Ephesians 1:1-14
vs. 1 “We are special to our Father”
“Saints” come from the same Greek word used to describe the holiness of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (1st Peter 1:16; Acts 4:27; 30; Luke 1:35; Acts 1:8 etc.) It means sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated): – (most) holy (one, thing), saint.
We are held in very high regard by our Heavenly Father.
“Faithful” means “trustworthy.”
Think about Jesus’ exchange with Peter after he had denied Him three times (John21:15-17). Let’s clear up one thing before we get started. Jesus didn’t “make” Peter say “I love you” three times because Peter had denied Him three times. That type of teaching comes from a very misguided mindset that doesn’t realize what a gracious God we serve. In this passage of scripture alone He uses the words “grace” or “good pleasure” five times to describe what He has in store for those who have received Him as their savior. The denials had such a devastating effect on Peter it seems that he gave up on his walk with the Lord and went back to his fishing business and worse yet he took some of the other disciples with him.
Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, three times Peter said yes but with a closer examination of the word “love” we can see into the very heart of both.
The first two times Jesus asked Peter if he loved him He used the word “agapao” or “agape” as we hear it today. It means much; to love (in a social or moral sense or “‛âgab” to breathe after, that is, to love (sensually): – dote, lover. “Dote” (Webster) means “to be lavish or excessive in one’s attention, fondness, or affection.”
Remember the first time you fell in love. For some reason you still can’t explain your whole life revolved around the person of your affections. You lived and breathed this new person. Nothing else mattered but to be with them. You hung on their every word. This is the type of love Jesus spoke of. And this is undeniably and ideally the type of love he wants us to show Him (Matthew 22:37). However, He does remember we are dust and has compassion on us when we don’t love Him with this kind of intensity (Psalm 103:13-14).
This is where Peter found himself. He answered with “phileō” which means “dear, that is, a friend; actively fond, that is, friendly (still as a noun, an associate, neighbor, etc.): – friend, also to be a friend to (fond of [an individual or an object]), that is, have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling; while “agapao” is wider, embracing especially the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety: the two thus stand related, the former being chiefly of the heart and the latter of the head).
The third time Jesus asked him He used “phileo” and Peter answered with the same. The denials, as horrible as they were, didn’t change Jesus love for Peter. Peter’s self confidence must have been shaken to the core. In fact that is exactly what Jesus wanted to accomplish in his life. Peter, like many of us relied too heavily on what he could do. Jesus wanted him to learn to a little “frog theology,” i.e., Fully Rely On God, but when he didn’t He would be there for him. The conversation could have gone something like “Peter, I know you are disappointed and disgusted with yourself right now but I am still entrusting the care of my sheep to you, go feed them.”
Forget about your past, go on and do whatever it is He wants you to do. He will always be there for you (Joh 21:18 Truly, truly, I say to you, When you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you wished. But when you grow old, you shall stretch forth your hands and another shall gird you and carry you where you do not wish).
vs.2 “Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Grace and peace, what a combination. Look at the definitions of these words:
“Grace”
“charis;”graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): – acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).
“chairo;” to be full of “cheer”, that is, calmly happy or well off.
“peace;” (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication prosperity: – one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again.
Our Father wants to super abundantly shower us with His Grace. When we experience His grace His peace is sure to follow. He has designed it that way. He created us to be at one with Him and after we fell He set a plan in place and provided a way for us to be made one with Him again. The plan and the way is all wrapped up in His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ (Phillipians 4:19). As we encounter challenges in our walk with Him He continually offers His grace to us as a way into His peace. It is there for the taking and there in abundance.
