“God’s Faithful Blessings 2"
Ephesians 1:7-8
Redemption
Real Wisdom and Knowledge
Redemption
Ephes. 1:7 (NIV)
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
God has blessed us by redeeming us and forgiving our sins.
The word “redemption” apolutrosis, Gk., means ransom in full, deliverance, what a beautiful word of God.
God was required to offer himself a “full sacrifice” for all our sin.
You and I have been set free because Jesus Christ has paid the ransom for all who believe in Him.
What are your thoughts on your redemption?
You want to know what God’s thoughts are?
God thought you were worthy…
A story told by Paul Lee Tan illustrates the meaning of redemption. He said that when A.J. Gordon was pastor of a church in Boston, he met a young boy in front of the sanctuary carrying a rusty cage in which several birds fluttered nervously. Gordon inquired, "Son, where did you get those birds?" The boy replied, "I trapped them out in the field." "What are you going to do with them?" "I’m going to play with them, and then I guess I’ll just feed them to an old cat we have at home." When Gordon offered to buy them, the lad exclaimed, "Mister, you don’t want them, they’re just little old wild birds and can’t sing very well." Gordon replied, "I’ll give you $2 for the cage and the birds." "Okay, it’s a deal, but you’re making a bad bargain." The exchange was made and the boy went away whistling, happy with his shiny coins. Gordon walked around to the back of the church property, opened the door of the small wire coop, and let the struggling creatures soar into the blue. The next Sunday he took the empty cage into the pulpit and used it to illustrate his sermon about Christ’s coming to seek and to save the lost -- paying for them with His own precious blood. "That boy told me the birds were not songsters," said Gordon, "but when I released them and they winged their way heavenward, it seemed to me they were singing, ’Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed!"
You and I have been held captive to sin, but Christ has purchased our pardon and set us at liberty. When a person has this life-changing experience, he will want to sing, "Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed! By the blood of the Lamb." Our Daily Bread.
Many are still dealing with forces around them…
of sin… Sin has captivated them (Rom 3:23;7:14).
of corruption… The whole creation is corrupt (Romans 8:21).
of death… Everything wastes away; deteriorates, decays, ages, and eventually dies. (1 Cor. 15:42, 50; Galatians 6:8; 2 Peter 1:4; 2 Peter 2:12, 19.)
of Satan… All unbelievers are under the power and influence of Satan. He has blinded their minds to the gospel (2 Cor. 4:4). He works in the children of disobedience (Ephes. 2:2). They are captivated by him (1 John 5:19).
Praise God, He has made a way to deal with these forces around us.
We need be liberated, delivered, and set free.
We can’t do it ourselves.
We don’t have the energy, power, or ability to free ourselves.
We are only able to be redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28 (NIV)
and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:24 (NIV)
for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13 (NIV)
you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Cor. 6:20 (NIV)
We are to be like Christ, our lamb, without blemish.
“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15).
“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight” (Col. 1:21-22).
“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (2 Peter 3:14).
I pray that you have taken full advantage of God’s redemption today.
Real Wisdom and Knowledge
Ephes. 1:8 (NIV)
that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
God blesses us with all wisdom “sophia”, both the wisdom of this world and the spiritual wisdom of the world to come.
God also blesses us with understanding “phronesis” Gk., which means mental action or activity, intellectual or moral insight; prudence.
The word “wisdom” (sophia) means seeing and knowing the truth.
It means being able to see and to know what to do.
It grasps the great truths of life.
Are you seeking your wisdom from God today?
Spiritual requirements for gaining Wisdom:
Reverence
10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10
Humility
2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame; But with the lowly is wisdom. Proverbs 11:2
Willingness and Ability to be Taught
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. Proverbs 9:9
Diligence
17 I love them that love me; And those that seek me diligently shall find me. Proverbs 8:17
Uprightness
7 He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, Proverbs 2:7 (NIV)
Faith
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:5-8 (NIV) Decision Making and the Will of God, p. 192.
God’s wisdom provides answers to:
life and death,
God and man,
time and eternity,
good and evil
Of course this wisdom is found only in Jesus Christ and is promised only to those who have a relationship with him.
“O the depth of the riches both of the widsom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33).
“But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greek, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:24).
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30).
Additionally,
“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. 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. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:9-16).
Some wonder as to the amount of this blessing, and whether or not it gives us all wisdom and knowledge.
God answers:
“Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence” (Ephes. 1:8).
“In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3).
The Greek word “pas” is used which means “all things”.
Of course to access this knowledge you need have asked Jesus Christ into your heart. Has everyone asked Jesus into their hearts today?
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. [11] As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." Romans 10:10-11 (NIV)
Our life in Christ is indeed a blessed adventure.
Did you know of all the blessings that God has afore ordained to us, His beloved adopted sons and daughters?
We are indeed blessed in Christ, who calls us to call others to Him.
Let us continue to be faithful in bringing the “redemption”, “wisdom” and “understanding” available to us and others through Christ and “Go ye therefore to all nations…” to the glory of God.
