Ephesians 1:12,13 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 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,
God works all things after the purpose that He has determine in His will. This is what predestination means. Now the reason God does that is so that we should be to the praise of his glory. God does everything for His glory! His glory is praised by having an inheritance for His children. He alone deserves all the glory for what salvation brings. We believe, but God does the saving, the sanctifying, the adopting, the conforming, and the reserving of an inheritance. It's ALL for His glory! Now as we look at these two verses we must notice the order upon which someone comes to trust in Christ for salvation. The phrase who first trusted in Christ makes it clear that all the benefits of salvation: blessings, sanctification, adoption, inheritance only come after a person has trusted Christ. Now Paul begins to explain how it came about that they, (the Ephesians believers) received salvation. Here we have the simple order in which someone is saved. First a person hears the word of truth, the gospel of Christ. Second, that person then accepts it and believes it to be true. Finally that person then puts their trust (faith) in Christ. Hearing the gospel, believing it, and trusting in it, is the order and way a person obtains salvation. Contrary to the inaccurate teachings of Calvinists, someone who is dead in their sins can still hear the gospel being preached. Calvinistic false teaching says a person has to be made alive, quicken, regenerated first in order to be able to hear the gospel and believe it. These verses clearly reveal that salvation and the new birth are a result of a person hearing, believing and trusting first. Can you really believe that these false teachers put regeneration; being born again before faith? The Bible is clear, being born again is a result of an individual putting their faith in Christ! Calvinists truly have an upside down and backwards gospel that they preach. A person who is dead in sin (separated from God) has the ability to hear the preaching of the gospel and in conjunction with the conviction of the Holy Spirit, then choose to believe it and trust in Christ for salvation. The moment that happens the believer is then sealed with the Holy Spirit and secure in salvation. Salvation is ALL the work of God but believing is OUR responsibility! God does not regenerate us in order for us to believe, rather our believing initiates regeneration. We must reject Calvinism and just believe the Bible! Romans 10:14-17 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. The order is clear they can't call on him (trust Christ) if they have not believed. And they can't believe if they have not heard. And they cannot hear unless we preach the gospel. If we are faithful to preach the gospel those that hear it, believe it, and trust it, have saving faith.
Thursday, June 20, 2019
Thursday, June 13, 2019
A Predestined Inheritance
Ephesians 1:11 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:
In whom (Jesus Christ) also we (believers) have obtained an inheritance. As believers in Christ, who have been adopted into the family of God, we now have an inheritance. As John W. Peterson's song says, "God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, The wealth in every mine; He owns the rivers and the rocks and rills, The sun and stars that shine. Wonderful riches, more than tongue can tell - He is my Father so they're mine as well; He owns the cattle on a thousand hills -I know that He will care for me." We have a rich Father. We serve a great God who shares the riches of His grace. I know one day I will receive from Him my full inheritance. Colossians 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. This certainty is based on the fact that I have been predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things. Again Paul mentions here the fact that believers have been predestinated according to God's purpose. Remember nobody is predestined to believe but those who choose to believe are predestined to God's purpose. What is God's purpose for His children? It's plain and it's also the same for all believers. Here it is. First, God purposed that all those who trust Christ would be predestined to become His adopted children. So as a result of being predestinated unto adoption by God the Father, we now have the legal right to the inheritance that belongs to God's children. Second, God has a blanket will or purpose for all His children, as well as a specific will for each of His children. God's blanket will, (the will that is the same for all of His children) is found in Romans 8:28,29, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." God's will for every believer is to be conformed into the image of Christ. Those that God foreknew would believe have been predestined to be adopted and conformed into the image of Christ and also to do good works. Notice, Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. These things have been planned after the counsel of his own will. God desires all men to be saved but only those who receive that receive Him have the power to become the sons of God. After a person is born again and adopted into the family of God, he has the rights to the inheritance. I am praising God! No, I may not have a rich Uncle that's about ready to kick the bucket, but I have a rich Father whose holding onto my inheritance for me. We ought to be giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints. Serve Him today until you come into that inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you!
