06-09-2019 – Marked by God, for God…

Bible Text: Ephesians 1:8b-14 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: Ephesians | This is the insert in the bulletin to help you follow along. Full sermon notes are a click below.

6.09.19 ~ Ephesians 1:8b-14,

Marked by God, for God…

Read Ephesians 1:8b-10… What is the mystery? (Colossians 1:25-27; Romans 16:25-27).
When will it be fully revealed (Philippians 2:9-11; Colossians 1:17-20).
John 5:24 tells you have everlasting [eternal] life.
Matthew 5:45 says the sun rises, the rain falls, on the believing and unbelieving; but God’s spiritual and eternal favor is only for those who belong to Christ.
Read Ephesians 1:11-12… God has chosen [sovereignly selected] out of all those who will ever live on earth, a small number of people who will bring Him honor, glory and praise.
God predestined (marked out ahead of time) a people of His very own, from the time of Adam to the White Throne Judgment.
God determined that Christians should bring praise, honor and glory to God, being fully equipped by God.
Verse 3 – blessed us with every spiritual blessing Verse 5 – adopted as His children with full rights Verse 7 – redeemed us, forgiving our sins
Verse 8 – lavished on us all wisdom and understanding
On our way up to heaven we see a sign in the sky that reads, “Whosoever will may come”, looking at the backside of that sign, as we pass by, we read, “Chosen in Him before the foundation of the world was laid.”
Mankind was made in God’s image; sin obliterated that image, but it can be restored through Christ (see Genesis 1:26, 31; 2:25; 3:1-15, 21-23; 5:1, 3).
Adam and Eve disobeyed God, were forced to leave Eden, and would now work the ground in order to eat, until they returned to dust. The broken enmity between mankind and God, would be healed through Jesus, born to Mary (cf. Genesis 3:15).
Romans 5:1 tells us, “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” Romans 8:6 says, “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”
Our new birth is from God the Father, through Christ the Son, by the Holy Spirit (John 1:12-13; 3:3, 5-8).
We bring God glory through Christ (2Corinthians 5:17; 1Corinthians 15:58; Colossians 3:17).
Christians are both, an inheritance to God, and inheritors of God’s grace.
Read Ephesians 1:13-14… When you believe in Christ God marks you with His Spirit, “as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”
Romans 11:29, “God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.” You belong to God forever, it is eternal!
God has saved us to bear His image and to bring Him glory, as His very own children, eternally marked by the Holy Spirit, as we serve God on earth, while waiting to be in heaven for eternity (Revelation 21:1-5).
Have you been marked as God’s possession, is there evidence that you belong to Christ? 2Corinthians 13:5 says to examine, to test yourself, to see whether or not Christ is in you, unless, of course, you fail the test?
Christianity does not provide “I hope so” salvation, it provides “I know so” salvation, made effectual by a personal relationship with God through Christ the Lord. 1John 5:11-13 “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”