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SERIES: EPHESIANS: THE CALL AND CONDUCT OF THE CHURCH, WEEK 4

TITLE: GOD’S MASTER PLAN FOR SALVATION, PART III

TEXT: EPHESIANS 1:7

INTRODUCTION: (1) DURING N.T. TIMES THE ROMAN EMPIRE HAD AS MANY AS 6 MILLION SLAVES AND THE BUYING AND SELLING OF THEM WAS A MAJOR BUSINESS.

* NOW IF A PERSON WANTED TO FREE A LOVED ONE OR FRIEND WHO WAS A SLAVE, HE WOULD BUY THAT SLAVE FOR HIMSELF AND THEN GRANT HIM FREEDOM, TESTIFYING TO THE DELIVERANCE BY A WRITTEN CERTIFICATE, A CERTIFICATE OF REDEMPTION.

** AND THAT PICTURE AND TRUTH IS COMMUNICATED IN THE WORD REDEMPTION IN THE N.T., IT IS A KEY N.T. WORD THAT IS PREGNANT WITH MEANING IN CHRISTIANITY.

*** JESUS CHRIST IN HIS ATONING SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS PAID THE REDEMPTION PRICE TO BUY FOR HIMSELF HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE AND TO SET THEM FREE FROM THEIR SIN.

**** FOR YOU SEE EVERY HUMAN BEING BORN SINCE THE FALL OF ADAM IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN HAS COME INTO THE WORLD ENSLAVED TO SIN, UNDER TOTAL BONDAGE TO A NATURE THAT IS CORRUPT, EVIL AND SEPARATED FROM IT’S CREATOR.

(2) BECAUSE OF THAT, NO PERSON IS SPIRITUALLY FREE. NO HUMAN BEING IS FREE OF SIN OR FREE OF IT’S CONSEQUENCES, THE ULTIMATE CONSEQUENCES OR PENALTY, FOR WHICH IS DEATH, READ ROMANS 6:23 AND EZEKIEL 18:4.

* AND BELOVED NOT ONLY IS THERE A DEATH PENALTY FOR SIN BUT ALSO IT HAS AN ENSLAVING EFFECT UPON PEOPLE.

** JESUS SAID IN JOHN 8:34, “TRULY, TRULY, I SAY TO YOU, EVERYONE WHO COMMITS SIN IS THE SLAVE OF SIN.”

*** AND PAUL POINTS OUT THAT EVERY PERSON HAS COMMITTED SIN IN ROMANS 3:23, (READ IT).

**** IN THE SAME LETTER THE APOSTLE SAYS THAT WE ARE ALL “SOLD INTO BONDAGE TO SIN” IN ROMANS 7:14.

(3) AND THAT, IN FACT, THE WHOLE OF CREATION IS ENSLAVED TO THE CORRUPTION OF SIN IN ROMANS 8:21.

* SO WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN? WELL, SIN IS MAN’S CAPTOR AND SLAVE OWNER, AND IT DEMANDS A PRICE FOR HIS RELEASE.

** AND DEATH IS THE PRICE THAT HAD TO BE PAID FOR MAN’S REDEMPTION FROM SIN, THE DEATH OF THE PERFECT LAMB OF GOD, JESUS CHRIST.

*** THEREFORE, BIBLICAL REDEMPTION REFERS TO THE ACT OF GOD BY WHICH HE HIMSELF PAID AS A RANSOM, THE PRICE FOR SIN.

**** AND EPHESIANS 1:7 CLEARLY COMMUNICATES THIS WONDERFUL TRUTH WHICH IS CENTRAL TO CHRISTIANITY, THE TRUTH AND PRINCIPLE OF REDEMPTION.

(4) YET WE ARE LIVING IN A DAY WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A WHOLESALE ATTEMPT TO RECONSTRUCT CHRISTIANITY APART FROM IT’S CENTRAL FOCUS ON REDEMPTION BY BLOOD AND SALVATION.

* THAT IS TO SAY, IT SEEMS AS IF PEOPLE TODAY WANT A CHRISTIANITY WITHOUT REDEMPTION.

** BUT WE CANNOT AVOID THE FACT THAT AT THE HEART OF THE TEACHING OF JESUS AND OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE IS A GOD WHO REDEEMS HIS PEOPLE.

*** IN GOD’S MASTER PLAN OF SALVATION HE HAS DETERMINED TO BRING ABOUT REDEMPTION IN CHRIST BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.

