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Message from Ephesians 1:8-12

Message from Ephesians 1:8-12

by John Allen · 47 things on Twos

The Abounding to the Redeemed
Wisdom and Prudence
Wisdom is grasping God's doings and His counsel while prudence is applying this wisdom to our lives.
"[Wisdom] sees the relations ordered by God, [prudence] regulates our conduct accordingly" (Braune).
One cannot have true wisdom without obtaining it from God.
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." (James 1:5-6)
This type, this level of wisdom and prudence are only available to the redeemed in Christ.
Knowledge of the Mystery of His Will
Mystery of His Will
Dealt with again in Ephesians 3:1-7.
"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (I Timothy 3:16)
"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in." (Romans 11:25)
The Fulness of Times
Dispensation
Dispensation: "management, charge, administration; method by which God has developed his purposes and revealed himself to man"
Dispensation (arrangement) of the fulness of times is directly dealing with the completion of God's plan to gather together all in Christ - the Gospel.
Agent of Gathering
The agent of the gathering was the Cross.
"Both which are in heaven, and which are on earth"
Those gone before and those who will follow.
Creation in Heaven and Creation in earth.
"Even in him"
In His name. In His blood. In His plan. In His family.
"The mystery of his will" is in essence the church of believers comprised of both Jews and Gentiles. A body of believers that are from every nation, tongue, and tradition.
The Inheritance for the Redeemed
"Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-5)
Salvation in glory. Eternity in Heaven. Heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. Child of God.
The Purpose of the Redeemed
"According to his good pleasure which he purposed in himself"
God is sovereign. He does as He pleases to fulfill His purposes.
"The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, [so] shall it stand:" (Isaiah 14:24)
"Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:" (Isaiah 46:10)
Who can stand before God and alter His sovereignty?
"Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed [it], Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?" (Romans 9:20-21)
"Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct [him]? he that reproveth God, let him answer it." (Job 40:2)
"Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! [Let] the potsherd strive] with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?" (Isaiah 45:9)
"Being predestinated according to the purpose of him"
Predestinated not unto salvation but unto the inheritance.
God did not predetermine who would be saved but He predetermined the inheritance received for those who were born again.
"Who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will"
The Gospel is the work of the counsel of His own will.
The fulness of times is after the counsel of His own will.
"That we should be to the praise of his glory"
The purpose of the redeemed is to praise His glory.
Are we fulfilling our purpose? Are we praising His glory?
"Who first trusted in Christ"
The saved.