Most Surely Believed – part 3
- Most Surely Believed – part 1
- Most Surely Believed – part 2
- Most Surely Believed – part 3
Chapter 21
Trusting Christ
That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted
in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word
of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that
ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.
Ephesians 1:12, 13.
What does it mean to trust in Christ? Do you trust your trust,
believe in your believe, or do you really trust in Christ? As a
result of your trust in Christ, do you praise your own
faithfulness, or do you praise the glory of God? Your honest
answer may tell you much about the validity of your faith!
First of all, Paul said "We first trusted in Christ." This seems
to refer to the Jews to whom God gave his oracles, his inspired
Old Testament. The New Testament mentions a number of Jews,
before and after the birth of Christ, who trusted in him. It
also mentions a number of Old Testament saints who by faith
embraced the promise of the Messiah and trusted in him.
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and
was glad. John 8:56.
Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched
diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto
you: Searching what, or what manner of time the spirit of Christ
which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the
sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. I Peter
1:10, 11.
In these two verses we find specific mention of Abraham seeing
the day of Christ and rejoicing, and the prophets all responding
to the Spirit of Christ in them as he testified to them of
Christ's sufferings. Can we for a moment doubt that they trusted
in Christ?
In whom ye also trusted. When the Ephesians and other Gentiles
heard the gospel, it came upon them with such powerful conviction
that they received it with great joy and trust. The gospel of
your salvation describes the content and flavor of the message
they heard in the gospel. The message they heard in that early
pure gospel told them the story of their salvation. It centered
on Jesus Christ, their Savior. It told them how he came, what he
did for them, and it assured them that his mission was completed
in victory. It did not present a defeated, helpless Christ, but
a conquering victorious Christ. It did not tell them about a
potential salvation which they could accept or deny. It told
them about the God who saved them and kindly shared the joyful
news of their salvation in the message he sent to them in the
gospel.
In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that
holy Spirit of promise. What does it mean to be sealed? When
these people believed the gospel of their salvation, they took
upon their lives a mark, a brand, that influenced every aspect of
their lives. The royal seal of God marked them as citizens of
another country and members of the royal family. Despite the
trauma of adversity and trial, they could rise above the stress
of the moment and rejoice in the seal of God upon them. The
characteristics of that seal do not show threats and warnings,
gloom and doom. The holy Spirit of promise brands them with the
rich blessings of God's promises. It assures them that God has
singled them out to receive his grace. The gospel should always
carry a personal application to the life and person of its
audience, those whom God has prepared to truly hear the words, as
he opened their hearts and ears.
That we should be to the praise of his glory. In Verse 10 we
read of the resurrection in which God will gather together in one
all things in Christ, all the family of God, both in heaven and
on earth. In Verse 11 we read of the inheritance which we now
receive, according to the security of God's predestinating grace.
This verse responds to the loving security of those blessings
which we have received and those which God has guaranteed to us.
We may consider this thought from two possible perspectives, a
timely and an eternal.
From the eternal perspective, all true believers shall surely
praise the glory of God in heaven. Belief does not secure the
inheritance of eternal life or the resurrection to glory; it
rather responds to the God who already gave it. Belief does not
cause the sinner to obtain eternal life; it bears evidence that
he already possesses it! "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the
Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat
loveth him also that is begotten of him," I John 5:1. Although I
reject the modern translations, most of them in this particular
verse splendidly emphasize the truth of the lesson by showing the
difference in verb tense between belief and the new birth. The
present tense believer has already been born of God. If you were
already born of God before you believed, how can belief cause the
new birth? True belief bears witness that the person who so
believes has been born of God, possesses eternal life and the
eternal inheritance, and shall rise from the dead to glory with
Christ. True believers shall surely praise his glory.
In a timely perspective true believers both name the name of
Christ and depart from iniquity, II Timothy 2:19. Thus, they
praise his glory now. Truly, God's intent in providing
sufficient evidence of his goodness to enable us to believe is
that those evidences should motivate us to rest only as we walk
in the way of his glory. Christianity should not inspire a
lifestyle that nurtures man's carnal ego. It will generate
self-respect and contentment like no other walk. However, it
does this by inspiring us to do everything to the glory of God,
not to our personal honor before men.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16.
The key to this lesson lies in the way you let your light shine,
so that people will see your walk and glorify your God!
Chapter 22
The Earnest Of The Inheritance
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of
the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:14.
