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e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e good morning to everyone welcome to Free Grace Baptist Church uh any visitors out there it's a joy to have you join us for for worship this morning morning uh thank you for being with us and we hope it would be a it will be a joy for you to gather here with us for the worship of our great God just a few announcements uh before we begin worship this morning uh first off uh the evening service of course is tonight um at 5:00 p.m. this upcoming Wednesday there will be the the last Bible study before the summer break so this upcoming Wednesday 7:30 in the fellowship hall that will be the last one uh again before before we break for the summer and then reconvene in September uh Landon van doop as has been announced previously has applied for membership so we'll be bringing him up next Lord's day uh to receive him into the membership so uh we look forward to that Another Blessing uh lastly the the the last lunch will be June 30th so the last luncheon uh in the fellowship hall will be the 30th of June and uh that will be again the last one before we break for summer uh Leslie will be sending an email out with regards to some uh announcements and and instructions related to that well let's turn now to the worship of our Triune God if you'll turn with me as a a call to worship to Psalm 887 Psalm 87 this is the word of God a Psalm of the sons of Kora a song his foundation is in the Holy mountains the lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob glorious things are spoken of you oh City city of God say la I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to those who know me behold behold o fisa and tire with Ethiopia this one was born there and of Zion it will be said this one and that one were born in her and the most high himself shall establish her the Lord will record when he registers the peoples this one was born there say la both the singers and the players on instruments say all my spr are in you amen let's stand and sing together our first hymn will be Psalm 87 Psalm 87 let's stand and sing [Music] together that's the PSAL that I just read to open worship my what we are singing is Psalm 80b correct Psalm 80b is in broo my apologies that's right and we shall be sa our our our Lord God Al Mighty in Mercy restore and we shall be the is pred deeply rooted in th his and free spr mountain river to see noer care we be all glory is down in th mercy and [Music] let's go to our God In Prayer let's pray Heavenly Father we rejoice in this opportunity now to gather in this your house on this your Lord's day and we thank you that you have caused each and every one of us to arise on a new day to draw breath in our lungs to enjoy the many blessings the the many condescension that you give us uh according to your Eternal loving kindness we thank you that uh we can be in this place in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to give worship to our great god father Son and Holy Spirit we do pray that you would be hallowed in this place that your name would be honored that you would receive genuinely from uh from Hearts uh worshiping in spirit and in truth the worship of your gathered people and we long to do that to worship you in spirit and in truth and so we pray for the help of the the holy spirit that he would be in our midst uh lifting up our hearts to worship our great God Illuminating our minds by the proclamation of the word that we might Behold our blessed God and rejoice in Jesus Christ Our Savior and we do thank you for him we thank you that in the fullness of the times you did send forth your son born of a woman and born under the law to redeem those who are under the law that we might have that adoption as Sons we rejoice in so great a Salvation knowing that we do not Merit salvation by Deeds of righteousness which we have done but according to your mercy you saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit and and this by virtue of the perfect work of the Lord Jesus Christ we thank you that he obeyed your law perfectly in the stead of all who believe in his name we thank you that he died upon calvary's cross in order to to Bear the curse to Bear the Wrath that was due all who believe in his name that he died perfectly upon calvary's cross not in a not an atonement of maybe or perhaps but a perfect atonement upon calvary's cross wherein a multitude of Believers from every trib tongue people and Nation uh are are gifted salvation by so great a God we do praise you for the Gospel of Jesus Christ Our Savior for his righteousness for the Forgiveness of sins we pray that now we would Avail of that precious spilled blood we pray that you'd forgive us of all of our sins that knowing that we do have an advocate with with the father even Jesus Christ the just one and that in him we do have this forgiveness we pray that you'd help us uh again as we continue in prayer to have Minds drawn to the persecuted church we uh are called to pray for those who are in Chains uh for our brothers and sisters throughout the world who suffer persecution for the name of Christ we do pray that you would be with them in in Many Nations where there is such tyranny such opposition by government such opposition by their own countrymen we do pray that you would comfort them and give them much courage as they endure these afflictions and these persecutions we pray that in the midst of them they would look with eyes of faith upon a risen and Victorious Christ that they would find much Faith much confidence and much conviction in the blessed savior we do pray that you would deal with those who persecute them as we as we often pray we would pray that the Gospel of Jesus Christ would go victoriously such that those who are presently in opposition uh to our Triune God and the Risen Christ would by Grace uh would by your love and mercy would by the power of efficacious Grace be brought from deadness and sin and the Darkness of sin to life and light in Jesus Christ Our blessed savior do save throughout the world those who oppose your name and we do know that there will be those who who would oppose unto their final breath those uh those unregenerate those reprobate who would seek to continue to to perpetrate violence against your people we do pray that you would tear out their fangs we pray that you would cause them to wither away as the snail that they would stumble like drunken men and not be uh not be allowed to to bring any more violence upon the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray that you would save many that you would judge those in opposition and that you would vindicate your name throughout the Earth we do ask Lord God for those who govern over us that you would cause them to do so in proper righteousness and Truth according to the will of God we pray that you would cast aside any who would seek to uphold wickedness in the land and uh those who would call Vice virtue and and virtue Vice we pray that you would cast them down and raise up such who would uh who would rule in in equity and with a proper Justice we think of those Lord God in our midst whether with us or unable to join us that are suffering physically those enduring illness and disease and recovery from injury we pray that you would help them in their bodies do heal them and tend to them cause them to know gains and strength and we would also pray Lord God for those struggling spiritually as it can often be the case in the Christian walk that the the rains and the storms of frowning providences and various things uh can bring us down but we pray to for all of us for all of those struggling that you would lift us to those uh those high points of the joy of our Salvation that you might lift us up in spirit to to behold the the Glorious things of our God to be resting Upon Jesus Christ and that you would by these things return to us that that cheer of the people of God God we pray that you would then continue to be with us in worship Lord we uh we just uh think of the the upcoming act and Central act of worship the preaching of the word we pray that you'd be with Pastor Butler as he opens up his Bible to preach to us we pray that the spirit would be here empowering him to uh to speak with great great confidence and Clarity