We are about to embark on a journey into His Grace in this study. It is all about Him and how He wants to do exceeding, abundantly above all we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20) in the lives of His children. He is going to share with us some things that will sound “too good to be true,” but we must keep in mind that we are dealing with a perfect Heavenly Father that wants only the best for His children. In this case, if it sounds to good to be true, it’s Jesus!
vs. 3
Instead of the carnal cursings that dominated our lives before we knew Him now we have all spiritual blessings in Him. I’m not sure of the number of spiritual blessings involved in this statement but I do realize I have them all (“has blessed,” past tense, done deal). The thing we need to realize is we obtain “all” these spiritual blessings “instantaneously” at the moment we receive Jesus as our savior. They are nothing we work for but are given to us by this Almighty, Gracious God we serve. We have to study His word to find out what they are but they are there to bless us and deliver us from the power of the curse of sin we once dwelled in. Some that I have discovered over the years since I came to know Him as my savior are:
I am redeemed from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:10 and 13), and forgiven of past, present and future sins (Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 10:14);
I am uncondemned (Romans 8:1);
I am the righteousness of God (2nd Corinthians 5:21);
I have been declared a saint (Ephesians 1:1);
I can talk to Him and have the confidence that He listens and responds to me (1st John 5:14-15);
I stand perfect in His sight (Hebrews 10:14);
I have been made accepted by Him (Ephesians 1:6);
I have eternal life abiding in me right now (John 3:16);
I have Almighty God living in me (Ephesians 1:13-14);
I am a giant slayer (Numbers 13:30);
I am a mountain mover (Mark 11:23);
I have been raised from the dead (Ephesians 2:1-6);
The list could and should go on and on. When we stop to think about it we discover we are blessed by the Best and too blessed to be stressed!
As we discover and implement these spiritual blessings and start overcoming sinful tendencies we see ourselves spending time in heavenly places, the abode of eagles (Isaiah 40:31).
In fact, one of the definitions of “heavenly” implies “happiness, power, eternity; specifically the Gospel (Christianity).
Have you ever been around someone that seems to be happy all the time? It could be they have discovered the truth of who they really are in Him and are enjoying the intimacy He wants for all His children.
vs. 4
“chosen”
“Chosen means “to select.” When we look at the doctrines of “chosen” and “predestination” we need to look at them through the doctrine of “foreknowledge” or we will get a very askewed view of God. He does not select some for salvation and others for condemnation, those are our choices as human beings. He just knows before hand what we will choose to do and in His goodness leads those of us that will receive His Son to the very place that we turn from our way and turn to Him (Romans 2:4).
Romans 8:29-30 give us a clear picture of how this all plays out; For whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be the First-born among many brothers. But whom He predestinated, these He also called; and whom He called, those He also justified. And whom He justified, these He also glorified.
“in Him”
“In” means (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), that is, a relation of rest.
God does not want us to live a life of struggle. Our sin caused us enough of that. He wants us to rest in Him and allow Him to live His life through us (Galatians 2:20).
Look at the implications of this in light of Matthew 11:28-30;
Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls.For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.
If we are going to labor about anything it should be to enter into His rest as described in Hebrews 4:10-11 “For he who has entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from His.Therefore let us labor to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of unbelief.”
Initially, we enter His rest when we receive Him as our Savior. Subsequently, as we face struggles in our walk with Him we need to learn to turn to Him immediately. Do as He says and learn of Him. He shows us several attributes about Himself He wants us to learn in the remainder of these verses. To mention a few, “meek” and “lowly” (humility or dependence on Him instead of ourselves), and His yoke is easy, His burden is light. If we find ourselves wearing ourselves out “working for Him” we might want to examine whose yoke we are coupled to. In fact, He says He finished the works from the foundation of the world. Of course we need to be busy about our Father’s business but He wants us to internalize the truth of Galatians 2:20 and allow Him to live His life through us. His peace should be guiding our endeavors for Him (Collosians 3:15).
“before the foundation of the world”
He has had His eye on us for a long time. He saw before hand what a mess we would make of ourselves and decided to give His most precious gift as a sacrifice for our sinfulness so we could be the righteousness and holiness of God.
“should be holy and without blame before Him in love”
The verb tense here is first person present indicative. In other words a “done deal.” Once we are in Him we are “holy” (same word as saint) and “without blame” because of His great love for us. We all know we should live holy lives, He even tells us to be holy as our Father is holy. He also knows how unholy our actions are sometimes but that doesn’t change the way He thinks of us. Look at what the Apostle Paul said about himself in Romans 7:15-25 and he was still praising God for his Deliverer.
