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The unsearchable riches of Christ #2

An exposition of Ephesians. Pt. 2 — Gospel blessings summarised.

Scripture: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, Ephs 1:2.

Stream or download The unsearchable riches of Christ #2

Having considered the AUTHOR and the ADDRESSEES in verse 1. We turn to the second verse where is given us a summary of the blessings of the gospel.

This verse is still part of Paul’s greeting to the church at Ephesus. Is it not worthy of our notice that Christians ought to greet each other by celebrating what they enjoy through the gospel. I am sure that if such words as these were the first out of our lips when we met, we would be less inclined to exchange words that would in any way work against the cause of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Progressive revelation is a principle which God employs when revealing His truth to us. It lies at the heart of all good teaching practice. What is to be revealed to us in this epistle is shown to us in embryo in this second verse. There is more than just a hinted of all that is to follow in the epistle. Thus the Lord prepares our minds and channels our thoughts toward the great truths that will be dealt with in depth later on.

Consider first of all:

I. THE HEART OF GOSPEL BLESSINGS.
Grace be to you, and peace. These are the two key words to understanding the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. One serves as the foundation stone and the other as the head stone. Grace underlies all of the gospel and peace is the chief end of the gospel.
The words grace and peace remind us of:
1. The undone and worthless state of each one of us. God deals with us on the basis of grace. The word means “Free Unmerited Favour.” God stoops down very, very low to bless us, not according to our merits for that would mean damnation, but on the merits of another, even Jesus Christ.
2. The folly of those who hope to merit heaven. The religion of most “Protestants” differs very little from that of Romanists. It is a religion of getting to heaven by their own works. This is not the gospel.
3. The state of enmity that exists between God and the sinner. In our natural state, there is no peace between us and God. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked, Isaiah 57:21. Sinful man is the enemy of God. Eph 4:18, Col 1:21. Being in conflict with God, man is in conflict with all around. Titus 3:3. He is especially in conflict with himself. He seeks to rule himself when it is God’s prerogative. Man’s discontentment but increases as he continues in disobedience.
4. The state that exists between God and the saint. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 5:1. The word peace comes from a Greek word which means to join together. Reconciliation has taken place through the blood of Christ’s atonement. And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled, Col 1:20-21.
Thus these two words touch upon the core of the gospel.

II. THE SOURCE OF GOSPEL BLESSINGS.
From God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. God the Father, the First Person of the Trinity, is the One from Whom the blessings proceed. In the work of redemption, God the Father initiated the plan to save His people. In doing so, He acts as our Father. God is only the Father of those He calls His spiritual children, those upon whom His blessing falls. He is not the spiritual Father of all men. Here is that special relationship that He has with His redeemed ones.
2. God the Son, the Second Person of the Trinity, is the One by Whom the blessings are purchased. The Saviour undertook to purchase redemption for His people by becoming their surety and substitute. Hence, His incarnation is referred to in this verse. He is the Lord Jesus Christ. Her is Jehovah (Lord) become flesh (Jesus), the Christ.

III. THE COMMUNICATION OF GOSPEL BLESSINGS.
How these blessings are conveyed to us is demonstrated, rather than stated in this verse.
Paul is pronouncing a blessing upon the saints at Ephesus. The preaching of God’s Word is the means by which God’s grace is bestowed upon His people.
Let us learn the importance of attending the means of grace, chiefly, the preaching of God’s Word. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe, 1 Cor 1:21.
Let us learn the importance of personal study of God’s Word.
Let parents diligently instruct their children in God’s Word.

Bright and shining lights in the Bible #7

Stream or download Bright and shining lights in the Bible #7

There are so many ‘burning and shining lights’ recorded in the Bible that we must seek to limit our study. When I first considered this I thought of the list of godly people recorded in Hebrews 11. That is where we are turning for the remainder of our studies. In the opening versos FAITH is DEFINED and then in the rest of the chapter it is ILLUSTRATED.

THE FIRST MAN MENTIONED IS ABEL
However, before we come to him, I want to say something about the two people not mentioned – Adam and Eve!

WHY ARE THEY NOT NAMED AMONGST THESE SHINING EXAMPLES OF GOD’S GRACE?
Firstly, I believe that they were saved. Their conversion was symbolised in their being clothed in the skins of animals sacrificed, Gen 3:21. “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” That is what we all require! Garments made by God to cover our sinfulness, Rev 7:14-17. Adam and Eve’s garments would have been blood marked.
Secondly, there was no condemning of them to hell. Rather, a Redeemer was to be born of Eve’s line. They did suffer consequences for their sin. Read Gen 3:16-19. Note verse 20. ‘Life’ would yet come of Eve.
Thirdly, they lost access to the Garden but not Heaven. Sin always brings its consequences. How often is that emphasised in the Bible! Gal 6:8.

NONE COULD EVER HAVE HAD THE SENSE OF LOSS AND SHAME LIKE ADAM AND EVE. When David sinned, he undoubtedly had a great sense of shame. Psalm 51:3 shows that! “My sin is ever before me.” He could never get away from the sight of the great sin he had committed when he had enjoyed so many privileges from the Lord! David was never the same man again!
How much more Adam and Eve must have suffered from a sense of the dreadful wrong they had done and suffering they had brought upon mankind!
Consequently, their spiritual lives were almost paralysed with the guilt and burden and sense of failure that they bore. Consequently, there is no record of their holy actions or works of faith.
Boys and girls, history is filled with the sad stories of those who so lost out with God that, even though they were saved, they never accomplished anything great for God. Manasseh -2 Chron 33:9-20.

Bright and shining lights in the Bible #6

Stream or download Bright and shining lights in the Bible #6

We have been considering how that we will “learn” as a result of studying the history of the righteous men and women and young people given us in the Bible. Romans 15:4 has been our guide. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

The Holy Scriptures bring us ‘comfort’. The word means, if I might put it in my own words, ‘a calling aside to encourage, strengthen and uplift.’ Such comforting imparts HOPE, the last word we wish to consider from this verse.
Here then is the third thing we learn from God’s Word. “That we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” What God plans for His people fills us with hope.

Here is the meaning of the word hope. “And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away,” Acts 27:20. The possibility of being saved was taken away from their hearts and minds. They had NO HOPE LEFT!

That is how it is with those who are not in Christ. Eph 2:12.

The Bible is full of hope for the one who is in Christ. Like the vine we are tied and secure and know that it is well with us. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance,” Psalm 42:5.
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost,” Rom 15:13.

1. God is the source of hope.

2. Hope consists of joy and peace and faith.

3. God imparts hope by His Holy Spirit. He gives abundantly, ‘over and above’.

Ezekiel: The ignored watchman

A series of messages by Rev. Andy FosterEzekiel was God’s watchman to the nation of Israel. In the first part of his ministry he warned of the sin of the nation and highlighted the consequences it had brought, and would continue to bring. He was largely ignored and dismissed.

In the second part of his ministry he proclaims messages related to the glorious future of the nation of Israel, restored by grace and redemption. Sadly, these messages are still often neglected and overlooked!

Click here to watch.

Why I have closed my account with SermonAudio
As of 30th May, 2017, I have requested that SermonAudio close my account. That has taken place and I no longer mount sermons there. Instead, my own website The Burning Bush will now house all my sermons. It has long been the home of my articles and news links. Gradually we will mount the 1376 messages I had on SermonAudio on my own site.
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