of Solomon's Temple and so certainly discouragement would set in but through this particular vision the people of God are encouraged not to be discouraged verse 10 who has despised the day of small things more often than not the people of God the Church of Jesus Christ go through periods and I would suggest extended periods of small things it is not the case that we're always living in the midst of awakening or revival in fact those are uncommon and extraordinary outpourings of the Spirit for most of us our Christianity is going to be regular it's going to be normal it's going to be ordinary and it's going to be obscure and so we are never to despise the day of small things there was a man by the name of T V Moore and he wrote a commentary on this particular book it's in the banner of truth Geneva series and he mentions this recom ents with reference to verse 10 he says it is not only unwise but it is wicked to be disheartened because of the external feebleness of the church compared with the work she has to do and the enemies she has to encounter God is her strength her glory and her hope and to despair of her is to deny God and I think that's accurate commentary on verse 10 ultimately as we see in verse six it's not by might nor by power but by my spirit we are dependent upon the sovereign spirit of Almighty God we cannot order him to come we cannot make him perform we simply are faithful to the task at hand trusting that he will bless as he sees fit well let us pray our Father we thank you for your word we thank you for these prophets and their testimony concerning the faithfulness of God Almighty may you encourage our hearts and may we not despise the day of small things may we recognize the need for the Holy Spirit it's not earthly power it's not carnal mite it's not any man or men but rather it is God the Spirit working in the hearts of men that accomplishes the task at hand may we rejoice in this and may we praise you that Jesus Christ has promised to build his church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it and we pray in his most blessed name amen well for our final him before the preaching of God's word you can turn to 599 again in your Trinity hymnal 599 will stand as we sing together [Music] [Music] [Music] well you can turn in your Bibles to the Gospel according to John John chapter 17 John chapter 17 the high priestly prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ Jesus prays for himself in verses 1 to 5 he prays for his immediate disciples in verses 6 to 19 and then he prays for all believers in verses 20 to 26 so we'll take up the first five verses referring to the glory of the father and of the son but I do want to read the chapter so that we can find our bearings in the context beginning in chapter 17 at verse 1 Jesus spoke these words lifted up his eyes to heaven and said father the hour has come glorify your son that your son also may glorify you as you have given him authority over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him and this is eternal life that they may know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent I have glorified you on the earth I have finished the work which you have given me to do and now Oh father glorify me together with yourself with the glory which I had with you before the world was I have manifested your name to the man whom you have given me out of the world they were yours you gave them to me and they have kept your word now they have known that all things which you have given to me are from you for I have given to them the words which you have given me and they have received them and have known surely that I came forth from you and they have believed that you sent me I pray for them I do not pray for the world but for those whom you have given me for they are yours and all mine are yours and yours are mine and I am glorified in them now I am no longer in the world but these are in the world and I come to you Holy Father keep through your name those whom you have given me that they may be one as we are while I was with them in the world I kept them in your name those whom you gave me I have kept and none of them has lost except the son of perdition that the scripture might be fulfilled but now I come to you these things I speak in the world that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves I have given them your word and the world has hated them because they are not of the world just as I am NOT of the world I do not pray that you should take them out of the world but that you should keep them from the evil one they are not of the world just as I am NOT of the world sanctify them by the by your truth Your Word is truth as you sent me into the world I also have sent them into the world and for their sakes I sanctify myself that they also may be sanctified by the truth I do not pray for these alone but also for those who will believe in me through their word that they all may be one as you Father are in me and I in you that they also may be one in us that the world may believe that you sent me and the glory which you gave me I have given them that they may be one just as we are one I in them and you in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me father I desire that they also whom you gave me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which you have given me for you love me before the foundation of the world o righteous father the world has not known you but I have known you and these have known that you sent me and I have declared to them your name and will declare it that the love with which you love me may be in them and I in them amen let us pray father thank you again for the word of God we pray now for the Ministry of the Holy Spirit to help us and to guide us and to lead us into the glorious truth of this passage we pray for Daniel roars mo tonight we just commit this young man to you we pray that you would heal his body that you would give him physical strength that he would be able to to recover from pneumonia and from other illness and that she would just bless him bless his family and give them Grace and encouragement to be a means of encouragement to Daniel and we just pray now that you would forgive us again for our sins and our transgressions and help us to appreciate the glory of the Father glory of the Sun and we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord amen well as I said our Lord starts first with petitions specifically about or for himself he moves to the disciples and then he moves to all believers so I want to look at the Lord's Prayer for himself in verses 1 to 5 