THE BLESSING GOD BESTOWS
Psalm 40:4
Happy is the man who has faith in the Lord,
and does not give honour to the men of pride
or to those who are turned away to deceit.
[BBE]
I. FORGIVEN
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
a) Repentance is necessary
Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out.
b) Repentance Brings Forgiveness
Psalm 34:18 The LORD is close to the broken-hearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit. [NLT]
c) Forgiveness Through The Blood Of Christ
Ephesians 1:7 & 8 It is through him, at the cost of his own blood, that we are redeemed, freely forgiven through that free and generous grace 8 which has overflowed into our lives and given us wisdom and insight. [JBP]
II. CHOSEN
II Thessalonians 2:13 from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
a) Not because of Our Righteousness
Titus 3:5 He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit. [NLT]
b) Chosen In Our Poverty
James2:5 Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? [NLT]
c) Chosen For A Purpose
Ephesians1:4 – 6 consider what he has done—before the foundation of the world He chose us to be, in Christ, his children, holy and blameless in his sight. 5 He planned, in his love, that we should be adopted as his own children through Jesus Christ—this was his will and pleasure 6 that we might praise that glorious generosity of his which he granted to us in his Beloved.
III. MADE FIT
Colossians 1:12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
a) Fitness Starts With Sonship
John 1:12 & 13 to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
b) Sonship Makes Us Heirs
Romans 8:17 since we are his children, we will share his treasures—for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering
c) Rich Through Christ’s Poverty
II Corinthians 8:9 You know how full of love and kindness our Lord Jesus Christ was. Though he was very rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. [NLT]
IV. DELIVERED
Colossians 1 13a He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness [RSV]
a) We Were In Bondage
Hebrews 2:15 by his death he might . . . free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
b) Liberation Is Through Truth
John 8:32 you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
c) Spiritual Liberty
Romans8:2 the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death. [NLT]
V. TRANSLATED
Colossians1:13b and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son. [RSV]
a) A New Creation
II Corinthians 5:17 those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! [NLT]
b) A Continual Work
II Corinthians 4:16 This is the reason why we never lose heart. The outward man does indeed suffer wear and tear, but every day the inward man receives fresh strength. [JBP]
c) The Purpose Is His Praise
Ephesians 1:12 God’s purpose was that we who were the first to trust in Christ should praise our glorious God. [NLT]
VI. ACCEPTED
Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. [AV]
a) Brought Into God’s Family
Romans 8:15 you have been adopted into the very family circle of God and you can say with a full heart, "Father, my Father". [JBP]
b) A New Relationship
Ephesians 2:19 So now you . . . are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. [NLT]
c) Recipients Of God’s Love
I John 3:1 Consider the incredible love that the Father has shown us in allowing us to be called "children of God"—and that is not just what we are called, but what we are. This explains why the world will no more recognise us than it recognised Christ. [JBP]
VII. SEALED
Galatians 4:6 And because you Gentiles have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father. [NLT]
a) The Claim Of Ownership
II Corinthians 1:21 & 22 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,
22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
b) We Are Precious To The Lord
Malachi 3:17 “They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession.
c) We Should Glorify The Lord
I Corinthians 6:19 & 20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.