We have an enemy that is constantly blaming us for things we have or haven’t done. God says we are blameless (uncondemned according to Romans 8:1). I still don’t understand His thinking about us but I am trying to forsake leaning to my own understanding, trust Him for what He says and just enjoy the benefits He wants to lavish on me.
vs. 5
“having predestinated us unto the adoption of children”
“Predestinate “means “predetermine;” “to appoint.” In His foreknowledge He has predetermined, appointed and decreed a time that we will come to know Him, that we will be adopted by Him. The neat thing about being adopted is someone chooses us to be their child. Those that have been adopted may have been rejected by their biological parents but another set of parents came along and said “I want them.”
There will probably always be an element of mystery about the doctrine of “chosen” and “predestination” but, there is no mystery at all about His will toward mankind.
Hence, “the good pleasure of His will.” It is unequivocally His will, His good pleasure that every human being come to repentance (2nd Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”). His whole purpose for sending His Son was to save mankind, rather than to condemn them (John 3:16-17).
In fact, we were already condemned, He came to deliver us from the sentence of death in which we dwelled (Ephesians 2:1-6):
And He has made you alive,who were once dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience; among whom we also had our way of life in times past, in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the thoughts, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us (even when we were dead in sins) has made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved), and has raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
“But God” As I typed verses 1-6 I noticed this phrase fell right in the center. He always makes the difference. He is not a God sitting on His throne out “there” somewhere. He is a God that has always been in the center of what was going on with mankind. He was with us when He created us, He was with us when we fell, He was with us when He sent His most precious gift to die for our exceeding sinfulness, He is with us every step of the way, He is for us. He is the one that delivers us from the wrath we were under and elevates us to heavenly places in His Son.
Someone figured out that Psalm 118:8 is the verse that is dead center in the entire Bible. It says it all, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”
“Chosen,” “predestined,” still haven’t figured it out completely but one thing I have figured out, “He had His eye on me and you for a long, long time, He engineered the circumstances of our life to bring us to Himself, and He has been with us and for us ever since.”
vs. 6
“to the praise of the glory of His grace”
Paul is on a “praise roll” here. It seems he can’t find enough words to express his gratitude to God for His amazing grace.
“Grace” means graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): – acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).
As we have reached the point described in the previous verses and have entered into His marvelous, matchless grace the only thing that makes any sense at all is to praise Him. It is such a praise-worthy and glorious thing to enter into His grace. His grace has been there all along and once we enter into it all He wants us to do is tell our story.
One of the definitions of “praise” is “a story.” I’m reminded of how the apostle Paul dealt with his enemies when persecution came because of his faith in Christ. He just told the story of how he came to know Jesus (Acts 26). How about the blind guy that Jesus healed in John 9 (especially vs. 24-25). He just gave Jesus the credit (the glory) for his healing. And on a more personal note the mentally handicapped brother I have that gave God the credit for forgiving him. In all of his “mental” limitations he told me of God’s forgiveness before I was saved. It wasn’t long after that that I was telling my own story of God’s forgiveness and of how He brought me from blindness to sight.
“Glory’ means dignity, glory, glorious, honor, praise and worship. It also means “to think.” In all our thinking and actions He wants us to give Him glory by telling our story of His grace to us.
“wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”
Think with me about all the stupid stuff we have done in our lives to be accepted by others, sometimes people we don’t like and that probably don’t like us (commonly known as “sucking up”). In my teen years I would do anything to be accepted by my peers. I developed some very destructive habits as a way to try to “fit in”. If I felt like someone didn’t like me I fell into the vicious cycle of trying to win their approval, which only led to frustration because of their rejection, which led to trying harder to win their approval. Many times I just gave up on being accepted and what is worse I gave up on myself. What I didn’t realize was that I was actually searching for someone to love me unconditionally.
