God’s Blessings and Our Hope

 

God’s Blessings and Our Hope 

Mal 1:3-5

SUBJECT: CHOSEN BY GOD

THEME: Be thankful for the blessings of love, privilege, and hope from God upon our personal lives, our homes, our churches, and our county.

RELEVANCE:  the Sovereign Choices of God (in the past) Concerning Israel’s General Conditions and Quality of Life Should be Viewed as an Act of His Love. 

INTRODUCTION: 

1. We have seen God’s blessings in the form of love, privileges, and now hope. Where would we be without the hope that God gives? He certainly has given us a prospering HOPE! In truth, we are inundated with a multitude of blessings from God’s generous hands and heart if we would only stop to reflect on this fact.

2. Malachi the prophet delivers God’s Word, the priests and people respond by arguing. It is a dangerous thing when people argue with God and try to defend their sinful ways.

The following insights may be seen.

MESSAGE:

I. We Enjoy Great Love from God, but Some People Ignore It (Mal. 1:1-2).

II.  We Enjoy Great Privileges from God, but Some People are Irresponsible (Mal. 1:2-3).

III. We Enjoy Great Hope in God, but Some People Still Complain (Mal. 1:3-5).

He judged the Edomites (Esau’s descendants) and gave to Israel the best of the lands. He promised Israel a land flowing with milk and honey, but, alas, their sins polluted the land. Even then, he graciously restored them to their land and delivered them from captivity.^[a]

Those, like Edom, without the sovereign blessings of God, are left in a much worse condition. Israel needed to consider what her lot would have been if she, like Edom, had not been chosen to a covenant relationship with Yahweh.

A. INSTEAD OF HOPE, GOD STOOD AGAINST THEIR PROSPERITY.  Mal. 1:3, I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

These men, the men of Edom, struggled hard to build up their kingdom and to give it wealth and power, but the product of all their labors was utterly destroyed. Their great things, their “mountains,” their wealthy things, their “heritage,” the scenes of their power, gave place to the “dragons of the wilderness.” Where is Edom now? If God has determined that the fortune you have built up after years of earnest and hard work shall be swept away, it will depart like a dream of the night. Things would be a lot worse without the blessings of God!

Israel would see the desolation of Edom, and they would acknowledge the greatness of God.^[b]

Israel, seeing God’s sovereign dealings with Edom, would have a better understanding not only of God’s love for her, but also of His greatness over all the earth^[c]

B. INSTEAD OF HOPE, GOD FRUSTRATED THEIR EFFORTS.

Malachi 1:4, Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the Lord of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the Lord hath indignation for ever.

Even Edom’s greatest efforts to rebuild its ruins would be frustrated by the Lord Almighty^[d]

Edom’s future prospects were as bleak as its present condition. The dispossessed Edomites boasted that they would reclaim the land and rebuild their country. Yahweh declared that they would never be able to make good on their boasts. Every time the Edomites attempted to rebuild, Yahweh would “throw them down.” The Edomites were successively beaten down by the Nabataeans, the Macedonians, the Maccabees, the Romans and the Mohammedans (1:4a).^[e]

   1.  They struggle to restore their position, labor hard to build the desolate places, but in every effort they are thwarted.  It is in vain to strive against God.

   2.  Remember that all this refers to the position or conditions of life–the material prosperity of people. God’s sovereignty is always in favor of spiritual prosperity, progress in intelligence, purity, and happiness. In all these matters men cannot labor in vain.

The Edomites shall be made the monuments of God’s justice, and he will be glorified in their utter destruction^[f]

The Israelites shall be made the monuments of his mercy, and he will be glorified in their salvation^[g]

C. INSTEAD OF HOPE, GOD ENSURED THEIR ENEMY’S PROSPERITY.

Malachi 1:5, And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The Lord will be magnified from the border of Israel.

    1.  Edom hated Israel from the beginning, fought hard against it for centuries, struggled continually to destroy it, but all in vain. The time came when it found itself in ruins and its enemy in prosperity.

    2.  QUOTE: “The argument of these verses is this,  if you would see the difference between hatred and love, look at the different condition and prospects of Edom and Israel. The desolation with which their territory is visited is irremediable: they have no glorious future beyond: whereas the wretched condition of which you complain is but the bleakness of seed time that precedes the richest harvest.” — Dr. Dods

    3.  In Contrast, Israel was enjoying God’s blessings again with the promises of a brighter future!

Application: Being defensive and argumentative complaining is typical of feeling ashamed, hurt, guilty, or attacked by God and the prophet Malachi. When facing such convictions by the Holy Spirit a person tries to defend themselves from feeling angry, hurt, or ashamed! They perceive the truth or think that God is too harsh and critical for confronting them.

Application: Complaining is how these Jewish individuals expressed their dissatisfaction and discontentment with God. They were crying, bellyaching, and whining about how unfairly God had treated them which seem to be a part of their habitual grumbling. For them it was normal to criticize, bemoan, disagree with, and gripe about their apparent lack of hope. They saw no hope in the love of God; they didn’t even notice or counted God’s love at all.  

