Paul the
apostle declared that it was God's “intention” that “the
principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the
church” what was the “manifold wisdom of God”. God
desired for everyone to be included, whether they were Jews or
Gentiles, in His Salvation plan, and in chapter three and verse
eleven of his letter to the Ephesian church members, Paul shared how
this was “the eternal purpose which” God “purposed in
Christ Jesus” where we read:
According
to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
The
verse begins, “According to the eternal purpose...” Paul
began with the words, “According to” or “down from,
through out, toward and along” “the eternal” which means
“forever, unbroken age and perpetuity of time” “purpose”
or “a setting forth of a thing, placing of it in view, proposal and
intention”. God Almighty desired from ages and eons ago that His
Salvation plan would include everyone.
The
verse continues, “...which he purposed in Christ Jesus
our Lord:” Paul continued,
“which he purposed”
or “brought forth, committed, caused, worked out, bore, fulfilled
and performed” “in Christ” who
is “the anointed One, Messiah and Son of God” “Jesus”
whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is “the Messiah and
Son of God” “our Lord”
which means “Paul and the Ephesian's one to whom they belong
and about which they have power of deciding”. In other words, Jesus
was their “master”. God resolved
that His plan would be “fulfilled” in “Jesus Christ”
who was Paul and the Ephesian's Lord and Master.
When
we think through these words of Paul, we only begin to understand
God's intention to save mankind. He sacrificed His only begotten son
for the Salvation of all who will believe, trust in, rely upon and
cling to His Son Jesus. May we give praise and glory to our Almighty
God for His abundant grace and “intentional salvation” provided
for us.
Next
time Paul shares how we have “boldness and access”
to God, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
No comments:
Post a Comment