1 00:00:04,059 --> 00:00:09,110 Thank you Stacey. Will I get to introduce my best 2 00:00:09,120 --> 00:00:13,350 pastor friend who's going to be bringing the word to us this 3 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:15,950 morning. Many of you know Art Van Slogan 4 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:19,460 from as a pastor, First Reformed Church in Saint Catharines, 5 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:24,710 which is now Pathway Bible Church. 6 00:00:25,970 --> 00:00:31,680 I need my loving wife to to keep me true and they've joined the 7 00:00:31,690 --> 00:00:34,940 RCN along with us, which which has been awesome. 8 00:00:35,030 --> 00:00:38,100 But for those of those of you who do not know Art, he is 9 00:00:38,150 --> 00:00:41,400 ministered at, well, First Reform, which is now Pathway 10 00:00:41,410 --> 00:00:46,300 Bible Church for over 30 years. And when I came to Grimsby 24 11 00:00:46,310 --> 00:00:52,850 years ago with my first post as a pastor, it's Art who I leaned 12 00:00:52,860 --> 00:00:57,870 on for advice on so many things, on sermon preparation, on 13 00:00:57,940 --> 00:01:01,450 funerals, on Roberts Rules of Order, consistent meetings, all 14 00:01:01,460 --> 00:01:04,810 that kind of stuff, and really has developed into an awesome 15 00:01:04,819 --> 00:01:10,990 friendship over the years. We meet weekly to share our joys 16 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:13,910 and sorrows and to pray for one another and pray for our 17 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:17,590 churches as well as to hold one another accountable as pastors. 18 00:01:17,660 --> 00:01:21,290 And it has been, it has been a joy. 19 00:01:21,340 --> 00:01:26,610 Art Arts here with his wife Allison, and who is his faithful 20 00:01:26,660 --> 00:01:29,870 ministry companion and dear friend of ours also. 21 00:01:30,260 --> 00:01:33,410 They have three grown children, all committed to the Lord and 22 00:01:33,420 --> 00:01:37,490 committed to the church, Aaron, Bethann and Bradley, and one 23 00:01:37,540 --> 00:01:41,210 daughter-in-law, Nicola, who married Bradley this past year. 24 00:01:41,820 --> 00:01:44,070 So I think that's probably a good little intro. 25 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:45,460 What do you think? Are we good for that? 26 00:01:45,470 --> 00:01:47,410 Let's go. Let's give Art a warm welcome as 27 00:01:47,420 --> 00:01:53,240 he comes up. Brings a word, yeah. 28 00:01:56,850 --> 00:01:59,460 It's not too often I have an applause that brings me up to 29 00:01:59,470 --> 00:02:02,580 the pulpit, but hey, I'll take it. 30 00:02:02,810 --> 00:02:06,580 You know, normally I sit on that side of the sanctuary, but I was 31 00:02:06,590 --> 00:02:08,550 told that's where the young adults sit. 32 00:02:08,889 --> 00:02:11,260 Well, what does that say about my identity? 33 00:02:11,570 --> 00:02:18,770 Oh my, well, it is certainly a privilege for me to to be here 34 00:02:18,780 --> 00:02:23,290 with you in worship, to lead you in worship to, to share the Word 35 00:02:23,300 --> 00:02:27,630 of God with you. John and I over the past 20, 36 00:02:27,700 --> 00:02:32,430 probably 26 years, 25 years have really grown not only in our 37 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:35,380 relationship, but our encouragement for each other in 38 00:02:35,390 --> 00:02:38,070 the Word. This is the focus of our time 39 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:43,220 together that we pray together and just an amazing time holding 40 00:02:43,230 --> 00:02:47,300 each other accountable to and, and sometimes sharing our 41 00:02:47,310 --> 00:02:50,820 sermons with each other and, and him correcting me and me never 42 00:02:50,830 --> 00:02:55,400 having to correct him. So I think our mentorship is 43 00:02:55,410 --> 00:02:58,260 really worked well and he's passing it on to Jacob too, 44 00:02:58,270 --> 00:03:03,660 which is wonderful. Listen, it's a new year and I 45 00:03:03,670 --> 00:03:06,540 don't know how many of you have made New Year's resolutions. 46 00:03:06,610 --> 00:03:11,140 Are you afraid to put up your hand or, OK, I won't ask how 47 00:03:11,150 --> 00:03:14,400 many of you have broken those already, but New Year's 48 00:03:14,410 --> 00:03:21,900 resolutions are really intended to either improve life or get us 49 00:03:21,910 --> 00:03:26,480 back on track. And the reason for New Year's 50 00:03:26,490 --> 00:03:33,660 resolutions oftentimes is that we often are faced with the 51 00:03:33,670 --> 00:03:38,600 question, who really am I? Where, what am I doing? 52 00:03:38,660 --> 00:03:44,000 What purpose do I serve in the church, in my family that 53 00:03:44,010 --> 00:03:48,220 questioned who am I comes in, in our teenage years, in our 54 00:03:48,230 --> 00:03:51,600 midlife crises. And for me, in July of this 55 00:03:51,610 --> 00:03:56,580 year, it'll be retirement. So all of those times are, are 56 00:03:56,590 --> 00:04:02,740 times in which we, we examine who we are and, and too often I, 57 00:04:02,790 --> 00:04:06,770 I believe we trying to find our identity in our work or our 58 00:04:06,780 --> 00:04:12,600 friends or even in the way that we look in the church. 