CONCLUSION.

Aren’t we as individuals, homes, churches, and Americans among the peoples whom God has especially blessed and smiled upon? Are these words not especially applicable to us, “I have loved you, saith the Lord”? What should we think of our country, civilization, our freedoms, our fruitful lands, our prospering hopes?

Above all, what about our Lord Jesus Christ? 1 John 4:10, Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

God’s goodness being his glory, when he does us good we must proclaim him great, for that is magnifying him. It is an instance of his goodness that he has pleasure in the prosperity of his servants, and for this those that love his salvation say, The Lord be magnified, Ps. 35:27.^[h]

Thank you, Lord, for the blessings you have bestowed on my life. You have provided me with more than I could ever have imagined. You have surrounded me with people who always look out for me. You have given me family and friends who bless me every day with kind words and actions. There are many more blessings to thank You for, and they are as countless as the stars in the night sky. Your grace never fails to amaze me, O God.

---

^[a] Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1993), Mal 1:1–5.

^[b] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1175.

^[c] Craig A. Blaising, “Malachi,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1576.

^[d] Craig A. Blaising, “Malachi,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1576.

^[e] James E. Smith, The Minor Prophets, Old Testament Survey Series (Joplin, MO: College Press, 1994), 623.

^[f] Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 1596.

^[g] Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 1596.

^[h] Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 1596.

Are We Privileged?

 

Are We Privileged? 

Malachi 1:2-3

SUBJECT: CHOSEN BY GOD

THEME: Be thankful for the blessings of love, privilege, and hope from God upon our personal lives, our homes, our churches, and our county.

RELEVANCE:  the Sovereign Choices of God (in the past) Concerning Israel’s General Conditions and Quality of Life Should be Viewed as an Act of His Love. 

INTRODUCTION: 

1. Again, thankfulness requires reflection on our lives as we consider or count what God has given us. We don’t want to ignore, dismiss, or take any blessings from God for granted.

2.  In contrast, it is quite common anymore to be counseled to “check your privilege!” This seems to indicate that some people enjoy certain opportunities while others aren’t as fortunate. There seems to be a violation of equality inherent to this notion…with certain privileges…it is perceived that something is unfair, inequitable, or fallacious. Today, we will examine this concept along with several others that Malachi, the prophet highlighted.

MESSAGE:

I. We Enjoy Great Love from God, but Some People Ignore It (Mal. 1:1-2).

We have studied this idea in the previous post.

II.  We Enjoy Great Privileges from God, but Some People are Irresponsible (Mal. 1:2-3).

   — It is a fact that there is a difference in the privileges afforded different peoples as a result of God’s own sovereign choices. “I loved Jacob, and I hated Esau.” This is the same as saying, “I choose Jacob for my purposes, but rejected Esau.”

The Hebrew words for loved and hated refer not to God’s emotions but to His choice of one over the other for a covenant relationship (cf. Gen. 29:31–35; Deut. 21:15, 17; Luke 14:26). To hate someone meant to reject him and to disavow any loving association with him (cf. Ps. 139:21). ^[a]

Including some while excluding others is at the heart of special privileges. When you're privileged, you enjoy some special rights or advantages that the majority or even no one else has. You could be privileged to live in a lighthouse and have a spectacular view of the bay. Those of us who have been around the US military know officers and senior NCOs who have certain privileges, but they also shoulder giant responsibilities for our country--‘RHIP’. Congressmen represent their states and districts, and they enjoy opportunities, prerogative, and freedoms many Americans do not, but they bear many obligations, duties, and burdens on our behalf. People can be privileged in many different ways and with a myriad of agencies, but it basically means that they’re getting some unusual deal that others don’t enjoy because they don’t qualify or were never initiated. Even being in this country comes with its share of privileges and responsibilities!

We as Christians belong to a special class who enjoy tremendous favor from God. We literally have rich spiritual privileges in Christ. Being chosen by God to join His Kingdom is a divine privilege (Ephesians 2:8-10). God invited us into an elite family. He included us with His most trusted servants and wanted us to live with Him forever. And God made Christ the head of His family. It has nothing to do with our ethnicity, political affiliation, socio-economic status, or social class, but weather or not you belong to God through Jesus Christ.

A.  GOD’S CHOICE IMPLY HIS PURPOSE.

Why was Jacob more privileged than Esau? Was God capricious or arbitrary in his selection?

     1.  Not According to Human Performance.  

         — Not because he had a better moral character.

         — In some respects he appears more unworthy than Esau. It was simply because God chose to distinguish him.

         — Unconditionally, and completely apart from any consideration of human merit, God elected Jacob and his descendants! 

         — No one should conclude that God does not love His people just because He afflicted them, but rather He loves them because He elected them.