that he would speak rightly the things of of your word and and that we would receive as those taking in the preached word Lord that by the spirit we would receive well those things preached that in this church this morning your Saints would be lifted up encouraged and and edified and Lord God because it is possible only with you that each and every tongue would leave this place singing the Praises of our redeeming King Jesus Christ and we pray in his name amen am well let's stand again and sing if you will this time I know that it's 145c we're going to sing it to a familiar tune if you'll stand with me and sing 145c let's sing as a church God PR you oh my BL every day and ever your prises I will sing great is the Lord our Mighty God and great to be his great is UN all glory sh to the and to your gra your of all your glorious mesty and H I will D and all your grand and glorious work and all your praise for Mighty and aome we shall all your great good we shall sing and perfect rightous gracious and compassion is all his is [Music] ever can turn in your Bibles with me to the gospel of Matthew as we continue to read consecutively through the New Testament in our morning worship we're now in Matthew 27 again it's a long chapter we'll finish it off this morning by picking up at verse 45 Matthew 27 beginning in verse 45 to the end of the chapter this is the word of the Triune God now from the 6th hour until the 9th hour there was Darkness over all the land and about the 9th hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying Ellie Ellie Lama sabachthani that is my God my God why have you forsaken me some of those who stood there when they heard that said this man is calling for Elijah immediately one of them ran and took a sponge filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed and offered it to him to drink the rest said let him alone let us see if Elijah will come to save him and Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his Spirit then behold the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom and the earthqu quaked and the Rocks were split and the graves were opened and many bodies of the Saints who had fallen asleep were raised and coming out of the graves after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many so when the Centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and the things that had happened they feared greatly saying truly this was the son of God and many women who followed Jesus From Galilee ministering to him were looking on from afar among whom were Mary Magdalene Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of zeb's sons now when evening had come there came a rich man from arthea named Joseph who himself also had become a disciple of Jesus this man went to pilate and asked for the body of Jesus then pilate commanded the body to be given to him when Joseph had taken the body he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his new tomb which he had uh which he had heu out of the rocks and he rolled a large Stone against the door of the Tomb and departed and Mary Magdalene was there and the mother uh and the other Mary Sitting opposite the tomb on the next day which followed the day of preparation the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilot saying sir we remember while he was still alive how the deceiver said how that deceiver said after 3 days I will rise therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day lest his disci deciples come by night and steal him away and say to the people he has risen from the dead so the last deception will be worse than the first pilate said to them you have a guard go your way make it as secure as you know how so they went and made the tomb secure sealing the stone and setting the guard amen just two very brief observations we have this statement by the Lord Jesus Christ and he is uh in effect praying Psalm 22 to his father according to his assumed Humanity my God my God why have you forsaken me that's the first the first verse of Psalm 22 you know Jesus is praying this again according to his assumed Humanity to his father and he's drawing attention to the fact that he is the one promised in Psalm 22 the one who would be enclosed by the congregation of the wicked who would have his hands and his feet pierced he is the promised one the promised Christ The Promised Messiah who would bring Redemption to to his people and this statement is not saying that there is as Pastor Butler has said many times in is preaching on the Gospel of John this this statement isn't saying that Christ is somehow according to his divinity separated from the other two persons of the Trinity there is no breach or division in the unity of the Trinity because there can be no such breach he is praying according to his assumed humanity and God has not completely abandoned Christ but he bearing the bearing the curse and bearing the Wrath substitution arily for his people the the the the pleasant or the goodness the the the the presence of God in in providential gracious bestowing of his presence is removed from Christ as he's bearing the sins of his people according to his assumed humanity and we have this wonderful statement here then behold the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom there's much meaning to that it's not simply recording a historical fact that isn't interesting the veil of the temple was torn but remember that the veil of the temple according to Paul in Hebrews is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ his flesh being a veil that was torn in effect for his people it's it's speaking first is speaking with regards to the wrath of God being visited upon disobedient Jerusalem for the crucifixion of the Lord Of Glory it's also speaking though to the fact that the antitype of the veil has come he has been pierced his flesh has been given for the for the sins of his people and it also announces the end of old Covenant religion the veil of the temple is torn because the one to whom all of those articles of old Covenant religion pointed to he has now come he has performed the promised Redemption he has fulfilled the types that pointed forward to him all of those Shadows all of those types all of those copies of the true the true had come and so the veil of the the temple is torn the blessed one has been crucified and has rendered salvation for his people there is much in the teing of the veil and we see this statement by the uh Centurion truly this was the son of God he didn't necessarily recognize the mediatorship of the Lord Jesus Christ by saying this but he did recognize divine power exercised upon the cross with these with the earthquakes with the veil being torn with the Graves being open all of this pressed upon this Centurion to declare this wonderful confession truly this was the son of God and we are those who Avail of the blessings of this son of God who assumed our Humanity who gave himself for guilty Sinners what a blessing it is to gather together in this church this morning to worship the Triune God in the name of that Christ let's pray Heavenly Father we thank you so much for your word we rejoice in your goodness to us in declaring your truth in the scriptures we thank you that page after page chapter after chapter it does point to Christ upon the cross working out the salvation of men we do pray that you'd help us now in continuing with our worship as we sing one more hymn as a church as we engage in the preaching of your word we pray that you would help us to bring honor to you that we might leave this place singing your praises and it's in Christ's name that we pray amen our final hymn then before the preaching is 405 if you'll stand with me and sing 405 [Music] of the church bless Redeemer sing with his all my [Music] Church De as the of th heart and th for my tear shall for my pray to my [Music] and my highest rer and the mer you of love and prise Jesus the friendly Our Savior and our I am great as my Tru shall to shall be the rightous glor you can turn with me in your Bibles to John's gospel John chapter 15 as we continue in our study in the upper room discourse John 15 we're going to do something a bit different this morning we're going to just take up the first half of verse one but I want to read from chapter 15 verse 1 to verse 8 so