I’m going to start here in about a minute. Yes. Well, I’m actually overdue. Beyond. Well, I’m trying to be pastoral. Good morning. This is the third lesson on this chapter 3 of the Westminster Confession of Faith, as we continue to think about the decrees of God, and very particularly on the doctrine of predestination.
If you would turn in your Bibles to Titus, read this twice, at least a portion of it twice this morning, Titus chapter 3. Let’s give attention to the very word of God. passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy. by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, so that being justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things so that those who have believed in God and be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. Thus far in the word of God, amen.
Would you pray with me? Father, our God, we thank you for this passage. It is so full of your truth. So we thank you for it. Thank you for waking us up with it. And we pray, Lord God, now that we would be alert and ready to receive all that you have for us this morning, here in this lesson, and certainly as we come before you in worship. Help us, Lord. Forgive us of all our sins in Christ. And we pray this in his name, amen.
OK, well, who can tell me what we’ve been studying? The decrees of God. I heard some mumbling in the back. The decrees of God. Yes. God’s eternal decree. That’s the third chapter. What’s the first chapter of the Westminster Confession? Scripture. Holy Scripture. What’s the second chapter? Holy Trinity. Good, I’m hearing that in the back. Good, good. The third is on God’s decrees. So you see a progression. You should see a progression. And we’re just running through this quickly.
The decrees of God. What are the decrees of God? The decrees of God are His eternal purpose according to the counsel of His will, whereby for His own glory He hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass. What has God not foreordained? No, He did foreordain sin. He did. He’s not the author of it, but he did foreordain it. What has come to pass that he has not foreordained?
I can’t hear you. Nothing. Thank you. Nothing. Yes. Okay. Let’s fix that in our minds. OK, he’s decreed everything. He’s not the author of sin. He establishes liberty. OK, that’s our baseline, right? And everything else out of this chapter is flowing from that. OK, he’s not the author of sin. He establishes liberty. Do you have a free will? Yes, you do. OK, he’s established it.
OK, we stopped there in our first class. And then we asked that question, are the decrees conditional? This is our last class. What was the answer? Are the decrees of God conditioned upon anything outside of him? No. OK, so they’re unconditional. We talked about rain and having a picnic, right? We talked about God knowing all things.
As David has gone to Caela, he has saved them. He hears that Saul’s on his way down. He’s asking the question of God, will the men of Caela deliver me over to Saul if he comes down? God says, yes, they will. Does it happen? No, because David now leaves. He’s heard this from God. and now he leaves. God knows everything, and his decrees are unconditional. Our God is in the heavens, he does all that he pleases, according to the counsel of his will, that his purpose of election might continue.
Now, we take that very broad precept that God’s foreordained everything, he’s not the author of sin, he’s established liberty, and now they’re applying it to salvation. That’s where we come to the doctrine of predestination, election, right? And so we’re drilling down into that. That’s where they’re going. God’s decree is unconditional. We’ve learned that. It follows from the sovereignty as inability. Oh, excuse me. This is the slide that I need to change. Let’s just say it follows from the sovereignty and immutability of the decree, right? Okay. All right, so unconditional, and I think we didn’t have any questions on that.
Here’s the doctrine of predestination. In the third paragraph, by the decree of God for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life and others foreordained to everlasting death. Again, that’s a bit of a sub-headline, and the next paragraphs will go on to open this up, first with regard to those who are predestinated unto everlasting life. Today, we’re going to focus on those who are ordained to everlasting death. And so here we have the definition of predestination from Webster’s.
Beaky and Smalley call it the crown jewel of the doctrine of God’s sovereignty. And we saw this in various scripture passages, even in the book we’re studying now. For we know, brothers, loved by God, that he has chosen you. God’s choice. We saw that this number is unchangeable. Those who have been predestinated unto life is unchangeable from eternity past. God has elected those whom he will save. Chose us in him before the foundation of the world, Ephesians chapter one.
