Eph 3:7-13
I [Paul] became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Observations for living today:
God’s character and purpose are eternal. God’s purpose accomplished in Christ was established in eternity before the world was created; therefore, everything created, as well as everything happening within creation, works to fulfill His purpose. This is why Paul wrote: “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Ro 8:28) And why he wrote, “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose” (Phil 2:13).
There was a war in heaven; Satan lost and was thrown down to earth where he continued the attack against Adam and Eve successfully. When he attacked Eve’s offspring, Jesus Christ, he was defeated again. Now, for a little while, he continues his war against God on the only battlefield he can, those who believe Jesus is the Christ. (Rev 12:17) Fact: “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph 6:12).
When the knowledge of good and evil presented such an unbearable reality, mankind hid from God. But in accordance with His eternal purpose, God calls out to His frightened creation. Those who hear Him, who listen and believe His voice, are now able to come with total “freedom and confidence” and approach Him in a better way than Adam and Eve did in the Garden (Gen 3:10).
In the New Covenant established by God, Christ is fulfilling God’s eternal purpose, doing what everyone else past, present and future, failed to accomplish: filling our heart and mind with the knowledge of God, cleansing our conscience of guilt, forgiving our sins and having provided an acceptable sacrifice for us He now intercedes on our behalf sitting at the right hand of God (Heb 10:8-23). “Now” through the “Body of Christ,” i.e., those who put their faith/trust/belief in Christ Jesus, God is showing the “rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms” what can be done by those who believe Him.
Reality in Christ:
God’s eternal purpose in Christ is for you to experience the eternal life He defined – “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (Jn 17:1-5). He did not take you out of the world, but gave you His Word, which protects you from the evil one by making you one with God, just as He was one with God His Father. God wants you to know He loves you as much as He loves His only begotten Son. To ensure this happens, Jesus continuously works to make the Father known to you, so the love the Father has for Him can in fact be in you and that He Himself is in you (Jn 17:13-26). You are a dwelling place of God on this earth where He lives by His Spirit (Eph 2:22).
With freedom and confidence you can approach and talk with God, with the Holy Spirit working with you to effectively communicate with God – something Adam and Eve did not have (Ro 8:26). They were made in the image of God, a human being with a living soul; but you are a new creation, sanctified and made perfect – one in Christ with the Father, having become a spiritual being born of God’s will (Jn 1:4; 3:5)! In Christ you have everything you need: “if God is for us, who can be against us, who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Nothing can get between you and God – neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus – the living Son of God (Ro 8:31-39).
What was made known in your life today to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms? What part of God’s workmanship prepared in advance for you to do shines in the heavenly realm today? (Eph 2:10)
I [Paul] became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Observations for living today:
God’s character and purpose are eternal. God’s purpose accomplished in Christ was established in eternity before the world was created; therefore, everything created, as well as everything happening within creation, works to fulfill His purpose. This is why Paul wrote: “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Ro 8:28) And why he wrote, “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose” (Phil 2:13).
There was a war in heaven; Satan lost and was thrown down to earth where he continued the attack against Adam and Eve successfully. When he attacked Eve’s offspring, Jesus Christ, he was defeated again. Now, for a little while, he continues his war against God on the only battlefield he can, those who believe Jesus is the Christ. (Rev 12:17) Fact: “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph 6:12).
When the knowledge of good and evil presented such an unbearable reality, mankind hid from God. But in accordance with His eternal purpose, God calls out to His frightened creation. Those who hear Him, who listen and believe His voice, are now able to come with total “freedom and confidence” and approach Him in a better way than Adam and Eve did in the Garden (Gen 3:10).
In the New Covenant established by God, Christ is fulfilling God’s eternal purpose, doing what everyone else past, present and future, failed to accomplish: filling our heart and mind with the knowledge of God, cleansing our conscience of guilt, forgiving our sins and having provided an acceptable sacrifice for us He now intercedes on our behalf sitting at the right hand of God (Heb 10:8-23). “Now” through the “Body of Christ,” i.e., those who put their faith/trust/belief in Christ Jesus, God is showing the “rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms” what can be done by those who believe Him.
Reality in Christ:
God’s eternal purpose in Christ is for you to experience the eternal life He defined – “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (Jn 17:1-5). He did not take you out of the world, but gave you His Word, which protects you from the evil one by making you one with God, just as He was one with God His Father. God wants you to know He loves you as much as He loves His only begotten Son. To ensure this happens, Jesus continuously works to make the Father known to you, so the love the Father has for Him can in fact be in you and that He Himself is in you (Jn 17:13-26). You are a dwelling place of God on this earth where He lives by His Spirit (Eph 2:22).
With freedom and confidence you can approach and talk with God, with the Holy Spirit working with you to effectively communicate with God – something Adam and Eve did not have (Ro 8:26). They were made in the image of God, a human being with a living soul; but you are a new creation, sanctified and made perfect – one in Christ with the Father, having become a spiritual being born of God’s will (Jn 1:4; 3:5)! In Christ you have everything you need: “if God is for us, who can be against us, who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Nothing can get between you and God – neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus – the living Son of God (Ro 8:31-39).
What was made known in your life today to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms? What part of God’s workmanship prepared in advance for you to do shines in the heavenly realm today? (Eph 2:10)
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