The unsearchable riches of Christ – Page 19

The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Pt8

The purpose of God, Pt1

Scripture: Ephesians 1:10-12

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We last considered how that God had revealed to us the mystery of His will through the gospel of Christ, verse 9 (1 Cor 2:7-10). Now we come to what is at the heart of God’s purpose. That purpose is stated in verse 10. He might gather together in one all things. The phrase means to bring together again. Sin is a scatterer, a bringer of disorder. It scattered God’s order in creation and it is God’s purpose to gather that which was scattered together again.
Consider what these verses teach us regarding this gathering together again of all things.
I. THEY ARE GATHERED AGAIN THROUGH CHRIST
1. Christ is God’s Gatherer. The marring of Creation through sin is far above our understanding. Christ undertook the gathering of that scattered together again. Man has his plan to gather together. It was seen at the Tower of Babel, Gen 11:9 and in the modern Ecumenical movement and the future apostasy under Antichrist. But this is a gathering in REBELLION. Christ will gather through RECONCILIATION. 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, Colossians 1:20.
2. His work of redemption will have far-reaching results. Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature, Colossians 1:15. That is: He is the source of life for all of redeemed creation. See Rom 8:19-23; 1 Cor 15:22-29; Rev 21:1-6.
3. Through Christ, paradise is regained. In the Garden of Eden, God walked with Adam and Eve. Earth and Heaven will again walk in harmony. How ignorant of heavenly things this earth is! Angels, saints in heaven etc, are a frightening mystery because of man’s sinful ignorance. Christ will bring about AGAIN a harmonising of all creation.

The unsearchable riches of Christ #7

Effectual Calling Pt 2.

Scripture : Ephesians 1:8-9.

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II. GOD ALSO IMPARTS THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL TO THE ONE HE WOULD SAVE.
1. God’s will is a mystery to sinful men. It is a hidden things, shut away from his sight. Hence the religious ignorance of men. Acts 17:22-23. He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given, Matthew 13:11. Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory, Colossians 1:26,27.
2. His will is revealed through the Holy Scriptures. Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith, Romans 16:25-26. 2 Tim 3:15-6.
3. The work of teaching and convincing is that of the Holy Spirit. Shorter Cat. Q. 31. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you, John 16:14. 1 Cor 2:7-11.

III. IN CALLING HIS ELECT, GOD SUPPLIES ALL WISDOM AND PRUDENCE.
Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence. The enlightened sinner is made wise. 2 Tim 3:15-16.
1. The sinner is made to understand. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light, 1 Peter 2:9.
2. The sinner is made to act wisely and prudently. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him, John 6:44. This the first wise act of the sinner’s life.
3. Thus God accomplishes His will in us. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure, Philippians 2:13.

The Unsearchable Riches of Christ #6

Effectual Calling

Scripture: Ephesians 1:8-9.

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Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself, Ephesians 1:8-9.

These opening verses in this epistle contain gospel truths, strung together by the apostle like precious pearls in a necklace. He strings together one truth after another in these verses — predestination and election, redemption through the blood, and now effectual calling through the gospel.
All those that God the Father elected unto salvation, God the Son redeemed by His blood and the Holy Spirit effectually calls into a knowledge and experience of the benefits salvation.

The verses that we will look at today, set forth the doctrine of God’s effectual calling of His elect into the knowledge of Christ.

I. GOD MUST IMPART TO THE SINNER A KNOWLEDGE OF HIMSELF BEFORE HE WILL BE SAVED.
The elect will never benefit from the Father’s loving plan or the Son’s loving sacrifice if the inherent ignorance of the human mind is not effectively dealt with. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned, 1 Cor 2:14. Isaiah 53:1. Romans 8:5-7. 1 Cor 1:17-31.

1. There is a need of a knowledge of his own sinful state. He needs convincing of his sin. A picture of an example of this taking place is given in Zech 12:10 and Acts 2:37. How long the Jewish people have been in ignorance of their sin! But what happened at Pentecost for 3000 will happen for the whole nation when Christ returns.

2. With such knowledge there comes a sense of misery. The eyes are opened to their sinfulness and the misery that it brings. Hence the brokenness of heart that accompanies such an awakening, Luke 18:13. Hell opens up at the very feet of the sinner. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Acts 16:29-30.

3. Such is the measure of convincing of sin that a public acknowledgement of guilt is readily forthcoming. One of the most public confessions is that of the repentant thief, Luke 23:40-41.

4. The awful holiness of God is also glimpsed. I say glimpsed for none could stand a sight of the full majesty of God’s glorious holiness. David owned God’s holiness, Ps 51:4-5.