When I got saved I carried this mentality over into my relationship with Him until He helped me realize I was totally and unconditionally accepted by Him, simply because I was in His Son. I don’t have to try to fit in with Him. When I received Jesus as my Savior He “fit me into” His body. Because of the Father’s “beloved Son” we become His “beloved children (“beloved” is the same Greek word, “agape” that Jesus used with Peter after he denied Him).Why, He even declared me “perfect” (Hebrews 10:14). “Accepted” comes from the same Greek word for “grace” which means “to grace, that is, indue with special honor: – make accepted, be highly favored”.
It also means “to be full of cheer, that is, calmly happy or well off.” Maybe you have heard the accusation from lost people that “You think you are better than others.” You might want to remind yourself that many times we are not better than they but we are always “better off,” because of Him. He did for me what I could not do for myself.
I was wearing myself out “doing for” Him instead of allowing Him to “do through” me what He wanted (Galatians 2:20). What I did not realize was that what I had worked so hard to accomplish toward others and now toward Him was accomplished instantaneously when I received Him. All my effort was to no avail but when I turned from my way of doing things (repentence) and received Him as my Savior “He made me accepted” simply because I was in His beloved Son. I walked in ignorance of this truth for a time after I got saved and then I finally discovered the wonderful truth of Ephesians 1:6; “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he has made us accepted in the beloved”).
I heard a quote several years ago that has become part of my philosophy for life. It simply states “What others think of me is none of my business.” I’m not talking about living some sort of haphazard life that would dishonor God but if you have a problem of constantly worrying about what others think of you you might want to receive His teaching in Ephesians 1:6 and adopt that attitude for yourself. What “He” thinks of me “is” my business and He thinks I am so special that He calls me a saint (Eph.1:1). Why He even thinks I am perfect (Hebrews 10:14). Thanks Daddy.
And, speaking of “good cheer”, according to John 16:33, we don’t have to go around feeling sorry for ourselves, in fact we don’t have the right to feel sorry for ourselves. No matter what life deals us He has overcome it and by our faith in Him, we can overcome it also.
vs. 7
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,”
Have you ever seen a movie depicting the kidnapping of a child? The parents will do anything to meet the ransom demands of their kidnappers. That is what redemption is all about. “Redemption” means (the act) ransom in full, that is, (figuratively) riddance, or (specifically) Christian salvation. God looked down on His creation that was being held hostage by their disobedience. He decided He would do whatever was necessary to free them from their bondage. Jesus Christ came and by His actions, even unto death, paid our ransom in full.
The ransom has been paid in full, our sins are forgiven, and He has set us free. “Forgiveness” means “to send forth, to put or send away.” The very thing that had us bound has been sent away forever.He has forgiven us of all our sin, past, present, and future. In Hebrews 10:14 He says “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are sanctified.” When we try to wrap our mind around such a mind blowing statement as this we would do well to remember what He tells us in Proverbs 3:5;”Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” We are probably not all together comfortable saying we are perfect, but that is what He says about us. We don’t have to understand it, just trust what He says is true, receive it by faith and enjoy the intimacy of a loving Heavenly Father.
Another mind blowing statement He makes about us is found in Romans 8:1; There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. There has been much discussion and confusion about the last half of this verse. There are some that believe that as long as we are walking in the Spirit there is no condemnation but a closer examination of verses 1-9 reveals that is not a conditional phrase at all but rather a descriptive phrase of those that have entered into a personal relationship with Jesus. Verse 9 states “But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (2nd Corinthians 6:16; 1st John 4:13).
Now He, as well as we, knows all about our imperfections but in our Daddy’s eyes we are perfect, uncondemned.
We are His little ones. He says in 1st John 2:1 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” He tells us “don’t sin”, it will only cause us harm, hurt and destruction and in the same breathe He says and if any man sin, He will be there for us, not against us.
God helped me understand this truth as I looked at my daughter when she was about two years old. It dawned on me that this little blue eyed blonde was perfect in her daddy’s eyes.
