Our text this evening really is the last three verses of this chapter, that no flesh should glory in his presence, but of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who you have God has been unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. And according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. Amen, let's bow together in prayer. Again, let's ask the Lord for his help as this Lord's Day would, again, draw to a close. In the house of God, we need the Lord's help and strength, and again, be faithful in the hearing and the preaching of the word of the Lord. Let's all pray together. Oh, Lord God, we do pray for strength right now. Give help and grace to preach and to hear the word of God in a worthy manner. We have before us precious truth, truths that should thrill our souls. Oh Lord, help us to rightly respond to the word. We don't want to leave the house of God here carelessly or apathetic regarding what's before us. May this move our souls. May it really move our hearts. And for some, perhaps you're still just dead in sin and their eyes are blind. Open their eyes. Cause them to see and marvel at the glories of Christ Jesus. We pray in his name. Amen. It was always when I was thinking about the nature of this subject, union with Christ, I was caused to consider what is the main aim of such a series? What is the, if you like, the key point of it all? Well, there could be several, but one that certainly would come to the top of such a list would be the concept that there is no salvation outside Christ Jesus. It's an obvious application of the doctrine. But it teaches again that God never sees the salvation of sinners apart from Christ Jesus. Again, we saw last time we were in this study and considering these words in Ephesians chapter one, that it is according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world. Again, eternally God doesn't see salvation outside of Christ. Again, before creation itself, before the coming of man into the world, before Christ came into the world, before the cross, before the resurrection, before all of those things, salvation was considered in the Godhead in union with Christ Jesus. There is no salvation outside of Christ. But the sinner is described in Ephesians chapter 2 as those who are without Christ. That doesn't mean they don't have Christ, that's true. But it means they are apart from Christ. You see, humanity is in one of two states, either in Christ or out of Christ. And those who are without Christ in Ephesians chapter 2, they are strangers from the covenants of promise. They are those who have no right to claim the promises we saw even this morning. A knowledge of God through the forgiveness of sins. A new heart, a heart that walks in fellowship with God according to Jeremiah chapter 31. Those here, out of Christ, they're strangers from these covenants of promise. They're described as having no hope, as they're without God in the world. What a state that is. And so there is no salvation outside of Christ. Now that's the main theme, the key theme. John Calvin expressed it this way. As long as Christ remains outside of us and we are separated from him and he's seeing union there in terms of Christ in us and us in Christ, which is biblical language. He says this, all that he has suffered and done for the salvation of the human race, remains useless and of no value for us." Again, he is not in any way impinging upon the dignity and the worth of Christ's work. But he says, Christ's work is nothing outside the union. Without us being in Christ, all that accomplished is of no value to us in his words. And therefore, he says, to share with us what he has received from the Father, he had to become ours and dwell within us. The Holy Spirit is the bond by which Christ effectually unites himself or unites us to himself. So when you're thinking of union with Christ, you need to really go back to first principles. You're in 1 Corinthians, so turn across to chapter 15. Here Paul again, he draws with a very clear pen, the starkness of this circumstance. As he pens these words, again, there is no gray area here. There's nowhere in the middle. You're either in Christ or out of Christ. So he says in chapter 15 verse number 21, You're either in Adam or you're in Christ. Of course here Paul is drawing our attention to the finality of our redemption, the resurrection from the dead. He's establishing that only comes to those who are in Christ Jesus. And of course, if the end of our salvation is for those in Christ, then everything that precedes that is also only for those in Christ. If the pinnacle belongs to those in Christ, then there's nothing outside our experience for those in Christ Jesus. Everything up to that point is also given to those in Christ Jesus. Of course, this rests upon the truth that Christ is appointed as the second or the last Adam. The word to keep in mind here is representation. Union with Christ is based and grounded upon the truth that Christ is our representative. He represents a new humanity as Adam's sin is cred to us. He represents humanity, and as He sends, we send in Him. So Christ's obedience is credit to us. He is our representative. All that Christ is, He is for those He represents. All that Christ has, He has for those He represents. That's why union is so vital. We're in union with Christ, therefore we possess all that he is and all that he has. What