Tune in any time to stream great Biblical teaching and encouragement. Here the latter sense is obviously to be taken. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. John MacArthur explores a range of biblical passages to reveal the riches of God in Jesus Christ, riches that will help us continue to grow in faith and. 1:15), he says that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. He uses the present tense. just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: ``BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. So, if we grew up in the church and God saves us and calls us to preach His good news, it is pure grace. I could go on and on, but for sake of time, I just went through Ephesians up to where were at and came up with these ten needs that Christ richly supplies: Ephesians 1:7-8a: In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us., Ephesians 1:4b-5, In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will., Although we formerly lived according to the lusts of the flesh (2:3), Ephesians 1:4 tells us, He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him., Ephesians 1:9, He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him. And (2:10), For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.. When we trusted Christ, He not only gave us a perfect position . The Bible calls us to believe that our spiritual riches in Christ are reality. But when I come to a subject as vast as the unfathomable riches of Christ, I am almost paralyzed! That doesnt sound very practical! Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very. Suffice it to say that the New Testament reflects a fuller picture of the true, eternal wealth that is ours in Christ. A Heart of Gratitude - In Touch Ministries When anyone accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Savior they are instantaneously enriched with every spiritual blessing in Christ ( Eph. The Ephesians, as weve seen, were steeped in the occult, and so many of them were plagued by demons that it spawned an industry for professional exorcists (Acts 19:13-16). There is a contrast here between the permanent and the perishable. For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. He has a plan for every lifeand bestows special gifts to make it happen. He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will. From the base of dokeo; glory, in a wide application. Our Riches in Christ: Discovering the Believer's Inheritance in 6:19). Rather, we should focus on the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him. I state this as if it is true of you! Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition The Lockman Foundation, Related Topics: Hamartiology (Sin), Soteriology (Salvation), Forgiveness, Grace, Steve served as the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship from May, 1992 through his retirement in December, 2018. "Unsearchable riches." Enriched by Him. The spiritual is far more important than the material. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. The poor often covet what the rich already have. Do you? Charles F. Stanley is the founder of In Touch Ministries, and a New York Times best-selling author. But New Testament saints havent yet arrived at their destination and wont until our lives here are done. 1:29-31). The unsearchable riches of Christ are the Glory of God, the Truth of God, the Wisdom of God, the Life of God, and the Love of God. Clothing helps us to distinguish people and groups. and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Sophia Bricker Contributing Writer Jul 06, 2022 Our Riches in Christ Our Riches in Christ offers the hope and encouragement that comes from realizing the abundant resources and riches of a life with Christ and from understanding the firm foundation of the Christian faith. Jesus did this in the beatitudes, when He said, Blessed are you who are poor But woe to you who are rich (Luke 6:20, 24). If it refers to a rich unbeliever, then verse 10 is using strong irony or sarcasm, saying, Let the rich man glory in the fact that hes going to be pushing daisies in a few short years! He will be pursuing more wealth when, just like the spring wildflowers, he will fade away. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. Lesson 3: Perspective for Perseverance (James 1:9-12) 68:5; Deut. And the list of blessings keeps going: God adopts believers as His children (Eph. Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? So, after God graciously stopped him in his tracks, Paul never got over the great mercy that God had shown to him. Jesus, who didnt even have a place to lay His head and who owned nothing but a robe and sandals (Matthew 8:20), clearly didnt live a money- and possessions-centered life. In fact, he prided himself in how well he observed the Jewish law (Phil. Trial occurs in 1:2 & 12. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The riches of God's grace give us a new position in Christ, and this makes all the difference in living with purpose and satisfaction. Second, because God has this concern for the poor, His people should reflect the same concern (Deut. Life seems good, they have no needs, and they ignore the obvious fact that riches are of no value in the inevitable day of death (Prov. We dont have to wait for Gods blessing in the life to come, it promises. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. The angels, who are perfect in holiness, greatly delight in the manifold wisdom of God as seen in the unfathomable riches of Christ. Were a teaching ministry dedicated to leading people worldwide into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and strengthening the local church. 2:12a). Third, He sent His Son to pay our sin-debt so that we could spend eternity with Him. Agree/disagree? Have you discovered a congregation to call home? We need to go deeper in our knowledge of the unfathomable riches of Christ for our souls. 