Delighting in Christ: The Beauty of Redemption

In our journey of faith, we are reminded that our good deeds, born out of faith in Christ, are like a fragrant offering to God, pleasing and acceptable in His sight. God delights not only in the actions of His people but in His people themselves. This delight is rooted in His joy in His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the image of His glory. Our conformity to the image of Christ is what makes us delightful to God, as we are being transformed into a beautiful bride for Christ, without spot or wrinkle, reflecting His splendor.

The deepest joy of God is found in His Son, and this joy extends to the church as we share in the beauty of Christ. This joy is most profoundly displayed at the cross, where God's complex emotional life is revealed. The cross is the foundation of the Gospel, where God's pleasure in the sacrifice of His Son is evident. Isaiah 53:10 tells us that the Lord was pleased to crush His Son, not out of cruelty, but because it was the means by which His good pleasure would prosper.

The cross is a paradox, where the greatest sin—the murder of the Son of God—becomes the means of the greatest salvation. God's hatred for sin and His joy in the sacrifice of His Son are both essential for the Gospel to be a saving Gospel. Jesus willingly endured the forsaking displeasure of the Father, making His death pleasing to God. This act of obedience and sacrifice is the most beautiful and glorious event in history, planned and delighted in by God.

The splendor of the redeemed church is found in her blemish-free holiness, free from sin and its effects. Sin is the preference of anything above God, and to be free from it is our splendor. Our ultimate beauty lies in being supremely satisfied with Christ, our bridegroom. This satisfaction is made possible by the love of the Father for the Son becoming our love for the Son, through the Spirit. In the age to come, God's delight in the Son will become our delight, completing the beauty and splendor of the church.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Our good deeds, born out of faith in Christ, are a fragrant offering to God, pleasing and acceptable in His sight. This reflects the beauty of our obedience, despite its imperfections, and highlights God's delight in His people. [13:42]
• 2. God's delight in His people is rooted in His joy in His Son, Jesus Christ. Our transformation into the image of Christ makes us delightful to God, as we become a beautiful bride for Christ, reflecting His splendor. [16:37]
• 3. The cross is a profound paradox where God's hatred for sin and His joy in the sacrifice of His Son coexist. This duality is essential for the Gospel to be a saving Gospel, as Jesus' obedience and sacrifice are the most beautiful acts in history. [23:36]
• 4. The splendor of the redeemed church is found in her blemish-free holiness, free from sin and its effects. Our ultimate beauty lies in being supremely satisfied with Christ, our bridegroom, which is made possible by the love of the Father for the Son becoming our love for the Son. [30:30]
• 5. In the age to come, God's delight in the Son will become our delight, completing the beauty and splendor of the church. This transformation is made possible by the Spirit, ensuring that our joy in Christ corresponds to His infinite worth. [32:53]
  ** [32:53]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [13:42] - Faith and Good Deeds
• [14:09] - God's Delight in His People
• [15:14] - Conformity to Christ's Image
• [16:37] - The Church as Christ's Bride
• [17:19] - God's Joy in His Son
• [18:20] - The Cross and God's Emotional Complexity
• [19:23] - God's Pleasure in the Sacrifice
• [20:43] - Fragrance of Christ's Sacrifice
• [22:52] - Exaltation Through Obedience
• [23:36] - The Paradox of the Cross
• [25:34] - Sin and Salvation at the Cross
• [27:30] - Mystery of God's Joy and Grief
• [29:02] - Splendor of the Redeemed Church
• [30:30] - Satisfaction in Christ
• [32:53] - God's Delight Becomes Ours
• [34:07] - Closing Prayer

1. Philippians 4:18
2. Isaiah 53:10
3. Ephesians 5:25-27

1. According to Philippians 4:18, how does Paul describe the good deeds of believers, and what is their significance to God? [13:42]
2. In Isaiah 53:10, what does it mean that the Lord was "pleased to crush" His Son, and how does this relate to the concept of a fragrant offering? [19:02]
3. Ephesians 5:25-27 speaks about Christ's love for the church. What is the ultimate goal of Christ's sacrifice for the church according to these verses? [29:02]
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between God's delight in His Son and His delight in the church? [16:37]

1. What does it mean for our good deeds to be a "fragrant offering" to God, and how does this reflect our relationship with Him? [13:42]
2. How can the paradox of the cross, where God's hatred for sin and His joy in the sacrifice of His Son coexist, deepen our understanding of the Gospel? [23:36]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the church's transformation into the image of Christ is essential for God's delight in His people? [16:37]
4. How does the sermon explain the concept of being "blemish-free" in holiness, and why is this important for the church's splendor? [29:26]

1. Reflect on your own life: What are some good deeds you have done recently that you believe are a fragrant offering to God? How can you continue to offer such deeds despite their imperfections? [13:42]
2. The sermon discusses the paradox of the cross. How can you embrace the complexity of God's emotions in your own faith journey, especially when facing difficult situations? [23:36]
3. Consider your personal transformation: In what ways are you being conformed to the image of Christ? How can you actively participate in this transformation process? [16:37]
4. The sermon highlights the importance of being satisfied with Christ. What are some practical steps you can take to find your ultimate satisfaction in Him rather than in worldly things? [30:30]
5. How can you cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation of God's delight in His Son, and how can this understanding influence your relationship with God and others? [16:37]
6. Reflect on the concept of being "blemish-free" in holiness. What areas of your life need cleansing or transformation to reflect the splendor of the redeemed church? [29:26]
7. The sermon mentions that God's delight in the Son will become our delight in the age to come. How can you begin to experience and share in this delight now, in your daily life? [32:53]