Although we do not use the word earnest in everyday conversation,
it is a well-defined legal term in land or other large property
acquisitions. The earnest represents a small deposit in
guarantee of the completion of the purchase. By using this term
here Paul gave us one of the richest assurances in the Bible of
our eternal security. The sealing of that holy Spirit of promise
in Verse 13 portrays the conscious blessings which the Lord
bestows upon his believing children. As we have already
discussed, neither works nor belief cause our eternal salvation,
but trusting Christ upon hearing the good news of the gospel,
brings an inner joy and peace which no man can describe.
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Romans 15:13.
Belief does not produce eternal life; it produces joy and peace,
the sealing of the believer that he shall surely receive the full
blessings of eternal joy in the presence of God. When a person
believes and trusts in Christ, they do not receive eternal life.
They already possess it, I John 5:1. However, the joy and peace
they do receive represents one of the most powerful influences in
their life. This joyful peace exemplifies the personal assurance
of God that you are a member of the royal seed of God's eternal
family.
As a man deposits earnest funds to assure his final purchase of
the property, so God conveys this wonderful assurance only upon
those whom he intends to save in eternity. He has already
purchased the possession, but he has not yet redeemed it. What
does this mean? Christ paid the price of our redemption from sin
in his death, a finished transaction which purchased a precisely
defined people. This thought forbids the popular view that
Christ died a conditional death for all, but a factual death for
none. His death purchased a particular people, as surely and
definitely as if you had paid an agreed price for a new home.
That home is precisely described in the title deed. The price is
specifically named in the purchase contract. You do not pay for
unnamed property which decides it wants to be purchased; you pay
the stipulated price for the particular parcel you want to
purchase. When Jesus gave his life, he paid the full legal price
to remove the sin-guilt of all for whom he died. They were named
in the covenant of redemption, the title deed which describes the
people he chose in Christ before the foundation of the world,
Ephesians 1:4.
When one of those heirs of glory hears the good news of the
gospel, he hears about the wonderful certainty of the price Jesus
paid for his redemption. He learns about the incorruptible
riches of that heavenly estate which he shall enjoy throughout
eternity. He reacts with joy unspeakable and full of glory, the
joy and peace of believing. By giving this conviction of joy and
peace, the Lord assures this person that the promise is sure and
his inheritance incorruptible. In this way the Lord tells you
that you are his! It represents his earnest to you that his
purchase of you for all eternity is certain, not conditional or
inconclusive. Just as the deposit of earnest money assures the
final purchase of the property, this joy and peace assures that
the full reality of heaven belongs to you.
Until the redemption of the purchased possession. Jesus paid the
full price of our redemption. What does this mean? It means
that he has not yet taken possession of all which he purchased.
It also means that he will undoubtedly claim all that he
purchased. Would you be surprised if I told you that redemption
is not yet complete? Jesus fully paid the price, but he has not
yet claimed all which he purchased by that price.
I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem
them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will
be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. Hosea
13:14.
I will redeem them from death. Few verses in the Old Testament
speak so clearly of the resurrection of the body. Jesus paid the
legal price for both your soul and your body. He claimed your
soul in the new birth; he will claim your body in the
resurrection. Only when he has taken full possession of body,
soul, and spirit will redemption be complete.
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God
your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I Thessalonians 5:23.
Christ's deposit of earnest money, his bestowing upon you of that
joy and peace, guarantees your final resurrection to glory. None
to whom he gives that earnest will lose their inheritance!
Unto the praise of his glory. The whole concept that heaven will
be one endless parade of our personal works, of our crowns of
merit earned by our good works, is blasphemous to the biblical
truth of heaven. First and last, beginning to end, heaven's
activities will praise the glory of the Savior Redeemer! Hear
the echo of that heavenly chorus.
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the
book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and
hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and
tongue, and people, and nation. Revelation 5:9.
Chapter 23
A Thanksgiving Prayer
Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus,
and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you,
making mention of you in my prayers. Ephesians 1:15, 16.
What prompts you to offer a thanksgiving prayer to God? What
kinds of events make you feel so fully blessed of God, that you
want to talk to him in personal intimate prayer without asking
for a single thing? You just want to tell him how thankful you
are for his blessings. Perhaps we thank him for deliverance from
a personal tragedy, a physician's report of good health, or the
return of someone you love after a long absence. All of these
things deserve thanksgiving. What prompted Paul's thanksgiving
prayer in these verses? He mentioned two things which moved him
to record one of the most touching prayers found in the New
Testament, their faith in Jesus and their love to all saints.
After I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus. Anything which
confirms legitimate faith in Christ should move every true
believer in Christ to thank the Lord for another evidence of his
loving mercy and grace. Every time you hear of someone who
manifests true faith in God, you hear of another relative,
another member of your heavenly family. According to Paul's
Thessalonian writings, all men do not have faith, II
Thessalonians 3:2. Those who bear evidence of faith witness by
that faith that they belong to the Lord. Thank him that he
continues to work his grace in the hearts of men and women, that
he will not fail in his eternal purpose to gather together in
Christ all the heirs of eternal glory. Thank him that he makes
himself known with such tender love and goodness that his
children cannot resist the joyful opportunity to manifest faith
in him.