he does and who he is is granted unto us in our union with Christ Jesus. In our union with Christ we receive all. It's that thought that brings us to your text for this evening. In Christ we receive all. And as our text says in verse number 30, but of him are ye, note the words, in Christ Jesus. And that union is then described in terms of the blessings who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. This text would allow a very, very long series of messages. There's so much in each and every word that would allow, again, an extended study But I want to really try to overview this briefly this evening, and that you would see again afresh tonight the importance of union with Christ. And then, Lord helping us, we'll go back over some of the details in future studies. I want you, I suppose, to ask yourself the question, are you in Christ tonight or in Adam? And if you answer that question, I'm in Christ, then I want you to understand the blessedness of your state. What a state it is to be in Christ. Note first of all then the connection here that is shown. Again there is a connection here and I'm not going to take much time on this because this really is what we considered last time in Ephesians chapter 1. When you look at the context of this text, you see that those who are in Christ Jesus, verse number 30, are those who are also described with two other terms. Again, you go back to what is said here, back to verse number 28. For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men are of the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called, but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world. And so what you're seeing here are already three terms, calling, chosen, and Christ. And the same individuals are included in the three separate terms. You're calling. Who are those who are called? They are those who are chosen. Again, that's the sense of verse number 26. You see, you're calling not many wise men, not many mighty, but God have chosen. Paul doesn't explain the connection here. He assumes it. No one is called who is not first chosen. Chosen before the foundation of the world. We use the term elect. They're the elect ones. And they are those who are then called. Of course, those who are called, again, are those who, according to verse number 40, but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God. Those who are called are those who believe. Again, you're seeing steps here. The chosen are called, and the called are those who believe the gospel. And all of this is encompassed in this term in Christ. And we have been chosen graciously in eternity, then united actually in time. I tried to make that clear last time, maybe not successfully, but I tried to make it clear that there is a distinction between our election in Christ and then our union with Christ in time. Again, there is a change where children of wrath and then become the objects of God's love, if you like, and our union with Christ Jesus. But that's still a blessedness that is promised to us before time began as then provided in time itself. But note again here, those who are chosen are those who are called. And they are those who are in Christ Jesus. And the language again, emphasizes just a simple point. We have nothing to boast off. This is all entirely undeserved. You see, Paul's gonna emphasize what you have in Christ in verse number 30. But as I'll see at the end, He's saying no flesh should glory in his presence. He's emphasizing again the fact that our union with Christ is not something we achieve or merit. It's something that comes in the sovereign kindness and grace of God. So when you see the extent of the blessedness and the scope of the promises and the scope of all that Christ is for us, we should marvel that we get all of this and we don't deserve any of it. You know, It's one thing to give a disobedient child perhaps a dessert after dinner. You don't deserve this, but you have it anyway. Just out of mercy, we're gonna give you this treat at the end of the day. That's a small thing. We're describing blessings that are beyond our comprehension. And we're not just like a disobedient child to parents. We are sworn rebels against the most high God. And yet in love and mercy he set his love upon us and has chosen us, then called us and brought us in union with Christ Jesus. That's the connection I want you to see. But I don't spend much time here because I want to take time tonight on really the issue of the completion. The completion of the blessings we enjoy in Christ Jesus. That's the main thing to consider tonight. Union with Christ is absolutely vital. And when you read the four terms that are used here, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, you're reading four words that describe blessings that are wonderful. Blessings that are essential. Without these blessings, we're lost. They're blessings that you can't take or leave. You either have these and are saved or you don't have them and you're lost. They're wonderful. They're essential. They're also comprehensive. Everything the sinner needs is found in Christ. And that's what I want you to see tonight, really, the completion of this, that we'd recognize that everything we need as those born in sin and shaped in iniquity, everything we need is found only in Christ Jesus. But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus. who of God has made unto us, first of all, wisdom. Wisdom. What are we marked by? By nature. Not by spiritual wisdom, but by spiritual foolishness. Though we may have a high IQ, we may be capable of great things academically in school, and some of you young people are doing very well in school. You may have all the exams after your name and titles and all the rest, but by nature, you are foolish. Now, what do I mean by that? Well, you turn back to chapter one, the verse number 18, because the context here gives us the answer to this circumstance. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness. Paul deals with this subject in the course of this letter. Again, he has explained the difference between the Gentiles and the Jew. Again, verse number 23. But we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness. Foolishness. You've studied the Bible. You've sought to study, again, the nature of the cross of Christ. One thing that we often look at when you consider the atonement, and you consider what the atonement is, a representative, a substitute, who himself has no ground to die, but yet dies. Because sin is imputed to him, and he dies under the guilt of sin. He himself has no guilt, but he dies under the guilt of sin that he could thereby procure a righteousness and atonement for those for whom he dies. And that God could be just and the unjust. and you consider these things in your mind and you know them very, very well, you often come to the end of such a study and you go, wow, behold the wisdom of God. But how do you come to that? We're seeing here that these Greeks who were famous for their intellect, they don't see the wisdom of God in the cross. They see nothing but foolishness. Again, it's a reflection, again, of our natural state. We're very full of ourselves. That's our natural state. We assume we can have all the answers, at least, or at least make a good stab at them. And we don't really come to terms with the fact that outside of God's grace, we know nothing. You see, Paul described that. Look across to chapter two. Again, these are connected verses. Of course, Christ made unto us wisdom, and that goes back to chapter one, but it also continues into chapter two. Look at the verse number six. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect, yet not the wisdom of this world, nor the princes of this world that come to naught. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory, which none of the princes of this world knew, for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Again, Paul's explaining the foolishness of this world. They come and they speak wisdom. Now the context, again, back in chapter 1, Christ is called, verse number 24, the wisdom of God. But even in chapter 2, verse 7, we speak the wisdom of God. But what is that? Verse number 2, I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified. That's the wisdom of God. But it's foolishness to man. Christ refers to himself as wisdom, wisdom incarnate. But in and of ourselves, we are incapable of grasping the benefits of the gospel. Verse number nine. And that's describing the hiddenness of the wonders of the mystery, the gospel of Christ. Verse 10. So verse nine is describing our natural state. Sometimes it's used to describe, well, we can't understand the glories of heaven. It's describing the state of the unregenerate, the unconverted man who cannot understand the glories of God's grace in the gospel. We are unable to understand the spiritual. Verse number 19, the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolish unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. That's why sinners don't confess their sins and cling to Christ. And we can look at that from various perspectives. We can describe how in their hearts' affections they want to live a life of sin and not godliness. They choose the pleasure of sin for a season. And so we can describe their rebellion in terms of their sinful choices and desires. But here it also comes down to this. They cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God. They lack wisdom. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who has made unto us wisdom. Again, if you want to study the doctrine of union with Christ in a fuller sense, one issue that comes to mind is when is the sinner united to Christ? Our catechisms refer to we're united to Christ in our calling. That describes the internal work of the Spirit of God in our hearts and in our calling. And yet others highlight the fact that we believe in the gospel, and as we believe the gospel, we're united to Christ. Well, here you see that God in grace unites us to Christ. Our faith's important, and we're not discussing a sequence in time, not a temporal priority. All of this happens in God's grace and time. But there is a logical sequence here. It is God in his grace who grants us the wisdom to see Christ, whereby we then believe. in our calling, in the work of the Spirit of God in our hearts, we are thereby united to Christ. Christ's blessings come to the sinner in that way. Now, this needs teased out more in different directions, and we'll do that. But we receive Christ's blessings, and the first one is wisdom. Our eyes are opened. The eyes of the sinner opened to see the nature of their sin. and the glory of the Savior. There is no wisdom outside of Christ. Again, on a practical level, what does this all mean? Well, it should help you understand