Yes we'll continue our meditation
on the epistle of Paul to the Ephesians and chapter 1 and we'll
read verses 7 to 12. Ephesians chapter 1 and reading
from verses 7 to 12. In whom we have redemption through
his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches
of his grace 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,
that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather
together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven
and which are on earth, even in him. 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, that we should be to the praise of his glory who first
trusted in Christ. these verses just form one sentence,
so it's difficult to break them up, so we'll comment on them
this evening. And it is really a very wonderful
part of God's Word. It is wonderful truth, soul-strengthening
truths, that these verses contain. And if we think of this seventh
verse, where we read, in whom we have redemption through his
blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his
grace, we see perhaps how vital it is, how important it is, that
all of us are blessed with the spiritual knowledge that we are
amongst those who have been redeemed, how important it is. If we are not, we are eternally
lost. And there's only way of redemption,
and that is through the blood, the shed blood of the Lord Jesus
Christ, having been shed at Calvary, to take away our sins, which
gives us then the forgiveness of sins. And I'm sure, as I often
say, it's vital to know that our sins are taken away, washed
away, and are all forgiven because heaven is a holy place and no
sin exists in heaven. So what a blessing it is if we
understand the truth of this word and have it applied to our
hearts and then we read according to the riches of his grace. Well, grace is, of course, a
free, unmerited favor of God. And none of us naturally deserve
any favor from God. And that's why how very wonderful
it is and what great, great blessing it is according to the riches
of his grace. There is nothing so valuable
that you and I receive as God's grace. If we are the recipients
of God's grace, then our sins are forgiven. And we are amongst
those for whom the Saviour shed his most precious blood. And so we're thankful for such
a verse as this. And then he goes on to say, wherein
he hath abounded. toward us in all wisdom and prudence. It is wonderful to note that
we have such words wherein he hath abounded toward us. If we stop and just ponder that
for a moment, to think why should these blessings abound to such
an unworthy person, to such a sinful person, But the word of God is
gloriously true. He hath abounded toward us in
all wisdom and prudence. And of course, the Lord knows
the end from the beginning. He knows all about us. And therefore,
he abounds to us in wisdom, giving us everything that you and I
need, watching over us, protecting us, guiding us, directing us,
all in accordance with the wisdom of Almighty God. And we see also
prudence, which really means insight. Well, the great God,
of course, has a perfect insight to each one of us. He knows what
is being performed in our souls, what is needful, what is so necessary. And so we're told, He hath abounded
toward us in all wisdom and prudence. What a blessing for us tonight
to have a little appreciation of the wonder of this great truth
toward us. Because if we are those who are
redeemed, those who are forgiven, this follows on, wherein he hath
abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence, And then he tells
us, having made known unto us the mystery of his will. Well, the gospel is a mystery. It is an amazing blessing for
the church of God to know this mystery. And that's why we are
told here, having made known unto us the mystery of his will,
that mystery to call us out of the sinful condition in which
we were born and brought us into his marvellous light, that light
of the everlasting gospel. Indeed, the whole plan of salvation
to natural man is a mystery. It's something that our natural
minds cannot comprehend, cannot appreciate the necessity of it.
and definitely does not enjoy meditating on the great salvation
of our God. But yet, the truth is, to the
Lord's people, this mystery has been made known. When the Lord
reveals to us what we are by nature, unworthy sinners, and
reveals to us the Lord Jesus Christ as our all-sufficient
Saviour, is this not the mystery of His will. And it is according
to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself. The Lord's good pleasure to die
upon Calvary's cross, His good pleasure to redeem our souls. If we think about this, it is
truly too great for us to really comprehend, to realize his good
pleasure toward us. You might say, what was there
in me that could merit esteem or give my Creator delight? And yet we read it is his good
pleasure which he has purposed in himself to do, and all of
God's purposes come to pass. God never fails. Everything that
is determined, everything that is ordained, comes to pass. And so here we have these beautiful
words. His good pleasure, which he hath
purposed in himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness
of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ,
both which are in heaven and which are on earth, even in Him. Everything really centres upon
the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything spiritual directs
us to the Lord Jesus Christ and His glorious work. It centres
our view upon the Saviour. It centres it upon Him as the
only beloved Son of His Father, It centers us on the blessed
work of the Holy Spirit revealing to us the law of Jesus Christ
in that blessed saving aspect. So what a truth it is that in
the dispensation, God's dispensation toward us, his determination
to do that which is good for us, of the fullness of times,
in the fullness of times, he might gather in one all things
in Christ, all gathered together, all working together for our
good. Things perhaps that we enter
into and we wonder the reason, we may not know, and yet the
grand truth is that, as the apostle said, and we know that all things
are working together for our eternal good. And they're all
ascended in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are
on earth even in Him. May you and I have a precious
view of the Saviour in Him. Outside of Him there is no salvation. Outside of Him there is no happiness. Outside of Him there is no true
peace. And so how wonderful it is if
we are blessed to be found even in him, as all these truths consist. And then he goes on to say, in
whom also we have obtained an inheritance. The Word of God
is so positive, and here we have a very positive statement. It
continues, and let's remember this is all part of one sentence,
and it follows on therefore the truths in these previous verses,
and it tells us that whom also we have obtained an inheritance
which is incorruptible and undefiled and it is reserved in heaven
for all of his people. What a mercy then to know that
and to realize that in him also we have obtained, not because
of what we've done, but because of what he's done on our behalf. He's taken our sins upon himself. He's bore the punishment due
to us. He bore indeed the punishment
instead. And of course, the punishment
was so great. In order to redeem our souls,
in order to atone for all our sins, the requirement was that
the Lord Jesus should die in our place. If we had died, we
would have not redeemed ourselves, because we are sinners of the
earth. But Christ's death was glorious, and therefore in Him,
in whom also we have obtained an inheritance. It's a statement which confirms
that in the ages past, the Lord chose a people, Because here
we're told, in him also we have. We have obtained it. And if you
consider that, it is very evident. It's all of grace. His work,
in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated. The Lord has determined what
he will do for all of his people. Nothing left to chance. Everything
ordained, being predestinated according to the purpose of him
who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.
The Lord does everything according to his purpose of him who worketh
all things after the counsel of his own will and that will
of course for us is glorious and the outworking of these things
bring to the Saviour and bring to the great God, Father, Son
and Holy Spirit honour and glory. Surely we have much cause tonight
to thank God and to praise God for the truths contained in these
verses. They are very comprehensive,
they are very wonderful and they are very true. Every word of
God is true. And so here we're told being
predestinated according to the purpose. There is a purpose for
every one of his people on this earth. Remember, the Lord said,
you are not your own. You're bought with a price. You
are to serve God. You are to follow him. There
is a purpose for all of his people. We're not on this earth. just
to please ourselves we are here to serve God according to the
purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his
own will and God has a perfect will and God has a righteous
will and God has that which will be good for us and will bring
honor and glory to his great and holy name and then the reason
very clearly set forth, that we should be to the praise of
His glory who first trusted in Christ. So if God has given us
grace to cast all our care upon Him, that means that we are trusting
in Christ. And therefore, if we are trusting
in Christ, then we should be to the praise his glory, that
our lives should show forth his praise and they should show forth
what we believe and they should show forth how we do indeed desire
to adore our great and glorious God for all that he's done and
to magnify his name. Let us magnify his name together
to rejoice in his great work that we should be to the praise
of his glory who first trusted in Christ. Well, they're glorious
words, and you can go home and you can meditate on them. There's
plenty to meditate on those words for many hours. May God bless
that truth to the eternal good of our souls. Amen.