From Galatians 5:22 we learn that faith is a fruit of the Spirit,
meaning that the Holy Spirit produced faith in the heart of those
who possess it. Contrary to the idea that man can spontaneously
produce faith, or that his carnal intellect is capable of faith,
this lesson teaches that the Spirit of God produces faith in the
life of his children through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
God sends his Spirit into the heart first in the new birth; then
the Spirit produces faith as a fruitful consequence of his
presence. Faith does not produce eternal life; eternal life
produces faith! Understanding this evidence of God's saving
grace, Paul rejoiced and offered a thanksgiving prayer to God for
the Ephesians.
Love unto all the saints. Christian love far surpasses the
typical fraternal love of most organizations, including many
churches. Remember the Lord's teaching on love in the Sermon on
the Mount.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your
enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate
you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute
you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in
heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the
good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye
love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the
publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do
ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye
therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is
perfect. Matthew 5:43-48.
Before offering the typical protest, "That's impossible! I can't
do that!" look at what this lesson really teaches. Jesus set the
lesson in contrast with the "Love your friends, hate your
enemies" mentality which prevails in most circles of human
relationships. He did not intend that you feel or show the same
kind of love toward an immoral enemy to God as you show toward a
faithful Christian. Biblical Christianity rises far above a
"Mutual Admiration Society." The word translated love in this
lesson comes from a word which means love in a social or moral
sense, not love in an emotional sense. Christian love does not
require that you feel or show intimate emotional love toward your
enemies. It does require that you show the same moral integrity
and social equity toward your enemy as you would show toward your
best friend. God sends the blessings of good weather on the
wicked as well as the righteous. We should imitate him, be his
children in conduct, by showing the same ethical integrity toward
all men, regardless of their moral character. You will never
favorably impress anyone by crawling into the moral cesspool
with the wicked. Even in the business world, Christians should
conduct their affairs with such integrity as to distinguish
themselves from the wicked world in which they live.
Without question, the Ephesians lived in this manner toward their
fellow-man. However, they rose above even this noble conduct in
their special love toward all saints. They didn't fall into the
typical fraternal love of favoring the saints who agreed with
them and sending all other saints to hell. They loved all
saints, those who agreed with them and those who disagreed. They
rose above the attitudes and conduct of the moment and realized
that God's grace had worked a tender creation in Christ within
these saints. That work justified their love toward these
people. It also justified Paul's beautiful thanksgiving prayer
for them. All too often, professing Christians judge others and
their differing opinions with undue harshness, much like the
Pharisees whom Jesus condemned in this lesson from the Sermon on
the Mount. God never intended that his church become another
closed fraternity or clique of self-centered egotists.
As Paul learned of this exemplary faith and love in the Ephesian
church, he continually thanked God for them and prayed for God to
send them a special blessing. Think of some particular person or
church you know whose faith and Christian love etch a special
place in your mind. Now, stop and thank the Lord for them. They
will receive a blessing from you prayer, and so will you!
Chapter 24
Biblical Revelation
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may
give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the
knowledge of him. Ephesians 1:17.
This verse describes the pivotal request of Paul's prayer which
he began in Verses 15 and 16. He prayed that the Ephesians might
be given the spirit of revelation. Divine revelation does not
occur in the free-form style usually portrayed by religious
people in our time. God never reveals anything which violates
scripture! One revelation from God cannot contradict another
revelation he gave at a different time! When people want to
deviate from scripture, they falsely claim that God gave them a
new revelation. Perhaps they got a new revelation, but it did
not come from God!
Paul's prayer for the Ephesians' revelation included several key
blessings.
Wisdom and knowledge, compatible with God's former revelations in
scripture, always characterize God's revelations, Verse 17.
Enlightened understanding perceives specific biblical truths, the
hope of his calling and the riches of his glory in our eternal
inheritance, Verse 18.
God's relationship with us stands on the greatness of his power
toward us, not on the greatness of our personal religious
performance, Verse 19.
Belief occurs only by the working of the same divine power which
God wrought when he raised Christ up from the grave, Verse 19.
Man's rational mind alone cannot believe the things of God.
The focal point of true Christianity is the exalted Christ, not
an ingenious man, Verse 20.
The exalted Christ shall claim the final victory over his
enemies, Verses 21 and 22.