**** AND IN EPHESIANS 1:3-6, HAVING STATED THE FATHER’S PLAN, PAUL NOW MOVES ON IN VV. 7-12 TO SPEAK ABOUT CHRIST WHO MADE PROVISION FOR THAT PLAN.

(5) THE THOUGHT STRUCTURE OF THIS ONE SENTENCE IN THE GREEK WHICH COVERS VV. 3-14 SWITCHES FROM THE BLESSINGS OF ELECTION PAST TO A CELEBRATION OF PRESENT REDEMPTION.

* OUR ATTENTION IS SHIFTED FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH, FROM THE PAST TO THE PRESENT, AND IN A SENSE FROM THE FATHER TO THE SON IN GOD’S MASTER PLAN FOR SALVATION.

** AND TODAY WE’LL LOOK AT 4 TRUTHS ABOUT REDEMPTION IN THE SON UNDER THE TITLE OF GOD’S MASTER PLAN FOR SALVATION, PART IV AS WE STUDY EPHESIANS 1:7.

*** NO. 1 THE REDEMPTIVE RANSOM, V. 7A; NO. 2 THE REDEMPTIVE REASON, V. 7B; NO. 3 THE REDEMPTIVE RESULT, V. 7C; AND NO. 4 THE REDEMPTIVE RICHES, V. 7B.

(6) AND WITH THOSE 4 POINTS TO HANG YOUR THOUGHTS ON, LOOK AT EPHESIANS 1:7A WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR FIRST POINT TODAY, THE REDEMPTIVE RANSOM.

I. THE REDEMPTIVE RANSOM, (READ V. 7A)

A. NOW TO BEGIN WITH IN V. 7 NOTICE THE FIRST TWO WORDS, “IN HIM” OR IF YOU HAVE A KJV “IN WHOM”.

* AND RIGHT AWAY WE SEE THE PERSON WHO PAID THE RANSOM PRICE FOR SALVATION, NONE OTHER THAN OUR SAVIOR, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE BELOVED ONE TALKED ABOUT AT THE END OF V. 6.

** AND IT IS THE BELOVED, THAT IS, THE SON, IN WHOM WE HAVE OUR REDEMPTION. AND THE EMPHASIS BEGINNING IN V. 7 STARTS TO SHIFT FROM THE FATHER’S WORK IN THE GODHEAD TO THE SON’S WORK.

*** AND YES THE FATHER’S WORK WILL STILL BE TALKED ABOUT, BUT THE ATTENTION IS SHIFTED TO THE SON, HIS PRINCIPLE WORK WHICH WAS REDEMPTION.

**** AND UNDERSTAND IN THE WORK OF SALVATION AND REDEMPTION, THE WORK OF THE FATHER WAS PRIMARILY IN PLANNING OUR SALVATION.

1. AND THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS IN APPLYING IT TO INDIVIDUALS. BUT JESUS’ PRINCIPLE WORK WAS TO ACHIEVE SALVATION BY HIS REDEMPTIVE DEATH FOR SINNERS ON CALVARY’S CROSS.

* SO IN V. 7 THE SPOTLIGHT SHIFTS TO THE SON, IN HIM, IN CHRIST WE HAVE WHAT? REDEMPTION.

** AND IN MANY WAYS REDEMPTION AND THE WORD RANSOM, TWO WORDS USED IN OUR FIRST POINT TODAY – THE REDEMPTIVE RANSOM, ARE TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN.

*** FOR THE GREEK WORD FOR RANSOM IS LUTRON. AND BOTH RANSOM AND REDEMPTION COME FROM THE BASIC VERB LUO WHICH MEANS TO LOOSEN.

*** AND IN THE FIRST CENTURY THESE TWO WORDS WERE USED IN GREEK TO SPEAK OF FREEING PRISONERS, OPENING CLOSED DOORS, BREAKING FETTERS AND LIBERATING PEOPLE FROM HABITS.

2. SO IN A VERY BASIC SENSE, A RANSOM WAS A PAYMENT WHICH FREED A PRISONER. AS A RANSOM WAS PAID, A PRISONER WAS REDEEMED FROM CAPTIVITY.

* AND IN SECULAR GREEK LITERATURE A RANSOM WAS PAID TO RELEASE PRISONERS OF WAR. IT WAS ALSO THE PAYMENT GIVEN TO BUY A SLAVE OUT OF THE MARKET AND FREE HIM.