59 00:04:12,650 --> 00:04:15,750 I've so appreciated the message. I was almost going to say, let's 60 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:17,660 just go for coffee because that was good. 61 00:04:17,730 --> 00:04:20,839 I really appreciated that. I don't have labels for you all, 62 00:04:20,910 --> 00:04:26,470 but it's still so good. But in the church, when we have 63 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:31,720 that identity crisis and we feel lost, the world might say, well, 64 00:04:31,730 --> 00:04:35,340 you're on your own, But in the church, we say, no, for such a 65 00:04:35,350 --> 00:04:43,180 time as this, you belong here. And the creator of us, the 66 00:04:43,190 --> 00:04:47,040 author of the Bible, says something different and life 67 00:04:47,050 --> 00:04:49,380 changing in the passage we're going to look at this morning 68 00:04:49,430 --> 00:04:51,820 from Ephesians chapter one one to 14. 69 00:04:51,910 --> 00:04:56,880 Before we read this, let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you 70 00:04:56,890 --> 00:05:02,870 for such a time as this 1st Sunday in a new Year, a Sunday 71 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:06,810 in which worship is so important to each one of us, so much a 72 00:05:06,820 --> 00:05:10,950 part of Force you church, so much a part of our Christian 73 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:15,060 life, Lord, that we need to come here together to exalt your 74 00:05:15,070 --> 00:05:18,650 name, to praise you for who You are, to express that in our 75 00:05:18,660 --> 00:05:22,210 songs and children's messages, in our prayers. 76 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:28,010 And then in this moment, God, to hear from You, to listen to Your 77 00:05:28,020 --> 00:05:30,650 Word and to what you have to say to us. 78 00:05:30,700 --> 00:05:36,620 So come and change us, come and transform us, come and redirect 79 00:05:36,630 --> 00:05:39,300 us, but with your truth inspire us. 80 00:05:39,310 --> 00:05:44,880 We pray in Jesus name, Amen. Ephesians chapter 1. 81 00:05:44,890 --> 00:05:46,840 We're going to read the first 14 verses. 82 00:05:46,850 --> 00:05:50,410 Let's hear the word of God. Paul, an apostle of Christ 83 00:05:50,470 --> 00:05:53,270 Jesus. By the will of God to the Saints 84 00:05:53,280 --> 00:05:56,810 in Ephesus, the faithful ones in Christ Jesus. 85 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:00,550 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus 86 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:03,870 Christ. Praise be to the God and Father 87 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:06,970 of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in the heavenly 88 00:06:06,980 --> 00:06:09,550 realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 89 00:06:09,780 --> 00:06:13,610 For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be 90 00:06:13,620 --> 00:06:15,700 wholly and blameless in His sight. 91 00:06:16,210 --> 00:06:19,930 In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through 92 00:06:19,940 --> 00:06:24,020 Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will to the 93 00:06:24,030 --> 00:06:28,740 praise of His glorious grace which He freely gives, has has 94 00:06:28,750 --> 00:06:30,880 freely given us in the One He loves. 95 00:06:30,990 --> 00:06:34,080 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the 96 00:06:34,090 --> 00:06:37,140 forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of 97 00:06:37,150 --> 00:06:39,980 God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and 98 00:06:39,990 --> 00:06:43,190 understanding. And He made known to us the 99 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:47,010 mystery of His will according to the His good pleasure which He 100 00:06:47,020 --> 00:06:51,430 purposed in Christ to be put into effect when the times will 101 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:54,890 have reached their fulfillment, to bring all things in heaven 102 00:06:54,900 --> 00:06:58,510 and on earth together under one head, even Christ. 103 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:02,450 In Him we were chosen, having been predestined according to 104 00:07:02,460 --> 00:07:05,870 the plan of Him who works everything in conformity with 105 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:10,000 the purpose of His will, in order that we who were the first 106 00:07:10,010 --> 00:07:14,510 to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory. 107 00:07:14,860 --> 00:07:19,190 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word 108 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:21,950 of truth, the gospel of your salvation. 109 00:07:22,180 --> 00:07:25,850 Having believed you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised 110 00:07:25,860 --> 00:07:30,050 Holy Spirit who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance 111 00:07:30,260 --> 00:07:34,810 until the redemption of those who are God's possession to the 112 00:07:34,820 --> 00:07:41,010 praise of His glory. That's God's word. 113 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:45,070 And I have this amazing privilege this morning to go 114 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:49,290 through these verses with you and to see what God will have 115 00:07:49,300 --> 00:07:52,830 you hear about your identity in Christ. 