And then we had that question, does this truth lead to a negligent, lackadaisical, antinomian, lawless Christian living? That’s one of the arguments that’s used against predestination. that it will lead to lackadaisical, antinomian, or lawless Christian living. Is that what scripture teaches? No, it teaches just the opposite, doesn’t it? Not to do good works to be saved, but to do good works because you are saved. And then Beaky and Smalley put that forth. Okay, so. We ended up, I think, with this one, 3-5.
Those are mankind that are predestinated unto life. God, before the foundation of the world, was laid according to his eternal and immutable purpose. And the secret counsel of his good pleasure and of his will is chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory out of his mere free grace and love. So we ask that question. Why? Why did God choose these and not others? Well, it’s out of his mere free grace and love. Without any foresight of faith, he doesn’t look down the halls of time, say, well, this person is going to come to faith, so I’ll select, I’ll choose them. This person is going to have good work, so I’ll select, I’ll choose them.
No. No, any other thing in the creature as conditions. Remember, we started with conditions. Is God’s decree conditioned upon anything outside of him? The answer is no. And so now we come to this, and now we specifically apply that. No conditions means God does not, his choice, his will is not conditioned upon knowing you’re gonna come to faith. His will is not conditioned upon knowing you’re gonna have good works. Yeah, ma’am, yes. Well, I just wanted to make a comment that I’ve heard that if salvation is not predestined and God looks down the corridor of the future, then he is obligated to save a particular person. OK, I see what you’re saying.
And he shouldn’t be obligated to do anything. And he’s not, except to himself. His grace is a gift, right? And so Romans 9 is the text we go to to establish this, along with many, many others. Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated before they had done anything either good or bad. Okay, so. Election is an act of superlative divine love. I’m not sure we think of it that way. We should. All right, so we stopped there last Sunday, so this Sunday we’ll start here in paragraph six.
God has appointed the elect unto glory. As God has appointed the elect unto glory, so has he by the eternal and most free purpose of his will foreordained all the means thereunto. What are means? The ways, yes. The things used, the people used to bring people into a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. The means. He’s foreordained all the means thereunto. Wherefore, they who are elected, being fallen in Adam.” Wow, why is that important? They who are elected, being fallen in Adam. Why did he begin there? Why did you have to say that?
Yeah, we’re fallen. We can’t do anything good. We can’t do anything good with regard to salvation. They who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ. Effectually called unto faith in Christ by His Spirit, working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by His power.” We’re going to talk about that this morning, Lord willing, in the worship service. Through faith unto salvation. Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.
What is this? Anyone know? This is a bonus question. Anyone know what this is called? Effectually called justified, adopted, sanctified, kept unto salvation. In Latin, it’s called the Ordo Salutis, the order of salvation. Theologians break it down into these elements. So it’s just a fun fact. Justified, adopted, sanctified, glorified. Okay, so, there’s 3.6. Redeemed by Christ, elect the fallen are redeemed. What does that mean, to redeem? We are bought. Bought, yeah, that’s good. Good, to purchase back. We’ve been sold, right? Adam kind of sold us, sold us what? To Satan. He sold us into sin. And so we need to be bought back out of that. Purchase back to ransom, to liberate or rescue from captivity or bondage.
Webster’s is so good sometimes. That’s so good. That’s such a great description. To liberate or rescue from captivity. We need to be rescued because we’re sold into sin. We’re in bondage. And so that’s this doctrine of predestination includes this being rescued. Rescued from our sin. To repurchase what has been sold. As we’re born in Adam, we’re born into Satan’s house. And we need to be brought out. as you said, purchased, repurchased, to regain possession of a thing alienated. We’ve been alienated from God.
Such an important point. The concept of being redeemed is so full. Elect the fallen or redeemed. From what we’re studying in 1 Thessalonians, for God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Christ, not through our works. We’ve got to be bought back. Who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live with him.
