"We love Him because He first loved us."
When Jesus left earth to return to heaven, He did not want us to stumble. He gave us His Holy Spirit to guide us on our journey. He promised never to leave us alone. In fact, long ago, in the very beginning, God decided He would adopt us. He wanted us to have a sure direction and a confidence about ourselves. He also wanted us to be included, even though the Israelites are the chosen people of God: He wanted to share His many promises with us (Gentiles), as well. Imagine how the Lord loves us! His provision lifts us to be nurtured by Himself and to spend Eternity with Him.
The Glory of God
How blessed is God! And what a blessing He is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in Him. Long before He laid down earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love. Long, long ago He decided to adopt us into His family through Jesus Christ. He wanted us to enter into the celebration of His lavish gift-giving by the hand of His beloved Son. Ephesians 1: 3-6 The Message
How blessed is God! And what a blessing He is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in Him. Long before He laid down earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love. Long, long ago He decided to adopt us into His family through Jesus Christ. He wanted us to enter into the celebration of His lavish gift-giving by the hand of His beloved Son. Ephesians 1: 3-6 The Message
Ephesians 1:5-6 New Living Translation (NLT)
5 God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son.
5 God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son.
Adoption as Sons and Therefore, Heirs of God.
When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts (the Holy Spirit,) crying out, "Abba, Father." Therefore, you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Galations 4: 4-7 NKJV
Before Christ came, God gave promises to Israel and as Gentiles, we were excluded. The following verse, referring to Christ's death and resurrection, ties it up for us as Paul, the Apostle, speaks in the book of Ephesians:
But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2: 13 NKJV
No comments:
Post a Comment