     2.  But, According to Divine Purpose.

          A.  His purpose for them to become His heirs of promise (Rom. 9:6–29).

          B.  The reason for God’s choice was in His mind, and nowhere else. 

Ephes. 1:11, In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

          C.  God always works in accordance with a plan, we must learn to trust Him and His will even during the difficulties of life. Romans 8:28-29, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. [29] For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

God’s choice is neither capricious nor is it an arbitrary choice. God does not make choices like that.^[b]

B.  GOD’S CHOICE DOES NOT IMPLY OUR IRRESPONSIBILITY.

His sovereignty does not negate our responsibility; it does not imply either of two things.

   1. It Does Not Mean Partiality on God’s Part.

The fact that the Jewish people, the descendants of Jacob, in their history endured, perhaps, calamities as great as those that befell the Edomites, the descendants of Esau, proved that there was no partiality on God's part. He is no Respecter of persons. God remains unbiased, unbigoted, conscientious, independent, and egalitarian!  

Romans 9:15-16, For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. [16] So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Romans 2:11, For there is no respect of persons with God.

Application: God does not show partiality or favoritism based on external factors such as social status, ethnicity, or outward appearance. We need to underscore the impartiality of God’s judgment and His fairness in treating all people equally. God loves everyone alike. There is nothing we can ever do to make God love us more and there is nothing we can ever do that will make God love us less. God’s nature is love! Yet even though we’re loved by God, people still have a serious dilemma. God will still judge people fairly.

Application: We must not view God as some friendly TV sitcom dad. God sits in heaven on a sovereign throne, not an easy chair. The heavenly Father is the holy Judge.

   2.  It Does Not Mean Irresponsibility on Man’s Part. There are some applications it would be to our advantage to heed….

        A.  Do God’s Will with the Privileges He Affords You.

              1.  QUOTE: “They who have least, and bear most, may become better and happier than they who have most and suffer least.”— Godwin

              2.  QUOTE: “The permanent value of all things depends on the use which is made of them: the first often becoming last, and the last first.”  —D. Thomas

        B.  Be Responsible for the Choices You Make Regardless of Your Circumstances.

No argument can be drawn from the differences in a person’s circumstances as to which will be the most morally advantageous or disadvantageous according to their conduct. While the differences of one kind depend solely on the Divine will, the differences of the other kind are not irrespective of human choice.

Application: 1 Peter 1:17, And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:  Beloved, we should stop trying to convince ourselves and the people around us that we belong to this world. We should stop trying to fit in with many groups and stop sacrificing our responsibilities to be Christ-like. Believe me Jesus was not a closet-Christian! We must embrace our status as foreigners, strangers, and people in exile from our rightful country of Heaven. We need to live ‘holy’ like the Father we wait to be united with. And, yes, we should live with some amount of healthy fear or respect for Him. Christians are children of the God who is Father and Judge.

Application: We must choose to act as those who are God’s own people, rejecting the evil desires that drove our actions before we knew better. Our choices matter—“Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1Pet.1:16). Our God placed a high value on our lives, paying for them with the blood of Christ. Since God has made us able, we must now strive to earnestly give love to God and each other.

Application: What are some of our privileges as God’s People?

1. Believers have the privilege of continually coming into the presence of Christ. Let’s do this daily through prayer, study of the Word, and the Christian church; this is our greatest honor (1Pet. 2:4; Heb. 4:15-16).
2. Believers have the privilege of being built into a house of God. We need one another, a brick has very little usefulness by itself. Also, because we are the house of God, we should be a holy place, set apart for God’s worship. Everything we do can be worship because we are his temple (1Pet. 2:5; 1Cor. 6:19-20).
3. Believers have the privilege of being priests that offer spiritual sacrifices. We should labor in prayer for others; we should serve others as priests in order to please and honor our God (1Pet. 2:5; Heb. 13: 15-16; Rom. 15:15-16).
4. Believers have the privilege of sharing in the honor of Christ. The glory given to Christ by God has been given to us (John 17:22). Though rejected by the world, along with Christ, we must rejoice in the coming honor and glory. We are co-heirs with Christ, and therefore, recipients of the coming kingdom. This honor shines even brighter against the destiny of the lost (1Pet 2:6-8; Rom. 8:28).

Let us give glory to God for our great and awesome privileges. Thank you, Lord, for these incredible honors. (Greg Brown, U.S. Navy Reserve Chaplain)

Application: Being defensive and argumentative complaining are typical of feeling ashamed, hurt, guilty, or attacked by God and the prophet Malachi. When facing such convictions by the Holy Spirit a wayward person tries to defend themselves from feeling angry, hurt, or ashamed! They perceive the truth or think that God is too harsh and critical for confronting them. This incredible lack of pliability is not recommended!

CONCLUSION.

Aren’t we as individuals, homes, churches, and Americans among the peoples whom God has specially blessed and smiled upon? Are these words not especially applicable to us, “I have loved you, saith the Lord”?

Above all, what about our Lord Jesus Christ? 1 John 4:10, Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Thank you, Lord, for the blessings you have bestowed on my life. You have provided me with more than I could ever have imagined. You have surrounded me with people who always look out for me. You have given me family and friends who bless me every day with kind words and actions. There are many more blessings to thank You for, and they are as countless as the stars in the night sky. Your grace never fails to amaze me, O God.