All of these verses fill out the balance of Paul's prayer for the
Ephesians. If you ever wondered what to include in your prayers,
examine this list and pattern your prayers after it. We should
not think of prayer as a blank check which we can use to gain
selfish, ungodly goals for ourselves. God encourages us to pray
for those things which we need, but not for those things which
contradict his will or his moral code. Contrast Paul's prayer in
these verses with the condemnation of selfish prayer outside the
will of God.
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not
hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and
have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye
fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and
receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon
your lusts. James 4:1-3.
God will not answer prayers of this kind. In contrast, do you
doubt for a minute that he answered Paul's prayer? We often
think of prayer as an open-ended wish list to God, never
considering that prayer should also include thanksgiving to God
for his blessings, and requests for his blessings upon others.
In the model prayer Jesus taught us to pray, "Thy will be done."
In this particular prayer Paul asked the Lord to perform his will
in the Ephesians, naming the unique blessings which reflect the
will of God.
Much of contemporary religious teaching assumes that man's
rational mind can perceive God's spiritual realities. This verse
denies such a thought! Knowledge of Christ requires wisdom and
revelation from God. Can man's natural intellect grasp the things
of God? Let scripture answer the question.
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the
flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the
Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be
spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is
enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God,
neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot
please God. Romans 8:5-8.
But as it is written, Eye hath 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 all things, yea, the
deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man,
save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God
knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. I Corinthians 2:9-11.
Do all children of God enjoy this knowledge? Based on Paul's
prayer that a well established church partake in this blessing, I
doubt that all children of God receive this full insight into the
truth of Christ. In the new birth God writes his law in the
hearts of all his children, making himself known to them and
establishing a new morality in their minds, but this does not
mean that they will all enjoy the full knowledge of the gospel.
The parable of the sower suggests that many children of God allow
problems in their minds and their lives which interfere with the
fruitfulness of the seed sown, the word of the gospel. The
deceitfulness of riches, stones of carnality and prejudice which
lie just below the surface of the heart, the cares (worries) of
this world, and many similar things stand in the way of this full
knowledge. This very fact justifies Paul's prayer for the
Ephesians, and it equally urges us to pray for each other that
our lives may be fruitful fields, well prepared and receptive to
"The spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him."
Chapter 25
Enlightened Eyes
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may
know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the
glory of his inheritance in the saints. Ephesians 1:18.
Do all children of God know the comforting beauties of gospel
truth? What kind of things should we ask the Lord to give us?
What should we expect from a true revelation? When the Lord
directed Paul to record this prayer, he endowed us with rich
insight into his method of dealing with his children.
Frequently, religious people claim to have received private
revelations which contradict the revelation of scripture. This
cannot be! Spiritual eyes which God has enlightened with his
revelation will respect scripture, not defame and contradict it.
Someone has said, "Those who spiritualize tell spiritual lies,
because they have no spiritual eyes." We need not symbolize and
mystify God's truth. He made it plain in scripture and urged us
to seek out its riches.
How much knowledge of truth does a child of God possess? I
firmly believe that God writes his law in the heart of everyone
who experiences the new birth. God's law in the heart makes its
recipient aware of God, love God, and labor to honor God. God
writes this law in the heart directly by the Holy Spirit, not by
preaching or any other intermediate means, II Corinthians 3:3. To
suggest that a person whose moral values show no regard for the
morality of God is a child of God in disobedience, dishonors God
and the effect of that law in the heart. However, to suggest
that every child of God possesses intimate knowledge of gospel
truth equally violates scripture. Repeatedly, Solomon urged his
son to gain wisdom and understanding, wise counsel for God's
family. New Testament writers equally urged the churches and
individual Christians to whom they wrote to labor for knowledge
and understanding of God's truth. "Behold, I stand at the door,
and knock," Revelation 3:20, was written to a church, not to a
lost sinner.
That ye may know. "And I will give you pastors according to mine
heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding,"
Jeremiah 3:15. Paul prayed that God would use his words to
enlighten the Ephesian church with knowledge. This represents
the true power of the gospel; God uses it to enlighten his
children with knowledge, convincing, believable knowledge of his
eternal truth. The salvation we receive through the gospel
embodies deliverance from spiritual ignorance and falsehood to
the enlightening wonders of his grace in Christ Jesus. Paul
wrote the Corinthians regarding meat offered to idols, "Howbeit
there is not in every man that knowledge," I Corinthians 8:7.
Every child of God does not understand the danger of idolatry.