God help the man that tried to tell this daddy that his little girl wasn’t perfect. Now, I know all about all her imperfections but be careful if you feel the need to point them out to this daddy. You would find out I am on her side, I’m for her, not against her.
It is vitally important for our freedom that we see ourselves redeemed, forgiven, perfected, and uncondemned but how can we appropriate these truths when our imperfections rear their ugly head and we find ourselves in bondage again because of our disobedience?
Look at 1st John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1: We confess:
“Confess” means to “agree with.” God never condemns one of His children, but He does convict. In other words when we sin against Him He always pronounces a guilty verdict, not to condemn us but to get our attention to something that will cause us harm so that we might repent and turn to Him that He might forgive and cleanse us. We don’t need to argue, we don’t need to try to make up for our sins, all we need to do is agree with Him about what we have done wrong. Confession is our part in this whole process. After we confess, God takes over.
2: He forgives:
We don’t have to beg Him to forgive us, it happens instantaneously when we confess. Remember the definition of “forgive” is “send away.” When we find ourselves in bondage because of our disobedience, the instant we confess that sin He sends away the thing we have allowed to bind us. He stands eager to forgive us, eager to cleanse us. He doesn’t want anything to hold us back from this ministry of reconciliation He has given us (2nd Corinthians 5:17-21).
3: He cleanses:
“Cleanse” means “to take away guilt.” In conviction He pronounces the guilty verdict and when we confess He takes it away, setting us free once again.
You might be asking, “If He has declared me perfect then why do I need to be forgiven of present sin?” Our perfection is our right standing in Him that will never change but to “realize the effect” of that forgiveness we need to agree with Him.
4: Receive His forgiveness and cleansing:
By faith we receive His forgiveness and cleansing whether we feel the effects of it or not.
Our enemy does not want us to get the truth of 1st John 1:9 and he will war with every fiber of his being to keep us in false guilt after we have confessed our sin. That’s when we need to sic FIDO on him:
Forget
It and
Drive
On.
Say it out loud, Steve, “forget it and drive on” (put your name in the blank). Why say it out loud? FIDO is a biblical principle. God doesn’t remember our sin and neither should we. When we say it out loud we hear the Word of God and faith comes (Romans 10:17) to receive the forgiveness and cleansing God wants us to experience. It puts this flesh and our enemy in their proper place, under our authority that has been granted to us by our Father.
“according to the riches of his grace”
I hope all the benefits we have looked at so far have had a mind blowing effect on you. We are not dealing with the wisdom of man. As we saw at the outset of this study we are dealing with a loving Heavenly Father that exists to bless His children, to shower us with the riches of His grace in every area of our life.
vs. 8 “Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence”
With this next statement our Father wants us to continue to think on the riches of His grace toward us. The word “abounded” means to superabound (in quantity or quality), be in excess; to cause to superabound or excel; exceeding abundantly above; beyond measure. The most important area is found in the mind (Proverbs 23:7; “As a man thinks in his heart so is he”).”Prudence” means “mental action or activity, that is, intellectual or moral insight; to exercise the mind.” Our Father wants us to train our minds to think greater thoughts and expect greater things from Him (Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”). He lives in us to empower us to accomplish such great thinking that will result in greater works.
Look at the promise He has given us in John 14:12-14:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, He who believes on Me, the works that I do he shall do also, and greater works than these he shall do, because I go to My Father.
And whatever you may ask in My name, that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
When I first saw this promise I could not get my mind wrapped around it and to this day it still blows my mind to think about. He says we will do greater works than Jesus. Don’t try to understand it, just receive it for what it is. With simple child-like faith receive it as a promise from a Wonderful, Loving Daddy and see what it will do for your thinking. And then, just ask away!
We may have been bound by fear for years but as we learn from His Word how to exercise the sound mind He has given us we will discover a new courage for living and no longer be bound by fearful tendencies when making decisions (2Ti 1:7 “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”). As we go to His Word we will go with abundant expectation of hearing from Him.
