“The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
And for many other reasons ─ foremost to
“introduce” His “little flock” to their Father!
The Apostle John records our Lords words as He made
that introduction to the eleven ─ encapsulated within two bookend prayers
to the Father ─ revelations of the Father unspoken from the foundation of the
world ( John 12:27- John 17:26).
However, we are not part of His “little flock” ─ we
are His body ─ we are the “Body of Christ.”
As Jesus revealed His Father to the “little flock” ─
He likewise revealed His Father to the Apostle Paul who in his Ephesians
epistle introduces us to our Father!
Paul introduces each of his epistles by bringing to
remembrance God “our Father,” with the singular exception of his final letter.
However, in the Ephesian epistle, Paul reveals “our Father” in ways He has
never been revealed before:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph 1:3).
Please note that each of the following verses has been
restructured with regard to context to more “explicitly” enhance our
understanding of our relationship with our Father. Please compare each verse to
the more “implicit” original:
Our Father “hath chosen
us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and
without blame before him in love” (cf. Eph 1:4).1
Our Father “predestinated
us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to
himself, according to the good pleasure of his will”
(cf. Eph 1:5).1
Our Father “to the praise of the glory of his grace… hath made us accepted in the beloved.” In whom
we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the
riches of his grace” (cf. Eph 1:6-7).1
Our Father “hath abounded toward us in all wisdom
and prudence” (cf. Eph 1:8).1
Our Father “made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure
which he hath purposed in himself” (cf. Eph 1:9).1
Our Father “in the dispensation
of the fulness of times” gathered “together in one
all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in
him” (cf. Eph 1:10).1
Our Lord Jesus Christ “In whom also we have obtained
an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of” Our
Father “who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (cf. Eph
1:11).1
“We should be to the praise of” Our
Father’s “glory, who first trusted in Christ” (cf. Eph 1:12).1
Our Lord Jesus Christ “In whom you also trusted, after
that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that
you believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of
promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of
the purchased possession, unto the praise of [our Father’s glory]” (cf. Eph
1:13-14).1
1Not an exact quote ─ cf. (Latin: confer/conferatur, i.e “compare”) – please compare with referenced text.
2News release ID: STScI-2016-03. Material credited to STScI on this site was created, authored, and/or prepared for NASA under Contract NAS5-26555. Unless otherwise specifically stated, no claim to copyright is being asserted by STScI and it may be freely used as in the public domain in accordance with NASA’s contract. http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/ RECENT UPDATE
Category: Our Father
Tags: Paul, our Father’s glory, in Christ, the
Spirit, foundation of the world, chosen, predestinated, adoption, riches of his
grace, mystery of his will, dispensation, fulness of times, word of truth,
gospel of your salvation, sealed, Holy Spirit of promise
©2020 Christopher. All rights reserved.