Jesus says in the upper room I am the True Vine and the uh the father is the vine dresser every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away and every branch that bears fruit he prunes that it may bear more fruit you are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you abide in me and I in you as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine neither can you unless you abide in in me I am the vine you are the branches he who abides in me and I in him Bears much fruit for without me you can do nothing if any one does not abide in me he is cast out as a branch and is withered and they gather them and throw them into the fire and they are burned if you abide in me and my words abide in you you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you by this my father is glorified that you bear much fruit so you will be my disciples amen well let us pray our gracious God and Holy Father we thank you for the Lord's day we thank you for the house of God which is the Church of the Living God the pillar and the ground of the truth and we pray that your spirit would be at work now that you would edify and encourage the people of God that you would save those who are dead in their trespasses and sins may they hear of Jesus the the True Vine that one in whom is everlasting life and may they by Grace believe on him that they may pass from death into life forgive us all for all of our sins cleanse Us in the Precious Blood of the lamb and again we ask that you'd be glorified even father Son and Holy Spirit and we pray in jesus' name amen well as we come to this particular statement the first half of verse one I am the True Vine as I said I want to take some time to investigate that because I think it's very important for us to understand how the Bible as a whole works together when I was a child and probably many others here you had encyclopedias in your home you had the world book or britanica I understand those are still available but it's with the push of a button instead of having to get up all the way and walk across the couch or walk across the hallway and find that particular encyclopedia when we talk about theology there's four heads in the theological encyclopedia first we call exegetical theology that's simply where we ask the Bible what do you mean the second head is historical theology we asked the church can you help us understand what the Bible means not in an authoritative magisterial sense but Christ gave gifts to the church and we should certainly listen to them whatever age they find themselves in and then thirdly is what's called Systematic Theology where we take the fruit of that research and we put it into what you might consider a systematic or logical fashion we ask the Bible what do you say about God and then the the texts come and the doctrines come and then the fourth head with reference to that encyclopedia is called practical theology so we take the fruit of all that research and then we hopefully live in a manner that is consistent with that in other words Our Lives Adorn the doctrine that we confess that we believe so we have looked a lot at Systematic Theology thus far in our studies in the upper room discourse certainly exog Jesus I've tried to open the text and show you what the Holy Spirit intended by way of meaning but systematically we've tried to put all that data together in our formulation the doctrine of the the Trinity the Christian doctrine of the Trinity well our focus with reference to verse 1 a in chapter 15 is going to be on what's called biblical theology now biblical theology is a part of exegetical Theology and biblical theology basically starts in Genesis 1 and goes all the way to revelation 22 to see the outflow of God's self-revelation in a more organic way it's not system atic what does the Bible say so we look in various parts and then bring all those parts together rather it takes up the Bible from the left continues all the way to the right and takes God's revelation as it comes to us in history sort of a father of biblical theology in our own generation a man by the name of gardis Voss explains it this way biblical theology is that branch of exegetical theology which deals with the process of the self-revelation of God the deposited in the Bible so the process of the self-revelation of God deposited in the Bible he then highlights that there is a historic progressiveness of Revelation in process again what we find in the beginning helps feed us along the way till we come to the end and we have a robust understanding he speaks of the actual embodiment of Revelation and history in other words as we move through scripture we see the embodiment of Revel ation in history as well organic nature of the historic Pro uh process observed in Revelation organic again in contrast but not in competition with systematic so you start in gen Genesis you move to the Book of Revelation now why is all of this important because when Jesus uses this metaphor in 151a it brings together a lot of strands of Biblical teaching to present for the reader something concerning who he is not only in terms of his person and work but in terms of his connection to the Old Testament in terms of his connection to the true people of God and so if you pay attention and that's not in some sort of third grade teacher way but if you pay attention I don't think we're going to make it all the way the sermon this morning so I would really encourage you to come back next week I may just make you mad enough this morning to hopefully invite you to come back back next well you're going to get more mad next Sunday morning depending on where you're at in terms of some biblical theological Concepts and then as well when we use biblical theology we often see something concerning typology and I've nodded toward and spoken about typology in our study in the Gospel of John up to this point remember that a type can be a person office Place institution event or thing in Salvation history the temple the Tabernacle was typical the antitype the Fulfillment of the in the place of is our Lord Jesus Christ remember in John 2 destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up and then they Mock and they scoff well it took us all these years to build the temple and in 3 days you're going to build it up well John the Theologian tells us he was commenting or talking about the the Temple of his body the ironic priesthood the levitical priesthood was typological of our Lord Jesus Christ the levitical sacrifices were typological of our Lord Jesus Christ remember in John 1:29 Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world you don't really understand that without typology and and antitype you don't really get it unless you appreciate what happens in The Book of Leviticus and what is being fulfilled by our Lord Jesus Christ so typological sort of prefigurement in the Old Testament gives us understanding concerning our Lord and our Lord gives us understanding in what to do with those types so the argument here is going to be simple as we treat 151a Adam was a type of Christ according to Romans 5:14 the Apostle Paul tells us clearly Adam was a type of him who was to come Adam doesn't become a type in Romans 5:14 Adam was a type when God planted him in the garden it didn't become true because Paul recognized it Paul shows us what had always been true there is a first Adam and there is a last Adam but as we proceed here specifically in 151a Adam was a type of Christ and so was Israel what Adam failed to do in the garden and Israel failed to do in the old Covenant the Lord Jesus Christ came as the last Adam and the true Israel to fulfill all that they were obligated to do so when Jesus says I am the True Vine he's using a metaphor to be sure something that we can connect with that we'll review in just a moment but he's also dipping back into Old Covenant reality and showing that he is in fact the one in whom all the promises of God are yay and amen in short we're going to do another thing in that is a subset of exegetical theology you've got biblical Theology and you've got covenant theology as a Reformed Church we hold the covenant theology so nothing that I say this morning or next Sunday morning should really surprise any of you but I think it is the right application of an interpretative