#234 – Some of the Rich Blessings of God in Ephesians

SOME OF THE RICH BLESSINGS OF GOD IN EPHESIANS

Ephesians 1:6 "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."

Each of these gold mines of blessing are connected with the Greek preposition “in.” The first that we will look at is,

OUR ACCEPTANCE

"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."

“The uttermost and chiefest final cause is the glory of God the Father, who saves us freely in his Son. That as his bountiful goodness deserves all praise, so also it should be set forth and proclaimed. Another final cause more near is our justification, in that he freely accounted us as being righteous in his Son. — Geneva Bible Footnotes.

This acceptance is, “To the praise of the glory of His grace,” because He determined to save men this way. The only testimony of salvation must bow to the truth of grace because it is only by grace that we are saved. So our praise of salvation looks to Him alone and accepts by faith His diagnosis of us. When we see ourselves as He sees us, we are then ready to receive with thankful hearts that “He hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

OUR BLESSINGS

Ephesians 1:3 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:"

Paul opens the door to the heavenly market place and this truth extends to all of God's children. Isaiah 55:1 3, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David."

The Lord has left nothing out that is good for us when He says, with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:"

WE ARE CHOSEN

Ephesians 1:4 says, "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:"

The only way one can be holy in the sense that Paul is speaking of here is to understand the truth of “in Him.” Jesus has in Him all the saints and Satan would have to go through Him to get to us. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." We are new creatures operating as pilgrims in this sinful world with a message that will give the most wicked sinner an opportunity to change sides. When we are saved we go from Satan's side to God's side. God extracts us from the kingdom of darkness and places us in God's dear son. We are the chosen and if God has chosen us, Satan would have to be more powerful than God to re-obtain us.

WE ARE INHABITED BY THE LORD JESUS

Ephesians 3:17 says, "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,"

Our body is His temple. 1 Corinthians 6:19 20, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

Paul calls attention to God's ownership of us which ought to calm our fears and give us that adrenalin flow that will cause shouts of praise.

WE HAVE HIS ENDUEMENT

Ephesians 6:10 says, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."

We have that heavenly enduement to withstand Satan and to accomplish the work God has called us to do. 1 John 4:4 says, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you,