Month: April 2024

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth." 
Ephesians 1:7-10 [ESV]

As I study Ephesians, I am finding I have to spend more time than in other books, wrapping my head around Paul’s train of thought. For this first chapter so for I am getting 3 principles he is making.

• In verse 3, God Blesses us – In Christ
• In verse 5, God for ordained us – Through Christ
• In verse 9, God revealed the mystery of His will – Set forth in Christ.

As you can see, everything is in and through Christ. Everything is about Christ. Access to the Kingdom of God is through Christ. The end of time will come about under the headship of Christ. This is the secret that Paul is talking about – the fulfillment of what God told Abraham (Genesis 12:3). This promise is now seen and realized in what Christ has done.

Application:

When I read again here what I have written, the evidence is overwhelming. My life, my direction, my focus, my work – must all be about Christ. His teaching, His sacrifice, His resurrection, and His place in heaven should be the reason behind every decision and act I take in not only my life, but my headship of my family, my ministry, and my service to others. Ultimately it is the focus on what He has secured for me in eternity that gives me the freedom in Him to love like He has loved me. Following, worshipping, and obeying Jesus is what my life as a Christian is all about.

Today’s Psalm:

How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you. In the shelter of your presence, you hide them from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues.

Psalms 31:19-20

"For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]-[so that we might be] to the praise and commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved." 
Ephesians 1: 5 & 6 [AMP]

[Catching up on some posts]

So many Christians struggle with the doctrine of predestination because of the implication that would remove our personal will to accept Christ of our own conscience. However, what Paul tells us here is that the important ‘will’ is that of God Himself (“in accordance with the purpose of His will”). Gods existence is outside of time; my brain can’t exactly comprehend the aspect of God ‘choosing’ and me having my own decision. But, over and over again, we see in scripture that both these things exist. I choose Christ and God predetermined that I would. It also says that ‘anyone’ who seeks God will find Him. So, the place that the Lord has brought me in my understanding is that God knew before this timeline we under­stand, that I would choose Him. In the same way He already knows those who will not.

Application:

I believe that God’s Word is very clear on this topic. I also feel that everyone is on their own road of sanctification and there are doctrines like this one that take some time before the Lord not only reveals this truth but also gives confidence through the Holy Spirit on the fact of this truth (some of you reading this might have recoiled a bit here). I believe that Jesus gave us insight into this aspect of our growth when we seek after and follow Him…more and more will be revealed as the Lord increases our knowledge of Himself. Here is what Jesus has to say in Mark 4:22-25.

For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

“even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love”

Ephesians 1:4 [ESV]

We must read verse three as we look at this verse above. “Praise be to the Lord and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.“

• We receive every spiritual blessing IN Christ
• The Father chose us IN Christ
• We are holy and blameless IN Christ

It’s all about Christ and being IN Him.  Our journey into blessing, began in eternity past. There is nothing we did to generate His decision to choose us. No entitlement. The link to verse three is that He blessed us even as He elected us. This makes our God a relational God. He picked us out for Himself. 

This whole idea is that this is what makes us (the church) a specifically called group, we are called the “in Christ“ group. My position in Christ leaves me blameless and holy because of the work of Christ. Love is the sphere that comes from God’s act of election. It is a moving toward another with his or her best interest at heart; not an emotional response.

Application:

When I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior, I received all of the spiritual blessings I could ever have because I was born into Christ. It is only through a deep study of God‘s word and a relationship with God through prayer, that I can unlock all of the things that are already inside of me that God has for me.  the key is to realize that the Holy Spirit is the activator. When someone colors their hair they could put just the color-dye in their hair but until they mix in the activator/developer, the color just sits there; it doesn’t penetrate.  The Holy Spirit acts through a pure heart, a heart justified through salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ.  My growth happens through meditation on God‘s word and dedicating my life and service to Him.  The other way that I have spiritual growth is through persevering through trial and leaning into God’s strength in the midst of it. 

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places."
Ephesians 1:3 [ESV]

Today I am starting Ephesians. I of 3 books in the New Testament I have yet to do a deep study of. I will continue to read through Psalms but I am lacking a little meat to my daily meals.

These first several verses of Ephesians did not disappoint as Paul jumps right in to 1) What we have in Jesus and 2) that we have been chosen before the earth was created. I am focusing on number 1 today and will launch into number 2 over the next couple of days as there is so much there.

Every spiritual blessing: what jumped out at me about this was the totality of blessing (spiritually) that we have when we accept Jesus as our personal LORD and Savior. Not some, not all eventually, but everything now. These spiritual blessings are already secured when we believe. There is such freedom and hope unlocked when we embrace this truth.

APPLICATION:

Lately, I have been living a day-by-day life. Now, this is not bad within itself; Jesus calls us not to be anxious for tomorrow and that God’s grace is new every morning… but my outlook should be further than today and my hope should be in more than today. I need to transition my thinking in my personal ministry to be taking into consideration all the spiritual blessing God the father has given me IN the LORD Jesus Christ, I am realizing there is untapped potential in what I am capable of doing as far as impact for the Kingdom through what I have been give IN Christ. My prayer life must include more -> asking of the Lord to reveal how I can say yes to the Kingdom work He is preparing before me. In this context I have to be looking out further than today.