In context Paul was concerned for those within the family of God
who were weak in the faith. He understood the reality of God
sufficiently that he could easily eat meat offered in an idol's
temple for the sake of his physical appetite. However, a weak
brother might see him in that setting and think that he
worshipped the idol. Thus, the weak brother would fall into
idolatry. This background wisely sets the stage for Paul's
conclusion, "Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will
eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to
offend," I Corinthians 8:13. Every child of God does not enjoy
the full knowledge of his salvation. This explains why Paul so
earnestly prayed that the Ephesian church might enjoy the fruits
of this revelation, enlightened eyes.
That ye may know what is the hope of his calling. Paul made this
particular knowledge the first fruit of God's revelation.
Enlightened eyes see their salvation in God's calling and
understand the secure blessings of that calling. This inspires
hope in them toward God. Rather than teaching biblical hope, many
religious teachers seem content to ridicule hope and pacify their
egos with such expressions as "I don't need hope; I know." My
friends, never permit Satan to move you to dishonor any biblical
truth, hope included. In Colossians 1:27 Paul taught that Christ
in you is the hope of glory. In Hebrews 6:19 we read that hope
is an anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast, entering into
heaven itself. I have no desire to belittle such a Bible gem.
Do you? Hope, biblical hope, springs from God's calling. Only
those whom he has called will know the comforting joy of hope in
Christ. Bible hope could be defined as joyful expectation of an
eternal future with God, not wishful thinking for the impossible.
The riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. How do
you receive an inheritance? Your only title to an inheritance
lies in the will of your benefactor, not your own will. The
numerous scriptures which compare our eternal relationship with
God to an inheritance all witness that our salvation depends on
God's will, not man's. From eternity, God named those whom he
intended to save in his will, and none whom he so named in his
will shall ever lose their inheritance, John 6:37-39.
Paul characterized this inheritance with thought-provoking words,
riches and glory. May we regard our inheritance with similar
reverence.
My Father is rich in houses and lands, He holdeth the wealth of
the world in his hands! Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and
gold, His coffers are full, He has riches untold. I once was an
outcast stranger on earth, A sinner by choice, and an alien by
birth; But I've been adopted, my name's written down, An heir to
a mansion, a robe, and a crown. I'm a child of the King, A child
of the King: With Jesus my Saviour I'm a child of the King.
Hattie Buell
Chapter 26
What Enables A Man To Believe?
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who
believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he
wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him
at his own right hand in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1:19,
20.
These verses continue Paul's prayer for the Ephesians which began
with Verse 15. This church stands out as one of the most
exemplary churches in the New Testament. Perhaps several years
later, in Revelation 2:1- 7 John wrote to this church with
glowing commendations. Even in this present letter, we find a
conspicuous absence of rebuke or criticism. In both conduct and
faith Ephesus was a model church. Paul did not pray that they
believe; they already did believe. He prayed that God would
enlighten their spiritual minds to understand why they believed,
and how. In an age when so many teachers hold that man's
rational intellect fully possesses the ability to believe the
whole gospel, if only someone will tell them, this verse contains
a timely message.
What is the exceeding greatness of his power to us. The idea of
God's active sovereign power did not embarrass Paul. He built
his whole view of God on it! He felt no awkward need to attempt
the impossible reconciliation of man's free will and God's
sovereign will. He believed in God's sovereign will in salvation
and in belief! As he built the foundation for belief, he did not
call attention to God's retiring nudges. He prayed that the
Ephesians know more about the exceeding greatness of God's power
toward us.
The exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe. God
does not direct this power toward all mankind; he directs it
toward those who believe. In fact, the whole thought of the
lesson concludes that belief itself results from that power. In
his natural state man will not and cannot believe in God, in the
spiritual dimensions of his being. The devils believe in God,
but they do not understand his spiritual nature or his design
with his chosen family. This particular concept of belief means
more than mere acknowledgement that God exists. It signifies a
trusting confidence in God as Lord and Savior.
His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his
mighty power. What prompts belief? Human intellect? A
convincing evangelist? What do these words say? We believe
according to the working of his mighty power. His power causes
belief. Wicked man may well be aware that there is a God, but he
cannot believe, trustingly and lovingly, in God without the
working of this mighty power.
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead. The
same power God exercised in raising Christ from the dead, he
utilizes to cause someone to believe. What does this mean?
First, God did not send out a gentle, open-ended invitation to
any in the graves who wanted to rise. He directed his power
specifically toward one particular grave which held one
particular body, the body of his Son. When God directs his power
in salvation and subsequent family protection, he does not issue
a general invitation. He directs his power to a particular
individual. Some object to this interpretation claiming that it
violates the "Whosoever will" invitation of Revelation 22:17.