method to these texts in the Old Testament that announce and prophesy the coming of the Messiah and the New Testament text that show us the realization and the Fulfillment of those texts in the person and in the work of our Lord Jesus Christ so essentially what we want to do with reference to verse 1A is to First Look at the I am statements in John's gospel just going to be a bit of a review for those who have been with us notice Jesus says I am I am the True Vine so review the I am statements in John's gospel and then secondly the identification of Jesus as the True Vine and I suspect we're only going to get a little bit of the way into that but let's begin by first remembering the I am statements in John's gospel there's two kinds sometimes Jesus says I am the True Vine I am the Good Shepherd I am the sheep of the door he provides a predicate or he provides something about the I am that further indicates something concerning who he is but there are those other instances where he does not use a predicate he simply says I am and remember or recall the Old Testament background relative to that it's God at the burning bush in Exodus 3:14 when he commissions Moses he tells him I am sent you so Moses asks the name of the living and true God and the living and true God gives him his name consistent with his Infinity consistent with his eternality consistent with his glory consistent with his the fact that he is the creator he says I am who I am and then you see this phrase picked up by God Yahweh of Israel in the book of Isaiah where on several instances he reveals himself as I am so when we get to John's gospel and we see Jesus use this I am without a predicate we know why he does that because Jesus is consubstantial with the father because in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God the word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth he's consubstantial with the father he maintains that Mutual indwelling with the father we refer to that as peric carus he speaks to that here in John 14 notice specifically in verse 10 he says I uh do you not believe that I am in the father and the father in me the words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own authority but the the father who dwells in me does the works believe me that I am in the father and the father in me or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves look at 145 Jesus I'm sorry 155 Jesus says I am the vine you are the branches he who abides in me remember we abide in Christ but we abide by Grace the grace of adoption based on God's election based on God's predestination based on his eternal de decree we are in Christ by Grace Jesus is in the father and the father is in Jesus Jesus not by Grace not by adoption not by nature but rather by the the the common Essence the the consubstantiality the fact that there is a unity in the divine nature so he is there as one who is one with the father as he says in John 10:30 so let's just review these places where we see these I AMS without a predicate notice in John 14 I'm sorry John 4 we'll end up at John 14 I think actually we won't not in this head but notice in John 4 specifically Jesus and the woman at the well bring it bringing it to its Pinnacle in verse 25 the woman said to him I know the Messiah is coming who who is called Christ when he comes he will tell us all things Jesus said to her I who speak to you am now the he is supplied but the emphasis is upon his self identity as the Messiah sent by God the Messiah incidentally prophesied in the old Covenant that would be divine he would be Everlasting father he would be the the the Eternal one his goings forth would be from of old even from Everlasting the Jews deny that the prophet spoke of a Divine Messiah and yet we see a Divine Messiah prophesied by the prophets the Lord said to my Lord sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your foot stol the infinite God of of absolute sovereignty and glory is not going to station a creature at that place a preeminent dignity and Majesty the Old Testament prophesied a Divine Messiah and in connection with This Woman's confession concerning or at least her understanding at this point I know that Messiah is coming when he comes he will tell us all things she says this on the heels of having been told all things she's getting it she's understanding so Jesus discloses I who speak to you am he notice in chapter 6 specifically in verses 15 to 21 remember that scene Jesus walks on the sea and the disciples see it and when Jesus sees them not that he didn't see them I'm kind of using the manner of men notice in verse 20 but he said to them it is I do not be afraid well it's the same convention the it is I could be translated I am now taken alone you might say well that's just a way that one would identify himself but taken in connection with the Old Testament taken in connection with the Book of Job taken in connection nection with the Salter the fact that God most high the the the Lord of Israel the Yahweh the living and true God is the ruler over the seas of the earth is the one who Treads the Seas this statement is pregnant with meaning in the lips of our Lord Jesus Christ I am I am the one that Treads the waves notice in John 8 John 8 specifically at Verse 18 I am one who bears witness of myself and the father who sent me Bears witness of me that's the general overarching particular theme now notice specifically in verse 24 therefore I said to you this is his debate this is his confrontation this is him going head toad with the religious leaders of his time those apostates those reprobates those who had rejected the Lord Of Glory and ultimately crucify him he says therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins for if you do not believe that I am you will die in your sins now this is where it becomes very practical remember Elijah on Mount Carmel when he says how long will you falter between two positions or opinions if Baal is God serve him if Yahweh is God serve him for Elijah this was no academic Pursuit for Elijah this wasn't just well you pick your God today for Elijah it was you better get your act together and you better go after Yahweh well with reference to the identity of our Lord Jesus Christ as the word became flesh as the word of God who was with God and was God you can't just see him as another religious teacher you can't just appreciate his ethical Impressions made in The Sermon on the Mount you can't just say I'm going to really dig deep and follow jesus' example you need to believe that he is you need to believe that he is God most high that he is the second person of the Trinity that he was sent for us men and for our Salvation this is not simply an academic biblical the theology lesson where are you at relative to the one who declares that unless you believe that I am you will die in your sins this isn't simply academic this isn't intermural this is everything concerning the Christian faith if you are wrong at the point of who Jesus is you will go to hell that's what scripture tells us he who has the son has everlasting life he who does not have the son shall not see life but the wrath of God abides on him John 3:36 or Jesus in John 14:6 I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the father except through me see the Bible doesn't just give us information to tickle our minds the Bible gives us information to drive us to the Cross if you do not believe that I am you will die in your sins if you do not believe the self-revelation of Jesus as it comes to us in the scriptures then you will die in your sins notice John 8:28 then Jesus said to them when you lift up the son of man then you will know that I am and that I do nothing of myself but as my father taught me I speak these things as cam rightly pointed out the Centurion at the foot of the cross saw enough to convince him that this was indeed the Son of God did he understand the mediatorial office Prophet priest and King probably not but when these Jews who crucified him and had listened to him in debates like these he says when you lift me up then you will know that I am when he's raised from the dead declared to be the Son of God with power by the spirit of Holiness then it would be all too clear who Christ was and then notice the Jews understand this specific