---

^[a] Craig A. Blaising, “Malachi,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1576.

^[b] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary, electronic ed., vol. 3 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 993.

Questioning God’s Love

 

Questioning God’s Love 

Malachi 1:1-2

SUBJECT: CHOSEN BY GOD

THEME: Be thankful for the blessings of love, privilege, and hope from God upon our personal lives, our homes, our churches, and our county.

RELEVANCE:  the Sovereign Choices of God (in the past) Concerning Israel’s General Conditions and Quality of Life Should be Viewed as an Act of His Love. 

INTRODUCTION: 

1. “Count Your Blessings” repeats the phrase, “Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God has done.” Thankfulness requires reflection on our lives as we consider or count what God has given us.

2.  Malachi ministered to the restored Jewish nation about 400 years before Christ.  

3.  Malachi directs his messages to the priests, and then he turns to the people collectively—“Like people, like priest.” As the prophet delivers God’s Word, the people respond by arguing. Note the repeated “Wherein?” (1:2, 6–7; 2:17; 3:7–8, 13). It is a dangerous thing when people argue with God and try to defend their sinful ways.

From this passage the following truths may be seen.

MESSAGE:

I. We Enjoy Great Love from God, but Some People Ignore It (Mal. 1:1-2).

A.  GOD DECLARES HIS LOVE.   (Mal. 1:1-2a)

It is true that some people seem to be more favored by God than others, and yet they are often unaware or even doubtful of it.

   1.  This is the Burden of Malachi.  (Mal. 1:1) “The burden of the word of the LORD . . .by Malachi”

A “burden” is a judgment, a judgment from God, and it will be a very strong and rigorous rebuke that God will give to them.^[a]

Thus the Divine message which Malachi had to deliver to Israel: “I have loved you, saith the LORD.”  

Nothing should thrill our hearts like the knowledge that God loves us. 

       A.  It is God’s Nature to Love.

Deut. 7:7, The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:

1 John 4:8,  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

       B.  It is God’s Desire to Love.

Jeremiah 31:3, The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

1 John 4:7, Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

       C.  It is God’s Glory to Love.

God love those who are unlovable, and do not know how to love in return.

Hosea 11:1, When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

Romans 5:8, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Love is a great and glorious act of God’s Person and Purpose.  It is a wonderful matter when God love us.

   2.  This is the Blessing of Israel.  (Mal. 1:1) “the word of the Lord to Israel”

Israel here stands for all the tribes, all the descendants of Jacob.

       A.  Consider God’s Blessings on Israel.

The nation of Israel was more favored than any nation on the face of the earth.

            1.  Notice Their Privileges.

In relation to their privileges Paul says, 

Romans 9:4-5, Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; [5] Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

            2.  Notice Our Privileges.

1 Cor. 10:11, Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Romans 15:4, For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Just as the Lord love Israel because of Who he is, He likewise loves us.  It not our performance that wins his love. 

       B.  Consider God’s Blessings on an Individual.

As Jacob was more favored than Esau, so some people in all generations are more blessed than others. 

            1.  As Individuals, Some People Have More Blessings than Others.

                — Blessed with more vigorous and stronger bodies,

                — Some have more intellectual resources,

                — Other have more emotional wealth or greater ability to enjoy life. 

                — There is great variety in the degree of natural ability give to each of us.

                — Read the parable of the talents.

            2.  As Individuals, All People Are Not Privileged with the Same Type Blessings.

                — Some are born of healthier parents than others,

                — Some live in better circumstances than others,

                — Others are endowed with greater strengths than others,

                — Others are raised in a more wholesome family environment.

                — Some are afforded higher educational opportunities than others.  

            3.  The Existence of These Distinctions Is Too Obvious to Require Either Argument or Illustration.

       C.  Consider God’s Blessings on our Nation.

But it is the nation that is in view in our text.  “I have loved you” that is, “I have regarded you more than other nations.”

            1.  Is Not Our America More Favored than Most of the Other Nations of the Earth? She is recognized as the leading superpower in the world.  She is, in some respects, as far exalted above all existing countries, as Israel of old was above all the heathen nations that surrounded it.

            2.  But While this Is Such an Obvious Fact, the Blessed Ones Are Too Often Unaware of the Distinction. “Wherein hast thou loved us?”

                  — Israel did not realize its gigantic privileges. How often is this the case with us!

                  — The people most privileged of God are often most unconscious of His blessings, and they say, “Wherein hast thou loved us?”

                  — As a rule, perhaps the most privileged people of God are the greatest complainers.

                  — What ignorance of God’s love we find here! 

                  — God’s love counted for nothing!

B. THEY DOUBTED GOD’S LOVE (Mal 1:2b).

“I have loved you,” God says to His people. “Oh?” they respond. “Wherein hast thou loved us? Prove it.”

When God tells people that He loves them and they respond, “Yeah, right!”, there is a serious spiritual problem at work. That is exactly what we find here.  How can we recognize it in our own experience?