the nature of unsaved friends and loved ones. This is their sinful state. Again, there is a desire, and we were joking, I won't mention the people, but we were joking last night as we talked, a desire sometimes to catch your family by the scruff of the neck and say, just believe the gospel. You can shake them until you're blue in the face. They need the Lord to give them wisdom. Sadly, we fail, don't we? We can teach the Word of God, but we feel to really call on to God, Lord, have mercy upon the sinner. Bring them into Christ. They would have this wisdom. You see, in Christ, the sinner is enlightened from the foolishness of sin. That's our first need. We need to be enlightened from the foolishness of our sin. Righteousness. What a huge subject that is. Is it describing Christ and his justice? He is, of course, the just one. Is it describing personal holiness and uprightness? I don't think so. I think what we're seeing here, again, is the righteousness that's described in the Old Testament scriptures. You go back to Isaiah 45. I'm just going to give you a sample of text here. I'm not going to take much time on this. These are familiar territory. Isaiah 45 in the verse number 8. Now my desire here is not to detail the details of this text, but rather to show you that righteousness and salvation are used synonymously. Now there is a term righteousness in the Old Testament prophets, particularly Isaiah and Jeremiah, that use the word righteousness synonymously equivalent to the truth of salvation. Chapter 46 of Isaiah, and the verse number 12. Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness. I will bring near my righteousness, it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry. and I'll place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory. So you see what we're seeing here, we're seeing a consistency between righteousness and salvation. It's also 51, 56, 61, it's in Jeremiah 23 and elsewhere, there's this overlapping of terms, righteousness with salvation. Of course, Paul, as he highlights the power of the gospel, In Romans chapter one, he says, therein is the righteousness of God revealed. We look at that in our studies in Romans, Christ chapter 10 of Romans is the end of the law for righteousness. But to keep this very, very simple, let me turn you to Philippians chapter three. Because here we're seeing Paul's testimony. Again, I could turn you to various parts of the word of God to define this righteousness. We've got Paul's own testimony in Philippians chapter three. He's considering his own righteousness and he's come to the conclusion that they are but dung. Verse number six, concerning zeal, persecuting the church, touching the righteousness, which in the law, blameless. But it's all dung, verse number eight, that I may win Christ. Please note the line in verse number nine, and be found in him. He wants to be in Christ. Why does he want to be in Christ? Because it's only in Christ that he will find the righteousness, verse number nine, not his own. It's only in Christ that he'll be found in him not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Paul wants to be in Christ because he knows that in Christ is this righteousness. See, what is your problem? That comes across, I'm not being rude and cheeky, that's certainly one of those terms you use, come out the wrong way. What is your problem before God? There is none righteous, no, not one. That's your problem. You're gonna stand before a righteous God And if God marks our iniquities, who can stand? How can a man be just before God? Well, not in yourself because there's none righteous, no, not one. And so there's this need within us. I must have righteousness. You go on the street and evangelize and you present the law of God to some sinner. You're leading them to a point, a conclusion, But they realize they're guilty before God. They realize they can't stand before God and you better lead them there and not leave them there. You can lead a sinner feeling miserable in their guilt. They can be those like Bunyan's Pilgrim, the burden upon their back. But you want to make sure you tell them there is a place where they can find righteousness. And his name is Jesus. He is Jehovah, so can you. Jeremiah 23, the Lord or righteousness. He is the one who fulfilled all righteousness. As he said to John the Baptist, he came to fill all righteousness. He's the one who came to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. He dealt with our guilt. provided the payment for guilt, the expiation was given unto us in his blood where there's cleansing and forgiveness. And then a perfect righteousness in his obedience, imputed to us. He's made sin for us that we may be the righteousness of God in him, 2 Corinthians 5, you know the text. Where do you find righteousness? Only in Christ. What happens if you're outside of Christ? You go into a lost eternity in a state of unrighteousness, and you stand before the judge of all the earth. He will not cast a blind eye upon your sin, but will justly, properly sentence you to a lost eternity as one who is unrighteous in his sight. You can't live outside of Christ and you can't die outside of Christ. You've got to be in Christ. You need this righteousness and the only place to find this righteousness is in Christ Jesus. And so in Christ, the sinner is enlightened from the felicities of sin. And in Christ, the sinner is