emphasis we see that toward the end of John 8 notice specifically in verse 54 Jesus answered if I honor myself my honor is nothing it is my father who honors me of whom you say that he is your god yet you have not known him but I know 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 how how do you think Jesus would fa in Ottawa or DC or in some sort of academic environment he just called us Liars or or in churches or in synagogues or in mosques how do you think Jesus would fa when just as matter of factly as we might say in chillak pretty regularly it's raining outside he as matter of factly says you're Liars you're deceivers remember he upgrades them in the previous section specifically in 844 you are of your father the devil and the desires of your father you want to do he was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him again not the sort of fellow in today's climate that you would invite to speak in any of those environments and again the church more often than not because of the fact that that's not nice notice that one of the attributes of God or Perfections of God that we celebrate in scripture is not niceness that's the big crime today is he's not nice she's not nice now I'm not suggesting we run around with scowls on our face screaming at everybody because we're not nice I'm not saying that but if our theology doesn't have a place for the Son of God going into the temple of God taking a Scourge and driving out animals and the ones who tended to them because they had bastardized the public worship of God most high then our theology needs to be re-calibrated Zeal for your house has consumed me that's what drove our blessed savior when he cleanses is the the the temple there back to our text verse 56 your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day and he saw it and was glad then the Jews said to him you are not yet 50 years old and and you have you and have you seen Abraham Jesus said to them most assuredly I say to you before Abraham was look at the language the new King James translators interpret this correctly in light of Exodus 3:14 I I am well that's just what he claimed that's just what he thought that's just what he declared well that's certainly how they understood it because notice in verse 59 then Jesus Took up Stones I'm sorry then they took up stones to throw at him but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple going through the midst of them and so passed by now whatever we say about these religious leaders and I think there's a lot to say about them that is pretty bad because the apostles don't hold back I doubt it was their custom routinely to pick up rocks and throw at various people they disagreed with why would they pick up rocks to throw them at Jesus because Leviticus 24:14 demands the death penalty for a blasphemer and as far as they're concerned this is the son of a carpenter this is that Ru from Nazareth and here he is claiming to be on equal footing with Yahweh take up Stones cast them into his head and rid him from the earth that's their mindset Brethren they understood better than what many understand in our own day in terms of Jesus self Revelation and then notice in the upper room John 13 we nodded to this last week specifically at verse 19 now I tell you before it comes the purpose of predicted prophecy we see it in the prophet Isaiah God says I'm telling you what I'm going to do so that when it comes to pass you don't ascribe that activity to your Idol because I for announced or foretold I think I messed up last week fourth telling and fourt telling I'll just blame it on the the flu plague that I had and the the Fugue state that I was in forthtelling is when the prophet foretells the word of God foretelling is when he announces predictively what God's going to do so Yahweh does that in the book of Isaiah I'm going to tell you what I'm going to do so that when it comes to pass you can only ascribe it to me well that's the same function in the prophetic mouth of Christ notice in verse 19 now I tell you before it comes that when it does come to pass you may believe what boy that was a lucky guess boy he's you know batting a thousand 90 you know 99.9% of everything well 100% why did he want them to to hear these predictions so that you'll know that I am so that you'll understand and confirm and authenticate in the beginning was the word the word word was with God and the Word was God and then notice in chapter 18 chapter 18 again we see this I am without a predicate in a couple of instances John 18 they get to the the The Garden of Gethsemane verse 5 then they answered him Jesus of Nazareth so uh Jesus said to them I'm sorry let's back up to verse four Jesus therefore knowing all things that would come upon him went forward and said to them whom are you seeking they answered him Jesus of Nazareth Jesus said to them I am and Judas who betrayed him also stood with them but note the interesting and Curious Thing here Brethren you've got to understand this is a glorious reveal in terms of the person of our savior it's kind of like the Mount of transfiguration in Matthew's gospel remember Jesus Takes Peter James and John they go up to the Mount of transfiguration and it was as it were the Lord peels back his Humanity to reveal something of his divinity and it blows their minds he's shining white whiter than Any Garment any launderer could could could clean there was a revelation of his glory that's why John can say in 1:4 we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth so notice what happens Jesus says I am Judas who betrayed him stood with them now when he said to them I am they drew back and fell to the ground the they there includes the Roman armies the they there includes the Civil Authority the they there confronted was rather confronted by the glory of the I am and the only inevitable result was to fall down so when Jesus in John's gospel says I am and doesn't Supply a predicate he is asserting his equality of nature with the father now in terms of the Old Testament I've mentioned Exodus 3 Isaiah 41 Isaiah 43 Isaiah 48 now the function in John's gospel specifically is the self-revelation of Jesus as the son sent by the father who for us men and for our Salvation came down from heaven that one who is consubstantial as the only begotten son not the son by by by adoption or by Grace or by creation the son by Nature now when it comes to the I am statements with a predicate I'll just run through these because we've met them along the way but notice in our text or rather in the Gospel of John we have first I am the bread of life John 635 4148 and 51 we have then secondly the Jesus says I am the light of the world John 8:12 John 9:5 we have thirdly Jesus says I am the door of the sheep John 10:7 and John 10:9 fourthly Jesus says I am the Good Shepherd John 101 and14 at the grave site of Lazarus when Jesus is comforting The Sibling he says I am the resurrection and the life John 11:25 I've already alluded or already uh repeated uh the sixth one Jesus says I am the way the truth and the life according to John 14:6 and then here we have the seventh and final I am with a predicate in John's gospel I am the True Vine so we have that in 151 and then again in 155 and clink Edward clink makes the observation the seven formal I am statements are emphatic descriptions of the person and Ministry of Jesus and cumulatively form a detailed picture of Jesus Christ again they're metaphors metaphors that we can no pun intended sink our teeth in I am the bread of life we got to sink our teeth into the bread of life I am the light of the world we can't function without light I'm the door of the sheep not as applicable to us cuz none of us that I know of are sheep her ERS but something I think we at least have a general understanding of I am the Good Shepherd absolutely positively I'm the resurrection and the life again things that we can we can understand metaphors provided in the simple teaching of our blessed savior to inform his people he's not shooting over their heads dealing with abstract theological concept he's revealing himself under under figures that these men would understand that that men like us would understand but as well as I've said earlier the theological weight of such statements again take the one I am the Good Shepherd