All this sounds well and good, and every word is true, (some would think “too good to be true”) but we all know we need others in our lives to encourage us to keep thinking this way. Thank God for the encouragers He has placed in my life over the years. Thank God for giving me the courage to seek out brothers and sisters in Christ over the years. Those that I can be brutally honest with about struggles I face in implementing these wonderful truths, those that have encouraged me to keep taking those tiny steps of faith toward Him and His Truth when I just did not want to take another step. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Father for my elder Brother, Jesus and all my brothers and sisters in Christ!
vs.9
“Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself”
If it is God’s will that all come to repentance (2nd Peter 3:9), then why would He call His will a mystery? “Mystery” means “a secret.”
It is a mystery only to those that don’t know Him (1Co 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God”; “1Co 2:14 “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned”).
One of the most compassionate people I have ever known was a man that my wife worked with named Kenneth. He loved his family and others. He was one of the most intelligent people I have ever been around. In fact I was often intimidated by his intelligence, not to his blame because Kenneth tried to make others feel comfortable when you with him. To look at Kenneth one would think that he was a fantastic Christian man. On the contrary, Kenneth did not want to hear anything about the Gospel. God used Becky to build a relationship with this man, a relationship of respect among friends.
Kenneth was diagnosed with terminal cancer during the time that Becky worked with him. One Saturday morning as I was praying for Kenneth, the Lord impressed on me to share the Gospel with him. Being “the great man of faith I was” I immediately starting rationalizing that Kenneth did not want to hear what I had to say. What I was really dealing with was fear and intimidation. But I took the step of faith and called him. He said it would be fine to come see him.
When I arrived he received me into his home with the same warm and gracious spirit that always characterized Kenneth. During the course of our conversation I asked Kenneth if I could share some scripture with Him. When he accepted my request I shared the plan of salvation with him.
I will always remember his response. He said “Steve, I respect you and Becky far to much too say anything that would ever hurt you in any way, but what you have just shared with me is absolutely absurd.” My response to Kenneth was “I understand where you are coming from because I told my Sunday School class the same thing a couple of weeks ago”. I continued to share with him that we tell people a woman got pregnant without having sex, a man walked sinlessly perfect for 33 years, He died, and then He got up out of the grave to live again. To the intellectual mind this just does not make sense, it would seem a mystery why anyone would believe such utter nonsense. By all “human standards” that story is absolutely absurd but I believe every word of it.
A couple weeks later I called Kenneth to check on Him. During the course of this conversation Kenneth said “I think I’ll see you on the other side.” His brother, a Christian, came up from Florida to see him when I called. That’s the last time I talked with Kenneth before his death a few weeks later.
I met his brothers at his funeral and asked the one that was visiting him if Kenneth was alright. He said “He is now.” He led him to Jesus in his hospital room before he died.
What made the difference? What would take a man from “the story is absurd” to “embracing the One the story is about” in a matter of a few weeks? The answer is the love of God and the Word of God.
Then there is the story of Sandy. Sandy was raised in a very abusive home. She said she had to learn to survive on her own at a very early age. She truly believed the only person she could trust was herself. She became tough and driven to provide for herself and her children. The thoughts of trusting anyone else was absolutely foreign to her thinking. Sandy came into our family when she married Becky’s brother Randy. Sandy saw us loving on each other when we got together. She thought this was the strangest bunch of people she had ever seen. She thought any time someone showed you affection they wanted something in return. She saw a love in my mother-in-law, Lucy that she just could not explain, even though she knew it was genuine.
Sandy was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and several other debilitating diseases that disabled her to the point that she could no longer work and provide for herself. She had plenty of time on her hands to think and God used this time to direct her to His Word. A friend of mine and I visited Sandy one night and after asking she allowed me to share the plan of salvation with her. When she shared with me that it was totally foreign to her thinking to trust anyone for anything I directed her to a Bible lying
on a table and asked her if she would spend some time looking up some scriptures. I asked her to look up the “I am” passages in the book of John and write them down.