116 00:07:52,900 --> 00:07:57,170 Because you see, we live in a culture today that is so busy 117 00:07:57,180 --> 00:08:01,570 steering us away from God, steering us away even from 118 00:08:01,580 --> 00:08:04,990 religion, Well, really to the religion of self. 119 00:08:05,990 --> 00:08:10,660 And the result of that steering away is intended for us to live 120 00:08:10,670 --> 00:08:13,610 better. But really, the results we see 121 00:08:13,620 --> 00:08:17,170 in our culture around us are things like sexual immorality, 122 00:08:17,220 --> 00:08:21,210 emptiness, confusion, and emptiness. 123 00:08:21,260 --> 00:08:27,340 Did I say that already? OK, there's a song from 1987 124 00:08:27,650 --> 00:08:30,820 that's a long time ago goes like this. 125 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:34,419 I still haven't found what I'm looking for. 126 00:08:36,190 --> 00:08:38,480 Everybody know that song. You too? 127 00:08:38,530 --> 00:08:43,220 Alright, 30th year, 33 years later or 38 years later, they're 128 00:08:43,230 --> 00:08:45,880 still singing that song. Still haven't found what I'm 129 00:08:45,890 --> 00:08:49,810 looking for. Well, this church in Ephesus, 130 00:08:50,100 --> 00:08:54,720 the the letter of Paul writes to them is around 60 AD, which is 131 00:08:54,730 --> 00:08:57,350 about 30 years after Christ has ascended. 132 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:04,190 And in those brief 30 years of ministry of new faith of of 133 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:08,870 churches of this persecution in Jerusalem, sending the disciples 134 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:13,130 out into Asia Minor, there's a church started that's called the 135 00:09:13,140 --> 00:09:16,440 church in Ephesus, Ephesus. It's a Reformed Church by the 136 00:09:16,450 --> 00:09:23,380 way, but 33 years after Christ ascension for whatever reason, 137 00:09:23,390 --> 00:09:29,180 Paul is writing a letter to remind them or read direct them 138 00:09:29,230 --> 00:09:37,100 as to their identity in Christ. I don't know where you are this 139 00:09:37,110 --> 00:09:40,720 morning in your faith, but as we read this I get excited 140 00:09:40,730 --> 00:09:43,660 Colossians one. I was so pleased to hear that 141 00:09:43,670 --> 00:09:46,500 last week. Those last couple of verses are 142 00:09:46,510 --> 00:09:48,810 some of my favorite, for he has rescued us. 143 00:09:49,430 --> 00:09:55,160 And here we read in these first 14 verses of Ephesians chapter 1 144 00:09:55,210 --> 00:10:01,820 written by Paul about what this identity in Christ can do for us 145 00:10:01,890 --> 00:10:05,140 and really in the beginning of a new year, redirecting us and 146 00:10:05,150 --> 00:10:09,300 maybe we need restoring. It happens in these verses. 147 00:10:09,310 --> 00:10:11,950 It happens in the truth that Paul conveys. 148 00:10:12,090 --> 00:10:14,580 So I'm going to look at three things with you this morning. 149 00:10:14,630 --> 00:10:18,210 First is that our identity in Christ is secure. 150 00:10:18,970 --> 00:10:23,060 OK, it's secure. The next thing is our identity 151 00:10:23,070 --> 00:10:26,600 in Christ is active. It's alive. 152 00:10:26,650 --> 00:10:30,480 And the third thing is this. Our identity in Christ is to the 153 00:10:30,490 --> 00:10:36,900 praise of His glory. First of all, our identity in 154 00:10:36,910 --> 00:10:38,990 Christ is secure. How? 155 00:10:40,010 --> 00:10:44,000 Well, if you go over 1 chapter to chapter 2, there's actually a 156 00:10:44,010 --> 00:10:47,630 discouraging note there, but it's a truthful note and it goes 157 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:50,510 like this. As for you, you were dead in 158 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:54,770 your transgressions and sins in which you used to live when you 159 00:10:54,780 --> 00:10:59,160 followed the ways of this world. That's why all this deadness and 160 00:10:59,170 --> 00:11:02,580 emptiness is in our culture today as we follow the culture 161 00:11:02,590 --> 00:11:05,520 of our world. There's a deadness in that. 162 00:11:05,770 --> 00:11:11,450 So without Christ we're dead in our transgressions and sins. 163 00:11:12,620 --> 00:11:17,600 But here in verses one and two, we have a different truth, and 164 00:11:17,610 --> 00:11:23,410 that is in Christ we are alive, not dead. 165 00:11:23,460 --> 00:11:28,870 We are Saints or holy ones. We are faithful in Christ Jesus 166 00:11:31,420 --> 00:11:34,080 every time we meet even as I came in this morning. 167 00:11:34,230 --> 00:11:37,280 How are you doing Is there is the greeting right. 168 00:11:37,290 --> 00:11:41,680 That's how he's how are you. Well, Paul doesn't say how are 169 00:11:41,690 --> 00:11:44,560 you. He in these verses says let me 170 00:11:44,570 --> 00:11:48,580 tell you how you are. Let me tell you who you are. 171 00:11:48,670 --> 00:11:53,080 This is who you are in Christ Jesus and it's really covenantal 172 00:11:53,090 --> 00:11:57,110 language, which is really a reformed understanding of the 173 00:11:57,120 --> 00:11:59,360 Bible is that we are a covenant family. 174 00:11:59,430 --> 00:12:03,160 We were told this morning that our children belong. 175 00:12:03,170 --> 00:12:04,970 They're not lost. They belong. 