The Eternal Purpose In Christ Part 2

The dispensation of God’s gospel of grace to the Gentiles, through Paul.

Eph 3:10-12 (11) According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Php 2:9-11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

2Cor 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; an hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.    

Everyone who has trusted in Christ is sanctified to be the praise of his glory. (Eph 1:12). The problem is we can not be to the praise of His glory on our own.

·       Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them

·       Eph 1:13 and John 16:13 with Eph 5:9, 23-33

1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

·       Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

·       1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

As a faithful householder Jesus Christ has not left us unequipped to be the praise of His glory.

·       He has given us the word of reconciliation. We have His inspired, inerrant, preserved word of God.

·       We have the Holy Spirit of promise within us who will lead us in truth.

1Cor 3:21-23

·       V21a why is therefore there for? See V20 Isa 55:8-9

·       V21b We honor and respect men who teach and live the truth but we do not worship them. Why?

·       V21c-22 They have nothing more than we have. What they have is ours. (1Cor 4:6) See 2Peter 1:1-4

·       V23 We are all Christ’s!

 2 Peter 1:5-7 The ladder of Christian growth.

·       V8 faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity are key components to a productive, fruitful Christian walk because these abounded in our Lord Jesus Christ and they help us learn more about Him. The more we grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ the more they may abound in us and the more we may learn about Jesus Christ.

·       V9 These things help us have an eternal view of the eternal purpose. The more they are lacking in our life the more we focus on today.

Ø    A Christian walk lacking these things can lead to one doubting his salvation, especially a new Christian. Have you ever looked at another Christian and thought I wish I could be like him. Or even though because I am not as good as him maybe I am not saved at all. We may see another Christian on the charity rung of the ladder without seeing all the times he slipped and missed a rung and slid back.

Ø    1Jo 3:20-21 ¶ For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. (21) Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God

Ø    We must remember 1Cor 3:21-23 We are all Christ’s who first trusted in him. Every Christian is given all the same things but we do not use them equally. 

·       V10-11 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure. Do not envy some one else’s calling. Phil 2:12