first we'll look at the occasion of his prayer secondly the petition in his prayer and thirdly the reasons for that particular petition but in the first place the occasion remember that Christ has just fulfilled or rather finished what was called the Upper Room discourse chapters 13 to 16 Jesus is with his apostles they are in the Upper Room and Jesus is preparing them for his departure and one of the ways or one of the means by which Christ prepares them is with theology proper none of other words he sets before that the truth of the triune God he doesn't give them a pep talk he doesn't give them some surface encouragement but rather he teaches them the deep things of God and that is the way the people of God are to be equipped that is the way the people of God are to be encouraged that is the way the people of God are to be strengthened it is with knowing God that Christ will define for us what the essence of eternal life is in this passage it is the knowledge of God notice that Christ addresses the father says in verse 1 Jesus spoke these words lifted up his eyes to heaven and said father the hour has come now Christ has spoken about this coming hour it is the hour of his departure it is the hour of crucifixion it is the hour of death in fact you can go back to John chapter 12 John chapter 12 verse 23 jesus answered them saying the hour has come that the Son of man should be glorified drop down to chapter 12 and verses 27 and 28 now my soul is troubled in what shall I say father save me from this hour but for this purpose I came to this our Lord's Christ says this is the pinnacle this is the the crucible this is this is everything with reference to the mission of the Son of Man it wasn't to start a new religion it wasn't a set forth a moral example it was rather to save his people from their sins and the means by which he does this is through his death and he specifies that it was for this hour that he comes to the world going on in Chapter 12 here 31 and 32 now is the judgment of this world now the ruler of this world will be cast out and I if I am lifted up from the earth will draw all men to myself this he said signifying by what death he would die notice in John 13 verse 1 now before the Feast of the Passover when Jesus knew that his hour had come that he should depart from this world to the father having loved his own who were in the world he loved them to the end now Christ's hour his death at Calvary while it will secure the salvation of all those whom the father had given him will certainly mean increased persecution for his people in other words the hour of Christ will produce or provoke a time of suffering and persecution for his disciples notice in chapter 16 16:1 these things I have spoken to you that you should not be made to stumble verse 2 they will put you out of the synagogue's yes the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God's service so the hour of Christ's death results in a time of persecution for the people of Christ notice in verse 4 let these things I have told you that when the time comes you may remember that I told you of them and then in verse 32 another reference indeed the hour is coming yes as now God that you will be scattered each to his own and will leave me alone and yet I am NOT alone because the father is with you now note sort of his summary statement at the end of this the Upper Room discourse is in verse 33 these things I have spoken to you that in me you may have peace in the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world we ought to appreciate the candidness of our Lord Jesus the openness of our Lord Jesus the honesty of our Lord Jesus he is preparing his disciples he points them to theology proper he points them to the doctrine of the one God who is Father Son and Holy Spirit but he also tells them the truth there will be tribulation there will be suffering there will be trial if the world hated Christ the world's gonna hate Christ followers he doesn't lied to them he doesn't cover that he doesn't pretend that they're going to just you know sing zip-a-dee-doo-dah all the way to heaven he warns them and admonishes them that they stand prepared and be ready for it and now he comes to pray after the discourse he prays this high priestly prayer and he says father the hour has come now note specifically secondly the petition in his prayer father the hour has come glorify your son that your son also may glorify you now in chapter 13 of verses 31 and 32 he's already spoken of this as having been accomplished fact this prayer is somewhat proleptic he's already speaking of the Cross as having been completed he has set his face like a flint to go to Jerusalem he has set his face like a flint to undergo all that would happen to him in that city he would be rejected he would be denied he would be cast off he would be ultimately crucified so prior to that particular hour or prior to that particular time he's praying as if it's already a done deal and he says to the father glorify your son and we ought to conclude from that and we ought to infer from that that this was indeed the highest act worthy of glorification of the son namely his death at Calvary fact John Calvin makes this observation if it be objected that never was there anything less glorious than the death of Christ think about this when you looked at the cross on that particular day you probably didn't think glory you probably weren't saying wow what a glorious transaction is occurring you wouldn't have thought that we've marveled that the thief on the cross who looked beyond the blood who looked beyond the guts who looked beyond the gore who looked beyond the torture and the suffering in the pain and he says Lord remember me when you come in your kingdom Calvin says that's the highest expression of faith in all of the Bible that man look through the door and saw the king who possess the kingdom and he cast himself upon his mercy but if you were at Golgotha on that day you weren't thinking glory tract the Apostle in first Corinthians 1 says for the Jews that the cross is a stumbling block to the Greeks it's foolishness that's how the world perceives this transaction and that's what Calvin is saying if it be objected that never was there anything less glorious than the death of Christ which was then at hand I reply that in the that in that death we behold a magnificent triumph which is concealed from wicked men for there we perceive that atonement having been made for sins the world has been reconciled to God the curse has been blotted out and Satan has been vanquished you see that's why Christ praise