Talking Points 12

Eph 1:10 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, (NKJV)

Did you know that you have a wonderful inheritance in Christ Jesus?

Many Christians do not know about that inheritance.

Notice in this verse that it says that we “have obtained” an inheritance. That is not a literal translation and it has led some to a false conclusion.

The literal Greek text refers to an inheritance being allotted to us. That means that our actual inheritance is being reserved for us in heaven. That inheritance is being held safely is a spiritual escrow for us to experience in fullness at the proper time.

We also find that we have been “predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.”

Being “predestined” indicates that Satan cannot interfere with us or our inheritance!

The Father works “all things according to the counsel of His will.” That guarantees success for us!

No matter what we go through in this age, the conclusion will be more glorious than we can imagine!

1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." (NKJV)

Talking Points 11

The Mystery of God’s Will
Ephesians 1:9-10
9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him. (NKJV)

Only a few people understand the “mystery of His will.”

But if you read this it shall become apparent…unless the power to believe has not been given to you.

Some may think that they read and understand English very well, but that has nothing to do with reading and understanding the Bible.

The simple fact is that according to God’s good pleasure which He purposed within Himself is that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He shall gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him.

His plan for the ages includes all of creation!

Due to the sin nature that is resident in all humanity we long to see our enemies punished.

However, the “mystery of the Father’s will is to bring all of creation under the headship…the leadership of His Son, Our Lord, Christ Jesus.

For far too many, God’s will is still a mystery!

Talking Points 10

The First Love

Revelation 2:4 (Ephesus) Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Many…far too many Christians have left their first love.

That does not mean that they are backslidden, lost again, or unsaved. It does mean that they have neglected the purpose of human salvation.

Due to a lack of spiritual sensitivity, many preachers have put forth a lack of understanding concerning that “first love.”

When we first spiritually understand that Christ has accepted us, we can hardly wait to tell others what He has done.

Salvation is a miracle that exceeds all the physical healings that have happened since man was created.

And, when we first understand His love for us, we tell others. But many, from all denominations and some entire denominations hate evangelism! They have become ashamed of Christ!

Those who have become ashamed of our Lord really never were Christians! Instead, they wanted to make a show of baptism. That is sad!

The Ephesian Church left their first love. They stopped evangelizing. They forgot the purpose of their salvation among mankind!

We have not been chosen to simply sit around and wait for the return of Christ! We should be working in His vineyard!

The work of the Church is evangelism! The Churches that have lost the desire to evangelize are Ephesian in nature.

Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent. (NKJV)

While Christ does have a vested interest in individual Christians, he has no vested interest in the preservation of the first church of Sparta, Indiana.

When he tells the Ephesian Church that if they do not turn, repent and do the “first works” he will come and remove their lampstand, He was not being poetic. The fact is that they did not repent, turn and do the first works, and so He took away their lampstand! The Church at Ephesus no longer exists!

Focus on evangelism! Tell the story of His love for you and others!

The fact is that after being “saved” you cannot be “lost” again.

Romans 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (NKJV)

Talking Points 9

Eph 1:8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, (NKJV)

Paul always seems to use the grace of Christ Jesus as his reference point.

This verse is a continuation of his thought that focuses on what God does in Christ for us according to his pleasure.

Here, we find that in Christ, the Father made grace “abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence.”

Prudence comes from the Greek word phronēsis and refers to moral insight.

Without the moral insight given to us by Christ Jesus we would never understand the most simple spiritual concepts!

Talking Points 8

Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (NKJV)

It may seem odd, but the first point is that in the NKJV there is no period at the end of what may seem to the a sentence.

Verse 7-10 constitute one sentence in the NKJV.

Actually verses 3-14 may also be considered a single sentence in the Greek language.

The fact is that we have redemption in Christ Jesus due to His blood being shed for us on the cross!

Redemption (Gr. apolutrōsis) is the word used to describe the forgiveness of our sins! That Greek word refers to deliverance obtain through the payment of a ransom.

Don’t let anybody cause you to degrade the shedding of Christ’s blood for us on the cross.

He paid the full and complete ransom price for the world, and thereby qualifies as the Savior of the world!

1 John 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. (NKJV)

Talking Points 7

Eph 1:5-6
5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. (NKJV)

As I said in the previous Talking Points we have been predestined to adoption as sons of God in His beloved, Christ Jesus.

The purpose of our adoption is to display the glory of His grace!

Has anybody ever told you that you were chosen to follow Christ due to your beauty?

Due to the cost of replacement photo lenses I don’t have many personal photos. But, my Lord, Christ Jesus died for me! He allowed Himself to be placed on a cross and did a torturous death because of His love for me. And he did the same for you personally.

Let me make a wild guess: You think that I would disagree with you if you said, “No! I am not that beautiful.”

Wrong!

There is no doubt that you look much better than I do, but the beauty you have comes from Christ Jesus Himself. It is not due to your physical gene pool!

Christ Jesus died so that we may live.

Many years ago I told a fellow Christian that Christ Jesus paid the full and complete price for the salvation of mankind. He said that he did not believe that.

So, I asked if he knew that Christ paid the full and complete price for his personal salvation?

That was over a decade ago, and we have not talked since that day, nor has he answered my question!

Talking Points 6

Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Many Christians run from the concept of predestination, however predestination is a valid biblical concept and teaching.

This verse explains that we have been “predestinated” to adoption by Christ Jesus!

“Called” and “chosen” are also biblical teachings that many Christians accept, while others deny.

Predestinated (Gr. proorizō) speaks of something being predetermined. In Fact, the previous verse tells us explicitly that God had chosen us in Christ “before the foundation of the world, so that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.”

That single verse puts everything into proper context! It establishes predestination!

Do you honestly think that the Creator of the universe would begin creating without any idea as to what He was creating and what the creation would do?

All of creation was created to follow the plan of God! We were predestinated to be adopted as children of God the Father through His Son, our lord Jesus Christ. And, that predestination is “according to “the good pleasure of His will.”