Blessings That Are In Christ

Turn back to 1 Corinthians chapter 2. 1 Corinthians chapter 2. As I was reading this, It's hard to believe how many blessings that we have each and every day of our lives. 24 hours a day, God has given us his spirit of truth that we may know and understand and appreciate the gifts of his divine favor and blessings.

And they're so freely given. We don't earn them, they're freely given to us by the God in Christ Jesus. Know whether it's a spiritual gift, a spiritual truth, or a spiritual blessing. When God opens the eyes of one of his children up to know the things that are freely given to us of God, they all become profound, heartfelt, spiritual blessings. Our text is going to come from verse 12 of this chapter. It says, now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. And this evening we're going to look at some of the spiritual blessings that has freely been given to us by God. And it's been given to those who he placed in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world.

And we're going to look at some of them. And why do I say some of them? There are so many of them. Psalms 40, verse 5 says, many, O Lord my God, are thou wonderful works which thou hast done, and thou thoughts which are to usward. They cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee. If I would declare and to speak of them, there are more than can be numbered.

You know, to start with, why do we have these spiritual lessons? Well, I guess it all depends on who you ask. You could ask some people in this world. They say, well, you know, I do this, and I do that, and I work for the Lord, and He needs me, and all of that. But, you know, that's not what the Holy Scripture says.

It says in Revelation 13a. He speaks of the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. You know, God's plan to redeem the people of His choice through Christ's sacrifice, it was established long ago when He turned His path before anything was created and before time was even created.

Look at verse 7 here in this chapter of 1 Corinthians. In verse 7 it says, But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory. What's he talking about here? He's talking about the gospel. He's talking about the gospel of the eternal wisdom, the grace, and the mercy of God which was given to us is in Christ before the world began.

You know, this plan of redemption was hidden in prophecies and types, but it is now revealed in Christ. If you will, hold your place here and let's go to Hebrews chapter one. It says here in Hebrews 1 verse 1, God, who at some great times and in diverse manners, spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, half in these last days spoken unto us by his son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, and by whom also he made the world.

Who, being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, and sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. Why did he sit down? He'd finished the work. The work of redemption was done.

We'll go back now to 1 Corinthians chapter two. You know, when we speak about election, election is not salvation, but it's unto salvation. And God's word says in the book of Romans, as by one man's sin entered into the world, and death by sin, so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned. And it says the wages of sin is death. Elect or not, we are all sinners. And God's perfect law and his perfect holiness must be satisfied. You know, I feel a lot like Paul did when he was speaking over there in the book of Romans, you know. Even though we know that we've been washed in the blood, that's our good hope.

You know, he said, oh wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death? And he says, I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. You know. And in Genesis 22, I love that story, where Isaac, Abraham's son, asked his father when they were going up Mount Moriah. He said, where's the lamb for a burnt offering? I love what Abraham said. He said, my son, God will provide himself. a lamb for a burnt offering. And he meant that literally.

Isaiah, speaking of our Lord, said that he was oppressed, he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter. And John the Baptist, testimony of Christ when he's seen the Lord coming, he says, behold. And that word in the Bible, behold, it means to pay close attention, look. Do not miss this, but he said, behold, the Lamb of God. You know, here in 1 Corinthians chapter 2, it shows that Paul was very adamant. He was very dogmatic in preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Look at verse 2 here in this chapter. Let's go ahead and read verse 1 and 2. It says, And I, brethren, when I come to you, came not with the excellency of speech, or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Why was he so dogmatic? Because he had seen Christ with his own eyes, and his eyes were wide open. God had opened him eyes, and he knew that this was the Christ of God manifested in the flesh. And it finally says that. Turn to 1 Timothy chapter 3, if you would, please. We have all these blessings in Christ because of who he is. It says in 1 Timothy 3, verse 16. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness.

God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, and believed on in the world, and received up into glory. God manifested in the flesh, Jesus of Nazareth walking the dusty streets of Jerusalem was all my God. You know, how did he come into this world? He come into this world the same as we all come into this world. If you look at Matthew 1, he's bone of our bones and flesh of our flesh. He'd come in as a seed of a woman now instead of a seed of Adam.

It says in verse 18 in Matthew 1, it says, Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise, as his mother Mary was a spouse to Joseph. Before they come together, she was found with a child as the Holy Ghost. And when Joseph, her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was mindful to put her away privately. Because if it was revealed that she was pregnant and not married, they would have stoned her to death. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

And she shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Jesus, which means Savior. And look what it says, he shall save his people from their sins. Now all of this was done that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, and that prophet was Isaiah, and he spoke it some 700 years before Jesus came into this world. It says in verse 23, he said, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us.