176 00:12:04,980 --> 00:12:10,180 They are covenantal children, and we rejoice in that because 177 00:12:10,190 --> 00:12:14,200 God is the one who ultimately works in them for His saving 178 00:12:14,210 --> 00:12:17,360 grace. But in that covenantal language, 179 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:23,610 God says something through Paul, which declares our relationship 180 00:12:23,620 --> 00:12:27,210 to be more than just one of Well, I'm now a member of Forest 181 00:12:27,220 --> 00:12:29,890 View. Yeah, that's true. 182 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:33,650 But there's so much in that membership in that we are 183 00:12:33,690 --> 00:12:38,140 wholly, we have been made faithful to him because he is a 184 00:12:38,150 --> 00:12:41,480 faithful God. So it begins that way already as 185 00:12:41,490 --> 00:12:47,660 we read this, we say, look in Christ, I am holy and I am 186 00:12:47,710 --> 00:12:51,580 faithful. I'm set apart, I'm secure, I am 187 00:12:51,590 --> 00:12:56,420 made right now you might be saying, well, by virtue of me 188 00:12:56,430 --> 00:12:59,900 walking into the sanctuary this morning or being a member of 189 00:12:59,910 --> 00:13:02,840 Forest View, does that mean I'm holy? 190 00:13:03,030 --> 00:13:06,100 Well, I hope so. But let me tell you how you got 191 00:13:06,110 --> 00:13:08,590 there. It's not simply coming into the 192 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:10,760 doors of a church that makes you holy. 193 00:13:10,810 --> 00:13:17,830 It is a result of God's grace to you, a conviction of your sin by 194 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:22,280 the Holy Spirit and by the word that says you're a Sinner. 195 00:13:23,550 --> 00:13:28,530 Without Christ you're a dead Sinner, but in Christ you are 196 00:13:28,540 --> 00:13:32,440 now made alive. You are given this security in 197 00:13:32,450 --> 00:13:37,160 Him that when you come to repent of your sinful human nature and 198 00:13:37,170 --> 00:13:44,110 know your need and the blessing of this Savior Jesus, you're in, 199 00:13:45,540 --> 00:13:51,580 you declare your need for a Savior and you are in Christ now 200 00:13:51,590 --> 00:13:55,960 no longer dead, but alive. And this forward faithful 201 00:13:56,010 --> 00:14:00,380 doesn't only mean that you have faith like a knowledge as we 202 00:14:00,450 --> 00:14:03,680 have an alpha this, this knowledge that God gives us of 203 00:14:03,690 --> 00:14:08,380 his word, but it's really a word that means with that knowledge, 204 00:14:08,470 --> 00:14:14,280 you have this desire to live according to that faith that you 205 00:14:14,290 --> 00:14:20,440 believe there's a security. Years ago I skied downhill 206 00:14:20,450 --> 00:14:21,920 skiing. I've never snowboarded. 207 00:14:21,930 --> 00:14:24,550 I'm afraid of that. But I love downhill skiing. 208 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:29,580 The faster the better. And I'm one who I don't check my 209 00:14:29,590 --> 00:14:32,520 bindings all the time. So there are times when I really 210 00:14:32,530 --> 00:14:35,620 feel secure going down the hill. And then one time I'm in the 211 00:14:35,630 --> 00:14:40,950 moguls and my skis fall off, I'm no longer secure in my binding. 212 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:44,670 So I have to go to ski pro shop on Geneva and get them to 213 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:48,290 readjust my bindings. And when that happens, then I 214 00:14:48,300 --> 00:14:51,070 feel more secure going through those moguls again. 215 00:14:51,140 --> 00:14:54,050 Not that I'm good because I normally fall halfway through 216 00:14:54,060 --> 00:14:57,030 and, and all of that. But what I'm saying is that when 217 00:14:57,040 --> 00:15:01,500 we have something that we can stand firm in or secure in, like 218 00:15:01,510 --> 00:15:05,590 bindings, there's a greater desire and a greater confidence 219 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:08,370 in going down the hill in Christ. 220 00:15:08,380 --> 00:15:14,150 We have this great confidence to face 2026 not because of who we 221 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:16,830 are, but because of who Christ is. 222 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:23,210 So our identity in Christ gives us first this knowledge that we 223 00:15:23,220 --> 00:15:28,380 are secure in Him. We know we need adjustments, but 224 00:15:28,390 --> 00:15:34,430 we know we have this security of being in Christ through faith in 225 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:37,560 the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ from my sin for 226 00:15:37,570 --> 00:15:40,840 your sin, and we are then saved by His grace. 227 00:15:42,020 --> 00:15:46,470 Well, then that identity in Christ is not only secure, but 228 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:50,370 it is active. Now that's a really wonderful 229 00:15:50,380 --> 00:15:52,610 thing because we don't want a dead faith. 230 00:15:52,660 --> 00:15:57,010 I really appreciate what force you has in terms of ministries 231 00:15:57,020 --> 00:16:01,450 here. But you know, if nobody attends 232 00:16:01,460 --> 00:16:07,370 them, then all we have is ministries labeled on a board. 