** AND EVEN IN PAGANISM A PAYMENT WAS MADE TO FREE SOMEONE FROM THE SUPPOSED WRATH OF PAGAN GODS.

*** NOW WITH THAT IN MIND, IN THE N.T. CHRIST IS THE PRIMARY SUBJECT OF THE WORD RANSOM. IT IS USUALLY CHRIST WHO IS REFERRED TO AS OUR RANSOM, READ MATTHEW 20:28.

**** SO CHRIST PAID THE RANSOM PRICE FOR HIS PEOPLE’S SALVATION SO THAT HIS PEOPLE WOULD BE REDEEMED. IN THE CONCEPT OF RANSOM IMPLIES SUBSTITUTION.

3. AND JESUS BECAME THE SINNER’S SUBSTITUTE, A SUBSTITUTE FOR HIS ELECT, READ II CORINTHIANS 5:21 AND I PETER 2:24.

* AND AS A RESULT OF JESUS’ SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH, THE JUSTICE OF GOD WAS FULLY SATISFIED, THE JUSTICE OF GOD WAS FULLY SATISFIED IN THE RANSOM OF CHRIST, READ ROMANS 3:24 AND COLOSSIANS 1:14, A PARALLEL VERSE TO EPHESIANS 1:7.

** NOW WITH ALL THOSE VERSES AND THOUGHTS, LET ME SUMMARIZE OUR FIRST PHRASE IN V. 7, “IN HIM WE HAVE REDEMPTION”, THE REDEMPTIVE RANSOM.

*** THE BASIC MEANING OF RANSOM AND REDEMPTION IS SEEN IN THE FACT THAT CHRIST’S DEATH LOOSED THE BONDS OF SIN AND SET THOSE WHOM HE WILL SAVE FREE.

**** IN MANY WAYS REDEMPTION AND RANSOM ARE TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN. CHRIST GAVE HIMSELF AS A RANSOM FOR HIS PEOPLE TO REDEEM THEM.

4. RANSOM AND REDEMPTION ARE BOTH PARTS OF CHRIST’S SACRIFICE ON THE SINNER’S BEHALF. AS A RANSOM, CHRIST GAVE HIMSELF TO THE FATHER TO FREE US (HIS PEOPLE) FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN AND THE CLAIMS OF DIVINE JUSTICE.

* THE RESULT OF THIS SACRIFICE FOR THOSE WHO TURN TO CHRIST IS REDEMPTION, WHEREBY THE SLAVE OF SIN (THE SINNER) IS FREED FROM SIN TO SERVE HIS NEW LORD (HIS NEW MASTER) AND SAVIOR!

** AND THAT IS OUR FIRST POINT TODAY, THE REDEMPTIVE RANSOM IN CHRIST. WHICH LEADS US TO OUR SECOND POINT TODAY, THE REDEMPTIVE REASON, LOOK AT V. 7 PLEASE.

II. THE REDEMPTIVE REASON, (READ 7A & B)

A. NOW WE HAVE REDEMPTION IN CHRIST THROUGH CHRIST’S BLOOD. AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE WORD THROUGH.

* FOR IT MEANS BY THE MEANS OF, IT REFERS TO THE GROUND OR REASON BY WHICH SOMETHING IS ACCOMPLISHED, ON ACCOUNT OF, BECAUSE OF.

** AND THE REASON WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH CHRIST IS BECAUSE HE SHED HIS BLOOD, HE DIED. THE REDEMPTIVE REASON OR GROUND OR THE MEANS BY WHICH REDEMPTION IS ACCOMPLISHED IS BECAUSE CHRIST SHED HIS BLOOD IN DYING FOR HIS PEOPLE.

*** BELOVED, THE PRICE OF REDEMPTION IS HIS BLOOD. IT COST THE BLOOD OF THE SON OF GOD TO BUY MEN BACK FROM THE SLAVE MARKET OF SIN, READ LEVITICUS 17:11, HEBREWS 9:22.

**** NOW SHEDDING OF BLOOD IS A FIGURE OF SPEECH, A METONYM (MET-E-NIM) FOR DEATH WHICH IS THE PENALTY AND PRICE FOR SIN. SHEDDING BLOOD WAS TAKING A LIFE, READ GENESIS 9:6.