   1.  It is Marked by Doubt.

       A.  Ignoring and doubting God’s love is the beginning of unbelief and disobedience.

       B.  Eve doubted God’s love and ate of the forbidden tree; she thought God was holding out on her.

       C.  Satan wants us to feel neglected by God. “Look at your difficult circumstances,” he said to the Jewish remnant. “Where are the crops? Why doesn’t God take care of you?”

   2.  It is Marked by Mediocrity.

      A.  They Did Not Possess the Commitment that Comes from Love.

Not surprisingly, the Jews who had returned to Judah and Jerusalem and lost a sense of God's love for them were unable to muster much love for Him in return. This showed in the way they kept up a superficial form of religion that actually insulted God.

      B.  They Did Not Experience the Victories that are Rooted in Love.

             — When the Jews from Babylon returned to Jerusalem and Judah after seventy years of captivity, they experienced a great deal of frustration and defeat.

             — Oh, sure, they responded to the divine cheerleading of Haggai and Zechariah to rebuild the temple—on a small scale.

             — Yes, they had finally raised walls around the holy city under the none-too-gentle prodding of Nehemiah.

      C.  They Did Not Know the Perseverance That is Motivated by Love.

On the whole, the Jews in the days of the prophet Malachi were ready to join the “quitters’ club” where you simply go through the motions, but your heart is really not in it at all.  

             — They were beaten down and ready to settle for the path of least resistance.

             — They embraced mediocrity as a goal worth easing toward.

   3.  It is Marked by Ingratitude.

As usual when people question God’s love, it generates a great deal of bitterness, complaining and general ingratitude.  So God here proves His love to His people in two ways:

       A.  He Graciously Chose Jacob.  

            1.  That is their national father, and rejected Esau, who in many ways was a much better man. 

            2.  Bare in mind, this has nothing to do with salvation, but the privilege of participation in God’s plan to bring the Messiah into the world.  Salvation is not in view, but a position in God’s great plan of the ages.

       B.  He Judged the Edomites.

These are Esau’s descendants who were without the blessings of the Lord, but God gave to Israel the best of the lands.

            1.  Too often we have to be reminded of another’s tragedies before we can see our own blessings.

            2.  He promised Israel a land flowing with milk and honey, but, alas, their sins polluted the land. Even then, he graciously restored them to their land and delivered them from captivity.

            3.  With all these blessings, you would expect God’s people to be thankful instead of complaining.

Application: To take someone for granted means not to appreciate him, especially because you are too familiar with the person. Such actions also assume that the relationship is 'fine' even without any acts of gratitude or appreciation (Luke 17:17-18). Sometimes we take God for granted! We can go ahead and sin and sin and sin, thinking that it's okay because we can be forgiven the moment we ask for forgiveness. We do this because we think salvation is ours, and that excuses us from trying harder to live a holy life. We seem to think the ideas of the grace of God suggests that we will be exempted from the consequences of our wrong actions, but this is a deception and exceedingly harmful; it gives Satan the advantage. (Rom. 6:1-2)

Application: When a person is in love with God, they are overflowing with joy, faith and excitement. A person is drawn and repents when they are convicted by the gospel, surrenders their will, and becomes spiritually born-again. They are redeemed through the blood covenant atonement and become a new creation that is governed by Christ our Lord who fills and controls their life.

We agree the infinite life of God within these individuals illuminates and empowers the presence of His mercy, compassion, and love. So, could it be possible for an individual who has yielded everything they have and all that they are unto God, to never say a word about knowing Him? Could someone who has taken up their cross feel embarrassed or ashamed to talk about the Bible, pray for someone in need, or share about what Christ accomplished on Calvary? (Living on Purpose: Ignoring God does not lessen our need for Him

Rev. Billy Holland)

Application: Sometimes it is unbelief that has prevented us from receiving God's love. You may have hardened your heart against His love at some point, and while you still believe in God and believe other truths about Him, you cannot bring yourself to believe in His love.

CONCLUSION.

Aren’t we as individuals, homes, churches, and Americans among the peoples whom God has specially blessed and smiled upon? Are not these words specially applicable to us, “I have loved you, saith the Lord”?

But what is our practical response? Does not our daily life speak out the ingratitude, neglect, and unbelief of Israel, “Wherein hast thou loved us?” We do not see it; we do not feel it; “Wherein?” What ought we to think of our country, civilization, our freedoms, our fruitful lands, our prospering hopes?

Above all, what about our Lord Jesus Christ? 1 John 4:10, Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

---

^[a] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary, electronic ed., vol. 3 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 992.

Blessed by the Best

Ephesians 1:7-12

  

Theme: one grand blessing believers have is the fact that we belong to God our Father as a result of His infinite grace towards us in Christ Jesus. We should “bless” or praise Him for the spiritual blessings of redemption, forgiveness, purpose and an inheritance in Christ.