233 00:16:08,450 --> 00:16:12,780 But when we attend them and we grow in our faith, we not only 234 00:16:12,790 --> 00:16:17,480 grow as active individuals, but as we heard shared earlier, this 235 00:16:17,550 --> 00:16:21,260 group, this life group that we're part of, we get to share 236 00:16:21,270 --> 00:16:24,200 our faith with each other. We get to share our struggles 237 00:16:24,210 --> 00:16:28,360 with each other without fear of condemnation, but with the joy 238 00:16:28,370 --> 00:16:32,660 of maturing in that faith. And so when we attend the 239 00:16:32,670 --> 00:16:36,320 ministries that are provided for us, there is this sense of not 240 00:16:36,330 --> 00:16:40,860 only being active in the life of the church, but active in our 241 00:16:40,870 --> 00:16:45,820 faith. Paul has this this word as he 242 00:16:45,830 --> 00:16:50,320 begins verse 3, Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus 243 00:16:50,330 --> 00:16:52,360 Christ. This, this word. 244 00:16:52,370 --> 00:16:58,140 Praise is not just an adoration. This is an active response to 245 00:16:58,150 --> 00:17:02,900 who God is, an active response to who we are in Christ and what 246 00:17:03,050 --> 00:17:05,609 what God has done for us in Christ. 247 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:09,890 And as a result, we praise Him. And whether that's singing some 248 00:17:09,900 --> 00:17:14,310 hymns and songs on a Sunday morning or we praise him for Him 249 00:17:14,380 --> 00:17:18,010 enabling us to go through the struggles or Him giving us the 250 00:17:18,020 --> 00:17:21,560 joy of unwrapping the present that we really wanted this past 251 00:17:21,569 --> 00:17:25,849 Christmas. This praise is a response of 252 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:29,170 adoration. It's a response of one who is 253 00:17:29,180 --> 00:17:34,570 secure in Christ and desires that faith and that security to 254 00:17:34,580 --> 00:17:38,750 be active. In the 1st 14 verses of 255 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:43,680 Ephesians chapter 1, we have a variation of in Christ. 256 00:17:43,690 --> 00:17:48,520 Those two words being in Christ, we have it 10 times. 257 00:17:49,110 --> 00:17:53,640 The words in Christ in the New Testament appear 200 times, but 258 00:17:53,650 --> 00:17:58,740 in these 14 verses, these first 14 verses, it appears 10 times. 259 00:17:59,410 --> 00:18:03,980 God blesses us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 260 00:18:04,230 --> 00:18:08,800 God chose us in Him. He is freely given us His grace. 261 00:18:08,870 --> 00:18:12,760 In the One He loves, we have redemption, the forgiveness of 262 00:18:12,770 --> 00:18:16,500 sins. In him verse 9, God made known 263 00:18:16,510 --> 00:18:19,680 the mystery of His will in Christ. 264 00:18:19,750 --> 00:18:24,180 Paul goes through this whole list to show us how active God 265 00:18:24,250 --> 00:18:29,080 is in this relationship with us in Christ. 266 00:18:29,350 --> 00:18:33,190 That's not just a a label that we can now wear on our shirts. 267 00:18:34,250 --> 00:18:40,100 It's a label that is inscribed is written on our hearts and 268 00:18:40,110 --> 00:18:45,860 changes our very soul. My identity is 1 of faithfulness 269 00:18:46,420 --> 00:18:50,900 of love for God and in that I am active. 270 00:18:50,910 --> 00:18:54,780 Paul just goes through this list and tells us every reason why we 271 00:18:54,790 --> 00:18:59,560 should praise God, every reason why we should be active in our 272 00:18:59,570 --> 00:19:03,840 life of faith. We verse 12 says we put our hope 273 00:19:03,890 --> 00:19:06,440 in Christ. Hope is something that we need 274 00:19:06,450 --> 00:19:12,410 for this year ahead of us. It's really something that we 275 00:19:12,420 --> 00:19:14,810 need for the year ahead of us because we don't know what's 276 00:19:14,820 --> 00:19:16,290 going to happen. We don't even know what's going 277 00:19:16,300 --> 00:19:21,720 to happen today yet, but what we do know and what we need for 278 00:19:21,730 --> 00:19:26,440 even the rest of this day is not only a a faith or an identity 279 00:19:26,450 --> 00:19:30,880 that is secure in Christ, but it's active in Christ. 280 00:19:31,860 --> 00:19:37,070 It means that we want to take seriously this new life that God 281 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:42,750 has given to us in Christ, growing in Him. 282 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:48,630 I think one of the one of the things that often causes despair 283 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:53,090 is life itself. But we often we struggle with 284 00:19:53,100 --> 00:19:57,830 sin and there are times when we actually question our identity 285 00:19:59,410 --> 00:20:04,620 and we question and this sinful nature works that in us. 286 00:20:04,870 --> 00:20:10,540 If I am in Christ, but I'm still doing this, am I really in 287 00:20:10,550 --> 00:20:14,120 Christ? And that's that Devil's motive 288 00:20:14,130 --> 00:20:17,350 is to cause us to question. He knows that He can't take you 289 00:20:17,360 --> 00:20:20,170 out of the Father's hand. He knows that. 290 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:26,570 But in sin, He can cause us to question who we are. 291 00:20:27,510 --> 00:20:29,900 So that's not only the reason why we're active. 292 00:20:29,910 --> 00:20:33,360 It's also the reason we need to know before we leave the service 293 00:20:33,370 --> 00:20:36,440 this morning is that we are secure in our faith. 294 00:20:36,610 --> 00:20:40,070 It's not about how good we are, what we're wearing or the people 295 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:43,580 that we hang out with. It's are we in Christ? 296 00:20:43,630 --> 00:20:47,170 Because when we identify ourselves in Christ through 297 00:20:47,180 --> 00:20:52,320 repentance of sin, there is this change in us that becomes an act 298 00:20:52,330 --> 00:20:57,440 of change in our lives. That word transformation that 299 00:20:57,450 --> 00:21:00,360 Paul writes in Romans chapter 12. 