Eph 1:7-19
One of the sad aspects of studying theology is when we become
obsessed with issues that only have one real answer…and the only one that
knows that answer is the One that works all these things according to His will!
In this section we read which plainly states we are adopted in God’s
Family, Redeemed from our terminal condition of separation from God due to our
sin and given eternal life, and sealed as a guarantee of our eternal future,
also uses words that are very difficult to comprehend.
Words like: Predestination, Election, Foreordained, Foreknowledge,
Called, Chosen and others…and we can completely miss the wonderful news that is
plainly stated because we become obsessed with trying to define something that
only God can define! We even create “isms” to try and make our theory appear to
be fact!
Too many times we are trying so hard to figure out the forest that we fail
to see the tree!
God made plain the facts of how a person can receive eternal life…”For by
Grace you are saved, through Faith” is not hard to understand. However, God
does not waste one jot or tittle on explaining exactly how His Salvation works.
Two very wise statements and one verse have guided me throughout my time
while studying the Scriptures.
First statement: “Whenever we remove the tension that exists in every major
Biblical Doctrine, we remove the Divine!” How true! How can a finite mind ever
fully understand or explain something that came from an Infinite mind, unless
the Infinite mind stated it in a way the finite mind can comprehend. God did
that with the question “How can I get saved?” He did not do that with “How does
it all work?”
Second statement: “Do not theologize your theory!” That is exactly what the
Pharisees did that allowed them to kill the very Messiah they claimed to be
waiting for.
Both of these statements are brought into harmony by one Scripture:
Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong to the
Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever,
that we may observe all the words of this law.
God’s Word teaches if you trust in Christ you are one of the elect.
If you do not – you are not. Which comes first? Is God Sovereign? Do we have
free choice? Both are “Yes!” So does God choose us or do we choose Him? Yes! In heaven will
we see three or one? Yes! Please Explain! I can’t…no one can…Except God!
The So What: What is the gospel: These are musts! Believe in
God. Understand you are a sinner and that sin separates you from God. Believe
that Jesus died to pay for your sin. Believe He was raised 3 days later with
the power to forgive you of your sin. Agree that only through this sacrifice
alone, no good deeds, no works, no effort on your part, can your sins be
forgiven. Tell God all that you believe and place your trust in the sacrifice
of Jesus to forgive you and make you a child of God.
That is the TREE…let God take care of the forest!