Introduction:

We are blessed by the best! No one compares to our heavenly Father when we consider these gracious acts towards fallen humanity. Indeed, all spiritual blessings belong to us who claim Christ as Savior (Eph. 1:3). Some blessings such as being chosen, adoption, predestination, and acceptance are direct graceful actions of the Father towards repentant sinners (Eph. 1:3-6). He also affords blessings to us through the Holy Spirit like sealing us to guarantee our full salvation (Eph. 1:12-14). Beloved, we are the recipients of the finest treatment a sinner could never deserved! We are blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places (Eph. 1:3). We are blessed by the Most High God; we are lavished most extravagantly by our merciful heavenly Father. We enjoy the best blessings possible from the most extravagant Source possible! These precious truths are worth rehearsing on a rainy day…during a hard season…amid the battles…while agonizing over defeat…when faced with rejection and on the mountain tops. They can restore needed balance to our perspectives.

Now Paul focuses attention on the blessings every believer enjoys through Jesus Christ. Note the great goodness of the Father through God the Son (Eph. 1:7-12). We should not think that each Person of the Godhead works independently, because each member works together to make possible our salvation.

Study:

I.       What are some spiritual blessings we have through Christ?  (v. 7-12)

Each Person of the Godhead has a distinct office and role to fulfil, a particular ‘spiritual installment’ to make in our lives. In this section we will concentrate on the specific blessings we enjoy through our Lord Jesus. As we trace the awe-inspiring arc of God’s grand salvation strategy for His people, we now focus on the reality of redemption.

A.  Christ Has Redeemed us (v. 7 a).

To redeem means "to purchase and set free by paying a price." A man could purchase a slave and set him free, and this is what Jesus did for us. The price was His own blood (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Redemption refers to release or deliverance from a state of slavery. The term relates to paying the required ransom to God for the release of a person from bondage (Rom. 3:24; 8:23; 1 Cor. 1:30; Eph. 1:7, 14; 4:30; Col. 1:14; Heb. 9:15). Christ’s sacrifice at Calvary paid that price for everyone enslaved by sin, buying them out of the slave market of iniquity (2 Cor. 5:18, 19). This redemption is from sin (Heb. 9:15), and thus this work of Christ delivers believers from slavery to sin. We are freed from the bondage and guilt of sin and introduced into a life of liberty. The Lord Jesus is the Redeemer.

This means that we are free from the Law (Gal 5:1), free from slavery to sin (Rom 6), as well as free from the power of Satan and the world (Gal 1:4; Col 1:13-14). If we were slaves, we would have zero options or prerogatives, but because we are sons, all the will of the Father is ours to explore!

B.  Christ Has Revealed God’s Will to Us (v. 8-10).  

This letter has much to say about God’s plan for His people, a plan that was not fully understood among the early churches in the first century. The word “mystery” (1:9) has nothing to do with eerie novels, or something that cannot be understood. It means a "sacred secret, once hidden but now revealed to God's people." God took the initiative to inform His people of His grand redemptive plan.

Paul explains particularly how God has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence by making known unto us the mystery of His will. This is the overriding thesis of the letter—the magnificent truth concerning Christ and the church. This glorious plan originated in the heart of a sovereign God, quite apart from any outside influences: it was according to His good pleasure. And the grand subject of the plan is the Lord Jesus Christ—which He hath purposed in Himself.

Dr. McGee highlighted these mysteries saying,

The Scofield Reference Bible (p. 1014) lists eleven mysteries in the New Testament: the greater mysteries are: (1) the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (Mat. 13:3–50); (2) the mystery of Israel’s blindness during this age (Rom. 11:25, with context); (3) the mystery of the translation of living saints at the end of this age (1 Cor. 15:51–52; 1 The. 4:13–17); (4) the mystery of the N. T. Church as one body composed of Jews and Gentiles (Eph. 3:1–12; Rom. 16:25; Eph. 6:19; Col. 4:3); (5) the mystery of the Church as the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:23–32); (6) the mystery of the in-living Christ (Gal. 2:20; Col. 1:26–27); (7) the “mystery of God even Christ,” i.e., Christ as the incarnate fullness of the Godhead embodied, in whom all the divine wisdom for man subsists (1 Cor. 2:7; Col. 2:2,9); (8) the mystery of the processes by which godlikeness is restored to man (1 Tim. 3:16); (9) the mystery of iniquity (2 The. 2:7; cp. Mt. 13:33); (10) the mystery of the seven stars (Rev. 1:20); and (11) the mystery of Babylon (Rev. 17:5,7).–McGee, J. V. Thru the Bible Commentary

God in His infinite grace brought into this awareness…he took initiative to inform and afford insight into his plans. We are able to share in the secret that God will one day unite everything in Christ.

Another interesting term Paul uses in this passage is dispensation. A dispensation (Eph. 1:10; Heb 1:2)) is an arrangement of things; a scheme—a plan of management or an administration—or a system of principles for a stewardship. It generally refers to the administration of God blessings. Dispensationalism deals with the administration of God’s eternal plan through the various ages of the earth and human experience. It may fit into a certain period of time, but it actually refers to the way God administrates His plan from eternity to eternity.  A dispensation is the way God manages His affairs among fallen men—the conditions of life He establishes. It is evident that God had Adam, Abraham, and Moses on a different arrangement than He has for you and me.