300 00:21:00,430 --> 00:21:03,900 Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 301 00:21:04,130 --> 00:21:06,240 That's part of what we're doing here this morning. 302 00:21:06,330 --> 00:21:08,280 We're studying a text of scripture. 303 00:21:08,370 --> 00:21:11,390 There's something that's coming out of here that that clicks 304 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:14,760 with you, that resonates with you and begins to transform the 305 00:21:14,770 --> 00:21:18,120 way that you think about your identity in Christ. 306 00:21:18,610 --> 00:21:23,520 But transformation is ongoing. It's a lifetime of change. 307 00:21:23,590 --> 00:21:26,560 It's a lifetime even of frustration. 308 00:21:26,660 --> 00:21:30,270 We always say you take one step forward, something happens and 309 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:34,070 you end up taking 2 steps back and that's just the reality of 310 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:37,980 life. But if that's secure, if you 311 00:21:37,990 --> 00:21:42,440 know who you are in Christ and if you are actively being 312 00:21:42,450 --> 00:21:48,380 transformed by Christ and in Him, then it becomes a matter of 313 00:21:48,390 --> 00:21:53,660 God not taking you 2 steps back, but God having you pause even 314 00:21:53,670 --> 00:21:58,120 for a season to reflect on who He is and the plans. 315 00:21:58,130 --> 00:22:01,100 That's what Paul mentions twice in here is about the will of 316 00:22:01,110 --> 00:22:06,230 God, that you may know His will in Christ and his will isn't 317 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:10,130 always so clear right away. But Can you imagine? 318 00:22:10,180 --> 00:22:13,450 Let's just say I gave you a challenge this morning of 319 00:22:13,460 --> 00:22:17,070 reading Ephesians chapter one, one to 14 every day in the new 320 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:21,870 year, every day. Alright, just read this passage 321 00:22:21,920 --> 00:22:24,950 amongst others, but just this reminder, even Colossians 322 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:29,670 chapter 1, even these two passages remind us of who we 323 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:32,390 are. There should never be a doubt in 324 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:36,150 our mind as believers, as followers of Jesus Christ that 325 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:37,790 we are. There should never be a doubt 326 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:43,600 that we're secure in Him and that moves us into 327 00:22:43,660 --> 00:22:47,220 transformation. So we need to be daily 328 00:22:47,230 --> 00:22:50,180 strengthened in that faith, which leads to the final point 329 00:22:50,230 --> 00:22:54,400 this morning, and that is this. Our identity in Christ is to the 330 00:22:54,410 --> 00:22:58,850 praise of His glory. Wow. 331 00:23:00,090 --> 00:23:04,620 See, what we've been focusing on for the last 15 minutes is how 332 00:23:04,630 --> 00:23:08,720 that works in us, how that changes our lives. 333 00:23:08,730 --> 00:23:14,380 What that means for me as a person entering 2026, even as a 334 00:23:14,430 --> 00:23:17,790 seasoned believer, a pastor in a church. 335 00:23:19,170 --> 00:23:25,680 What it means for me is that what I am and what I do and who 336 00:23:25,690 --> 00:23:31,360 I am is not for my praise is not simply for my betterment or the 337 00:23:31,370 --> 00:23:36,740 improvement of my life. It is ultimately and primarily 338 00:23:37,550 --> 00:23:40,230 for the praise of His glory. You get that? 339 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:43,630 If you get that, that's what life is about. 340 00:23:43,640 --> 00:23:47,450 It's cause if it's only about me, there's always going to be 341 00:23:47,460 --> 00:23:51,660 this sense of emptiness and as and maybe even failure at times. 342 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:58,810 But if it is about me living securely and actively in Christ 343 00:23:59,530 --> 00:24:03,290 and it's for his, the praise of his glory, which Paul mentions 344 00:24:03,300 --> 00:24:09,660 twice in these 14 verses, then my life has greater meaning. 345 00:24:09,750 --> 00:24:12,540 And I can testify to that. You talk to somebody who's been 346 00:24:12,550 --> 00:24:16,040 a Christian for more than 10:15, 20-30 years. 347 00:24:16,090 --> 00:24:22,560 And as we think about why we're doing this, when we're doing it 348 00:24:22,570 --> 00:24:26,360 for the praise of His glory, it draws us back every Sunday. 349 00:24:27,860 --> 00:24:30,870 It draws us back to our life group when we're doing it for 350 00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:33,630 the praise of his glory. If we're only doing it for me 351 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:40,310 getting better and me finding a spouse or whatever, then there's 352 00:24:43,110 --> 00:24:46,390 it's not gonna be complete. There's gonna be something 353 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:50,450 missing. But as a believer is one who is 354 00:24:50,460 --> 00:24:55,240 growing in our faith, when we realize that what we're doing as 355 00:24:55,250 --> 00:24:59,020 believers is for the praise of His glory, and we intentionally 356 00:24:59,030 --> 00:25:05,520 desire that, that changes everything. 