THE FATHER IN EPHESIANS
There is much about the Father in this Epistle.
In the First Chapter, the Father is blessing His people, verse 3. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ."
In the Second Chapter, He is loving His people, verse 4. "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us."
In the Third Chapter, He is endowing and enduing His people, verse 7. "Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power."
In the Fourth Chapter, He is forgiving His people, verse 32. "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you."
In the Fifth Chapter, He is the Father of His people, verse 1. "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children."
In the Sixth Chapter, He is providing for His people's defense, verse 11. "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
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In the First Chapter, the Father blesses with eight wonderful blessings.
(1) We are chosen by Him. verse 4. "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."
(2) We are made His children. verse 5. "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."
(3) We are accepted in the beloved. verse 6. "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."
(4) We have redemption. verse 7. "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace."
(5) We have forgiveness. also verse 7.
(6) God's will is revealed. verse 9. "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself."
(7) He takes the Christian for an inheritance. verse 11. "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will."
*** BBB: Verses 3 through 14 are ALL ONE SENTENCE in the Greek, therefore, it constitutes ONE THOUGHT in the mind of GOD.
*** This was the plan of GOD from the creation of the world, long before the first speck of dust was ever called into existence - He already determined to save us, to bless us, to accept us, and to give us an inheritance in the BELOVED.
*** NOTICE HOW OFTEN THE PAST TENSE IS USED IN THESE VERSES. He "hath blessed us" (verse 3); He "hath chosen us" (verse 4); "having predestinated us" (verse 5); He "hath made us accepted" (verse 6); we "have redemption" (verse 7); He "hath abounded toward us" (verse 8); "having made known unto us the mystery of his will" (verse 9); we "have obtained an inheritance" (verse 11); we "were sealed with that HOLY SPIRIT of promise" (verse 13); and we were given "the earnest (down payment) of our inheritance." (verse 14).
*** All of these things HAVE ALREADY BEEN ACCOMPLISHED FOR US. When? Before the foundation of the world. BBB, you mean I was saved in GOD's mind before the foundation of the world? YES! At the foundation of the world, GOD did not see BBB get saved, then get lost. He didn't even see BBB get saved, then get lost, and then get saved again. All He saw was the moment on October 25, 1976, when I laid down my arms for the last time and asked JESUS CHRIST to be my SAVIOUR.
*** Some would say that GOD not only knew from the foundation of the world who would be saved - but that He also "picked" who would go to Heaven and who would go to hell. NO! WRONG ANSWER. You were right when you said "knew", but you lost it when you said "picked". GOD in His perfect foreknowledge knew who would accept salvation through His SON. He has extended a call for salvation to all - but only a few said "YES!"
*** Every blessing we have in time or in eternity is possible through the obedience of the LORD JESUS CHRIST to drink from the cup of Gethsemane and to endure the shame of the cross. CHRIST sealed the transaction at the cross - but the results of the transaction were already secure from eternity past. It all depended, GET THIS, on the Son's actions, not ours.
*** This is why it was determined way back then. So we could not help! GOD did not need our assistance then or now. He gives us a job to do - a job that if we refuse to do it - it won't get done, and that is to lead our friends and family to CHRIST. If we don't do it, it don't get done.
*** A plan is only as good as its weakest link, and if GOD had included us in that plan, it would have been doomed to failure. What Adam could not do, CHRIST did in full! For us to think that we can help GOD is like flapping your arms as wings in order to help the pilot of the last 747 you flew in take off. The pilot doesn't need your help - GOD doesn't need your help. CHRIST, my SAVIOUR did it all!
***Predestination is a very misunderstood subject. The word means to "predesign". Predestination does not mean "foreordination." It does not mean that GOD has your life etched in stone for your and you have no say so about it. GOD is very concerned about your free will - and He has not taken that away from you. The truth is that your will is the foundation for predestination. Romans 8:29 says "for whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate . . . "
***GOD sees each and every one of us dead in trespasses and sins and way back in unmeasured eternity past and planned the crucifixion and the price of redemption. He also saw the point in time when you would be confronted with the choice between Heaven and hell. He saw your vote. Since He knew it would be a "yes" vote - he planned your life accordingly. To those that voted "no" - GOD made no plans to order that life. GOD's actions was entirely dependent upon the exercise of your free will to choose between life and death.
***Even after salvation we are given freedom to choose whether our life will be one that brings glory to GOD, or one that brings shame to His name. It is all about promises. To reward a believer on the basis of mere salvation would be meaningless - so GOD gives us opportunity to earn wages payable in Heaven. Our faith is not an exercise in materialism whereby we live for GOD so that we can get gold and crowns, rather it is living a life of faith and trust knowing that there will be a payday someday. To some that payday will be a happy, wonderful time - to others it will be a time of loss and weeping.
***And everything that GOD has done for us was " . . . according to the good pleasure of His will." Can you see it? He did all these wonderful things for us because HE WANTED TO!
In Chapter 1, verse 3, the Father equips us to live. ". . . hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings."
In Chapter 2, verse 5, the Father gives us eternal life. "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)"
In Chapter 3, verse 3, the Father unfolds to us a mystery. "How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words."
In Chapter 4, verse 24, the Father makes us both righteous and holy. "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
In Chapter 5, verse 1, The Father is to be imitated "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children" and in verse 6, His wrath is to be feared, "Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience."
In Chapter 6, the Father furnishes the armor for the battle of life.
In Chapter 1, verse 2, the Father grants His benediction. "Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."
In Chapter 2, verse 6, the Father grants His promotion for His children. "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."
In Chapter 3, verse 7, the Father grants His unction for wonderful service. "Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power."
In Chapter 4, verse 7, the Father grants us His grace. "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ."
In Chapter 5, verse 21, the Father grants us His fear. "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."
In Chapter 6, verse 6, the Father grants us His will. "Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart."
Let us remember that the Father is the ultimate in all that CHRIST does for us and in all that the Spirit does for us. We are to come to the Father, but, of course, only through CHRIST. CHRIST will bring us to the Father, having suffered for our sins. CHRIST will present us to the Father, having cleansed us and made us fit to be presented. We talk to the Father according to the pattern given us in the LORD's prayer. We delight in the Father's face that we shall see when the scenes of the life has passed away and eternity dawns.
We will sing the praises of our Father as we sing the praises of CHRIST. We honor the Father as we honor the SON. Let us remember that there is always a danger of neglecting both the Father and the HOLY SPIRIT in our great zeal for our wonderful LORD and SAVIOUR. Let us give each person an equal place in our affections, thoughts and service.
We have a GOD for our fears and a Father for our cares.
We have a GOD to protect us and a Father to provide for us.
We have a GOD to worship and a Father to serve.
We have a GOD to fear and a Father to trust.
We have a GOD to obey and a Father in whom to confide.
~ end of chapter 1 ~