The Gospel
Here in the beginning of Paul's letter to the Ephesians a rich summary of the gospel. More than just the atoning sacrifice the gospel is also "the glories which follow". What rich and glorious words. Every one saturated with grace upon grace. Even now I feel unworthy to add anything to them, in fear that in adding to them I might take away. It indeed would be easy to write an entire chapter of a book on just these 11 verses, so this brief format a page or so on these profound things seems almost laughable.
Happy is the God who eternally begot our Lord, our prince and ruler Jesus the Christ. How great is his joy in his one and only Son! What delight and pleasure must the God who is good have in his perfect Son. Such delight that he did not see it fit to leave that name kept to himself, but he has poured it forth on us so that we might be with him where he is. Before the foundation of the earth he chose us to be in his Son, covered by his blood, clothed in him that we would be as blameless and holy in Christ. That we through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit would become as his Sons, not begotten, but adopted into his eternal blessed family. This is the cause for which he has done all things, the purpose for which he created, and redeemed us. That through the brining in of the saints by his grace all creatures on heaven and on earth would bring praise and glory and honor to his Beloved Son. It is by the spilled blood of that perfect Son that we are forgiven, not that we deserved forgiveness, but he gave it freely because of the depths of the riches of his grace. The only Wise God poured it out on us in order to make known the hidden, mysterious purposes of his great and sovereign plan. His great plot that in these last days he would unite all things on heaven and on earth in his Anointed King and mediator Jesus. In his kingdom we have an inheritance as his sons, because his plans and purposes cannot be thwarted. We who hope in him would be transformed from our lowly state to be a testimony of our King's great glories. We who received his word, received also the Spirit who is a guarantee of our inheritance to come. It is by that Spirit that we are saved, and by that Spirit that we will be fully saved, transformed, and glorified when he comes in the sky with his holy angels. Let all things praise Him!
Happy is the God who eternally begot our Lord, our prince and ruler Jesus the Christ. How great is his joy in his one and only Son! What delight and pleasure must the God who is good have in his perfect Son. Such delight that he did not see it fit to leave that name kept to himself, but he has poured it forth on us so that we might be with him where he is. Before the foundation of the earth he chose us to be in his Son, covered by his blood, clothed in him that we would be as blameless and holy in Christ. That we through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit would become as his Sons, not begotten, but adopted into his eternal blessed family. This is the cause for which he has done all things, the purpose for which he created, and redeemed us. That through the brining in of the saints by his grace all creatures on heaven and on earth would bring praise and glory and honor to his Beloved Son. It is by the spilled blood of that perfect Son that we are forgiven, not that we deserved forgiveness, but he gave it freely because of the depths of the riches of his grace. The only Wise God poured it out on us in order to make known the hidden, mysterious purposes of his great and sovereign plan. His great plot that in these last days he would unite all things on heaven and on earth in his Anointed King and mediator Jesus. In his kingdom we have an inheritance as his sons, because his plans and purposes cannot be thwarted. We who hope in him would be transformed from our lowly state to be a testimony of our King's great glories. We who received his word, received also the Spirit who is a guarantee of our inheritance to come. It is by that Spirit that we are saved, and by that Spirit that we will be fully saved, transformed, and glorified when he comes in the sky with his holy angels. Let all things praise Him!