1. AND CHRIST SHEDDING HIS BLOOD AND GIVING HIS LIFE ARE SYNONOMOUS. CHRIST’S OWN DEATH, BY THE SHEDDING OF HIS BLOOD, WAS THE SUBSTITUTE FOR OUR DEATH AS BELIEVERS.

* THAT WHICH WE DESERVED AND COULD NOT SAVE OURSELVES FROM, OUR BELOVED SAVIOR, THOUGH HE DID NOT DESERVE IT, TOOK UPON HIMSELF.

** JESUS MADE PAYMENT BY HIS DEATH FOR WHAT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE CONDEMNED US TO DEATH AND HELL, HE DIED IN OUR PLACE.

*** AND IN THE O.T. THE BLOOD OF SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS WHICH HAD TO DIE, WAS CONTINUALLY OFFERED ON THE ALTARS OF THE TABERNACLE AND THE TEMPLE.

**** BUT THAT BLOOD AND THE ANIMALS WHO DIED WAS NEVER ABLE, AND WAS NEVER INTENDED, TO CLEANSE THE OFFENSES FROM SIN.

2. THOSE ANIMALS WERE ONLY SYMBOLIC SUBSTITUTES TO COVER SIN UNTIL THE PERFECT SPOTLESS LAMB OF GOD WOULD DIE AND CLEANSE FROM SIN, READ HEBREWS 10:4 AND HEBREWS 10:10.

* SO THE REDEMPTION PRICE FOR OUR SALVATION IN THE ETERNAL PLAN OF SALVATION IS CHRIST’S DEATH, SHEDDING HIS BLOOD, READ I PETER 1:18&19, ROMANS 5:9 AND EPHESIANS 2:13.

** REVELATION 5:8&9 SAYS: “AND WHEN HE HAD TAKEN THE BOOK, THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES AND THE TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS FELL DOWN BEFORE THE LAMB, HAVING EACH ONE A HARP, AND GOLDEN BOWLS FULL OF INCENSE, WHICH ARE THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS.”

V. 9 – “AND THEY SANG A NEW SONG, SAYING, “WORTHY ART THOU TO TAKE THE BOOK, AND TO BREAK ITS SEALS; FOR THOU WAST SLAIN, AND DIDST PURCHASE FOR GOD WITH THY BLOOD MEN FROM EVERY TRIBE AND TONGUE AND PEOPLE AND NATION.”

*** AND THEN ROMANS 3:24&25 SAYS:

V. 25 – “WHOM GOD DISPLAYED PUBLICLY AS A PROPITIATION IN HIS BLOOD THROUGH FAITH. THIS WAS TO DEMONSTRATE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, BECAUSE IN THE FORBEARANCE OF GOD HE PASSED OVER THE SINS PREVIOUSLY COMMITTED.”

**** NOW LET ME SUMMARIZE AGAIN FOR CLARITY. THE REDEMPTION WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS, IN HIS BLOOD THROUGH FAITH, HAS PAID THE PRICE FOR HIS PEOPLE WHO WERE ENSLAVED BY SIN BEFORE THEIR REDEMPTION.

3. AND JESUS BOUGHT THEM OUT OF THE SLAVE MARKET WHERE THEY WERE IN BONDAGE AND SET THEM FREE AS LIBERATED SONS OF GOD.

* AND CHRIST’S DEATH – SHEDDING HIS BLOOD – FREES BELIEVERS FROM SIN’S GUILT, CONDEMNATION, BONDAGE, POWER, RENALTY AND SOME GLORIOUS DAY IN HEAVEN, EVEN FROM IT’S PRESENCE – PRAISE GOD!

** SO THE REASON FOR OUR REDEMPTION, THE PRICE OF OUR REDEMPTION WAS CHRIST’S BLOOD, HIS DEATH ON CALVARY’S TREE WHICH LEADS US TO OUR THIRD POINT TODAY, THE REDEMPTIVE RESULT. LOOK BACK AT V. 7 PLEASE.

III. THE REDEMPTIVE RESULT, (READ V. 7C)

A. NOW THE RESULT OF REDEMPTION IS FORGIVENESS OF OUR TRESPASSES, THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS, REMISSION OF THE PENALTY OF SIN, FREEDOM, RELEASE FROM OUR SIN AND IT’S CONSEQUENCES.

* BELOVED, REDEMPTION BRINGS FORGIVENESS. IT BRINGS TOTAL FORGIVENESS AND TOTAL FORGIVENESS IS SOMETHING SWEET, IT IS SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE, IT IS SOMETHING TO REJOICE OVER.