2026 can be about 357 00:25:05,530 --> 00:25:07,600 being secure in your faith in Christ. 358 00:25:07,610 --> 00:25:12,040 It can be about being active, but it also needs to be for the 359 00:25:12,050 --> 00:25:17,040 praise of His glory. And then December 31st, 2026, we 360 00:25:17,050 --> 00:25:23,520 look back and we say this was a year in which I delighted in the 361 00:25:23,530 --> 00:25:29,190 praise and the glory of God. So Paul throughout this whole 362 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:33,990 text begins to take us through this step by step walk, the step 363 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:37,030 by step encouragement in our faith. 364 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:44,450 And in that Paul begins to describe again and define again 365 00:25:44,460 --> 00:25:48,010 for the church in Ephesus. The church in Ephesus is also 366 00:25:48,020 --> 00:25:50,520 one that's mentioned in the Book of Revelation. 367 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:54,140 And you remember why the Jesus had to write the letter to the 368 00:25:54,150 --> 00:25:58,670 Church of Ephesus. They had forgotten what didn't 369 00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:01,500 you just go through Revelation? They had forgotten their first 370 00:26:01,510 --> 00:26:06,460 love, right? They, they knew God, but 371 00:26:06,470 --> 00:26:10,440 something about time and something about the culture, 372 00:26:10,610 --> 00:26:15,720 something about their own lives had kind of made them withdraw 373 00:26:15,770 --> 00:26:20,890 or made them forget who God is. And Jesus needed to remind them. 374 00:26:20,930 --> 00:26:24,640 And that's what Paul is doing here is reminding the Church of 375 00:26:24,650 --> 00:26:29,620 Ephesus of their first love. This is the key to a healthy 376 00:26:29,670 --> 00:26:33,480 church where each member is growing in their faith, where we 377 00:26:33,490 --> 00:26:37,520 are maturing in Christ. And as we as individuals mature 378 00:26:37,530 --> 00:26:42,310 in Christ, so does force for you mature in Christ. 379 00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:48,330 And then your pastors get to see this joy of leading the flock. 380 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:52,910 As was mentioned in the call to worship, we are the sheep of His 381 00:26:52,920 --> 00:26:55,250 pasture. God calls us to worship. 382 00:26:55,300 --> 00:26:58,730 And when pastors see people involved in the life of the 383 00:26:58,740 --> 00:27:02,360 church, it is for the praise of His glory. 384 00:27:03,730 --> 00:27:07,500 When we see people come to saving faith in Jesus Christ who 385 00:27:07,510 --> 00:27:11,580 have been under the influence of addictions and they've come and 386 00:27:11,590 --> 00:27:15,180 they have celebrated their recovery in Christ, it is for 387 00:27:15,250 --> 00:27:18,410 the praise and the glory of our God. 388 00:27:20,630 --> 00:27:22,590 But in there there's a warning too. 389 00:27:23,450 --> 00:27:27,280 Now I hopefully there's an excitement, although you're not 390 00:27:27,290 --> 00:27:29,820 all clapping like you did when I first came up here. 391 00:27:30,230 --> 00:27:35,940 But there is a delight or desire for you to grow. 392 00:27:36,390 --> 00:27:40,740 But there's also a season of life or a time this week or next 393 00:27:40,750 --> 00:27:47,450 week where it may not be good, where you forget to read your 394 00:27:47,460 --> 00:27:49,180 Bible, You forget to pray, right? 395 00:27:49,190 --> 00:27:51,570 That's your routine. You get up, you pray, you read 396 00:27:51,580 --> 00:27:55,870 Scripture or you go to bed. You you pray, you read, and you 397 00:27:55,880 --> 00:27:58,510 fall asleep. But maybe something will 398 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:04,070 interrupt that and there is that danger in the Christian life of 399 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:09,460 being malnourished. We come here and the sermons are 400 00:28:09,470 --> 00:28:12,060 always good. I watch John from time to time. 401 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:17,280 It's just wonderful to see him preach and to hear what you're 402 00:28:17,290 --> 00:28:19,670 being fed by on a Sunday morning. 403 00:28:20,530 --> 00:28:24,550 You're getting fed meat and potatoes here. 404 00:28:25,620 --> 00:28:31,050 You are not a malnourished church, but there may be times 405 00:28:31,060 --> 00:28:35,290 when one or two or ten of you are feeling spiritually out of 406 00:28:35,300 --> 00:28:37,710 touch, and that's why you need this. 407 00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:41,390 That's where it becomes to the praise of his glory, that the 408 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:45,370 church is maturing and that nobody is getting left behind. 409 00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:49,270 Nobody is feeling any more like they're not in Christ, but they 410 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:53,490 are being taken in that journey along the road of salvation, 411 00:28:53,500 --> 00:29:02,900 along the road of living faith. Your vision statement is rooted 412 00:29:02,910 --> 00:29:07,570 in John 15 where Jesus speaks of his relationship with us as a 413 00:29:07,580 --> 00:29:10,430 vine and branches. He is the vine, we are the 414 00:29:10,440 --> 00:29:11,770 branches. Apart from Him. 415 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:16,350 We cannot bear fruit, but in Him we do. 416 00:29:17,320 --> 00:29:22,650 In Him we abide, we love one another and we bear fruit. 