glorify your son and then note the reciprocity involved as Christ is glorified by the Father Christ glorifies the father this is the means by which God is glorified notice verse 1 father the hour has come glorify your son that your son may also may glorify you you see the purpose for which God created the world was his glory what is the chief end of man the chief banded and managed to glorify God and to enjoy him forever what's been rightly observed that that's the chief end of God as well to glorify God and to enjoy himself forever you see that is the apex that is the goal that is where we're moving it's the glory of God Most High you can see that first Corinthians 15:22 28 the Apostle rehearses I think one of the clearest explanations of what's called eschatology of the doctrine of the last things when Christ comes in his second coming he offers up the kingdom to the Father and God is all in all what does that mean except to say that God is glorified God is magnified God has exalted God has praised God is worshipped God is enjoyed by the creature and so Christ's prayer specifically Christ petitions specifically is that the father would glorify the son so that the son also may glorify you the entirety of his mission had the father's glory as the goal one man has defined glory here as two clothed in splendor it is to ascribe it is to attribute it is to highlight the glory of God most high in this particular now this serves as the basis for the rest of the prayer he prays for the disciples his immediate disciples the apostles he prays that God protects them that he keeps them from the evil one he prays that not that God will take them out of the world but that God will guard them and govern them and stabilize them while they're in the world he then prays for his immediate disciples that they be sanctified sanctify them by thy truth thy Word is truth and then in verses 20 to 24 he envisages all of the elect of God having been saved enjoying the unity of father and son and spirit and as well recognizing and beholding and delighting in the glory of God Almighty so if anybody ever asks you what is it about heaven that really makes you long to go there it's to behold the glory of God see some people think oh it's gonna be this big basketball court in the sky whatever your hobby is a big car mechanic shop in the sky a big you know a hockey ring that's probably more appropriate to Canadians right that's what it's gonna be like no it's gonna be beholding the glory of God Father Son and Holy Spirit it's going to be beholding the Majesty in the excellency of you Luke called us out of darkness into marvelous a marvelous light it is going to be praising him and worshiping him and serving him and adoring him and all that without sin it's a beautiful prospect that the people of God hold and this is what Christ prays for in verses 20 to 24 notice in verse 24 father I desire that they also whom you gave me may be with me where I am that they may be hold my glory which you have given me for you love me before the foundation of the world o righteous father the world has not known you but I have known you and these have known that you sent me and I have declared to them your name and will claret that the love with which you love me may be in them and I in them that's our goal that's our focus that's our future so the petition is very simple glorify your son that your son also may glorify you now let's look thirdly at the reasons for the petition and there's three things I want to mention here first the salvation of his elect the accomplishment of redemption and the restoration to glory but note first the salvation of his elect verses two and three Christ says he has authority over all flesh we should never dispute that Christ is the second person of the of the Trinity he has all authority was the agent of creation he is the one in whom all things consist so he's active in terms of Providence he has absolute authority over all flesh and that's what he specifies here in verse two as you have given him authority over all flesh now notice he cones in now on the elect that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him Christ gives eternal life to as many as the father has given him again this is not an obscure doctrine or thought especially in John's Gospel fact go to John chapter six at verse 37 John chapter six at verse 37 will pick up reading in verse 35 remember the feeding of the 5,000 at the very beginning of John chapter 6 serves as the backdrop for this discourse the bread of life discourse and specifically in verse 35 he says I am the bread of life he who comes to me shall never hunger and he who believes in Me shall never thirst but I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe all that the father gives me will come to me you see there's this group of people given by the father to the son in reformed theology we refer to this as the covenant of redemption it is that intra Trinitarian covenant that transacted prior to the foundation of the world where the father gave a lot to the Sun and that sons purpose of the sons purpose was to come and say than from their sins that's what's being shown to us all that the father gives me will come to me and the one who comes to me I will by no means cast out now notice in John 6 39 this is the will of the father who sent me that of all he has given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up at the last day you see how pernicious the doctrine is that teaches that we can lose our salvation that doesn't reflect ultimately on the person having lost salvation it reflects on the Savior having lost one that he was supposed to save if we maintain that a genuine believer that a real person of God that somebody who has come out of Darkness when the marvelous light can lose their salvation that reflects on the Savior it shows that he was weak it shows that he was feeble we cannot allow that the Spurgeon says such a doctrine I abhor those whom the father have given as given to the son will be saved they will be secure remember Matthew's Gospel begins on that great triumphant refrain he will save his people from their sins he doesn't fail he doesn't come short he doesn't lose a few but rather specifically he saves them now when he mentions the one that was lost in his prayer for the disciples in that center section in John 17 he's talking about Judas and it was predetermined it was according to Scripture that Judas would betray him and that Judas would ultimately fall away Judas was never saved it wasn't like he had it and then he lost it so the idea that one for whom Jesus died