** GUILT IS GONE THROUGH REDEMPTION, CONDEMNATION IS GONE THROUGH REDEMPTION, BONDAGE IS GONE THROUGH REDEMPTION, THE POWER AND PENALTY OF SIN IS GONE THROUGH REDEMPTION.

*** BELOVED, WE THE REDEEMED HAVE ALL OF OUR SINS, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE TAKEN CARE OF AS HEBREWS 10:17 SAYS, OUR LORD SAYS: (READ IT).

**** THEN IN MATTHEW 26:28 JESUS SAID AT THE LAST SUPPER, READ IT. ALSO READ PSALM 103:12.

1. THEN MICAH PROCLAIMED HUNDREDS OF YEARS BEFORE CALVARY, IN ANTICIPATION OF IT, THIS IN MICAH 7:18&19: “WHO IS A GOD LIKE THEE, WHO PARDONS INIQUITY AND PASSES OVER THE REBELLIOUS ACT OF THE REMNANT OF HIS POSSESSION? HE DOES NOT RETAIN HIS ANGER FOREVER, BECAUSE HE DELIGHTS IN UNCHANGING LOVE.”

V. 19 – “HE WILL AGAIN HAVE COMPASSION ON US; HE WILL TREAD OUR INIQUITIES UNDERFOOT. YES, THOU WILT CAST ALL THEIR SINS INTO THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA.”

* NOW TO ANCIENT ISRAEL THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA AND THE DISTANCE FROM EAST TO WEST REPRESENTED INFINITY.

** FOR GOD’S FORGIVENESS IS INFINITE; IT TAKES AWAY OUR SINS TO THE FARTHEST REACHES OF ETERNAL INFINITY. THEY ARE LET GO, WE ARE RELEASED FROM THEM.

*** LET ME ILLUSTRATE WHAT I MEAN FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT. ISRAEL’S GREATEST HOLY DAY WAS YOM KIPPUR, THE DAY OF ATONEMENT.

**** ON THAT DAY, THE HIGH PRIEST SELECTED TWO UNBLEMISHED SACRIFICIAL GOATS.

2. ONE GOAT WAS KILLED, AND HIS BLOOD WAS SPRINKLED ON THE ALTAR AS A SACRIFICE.

* THE HIGH PRIEST THEN PLACED HIS HAND ON THE HEAD OF THE OTHER GOAT, SYMBOLICALLY LAYING THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE ON THE ANIMAL.

** THE GOAT WAS THEN TAKEN OUT DEEP INTO THE WILDERNESS, SO FAR THAT IT COULD NEVER FIND IT’S WAY BACK.

*** IN SYMBOL, THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE WENT WITH THE GOAT, NEVER TO RETURN TO THEM AGAIN, LEV. 16:7-10.

**** AND THAT CEREMONY WAS BUT A PICTURE OF WHAT ONLY GOD HIMSELF IN CHRIST COULD DO.

3. FOR THE GREEK WORD FOR FORGIVENESS IN EPHESIANS 1:7 BASICALLY MEANS “TO SEND AWAY”. USED AS A LEGAL TERM IT MEANT TO REPAY OR CANCEL A DEBT OR TO GRANT A PARDON.

* AND THROUGH THE SHEDDING OF HIS OWN BLOOD, JESUS CHRIST ACTUALLY TOOK THE SINS OF HIS ELECT UPON HIS OWN HEAD, AS IT WERE, AND CARRIED THEM AN INFINITE DISTANCE AWAY FROM WHERE THEY COULD NEVER RETURN.

** AND THAT IS THE EXTENT OF THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR TRESPASSES, THAT IS THE RESULT OF OUR REDEMPTION.

*** BELOVED, AS A RESULT OF REDEMPTION IN CHRIST THROUGH HIS BLOOD, GOD HAS CANCELLED OR FORGIVEN SINS AND THE NECESSARY PUNISHMENT THAT GOES WITH THEM.

**** REDEMPTION IS THE CAUSE AND FORGIVENESS IS THE EFFECT, THE REDEMPTIVE RESULT IS FORGIVENESS.

4. WHICH LEADS US TO OUR LAST POINT TODAY, THE REDEMPTIVE RICHES, LOOK BACK TO V. 7 PLEASE.

IV. THE REDEMPTIVE RICHES (READ V. 7)

A. NOW THE VASTNESS AND COMPREHENSIVENESS OF OUR FORGIVENESS IS SEEN IN PAUL’S STATEMENT THAT IT IS ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE.