pardoned from the penalty of sin. You see, we're building a picture here that everything the sinner needs is found in Christ Jesus. Complete in thee, no work of mine. It's all found in Christ. Number three, sanctification. The completion here, wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification. Again, this term is used, and we've seen this in our studies in holiness, it's used to describe those who are set apart from sin unto God, unto a holy use. Again, over in chapter one of Corinthians, Paul describes the church marked by imperfections, but they are them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus. They're set apart. But what happens? is that in our sanctification, we're indwelt by the Spirit of God. Again, Paul is highlighting the four key blessings. He's not describing every connection. But those who are righteous, in Christ's righteousness, those who are righteous are those who believe the gospel. They believe the gospel by the work of the Spirit of God. The Spirit indwells them. And in Christ, they now They find the power over sin. You see, turn across to 2 Corinthians 5. 2 Corinthians 5, again, one of these key in Christ texts. 2 Corinthians 5 and the verse number 17. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. All things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new. There's a radical change for those who are in Christ. Oh, there's a change in understanding. Foolishness becomes wisdom. Unrighteousness legally becomes righteousness legally. But here is describing an entire new creation work in the soul of man. Any man in Christ, he is a new creature. And Paul emphasized that back over in Romans chapter six. Again, we've seen this many, many times in our studies. Romans chapter six in the verse number one and following. Describing, again, the freedom of those who are in Christ Jesus. 3 Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in units of life. There's a change. We no longer need to serve sin. Verse number six, our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. If we be dead with Christ, we believe we shall also live with him. If you're in Christ, you're a new creation, a new creature. There's a change. There's power to live a godly life. So I don't feel that power very often. I guess sometimes we are slow to tap into the power available for us in the gospel. And sometimes we're really quite content to struggle, in inverted commas, with our remaining sin, because really we're not struggling at all. But there is victory in Jesus. There is sanctifying power in Christ Jesus. The power of sin is broken in those who are in Christ. And thus, there is the power to live for God. You see, in Christ the sinner is released from the power of sin. Everything is in Christ. In our union with His death and burial and resurrection. There is that union with the sinner or with Christ, that the sinner is united to Christ in such a way that they are raised to newness of life. If you're a child of God, you're not what you used to be, you know that. Legally, you were guilty, now you're not guilty. You understand that in heaven's court, but more than that, God has changed your life. And you look at the circumstance of the sinner. People so often, they want to improve their lives. Again, people for some time will dabble with sin until sin takes them further than they want to go. And then they'll realize, I can't continue this life. So what do they do? They try to improve themselves, but all they end up doing is sowing one sin for another. And they live their lives just jumping from one sinful practice to another. And some of those practices are cleaner than others, but ultimately they're not living for God. Because you can't live for God without the power of Christ in sanctification. That new radical power in the life of the sinner. So in Christ, the sinner is delivered from the foolishness of sin, pardoned from the penalty of sin, released from the power of sin. And then finally in the fourth place, redemption is also here. Redemption means to be delivered from bondage, either financial or slavery. to the payment of price. It's often used in a very general sense to describe our salvation in a full sense. But here I think the meaning is much more narrow and specific. There's a progression of terms here that's quite deliberate. Christ is all in all to the believer. It starts in wisdom. And in wisdom we then believe and are justified. Those who are justified are sanctified. And those who are sanctified, what happens next? They're glorified. And so the redemption here is not so much the redemption in a general sense, but it is that final redemption that awaits the children of God. Again, over in Ephesians chapter one, you get the sense of this finality in Christ Jesus. Ephesians chapter one in the verse number 14. Now let's read verse 13. In whom, now note the words again, in whom you also trusted after they heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession under the praise of his glory. In Christ comes the blessing of glorification and redemption. Again, as creation groans in Romans chapter eight, so we also groan within ourselves for redemption, the redemption of the body. See, the true Christian hates and bemoans sin. Hate every sin. We hate our sins of omission as much as our sins of commission. We hate the sins that people even may look over. a bad attitude, an unkind word. A true