That’s the idea. God has not destined his children for wrath, but to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ. Yes, sir? when you were explaining repurchase. Can you explain that again? So, as we’re born in Adam, we’re not born into God’s house. We’re born into the house of Satan. We’re slaves to sin.
Right? Right. Okay. And so we’re in chains. So was there a purchase before the purchasing from being chained? So the idea is we’re sold into sin, those are scriptural words. We’re in bondage, that’s where we exist. And since Satan has purchased us, right, for his purposes. So if I just combine purchase back and repurchase, it’s the same or there’s a slight difference? Well, I’d say purchase back and repurchase are the same. Webster’s, you know, he’s a smart guy, used all kinds of words. Yes, ma’am. Yes. Yes. Yes.
He bought us out of that captivity, right? Maybe it will help to say, as we sin, we incur a debt, right? We have a debt to God. The wages of sin is death. So that’s what we have earned ourselves. We’ve earned death. So that’s where we stand before God before Christ. Repurchases us. And so he’s got to pay the debt. So this all goes back to that idea of we have earned death. There’s a debt that needs to be paid. that debt is death, Jesus Christ paid it, and that’s how we speak of being purchased back. Jesus Christ paid the debt of death, and he has purchased back all those who trust in him. That’s redemption.
Hopefully that helps. For the grace, this is from Titus, for the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us. There you see those two concepts joined together, redemption and the crucifixion of Christ, gave himself for us, gave himself up, allowed himself to be crucified, died to redeem us. from all lawlessness, and to purify for himself a people for his own possession, who are zealous for good works.” So that’s the redeemed by Christ part. I’m breaking down this paragraph. Wherefore, they who are elected, being fallen Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in Christ. What does that mean, effectually called? What’s the call? The inward call of the Holy Spirit. OK. Is everyone called? No. OK. Yes and no. Well, that’s what I meant.
The first question is, what is it to be called? And you said the inward call of the Spirit. To be effectually called. You, yes, you have to put the word effectual before that. Yes, ma’am? Doesn’t it say, many are called? Few are chosen. Chosen. Mm, yes. So then called would be predestined or chosen? No. No. Not yet. There’s another work. There’s a universal call, right? Yeah.
Jesus Christ calls everyone to come and drink, right? Come, Isaiah 55, come, eat, drink. I’ve got free food for you. Why are you going after this? Well, we’re not too effectual yet. We’re starting with a universal call. Yeah, what a picture that is, right? Go out into the streets. Call everybody to come in. I don’t want to go. I’ve got other things to do, right?
But that was a universal call. Universal call. Now, we place the word effectual before it, that changes everything. Because not everyone is effectually called. See, we’re talking about predestination, and so he’s foreordained all the means thereunto, and so he effectually calls those he has chosen into faith. The call, which is universal, now becomes effectual. Right? That’s the idea with the effectual call. It takes root.
It has an effect upon those God has chosen. Those he has not chosen? In a sense, it goes in one ear and out the other. It’s the invitation to the wedding feast. No, no, no, I’ve got something else to do. Wait a minute, there’s a banquet here, delicious food, come. No, no, I’ve got other things to do. Not effectual.
Romans 8.30, and those whom he predestined, he also called. So there that predestination, the choice of God, And what follows that predestination, that choice of God, then, is the effectual call. The call, the universal call, becomes effectual in those whom he has predestinated to eternal life. So is there any non-effectual verbiage or language in the Bible, or it’s just implied?
Non-effectual. So Ing brought up the parable. Yeah. Right? It’s implied. Well, I’d say that’s pretty explicit, actually. That the call went out, come to the feast, and there were those who said no. And the call went out to those who were invited. Before the servants are sent into the street, the call goes out to those who are invited, and those who are invited say, ah, you know, I’ve got something else to do. Those are the Jews, right? In other words, everybody’s called, but it’s the individual’s choice to accept.