In whom (Jesus Christ) also we (believers) have obtained an inheritance. As believers in Christ, who have been adopted into the family of God, we now have an inheritance. As John W. Peterson's song says, "God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, The wealth in every mine; He owns the rivers and the rocks and rills, The sun and stars that shine. Wonderful riches, more than tongue can tell - He is my Father so they're mine as well; He owns the cattle on a thousand hills -I know that He will care for me." We have a rich Father. We serve a great God who shares the riches of His grace. I know one day I will receive from Him my full inheritance. Colossians 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. This certainty is based on the fact that I have been predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things. Again Paul mentions here the fact that believers have been predestinated according to God's purpose. Remember nobody is predestined to believe but those who choose to believe are predestined to God's purpose. What is God's purpose for His children? It's plain and it's also the same for all believers. Here it is. First, God purposed that all those who trust Christ would be predestined to become His adopted children. So as a result of being predestinated unto adoption by God the Father, we now have the legal right to the inheritance that belongs to God's children. Second, God has a blanket will or purpose for all His children, as well as a specific will for each of His children. God's blanket will, (the will that is the same for all of His children) is found in Romans 8:28,29, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." God's will for every believer is to be conformed into the image of Christ. Those that God foreknew would believe have been predestined to be adopted and conformed into the image of Christ and also to do good works. Notice, Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. These things have been planned after the counsel of his own will. God desires all men to be saved but only those who receive that receive Him have the power to become the sons of God. After a person is born again and adopted into the family of God, he has the rights to the inheritance. I am praising God! No, I may not have a rich Uncle that's about ready to kick the bucket, but I have a rich Father whose holding onto my inheritance for me. We ought to be giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints. Serve Him today until you come into that inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you!
Monday, June 3, 2019
The Mystery of God
Ephesians 1:9,10 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 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:
Not only did God adopt us unto the good pleasure of His will, but He also purposed in His will to gather together all things into one in Christ. The mystery of His will, which He planned for His own pleasure was revealed or has been made known unto us His children. The word mystery means to shut the mouth or keep silent. There are several mysteries in scripture where God keep silent and did not give explicit details about a truth in His will. Notice, 1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. At this point let me briefly mention seven mysteries of God.
1.) Mystery of Godliness - this is about the fact that God would come in human flesh and do the work necessary for salvation. 1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
2.) Mystery of Israel's blindness - this is about the fact that Israel is blinded to the gospel for a time while the Gentiles are able to see. Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
3.) Mystery of the Church - this is about the fact that the church (a local assembly of believers) are the body of Christ to continue on the ministry Christ started. Ephesians 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
4.) Mystery of Iniquity - this is about the fact that Satan is already working in deceiving people to sin and reject Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
5.) Mystery of the Rapture - this is about the fact that one day believers will be caught up and changed in a twinkling of an eye. 1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed...
6.) Mystery of Babylon - this is about the fact that there is a false religious system that the Antichrist will use. Revelation 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
7.) Mystery of Christ - this is about the fact that Christ would be in us. Now here is where this ties into our text verse. In Ephesians chapter 3 the mystery is described in more detail, but I will summarize it as the Jew and Gentile being one in Christ. Notice what is says, Ephesians 3:3,4 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) and then verse 6 says, That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: The mystery of Christ is the fact that because God's seed (Jesus Christ) abides in us, we are thus of the seed of Abraham. Being of the seed of Abraham by faith in Christ allows Jew and Gentiles to be one. In totality Christ is going to one day restore everything in one and perfect unity, undoing the results of the fall. Paul speaks more of this mystery in Colossians 1:25-27 "Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" Think about it! We have the hope of glory living within us! Why be discourage, fearful or dismayed? We have a glorious hope!!! Christ lives in us! We shall be, nay rather are victorious! Amen!!
Not only did God adopt us unto the good pleasure of His will, but He also purposed in His will to gather together all things into one in Christ. The mystery of His will, which He planned for His own pleasure was revealed or has been made known unto us His children. The word mystery means to shut the mouth or keep silent. There are several mysteries in scripture where God keep silent and did not give explicit details about a truth in His will. Notice, 1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. At this point let me briefly mention seven mysteries of God.
1.) Mystery of Godliness - this is about the fact that God would come in human flesh and do the work necessary for salvation. 1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
2.) Mystery of Israel's blindness - this is about the fact that Israel is blinded to the gospel for a time while the Gentiles are able to see. Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
3.) Mystery of the Church - this is about the fact that the church (a local assembly of believers) are the body of Christ to continue on the ministry Christ started. Ephesians 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
4.) Mystery of Iniquity - this is about the fact that Satan is already working in deceiving people to sin and reject Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
5.) Mystery of the Rapture - this is about the fact that one day believers will be caught up and changed in a twinkling of an eye. 1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed...
6.) Mystery of Babylon - this is about the fact that there is a false religious system that the Antichrist will use. Revelation 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
7.) Mystery of Christ - this is about the fact that Christ would be in us. Now here is where this ties into our text verse. In Ephesians chapter 3 the mystery is described in more detail, but I will summarize it as the Jew and Gentile being one in Christ. Notice what is says, Ephesians 3:3,4 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) and then verse 6 says, That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: The mystery of Christ is the fact that because God's seed (Jesus Christ) abides in us, we are thus of the seed of Abraham. Being of the seed of Abraham by faith in Christ allows Jew and Gentiles to be one. In totality Christ is going to one day restore everything in one and perfect unity, undoing the results of the fall. Paul speaks more of this mystery in Colossians 1:25-27 "Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" Think about it! We have the hope of glory living within us! Why be discourage, fearful or dismayed? We have a glorious hope!!! Christ lives in us! We shall be, nay rather are victorious! Amen!!
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