Bible Study - CHRIST (8) - Exalted like No Other - Ephesians 1:7-10, 18-23 - April 19, 2015

Bible Study – CHRIST (8) – Exalted like No Other – April 19, 2015

This lesson eight (8) and our final lesson in our series entitled “Like No Other: The Life of CHRIST.”

Our focus scripture is Ephesians 1:7-10, 18-23.

Honor JESUS as LORD.

Our series began with prophesy regarding the coming of the promised Messiah, then we studied HIS birth, HIS life, HIS death, HIS resurrection, HIS ascension and the Holy Spirit coming to indwell all who place their faith in CHRIST. The Holy Spirit is referred to as a paraclete or One Who comes along the side of a Christian.

A question regarding to whom the letter to the church at Ephesus was addressed has been raised. It seems that some Bible scholars think that originally the letter was, although sent to Ephesus the capital city of the province, it was intended to be a circular letter. A circular letter would be intended for all the Christian churches in a broad area. Whether it was or not, we still can glean the message GOD has for Christians today through Paul’s writings.

To me this lesson is fitting to follow our study of CHRIST and that we focus on Ephesians 1:3-6: (Lead in)

3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. 4 For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love 5 He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, 6 to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us within the Beloved.

Christians are blessed beyond measure. GOD had HIS plan for the redemption of mankind before HE created the world. HE knew who would accept or reject HIS Only Son as his or her Savior before HE created the world. So why did HE proceed knowing that some would be condemned? Not to do so would be to condemn them without giving them an opportunity for redemption. So where were we before we were conceived? We were in the mind of GOD, safe and secure until we were conceived. Now, to me that is mind-blowing.

Did the fact that HE knew who would be saved through the shed blood of JESUS mean that HE decided their eternal destiny? Does that mean that HE rejected others? No, because HE chose everyone who would ever be conceived and born as a human for Himself but each of us have the freedom to choose. HIS foreknowledge allows HIM to know how each person will chose. [I think those who have never faced a specific moment of decision such as the unborn, children, etc. will be with HIM in Heaven when they die because of HIS grace. I base this thought on the age of accountability for a person, which to me is not a physical age.]  But this I know, GOD works to the max to appeal to every person to accept CHRIST as his or her Savior but the choice is always in that person’s hands. GOD’S desire is for no one to experience eternal death, which is eternal separation from HIM.

Those GOD foreknew who would become Christians, were covered with the shed blood of CHRIST until that moment of decision and beyond for eternity. Satan would like to destroy every person who will become a Christian. Keep in mind what the scripture says about those who are to receive salvation as recorded in Hebrews 1:14:

13 Now to which of the angels has He ever said: Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation? GOD watches over HIS own children or children to be.

Let’s read Ephesians 1:7-10:

7 We have •redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 He made known to us the • mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure that He planned in Him 10 for the administration of the days of fulfillment—to bring everything together in the • Messiah, both things in heaven and things on earth in Him.

What is redemption? Redemption comes from a verb which means “to ransom.” It describes circumstances or situations when a person is totally incapable of freeing him or herself. The person is completely and totally destitute and dependent upon someone else to free him or her. It is like a person stepping into quick sand and being sucked under with nothing to hold onto. He or she is totally helpless unless someone comes to his or her rescue. GOD placed the death sentence upon mankind when Adam and Eve sinned and disobeyed GOD by choosing to eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

One may say it was our ancestral roots who committed the sin which we had no control over, why are we under the death sentence? Our ancestral roots had a choice of eternal life by eating the fruit from the tree of life but they chose to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Just as we inherited human life from our root parents, we also inherited eternal death and need to be redeemed from it.

Eternal death is a debt we, as human, are incapable of paying. We cannot live perfect, righteous lives in order to satisfy GOD. HE knows that and that is why HE had the plan to redeem those who chose to be redeemed from eternal death and to be restored to HIS original intent for the human race.

The Apostle Paul melds redemption together with forgiveness and grace. Forgiveness comes from a word which means to “send away.” The idea is that a person is incapable of atoning for his or her sins. The Old Testament gives us a symbolic picture of sending our sins away when Old Testament worshippers would place their sins on a scapegoat and send it away into the wilderness. GOD, in essence, made JESUS to be our scapegoat. GOD placed our sins upon the precious, sinless Lamb of GOD. JESUS willingly took our sins in order for all who place their faith in HIM to become the righteousness of GOD. Where is that in the Bible? You got it, it is 2 Corinthians 5:16-21:

16 From now on, then, we do not know anyone in a purely human way. Even if we have known Christ in a purely human way, yet now we no longer know Him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. 18 Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He (GOD) made the One (JESUS) who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

How is all of this possible? As the Apostle Paul wrote in verse 7 of our focus scripture, it is GOD’S grace. As Christians, HIS grace extends far beyond our inability to live perfect lives after salvation. Every Christian is a “work in progress” through the ongoing process of sanctification.

The word used for “trespasses” translates more than the forgiveness of “sin,” which is missing the mark, but a word which seems to carry the idea of once a person is a Christian, he or she, “slips or strays” from the ideal path. GOD’S grace is sufficient to always keep Christians as HIS children. Satan would have a Christian to believe that GOD abandons him or her but DO NOT believe that lie. Once you are born into GOD’S family, through faith in CHRIST, you never become unborn.

GOD has imputed the righteousness of CHRIST to all Christians which results in their redemption, forgiveness, according to the riches of HIS grace, and lavished them with “all wisdom and understanding.” The indwelling Holy Spirit imparts wisdom and understanding as Christians seek to know CHRIST through an intimate, ongoing and personal relationship.