Yes. And that choice is preordained by God that you will, not that you’re a robot. Please don’t walk away thinking you’re robots. You are not. You have free will. However, as God chooses, now the spirit becomes involved, right? The heart is regenerated. It’s got to be changed, because my hard heart doesn’t want anything to do with Jesus Christ. So as the heart is changed now, as the Spirit works, you will want Christ.
You will make that choice. 1 Corinthians 1, verse 9, God is faithful. We’ll hear about that this morning, I hope, as well. by whom you were called into the fellowship of his son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Paul is writing to those in the church, Paul’s writing to those who have had their hearts changed, whom you were called into the fellowship of his son, Jesus Christ. That’s the effectual call. All right, we continue to move on here with 3.6, effectually called, we just learned about that, by his spirit, right? It’s gotta be the work of the spirit working in due season. Due season, what does that mean?
When you’re baptized, is that when your heart is changed? No, oh. Why not? Isn’t baptismal water kind of special? Nothing special about it. Okay. In due season. Yes, yes. God’s appointed time. And so we don’t consider baptism to be magic, or it’s at this point in time that this person is now saved. We don’t, no, it’s in due season. And so as someone is baptized, whether it’s an infant or an adult, we’re praying that God will work in due season to truly bring this one to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Okay.
They’re justified, adopted, sanctified. Again, we’re talking about all the means thereunto that God has foreordained, all the means thereunto where he brings his elect into glory. Justified, adopted, and sanctified. Again, Romans 8, and those whom he predestined, he also called, and those whom he also He called, he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. Again, the Ordo Salutis, the order of salvation.
There are a couple things missing here. Well, not really missing, but we would add to this adoption, preservation, sanctification, all included in the order of salvation. justified, adopted, sanctified. All the means necessary for someone to enter into glory are preordained by God. So you don’t have to be concerned. Oh, I’ve been justified, but have I been adopted? Yes. God is working it all out. I’ve been justified and adopted, but am I being sanctified? Yes, God is doing all of that. He’s preordained all the means. Am I gonna be preserved in faith? Who has foreordained all the means thereunto? God. Does that mean we sit back like couch potatoes? No, no, no. Kept.
So all the means thereunto, effectually called, redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, kept by His power through faith unto salvation. Again, we’re going to talk about that this morning, I hope, in the preaching of the Word.
And I’m sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Is that just Paul talking? Like, I’m sure of this, but no, he’s proclaiming God’s word, right? He’s telling you this is true, that God will continue the work he’s begun in you and bring it to fulfillment. Is that comforting? It’s extremely comforting, yeah. Let me ask you another question, all the means. Is there anything that God has not foreordained, planned, purposed, to bring those he’s chosen into glory? Anything he missed? Like, whoops, I forgot that one for Chris. No, everything, everything. Wow, what an awesome and powerful and loving God we serve.
All right, we’re gonna move on. Paragraph seven, the rest of mankind. So now we’ve spoken about those who are predestinated unto life. We need to talk about those who aren’t. The rest of mankind, God was pleased according to the unsearchable counsel of his own will, whereby he extends or withholds mercy as he pleases for the glory of his sovereign power over his creatures to pass by. Notice the words that they use. To pass by. And to ordain them to dishonor and wrath for their sin to the praise of his glorious justice. Let’s open this up a little bit. Is this in scripture? Yes? No? Yes. Oh, yes. Thank you. Romans 1. So after the opening in Paul’s letter to the church at Rome, the saints in Rome, He begins writing about those who are not Jews, at least my understanding is he’s writing about Gentiles now, who have denied God, who are in sin.
So far in sin, what happens? Therefore, God gave them up. They had exchanged the glory of God for beasts, for the creatures, right? So what happens? God gave them up in the lust of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason, God gave them up to dishonorable passions.
Yes. Yes. Yes. He gave them up. Right. We’re going to see what that means, but that’s important language. Yes, sir. Yes, it should be. It should be terrifying. Yes, sir. We talked about the great exchange of Christ taking our sin and giving us his righteousness. Yes. We have an exchange right here of truth for our lives. Yes. And a worship involved in it. Yes. Good. Well, we see the story about the Puebla flood. Yes.
