Ephesians 1:8-10
English Standard Version (ESV)
8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
Accompanying David Legge sermon: The Mystery of His Will Part 1
Accompanying Mark Driscoll sermon: I am Blessed
Accompanying John MacArthur sermon: Redemption Through His Blood
Not only do we have forgiveness through the redemption that came through the blood of Christ, but He has also generously poured out on us both wisdom and insight - the ability to understand Him and to walk through the world on a day to day basis. (MacArthur)
He has given us wisdom - the ability to see things not as they outwardly appear to be, but as they really are.
He has given us insight - the understanding and discernment that leads to right action. (Legge)
We have these things - but are we walking in the reality of them?
Another amazing thing to consider - not only has God allowed us to be His companions and friends, not only has He adopted us and called us His children, not only does He love us as He loves Christ and bless us with every blessing as He does Christ - He has taken us into His confidence! He has shared His plans with us! He has given us huge revelations through the New Testament, things that has previously been a mystery, unrevealed.
Why did He reveal the glorious mysteries of salvation, redemption? So that when the end comes He would gather everything to Himself. He is in control. He runs the universe. And at the end of time, all things will be under the headship of Christ.
Legge:
God's plan (and this is beautiful) is for Him to sum up everything in His Son. That's it! Jesus Christ! He's not only every blessing that we have, and that we derive every blessing in the Christian life from. But He is what everything that exists will be summed up in. At the moment of time - the fulness of time - the authority of Christ that is trodden in the dirt and spat upon; the authority of Christ that is laughed at in our world, that is degraded and blasphemed - that authority will be declared by everyone. Can you think of that? It's hard to think of today, but let me tell you it is coming! And it will be recognised, it will be acknowledged on the earth and in the age - at the end of all things in heaven and in earth - all things will be under the headship of Christ.
God's plan (and this is beautiful) is for Him to sum up everything in His Son. That's it! Jesus Christ!
That ought to thrill your soul!
MacArthur:
Christ will gather the universe into unity. Right now the universe is splintered, it is scattered, It is splattered, it is divided. Satan rules, demons rule and the fight is on between God and the holy angels but sometime demons and Satan are cast into the pit, in the Kingdom time, then released for a little time for their final fling and then they are sent to the pit forever, the bottomless pit. And God will call all things into one in Christ and there will be incredible and eternal unity in Him; all things redeemed.
Why is He redeeming us? To make us a part of the final goal of history, to bring all things to Himself.
And the rebels - purged out, dismissed from His presence. That's the purpose....
All that God could possibly give He has given to you. He planned it in the past. He worked it out in the present in order that you might experience the fullness of it in the future. And it's all yours through faith in Jesus Christ.
We are blessed beyond what we could possibly imagine!
Tomorrow's scripture focus: Ephesians 1:11-14
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Deuteronomy 27-28, Psalm 65, Luke 21
We are blessed beyond what we could possibly imagine!
Tomorrow's scripture focus: Ephesians 1:11-14
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