in John 10 how does that hit you it should hit you like this wow that's great I'm a wretch I'm like a sheep I've wandered I've gone astray I'm very thankful that I have a good shepherd who collects me who gets me who not gets me but gets me with crook but Brethren if you don't hear Psalm 23 in that declaration you need to reorient your brain the Lord is my shepherd I shall not want and then Jesus comes to his people and says I I am the Good Shepherd and then one better than that says that the Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep and then even better than that he says I've come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly so brethren in that John 10 Good Shepherd I am with the predicate you got to hear Psalm 23 you've got to hear the glory of God as Shepherd in Ezekiel 37 you've got to hear those images so yeah metaphor to inform and instruct us in a way that's tangible and conrete but the biblical richness of the the the old Covenant narrative tied up in a bow and placed right on our lord Jesus this is why Paul can say all the promises of God are yay and amen in him now let's move then to the identification of Jesus as the True Vine and I know it says it I know that's a declarative statement but I want to put that declarative statement in a larger Biblical context why because that declarative statement summarizes that larger Biblical context and should help us to profoundly understand the very person of our Lord and the nature of Our Lord in terms of his temporal Mission as well I think it helps us answer the question who's God's people so first I want to look at the opening of Matthew's gospel and for those keeping an eye on the clock I think this is as far as we're going to get this morning and then we'll pick up to this specific declaration in John's gospel God willing next Sunday morning but with reference to the opening of Matthew's gospel Matthew does two things Matthew highlights that Jesus is connected to Old Covenant Israel by the term firstborn as well Matthew shows us there is a connection between Jesus and old Covenant Israel by what Jesus does in the opening pages of Matthew's gospel that's pretty simple shouldn't be too tough let's get our minds to it first we need to understand that old Covenant Israel is referred to as the firstborn of God you can turn to the Book of Exodus Exodus 4 Exodus 4 identification of Israel as the firstborn son of God Exodus 4 specifically at verse 21 and the Lord said to Moses when you go back to Egypt see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go then you shall say to Pharaoh thus says the Lord Israel is my son my firstborn now Brethren that shows the relation that Yahweh bore to Old Covenant Israel my my firstborn son it's a beautiful statements a beautiful expression incidentally it's the foundation for what we call the LAX talionis or the law of Retribution remember when we get further in the book of Exodus and God Almighty starts to send plagues upon the people of Egypt how do you think non-christians like that let me ask you better how do you think the Egyptians who buried their firstborn after Yahweh killed them liked that well that's horrible that's vicious it's genocide the behest of Yahweh the the the children of Egypt die look at what God says verse 22 then you shall say to Pharaoh thus says the Lord Israel is my son my firstborn so I say to you let my son go that he may serve me but if you refuse to let him go indeed I will kill your son your firstborn you want to talk about Fair let's talk about Justice something absent and vacant in our day guy goes out and commits horrific crimes he murders he kills he rapes he pillages he destroys he goes to prison for 6 years and then he's out on good behavior really that's Justice no justice is the law of Retribution God lays down specifically the terms that they must obey do not harm my firstborn if you do I will harm your firstborn this is Justice Brethren this isn't genocide this isn't the beest of yah way to go and ruin a bunch of people's days this was Justice in other words God sent not allog together just Israel in upon the Canaanites in the conquest to dispossess the land of those wretched Sinners but you'll notice in subsequent history when Israel Apes the Canaanites that means imitates them and acts like them what happens God sends the Assyrians to deal with the northern kingdom God sends the Babylonians to deal with the southern Kingdom there's no capriciousness there's no arbitrariness there's no good day bad day for our gracious God there is Justice there is righteousness there is Holiness and the Dignity of God he maintains that so Israel as the firstborn son of God almighty we're going to get back to Matthew but stop on the way to Psalm 89 so with reference to the firstborn of God I want to show the connection between old Covenant Israel and our Lord Jesus Christ so the identification of Jesus as the firstborn son of God in Psalm 89 which we would call The Covenant Psalm or a covenant Psalm it it expands for us or rather celebrates for us or rehearses for us what we call the davidic Covenant in second 2 Samuel chapter 7 a time when David is musing about himself I've got this Palace I've got this beauty I've got this glory and Yahweh dwells in a tent I want to build him a house of course God says no you're a man of war not that that's a condemnation David was supposed to be a man of war but it would be in the son of David Solomon the man of Peace wherein they would have the ability to then construct the temple so when God makes that indictment of David I I think it's a wrongheaded inference to say well he was a man of war and he had bloody hands and so therefore he wasn't holy enough to engage in the temple building that's not the emphasis he was too busy killing Heathen he was too busy breaking their things he was too busy uh doing King things in terms of securing the kingdom once the kingdom is secured and his son Solomon is born it is Solomon then to build the temple to build the house for God so Psalm 89 in essence tells us about that but notice in terms of prophetic announcement concerning the Lord Jesus or the Messiah notice in Psalm 89:27 also I will make him my firstborn the highest of the kings of the Earth my Mercy I will keep for him forever and my Covenant shall ST stand firm with him his seed also I will make to endure forever and his throne as the days of Heaven you say well it doesn't capitalize the H there in verse 27 it should because it's about Jesus he's the first born of God most high now turn to Matthew turn to Matthew specifically at verse 24 uh 4 well before that notice one one the book of genealogy of Jesus Christ I I skip this the son of David the son of Abraham there's that physical and covenantal connection to Abraham and David Matthew out of the Chute is saying I've got something to tell to you people of Israel most Bible commentators agree that while all the four gospels are written for us initially they weren't addressed to us Matthew writes to a Jewish audience Mark writes to a Roman audience or better Peter preached and Mark recorded that Luke is more genic or Gentile and then John writes to everybody else the church the non-church people of God who need to know more about their Triune God and the non-p people of God who need to understand 20 30 and 31 these things are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the son uh the son of the Living God and that believing in him you may have life in his name so Matthew out of the Chute connects us to David and Abraham then notice in4 then Joseph being aroused from sleep did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn son and he called his name Jesus now I know what's going on in your heads well that's a verse that speaks against Roman Catholicism and the dogma of Perpetual V virginity on the part of Mary was her firstborn son which Intimates she had other Sons oh I agree with that 100% but as I hope to show you the fact that Matthew used his firstborn there has some theological connections too when we move through the rest of the New Testament we see this identification as Jesus the first born look at Romans 8 Romans chapter 8 specifically at verse 29 a familiar passage but one that is instructive for whom he forne he also pre predestined to be conformed to