Christian hates those things, despises every unpure thought, even unseen to men. And we long for redemption. We long for the full freedom of every sin. The true believer feels the weight of their sin, even in the decay of the body. They see the advancing of age and infirmities and ailments, and they recognize within themselves, this is a mark of sin in the world, and as creation grown, so I grow, and they long for redemption. The glorification of the body. And I try to summarize this very, very quickly. Because I want you to appreciate again that everything you need is found in Christ Jesus. Not find in this world. It's not find in religion or a church or being a good person. It's find only in Christ. And you don't need to look anywhere else for any supplements. It's all in Christ Jesus. You don't need to go to Christianity to get this. and then Hinduism for this, and then Islam for this. Everything's found in Christ. You don't need to go anywhere else. But if you're outside of Christ, then you've none of these blessings. You see, you don't get one without them all. And if you want one, you need to want all. Peace with God and the power over sin, wisdom to understand the gospel, and also the prospect of eternal resurrection. Oh, these blessings, I've made the point at the start of this point, they are wonderful. They are essential and they are comprehensive. Rutherford said this, they lose nothing who gain Christ. Everything is found in Christ Jesus. Henry Smith said this, the lawyer can deliver his client but from strife. The physician can deliver his patient but from sickness. The master can deliver his servant but from bondage. But the Lord delivers us from all. Completion. Which leads finally in just a closing comment, the consequence. Verse 29 and 31, that no flesh should glory in his presence. Verse number 31, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. Consider these four blessings again and ask yourself a question of each. Did you have any spiritual wisdom in yourself? Did you have any spiritual comprehension of the true nature of your sin or the glory of Christ Jesus? Did you possess any righteousness in yourself? Were you able in yourself to overcome sin? Now, if you ask and answer that question with yes, you're not a Christian. Or at least you're a Christian that doesn't understand the nature of the gospel. We in ourselves possess no wisdom. We possess no righteousness. And we possess no power over our sin. The last one is obvious. Are you able to resurrect yourself with a glorified body? So I leave that one today and it's the last in the row. But it's the one that so obviously comes with the answer no. When you die and are buried, you will not be able to resurrect yourself. And so we recognize that we must be in Christ for that final redemption. But the point is, in all four of these, that just as you're incapable of resurrecting yourself, so you're incapable of sanctifying yourself, or justifying yourself, or opening your own eyes. There's no groin for boasting. None of this can be achieved in your own power and efforts. All these blessings are in Christ and in Christ alone. There therefore must be no room for boasting or glorying in the presence of God. One of the marks of spiritual maturity. What do you expect to see in those who are maturing? You expect to see a deepening understanding of the gospel. an understanding of the nature of spiritual wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption. You expect to see a development in their knowledge of these things as they study the Word of God and grow. Therefore, one of the key marks of Christian maturity is a deepening level of humility. It is inconsistent for people to grow in their doctrinal knowledge at the same time as they grow and pride. The more we know, the less we know. And the more we know, the more we realize that we owe everything to God and nothing to ourselves. That we're not better than any unsaved neighbor. We're just the object of divine favor. We're not better than a fellow believer. If you're completely incapable of any of these things, your incapability is no less than theirs. But also, we're not less than a fellow believer. The same part of God that saved them, saved you. We sing with the hymn writer, Lord, why was I a guest? Why was I made to hear thy voice and enter while there's room, when thousands make a wretched choice and rather starve than come? But of him, I of God's grace, are ye in Christ Jesus? May of God has been unjust wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. It's only found in Christ, and it's all found in Christ. Praise to his name tonight. Let's bow together. I ask the Lord again to humble our hearts in the word, to recognize afresh tonight that all that we have is all of grace, is all of Christ. Eternal God, we thank you again for these reminders. It's very fundamental, basic truths, but there is no room for boasting. Oh Lord, make us more and more aware of our sin, more and more aware of your grace. And dear Father, we'd walk in this world humbly. Oh Lord, that is what you require of us, isn't it? That we'd walk humbly with our God. Grant us the grace to do so this week. May we leave here with your blessing upon us. Bring us back together to the house of God in your will to pray, to worship your name. Keep us day by day. Bless our homes. Make us more and more like the Savior. In his name we pray.