You know, it says here that Christ was conceived in Mary by the Holy Ghost. So Jesus Christ is very God of very God. In other words, he is Almighty God in the flesh. You know, in Isaiah, God's word says, There is no God else beside me, a just God and a Savior, and there is none beside me. You know, Christ told his disciples that if you have seen me, you have seen the Father. There's many other scriptures that point this fact out. But our Lord His life is a perfect righteousness, and his death was a perfect sacrifice for the sins of his people.

Salvation from sin is not by the deeds of the law. It's not by the works of the flesh. Salvation is in Christ the Lord. It's in a person, in him alone. You know, a man does not have salvation until he comes by the power of God's Spirit, through God-given faith, to a living union with Christ as the Lord. You know, God's Word, speaking of Christ, it says, in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead body, and you are complete in Him. You know, the Christ of God died on the cross at Calvary for a people that was chosen by God, the Father. placed in Christ. And Christ, as I said before, Christ came, Christ Jesus came down from here and he died on the cross as a victorious, conquering, successful redeemer of his people.

He completed his suffering on Calvary's cross and he said it is finished. And everyone that he died for he will bring with him into heaven. It was for a particular people, and he was absolutely successful. You know, it's not that blood was shed at Calvary, but it's whose blood. Let's look at 1 Peter 1, verse 18. It's whose blood that was shed. 1 Peter. Chapter 1, verse 18. I'm sorry, I'm looking at 2nd Peter, forgive me. 1st Peter, chapter 1, verse 18.

It says, For as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain confessions received by tradition from your father, but with the precious blood of Christ as a lamb without blemish and without spot, who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifested in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead and gave him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God.

You know, it's not that a man died at Calvary. but it's who that man was. God's word says in 1 Timothy, it says there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man, Jesus Christ. It was God himself who was manifested in the flesh. You know the one that was born in Bethlehem in the manger, he was the mighty God.

And we all know this verse very good, but it blesses our heart every time we hear it. It says, for unto us a child is born, and to us a son is given. and the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.

You know, why are all the spiritual blessings in Christ? And it's not only all the spiritual blessings, but also all the promises that God has for his people. Everything that God has for his people is found in Christ. And all the promises it talks about, It's over in 2 Corinthians. It says, for all the promises of God in him, speaking of Christ, are yea, and in him, amen, unto the glory of God by us. While spiritual blessings and all the promises that God has for a believer are they all in Christ? It's because of who he is and what the word of God says who he is.

You know, Christ said in Luke, all things are delivered of me, of my father. God's word says in Ephesians 1, verses 3 and 4, he says, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who have blessed us with all spiritual blessings and heavenly places in Christ, according as he has chosen us in him for the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. You know, it's all in Christ. and been one of God's elect and placed in Christ, and because of the finished work of Christ, that is why we have all things in our Lord Jesus Christ. Let's turn back to our text, 1 Corinthians chapter 2. One can never exalt Christ too much. One can never worship Him too much. One can never love Him too much.

You know, Paul defines the mystery of Christ as God's plan of salvation through Jesus Christ and Him crucified. He says that it's a secret. Let's look at verse 5 of chapter 2. He says that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect, as mature Christians, yet not the wisdom of this world nor the princes of this world that come to know. But we speak the wisdom of God in the mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world and to our glory. which none of the princes of this world knew, for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

But as it is written, I have not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit, for the Spirit searcheth for all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Man could never figure this out. History could never be figured out by human wisdom or intellect. It was hidden for ages, and it was only revealed to believers, the heart, by the power of God. And as we look at this, what method does he use to get his message across to his people?

If you will, hold your place here and look at Ephesians chapter 3. It's not by human wisdom. Ephesians chapter 3. And here in verse 3, he says, how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote aforehand, afore in few words, whereby when we read, When you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, which in all other ages were not made known unto the sons of men, but is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by God.

That's how he reveals it, not only to his apostles, to his teachers, to his preachers, but to every sign of God. It is by revelation. He opens it up to him. And what method does he use? He uses it by men, God-fearing men, that is filled with the Spirit. God called believing sinners to preach the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

You know, Spirit-filled, any time that a man gets up here to speak, He's praying his heart out. Lord God, don't leave me to myself. Place in your spirit and fill me with your spirit, Lord God. And it's God-fearing. It's God-fearing because of the responsibility and the seriousness of the message. The seriousness of the message. Look at what Paul said right here in verse 3 of this chapter 2 here. He said, and I was with you in much weakness and in fear and in much trembling. And we do do that.

You know, to preach the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ is a desire to do also. He says in verse four, and my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power. And Paul said over here, if you look at chapter one, just across the page here, in verse 17, Paul said, For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are being saved it is the power of God. God's people love to hear his word preached and to hear Christ exalted.

He says here in verse 19, where it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world, if not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God.

