Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• What is the church?
• Why does it exist?
• To the praise and the glory of His grace (1:6)
• The church came about "according to the good pleasure of His will" (1:5)
• God's will is mentioned a lot in the chapter
• v1 - Paul an apostle of God
• v9 - the redemption of the world
•  v11- the counsel of His will

God does not need us

• God does not need man
• God is infinitely happy - He delights in the perfection of His being
• God is totally satisfied
• The trinity takes immense pleasure in its members
• Acts 17:25 - "God does not need anything"
• Nothing that man has done adds to God's glory
• The nations are like a drop in a bucket
• Could we ever think that God needed us?
• God is above all blessing and praise
• You cannot add anything to God - there is no lack to God
• He alone is all holy
• He alone is all wise
• He alone is all perfect love
• God made the world out of His good pleasure
• God gave man free will and they rebelled
• Does this diminish God's glory? - no
• God's grace and mercy is towards mankind
• God is more glorified because He has chosen to save men and women from their sins
• The differences between Adam and us
• God doesn't need us but it should humble us that God has made us and saved us

It is the Good pleasure of His will to save us

• The apostle Paul was separated to God
• It was God's pleasure and will
• Jesus thanked His Father that His truth was hidden from the so-called wise and prudent of the world but revealed to babes
• It was God's pleasure to do this
• God takes great pleasure in redemption
• Isa 43 - pleasure in redeeming Israel
• If God takes pleasure in redeeming Israel of old, will He not take pleasure in redeeming us?
• The church is precious in the sight of God
• Isa 62:4-5
• We were once a people forsaken in the Lord, but are now reconciled in Jesus Christ
• Example of Steven James
• Zep 3:17
• Heb 1
• Ps 16:3
• Eph 1:22-23
• When you are downcast remember how much God loves His people

We are to be to the praise of the glory of His grace

• Quote from John Piper
• We are to praise Him and to live for the glory of His grace
• God is glorified through us (though remember we cannot add anything to God)
• Example of playing for Wales
• Ps 71:14-16
• How much of our conversation is about us?
• How much do we boast about?
• We only have Jesus to boast in
• How do we bring God praise?
• Singing in church
• Loving one another
• Forgiving one another
• As we evangelize
• As we step put in faith
• As we show kindness in the name of Jesus Christ
• Whatever we do in the name of Jesus brings God praise
• Isa 43 - "The people I have formed for myself, may they declare My Praise."