However, they fail to note that the book of Revelation was
written to seven churches, not to lost sinners. Of all the
individual members of those seven churches, people already saved
and identified with godly service, some were more willing to deny
themselves than others. Some were willing to serve God without
qualification, while others wanted to serve God only to the point
of comfortable convenience. Is it not the same today? The Lord
invited all of the seven churches to take the water of life and
refresh their spiritual vigor. Unless you believe in evolution,
you understand that water does not give life. It refreshes and
purifies life. John did not invite dead, lost sinners to take
spiritual water and evolve into living children of God. He
invited tired, discouraged, sometimes carnal, children of God to
take a deep drink of God's pure water and refresh their spiritual
vitality.
Does belief cause eternal life? Let scripture answer the
question.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and
believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall
not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 5:24.
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and
every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is
begotten of him. I John 5:1.
Both verses state that the believer presently possesses eternal
life, in contrast to the idea that he gains eternal life by
believing. Both verses confirm the lesson of Ephesians 1:19,
that we believe through the working of God's sovereign power, the
kind of power he used to raise Christ from the dead, directed,
effectual power. Does this sound strange to you? In an age which
dedicates itself to man, rather than to God, it certainly does.
Does this doctrine find any support in historical Christianity?
I quote from the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 3, Of
God's Eternal Decrees, Paragraph 5.
Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before
the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal
and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure
of His will, hath chosen, in Christ, unto everlasting glory, out
of His mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith,
or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other
thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving Him
thereunto: and all to the praise of His glorious grace.
May we praise the mighty power which enabled us to believe such a
loving God!
Chapter 27
The Exalted Christ
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and
set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above
all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every
name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that
which is to come. Ephesians 1:20, 21.
Paul has not yet finished his prayer for the Ephesians which he
began in Verse 15. Does this sound like a prayer? It should.
Too often, we think of prayer as a shopping list. Why pray to
God unless you want something? This attitude forgets that prayer
should always include thanksgiving for past blessings. It also
neglects the rich truth that prayer constitutes an act of
intimate, personal worship. These words written by Paul
definitely sound like worship, don't they? When you pray, do you
include thanksgiving and worship on your prayer agenda? Try it.
The results will amaze you.
When did the Father exalt Christ? Many teach that Satan rules
supreme in this world today. They are wrong! The Father exalted
Christ at his resurrection and ascension. Today, he occupies
heaven's throne at the Father's right hand. His dominion
encompasses this world and the world to come. The Father exalted
him above all other beings and all other names. Some look around
them at the wickedness, suffering, and death in the world and
question the rule of Christ. My friends, he is not responsible
for such things. According to the Bible, he stands beside us
through such trials. He has not promised to prevent all such
things from touching our lives. Remember the conversation
between God and Satan regarding Job. Remember Job's experience.
He suffered more tragedy in a few short hours than most of us
will experience in a lifetime. He cried out to understand why
such things had crashed in upon his life. Yet despite all his
tragedy, he did not charge God foolishly, nor stop trusting in
God. His friends, deceived with prosperity theology, tried to
convince him that the only reason for his suffering was some
hidden sin in his life. Hungry for juicy scandal, they tried
everything to get him to confess. In the end God rebuked them
and required that they take their offerings to Job, who, in this
instance, acted as God's priest. He offered sacrifices to God for
those foolish friends. They were wrong! Job was right!
A few minutes ago, I learned that a professional friend of mine
died unexpectedly yesterday. This knowledge touched me deeply.
How will his family react to the shock? What will they do without
him? I will miss him professionally; they will miss him every
day. Perhaps at this moment they, like Job, wrestle with their
loss and ask God why. Perhaps the answer doesn't appear
immediately. Does God know their grief? Yes, he most certainly
does! Does he care? Yes, he unquestionably cares! With such
matters occurring all around the world, does he remain exalted?
Yes, he does! We react to the moment, to the shock of immediate
emotions and losses. God knows all about the future. In
sunshine or in storms, he remains exalted. He remains God! When
death claims someone dear to us, we react to our personal loss.
When we find the presence of mind to follow Job's example, to
trust God, even when we do not understand why it happened, we
approach God's eternal perspective of the matter. At the moment
our precious ones are taken suddenly from us, they also entered
the presence of God in glory. They have no more grief, no pain,
no worried sleepless nights. They have entered glory. Can we
grieve? Of course, we can. When Jesus reached the grieving
sisters of Lazarus, he did not rebuke them or shame them for
their bitter tears. In fact, he wept with them! Then he
comforted them that he was the resurrection and the life. To
give us a sweet assurance that he cared and that he indeed would
claim the final victory, he raised Lazarus from the dead, proof
positive of his exalted status with the Father.
God has not relinquished his dominion over this world or the
world to come. Surrogate rulers do not substitute for him. He
remains on the throne! For unto the angels hath he not put in
subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. Hebrews 2:5.