It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching. And there's nothing foolish about preaching, but only to those that are lost. but by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom, but we've preached Christ crucified, and to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness. Listen to this, but unto them which are called, both Jew and Greek, Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God. You know, the wisdom of this world, I don't know it ain't worth a dime, but when it comes to spiritual things, the preaching and the teaching and the witnessing must be done from the heart, and it must be done with love. And any time that you're preaching, Christ must be exalted and praised for all that he is. You know, Paul said in Galatians, God forbid that I should glory, save the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know, what Paul's saying here, Far be it from me to glory in anything or anyone except the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.

To give you an illustration, I read one time where these two preachers was traveling. And they come by this real big old church. And one of the men said, I wonder who preaches at that church. And you have a preacher looked at him and said, it don't matter who's preaching at that church. What matters is what they are preaching at the church. It's not about the messenger. It's all about the message. And you know there's only one message? Why is there only one message? Because there's only one gospel. And why is there only one gospel? Because there are only one, there are only one great God and Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.

It says here, you know, faith is so important. And it tells us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But it says that without faith, it's important. It's impossible to please God. And even the apostle said to the Lord, he said, increase our faith, you know. And the reason for that is the stronger our faith, the more we'll be able to handle the hardships of this world and things that we have to go through. But you know, the word of God is so full of promises and so full of spiritual gifts and spiritual blessings.

It says, for by grace are you saved through faith and not of yourselves. It is a gift from God. Not of works, lest any man should boast." You know, no man, no one, has anything at all to boast about, because everything that we have spiritually comes from our Lord Jesus Christ.

You know, Hebrews says, looking into Jesus, He was the offerer and finisher of our faith. And he was getting ready to face death. He said, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. The work is finished. God does not need the wisdom of this world to do anything for him or the wisdom of men. You know, whatever God needs, God will provide. And whatever God's people needs, God will provide.

Look at Ephesians chapter 3, if you would. Verse 14. Ephesians 3 verse 14. God's Word says, For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, and you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breath and the length and the depth and the height, and to know the love of Christ, which passive knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God, Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh within us, unto him be glory in the church of Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. You know, it says here again, it says, be strengthened both. Be strengthened here with both his spiritual and the inner man that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.

You know, we're talking about God giving faith to believe with all of our hearts the deep things that God shows us through his word and has revealed to his people concerning his son. And we're talking about a particular people, a chosen people that Christ died for. You know, how do we know these things? It has nothing to do with this simple flesh. but it has been revealed to us by the Spirit of God. If you will, one more time, turn to 1 Corinthians 6. 1 Corinthians 6, verse 19. He says what?

Knowing not that your body is a temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which you have of God. And you are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. You know, the spirit of God lives in the body of each and every one of us believers. Christ died for us. It says here that you are not your own, but you were bought with a price, and that price was the precious blood of Christ Jesus, our Lord.

You know, we must always remember that it is God's sin, the blood, which is the true reason for us being spared. All the spiritual blessings and gifts that we have in Christ is more than can be known. You know, God's chosen people know not one blessing do we deserve or earn. Not one gift do we deserve or earn.

God chose a people and placed them in Christ before the foundation of the world, and it is by the perfect obedience of Christ, it is by the perfect righteousness of Christ, it is by the perfect life of Christ, it is by the perfect sacrifice of Christ, and it is by the precious, precious blood of Christ, that Jesus Christ, that God's people have been given all things in Christ. You know, the ground and the cause of the salvation of sinners is the free grace of God in Christ. Our text says, now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. What are some of those things?

We've been chosen in Christ. God has predestinated believers to be adopted as his children through Jesus Christ. Believers have been redeemed through the blood of Christ. We have the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ. And we have the revelation of the mystery and the wisdom of Christ in the gospel. And believers have attained an eternal inheritance in Christ. And believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit. We're going to look at one more place. Turn to Ephesians 1. Of these things that I just spoke of.

We have all of these freely given to us in Christ.

He says here in verse 30 of chapter 1, Blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings and heavenly places in Christ, according as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world. that we should be holy and without blame before him in love, having predestinated us into the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted and to be loved. It is in Christ, 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 the good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself, but in the dispensation and the fullness of times, that 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 attained 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 at the praise of his glory, whose first crusted in Christ. in whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also that ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. which is the earnest of our inheritance, and to the redemption of the purchased possession, and to the praise of his glory. You know, as I said, our text says that we have not been given the spirit of this world, but the spirit which is of God.

But we might know the things that are freely given of God. There's a scripture that I'm not going to read, but when you get time, sometimes when you get down and out or you get discouraged, but this scripture is full of the promises of God. But it needs to be read slowly. and pondered down and meditated upon all the blessings and the things and the security that we have. That's Romans 8, verses 28 through 39. But we look to Christ alone. Why? Because he is our joy, he is our comfort, and he is our peace. And I thank God for that. You know, Christ truly is the love of our life. He truly is. I thank God for him. Amen.

Blessings That Are In Christ

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Blessings That Are In Christ

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