Ephesians 1:7-10 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
Redemption is the forgiveness of our tresspasses. It is the releasing effect of a ransom that has been paid.
This comes to us through the death of Jesus. When Aslan goes to the stone table for the payment of Edmond's guilt; this is redemption. It was the death of Christ which secured our redemption. This act unites us with God. It unites things in heaven with things on earth.
This act of redemption follows on the footsteps of the previous couple of verses that mentioned predestination. It says in verse 10 that this was a plan for the fullness of time.
Also this was a mystery that was couched in promises, types, allusions, and word pictures in the Old Testament. It was brought forth in the full light during the life and death of Jesus. God has made known this mystery. We can learn and understand and apply this unfolded mystery.
I am redeemed, I am redeemed, I am redeemed by the blood of the lamb!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Glorious Grace
Ephesians 1:1-6
The highest blessing that one could ever receive is to have been predestined to be a son (child) of God. That God, before the foundation of the world, would determine that I would stand before Him holy and blameless. This is God's highest act of love toward me. This is to be blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. All of these blessings come to me through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And they all happened because God wanted to, it was according to His will.
Before the world was made, I had not been brought forth. I had not done anything good or evil. Yet God knew me. He determined that I would be an orphan who would be adopted by Himself. He would adopt me, not because I was special, or wise, or good in any way. He adopted me for the purpose of His own choosing. He wanted to, and that is that. This is called in verse 6, "glorious grace."
This glorious grace has given me every spiritual blessing, says verse 3. Am I okay with that? It does not say that God has blessed me with every material blessing. Yet this is what my sinful heart longs for sometimes. Why? Why can I not wait with patience for the hope of every spiritual blessing? This blessing that awaits me in heaven is "holiness," and "blamelessness." Is this enough? What else could I possibly need? My problem is not material, it is moral. And with these spiritual blessings, by moral dilemma is taken out of the way and nailed to the cross. Every spiritual blessing is mine in Christ; rejoice O my soul for Gods glorious grace!
The highest blessing that one could ever receive is to have been predestined to be a son (child) of God. That God, before the foundation of the world, would determine that I would stand before Him holy and blameless. This is God's highest act of love toward me. This is to be blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. All of these blessings come to me through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And they all happened because God wanted to, it was according to His will.
Before the world was made, I had not been brought forth. I had not done anything good or evil. Yet God knew me. He determined that I would be an orphan who would be adopted by Himself. He would adopt me, not because I was special, or wise, or good in any way. He adopted me for the purpose of His own choosing. He wanted to, and that is that. This is called in verse 6, "glorious grace."
This glorious grace has given me every spiritual blessing, says verse 3. Am I okay with that? It does not say that God has blessed me with every material blessing. Yet this is what my sinful heart longs for sometimes. Why? Why can I not wait with patience for the hope of every spiritual blessing? This blessing that awaits me in heaven is "holiness," and "blamelessness." Is this enough? What else could I possibly need? My problem is not material, it is moral. And with these spiritual blessings, by moral dilemma is taken out of the way and nailed to the cross. Every spiritual blessing is mine in Christ; rejoice O my soul for Gods glorious grace!
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Joyful Zeal
These are some thoughts as I was pondering Galatians 4:8-20. I pray you may find some benefit...
COMMANDS
* Become like Paul and be joyful
* they were joyful, and Paul became like they were before.
* they treated Paul like an Angel
* they would have poked their eyes out for him
TRUTHS
* A person does not know God before they embrace the gospel. A person is not known be God either.
* Before a person is a Christian, they are a slaves to weak and miserable principles of the world.
* like seeking acceptance from God through my works
* like seeking justification through law keeping
* When we share truth with others, we can become their enemies. If they are not willing to be unshackled from their slavery to sin, materialism, and humanism; Christianity can be seen as hateful. For it is the truth that sets us free.
* False teachers generally try to win you over to them. They wish to alienate us from the people who preach, share, and live the truth of Gods Word.
* Zeal is good, provided it is pointed at the right source, namely Jesus Christ and his truth. Zeal is also good if it is constant. It is not good to have zeal like a roller-coaster.