There are seven dispensations recognized by many premillennialists.

i. Innocence. Man was created innocent, set in an ideal environment, placed under a simple test and warned of the result of disobedience. (1 Tim 2:14; Gen 3:24).

ii. Conscience. By an act of disobedience man came to an experiential knowledge of good and evil. The result of this testing was complete degeneration ending in the judgment of the Flood (Gen 6-9).

iii. Human Government. The declaration of the covenant with Noah after the Flood (Gen 8:20-9:27) put man under a new test, featured by the inauguration of human government, the highest function of which was the judicial taking of life. Man is responsible to govern the world for God. The world is still Gentile-governed, and hence this dispensation overlaps other dispensations and will not strictly come to an end until the second coming of Christ.

iv. Promise. This era went from the call of Abraham (Gen 12:1) to the giving of the Mosaic Law (Ex 19:8). The dispensation was under the Abrahamic covenant and was exclusively Israelite.

v. Law. This era reaches from Sinai to Calvary. The period was a time of teaching used to bring Israel to Christ and was governed by the Mosaic covenant (Ex 20-31).

vi. Grace. This period began with the death and resurrection of Christ (Rom 3:24-26; 4:24-25). The predicted end of the testing of man under grace is the apostasy of the professing church (2 Tim 3:1-8) and the subsequent apocalyptic judgments.

vii. The Kingdom. This is the last of the ordered ages regulating human life on the earth, previous to the eternal state. It involves the establishment of the kingdom covenanted to David (2 Sam 7:8-17; Zech 12:8; Luke 1:31-33). This will include Israel’s restoration and conversion (Rom 11:25-27) and her rehabilitation as a high-priestly nation in fellowship with God and as head over the millennial nations (Zech 3; 6:9-15). –The New Unger's Bible Dictionary

Now God has never had but one method of saving folk; everything rests upon one method of salvation (Rom 3:21-31; Heb. 9:11-28). The approach and the man under the system have been different, however. For example, Abel offered a lamb to God, and so did Abraham. The Old Testament priests offered lambs to God. God had said that was the right way. But I hope you didn’t bring a lamb to church this Sunday! That is not the way God tells us to approach Him today. We are under a different economy.

David Cloud observed,

[I]t is plain that God has dispensations in the sense of dealing with man in different ways in different eras. Man is no longer tending the Garden of Eden, or building arks, or setting up tabernacles, or offering animal sacrifices, or rearing magnificent temples. Creation is over; the Flood is over; the Law is over; Pentecost is over. It is apparent that we have moved from the Mosaic dispensation to the Church dispensation. These are all examples of dispensational divisions in God’s program. Those who interpret Bible prophecy literally and see Israel’s kingdom as something yet future are dispensationalists…. –Way of Life Encyclopedia

“Dispensation of the fullness of times.” What is the “fullness of times”? This is the seventh and last of the ordered ages which condition human life on earth.  It is the final stewardship committed to men, which will bring the purposes of God to fruition in human history.

God is sovereignty executing His grand plan for the ages in multiple stages bringing it to its ultimate climax, Christ ruling supreme over all.  He is skillfully moving everything forward to the time when Christ will rule over all things in heaven and earth—the Kingdom Age (2Sam. 7:8-17; Luke 1:31-33). This is the fullness when everything is brought under the rule of Jesus Christ. Through Christ, God will restore original universal unity, when all things are brought back into harmony with himself and under the leadership of Christ (1Cor. 15:24-25). All other times and ages or dispensations will be brought to their completion (Dan. 2:44-45; 7:13-14; Rom. 8:19-21; Rev. 20:4-6).

We know this about Christ, that God “… hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him” (Heb. 2:8). This states very clearly that we have not yet come to that time. We are under a different dispensation today; we live under a different economy. But God has revealed to us what is to come to pass, something that had not been revealed in the past.

Ever since sin came into the world, things have been falling apart. First, man was separated from God (Gen 3). Then man was separated from man, as Cain killed Abel (Gen 4). People tried to maintain a kind of unity by building the Tower of Babel (Gen 11), but God judged them and scattered them across the world. God called Abraham and put a difference between the Jew and the Gentile, a difference that was maintained until Christ’s death on the cross. Sin is tearing everything apart, but in Christ, God will gather everything together in the culmination of the ages–the Millennial Kingdom. We are a part of this great eternal program and God has disclosed it to us so that we will work to build unity in His local assemblies today.

C.  Christ Has Given Us an Inheritance (vv. 11-12). Notice it reads, “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance.” 

In Christ we have a wonderful inheritance (Eph. 1:14; Acts 26:18; Col. 1:5, 12; 3:24; Heb. 9:15; 1 Peter 1:1-5). It includes God himself, the consummation of our redemption hope, receiving eternal rewards, and the heavenly estate and endowment that all saints will enjoy because we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17; 1Cor. 3:21-23).

