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Through the Bible with Les Feldick
LESSON 3 * PART 3 * BOOK 35
EPHESIANS 1:10-13
Now we'll be turning back again to Ephesians chapter 1. I'm going to touch on verse 10 just for a few moments.
Ephesians 1:10
Now if I could just, for a moment, recap the earthly and heavenly aspect of that verse. Romans 3:1
The next verse tells us this:
Romans 3:2.
"Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God."
They had the Word of God, and that's what put Israel in such an invincible position. All during this time when God was dealing with primarily Jew only, they had the Word of God from 1500 BC on. Now on the other hand the Jew today has a hard time comprehending Paul. Now let me finish recapping the earthly and heavenly if I may. So here's the earthly, the earthly Kingdom that was promised to Israel and they rejected it, and then God funnels them back into the masses of Gentile humanity. Remember the Nation of Israel has just been floating along, you might say, through human history out there in the nations of the world. But now as we've seen in 1948 they became a independent nation, and now God can deal with the Nation of Israel again. Then God will finish His dealing in that seven years of Tribulation that are still future, that are still part and parcel of the Old Testament prophecies. Now let's move on to verse 11, and that verse starts right off with a prepositional phrase.
Ephesians 1:11a
"In whom (Christ) also we (as members of this Body of Christ) have (already) obtained an inheritance,..."
For that let's look at portion a Scripture in Romans chapter 8. Romans 8:14-17
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons (or the born ones) of God. (we can call God our Father, we have every right to do that. 16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:"
Romans 8:17a
"And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;..."
The last part of verse 17 has a price with it.
Romans 8:17b
Romans 8:18
If we're heirs of God, then we're joint-heirs with Christ! Now back to Ephesians chapter 1, and looking at verse 11 again.
Ephesians 1:11a
(became joint-heirs)
By Faith! Now reading on in verse 11. We've found out in verse 11 we have an inheritance, being joint-heirs with Christ, now then we -
Ephesians 1:11b
So go back to Acts chapter 2, and let's look at this counsel. What's a good definition of counsel? Well a meeting of the minds. "Him, (speaking of Christ) being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:"
All according to this predeterminate counsel of God, and then one day here He came. He came at the exact right moment in time. That verse also speaks of the foreknowledge of God. God knew everything that was ever going to happen. Now coming back to Ephesians chapter 1. Ephesians 1:11b
So everything has been right on schedule. What is this purpose of God? "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; (now isn't that a comfort? We're not living under a spirit of fear,) but of power,..."
Now you want to remember that our all-powerful God is the One that spoke the Word, and created the whole universe. For every grain of sand there's a star out in space, and I think the Scripture also implies that. But whatever, this is a God that you and I belong to, and then some of us fear? II Timothy 1:7-8
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. The vastness of our outer space, and that God's in total control. I've never yet read an account of an astronomer who sees a star crashing into another star. I mean, that's a God we're talking about that goes beyond human understanding, but that's the God of this Book. Now let's read on in verse 9, and here comes the purpose of God. This God -
II Timothy 1:9
"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose (and where was that purpose originally generated? According to His own purpose) and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,"
This was already in the mind of God in that counsel that predetermined everything because He's an all-knowing God, and could do that. Ephesians 1:4a
"...not according to our works, but according to his purpose..."
Which is completely wrapped up in the Grace of God. Every thing is working according to the counsel of His own will. Now verse 12. Ephesians 1:12a
Oh if believers could just get a little excited about this fact, that the reason we're left here, the reason that God gives us breath day after day is that we might bring praise to His glory. There's a verse in Hebrews that speaks what we should offer unto God.

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