What does this verse teach? It tells us that God has not given
rule over the world to come to angels. He retains it in his own
personal dominion.
The same comforting truth applies to this world in which we live.
According to ancient history, all of the apostles died a violent
death for their faith, except John. They sealed the testimony of
their faith with death. Nero had Paul beheaded. Pagan tribesmen
crucified Peter, upside down at his request. Did this cause them
to question the truth of Christ's exalted dominion? No, they
faced death, even in these violent forms, with the supreme
comfort that their Lord stood with them in the experience.
Notice Paul's confession of faith, shortly before his death.
According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing
I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now
also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life,
or by death. Philippians 1:20.
At this time, Paul wrote from Rome, under house arrest. Roman
guards were chained to him around the clock. His cause was just,
and the charges against him were false. Did he complain about
the unfairness of it all? No, he used this dreadful situation to
preach Christ to Roman soldiers and anyone else who would come to
listen. In this verse he confessed that his greatest desire was
to magnify Christ in his body. To Paul, magnifying Christ did
not require that his body be bathed and dressed in an expensive
suit. He did not have to stand in a pulpit in church to magnify
Christ. Would he have preferred that condition? Of course, but
he accepted his present distress with a longing that, distress
and prison notwithstanding, he would magnify Christ. May our
prayers include worshipful exaltation of Christ.
Chapter 28
The Ruling Christ
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the
head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the
fulness of him that filleth all in all. Ephesians 1:22, 23.
While most Christians accept that Christ sits exalted in heaven,
many reject the idea that he presently rules, that he actually
exercises dominion. Such an idea can stand only as it relies on
philosophical reasoning, for it finds no quarter in scripture.
Acceptance of the lordship of Christ does not require that we
make him responsible for every event which occurs. God knew that
Herod would have thousands of infants murdered in a vain attempt
to kill the newborn Messiah. Therefore, he inspired Jeremiah to
prophesy of the event several hundred years beforehand. Does
that mean God caused Herod to kill those little children? The
very idea is preposterous! Based on Christ's present lordship,
Herod will answer for his murderous sin on judgment day, and
suffer the just penalty of Divine Justice. Because of the
lordship of Christ, he will bring all of the wicked to justice,
no exception.
Consider these words from David.
He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river
unto the ends of the earth. Psalm 72:8.
Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and
David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for
ever and ever. Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and
the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in
the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O
Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. I Chronicles
29:10, 11.
The first verse is part of a prophecy of the Messiah. The second
quotation from I Chronicles speaks of the present dominion of
God. Notice that the verbs appear in present, not future, tense.
This lesson speaks of God's present rule. "Thine is the
kingdom."
Gave him to be the head over all things to the church. Here we
see a specific application of Christ's rulership. It addresses
his spiritual dominion over his family, his church. The New
Testament uses the word church in at least two ways. The Greek
word translated church means called out. It was used in Greek
culture of the citizens in each city-state who were called out of
their homes to conduct business related to their community. All
people in the community did not belong to this voting class.
They were called out from the general population. In the sense
of those who identify with a local church, this word fits
perfectly. The Lord calls them out from the world and the
general population of mankind to conduct business for him. In
the sense of the eternal church, they, too, will be called out
from the general population of mankind to conduct the eternal
business of praising God for his mercy. Christ holds lordship
over his church in both senses, the timely and the eternal. In
the timely application he provides scripture as a thorough
furnisher of everything we now need to intelligently serve him.
What should we believe? Can we decide on our own to ignore
certain Bible doctrines and substitute other ideas more to our
personal liking? No, Christ is the head of the church, and he
determines truth! Can we decide how to conduct our public
worship services, adding things which appeal to our private
tastes and neglecting other things which scripture commands? No,
Christ provides direction to his church in all timely matters.
Consider this quotation from a Waldensian Confession of Faith,
dated 1120 A. D.
Moreover, we have ever regarded all the inventions of men (in the
affairs of religion) as an unspeakable abomination before God.
These ancient Christians understood the lordship of Christ! We
should follow their example. The elegant simplicity of New
Testament public worship includes congregational song worship,
public prayer, and expository preaching. The head of the church
gave nothing else to the public worship of his church. When
conducted with due reverence, the church needs nothing else!
Equally true, and probably more to the specific context of this
lesson, Christ sits as head over his church in the eternal sense.
Perhaps the blackest mark against professing Christianity today
is the tendency to arrogantly send everyone to eternal hell who
does not agree with a particular dogma of a particular church.
Those who practice this self-serving judgment of all who disagree
with them take personal credit for eternal judgment. All will
not spend eternity in heaven with God. God will most surely
judge those whom he deems wicked and deserving of such judgment.