'Our Riches in Christ' helps Christians understand the liberating, transforming truths that produce lasting joy, unbounded peace, and radiant faith. In Israel, these winds are called Siroccos. In California, they are called Santa Ana winds, and they can drive up the temperatures from the 80s to 110 F. It doesnt take long for such hot winds to wilt everything. Pray that unbelievers will read Gods Word and that the Holy Spirit will convict them of their guilt in Gods sight. I was going to preach on verses 8-13, which are a unit, but Paul not only talks about the unfathomable riches of Christ, but also of Gods eternal purpose as it relates to the church and of two practical consequences of these mind-boggling truths. But, positively, we may boast or glory in the Lord, to bring glory to Him. The rich can be proud over how God has blessed them and given them such influence. This soul-level abundance means that poor believers who are living in oppressive circumstances can be far more joyful and satisfied than unbelievers who are living in luxury and popularity. 1:3). James will go on to say that true faith will supply a poor brother with the basic necessities of life (2:15-16). By their obedience, the Israelites avoided persecution (Deuteronomy 28:7), but by their obedience Christians incur persecution (Matthew 5:11-12; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 1:6). . Whats more, when we trust in Jesus, we are freed from the fear of death. Their destination was on this earth. Get personalized recommendations, and learn where to watch across hundreds of streaming providers. The test of riches is that it feeds our greed and gets our focus on this world. Because love for Jesus Christ is the necessary motivation to serve Him, especially when serving Him causes hardship and persecution. That eternal focus will enable us to persevere in trials with joy. . Was God on the side of Hitler, Stalin, Mao, and other prosperous butchers of history during their rise to power and at the apex of their regimes when they were surrounded by material wealth? Count his blessings as your own, and let God know how appreciative you are. In this view, the exhortation in its context views both poverty and wealth as tests of faith (1:12). lie. God would have us enjoy these riches through faith in Christ, who died for our sins. He is our joy! Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned--. First, God has a particular concern for the poor (Ps. So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. PDF Copyright Monergism Books The religious Jews despised them as filthy dogs. Ephesians: Our Spiritual Treasure-Exploring the Inexhaustible Riches of Christ is an insightful and focused devotional style study guide into the book of Ephesians. So how can we explain the apparent contradiction between the words and lifestyle of Jesus and the apostles, and the Old Testament prosperity passages? showing how he rejoiced at their generosity toward him while in prison. 'Our Riches in Christ' helps Christians understand the liberating, transforming truths that produce lasting joy, unbounded peace . If you do not know Him, then all of the religious rituals in the world will be of no value to you. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition The Lockman Foundation, Related Topics: Suffering, Trials, Persecution, Finance, Steve served as the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship from May, 1992 through his retirement in December, 2018. They have gone through assassinations, cancer, divorces, serious scandals involving the law, sudden deaths through plane crashes, and more. In fact, the Apostle Paul refers to these blessings as "the unfathomable riches of Christ" in Ephesians 3:8. . Discover Christ in this inspiring book by Dr.Lee C Turner entitled Discover Your Riches In Christ ! How is wealth a test of faith? He is a child of the King of kings, with access to all of the Kings resources. So we need to apply verses 10-11 to ourselves! Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular. Through the spiritual disciplines of Bible study, meditation, prayer, journaling, simple living, worship, and others, we can develop habits and practices that enable us to focus on Christ and yield to His transforming power in us. 1. Here were men about to die that very day, arguing over who got the best seat! Jesus said (Luke 12:21), So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. He instructed us not to lay up treasures on earth, which can and will be taken from us, But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal (Matt. A few weeks ago, Marla and I went down to the desert and hiked among the beautiful wildflowers that the abundant winter rains produced. 22:7). James is giving us some tests of true faith. The teaching is double-edged: prosperity for obedience, adversity for disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:14-68). Christ's riches are like the eternal springs of the earth, which cannot dry upbut are and shall be diffused by his Spirit and gospel, until his whole house be filled with them. IMDb is the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. He promised the Israelites He would reward them materially for faithful financial giving (Deuteronomy 15:10; Proverbs 3:9-10; 11:25; Malachi 3:8-12). In Christ are hidden "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" ( Colossians 2:3 ). True faith has joy even when it faces trials (1:2-4). Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. When you pray for the lost, pray that they will come under conviction for their sin. One preacher compared it to a man who was tracking out the confines of what he thought to be a small lake. Surely thats not what He wants for us either. 11:4). The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. 28:11; 15:27). Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. They were not quite as spectacular as the Colorado wildflowers in the summer, but almost. Newton knew that sinners may freely partake of the unfathomable riches of Christ. James does not say, Blessed is the man who never goes through trials. Nor does he say, Blessed is the rich man. Rather, Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial. Testing has a way of leveling the rich and the poor. If true, what implications does this have for Christian psychology. 11 ratings1 review. He allows trials into our lives to drive us to a deeper experience of His all-sufficiency for our needs. Maybe Jonathan Edwards sheds some light on this when he observed (The Works of Jonathan Edwards [Banner of Truth], 2:147), The more holy any being is, the more sweet and delightful will it be to him to behold the glory and beauty of the Supreme Being. He was preaching on Ephesians 3:10, where Paul says that the manifold wisdom of God is now made known through the church to the angelic hosts. If you want to read more about the unfathomable riches of Christ, read Spurgeon or Martyn Lloyd-Jones, who are far more eloquent than I am and who both experientially knew the riches of Christ far better than I do. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. Thus we should see ourselves only as saints who occasionally sin. Verse 19. The "supplying of every need out of the riches" of God's love can only have its consummation in the "glory" of the future. Both need to develop the humility that comes from bowing before Gods grace. Job, the most righteous man on earth, repented in dust and ashes when he had his encounter with God (Job 42:6). Lesson 20: The Unfathomable Riches of Christ (Ephesians 3:8) God's Incomparable Riches Mean You Lack Nothing - TGC Africa 527 KB. One of the greatest incentives that the Bible offers believers to guard them from being enslaved by money, possessions, or riches is that God is incomparably rich. And yet, when Paul came to Ephesus and preached the unfathomable riches of Christ, so many got saved that it threatened the idol-makers business. 2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 1 Thessalonians 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. In Him, Christians are rich in spiritual abundance and the goodness of Jesus (2 Corinthians 8:9). Later in the morning, he hired some more, promising to give them whatever is right. 2:8-9), but we dont enter into the full enjoyment of it until after we have persevered in the race that God has given us to run in this life. This book has caused me to grow in my Christian walk by broadening my understanding of heaven, correcting my wrong notions and it's given me a whole new level of excitement about Jesus! Were all going to die soon. 10:19). The concept of self-esteem that has flooded the church in the past 35 years, comes from worldly psychology, not from Gods Word. Even among the Lords people, some had more important things to do today than to come and explore more deeply the unfathomable riches of Christ. Skeptics, who have no concept of the reality of spiritual truth, would no doubt mock James advice at this point. KJV: I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; He didnt proclaim to them how they could go through baptism or receive the Lords Supper or pray the rosary or go through any other religious ceremonies or rituals to get right with God. It is my normal, weekly experience to feel overwhelmed by inadequacy as I attempt to preach Gods Word. In, on, among. 2:12-13 and 3:12-14 Secular people learn these principles and put them to work in business, and they prosper as a result of it. The name it and claim it or health and wealth heresy is a perversion of Gods Word that uses false promises to appeal to the greed of its victims. Why this disparity? The heavenly Father who protected Rex Worthy through childhood still empowers him today. Discover Your Riches in Christ help you to possess your spiritual possessions in Christ. Thus James tells the poor that they are rich in Christ and the rich that they are poor in their humiliation in Christ. Php. and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised. Christ took the punishment for sins, died, and rose to life to bring salvation to all who believe. It makes me realize how little of these immeasurable riches of Christ that I experience personally. Print length. Second. To persevere in trials with joy, adopt Gods eternal perspective on poverty and riches. The picture here is of the believer struggling and striving in the contest, but the reward of the crown awaits him at the end if he perseveres. 1:5). Thus says the Lord, Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things, declares the Lord (Jer. and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Embrace God's gift of friendship and form a deeper relationship with Him. All of Christ, "who for our sakes became poor that we. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. As we saw last week, Paul was so overwhelmed by Gods grace that he couldnt stop repeating himself. Second, we can glory in the fact that God has shown us the essence of true happiness and honor. Copyright 2023 In Touch Ministries. 4:7), What do you have that you did not receive? Her teaching ability gives readers the . Christ did not die for you or me because we were worthy! . The Believer's Unfathomable Riches in Christ | Bible.org For the outcome of those things is death. He and his money will soon fade away. This study of the Book of Ephesians focuses on the spiritual riches we find in Christ. but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. The new covenant brings not the temporal inheritance promised Israel, but an eternal inheritance (Hebrews 9:15). Ephesians 1:3 ESV - Blessed be the God and | Biblia The poor believer must glory in his eternal riches in Christ (1:9). ``BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. We have computers, TVs, and dozens of other gadgets to make life more comfortable. The spiritually hungry are sinners who see their need for forgiveness. From pleres; to make replete, i.e. Is God also on the side of wealthy cultists, dishonest business executives, and immoral entertainers? Publication date. Parallel Verses. Rich in Spirit. Yet the same word is used eleven times in the positive sense, each time referring to spiritual, not material, riches (Romans 11:33; Ephesians 1:18; Philippians 4:19; Colossians 1:27). This is why the doctrine of election is so important: it removes any ground for boasting in ourselves. Third, the Old Testament sometimes associates the poor with the humble and righteous, and the rich with the wicked oppressor, thus merging the economic with the spiritual (Ps. It would not be good news to hear that you must first clean up your life to qualify for these riches. So I had to limit myself to verse 8, which shows us that. Thus James (1:27) says that one aspect of pure religion is to visit the orphans and widows in their distress, A profession of faith that ignores the physical needs of a brother is dead faith (2:15-16). He also promises to meet every need through His limitless resources (Phil. Have you discovered a congregation to callhome? If we are saved because of our choice, we have grounds for boasting. How to Know Your Position in Christ | Cru Phil. Commentators are pretty evenly divided. It has the idea of being tested and passing the test, so that Gods Good Housekeeping stamp of approval is on your life. Rather, he proclaimed to them the good news of the unfathomable riches of Christ. The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. They often do not see their need for God, because they trust in their money (Prov. Get personalized recommendations, and learn where to watch across hundreds of streaming providers. ", Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? Stedman draws from the entire book of Ephesians the encouragement that comes from reviewing the resources and riches of a life with Christ, and the facts that undergird the Christian faith. He wrote to them (1 Cor. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. 35-36; and Peter Davids, Commentary on James [Eerdmans], pp. Or, he may be tempted to feel neglected by God because of his poverty. . When we received Jesus Christ as our personal savior heaven opened up, God pured out His lavish grace, and gave us everything there was to give in Christ. IMDb is the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole. Prosperity theology says that Gods plan is always for us to be wealthyand to spend our money primarily on ourselves. We see this with Isaiah, who instantly became aware of his sinfulness when he saw the Lord. 1:20). PDF Position in Christ - Cru Finally, an hour before quitting time, he hired some others. James tells him to glory, rather, in his humiliation as a believer. Are material wealth, achievement, fame, victory, or success reliable indicators of Gods reward or approval? The treasures of the Lord's storehouses are not gold or costly goods, but provision, care, and spiritual blessings. Because God was determined that New Testament saints would understand that their home is in another world. Rich in Spirit - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints For instance, God gave material wealth to Abraham (Genesis 13:1-7), Isaac (Genesis 26:12-14), Jacob (Genesis 30:43), Joseph (Genesis 39:2-6), Solomon (1 Kings 3:13), and Job (Job 42:10-17) because He approved of them. See more resources onmoney and giving, as well as Randy'srelated books, including Giving Is the Good Life, Money, Possessions, and Eternity,and The Treasure Principle. If we have Jesus Christ, then we have every spiritual blessing (Eph. 104 pages. 5:8). Page Flip. Why do all the faithless live at ease? (Jeremiah 12:1). Both rich and poor are prone to pride. Spiritual Riches by Christ. For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Its interesting that this instruction was written by Paul, whose loyalty to Christ earned him severe persecution. Put God first in your life. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. The psalmist said, I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil (Psalm 37:35), and I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. In difficult circumstances, those who call on the Lord discover He is all they reallyneed. Blessed means happy, but it means more than happy. They worshiped at the pagan Temple of Diana, which involved immorality with the temple prostitutes. Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites. 11:28). With a love for the Word (including the Aramaic, Greek and Hebrew root words) the author extracts Scripture with an ease that is exemplary. Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. 1991 - 2023 Eternal Perspective MinistriesAll Rights Reserved. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Is it wrong for the poor to seek to better their financial condition? Paul was like the workers in Jesus parable (Matt. Our closets are bulging with so many clothes that it takes us a while to decide what we want to wear each day. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. Some were too tired or too busy. If the person you are talking with is clearly broken and repentant over his sin, you dont have to hammer it so hard. Nearly every false doctrine has a true component hidden in it that gets twisted and perverted. In the New Testament, the Greek word ploutos is used six times for material riches put to evil purposes (Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19; Luke 8:14; 1 Timothy 6:17; James 5:2; Revelation 18:17). The rich see no need for salvation. Psalm 104:24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! The Savior said, "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven," not on earth, where "moth and rust doth corrupt" ( Matthew 6:19-20 ). Can Gods people today lay claim to those Old Testament promises of prosperity? How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! And, later in life (1 Tim. In Deuteronomy 28:1-13, God tells the Israelites that He would reward their obedience by giving them children, crops, livestock, and victory over their enemies, but He also tacks on fifty-four more verses describing the curses that would come upon the nation if they didnt obey Himincluding diseases, heat and drought, military defeat, boils, tumors, madness, and blindness. When earth becomes our Heavenwhen we see Gods blessings as being primarily immediate and temporalwe lose sight of who we are, why we are here, and what awaits us beyond the horizons of this world. He wrote his own epitaph: John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was by the mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had so long labored to destroy. Late in life he said, My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Savior! (In A Frank Boreham Treasury, compiled by Peter Gunther [Moody Press], pp. John Newton, a drunken slave trader who experienced the unfathomable riches of Christ and became a pastor and the author of Amazing Grace, put a plaque with Deuteronomy 15:15 over his mantle: Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee., Late in life, a pastor friend noticed that Newton was showing signs of old age and urged him to stop preaching and take life easy. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. Today, He promises to supply all our needs "according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:8), More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ. Christianity is at its heart a matter of knowing Jesus Christ personally.

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