* AND THE WORD RICHES LIT. MEANS WEALTH, ABUNDANCE, FULLNESS, PLENITUDE.

** AND OUR REDEMPTION AND FORGIVENESS THAT IT BRINGS IS ACCORDING TO, COMES FROM, COMES DOWN FROM, COMES THROUGH THE WEALTH, THE RICHES OF GOD’S GRACE, HIS UNMERITED FAVOR GIVEN TO HIS PEOPLE FREELY.

*** AND BELOVED GOD’S GRACE IS BOUNDLESS. IT IS FAR BEYOND OUR ABILITY TO COMPREHEND OR DESCRIBE.

**** AND WHEN GOD GIVES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WEALTH, THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE, HE GIVES FROM AN UNLIMITED TREASURE HOUSE.

1. GRACE AGAIN IS UNMERITED FAVOR AND ACCORDING TO CHARLES HODGE “AN OVERFLOWING ABUNDANCE OF UNMERITED LOVE, INEXHAUSTIBLE IN GOD AND FREELY ACCESSIBLE THROUGH CHRIST.” (END QUOTE)

* SO IT TOOK THE WEALTH OF GOD’S GRACE TO REDEEM AND FORGIVE THE SINNER. THE COST OF SIN WAS THE SUPREME SACRIFICE OF GOD’S SON JESUS CHRIST.

** AND ACCORDING TO THE WEALTH, THE RICHES OF GOD’S GRACE DEMONSTRATES THE SUPREME COST OF CHRIST’S SACRIFICE FOR SINNERS.

*** GOD DID NOT GIVE OUT OF HIS RICHES BUT ACCORDING TO THE RICHES. LET ME ILLUSTRATE AND I’LL MAKE SOME APPLICATIONS.

**** IF YOU WERE TO GO TO BILL GATES, THE FOUNDER OF MICROSOFT WHO IS A BILLIONAIRE AND ASK HIM TO CONTRIBUTE TO A MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH, AND HE GAVE YOU A CHECK FOR 25 DOLLARS, HE WOULD ONLY BE GIVING OUT OF HIS RICHES.

2. BUT IF INSTEAD, HE GAVE YOU A CHECK FOR ONE BILLION DOLLARS, HE WOULD BE GIVING YOU A CHECK ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES.

* A SMALL GIFT WOULD BE OUT OF HIS RICHES OR WEALTH, BUT A HUGE AMOUNT WOULD BE ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES OR WEALTH.

** WELL, GOD GIVES ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES. IT TOOK THE WEALTH OF GOD’S GRACE TO REDEEM AND FORGIVE THE SINNER, PRAISE BE TO GOD.

IN WRAP UP TODAY, I WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF APPLICATIONS: (1) NO. 1 WHEN IT COMES TO THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS TODAY, IF WE HAVE BEEN REDEEMED IN CHRIST, WE ARE FORGIVEN.

* AND WE NEED NOT LIVE WITH GUILT AND LIKE SECOND CLASS CHRISTIANS.

** AND IT IS TRAGIC THAT MANY CHRISTIANS ARE DEPRESSED ABOUT THEIR SHORTCOMINGS AND WRONGDOING, THINKING AND ACTING AS IF GOD STILL HOLDS THEIR SINS AGAINST THEM, BUT HE DOES NOT.

*** FOR EVERY SIN OF EVERY BELIEVER IS FORGIVEN FOREVER. GOD KNOWS HOW WE WERE, HOW WE NOW LIVE, AND HOW WE WILL LIVE THE REST OF OUR LIVES.

**** HE SEES EVERYTHING ABOUT US IN STARK-NAKED REALITY.

(2) YET HE SAYS, “I AM SATISFIED WITH YOU”. WHY – BECAUSE OF THE REDEMPTION IN CHRIST, BECAUSE GOD THE FATHER IS SATISFIED WITH THE WORK OF HIS SON AND THE PAYMENT HE MADE FOR OUR FORGIVENESS.

* WHEN GOD LOOKS AT YOU BELIEVER, GOD SEES CHRIST AND IS PLEASED. HE NO LONGER SEES YOU IN SIN BUT THE SON!

