Ephesians 1:9-10 NIV
he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
What is the mystery of His will? It is salvation being offered to the gentiles. When God called Abraham, He told him that all nations would be blessed through him. The nation of Israel are God’s covenant people and before the coming of Jesus, the way of salvation was not open to the gentiles. Before the coming of Jesus for a person to come to faith in the Living God they would have to become circumcised and come under the law.
But in Christ the way of salvation has been made open to all people. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever would believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Salvation is a free gift of God and God has sent His Son into the world not to condemn the world but to save the world (John 3:17). To those reading the words of the apostle Paul who came from a Jewish background they may have been resistant to see the grace of God extended to the gentiles. But it has always been God’s desire that none would perish but all come to everlasting life.
It is God’s good pleasure to offer salvation. All salvation is found through faith in Christ alone. Whether a person enters God’s kingdom or not is only dependent on one thing, who do they say Jesus is. Jesus is the only one who can save. He is the way, the truth, and the life. There aren’t many ways, but only one and through the precious shed blood of Jesus forgiveness and redemption has been made possible.
God has a specific time for all things. There was a specific day and hour when Jesus would come, be born of the virgin Mary, live under the Jewish law fully as a man, never sin, and eventually take the place of all humanity upon the cross. Through Jesus Christ, the wrath we deserve was poured out on Him. Through Him we find forgiveness of sin and redemption.
All things are brought to unity because now the Jew and Gentile become one in Jesus Christ. There is no longer any distinction. The only distinction that exists are those who are saved and those who are not. Those who are not saved choose to reject the precious forgiveness and salvation that is provided in Jesus. We who are in Christ should live every day in thanksgiving and praise knowing our sins are forgiven and we are saved by the grace of God alone.
Prayer
Father thank you for saving me. Thank you that the way of salvation has been made available to all people. Thank you that regardless of what I have done, that you have opened the way of salvation and made it available as a gift. Help me each day to live for you. To surrender all things in my life to your Lordship. Forgive me every time I have fallen short and may I simply live to glorify your name. May you increase and may I decrease. Jesus may I simply love you more and more each day. In the name of Jesus, Amen!
Reflection:
1. What areas of your life need to be fully surrendered to Jesus?
2. Is there anything you are holding back or hiding from God today?
3. Is there anything that needs to be confessed?
4. Are you failing to forgive yourself even though God has fully forgiven you?
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