[Linux4christians] B7 - Monday - Ephesians 1:3-6

[dcolburn at bibleseven.com]

    Monday


      Ephesians1:3-6


Spiritual Blessings in Christ

1:3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has 
blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.

1:4 For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we 
may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love.

1:5 He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus 
Christ, according to the pleasure of his will -- 1:6 to the praise of 
the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly 
loved Son.


      Prayer


Lord, You promised Adam and Eve, and later Abraham, that You would send 
a redeemer. You said that the Redeemer would make salvation possible for 
everyone. You taught through the Law that Your standard was a high one 
-- absolute surrender -- and Jesus taught that salvation through grace 
was an offered-gift to those who chose to accept it. May I never imagine 
that I have earned my salvation, nor that it has been imposed-upon me 
[there is no Biblical teaching that anyone is "born saved"], but that 
You reveal Yourself to every member of humankind and each must make an 
eternal choice.



      Summary&Commentary


Godblessesusbypredestining(creatingtheconditionsfor)allwhosurrenderthisworldandwhoacceptthegiftofHeaventhroughChrist- 
toaneternityfreedfromimperfectionandrestorationtotheEdeniccondition.

PaulemphasizedthatourstandingbeforeGodinan"unblemished"stateisaresultofHislovingprovisionthroughChristwhosesacrificeforusremovedourimperfections.


He walk his readersthroughthefollowing steps of understanding(firstpart):


vs. 1:4 He(the Lord 
God)choseusbasedonapre-establishedsetofconditions,"...inChrist".


vs. 1:5 He(the Lord 
God)predestinedustoadoptionasHis(God's)"sons"-ifwemeettheconditionsreferencedin1:4. 
[Note:ThisismorethanlegalstandingasinHis(God's)familybutwouldhavebeenunderstoodtomeanforbothmaleandfemalealikethefullrightsofalovedchildandonewhobenefitsfromalloftheblessingsandrightsthereof.]

Notes:

FellowshipbetweenGodandmanisnotdescribedhere,noreveninpre-FallEden(Gen.1-3),all 
that is described is theprovisionofa redeemer andthe boundariesfor 
redemption setbyHim.

EvenassomeNewTestamenttextsaddressfellowship between God and 
man(e.g.1Cor.1:9,1John1:3)itismore-soofourfellowshipwithChristviaHisprovisionofsalvationandthereforecertaintyofjoiningHiminHeaven.

EvenEph.1:5wherePauldescribedourstatusas"inheritors"hestilldidnotmentionaffectionorcasualfellowshipbetweenmanandGodinHeaven.

WhenwelookforasenseofhowGodlovesus,andtheintimacywhichHeseeks,wemustlookelsewhere- 
intheWordfor"Father"usedinthe"Abba"(daddy)context 
ratherthanhereinthe'God the keeperoforder'context.

WewillalsowanttolookatthefellowshipbetweenJesusandGodtheFatherbecauseweinheritthatrelationshipthroughJesusasourpromisedandfulfilledChrist.

ThetraditionalinterpretationofGen.3:8ispost-sinandpre-curse,butAdamandEvearealreadyinastateofrebellionandtheirstandingbeforeGodhaschanged.Insteadofimplyingafriendly"walkingtogetherinthecooloftheday"thisverseappears 
to describethe highly-offendedLord Godlooking to Adam and Eve 
likeanapproachingstorm(something new to them but what we recognize in 
this fallen world) from wheretheywere hiding.



      Interaction


        Consider

ItwasGod'spleasuretocreateawaytoovercome"thesinofAdam"throughtheworkofJesustheChrist. 
Becausethecostofcreating"awayhome"toHeavenforuswasimpossiblethrough"works"Hepaidthe 
price 
forusandonlyasksthatwerejectthethingsofthisworld-in-rebellionandsurrendereternalallegiance(ourfreewill)toourLordthePerfectOne,Jesus.


        Discuss

Why is a clear understanding 
ofthe"steps"or"elements"of"predestination"so important?

First,He created 
theconditionsforallwhosurrenderthisworldandwhoacceptthegiftofHeaventhroughChrist,

Then, 
Second,HegrantedusadoptionasHis(God's)"sons",alloftheblessingsandrightsas"family"inChrist.


        Reflect

OurstandingbeforeGodinan"unblemished"stateisaresultofHislovingprovisionthroughJesus 
the Christwhosesacrificeforusremovedourimperfections.


        Share

When have you 
heard"predestination"described?CompareandcontrastthatwiththeWordofGod.



      FaithinAction



        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you one unsavedperson for whom He would 
like you to pray.


        Action:

Today I will prayforthe person He has revealed to 
meand,ifIhavetoearnedtheopportunitytodoso,I 
willtellthemabouttheincrediblegiftofHeaventhroughJesus.


        BeSpecific______________________________________________________



    Tuesday's text will be:


      Ephesians 1:7-11



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Savannah-Statesboro needs a Bible College/Seminary!
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
I don't google I SEARCH! Yippy.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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