How people are. And God just destroyed the human race. And there are still people in this, you know, what we talked about. Yes. That there’s a hope for them. They made up their mind. In other words, if they even had a mind. Yes. Yeah, that’s a good idea, isn’t it? If they even had a mind.
Because wasn’t it even just a natural impulse of the unregenerate heart? just to do these evil things. They were thinking about it. They were just living like almost rude beasts. I would actually say they were thinking. They are thinking about it, if we talk about people today. Again, this gets back to, we’re not on this subject, but I’ll talk about it briefly.
This gets back to free will. And this gets back to, they’ve made a choice. They made a choice to cast off God, to replace God with themselves, ultimately. And as a result, God has given them up. Now, we’ll look at these, see what that means. We want to keep in the back of our minds a comment that was made, I think it was last week, fairness. Is God actually being fair? Let’s think about that.
Romans 9, the scripture says to Pharaoh, For this very purpose I’ve raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. A choice of God. Pharaoh was raised up for a particular purpose. What purpose was that? That I might show my power in you, right?
Beaky and Smalley discuss the fact that Pharaoh hardens his heart first, and then God hardens Pharaoh’s heart. But they point out that the scripture actually has an emphasis on God’s hardening of Pharaoh’s heart, an interesting truth in terms of how many times it’s mentioned in Scripture that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. Here they talk about it.
God’s hardening of sinners does not consist of inducing or motivating them to sin. God is not the author of sin. So we don’t want to go there. He doesn’t cause anyone to sin. For God gives only good gifts and can tempt no one to evil, James 1. Rather, divine hardening involves God’s withdrawal of those blessings that would restrain a sinner from certain sins.
Gave them up. It’s as if he’s removing his restraining hand. from them, gave them up, allowed them to do what they desire to do, removes his restraint. Such as the ordinary activity of his mind and conscience. So they’re referring to, yeah, this is a choice. This is the ordinary activity of your mind and conscience as you’re born in Adam.
God hardens not by addition of evil, but by subtraction of good. I think Beakey and Smalley have hit upon something here. Leaving sinners to their own wicked choices. Pass by. That’s why they use the words pass by in the confession. God passes by. Psalm 81, this is a passage referenced by Beaky and Smalley.
But my people did not listen to my voice. Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts. Where do you think Paul got that language? I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own counsels. Passing by. Giving them up, giving them over. Jude. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation. God chooses. They were designated. Ungodly people who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ. He passes by. Is it fair? So is June written after Paul’s death? Good question. I don’t have a calendar in front of me.
Oh, but that’s your probable answer to his source. I thought you asked the question, where did Paul get this idea? Oh, I’m talking about this language. The language, where did Paul get this idea of God gave them up? Okay, hold that thought. When you’re talking about language, this is all I was referring to. God gave them over. Paul uses very similar language in Romans 1. Where did Paul get his language? Well, he got it from the Holy Spirit. Did Paul know Psalm 81?
Probably, probably. Okay. Passed by. Begins Mali. God abandons some sinners to impenitence and unbelief. When the high priest Eli pleaded with his sons to repent of their scandalous sins, what was going on? What’s he referring to? What are they referring to there? The sons of Eli, who were priests, were profaning the sacrifices, right?
They were telling people, like, give me that piece of meat now. People were saying, wait a minute, no, we’re supposed to, no, no, you can’t have that yet. They said, no, no, give it to me now. They were profaning the sacrifices of God. And Eli approaches them, but is not strong. And so they just continued doing what they’re gonna do. speaking in small air, talking about. When the high priest Eli pleaded with his sons to repent of their scandalous sins against God’s holiness, they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death. He abandoned some sinners to impenitence and unbelief. Yes, sir. So is that what MacArthur and others talk about when they say unholy fire?