I told her I would check back with her to see what she discovered.
We checked back with her in a couple weeks and I asked her if she did her homework. Without hesitation she “Yes I did.” I loved her response when I asked her what she discovered.
She said “The best I can understand it, I think He is saying “I am everything you need.”
A short time later Sandy embraced fully what she had studied and received Jesus as her Savior. She fell in love with Him and His Word immediately. We would visit to encourage her and would leave encouraged. In the midst of intense physical suffering she kept an unshakably positive attitude until cancer took her life a few years later.
Just as in the story about Kenneth, the Word of God is what made the difference. We either believe it and trust Him or we don’t.
“Will” means “a determination.” God will never violate man’s right to choose but He is determined to do everything that is necessary to bring us to repentance and faith in Him.
He gives everyone the measure of faith to receive Him (Romans 12:3). He gives us faith as we hear His Word (Romans 10:17). Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:19) and as we share His Word it produces the life that God wants everyone to have.
vs. 10
“That in the dispensation of the fullness 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:”
The first 9 verses deal with who we are in Him and His determination to make us more like Himself. His desire is that we walk in victory over this flesh and subsequently over Satan’s attack in our lives. We can always count on Him to complete the work He started in our lives (Philippians 1:6: Ephesians 2:10). As we learn to apply these truths and encourage others to do the same the lost world will benefit, hence the ingathering at the end of time. We are going to have a great homecoming. We are going to meet those that have gone on before us, some that are there because of a work our Lord completed through us. I look forward to seeing Kenneth and Sandy but more than anyone, I look forward to seeing the One that made it all possible for us. And, to think of a time that there will be no more sin is beyond my comprehension.
vs. 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:”
“inheritance”
When we receive Him we receive our inheritance also. It is a package deal, a done deal. In fact, He is our greatest inheritance. If we have Him we have Almighty God living in us. It just doesn’t get any better than that (Romans 8:16-17; Galatians 3:26-4:7).
“predestinated”
We have already looked at “predestinate” in vs. 5 but it is worth looking at it again.
“Predestinate “means “predetermine;” “to appoint.” In His foreknowledge He has predetermined, appointed and decreed a time that we will come to know Him, that we will be adopted by Him. The neat thing about being adopted is someone chooses us to be their child. Those that have been adopted may have been rejected by their biological parents but another set of parents came along and said “I want them.”
There will probably always be an element of mystery about the doctrine of “chosen” and “predestination” but, there is no mystery at all about His will toward mankind.
Hence, “the good pleasure of His will.” It is unequivocally His will, His good pleasure that every human being come to repentance (2nd Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”). His whole purpose for sending His Son was to save mankind, rather than to condemn them (John 3:16-17).
In fact, we were already condemned; He came to deliver us from the sentence of death in which we dwelled (Ephesians 2:1-6):
And He has made you alive, who were once dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience; among whom we also had our way of life in times past, in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the thoughts, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us (even when we were dead in sins) has made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved), and has raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
“But God” As I typed verses 1-6 I noticed this phrase fell right in the center. He always makes the difference. He is not a God sitting on His throne out “there” somewhere. He is a God that has always been in the center of what was going on with mankind. He was with us when He created us, He was with us when we fell, He was with us when He sent His most precious gift to die for our exceeding sinfulness, He is with us every step of the way, and He is for us. He is the one that delivers us from the wrath we were under and elevates us to heavenly places in His Son.
Someone figured out that Psalm 118:8 is the verse that is dead center in the entire Bible. It says it all, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”
“Chosen,” “predestined,” still haven’t figured it out completely but one thing I have figured out, “He had His eye on me and you for a long, long time, He engineered the circumstances of our life to bring us to Himself, and He has been with us and for us ever since.”
“purpose”
The definition of “purpose” is a setting forth, that is, (figuratively) proposal (intention); specifically the show bread (in the Temple) as exposed before God.