*A pastor's heart should be akin to labor pains when professing Christians are seeking and being led astray by another gospel.
EXHORTATIONS
* When we are loving and embracing toward those who share the truth of Christ, or other Christians; we are to treat them as if they were Jesus himself. And we are to do this joyfully.
WHAT CAN I TAKE FROM THIS?
* I not only know God, but I am known by God. I have been set free from my slavery to sin, and slavery to weak and miserable principles of personal autonomy, humanism, and materialism. This truth should produce a constant, zealous joy that is aimed at Jesus and his truth. My affections should not be determined by my circumstances. They should be rooted in the eternal God who knows and loves me.
COMMANDS
* Become like Paul and be joyful
* they were joyful, and Paul became like they were before.
* they treated Paul like an Angel
* they would have poked their eyes out for him
TRUTHS
* A person does not know God before they embrace the gospel. A person is not known be God either.
* Before a person is a Christian, they are a slaves to weak and miserable principles of the world.
* like seeking acceptance from God through my works
* like seeking justification through law keeping
* When we share truth with others, we can become their enemies. If they are not willing to be unshackled from their slavery to sin, materialism, and humanism; Christianity can be seen as hateful. For it is the truth that sets us free.
* False teachers generally try to win you over to them. They wish to alienate us from the people who preach, share, and live the truth of Gods Word.
* Zeal is good, provided it is pointed at the right source, namely Jesus Christ and his truth. Zeal is also good if it is constant. It is not good to have zeal like a roller-coaster.
*A pastor's heart should be akin to labor pains when professing Christians are seeking and being led astray by another gospel.
EXHORTATIONS
* When we are loving and embracing toward those who share the truth of Christ, or other Christians; we are to treat them as if they were Jesus himself. And we are to do this joyfully.
WHAT CAN I TAKE FROM THIS?
* I not only know God, but I am known by God. I have been set free from my slavery to sin, and slavery to weak and miserable principles of personal autonomy, humanism, and materialism. This truth should produce a constant, zealous joy that is aimed at Jesus and his truth. My affections should not be determined by my circumstances. They should be rooted in the eternal God who knows and loves me.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Living by the Spirit
We are lightly studying through the book of Galatians as a family. These are just some thoughts I had while looking at chapter 3:26-4:7. Maybe they may be of interest to someone.
Galatians 4.6
Living by the Spirit is:
* Submitting to God's Law. Romans 8:7
* Putting to death the sinful deeds of the body. Romans 8:13
* Having a heart that calls out to the Fatherhood of God. Galatians 4:6
* Having a love that abounds, but that is controlled by depth of insight and knowledge. Philippians 1:9
* Discerning what is pure and blameless until Jesus comes back, or I die. Philippians 1:10
* Being filled with the fruit of righteousness. My life will be characterized by righteousness. Philippians 1:11
* Searching the Scriptures for Jesus with intensity and great care. 1 Peter 1:11
* Being filled with the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23
* Putting to death, and crucifying my sinful passions and desires. Galatians 5:24
THE TEXT OF GALATIANS 3.26-4.7
* Becoming a son of God is through faith in Christ Jesus
* Through faith in Christ Jesus, we become sons of God.
* Any race, creed, color, or sex can become a son of God. There is no distinction.
* A son of God is also a child and heir of Abraham.
* The sign of baptism is closely linked with faith in Christ. It does not merit salvation but it is appropriate to speak in these terms while addressing believers.
Galatians 4.6
Living by the Spirit is:
* Submitting to God's Law. Romans 8:7
* Putting to death the sinful deeds of the body. Romans 8:13
* Having a heart that calls out to the Fatherhood of God. Galatians 4:6
* Having a love that abounds, but that is controlled by depth of insight and knowledge. Philippians 1:9
* Discerning what is pure and blameless until Jesus comes back, or I die. Philippians 1:10
* Being filled with the fruit of righteousness. My life will be characterized by righteousness. Philippians 1:11
* Searching the Scriptures for Jesus with intensity and great care. 1 Peter 1:11
* Being filled with the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23
* Putting to death, and crucifying my sinful passions and desires. Galatians 5:24
THE TEXT OF GALATIANS 3.26-4.7
* Becoming a son of God is through faith in Christ Jesus
* Through faith in Christ Jesus, we become sons of God.