If you have strayed from GOD, reach out to HIM and tell HIM you are sorry and you have come back to HIM. HE will embrace you with HIS loving arms and welcome you back. Do it now! [Here I am, as I am please forgive me and take me back. In the twinkling of the eye HE will restore you back into fellowship with HIM.]

The mystery of HIS will for Christians is revealed through an intimate, personal relationship with CHRIST, which HE planned for each Christian according to HIS good pleasure. CHRIST reconciled Christians to GOD to “to bring everything together in the • Messiah, both things in heaven and things on earth in Him.”

The heart and love of GOD compels HIM to restore mankind to HIS original intent for mankind before sin. HIS grace is sufficient for all Christians who are covered by the shed blood of CHRIST.

Have you placed your faith in CHRIST by asking HIM to forgive you for your sins and to come into your life? If not, now is your opportunity. Take that step of faith which will secure eternity for you. It is vital and is eternal. JESUS loved you so much that HE gave HIS life just for you. Please make that decision now. HE is calling you to get to know HIM intimately, through the miracle of rebirth.

Let’s read Ephesians 1:11-17: (Connecting Scripture)

11 We have also received an inheritance in Him, predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will, 12 so that we who had already put our hope in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory. 13 When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. 14 He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Insight

15 This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

In addition to bringing HIS plan and purpose together in unity, Christians are included in HIS plan, purpose and part of that unity through CHRIST. Why? So that Christians might bring praise to HIS Glory because the instant we heard the message of truth we received the seal of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a Christian’s surety or guarantee of eternal life with GOD.  

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:15-17:

15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “• Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs —heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Paul knew the value of prayer and the need for divine wisdom and for the revelation of the knowledge CHRIST in the lives of Christians. Christians can dream of all sorts of ideal notions about CHRIST but what must prevail is truth, not notions. This leads us into our next scripture. 

Let’s read Ephesians 1:18-21:

18 I pray that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.

We need to pray for each other as we all journey with CHRIST. Paul is speaking about the eyes of our heart, the eyes of our understanding or the very core of our being where we meet GOD and learn from HIM. The “eyes of the heart” is the most secret place in our lives. It is the place where real, honest, truth resides. It is where a person receives the “Ah Ha” moment of understanding. The light turns on in their minds.

Paul prayed for the enlightenment of fellow Christians in three areas:

  

-  The hope of HIS calling. Hope is used in at least two different ways in the Bible. Here Paul focuses on the need for Christians to grasp the certainty and assurance of their future. Being a Christian is not pie in the sky but reality, therefore embrace it.     

         

 -  The glorious riches of HIS inheritance. Glorious riches of what awaits every Christian cannot be fully comprehended with the human mind. What awaits every Christian as HIS inheritance should compel every Christian to live in strict obedience to the leadership and direction of the Holy Spirit. Living life upon earth is no longer about us but about HIM and what HE desires to be accomplished through us.

    - The immeasurable greatness of HIS power in us who believe. As a Christian, have you ever experienced GOD’S power? GOD has given HIS children not only Hope and an Inheritance but HIS power to get them through life upon earth. We all like power but this power is to be used as GOD directs. You may recall that JESUS disciples wanted to call down fire from heaven on a town when the people did not receive them as recorded in Luke 9:51-55: 51 When the days were coming to a close for Him to be taken up, He determined to journey to Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers ahead of Him, and on the way they entered a village of the • Samaritans to make preparations for Him. 53 But they did not welcome Him, because He determined to journey to Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” 55 But He turned and rebuked them, 56 and they went to another village. GOD must direct HIS children on the proper use of HIS power. That means Christians are to grow and mature Spiritually. Let’s fast forward to Acts 8:14-17: 14 When the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had welcomed God’s message, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 After they went down there, they prayed for them, so the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For He had not yet come down on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. It was better to wait for these Samaritans to become Christians than to destroy them as James and John wanted to do. Christians must wait upon the LORD because HIS power brings salvation in due time. HIS ways are far above our ways and HIS thoughts are not our thoughts. Walk with HIM and build an intimate relationship with HIM. Then you will see HIS power manifested through you and you are in harmony and unity with HIM.  

Let’s read Ephesians 1:20-21: (God’s Power in Christ)

20 He demonstrated this power in the Messiah by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavens— 21 far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

When Christians consider GOD’S power, they need to consider the power of GOD to do what is impossible and that is to restore life to a dead person. GOD raised CHRIST, the Messiah, from the dead. GOD gave all authority to CHRIST, which is above all “far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”

GOD seated CHRIST at HIS right hand. GOD’S right hand is the position of authority, which above any other authority.

Let’s read Ephesians 1:22-23:

22 And He put everything under His feet and appointed Him as head over everything for the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all things in every way.

GOD, in turn, gave CHRIST all authority, including being the head of the Spiritual church. Every Christian is a living stone who makes up part of the Spiritual church or the body of which CHRIST is the head. Each Christian has a specific function within that Spiritual body.

Are you functioning within the Spiritual body as GOD has called you? Not as man has called you but as GOD has called you?

CHRIST brings all things together under one authority. CHRIST brings unity to the body of believers. Is there discord in your church or your body of believers? If so, CHRIST is not preeminent in the members of your organization. HE is the head and Christians are HIS body. Christians must be in harmony and unity with HIM to function according to GOD’S will and purpose.

JESUS is The LORD of LORD’S and King of King’s. HE is preeminent: above all. There will be a time when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that JESUS IS LORD! Blessings!!!