Benefits in Christ Jesus
Part of the Ephesians Series by Apostle Aje Pelser, Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town.
Reading:
Eph 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
Eph 1:8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
Eph 1:9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
Eph 1:10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth—in Him.
Eph 1:11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
Eph 1:12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
Eph 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
In the previous study we explored our position in Christ Jesus and how that affects our walk and stand in faith.
Here are some of the benefits we have in Him.
1. Redemption
We are redeemed through Jesus’ blood shed for our sins. Pure blood without blemish is required for the remission of sins according to the Old Covenant laws. Jesus fulfilled that law and instituted a new and better covenant based on better promises.
2. Forgiveness
Jesus preached and lived forgiveness all the way to the cross. His grace is allocated to us who believe in His finished work on the cross. We need wisdom and prudence to appropriate that grace, God’s riches at Christ’s Expense. Grace is also a wonderful empowering force that opens favour in life.
3. Mystery of His Will
It’s God’s good pleasure to give His children the kingdom. The Lord delights over us with singing.
God is pleased by faith and inhabits the praises of His people. God is a loving and forgiving Father that has a wonderful plan marked out for us to walk in through eternity.
Jesus is the way into that plan. Receive Him as Lord and Saviour and the mystery of His will becomes revealed by His Spirit.
4. Gathered together in One
The whole process of church is to finally be gathered in ONE in Christ. God showed us a new way of networking that allows autonomy of churches yet the same purpose. We call it the Orbital network Ecclesia centered on Christ.
ONE.
Actually, it is Jesus bringing us all together in the final act of redemption. Until then, we all have mandates to fulfil and where we agree with other Christians, Jesus is there. Where there is disagreement, we can’t work together.
5. Inheritance
Jesus works all things according to the counsel of his will. He is working on your behalf. Jesus lives to make intercession for us too. He is actually praying for you!
Alter, Paul prays for the eyes of understanding to be enlightened to see the riches of the glory of the inheritance of the saints. More on that later!
6. Truth and Salvation
The Gospel of our salvation is also the Word of Truth. This is important, because you can’t believe every other religion is the way to our inheritance which is only found in Christ, who is the firstborn among many brethren. Other faiths have some value in their principles and good works, but it does not allow one to be born again by an incorruptible seed.
We need the Seed of the Word of Jesus Christ to be birthed into a new creation.
7. Seal and Guarantee
The Holy Spirit both helps and guarantees our salvation and all the promises of the Bible. One by one, line by line, every promise of the Lord for His children is being released daily. God once spoke to my Spirit and said: “Every day you will see miracle.” I realized that I relate to thousands of believers and pray for many churches daily, that’s how we can see a miracle daily! But personally, I have been seeing miracles of all sorts being fulfilled from healings to provision to favour.
May the Holy Spirit give you that same assurance and help you remain in Him to access all the glorious benefits.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I believe that you have paid the full price for my redemption from sin, sickness and Satan. By faith I receive the inheritance that you have purchased for me, and I allow the Holy Spirit to help me walk it out by faith in Jesus’ name!