is not going to make it into heaven is absolutely positively on the scriptural and we ought not to hesitate to say so back to the high priestly prayer we see this distinction made within the prayer itself notice again verse 2 father the hour is come glorify your son that your son may also also may glorify you verse 2 as you have given him authority over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him look at verse 6 I have manifested your name to the man whom you have given me out of the world they were yours you gave them to me and they have kept your word notice in verse 9 I pray for them I do not pray for the but for those whom you have given me for they are yours if I were to ask you what are the two functions of a priest the two function of the priests are intercession and sacrifice well it seems to follow at least in my feeble brain that if he intercedes only for a select group then he as as well sacrificed for that select group in other words he shed his blood for the salvation of all those whom the father had given him that the scripture teaches what we call particular Redemption a particular atonement or definite its own men limited atonement if you like that terminology it's not the case that he spent a shed his blood in vain so he makes this distinction within this high priestly prayer he has all authority over all flesh but he gives life eternal life to as many as you have given him and then notice secondly with reference or rather thirdly with reference to the essence of eternal life look at how he defines this in verse 3 this is eternal life that they may know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent now some would teach that this is the way by which we enter into life other words we know of God in Christ and therefore were saved now we need to make sure that we don't sort of get befuddled in semantics but we also understand that it's by grace through faith in Christ Jesus that's what justification is that's when we are saved and and certainly we need to know of God we need to know of Christ we need to know of the mediator we need to know if that cross worked so you know Romans 10 faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God but I don't think Jesus is teaching the entry into salvation is the knowledge of God in Christ the entry into salvation is faith in Jesus Christ I think Jesus rather is describing what is really good about eternal life what is the essence of eternal life this is eternal life that they may go to that great big basketball court in the sky no this is eternal life that they may know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent though as this is what we have this is what trumps every other than a knowledge this is what is most excellent in most glorious this is what the Prophet Jeremiah spoke of in Jeremiah chapter 9 he says let not the wise man boast of his wisdom and the rich man boast and his riches let not the mighty man boast and his strength but rather let him who boasts boast in this that he knows me that's where eternal life is that's the blessing of it that's the joy involved the knowledge of God in Christ that's what ought to make us get up on Sunday morning and run to the house of God that's what ought to make us open our Bibles each and every day this is what ought to provoke in us a desire to pray and to express our dependence upon the living in the true God the essence of eternal life is this knowledge of the true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent notice the compound object of this saving knowledge notice in verse 3 this is eternal life that they may know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent now typically when a believer when a Christian hears the word God or we read the word God when we theologizing God we ought to thank Father Son and Holy Spirit when that is the Christian God Father Son Holy Spirit one glorious God in three persons from everlasting to everlasting there are three persons in the Godhead the same in substance equal in power and glory is the the Westminster Shorter Catechism teaches however in certain context very often in the New Testament we see that word God applied to the Father and I think that's what's happening here Jesus addresses the father in verse 1 he speaks of God the Father in John 6 27 Jesus is not suggesting that he himself is not God Jesus is recognizing the distinction that obtains between the persons of the Trinity that they may know they the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent in other words that they may know the glorious Trinitarian God of Scripture this is what's called a compound object some actually try and take this passage and T the subordination of Jesus they teach the inferiority of Jesus but I ask you what creature could say that the very essence of eternal life is the knowledge of God and that creature he couldn't do it there's no way even as good a creature as he may have been the only one who could say this is God himself and this is consistent with the prophet Isaiah that we read out at the outset of at the outset of worship in Isaiah 42 verse 8 I am Yahweh that is my name and my glory I will not give to another and yet here's Jesus saying glorify your son that your son may glorify you this is the very essence of eternal life that they may know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent Jesus Christ is not teaching his inferiority Jesus Christ is not teaching his subordination Jesus Christ according to his humanity is praying to the Father but he never ceases being the second person of the Trinity he is on par with the father and they together are the object of faith for the people of God Isaiah 48 verse 11 for my own sake for my own sake I will do it for how should my name be profaned and I will not give my glory to another now there are instances in the New Testament interestingly enough where that name God it's the Greek word de Oz where we get the word theology meaning the study of or the doctrine of God there are instances and occasions where say us is applied specifically to our Lord Jesus Christ so if anybody teaches the inferiority of Christ or the subordination of Christ not according to his humanity but in terms of divinity if anybody teaches that they have to wrestle with those passages where the name God or the word God is applied specifically to Jesus now you might be asking the question where does the Bible do that well let's just look at a few notice in John 1:1 John 1:1 in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God the word is Jesus as verse 14 tells us the word became flash he dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father a brother and that's another very important doctrine the the eternal generation of the Sun the begotten s of the Sun that is employed to distinguish between the persons of the Godhead it is not employed to teach subordination it is not employed to teach inferiority the persons of the Godhead are recognized by their relations by their distinctions and the the specific distinction of the son is that he is begotten notice in John 20:28 again just surveying some passages where the word Deus or God is applied to our Lord Jesus Christ because I don't want anybody to leave here saying well you know God the Father is God and Jesus is sort of a little a god or Jesus is sort a little G God or sort of some subordinate or inferior God that that's not the case notice in John 20:28 it's after the resurrection when Jesus is dealing with Thomas and in verse 27 Jesus says to Thomas reach your finger here and look at my hands and reach your hand here and put it into my side do not be unbelieving but believing and Thomas answered and said to him my Lord and my god this wasn't an exclamation he wasn't blaspheming it wasn't like he hit his nail thumb with a hammer and he just sort of said oh my lord and my god it is directed specifically to our Lord Jesus Christ look at acts 20 and verse 28 acts 20 and verse 28 again something we ought to appreciate with reference to John 17:3 the compound object of that knowledge his father and son acts 20:28 therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to Shepherd the Church of God which he purchased with his own blood it's the second person of the Trinity it's the Lord Jesus Christ who shed his blood on the cross and here specifically he is called God notice in Romans 9 Romans chapter 9 at verse 5 Romans 9:5 of whom are the fathers and from whom according to the flesh Christ came who is over all the eternally blessed God a man Titus chapter 2 and verse 13 Titus chapter 2 and verse 13 again the New Testament application of the name say us to our Lord Jesus Christ Titus 2:13 looking for the Blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ he's described there as our great God and Savior Jesus Christ you see a similar construction in second Peter 1:1 I think it's the King James here that obscures this and that's not cool but such as life second Peter 1:1 Simon Peter upon serve an apostle of Jesus Christ to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ and then 1st John 5:20 1st John 5:20 and we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding that we may know Him who is true and we are in Him who is true in His Son Jesus Christ this is the true God and eternal life so going back to the high priestly prayer remember that Jesus is praying according to his humanity remember that he is the Incarnate son of God that he is dependent upon the father according to his humanity but he highlights this reality that the knowledge that the essence of eternal life is the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ let me just take a moment to say therefore read your Bible pray and never miss Church brethren this is what it's about we are not going to heaven because we're good we're not going to heaven because we're virtuous we're not going to heaven because we've somehow arrived we're going to heaven by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone it's about what we believe that's what distinguishes us from the pagan it's what distinguishes us from the Jew it's what distinguishes us from the Muslim or the Buddhists or whoever it is what we believe and we need to know what we believe we need to take Peters words seriously in second Peter 3 he says grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that's not just a suggestion that's not just for a few within the context of the local church that's not just for the Saturday morning theology study that's for each and every believer that's for each and every Christian everybody who names the name of Christ has a responsibility and a blessed privilege it's not a responsibility like taking out the trash it's a responsibility that is completely a privilege we get to know and understand who God is and who his son Jesus Christ is you see we need to be about that we need to enter into this new year committed to reading our Bibles to praying and not missing church you see how I do this the end of the year we typically take all the time off and so I preach sermons that I've preached before if you follow the trajectory they're usually the same theme the last Sunday before we enter into the new year I typically tell you in the morning and evening read your Bibles pray and come to church this morning had pretty much heart on the coming to church aspect so tonight read your Bibles and pray this is the best way to approach a new year you know I often look at people at the gym you see this rush for membership and you know the first week of January and by February it's the same old same old group again you know we make these resolutions and we're gonna do it this time and yet we don't follow through and I think believers are like that I'm gonna read my Bible this time and they get to you know Leviticus and they say well that's it I'm I'm done it's over don't do that persevere you know if something is worth having it's worth persevering for and the knowledge of God according to our Lord Jesus is something worth having this is eternal life that they may know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent yes eternal life means not going to help yes eternal life means not suffering the wrath of God yes eternal life means going to heaven yes eternal life means seeing those we love I have this this idea that if we recognize Abraham Isaac and Jacob in that marriage supper of the Lamb we're starting to recognize each other and that definitely a boon to consider as to why we want to go to heaven but the blessedness of heaven ultimately it's the knowledge of God the blessedness of heaven is the knowledge of Jesus Christ and this is what he says to us this is how he describes it now notice secondly under the reasons for the petitioner the accomplishment of redemption verse four he says I have glorified you on the earth I have finished the work which you have given me to do this refers to what is called the active obedience of Jesus Christ the passive obedience is related to his death at Calvary doesn't mean he was passive in the sense that he didn't participate obviously he participated he bore the shame and the curse of the cross he bore the wrath and fury of God the Father - just