Healing Rays of Righteousness

Read Ephesians 1:3-14

Sitting in prison, the apostle Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians by reminding them that God deserves their praise because God “has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”  We often speak casually about God’s blessings, but the song writer reminds us to “Count your many blessings, see what God has done.”

There is a simple chorus that I like to sing that says, “God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, he’s so good to me.”  Yes, he is!  Let’s review three of those blessings with Paul.

We are Chosen by God – “For he chose us in him (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.  In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ.” (v.4-5a).

In Christ we have been chosen by God to be his beloved children.  Our relationship with God is not based simply on our acceptance of Jesus Christ.  It is first based on God’s amazing love and acceptance of us.  Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we have been graciously adopted as children in God’s eternal, glorious family.

Paul never thought of himself as having chosen God.  It was always the opposite – God had chosen him.  This was also Jesus’ word to his disciples; “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – ” (John 15:16).

There isn’t any feeling quite like the feeling that comes when we are accepted/chosen to be a member of, to participate in, or to receive an award.  Such experiences empower us with desire to do our best.

What an inspiration it is to know that we have been chosen and loved by God.  To know this truth of God’s amazing love is to be freed from all our insecurities, neurotic fears, strivings for acceptance, and self-depreciation.  “God is so good!”

We are Forgiven and Redeemed by Jesus – “In him (Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.” (v.7-8a).

The essence of this redemption is forgiveness.  Paul does not try to explain how this is so, he just rejoices in the reality of being redeemed.  Nothing is more important to Paul than Calvary.  He saw Christ’s crucifixion as God’s supreme outpouring of his love for us sinful persons.

The marvel of this was overwhelming for Paul.  Even he, a spiritual giant, cannot fully fathom the depth and breadth of divine love that willingly endures the shame and agony of the cross in order to reconcile us into relationship with him as his adopted children.  We can only stand in worshipful awe as we gaze upon this love and grace that has been “lavished on us.”

(A story) – When Richard married, he anticipated a long life of love and joy but soon discovered his wife’s unfaithfulness.  Rather than abandon her in his shame and anger, he sought to restore their marriage.  She would have none of it, but instead ran off to prostitute herself.

Years passed.  While visiting a distant city, he was told that his long-lost wife was being held in the mental ward of a public hospital, diseased and despondent.  He went to her, paid her bills, and brought her home to nurse her to health and to rekindle her love for him.  She had been redeemed, “bought back.”  She had been his wife; now she was also his devoted love.

That’s exactly what Jesus did for you and me.   The apostle Paul declares this in his letter to the Roman Christians, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (5:8). “God is so good!”

We are Sealed by the Spirit of God – “When you believed, you were marked in him (Christ)  with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.” (v.13b-14).

That seal is like branding, a mark of ownership.  The Holy Spirit in us is God’s mark of ownership.  The Holy Spirit in us is the seal of authenticity, that we belong; the seal of assurance, that God will not change his mind about us; and the seal of God’s pledge, that his eternal promises to us are true and will not fail.

Furthermore, the Holy Spirit daily reveals God to us and makes effective in our lives the forgiving, cleansing power of Christ’s sacrifice.  The Holy Spirit continually functions in our life, giving us power and guidance to “work out our salvation” in perfecting our love for God and for others. “God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, he’s so good to me.”

No wonder Paul says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  We belong to God – he chose us, redeemed us, and sealed us as his children.  What does that mean for you today?

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”  (Psalm 118:1).