One of the four epistles written by Paul during his Roman imprisonment, the book of Ephesians addresses the Body of Christ, the church. The book is divided into two sections, the first addressing positional truth and the second half, temporal truth. Positional truth has to do with who we are in Christ and temporal truth the application of that positional truth in our individual lives. The first three chapters of Ephesians deal with righteousness, election, eternal life, redemption and our hope in Christ while chapters four through six examine the application of these spiritual truths in our relationships. It is in Christ we find out who we are and what we are made for on this earth. Let's look at how the triune Godhead has provided all the spiritual blessings we will need in Christ.
If you have felt incomplete, unsatisfied or unfulfilled in your life, you can find yourself complete in Jesus Christ.
I. THE PLAN
THE ORIGINATOR
God has a long range plan. He originated the plan before the foundations of the world. Just stop and try to take that in a moment. Before the creation of the earth, the universe and the angels, the eternal Godhead existed and God our Father formulated the plan of Redemption. God’s plan was to be executed by His son Jesus, the mediator and perfect God-man. The bridge between fallen man and a Righteous God is possible through God’s perfect plan executed by Jesus Christ, the Son. In chapter one, verses three through fourteen we find all the rewards and gifts provided by this plan. These verses are all one sentence in the Greek language. Every blessing is listed in past tense indicating the plan was settled and complete before the foundations of the earth. Every physical and spiritual blessing we would ever need was provided for in the execution of this plan of Redemption.
THE EXECUTOR
God had a plan for us to be His children. When God looked out over time and saw that man would need a Redeemer, He provided the new birth as part of His plan for sinful man.
“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” (Romans 8:29)
When we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we enter into the plan executed by Jesus on the cross at Calvary. God the Father has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Ephesians 1:7 says “In whom (the Beloved, Jesus Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Jesus, the only one who has lived a sinless life, was the only man qualified to redeem mankind from his sin and pay the ransom price to free us from our fallen position as slaves to sin.
THE REVEALER
The part of the plan reserved for the day in which we live, the church age, is revealed by the Holy Spirit of God. The Bible is divided into seven dispensations. There are five dispensations in the Old Testament. The names of these five dispensations in chronological order are innocence, conscience, human government, promise and law. After the crucifixion, there came the” dispensation of the grace of God.” and the New Covenant. This dispensation which began with the day of Pentecost is called” the church age”. The ministry of the Holy Spirit began in this dispensation of time and became the Revealer of God’s plan for mankind. Paul was given the commandment by God to preach and reveal the mystery of that which had been hidden by God from those of the Old Testament. The Holy Spirit was the person chosen to reveal these mysteries to those of us who are a part of the church age.
As you think back on these thoughts, you will see God's plan is perfect and involves God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is in a relationship with Christ we are blessed with ALL spiritual blessings. If you have not accepted Christ into your heart and want to know more about this, today is the perfect day to inquire. Please email me at robin.lys@hotmail.com . We will continue with more thoughts on verse 4 on Monday.
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