the image of his son that he might be the firstborn among many Brethren turn to Colossians 1 probably one of the primary places you think of when you hear this term firstborn applied to our blessed savior uh Colossians 1 specifically in verse 15 he is the image of the invisible God the first born over all creation Now if you've ever done any witnessing or discussing what Jehovah's Witnesses this is a big text for them it's a huge text for them so much so that they radically alter the text specifically in verse 16 how do they Define firstborn well he's the first creature of God and as the first creature of God then he's handed the Reigns to create all other things that's ignorance was Israel the first born chronologically among all the nations of the earth no Ezekiel 16:3 your birth and your Nativity are from the land of Canaan your father was an Amorite and your mother a hittite oh there were previous Nations but I thought Israel was the first born it means preeminence it means Glory it means magnif magnificence Covenant Ed with Yahweh of Israel Israel was the best thing going versus the Canaanites and the various ites Jesus is not a creature notice in verse 16 here's where the witnesses really show their theological not bias Brethren that's too soft a word prejudice viciousness an absolute departure from the translation of the text to the imposition of their Godless theology upon the sacred text so they say he is the image of the invisible God the first born over all creation so he's the first one made by God he's a creature so then in verse 16 for by him all then they put in Brackets other all other what's the implication he himself is created and now he as the creature of God creates all other things but you see that's not what the text is telling us firstborn does not mean chronology it means preeminence it means Glory it means Majesty it means Excellence notice in 118 and he is the head of the body the church who is the beginning uh the first born from the dead that in all things he may have the preeminence turn over to Hebrews chap 1 Hebrews chap 1 specifically in verse 6 but when he again again brings the firstborn into the world he says let all the angels of God worship him now there is obviously a chronology with reference to Christ according to his divinity in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God but fundamentally and foundationally firstborn as applied to Israel in the old Covenant as applied to the Lord Jesus as the true Israel in the New Covenant the idea is is the preeminent one the champion the Victor the glorious one or the one by which I will reveal my glory the one in whom all the Covenant Promises of God are yay and amen as well notice in 12:23 12:23 this contrast between Sinai and Zion I won't read the whole thing but just notice specifically in verse 22 but you have come to Mount Zion and the City of the Living God curious language isn't it why do you think old uh New Covenant authors refer to the church as Zion because of the true Israel which is Jesus and by virtue of our Union with him we are now in the language of Galatians 6:16 the Israel of God this is where the sermon going again this might make you uncomfortable if you're not up on your covenant theology but God most high in his eternal purpose and his plan and mission for this Earth was to redeem from every tribe every tongue every people and nation and in theological shorthand refer to them as the Israel of God the one that is preeminent with God among all others so notice in 12:22 but you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the Living God the heavenly Jerusalem to an innumerable company of angels to the general assembly and Church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven to God the judge of all that's the firstborn church because of its vital connection to the firstborn son of God notice as well in Revelation 1 and I think specifically John The Seer has in his mind in this particular instance Psalm 89 The Book of Revelation is the most most old testen is book in the New Testament not just necessarily direct quotation but illusion theme metaphor Sim uh imagery uh all that stuff is is co-opted by the Apostle as he's on the island of Patmos for the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ in the word of God and he conveys to us using that rich imagery Glory about Jesus and notice in Revelation 1 specifically at verse 4 because it's a a trinitarian greeting or a greeting in the name of the Trin Triune God grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come father and from the seven spirits who are before his throne doesn't mean there's seven Holy Spirits I think it probably means the number of completion the number of fullness the number again of Glory as predicated of the Holy Spirit and then notice and from Jesus Christ with Jesus he extrapolates then the three-fold office of Christ and again I think this all comes from Psalm 89 the faithful witness the firstborn from the dead and the ruler over the kings of the earth so when we look in Matthew 1 and we see this conspicuous connection between Jesus and David and Abraham and we see this comment that this is Mary's firstborn son yes over and against the doctrine of Perpetual virginity but yes over and for the doctrine of the fact that Jesus has come as the Fulfillment of what Adam forfeit and what Israel in the old Covenant forfeit now in terms of the Israel of God how do we see that played out in the early chapters of Matthew's gospel well as I've already said the physical and covenantal connection to Abraham and David but then notice secondly the application of Hosea 11 to Jesus in Matthew 2 look at Matthew 2 we'll pick up reading in verse 12 we're going to be ending soon Matthew Chapter 2 specifically at verse 12 then being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod they departed from their own or for their own country another way now when they had departed behold an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream saying arise take the young child and his mother flee to Egypt and stay there until I bring you word for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him when he arose he took the young child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt and was there until the death of Herod notice this is a fulfillment formula often used by the the the the Evangelist Matthew to show us how Jesus fulfills what the old Covenant pointed to and in this instance specifically that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet saying out of Egypt I called my son huh you read the prophet hose you say well that obviously refers to the Exodus from from Egypt that that God brought Israel out of yeah but it obviously refers to the flight to Egypt by the firstborn son of God who is the yay and amen of all the promises of God who is the successful Israel of God out of Egypt I called my son as well when we start to move along in the Book of Matthew we see thirdly the passing through water after being called out of Egypt I say well you know that's getting a bit obscure it's getting a bit you know esoteric it's not Brethren if a dim bulb like me can see it I invite you to give it a try Matthew's a theologian writing to people who knew the Old Testament Matthew wants to show them Jesus is the one he's not condemnatory in the first instance oh you wretched Jews you need to get it together he's telling them he's he's unveiling as it were the temporal mission of the Son of God functioning as the true Israel of God the champion to save us from our our sins so notice out of Egypt and then through water is that exactly what happens in the book of Exodus they go out of Egypt chapter 12 they pass through the waters of the Red Sea in chapter 14 look at Jesus he's come out of Egypt and now in chapter 3 he passes through water verse 13 then Jesus Came From Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him and John tried to prevent him saying I need to be baptized by you and are you coming to me but Jesus answered and said to him permit it to be so now for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness then he allowed him when he had been baptized Jesus came up and immediately from the water and behold the heavens were open to him and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and