a distinction that's made I'm not exactly sure why passion but but but this is the the distinction that's made you've got this passive obedience the death on the cross and eerie highlights the active obedience these answer to the two blessings involved in justification we believe the gospel and what happens we are justified freely by His grace justification means the forgiveness of sins that is secured for us by Christ's death at Calvary that is secured for us by the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world but in justification we also receive the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ and it's received by faith alone well what righteousness it's that righteousness of the thirty-three years that he lived on this earth it's that righteousness that he refers to here it's that act of righteousness that Paul refers to in Romans chapter 5 he speaks to the one man's disobedience bringing death to all but the one man's obedience the one man's righteousness brings life to all all in him and that's what Christ is highlighting here he speaks of it as having been accomplished he speaks of it as good as done I have glorified you on the earth I have finished the work which you have given me to do again not an obscure doctrine in John's Gospel last week when we looked at Zechariah 3 I mentioned the fellow called new NT right an NT right sort of mocks the idea of the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ he mocks it like in a in a courtroom is there a gas or a vapor that the judge orders go and overcome the particular person and as Ian do-good says with reference to that scene in Zechariah 3 we precisely have a courtroom and God does put these righteous robes upon this sinful man if the active obedience of Jesus Christ is not imputed to the elect we are forgiven but we're kind of back at the tree and we need to fulfill all righteousness in order for entrance into heaven but that's not the gospel gospel is not me having to secure my salvation gospel has Jesus Christ saves his people from their sins Jesus Christ does that by bringing forgiveness and by achieving a righteousness that is imputed to his people and received by faith alone I hope that you all follow that and I hope it encourages your heart and I hope that when we die we'll say with J Gresham machen I am so thankful for the active obedience of Jesus Christ for there is no hope without it John chapter 2 verses 16 and 17 I want us to see the emphasis on the active obedience of Christ in John's gospel not confined to John's Gospel but certainly on display in John's Gospel John 2:16 and 17 and he said to those who sold doves take these things away do not make my father's house a house of merchandise then his disciples remembered that it was written zeal for your house has eaten me up that was sad because zeal for God's house has not eaten us up we're just not that motivated for the house of God we're just not that concerned for the house of God so if there isn't a champion if there isn't a substitute if there isn't one who secures this for us we are in dire straits notice in John 4:34 we saw this this more in the scripture reading the disciples say in verse 33 has anyone brought him anything to eat jesus said to them my food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work that's the food of Christ is to do the will of the Father and to finish his work I mean imagine these disciples just perplexed Lord Lord Lord you gotta eat oh no I don't need to eat well what do you mean is somebody giving him food it's like he's speaking in riddles to them because they're not tracking with the reality just like we wouldn't that there is actually a human being in this case the second person of the Trinity actually wanting to do everything the father says it's pretty mind-blowing that someone said this and someone meant it you see we need that in order for our salvation notice in John 6 we've already looked there we can look back at verses 38 and 39 for I have come down from my from heaven not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me this is the will of the Father who sent me that of all he has given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up at the last day notice in John 829 Johnny 29 and he who sent me is with me the father has not left me alone for I always do those things that please him I always do those things that please him can you say that no you absolutely positively can I am NOT gonna argue with you at all because I know there's no way that you can say this but you have a champion you have a victor you have a savior you have one who did say it and who meant it notice in John 855 John 855 yet you have not known him but I know him and if I say I do not know him I shall be a liar like you but I do know him and keep his word did you see why these religious leaders didn't like him do you see why there was such enmity against the Son of God his earthly ministry I'll be a liar like you what do you mean by that geez Jesus wasn't you know he wouldn't fit in the modern snowflake culture Jesus would offend people he would go to university campuses and he would offend he would come into churches and he would offend he would say the sorts of things that he says and he would offend he would tell people you are of your father the devil and the desires of your father you want to do if you go back a little bit in John 8 that's what he says to the religious leaders blizzard again I never stood by this but I can't understand on an earthly level why they picked up stones to throw at him especially when he asserts that he is I am before Abraham was I am another description of deity with reference to the son of God to himself but in terms of the active obedience of Christ he always does what the father said to do John 12 we've seen it already John 12 27 and 28 notice as well in John 12 50 John 12 50 and I know that his command is everlasting life therefore whatever I speak just as the father has told me so I speak John 14 and verse 31 John 14 but that the world may know that I love the father and as the father gave me commandment so I do rise let us go from here so my point is is that everywhere in this gospel record and we see it in the other Gospels as well Christ highlights this aspect of his ministry now the theology behind the imputation of Christ's righteousness is specifically found in Romans chapter 5 he see it as well in 1st Corinthians chapter 15 so there's a feel logical explanation for why Christ did specifically what Christ did and that is the active obedience of Jesus Christ the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to