Ephesians Part 2

Taking up where we left off-

Making known to us the mystery (secret) of His will and of His plan, of His purpose). [And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed and set forth in  Him,  [He planned] for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ, [both] things in heaven and things on the earth.

All right, let’s look at this statement: Paul tells us that God had made known to him, the mystery and plan of God.

Then the original language tells us ‘ And it is this’.

God’s motive: His plan is according to His own pleasure. His plan is to display and satisfy His own merciful intention.

He had previously set it  and purposed His plan in Christ who is the WORD. Christ the WORD was with God, and is God in the beginning before any creation (universe) existed. He (Christ) is an infinite Spirit who accomplishes God’s will. All things were made ‘through Him’.  

God’s plan is still working itself out. The fact that you are born again is proof of God’s grand plan. 

From the moment time began and from the ‘Big Bang’ outward, the universe and all that it is, has pursued maturity and the climax of the ages. It has not yet reached that completion and it could still have a long long time ahead of it before it does. But when it does it will be all one and under the control and headship of Jesus Christ.

Everything- whether in the heavens, or on the earth. It all will consummate (reach perfection) in Christ. All accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

In Him we also were made [God’s] heritage (portion) and we obtained an inheritance;

‘In Christ’- All because of where you are located-

Because you are now in the Spirit of Christ  you have become God’s heritage, His portion. You have become His child and part of His people. You are also granted an inheritance. Some of which we have been talking about.

for we had been foreordained (chosen and appointed beforehand) in accordance with His purpose,

Here, the realization that you were foreordained is told to you once again. Earlier in this epistle you were told that you were chosen before the foundation of the world. Here, you’re told again that it was in accordance with His purpose. 

I don’t mind how many times this is mentioned, because if you can get this down into your heart, you will be happier and more successful as a christian. You were also told earlier that it was because of His love. Get this down as deep as you can into your heart and keep it.

Who works out everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His [own] will,  So that we who first hoped in Christ [who first put our confidence in Him have been destined and appointed to] live for the praise of His glory!

Everything! That is a lot of stuff to work out. But, whatever it is, unlike us, God always agrees with Himself. The Father, The Son and the Spirit are one in every intention, in every decision and motion. All that they are has agreed to bring you into His Kingdom. To place you into His Son Christ. 

In Him you also who have heard the Word of Truth, the glad tidings (Gospel) of your salvation, and have believed in and adhered to and relied on Him, were stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit.

You heard the word of truth which placed you  into Him. Once re- located into Christ you received the seal of the Holy Spirit, sealing you up to his constant presence. They are others who may receive a stamp or be sealed on their foreheads or hands with other seals, but your seal  will refuse them!

That [Spirit] is the guarantee of our inheritance [the firstfruits, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage], in anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring [complete] possession of it—to the praise of His glory.

God’s Spirit is your protection from what’s coming but also, more important, it is the forerunner off what you are waiting for with great anticipation in your Spirit… your full acquiring of the fullness of it’s redemption and your complete possession of it- to the praise of His glory.

What follows next, to finish the first chapter of Ephesians, is a wonderful, very important prayer. Our next post will devote itself to this prayer, which will finish Chapter One of Ephesians.

Till then may life be kind to each of you and may you be filled with the Love of Christ.

 

EPHESIANS- a close look

Ephesians

It is my intention to look at this book with a little bit of depth- since it deals so much with what we have ‘In Christ‘

Starting at verse three: 

May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm!  Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.  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

The first important thing to notice about this epistle, is the two times, ‘In Christ’ is used and the one time Jesus Christ is mentioned. Jesus Christ is meant to call our attention to the man Jesus, who is the Christ (the eternal Spirit who was with God in the beginning  and who put on flesh through Mary– His mother ). Jesus is His name when referring to the ‘put on flesh’ human He became. Here Jesus is pointed out as the one ‘through’ whom all these things came about. That is, through His death and resurrection. Because you have believed in His death and resurrection you are born again and have been placed into Christ, the Spirit of Jesus. Your spirit is now one with that eternal spirit Christ called THE WORD who was with God in the beginning (see John 1:1) The Word that was in the beginning is also known as the Christ. The implications of this event  in your life are enormous.

Let me refresh you with what Jesus said in John 6:56

John 6:56 He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood dwells continually in Me, and I [in like manner dwell continually] in him.

Of course, you have accomplished that when you believed on the cross and His death and resurrection. He (who is a spirit) has taken your spirit into the spiritual realm (the heavenly) where you have become one spirit with Him.

(1Cor 6:17 But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him).

He now lives forever with you (you who are also a spirit who also put on flesh) and you now live forever with Him.

Amazing stuff, I agree and also mind boggling to say the least. Now there are certain things that have occurred for you, in the spirit. Things that you would do well to believe and not just dismiss, for they are truer that the physical world you live in. They are most beautiful and wonderful. You are most fortunate.

First of all:

Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world

You are not a random choice. No matter what the circumstances are that led you to Christ, He had actually picked you out. You didn’t find Him, He awakened you in His timing to realize that He has loved you way before you were born. Before there was a creation. He found you and brought you to His Son. You have won everything now in life because of it!

Here is your situation at this moment irregardless of how you feel about yourself or the way your life is going:

 that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. 

You are now in Christ who has been made for us, Wisdom from God, for He is our sanctification and also our redemption. This means that His cross has totality cleaned you up, giving you His free righteousness once and for all. You are blameless in His sight… Even above reproach! And you are always before Him. In His Love. Satan may make you feel accused, but you are never accused by your Father!

Next,

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

Nothing made Him do this for you except the unfathomable Love He has for you and the counsel of His own will. All of us in Christ have these blessings because God is Love and when He demonstrates it , He glorifies Himself- He reveals what He is like and who He is, and who you really are. All of this according to His purpose and His will.

You glorify Him when you act in such a way as to show others who He really is by your attitude and actions when they emanate out of His love for you. For again, God is love. Turn up your light. Above all walk and continue to walk in His love for you. Realize you are not a common person but a creature who’s life belonged in Christ as His Son long before any obstacles against His will ever existed. And His will, always reigns. Live with a grateful heart and always in complete trust towards Him regardless of your circumstances.

There’s always more so let’s keep looking:

Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor,

Because we are in Him and He is in us, His shed blood has accomplished our redemption.  Notice it is not because of anything we do but because we we are located. It’s where we are! Not what we are doing. And we are now located in the amazing spirit of Christ where we found total redemption waiting inside.

Eph 1:8 Which He lavished upon us in every kind of wisdom and understanding (practical insight and prudence), Making known to us the mystery (secret) of His will (of His plan, of His purpose). [And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed and set forth in Him, [He planned] for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ, [both] things in heaven and things on the earth.

Well I must admit that I have no special insight to this important passage perhaps someone could help me using the comment ability…

continuing with next post-    always in love-