Also, in Christ we are an inheritance (Eph 1:18). We are valuable to Him. Think of the price God paid to purchase us and make us part of His inheritance! God the Son is the Father’s love gift to us; and we are the Father’s love gift to His Son. Read John 17 and note how many times Christ calls us ‘those whom Thou hast given Me’ (Jn. 17:6, 9, 11, 24).

The churches are Christ’s body (Eph 1:22-23), building (Eph 2:19-22), and bride (Eph 5:22-23); Christ’s future inheritance is wrapped up in His churches. We are “joint-heirs with Christ” (Rom 8:17), which means that He cannot claim His inheritance apart from us! Like Ephesians, the Book of 1 Peter begins with a wonderful tribute to the spiritual blessings we have through Christ. Read 1 Peter 1:3–9 for another expression of praise for all that we have been given in Jesus.

II.    God forgives our sins through the blood of Christ. What difference does this make in our daily life?  (v. 7)

To be forgiven by anyone is a wonderful gift, but to be forgiven by a holy God is a blessing of extraordinary value and benefit. Our guilt before God is gone, the responsibility for our sins was taken in Christ’s death, and we enjoy peace, assurance, and release. Life with God is marked by confidence and a solid sense that we are accepted by the Lord. We are not merely tolerated by God; we are wanted and welcomed by Him. The blood of Jesus Christ made this possible. It is good to pause and thank God for the redemptive sacrifice of our Lord Jesus! Now, let us take a closer look. 

A.     God has forgiven us (v. 7). “The forgiveness of sins.”

Forgiveness is not the same as redemption; it is one of its fruits. Forgiveness is God releasing the sinner from the condemnation of the Law strictly on account of the Cross of Christ. God removes the guilt of sin and the sinner’s actual liability to an eternity in Hell through Christ. Christ had to make full satisfaction for our sins before they could be forgiven (Matt. 26:28; Luke 24:47). This was done at the cross (Rom 3:21-28; Col. 2:13-14; Heb 10:16-18; 1John 2:12).

Forgiveness depends on the shedding of blood: it demands and depends on the payment of the penalty for sin. Christ’s death and the shedding of His blood is the foundation for forgiveness and, without that, there could be no forgiveness. All of our sins are forgiven freely the very moment we place our faith in the complete work of Christ (Isa. 53:4-6, 8, 11-12; Acts 5:31; 13:38-39; 1John 1:6-9).

Forgiveness is not the act of an indulgent deity who is moved by sentiment to the exclusion of justice, righteousness, and holiness observed Dr. McGee. He also stated,

I think here we need to learn the distinction between human forgiveness and divine forgiveness—they are not the same. Human forgiveness is always based on the fact that a penalty is deserved and that the penalty is not imposed. It simply means that one wipes out the account. God is holy and righteous. Therefore divine forgiveness is always based on the fact that there has been the execution of the penalty and the price has been paid. Human forgiveness comes before the penalty is executed. Divine forgiveness depends upon the penalty being executed. –McGee, J. V. Thru the Bible Commentary

B.      God’s Forgiveness is Infinite! (v. 7)

The word forgive means “a dismissal or release,” or even "to carry away." This reminds us of the ritual on the Jewish Day of Atonement when the high priest sent the scapegoat into the wilderness (Lev 16). First the priest killed one of the two goats and sprinkled its blood before God on the mercy seat. Then he confessed Israel’s sins over the live goat, and had the goat taken into the wilderness to be lost. Christ died to carry away our sins so they might never again be seen (Ps 103:12; John 1:29; Heb. 9:11-28; 10:19-25; Jn. 1:7, 9). No written accusation stands against us because our sins have been taken away! Sin made us poor, but grace makes us rich.

It was Dr. MacDonald who said,

The measure of our forgiveness is given in the words, according to the riches of His grace (Eph. 1:7). If we can measure the riches of God’s grace, then we can measure how fully He has forgiven us. His grace is infinite! So is His forgiveness! –MacDonald, W. Believer's Bible Commentary

Dear Friend, salvation is through Christ Jesus alone. It does not matter how hard we work, sincere we are, how much we serve, how long we have been a part of some church or religious organization, or how hard we try; we cannot secure our own salvation. God can save anyone who truly turns to Him regardless of how sinful, wicked, rebellious, and offensive our lives have been to Him. We must repent (have a change of mind and heart leading to a change of direction) and come to God through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the full and complete payment for our awful sins. Sin is vile rebellion against a righteous and perfectly holy God. Some sins are acts committed while other sins are acts omitted. It includes our thoughts, desires, and deeds! Yes, every human being, without any exceptions, stands utterly guilty before God until we receive His forgiveness. After all, nobody is perfect…right?

Turn from your sin and its devastating eternal consequences unto Jesus Christ to save you. Ask Him in faith to save you immediately. Turn from your past of unbelief and rejection of God’s salvation and use your faith to embrace Jesus Christ fully as your Lord and Savior. In faith cry out to God and ask Him to forgive you for your sin; ask Him to give you eternal life because you accept Jesus Christ. God will save anyone who comes to Him on His terms. This is His solemn promise to you. Turn to God through faith in Christ; do it today!