Eternity Daily Bible Study No. 226

Life In Christ – 3

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Ephesians 1:7-12
(7)  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace,
(8)  which He caused to abound toward us in all wisdom and understanding;
(9)  having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
(10)  for an administration of the fullness of times, to head up all things in Christ, both the things in Heaven, and the things on earth, even in Him,
(11)  in whom also we have been chosen to an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His own will,
(12)  for us to be to the praise of His glory, who previously had trusted in Christ;

The purpose of our redemption, and our life in Christ, is that Christ should be the head of all things, on heaven and on earth (verse 10 above) and that the will of God should be done in all Creation through Him (verse 11) to the praise of the glory of God (verse 12).  

Being “in Christ” means part of this predestined divine plan. It means that we are participants in a future that God has planned in Christ. In order to participate in “God’s Grand Plan of the Ages” we need to be made pure and  holy and forgiven of our sins, otherwise we will simply be utterly unworthy of such things.

Redemption and forgiveness of sins are thus precursors to living and reigning with Christ in the heavenly realms (verse 7). They make us fit for the future. Upon these redeemed and forgiven people God bestows His grace and His abundant wisdom (verses 7 & 8) thus developing us into mature saints of God able to understand the mystery of His will (verse 9) and act wisely in the inheritance that He has chosen for us (verse 11). 

Now we did not invent this plan, we did not sketch it out before hand, in fact it did not enter into our heads while we were yet unsaved and lost in our lusts. This is God’s design, God’s determining and God’s will that has created these marvelous blessings for us. Predestined is the Greek “pro-or-id’-zo” and it means to sketch out before hand or to limit in advance. God sketched out His redemptive plan and sets its lines and limits before the world was formed and now we enter into it as those “who previously had trusted in Christ” (v. 12)

Once we choose Christ, and choose to be in Him and live in Him, we also choose to be part of His “Administration” (v.10) and part of God’s Grand Plan For The Ages. Once we get on the train, the journey is mapped out for us.  Some may be in the dining car, others may look out the window, others may sleep the whole journey through,  while yet others shovel coal - but we all end up at the predetermined destination and share the same journey together.

We will reign with Christ, we will live in Heaven, we will be with Him when He puts an end to this wicked age – whether we like it or not.  We don’t set the agenda, God does. And we believers will be there when the kingdoms of this world become as fine chaff and when all the human plans of kings and generals come to nothing and God’s plans take center stage forever – as it should be.  And we will live and worship and exist to the praise of His glory. That is God’s plan and He will accomplish it. 

Revelation 11:15
(15)  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

1 Corinthians 15:24
(24)  then is the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He makes to cease all rule and all authority and power.

Revelation 22:3-5
(3)  And every curse will no longer be; but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will serve Him.
(4)  And they will see His face, and His name will be in their foreheads.
(5)  And there will be no night there. And they need no lamp, or light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light. And they will reign forever and ever.

In this plan of God’s all human authority, and all the curses of men and women and the power of thrones and the power of tongues and demons and false religions and political strongholds and commercial might will be finished. There will be a heavenly community of love and fellowship with God and with His Son Jesus Christ and we will take our place in God’s administration and “reign forever and ever” creating a glorious future unhindered by evil and untrammeled by tyranny.  

So the present Christian life is a life-long preparation for a noble task. Being in Christ involves forgiveness of sins and redemption of body, soul and spirit but it stretches far beyond these things. We are destined for the Throne and redeemed to reign. Our pre-destination is far more than merely being predestined to believe, it also involves our resurrection life and our place in the heavenly realms. Pre-destination does not stop once we have prayed the sinner’s prayer. We are ultimately pre-destined to a place in God’s administration through the Ages, not just predestined to occupy a place on a pew in church. 

A couple of Jesus’ sayings make this quite clear:

Matthew 19:28
(28)  And Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration, when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His glory, you also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Matthew 20:23
(23)  And He said to them, You shall indeed drink of My cup and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but to those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.

Thus the places in God’s administration are reserved beforehand for those whom God the Father appoints to the role. God has a plan, an eternal plan in which we shall play a part, and this life and all we do in church and work and home is but training, preparation and character formation for the Role that lies ahead.

Blessings,

John Edmiston <johned@aibi.ph>

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