The Purpose of God's Will

Ephesians 1:1-10 ESV

 

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”

 

As I read through this passage of Scripture last evening there were several words here which were jumping out at me (figuratively speaking). And for us to fully comprehend Paul’s words to us here, of the Spirit of God, it is helpful to us if we understand what those words mean. For it can make all the difference for us in how we interpret these words which were written to the faithful in Christ Jesus who are the saints of God.

 

And the first word is “saints.” Who are the saints of God? We are those who have been set apart by God to be separate (unlike, different) from the world because we are being conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ, by God. So we are different from the world because we are being made to be like Jesus, if indeed we are. For this is how we are to be if we are in Christ by genuine God-given faith in him.

 

The next word is “faithful,” and that means to be full of faith, as well as to be reliable and trustworthy. But the word “faith” means to be persuaded, in this case to be persuaded by God. And what does God persuade us about? He persuades us as to his holiness and righteousness and of our sinfulness and of our need to repent of (turn from) our sins to now follow him in obedience to his commands (New Covenant) in living holy and godly lives in his power.

 

Next is “he chose us,” so what did he choose us for and/or to do? God who formed us in the wombs of our mothers had a plan for our lives even before we were conceived, and in his book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for us. And he chose us to be conformed in character and in action to the likeness of Jesus Christ; called to a holy calling; to be holy and blameless before God; and to not be conformed to the passions of our former ignorance, but to be holy in all our conduct.

 

[Ps 139:13-16; Rom 8:29; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Eph 1:3-4; 1 Pet 1:14-16]

 

And then there is the phrase, “the purpose of his will.” So, what is the will of God for our lives? To answer that question I did a search on “will of God,” and the first Scripture to appear was 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 ESV:

 

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.”

 

Then we have the word “redemption,” which means “buying back from, re-purchasing (winning back) what was previously forfeited (lost).” (source: biblehub.com interlinear) So, when Jesus Christ shed his blood for us on that cross it was to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our lives of slavery to sin so we would now be slaves of God and of his righteousness, and so we would now honor God with our lives. For Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to him and to his righteousness and no longer for self.

 

[1 Peter 2:24; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Romans 6:1-23]

 

Lastly, the word “grace.” And here I always think of Titus 2:11-14 ESV:

 

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”

 

Therefore, Jesus didn't die on that cross just to forgive us our sins so we could go to heaven when we die. He died so that we would die with him to sin and live to him and to his righteousness in walks of obedience to his commands and in holy living. For he gave his life up for us on that cross so we would now live separate from the world because we are being conformed to his likeness in character and in deed. And he died to deliver us out of our slavery to sin so we would now be slaves to God and to his righteousness.

 

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

 

Songs in the Night  

 

An Original Work / December 18, 2013

 

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25 NIV ‘84

 

Lord, I praise You forevermore.

You, my Savior, I now adore.

Hope in heaven awaiting me,

Because You died at Calvary.

 

I have been forgiven,

And I’m bound for heaven.

Jesus set me free from

All my sin, I say.

I will praise Him always!

 

Lord, I love You for all You’ve done:

Overcame death, my vict’ry won!

Jesus saved me, and now I’m free!

I rejoice in His love for me.

 

I will walk in vict’ry!

My sin is but hist’ry!

I am free to please Him

With my life today.

I will love Him always!

 

Lord, I thank You for giving me

A new life bought at Calvary.

Loving Jesus, I meet with Him.

Tender mercies now flow within.

 

Lord, I am so thankful;

Through my Lord, I’m able

To sit at His table;

Fellowship with Him.

I will thank Him always!

 

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