However, the issue of judgment belongs to God, not to narrow
religious dogmatists who think the whole world should agree with
them! Christ sits as head of his church alone! He will rule,
and, as he deems appropriate, he will judge!
The fulness of him that filleth all in all. Although we cannot
judge the exact number of the saved, this verse clearly
contradicts those who presume to judge on outward appearance and
personal interpretation or dogma, sending 99% of the human race
to eternal woe and pronouncing only the few who agree with them
as possibly saved. I find it incredible that God would be
satisfied to let the devil have 99% of the human race, while he
contents himself with 1%. Does that describe the fullness of
Christ? The number of the saved in heaven, when expressed in
comparative terms in scripture, always appears as a large number,
very likely the majority of the whole. This harmonizes with
those scriptures we have examined on the dominion and lordship of
Christ. May we bow in reverential worship of the ruling gracious
Christ.
Chapter 29
The Grand Conclusion In Christ
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath
blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in
Christ. Ephesians 1:3.
To suitably close this study, let's return to this beautiful
panoramic verse. The Bible includes some thoughts which act as a
microscope. They magnify a small, but significant, portion of
God's work, revealing the inner workings of his grace. Other
verses serve as a telescope, bringing huge segments of God's work
into closer view. Clearly, this verse falls into the telescopic
variety. It reminds us that God gives us every spiritual blessing
we shall ever know in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ. Think
of blessings in time or blessings in eternity, this verse brings
them all into view.
I began with a promise that this study would stay close to the
Lord Jesus Christ. Did I keep my promise? As the whole structure
of a building depends on the dimensions and strength of its
foundation, so the whole of a person's belief in God cannot
escape the foundation upon which he builds. If you make man the
central thought of your belief, then you cannot get far away from
man in any part of your belief. You will trust man's will, not
God's, for salvation. You will believe in what man must do to
accomplish salvation, not what Jesus did. You will hang
everything on your foundation! If you make God the foundation of
your faith, you will see God's will, not man's, as the causative
factor in salvation. What Jesus did, not what you think man must
do, will settle the salvation issue in your mind. If you build
your belief on man, you will think that only those few of mankind
who follow your personal definition of Christianity will be
saved. If you build on the foundation of God, you believe that
God will save all of those whom he chose to save.
What foundation should we seek for our belief?
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is
Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 3:11.
What does this verse mean? It establishes that the only
foundation which God will honor, the only one which will stand
the test, is Jesus Christ. In God's eternal purpose, no other
foundation exists! We should stand with God!
In this one chapter of scripture which has guided us through our
brief study of essential doctrine, Ephesians 1, we have
experienced some of the strongest assurances in scripture of the
right foundation, God. We have tasted of the pure waters of
grace. Four times, in verses 1, 5, 9, and 11, we have seen the
will of God as the operative factor. From Paul's apostleship,
Verse 1, to God's predestination of those whom he chose to the
adoption of children, verse 5, to the revelation of his will,
Verse 9, to the workings of the inheritance obtained, Verse 11,
God's will prevails. God will surely have the victory!
Fifteen times in this chapter, Paul mentioned particular
blessings which we receive in Christ. From the general, Verse 3,
to the specific, election in Verse 4, redemption and forgiveness
in Verse 7, and resurrection in Verse 10, God gives his children
everything good in Christ. Good works, faith, or anything else
which we may do in response to God's tender, but effectual,
dealings with us, do not cause our salvation, but rather result
from it. Everything we receive from God, everything, comes
through our family standing in Christ. Even our trust is in him!
In the companion book to Ephesians we find this focus on Christ
further emphasized.
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in
love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding,
to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father,
and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge. Colossians 2:2, 3.
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Colossians 2:9.
God grant us enlightened hearts to see our hope of eternity and
our joy in time all on the secure foundation of our Lord Jesus
Christ. May we see the victory in him and give him the
reverential worship which he alone deserves.
On Christ salvation rests secure;
The Rock of Ages must endure;
Nor can that faith be overthrown
Which rests upon the "Living Stone."
No other hope shall intervene;
To Him we look, on Him we lean;
Other foundation we disown,
And build on Christ, the "Living Stone."
In Him it is ordained to raise
A temple to Jehovah's praise,
Composed of all His saints, who own
No Saviour but the "Living Stone."
View the vast building, see it rise;
The work, how great! The plan how wise!
O wondrous fabric! Power unknown,
That rests it on the "Living Stone."
But most adore His precious Name;
His glory and His grace proclaim;
For us, the lost, condemned, undone,
He gave Himself, the "Living Stone."
Samuel Medley