* Any race, creed, color, or sex can become a son of God. There is no distinction.
* A son of God is also a child and heir of Abraham.
* The sign of baptism is closely linked with faith in Christ. It does not merit salvation but it is appropriate to speak in these terms while addressing believers.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Some Sweet Verses On The Love Of God
The Love of God
Galatians 3:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
Romans 8:37-39 "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Ephesians 5:1-2 "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma."
John 13:34 "A new commandment I give you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another."
1 John 4:10 "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
Revelation 1:5b "To Him who loves us and releases us from our sins by His blood."
Galatians 3:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
Romans 8:37-39 "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Ephesians 5:1-2 "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma."
John 13:34 "A new commandment I give you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another."
1 John 4:10 "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
Revelation 1:5b "To Him who loves us and releases us from our sins by His blood."
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Impure Lust
I just finished reading IMPURE LUST by John Flavel. It is published by BANNER OF TRUTH, from the POCKET PURITAN series of books. It is a very quick read. I was having a hard time falling asleep this evening and breezed through it in about 45 minutes.
In this little book Flavel goes through ten arguments from scripture to hinder the sinner from the trap and snare of lust. Then he goes through seven directions to keep oneself from biting the lure.
His direction #6 I found the sweetest, and thought I would share it with you.
"Make choice of a meet yolk-fellow, and delight in her you have chosen."
He goes on, "stolen waters are sweeter to them than those waters they might lawfully drink at their own fountain: but withal know, it is not the having, but the delighting in the lawful wife, as God requires you to do, that must be the fence against this sin. So Solomon, Proverbs 5:19, ’Let her be as the loving hind, and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times, and be thou ravished always with her love.’"
Men, delight in your lawful wife. This is the fence to keep you from the sin of lust. This is a good word!
In this little book Flavel goes through ten arguments from scripture to hinder the sinner from the trap and snare of lust. Then he goes through seven directions to keep oneself from biting the lure.
His direction #6 I found the sweetest, and thought I would share it with you.
"Make choice of a meet yolk-fellow, and delight in her you have chosen."
He goes on, "stolen waters are sweeter to them than those waters they might lawfully drink at their own fountain: but withal know, it is not the having, but the delighting in the lawful wife, as God requires you to do, that must be the fence against this sin. So Solomon, Proverbs 5:19, ’Let her be as the loving hind, and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times, and be thou ravished always with her love.’"
Men, delight in your lawful wife. This is the fence to keep you from the sin of lust. This is a good word!
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Praising Gods Word
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? --Psalm 56:3-4
What do we typically mean when we say "I'm going to praise God?" I think we would typically say that we praise God by proclaiming how great he is with our mouth. We praise God in a worship service by singing truth about him. We praise God when we are given an opportunity to speak his name to an unbeliever.
What are we to do then when we are afraid? We are to praise God's word. What does it mean then to praise God's Word? I think it means that we proclaim his word. We speak forth his word. We open our mouths and we proclaim the Bible to our own hearts.
When we are clinging to and trusting in God's Word, we are trusting in God himself. When fear arises in your heart, open your mouth and speak fourth what you know to be true about God.
What do we typically mean when we say "I'm going to praise God?" I think we would typically say that we praise God by proclaiming how great he is with our mouth. We praise God in a worship service by singing truth about him. We praise God when we are given an opportunity to speak his name to an unbeliever.
What are we to do then when we are afraid? We are to praise God's word. What does it mean then to praise God's Word? I think it means that we proclaim his word. We speak forth his word. We open our mouths and we proclaim the Bible to our own hearts.
When we are clinging to and trusting in God's Word, we are trusting in God himself. When fear arises in your heart, open your mouth and speak fourth what you know to be true about God.
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