I have no idea. I think that would be what you’re referring to, Nadab and Abihu. Yeah, different sons. Yeah, not. Yeah, they were Aaron’s sons. Yeah, different account. All right, questions on God passing by, giving them up. Is it fair? Ah! Well, yeah. Is he fair to Jesus?
Many have said God can do whatever he wants. Yes, he can. God is always just. God is always just. And so the conversation about fairness usually leads astray. Right? If God was fair with us, where would we be? Right. I deserve nothing but hell. Yeah. All right. 3.8.
This wraps up their writing on the decrees of God. But very particularly, it wraps up their writing on this doctrine of predestination. The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care. That man, attending the will of God revealed in his word, and yielding obedience thereunto may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election. Does predestination include within it assurance?
Yes. Why? Explain your answer, please. I like that last part. The work that God began will be brought to completion by me? No, by who? God. By God. That’s predestination, in part. Is that reassuring? Yes. Yes, it is. It should be. Because if it’s dependent upon me, I’m in trouble. I’m in big trouble, right? What if it’s dependent upon God? No trouble at all.
It should be. I’m not contesting that, but I’m asking, within the doctrine of predestination, is there assurance? And I think. When you say positionally, what I think you’re saying is, my question was, in the doctrine itself, in the truth of God’s Word, specifically with regard to predestination, is there this concept and idea and truth of assurance? And I’d say yes, yes, there is.
Whether or not you’re individually assured is another question, and we should talk about that. That men Attending the will of God revealed in his word yielding obedience there unto may from the certainty of their effectual vocation be assured vocation. They’re not referring to like whether you’re a plumber or an electrician. That’s not the vocation. That’s not what they’re asking there. That’s not what they’re talking about.
Your vocation as a follower of Jesus Christ. Be assured of their eternal election. So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God. and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation, assurance to all that sincerely obey the gospel. Why do they say, certainly it is a mystery, handled with special prudence and care? Why would they say that?
Well, let’s just take one example. You can go to an extreme here, which would be wrong, Say, OK, God has elected everyone he’s going to elect, right? He’s chosen everyone. So as a result, each of those elect are going to come to faith in Christ and enter into glory. That’s what this doctrine teaches, right?
So I don’t need to do anything. I don’t need to do anything. God’s done it all, and it’s going to happen. So I don’t need to do anything. Yes, sir. He has done it all. And that’s the beauty of telling us about Christ, because you know He’s chosen some. Yes. And He’s appointed all the means. And sometimes He uses you. Right? Right? He’s appointed all the means. So that’s one place where we can go astray. It’s a high mystery, but it needs to be handled with special prudence and care. We can go wrong directions with this. All right. There’s one more slide, I think. Maybe two.
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God, how unsearchable his judgments and how inscrutable his ways. This is right before Paul transitions into applying his doctrine that he’s set forth in this letter to the saints in Rome. And I think this is a summary of everything he’s set forth. Some people apply this to a certain aspect of his letter. And I say, no, I think this is the whole letter, everything that he’s shown forth, God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the way of salvation, how unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways, including the doctrine of predestination. That was it. All right, so we’ve got one minute for questions. I’m 75, so I get it from you.
So what’s the other word the Protestants use for order, instead of order? Order of Saludis? I don’t know about the Protestants, but Order of Saludis is Latin for Order of Salvation. I don’t think I added anything. I don’t think I said that. I’m not even sure I used the word Protestant. I don’t think so. Okay. All right. I don’t hear any other questions. Let’s pray.
Father, we thank you for this study. We thank you for the truths that were set forth before us this day that came from your word. We ask Lord God that you’d help us. This is a high mystery. Lord, it’s difficult for us to know how you chose us. At the time when we hated you and ran from you and spat upon Christ, you chose us. You sent your son to the cross.
So help us to give you that praise, which only you deserve, and pour out a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Help us to revere you, for you’ve done it all. We thank you, we praise you. Give us comfort and assurance in Christ and Him alone. We ask all this in Jesus’ name.