417 00:29:22,660 --> 00:29:26,270 That's the promise of God by abiding in Him. 418 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:34,790 Our life in Christ, then, is nurtured by Jesus himself, and 419 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:37,710 faith in Him will bring us complete joy. 420 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:43,770 Faith in Him will enable our lives to be a witness to others 421 00:29:44,460 --> 00:29:46,070 because that's what Forest View is. 422 00:29:46,080 --> 00:29:52,350 It's a church, but it's part of the living body of Christ, and 423 00:29:52,360 --> 00:29:56,000 the only deadness is those who have not yet come to saving 424 00:29:56,010 --> 00:30:00,650 faith in Jesus Christ. But stick around, because every 425 00:30:00,660 --> 00:30:03,950 Sunday you will hear of your need for Jesus. 426 00:30:04,220 --> 00:30:09,710 Every Sunday you will hear of that call of God on your life to 427 00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:13,250 confess your sins, for He is faithful and just, to forgive 428 00:30:13,260 --> 00:30:17,510 you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness and set you in 429 00:30:17,580 --> 00:30:24,630 this new amazing life in Christ. Wherein is our identity. 430 00:30:24,940 --> 00:30:30,030 The church is a living body, and we get to be part of that living 431 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:34,970 body. So to end, here's what Paul 432 00:30:34,980 --> 00:30:43,370 writes versus 13 and 14. And you also were included in 433 00:30:43,380 --> 00:30:46,370 Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your 434 00:30:46,380 --> 00:30:50,980 salvation. Having believed, you were marked 435 00:30:50,990 --> 00:30:55,400 in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit who is a deposit 436 00:30:55,450 --> 00:31:00,400 guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those 437 00:31:00,410 --> 00:31:06,340 who are God's possession to the praise of His glory. 438 00:31:08,040 --> 00:31:12,030 That's where we are as we begin 2026. 439 00:31:12,260 --> 00:31:17,680 As members, as those who come to worship at Forest View, we are 440 00:31:17,690 --> 00:31:21,500 people who have heard the message that in Christ we are a 441 00:31:21,510 --> 00:31:25,770 new creation. Apart from Christ, we're dead in 442 00:31:25,780 --> 00:31:29,430 our sins. But in Christ, by repentance and 443 00:31:29,440 --> 00:31:33,350 faith, were given new life, given a new identity. 444 00:31:34,640 --> 00:31:38,030 That's us. We're given a new identity. 445 00:31:38,320 --> 00:31:43,030 Why? For the praise of His glory. 446 00:31:44,330 --> 00:31:47,360 That's it. Say it with me to the praise of 447 00:31:47,370 --> 00:31:50,310 His glory. Amen. 448 00:31:57,120 --> 00:31:59,430 Can I pray with you for a Let's do that. 449 00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:04,840 Father, I thank you for opportunities like this to to 450 00:32:04,850 --> 00:32:12,680 worship together, to read Your Word, to pray, to hear Your Word 451 00:32:14,330 --> 00:32:18,200 interpreted and translated, to hear your word proclaimed in the 452 00:32:18,210 --> 00:32:20,500 gospel message in Christ declared. 453 00:32:22,020 --> 00:32:29,080 But oh God, to hear you declare to each one of us this morning 454 00:32:30,480 --> 00:32:34,750 that we are in Christ through faith in Him, that we are 455 00:32:34,760 --> 00:32:38,720 declared, that through a God who brings us into a covenant 456 00:32:38,730 --> 00:32:43,290 relationship with Him. To hear you declare through our 457 00:32:43,300 --> 00:32:50,070 repentance and faith that we are in Christ is a joy that sets the 458 00:32:50,080 --> 00:32:54,540 tone for this year. And we say that, and we praise 459 00:32:54,550 --> 00:32:59,420 you for the prey to the praise of your glory, in Jesus name, 460 00:32:59,850 --> 00:33:09,350 Amen. Thanks Art. 461 00:33:10,670 --> 00:33:14,760 Great reminder, E, how important it is to know our security and 462 00:33:14,770 --> 00:33:18,120 Christ and how that can propel us forward and give us 463 00:33:18,130 --> 00:33:23,960 confidence and moving into 2026. Yeah, to the praise of his 464 00:33:23,970 --> 00:33:24,970 glory. Thank you. 465 00:33:25,970 --> 00:33:29,180 If if you're in a place this morning, we say, you know what? 466 00:33:29,190 --> 00:33:34,070 I I do not think that I'm in Christ, but I want to be in 467 00:33:34,080 --> 00:33:36,050 Christ. I would just encourage you to 468 00:33:36,060 --> 00:33:39,190 take that next step forward. Maybe you want to explore more 469 00:33:39,260 --> 00:33:41,570 through Alpha this starting on the 19th. 470 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:44,790 If you want to pray to receive Christ, I would you just be my 471 00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:46,950 honor to pray with you after the service. 472 00:33:46,960 --> 00:33:48,880 Come on up. There will be an opportunity for 473 00:33:48,890 --> 00:33:51,430 people to receive prayer and we'd love to love to pray with 474 00:33:51,440 --> 00:33:53,470 you in a moment. We're going to.