believers it's received by faith alone it is one of the aspects of justification that we receive when we by grace look to Christ in faith we're forgiven of our sins and we receive that righteousness and Christ highlights that now I mentioned earlier and I don't want to go too far afield here but it does bear repetition this whole idea of the covenant of redemption see what we see Christ doing here in the gospel records is accomplishing what the father gave him before the foundation of the world Lords the father said here's a miserable lot of wretched sinners you can read John Flavel on this it's beautiful with glorious where he personifies God he personifies the Sun and and the father gives to the son this miserable lot of sinners and Christ accepts the the task Christ says I will pay their debt I will I will fulfill all the obligations and I will do everything required to save them that's what the gospel records show us it is that eternal transaction between the persons of the of the Trinity being fleshed out in history oh it's it's the covenant of redemption that is the basis for the covenant of grace but with reference to the covenant of grace we need to remember that it was a covenant of works for our Lord Jesus so that it would be a covenant of grace for us the covenant of grace for the believer is the covenant of works capped for us by Christ that Birkhoff mentions this relationship more in terms of the covenant of redemption says the covenant of redemption it are though the Covenant of redemption is the eternal basis of the covenant of grace and as far as sinners are concerned also its eternal prototype it was for Christ a covenant of works rather than a covenant of grace you have to appreciate this there's a sense brethren where we are saved by the works well we are saved by our works just not our own because they're terrible they're bad they're horrible they're miserable the best that we can do are like filthy rags in the sight of holy God the very most virtue that you or I could pony up is still disgusting when measured according to Scripture I mean what's the great motivation for any good work love to God love to our fellows isn't that the the first and second great Commandments everything you do you do with love to God and love format probably not I mean I don't only speak with certainty for one of us in here but I don't think you're a whole lot different than me I mean every single thing we do we do with I do the Gloria I've got most likely no if you say well yeah I do that you know for 23 hours of the day I would really like to see just for 23 seconds of day that this actually transpire you see for Christ the covenant of grace was a covenant of works he kept this for us all of the obligations laid upon him by the Father he does for us he says for him the law of the original covenant applied namely that eternal life could only be obtained by meeting the demands of the law as the last Adam Christ obtains eternal life for sinners in reward for faithful obedience and not at all as an unmerited gift of grace and what he has done as the representative and surety of all his people they are no more in duty-bound to do the work has been done the reward is merited and believers are made partakers of the fruit of Christ accomplished work through grace now Birkhoff is not suggesting license he's not suggesting that we continue in sin that grace may abound Birkhoff is dealing with justification Christ paid the debt Christ fulfilled the obligations in justification we are forgiven we have this righteousness and therefore the work is accomplished our salvation is wrought out it's finished it's applied by the spirit that does not militate against sanctification and the people of God living in light of that truth and seeking by God's grace to be holy and to live lies that adorn their doctrine but our salvation is not contingent upon our acts our doings our obedience our merit our law keeping for then we would never be saved it's all about him who said my meat is to do the will of him who sent me in other words brethren see where your hope lies it is in Jesus Christ and in him alone and then finally Jesus speaks of the restoration of his glory and verse 5 and now a father glorify me together with yourself with the glory which I had with you before the world was remember the Lord Jesus Christ in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God that word be Kame flesh and dwelt among us there's a sense where the Lord Christ according to his role as mediator is exalted now to the right hand of the Father he has all authority and power in heaven and on earth and he has a name that is above every name and the Lord Jesus Christ prays for a restoration to that glory having accomplished the work that the father gave him well in conclusion I hope that we have seen that Christ is indeed the second person of the Trinity he is deity Christ is God and we need to know that we need to appreciate that and we need to realize that for our soul safety and benefit I think one of the arguments of athenais shoes with reference to the deity of Jesus was that only God Himself could say fallen humanity I quite like that I think that's a great explanation only God Himself could say fallen humanity not creature no creature could do what Christ did it had to be the second person of the Blessed Trinity who assumed our humanity with all of the essential properties and common infirmities thereof yet without sin he had to undertake on our behalf to do what God called him to do for us men and for our salvation secondly the essence of eternal life is the knowledge of God then the knowledge of God the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ again read your Bible and pray understand certain things concerning God the the love of God our confession says that God is most loving have you ever pondered that they were just thought for a moment that the God is most loving what does that mean that means that his love will not increase because it can't his love is most loving you don't go up for most it's as loving as it can be but as well it will never decrease all that God is he is for his people all the time this doctrine with reference to the Providence of God brethren we need to understand God's providence we need to understand who God is one of the things that we've seen in the studies in our confession of faith is that chapter three of God's decree comes right after Chapter two of God the Holy Trinity you say wow but well that's a cutting-edge insight there's a reason for it the decree is not Islamic fatalism the decree