a lighting upon him and suddenly a voice Came From Heaven saying this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased yes the doctrine sets forth the Earthly baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ yes the doctrine highlights the blessedness of the Trinity you want to learn about the Trinity as the ancient said to to arus go down to the river Jordan there you will see but it links Jesus with Israel it really does so so then think back for just a moment Exodus 12 they leave Egypt Exodus 14 they pass through water where do they come out on the other side joak abbottford City flowing cities flowing no they come to the Wilderness look at what we look at in verse one of chapter 4 then Jesus was L up by Spirit by the spirit Into the Wilderness to be tempted by the devil and intriguingly in that first Temptation it's with reference to food right you got be hungry it's been a long time that you've been out here interesting 40 years in the wilderness 40 days of Temptation wow Matthew got lucky Matthew's weaving history and theology so that he can instruct us concerning the Fulfillment of all the promises of God that are yay and Amen in Jesus so notice when Jesus goes out to the Wilderness the devil seizes upon the opportunity to test him three times the first is with reference to food it's intriguing because after Exodus 15 comes Exodus 16 you know what happens in Exodus 16 when they get in the wilderness they complain about food we're going to die out here we kind of like those leaks and melons and garlic and all those varities we had back in in Egypt but you were slaves Brethren I'm not convinced everybody wants their freedom I'm not convinced of that at all I think the nation of Israel displays that in the old Covenant very very vividly and perceptively Moses sends out the spot to Recon the land in numbers 13 and 14 they Recon the land it's a good land milk honey berries fruit goodness but there's these pesky Giants in the land we don't want to venture against them they're big men they're strong men we don't want to do it only two of the spies were like let's go Caleb and Joshua in fact Caleb says let's go at once who do you think the congregation listen to the two spies that had faith and a backbone that said let's go conquer the land for God because remember he's already promised that he gave us the land of course they don't they listen to the 10 whiners they listen to the grumblers oh no those Giants are pesky the land's not that good after all it's interesting as the narrative flows in numbers 13 they continue to revise their report great land but because but not that great a land now notice Deuteronomy 8 we're going to tie this up here Deuteronomy chter 8 specifically in verse one again just to see the connection between Jesus and old Covenant Israel in the use or title of a firstborn and then as well in the actual activity of our son which in many respects imitates what old Covenant Israel did but the emphasis or the accent falls upon his victory you put God put Adam in a in a paradise God put Adam in a paradise and he forfeit eternal life Adam is what we call protology not protology protology the doctrine of First Things Israel functions by way of typology prefigurement Shadows announcements promises prophesyings Jesus is the antitype to the Prototype Adam he's called the last Adam and to the antitype or to the type of Israel he's the Israel of God so notice in 81 of the book of De Deuteronomy every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe that you may live long or live and multiply and go in and possess the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers and you shall remember that the Lord your God LED you all the all the way these 40 years in the wilderness to Humble you and test you is that the purpose why the spirit drives Jesus out into the Wilderness after Divine approbation this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased we ought to expect something like this Divine confirmation in terms of the the the steadfastness and the commitment and the resolve of the servant of Yahweh that does not shrink back from fulfilling all the obligations placed upon him it's our covenant head of course he does it but then notice specifically verse two to know what was in your heart whether you would keep his Commandments or not so he humbled you allowed you to hunger and fed you with Mana which you did not know nor did your fathers know that he might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone isn't that interesting that's the text that Jesus pulls out of his sheath as it were he's the one that has the sheath on the back you know those really rugged soldiers and gladi they pull it out and they'll Dash their enemies it's this passage when the Devil comes to him and says you got to be hungry turn these stones into into bread what is Jesus doing there he's showing us that he's the true Israel of God again Brethren I not forcing this and by the way I'm not the first dim bulb to aight on these things but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the lord your garments did not wear out on you nor did your foot swell those these 40 years you should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son so the Lord your God chastens you I think that's a great place for us to stop God willing we'll look at the Declaration in John's gospel next week but we'll put it again in its Old Testament background and then show its New Testament Revelation biblical theology the organic self-revelation of God in the historical process so that we can make heads or Tales of who Jesus is relative to that Old Testament now before we close I do want to re-emphasize something that came out prior that we should as God's people reflect upon the I am statements with a predicate and stand in awe Jesus is the bread of life Jesus is the light of the world Jesus is the resurrection and the life Jesus is the door of the sheep Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gives his life for the Sheep so that we might have life abundantly Jesus is the way the truth the life Jesus is all that he says that he is and as the people of God that should INF War us so it will promote worship and dare I say comfort and encouragement and stability and security Jesus is all that for the likes of us so Brethren Rejoice Brethren worship Brethren praise and adore and if you're not a Believer don't forget John 8:24 well I've already forgotten it well I'm going to remind you if you do not believe that I am not Jim Butler Jesus is saying the self- Declaration if you do not believe that I am you will die in your sins what is the way to everlasting life what is the way to Everlasting Joy what is the way to no more Sorrows to no more hunger to no more pain to No More Death what is that way it's Jesus I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the father except through through me and I can encourage you he's in the business of receiving some pretty messed up people so there is good news and great hope for any here that have still still not come to our Lord Jesus Christ in faith well let us pray our great God and our Holy Father we thank you for your word we thank you for the scope of the whole which is to give all glory to God we thank you for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ we thank you for the glory that we see in passages like these we thank you for biblical theology covenant theology that helps us to appreciate and to to tie up loose ends or what may seem to be loose ends in our minds and cause us to reflect again upon the fact that Jesus is the yay and amen of all the promises of God and you have made us blessed benefactors and beneficiaries of these things by your grace and we praise you and we worship you and we adore you and we pray now through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen well please take your hym books or if you hav it committed to memory stand and we'll sing the doxology 568 excuse me in praise to our great God we'll stand as we sing together all bless PR all PR you Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all amen thank you Lord for the happy gathering in the house of God on the Lord's day go with us now we pray in jesus' name amen well please be seated for a brief time of meditation e e e e