Welcome to Refinery Life Australia.
Today we start a new series based on the apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians The theme is “Making a New World”.
Today we are talking about Blessings for Believers.
Prayer
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
Text
Ephesians 1:3 AMP
3 Blessed and worthy of praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ,
Scripture Reading
Ephesians 1:1-14 AMP
The Blessings of Redemption
1 Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed), by the will of God [that is, by His purpose and choice],
To the saints (God’s people) who are at Ephesus and are faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed and worthy of praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ,
4 just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. In love
5 He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will—
6 to the praise of His glorious grace and favor, which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved [His Son, Jesus Christ].
7 In Him we have redemption [that is, our deliverance and salvation] through His blood, [which paid the penalty for our sin and resulted in] the forgiveness and complete pardon of our sin, in accordance with the riches of His grace
8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and understanding [with practical insight]
9 He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ,
10 with regard to the fulfillment of the times [that is, the end of history, the climax of the ages]—to bring all things together in Christ, [both] things in the heavens and things on the earth.
11 In Him also we have received an inheritance [a destiny—we were claimed by God as His own], having been predestined (chosen, appointed beforehand) according to the purpose of Him who works everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His will,
12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ [who first put our confidence in Him as our Lord and Savior] would exist to the praise of His glory.
13 In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God].
14 The Spirit is the guarantee [the first installment, the pledge, a foretaste] of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own [purchased] possession [His believers], to the praise of His glory.
Introduction
I remember when I was in primary school, after the Christmas holidays the teacher would ask each student to stand and describe the various gifts they had received for Christmas.
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed telling everyone about their gifts.
When Paul wrote to the Ephesian Christians, he began his letter by describing many of the gifts, or blessings, believers had received from the Lord.
The greatest of God’s many blessings are in the spiritual realm.
Today let us have a look at some of them.
- God selects believers.
God grants to believers the gracious privilege of being selected for membership in His family.
The act of being chosen to be a believer rests with God’s initiative rather than a person’s pursuit of God.
Notice the various words that describe God’s gift of selection, “Chosen”, “predestined”, and “His will”.
- God’s selection marks the point of beginning for believers.
The blessings of God’s selection begins with God.
Ephesians 1:4 says, just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world.
This means that our selection is not determined by our virtues or goodness.
God begins the salvation process by choosing believers.
God’s selection does not rule out personal choice.
Someone has described the process like this, God wants you and satan wants you.
You break the tie.
B. God’s selection underscores His purpose.
Look at God’s purpose for selection, “chosen, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” and “predestined” in order to be adopted as His children.
The purpose of God’s selection is not to demonstrate favouritism but to demonstrate His purpose.
Think about this great gift.
God has picked you to be in His family.
Ephesians 1:3 AMP
3 Blessed and worthy of praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ,
2. God redeems believers.
After God selects believers He begins a wonderful process of transformation.
Paul described this process with the word redemption, Ephesians 1:7 says, In Him we have redemption [that is, our deliverance and salvation] through His blood, [which paid the penalty for our sin and resulted in] the forgiveness and complete pardon of our sin, in accordance with the riches of His grace.
- God’s redemption means a rescue from bondage.
The Greek word for redemption means liberation or emancipation, as of the setting free of a slave by his master.
The term redemption emerged from the Old Testament idea of God’s deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage.
Thus God blesses believers by deliverance.
Jesus Christ delivers people from the evil world.
He rescues us from the bondage of sin.
B. God’s redemption also means the giving of new life.
When God delivered the Jews from Egyptian bondage, He gave them new territory.
Jesus Christ delivers us from a self centred life to new territory, the selfless life in Christ.
3. God forgives believers.
Like God’s gift of redemption is His gift of forgiveness.
God gives “the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”
- God’s forgiveness means the dismissal of a debt.
The Greek word for forgiveness has the idea of being in debt to a person.
Everyone is in great debt to God for graciously sending His Son to release sinners from their debt by His death on the cross.
B. God’s forgiveness also means the restoration of a relationship.
The word translated “forgiveness” refers to a broken and restored relationship with God.
Individuals are alienated from God, but He restores the relationship by His grace.
4. God gives His Holy Spirit.
Perhaps the greatest blessing anyone could give to a person is the gift of self.
Gos has done just that.
He has given Himself to us in the person of the Holy Spirit.
- God proves His presence in believers.
Look at Ephesians 1:13, In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God].
By the sealing of the Holy Spirit, God assures believers that He is with them.
B. God promises greater blessings.
Ephesians 1:14, The Spirit is the guarantee [the first installment, the pledge, a foretaste] of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own [purchased] possession [His believers], to the praise of His glory.
A deposit is a partial payment that guarantees more is to come.
God gives His Holy Spirit, and He is the guarantee of many other subsequent blessings.
Conclusion.
No one can number all of God’s blessing, but let us remember to count ours frequently and to give thanks for them.
Until next time
Stay in the Blessings
I really want to encourage you to be diligent with your Bible study time, because God has so much more for us than we can get from just going to church once or twice a week and hearing someone else talk about the Word.
When you spend time with God, your life will change in amazing ways, because God is a Redeemer.
Theres nothing thats too hard for Him, and He can make you whole, spirit, soul and body!
You’re important to God, and you’re important to us at www.refinerylife.org
When it comes to prayer, we believe that God wants to meet your needs and reveal His promises to you.
So whatever you’re concerned about and need prayer for we want to be here for you! Or even if you just want to say Hi, you can contact us
2021 IS A YEAR OF REFORMATION
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