is not blind faith it is the God described in Chapter two of the confession that is carrying out his holy will for the good of his people according to his goodness according to his kindness according to his mercy brethren it's only an appreciation of that that leads believers to confess with with Paul in Romans 8 that that God works all things for good we have to know God in order to know that passage that even the miserable things the terrible things the horrible things God is working those things out for the good of his people see that's the context in Romans 8 Paul is not suggesting God works out you know bags of money for the good of his people God works out vacations for the good of us we already know that we need to know God works out misery pain affliction and suffering for our good and so this knowledge of God ought to include the Providence of God it ought to include the Covenant of God the covenant of grace the covenant of works the covenant of redemption these aren't just theological construct imposed by by 17th century theologians on the Bible to make theology hard no once you get your mind wrapped around what God is doing in these covenants you say wow the covenant of grace is the covenant of works kept for us by our champion by our mediator by our Redeemer we need to know God and his son the Lord Jesus Christ with reference to assurance what's a boon to your assurance you probably not do you ever wake up on a Thursday feeling terrible and say but I'm a great guy that's gonna help me get through the day I hope not because you're not going to get through the day on Thursday morning when you wake up and it's a terrible you need to think about we sort of a great father a great son a great Holy Spirit we need to think on this God with reference to our assurance of salvation hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus name why does mote say that because sweet frames come and go sweet frames are are often in demand sweet frames are not often the norm and ordinary for the people of God if we trust in sweet frames we're going to be a miserable lot we trust in the blood and righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ and then with reference to this knowledge of God and his son the Lord Jesus Christ this is the activity of eternity in other words if you've got a problem with Bible study now let's have it gonna be like you need to start conforming your mind to what's going to happen in the eternal State remember it was Rick Anderson that sort of explained heaven in this sort of way you know when you take a kid perhaps to Disneyland the first time each corner they turn that the breath is taken away they they see something it's that kind of a thing and he says Heaven's going to be like that it's constant fresh understanding knowledge of who God is it's it's not the case that we'll ever exhaust it it's not the case that you could put the Pacific Ocean in a glass you you could put the Pacific Ocean in a glass earlier and sooner and quicker then you could explain the glory of the infinite God to the creature just can't do it so not the case we're going to learn everything there is to know about God and we're just gonna chill know the knowledge of each or the the activity of eternity is growing in our knowledge of who God is and who is son the Lord Jesus Christ as mentioned this morning we need to know this God we need to know his son with reference to worship we come in here just to charge our batteries do we come in here just for social intercourse do we come in here for entertainment do we come in here for an emotional charge do we come in here for an experience no we come in here to worship the god of absolute holiness righteousness the God who says through the Prophet Malachi if sons honor their fathers and if and servants honor their masters if I'm a father I'm a master where is the reverence due to my name well it's the knowledge of this God that ought to promote that sort a biblical worship and then the knowledge of God and Christian response I already cited second Peter 3:18 but grow in the grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ that that that's duty again it's blessed privilege duty it's great it's wonderful so you know your mom telling you I command you to eat cookies so okay that's a that's a duty that I I want to engage I want to I want to obey that mandate you see brethren we have that responsibility because God wants the people of God to be mature God wants the people of God to think his thoughts after him God knows that for the people of God to represent him accurately they need to be a people of the book this is Paul's point in Romans 12:2 do not be conformed to the world but be transformed by what by emotions by experience by mountaintops by the renewing of your mind how is that mind renewed it's by putting your nose in the book it's by showing up and hearing sermons it's by going to Bible study it's by comparing Scripture with Scripture it's by reading our confession of faith it's by studying our confession of faith it's by reading good Christian books in Hosea's day the Lord through the Prophet said my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because you have rejected knowledge I also will reject you from being priests for me because you have forgotten the law of your God I also will forget your children Hosea 4:6 so it's not a small thing we are called to exercise this responsibility in dependence upon the Holy Spirit to grow in the Grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and if you're not a believer here tonight the answer with reference to belief is to look unto Christ not just to know that God sent his son into the world it's to believe that Christ is in fact the mediator Christ is in fact the one who took the sins of his of his people took them to the cross bore them in his own body on the tree and satisfied divine justice look to Christ will have everlasting life well let's pray father we thank you for your word we thank you for your grace and for your mercy and we pray that as we enter into a new year that we as your people would not only profess the faith but would live in light of it and that we would see that great blessing of the knowledge of God and of this son the Lord Jesus Christ give us help in these things we confess our sluggishness at times we confess our coldness at times we confess our dependence upon you and pray that you would supply the Holy Spirit to do that which is lacking in our own hearts and in our own lives go with us now we pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation and then be dismissed