Literally, the “shewbread” is lechem ha’panim, that is, “bread of the face” — or, “bread of the Presence (of God).” It is also called the “continual bread” (Num. 4:7), “continual shewbread” (I Chron. 2:4), or “bread of the row” [or “arrangement”] (I Chron. 9:32, translated “shewbread” in the KJV).
Literally, the term “shewbread” refers to lechem panim, “bread of faces” — the plural form of “faces” is used, panim. Since this is the bread of God’s “Presence,” the term panim — plural for “faces” — refers to the faces of YEHOVAH God. It could also be a reference to the “faces” of the twelve tribes of Israel, as they appear before YEHOVAH God, represented by the loaves of bread. The shewbread, being placed in the Temple, to the right of the entrance, in front of the Holy Holies, is continually “in God’s Presence,” from week to week. This pictures Israel as having constant communion and fellowship with YEHOVAH God, and being accepted by Him.
Says the New Westminster Dictionary of the Bible, “Each loaf contained 2/10 of an ephah of fine flour, such as was used for honored guests and for the king’s table (Gen. 18:6; I Kings 4;22); and was employed in various offerings (Lev. 2:1; 5:11, etc.). The 12 loaves represented the 12 tribes of Israel (cf. Lev. 24:7 with Ex. 28:10-12; also Ex. 24:4; 28:21). In the O.T. period these 12 loaves set in the presence of the Lord probably signified the constant communion of his people with him in those things which his bounty provided and they enjoyed in his presence and used in his service” (p. 876).
That last statement says it all. He wants to have constant fellowship with His children, share His bounty with them for their enjoyment and use in His service (Ephesians 3:20).
“works all things”
One of the definitions of “works” is “(fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), that is, a relation of rest.” It is God’s intention, His will and purpose, to be actively involved (works) in the affairs of all people to bring them into a “relation of rest” with Him. He is fervently working in their lives to bring them to repentance and faith in Him (2nd Peter 3:9)-in the lives of the lost that they might not perish eternally, in the lives of His children that they might not live in a perishing state of mind (Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
He is all about providing rest for His children. He pursues us in His goodness and mercy all the days of our lives (Psalm 23:6). He has promised us rivers in the desert (Isaiah 43:19).
He is for us, not against us:
Jer 29:11 “For I know the purposes which I am purposing for you, says Jehovah; purposes of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (MKJV).
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (KJV).
According to Him, we will always have hope, we will always have a future.
Ask yourself “What kind of end am I expecting from Him?” We get what we expect. Expectancy is an evidence of our faith, a work of our faith.
This seems to be similar to a woman expecting a child. After the seed is sown we wait. Sometimes the wait gets painful, yet we continue to wait expectantly until the baby is born.
Just as we have faith in God and what He says so He wants us to learn to speak life to whatever we want in life and expect it to come to pass. Find His promises to us and speak them as a way to combat all the negative nay-sayers we encounter in life.
“after the counsel of His own will”
If this sounds too good to be true it’s probably God. He didn’t ask anyone else for their advice, He didn’t have to (when you are God you can do that). All the benefits we have seen come from the heart of our very loving, holy, and powerful God. His “pleasure, desire, His determination” (will) is to bless all mankind, especially those that turn from their sin and turn to Him in simple child-like faith (vs.12 “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ”).
vs. 13-14
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
As we heard the Word of truth and responded to it God came to live in us, sealed us with Himself (try and break that seal if you dare), forgave us all our sins, past, present, and future. He became the down payment (earnest) for us until He redeems us from these bodies of death in which we dwell. He delivered us from the penalty of sin (Romans 6:1-11), He is presently delivering us from the power of sin (Romans 6:12-22), and some glorious,wonderful, holy, beautiful day in the future He is going to deliver us from the very presence of sin (1st Thessalonians 4:13-18).
“unto the praise of His glory”
He uses this phrase three times in this short narrative.We have looked at an abundance of benefits to us in these 14 verses, not things we work for but things we receive the moment we receive Him as our Savior. In light of that fact the only thing that makes any sense at all is to praise Him for His superabounding Grace!