In Him
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About this ebook
In the book of Ephesians, the apostle Paul describes the wonderful transaction that took place at the cross of Jesus. His death had dramatic consequences for those who believe. As a result, we were blessed beyond measure. In this study we will examine thirteen blessings that resulted from the work of the Lord Jesus at Calvary.
A deep understanding of these individual blessings will stir our heart to greater commitment and devotion to the Lord Jesus who made it all possible. My prayer for this book is that the inspired teaching of the apostle Paul here in the book of Ephesians will show us the richness of what we now have in the Lord Jesus.
F. Wayne Mac Leod
F. Wayne Mac Leod was born in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Canada and received his education at Ontario Bible College, University of Waterloo and Ontario Theological Seminary. He was ordained at Hespeler Baptist Church, Cambridge, Ontario in 1991. He and his wife, Diane served as missionaries with the Africa Evangelical Fellowship (now merged with SIM) on the islands of Mauritius and Reunion in the Indian Ocean from 1985-1993 where he was involved in church development and leadership training. He is presently involved in a writing ministry and is a member of Action International Ministries.
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In Him - F. Wayne Mac Leod
In Him
Our Spiritual Blessings in Christ: A Study in the Book of Ephesians
F. Wayne Mac Leod
Light To My Path Book Distribution, Sydney Mines, N.S. CANADA B1V 1Y5
www.ltmp.ca
Smashwords Edition
Copyright © 2013 by F. Wayne Mac Leod
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV
and New International Version
are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), Copyright (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Special thanks to the proof readers: Sue St. Amour, Lee Tuson
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or if it was not purchased for your use only, than please return to your favorite book retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Table of Contents
Preface
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Chapter 2 - Chosen Before Creation
Chapter 3 - Predestined for Adoption as Sons
Chapter 4 - Redemption
Chapter 5 - United Under Him
Chapter 6 - An Inheritance in Him
Chapter 7 - Sealed by the Holy Spirit
Chapter 8 - Made Alive in Him
Chapter 9 - Seated with Christ
Chapter 10 - Created for Good Works
Chapter 11 - Brought Near
Chapter 12 - A Holy Temple
Chapter 13 - Boldness and Access
Chapter 14 - Provision
Light To My Path Book Distribution
PREFACE
In the book of Ephesians the apostle Paul communicates some wonderful truths to his readers about the blessings they have obtained through the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross of Calvary. I was struck some time ago, as I read Paul’s epistle at the reoccurrence of the phrase in Him
or its equivalent. This phrase is often repeated in connection with the blessings received from Christ as true believers.
I have come to believe that as believers we have under-estimated the power of what the cross of Christ accomplished in our lives. We have so often heard the truth that Jesus died to save us that we closed our mind to the wonderful reality and implications of this incredible truth. Until we understand what Christ has accomplished, we can never truly begin to love and commit ourselves to Him in return.
The truths we will examine in this study are not new but they are life changing. I trust you will not approach this book from an academic perspective. I did not write this book to communicate doctrine and truth alone. My great desire for each reader is that the truth proclaimed in this short study will have an impact on their lives and relation-ship with Christ. This book is designed to be devotional in nature. That is to say, it is designed to help you to understand more about the Lord God and your relation-ship with Him. It is designed to comfort, encourage and strengthen you in your walk with the Lord.
I am fully aware that I can write and make things clear but unless the Spirit of God applies this truth it will have no lasting impact. My prayer is that the truth of this study would be used by the Holy Spirit in your life to strengthen, comfort and encourage you where you are today in your walk with the Lord Jesus.
In the course of this study we will examine thirteen blessings we receive, according to Paul from the work of the Lord Jesus on our behalf on the cross of Calvary. May these blessings become more and more real to you as we take the time to examine them over the next few chapters.
F. Wayne Mac Leod
Chapter 1 – INTRODUCTION
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… (Ephesians 1:3)
Ephesians 1:3 is a summary of what I want to examine in the course of this study. It is also a summary of what apostle Paul told the Ephesians in his epistle to them. My purpose in this work is not to write a commentary on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians but rather to look briefly at what he told them about the blessings that were theirs in Christ.
There is nothing new in what I am going to say. I suppose this is my greatest challenge as I embark on this study. We have all heard these truths before. The fact, however, is that I have often lost the wonder of what I have in Christ. The thing I admire about the apostle Paul is that he never seemed to lose that wonder. From the day he came to know the Lord to the last letter he wrote there is a sense of awe and amazement in what the Lord Jesus had done for him. I wish I had more of that attitude. How easy it is to take in the truth intellectually but not allow that truth to impact our hearts. My prayer is that as we examine Paul’s teaching on the blessings we have in Christ, we would come to a greater appreciation of what God the Father has done for us through His Son.
Paul begins his letter on a note of praise: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I wish I could have been there when he was writing this letter. His heart seemed to explode with gratitude and praise to the Father for what He had done for him.
The Jewish people used the word bless
to speak of praise and adoration. The Greek word used in this verse is the word eulegetos. It comes from the words "eu, meaning good and the word
logos" meaning word or speech. When the two words are put together, we get the sense of speaking well of someone. What Paul is saying in Ephesians 1:3 is something like this: May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be well spoken of. The reason for this is because of the blessings He had poured out through His Son Jesus. Paul’s desire was for every-one who came to understand the blessing of the Father would speak well of Him and bring Him the praise that was due His name. The result of these blessings was that God would be praised and blessed forevermore.
Notice something else from this verse. The praise goes to the Father. It is true that our blessings are the result of the work of the Lord Jesus, but in the mind of the apostle Paul, the Father also deserved great praise and glory. The blessings Paul speaks of come from the Father through the Son. While the Son paved the way for us to receive these blessings, their source is the heart of the Father. Paul makes it quite clear that it is the Father who has blessed us through the ministry of His Son.
Way before the Lord Jesus came to this earth it was the heart of the Father to restore it to Himself. It was the plan of God from the very beginning of time to send His Son to die for our sin. God would not let sin overcome. He was working out His purposes to draw a people to Himself who would bring Him praise and glory. Neither Satan nor sin would defeat that purpose. Jesus came to this earth because it was the Father’s heart that He did so. Jesus was the Father’s gift to a sinful and lost world. How easy it would be to think that it was the Lord Jesus’ idea to come to this world and the Father only reluctantly agreed. This is not the case. The Father sent the Son out of love for humanity. Jesus lovingly came in obedience to the Father. Paul gives thanks here to the Father. He recognizes that He also had a very important part to play in the blessings that would be ours through His Son.
While the Father is the source of all our spiritual blessings, these blessings are made possible through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus came to die