Good evening guys, I hope this past week has been great? Well if it hasn't been great, don't worry, this week will be better and that thing you're expecting is coming.
It's time for tonight's Bible study.
I hope we've all read Ephesians 1 so I'm expecting our contributions
Let us pray
Ancient of days, we are here again to learn at your feet, we ask that you feed us with your word for your word is life, and help us to grow thereby. In Jesus name we have prayed. Amen
Last week, we stopped at verse 4 of that chapter ending on holiness
Just a comment on that,
Holiness is a nature, it is a like a way of life, the way someone behaves and not something you achieve or a level you attain by doing some things or avoiding some things.
It is Christ Jesus that makes us holy through the Holy Spirit living in us. To be holy means to be consecrated and set apart for a particular purpose or person. For instance, your underwears are holy unto you, they are set apart for your use alone, I don't suppose anyone shares undies.
So that's holiness, it's when we live and abide in Christ that we are holy, out of him, we are nothing.
Now, verse
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
And Yes I'm combining verses 5 &6, as you'll notice after 5, there's a comma. Besides, in the original text or letter, there were no verses.
We, before the world began, and according to God's will, have been planned for adoption into Christ I.E God was like, "if anything happens and Adam and Eve fall in to sin, then I'll send Christ to die and then everyone on earth will be accepted by me through Christ".
Great news for everyone, we are ACCEPTED in Christ. We no longer have to try to impress anyone. We have been accepted in Christ Jesus. I believe meditation on this truth will help anyone having any feelings of guilt over past sins and all to deal with them.
Verse 7 &8
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
If you notice throughout this chapter, the phrase in him keeps occurring. It could be in Christ, in him, in whom or any other variant, it's the same person it's referring to i.e Christ Jesus.
Now in Christ Jesus, we have two things according to these verses.
- Redemption through his blood
- Forgiveness of sins
Redemption means releasing effected by payment of random hence the clause through his blood I hope we are following please?
This tells me that we were in bondage before and Christ paid for our freedom with his blood. Now you may think you could have done this, but you couldn't because a pure blood was needed, one that was free from the sin of Adam I.E the original sin, the general sin of man that everyone is guilty of. This was the reason why Jesus was of Virgin birth so his blood will be pure and so he can pay with it thereby freeing us from the shackles of sin.
Verse 9
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: note
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Look, God is God because he has everything figured out. According to verse 10, God works ALL things according to the purpose of his will.
God's will is that every man should come into a relationship with him through Christ, He wills that everyone should believe in Christ. In fact, I believe this is God's big picture and God blesses everyone given to this. (always give to and help missionaries if you can't go yourself).
In fact, God invests so much in having everyone saved that he'll do almost anything to save someone. In Isaiah, the Bible says "he'll give nations for our sake". God will do anything to save a man, that's why it appears that good people die while bad people keep living, God keeps showing them mercy and gives them more time to repent an change their ways.
I'll stop by saying this thought of mine.
I believe more people will make heaven than we ever imagine.
If you haven't gained anything tonight, get this. You're only something when you are in Christ. You only have a claim to all those inheritance in Christ, out of Christ, you are nothing. Please let's meditate on these words.
In or out of Christ is simply how you are leaving your life, who are you pleasing? God? Or yourself?
Thank you for your time.