** BECAUSE OF THAT, JOHN MACARTHUR SAYS IN HIS COMMENTARY ON EPHESIANS, AND THIS IS A GREAT QUOTE THAT YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH ON THE SCREEN.

*** “BECAUSE GOD ACCEPTS EVERY BELIEVER AS HE ACCEPTS HIS OWN SON, EVERY BELIEVER OUGHT TO ACCEPT HIMSELF IN THE SAME WAY.

**** WE DO NOT ACCEPT OURSELVES FOR WHAT WE ARE IN OURSELVES ANY MORE THAN GOD ACCEPTS US FOR THAT REASON.

3. WE ACCEPT OURSELVES AS FORGIVEN AND AS RIGHTEOUS BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT GOD DECLARES US TO BE.

* TO THINK OTHERWISE IS NOT A SIGN OF HUMILITY BUT OF ARROGANCE, BECAUSE TO THINK OTHERWISE IS TO PUT OUR OWN JUDGMENT ABOVE GOD’S WORD AND TO BELITTLE THE REDEMPTION PRICE PAID FOR US BY HIS OWN BELOVED SON.

** A CHRISTIAN WHO DENIGRATES HIMSELF AND DOUBTS FULL FORGIVENESS DENIES THE WORK OF GOD AND DENIGRATES A CHILD OF GOD.

*** IF WE MATTER TO GOD, WE CERTAINLY OUGHT TO MATTER TO OURSELVES.” (END QUOTE)

**** AND BELOVED THE IDEA I CAN’T ACCEPT MYSELF OR FORGIVE MYSELF MUST BE PUT OUT OF OUR MINDS, BECAUSE OF EPHESIANS 1:7 (READ IT).

4. AND IF GOD SAYS I AM FORGIVEN AND I HAVE GREAT WORTH IN CHRIST, WHO AM I TO DENY THAT!

* NOW APPLICATION NO. 2, OUR LAST ONE TODAY. WHAT RELATIONSHIP DOES FORGIVENESS OF ALL MY SINS, PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE HAVE TO DO WITH IMMEDIATE CONFESSION OF SIN WHEN WE SIN?

** WELL, BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO SIN AFTER WE HAVE BEEN REDEEMED, WE NEED THE CONTINUED FORGIVENESS OF CLEANSING; BUT WE DO NOT NEED THE CONTINUED FORGIVENESS OF REDEMPTION.

*** LET ME EXPLAIN. JESUS TOLD PETER IN JOHN 13:10, “HE WHO HAS BATHED NEEDS ONLY TO WASH HIS FEET, BUT IS COMPLETELY CLEAN.”

**** WE HAVE HAD THE BATH OF SALVATION, BUT AS WE WALK IN THIS FILTHY WORLD WE GET OUR FEET DIRTY, SO WE NEED TO HAVE OUR FEET WASHED. AND WE DO THAT BY CONFESSING OUR SIN IMMEDIATELY WHEN WE YIELD TO IT.

5. WE DON’T DO THAT TO BE SAVED OR TO GET ANOTHER BATH, BUT TO KEEP OUR COMMUNION WITH THE LORD RIGHT, WE DO IT TO WALK WITH HIM, TO BE USED BY HIM.

* THUS THE BELIEVER IS CALLED ON TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS DAILY – IMMEDIATELY SO THAT HE OR SHE MAY ENJOY NOT JUST THE GENERAL FORGIVENESS OF REDEMPTION, BUT THE SPECIFIC FORGIVENESS OF DAILY CLEANSING, WHICH BRINGS FELLOWSHIP AND USEFULNESS TO THEIR MAXIMUM.

** AND THAT IS THE ISSUE IN OUR LORD’S TEACHING ON PRAYER RECORDED IN MATTHEW 6:12, 14&15 (LOOK IT UP SOMETIME).

*** SO IN OUR REDEMPTION IN CHRIST, ALL OF OUR SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, THAT IS OUR POSITION IN CHRIST, OUR REDEMPTIVE FORGIVENESS.

**** BUT IN OUR DAILY LIVES, KEEP YOUR ACCOUNT SHORT, CONFESS AND FORSAKE SIN IMMEDIATELY, THAT HAS TO DO WITH OUR PRACTICAL FORGIVENESS OF DAILY CLEANSING.

***** BUT THANKS BE UNTO GOD THAT IF YOU ARE IN CHRIST TODAY, WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE.