R346 What a Blessing

God has an encouraging word for you and me today. The Bible-based preaching of Dr. Don Wilton and a message: what blessing as we study the word together would love to bless you by praying with you in connection with resources we can do that on the phone at 86699 word 866-899-9673.

We love to connect with you now. Please take a copy of God's word this morning and turn with me to Paul's letter to the Ephesians, chapter 1, Ephesians chapter 1 the greatest thing that God could've done for man was that Jesus Christ, the son would come to this earth. Then die upon the cross in order that we might live. What a blessing. That's our subject. This morning I want to read from verse seven of Paul's letter to the Ephesians in Christ Jesus. We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with full wisdom and understanding, and 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 will have reached their fulfillment to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, with the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory, and you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you will law in him with the CU, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession all to the praise of his glory. What a blessing may the Lord write his word upon our hearts this morning. This would redemption that we find right throughout Scripture and then Janet sang about so beautifully just a moment ago written in red. It comes from a legal term and it has six basic meanings in Scripture and I wanted to share those with you very briefly because they help us to understand somewhat of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us six meanings about the term that we find right there in verse seven in him we have redemption through his blood, one, it may be legal acquittal that is you are acquitted legally in a court of law, from a possibility of having been found guilty for a crime.

Romans 425 tells us about that number two second meaning it means cancellation of addict. I like that one particularly why because it speaks about carbon.

It means forgiveness we read about it in Romans four, seven Ephesians chapter 1 verse seven that we just read about and it has everything to do with the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ has acquitted us.

He has canceled the day once and for all. 1/3 meaning it means the legal process of adoption. One of the most joyful things that some couples experience is the joy of adopting a baby a wonderful thing. It's a process and it involves legal processes and documentation. The Bible talks about this. Romans 815 Ephesians chapter 1 in verse five and when Jesus Christ died upon the cross, the redemption that we have is tantamount to the fact that in him we become legally and willfully adopted into the family of God's grace. You know the remarkable thing even though that child may not have been born by those birthparents. I want you to know something when children are adopted, my friends.

They all 100% in every sense 100%.

An integral part of their adoptive family in every sense a full meaning behind the word redemption it means to reconcile to disputing parties. Romans 510, Paul talks about it. Second Corinthians 518 through 20. God has taken the dispute that exists between God and man because of our sin and the word of God says because of redemption. We become reconciled to the father.

1/5 meaning it means that we are born for the price in the marketplace here.

When Paul was writing the letter to the Ephesians. The Roman Empire had over 6 million slaves. They understood what it was and what it meant to be bought with a price and if you wanted to gain the slaves freedom.

What you did is you went to God by him from his former foster and then when you board team use a theme free you say theme free bolting with a price. What is the Bible say we read about it in Revelation 519 in Galatians 313 and it's on and on.

The Bible says my friends that we are literally bored with the price of the Lord Jesus Christ. But there's a six meeting behind redemption. It means my friends that we are released from captivity. I love that you know Jesus said Jesus said in John chapter 8 and verse 34 everyone who commits sin is what is a slave to sin. Paul put it like this. He said all of us have sued and come short of the glory of God.

And guess what happened. You see soon my friend is man's & captives man puts them in bondage and the bonds release. What is day death is the price for sin. It is the end result about captivity and death. My friend is the price that has to be played for our redemption. So what is redemption.

What then is redemption. What was the apostle Paul talking about why was there such a blessing. Why is this the longest verse in all of Scripture. Why in the original language. All they know punctuation marks. I mean it just goes on and on. It just bubbles up.

You can feel it coming from these 12 layers. The apostle Paul doesn't even know how to get a hold of himself, why is he so excited about the redemption that we have in the Lord Jesus Christ. Why because redemption is the act of God which the price was played in full. That's what redemption is it is God's ultimate act in which the price for our sin has been paid in full. I spoke to someone this week again happens week off a week in day off today.

There are people in this congregation. Others watching by way of television. Today, he would say, but pasta. How could I ever be forgiven off to what I've done. I've got such good news for you this morning.

The price has been paid in full. That is God's ultimate act that is God's grace that is the love of God, the epitome of everything that God is that he would reach down to us as soon as condemned to die. And because of the blood of Jesus Christ.

You and I have been set free. That's what Paul is trying to say in verse seven in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sin in accordance with the riches of God's grace is everything to do with the grace of God by one of the elements of redemption three elements I want to give them to you. Number one, the Redeemer you cannot talk about redemption without talking about God. Verse six the first part there is talking about the grace of God, not Manny's grace deceives the Old Testament concept of the kinsman redeemer that begins to revoke here in the opening verses of these related to the Ephesians, the kinsman redeemer qualified a person to be a kinsman redeemer number one he have to be related to the one needing redemption, he have to be. He couldn't be a kinsman redeemer. If he wasn't related to the one who needed to be set free will. How did God overcome that God so loved the world that he gave his only son wanted Jesus do. Jesus became one with us. He was related to us.

He was, he is man.

He was fully God and fully man.

He took upon himself the sins of the world, even though he knew no sin but there was a second qualification he have to be able to pay the price.

And God said, you are my son, you are the only one who is capable of, and you are the only one who has mild authority to do what to pay the price for Manderson. Now mankind today doesn't want to accept that. So what we do we go to church. We go to seminary. We sing in the choir. We go on tour. We play the piano.

We give money to the building fund.

We stand on our hands. We get involved in everything we sing songs we stand up and we preach and we say I'm going to do whatever it takes and whatever I can do in order to gain God's forgiveness and his grace, and the Bible says that there was only one person who is qualified to be our kinsman redeemer and that was the Lord Jesus Christ. Why because he alone is the son of the living God.

He is related to us because he became man.

He's able to pay the price because he has the permission of his father which is in heaven but in the third place. He is qualified because he was willing to do so. There was nothing reluctant about the Lord Jesus Christ. There was no hesitancy. The Bible says God's love is demonstrated toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ willingly gave his life for us. He was willing to sit us free.

Can you imagine that just for one month. There's the Redeemer. But second element is the redeemed.

That's us. Verse one tells us about it to the sites which are in Spartanburg South Carolina. In my later in the encourager this week I started out trying to be like Paul to all faithful brethren in Spartanburg. Paul was talking about the redeemed he was talking about the focus of God's grace. He was talking about the most wonderful news that could ever be shared with any person at any time and that is that all people, all people are eligible for God's grace.

No one is exempt.

The word says red and yellow in black-and-white. All people are so precious in God's sight Redeemer in the redeemed within the third element is the redemptive price. What did it cost in order for us to be safe free. That's what verse seven is all about, and it points right there.

Janet Pascoe to the blood of Jesus exactly what you and our choir was singing about a moment ago all the blood of the Lord Jesus. Why because it was the blood that bought men back from the slave market.

I want you to will turn with me to Hebrews get your Bibles turn with me to Hebrews chapter 9. Love to hear those pages turning here in God's house. Hebrews chapter 9 listen to verse 12 through 14, the Bible says that Jesus did not enter by means of the blood of goats and cars, but he entered the most holy place once for all.

How by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are awkward between how much more then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God claims our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God, Peter put a black person first grade. He said we are not redeemed with perishable and corruptible things like silver and gold, but with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Isn't it wonderful.

What a blessing my friends to think this morning that every single one of us are prime candidates to receive the riches of God's grace because he shed his blood upon the cross. So why is this a blessing. Let's just look at it very briefly why is redemption. Such a basic reason number one because we receive forgiveness through redemption. That's what the word tells us it is undeserved. It is free and it is completely concrete. The psalmist tells us in Psalm 103, he said, guess what God takes your sin, and he costed as far as the east is from the waist and he remembers it flow more what takes place. Number one, we are forgiven of our sin when we trust by faith and repentance in Jesus Christ.

Number two. It enables us to go and forgive somebody else is there somebody else that you haven't forgiven. That's what redemption does for you but number three you listening.

Number three. It helps you to forgive yourself, friends, I become more and more convinced today that one of the greatest problems that we have is our inability to forgive ourselves and we carry oldest baggage around with us all the time and we just can't I see some people who are so loaded and weighed down. They just salute down. They carry oldest baggage with them all the time because of what they've done, though they haven't done and what is God's word say God's word says that because of the redemption that we have in Christ Jesus.

Number one, we are six free burdens are lifted at Calvary number two by his grace, he enables us to forgive others for what they've done to us, and the number three. He helps us to forgive our soon to be six free within our own hearts and lives one race to think that we have the forgiveness of God in Christ Jesus. But there's a second reason why this is such a blessing because we received wisdom and prudence could be adversely look at the site in Ephesians remarkable verse that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding you say to me pasta. What in the world's wisdom, according to what Paul was trying to say wisdom my friends, is the knowledge that sees into the heart of things when you receive Jesus Christ as your Savior. And when you appropriate and applied. He's redemptive grace in your own life because it is been freely given to you. One of the blessings God gives to you is wisdom, and wisdom.

My friend is the knowledge that helps you to see into the heart of things.

It is intellectual knowledge but running alongside on a parallel track. The apostle Paul says in verse eight I'm not only God not only gives to you wisdom, but he gives you prudence or understanding what is understanding and prudence. It's discernment. It is inside. It is practical wisdom. It is a practical understanding. So listen to this watch me for a minute as a born-again believer. God's taken care of the whole person. He's taken care of your intellectual knowledge and then he's taken care of your practical understanding one satisfies the mantle and the mind, the other leads to write, conduct, we take what God is given to us in the appropriation of our mind and because of the spiritual wisdom of God's grace he enables us to see things that we cannot see without in finite minds, but once we get beyond that point God puts upon us. He is understanding and prudence, which is the practical working of the intellectual basis that God is given us to stand upon. In other words, he says I'm going to take you from the church place to the marketplace. He says if you're a politician I'm going to take you from the ballot box to box to the White House. He says if you're a schoolteacher I'm going to teach you my great truth and I'm going to let you take it from the book into the classroom. He said I'm going to enable you to apply riches of my because of redemption given through the Lord Jesus Christ.

The practical application of all that are it gives us the ability to obey him when he lost the question how we going to get by without the Lord Jesus Christ. The hymn writer said without him.

I am absolutely nothing friendless, according to what Paul was saying outside of the redemption of Jesus Christ. The world is hopeless, people are helpless. Listen to what the French philosopher Andre my wife had to say this is what he said, quote the universe is in different who created it. Why are we on this puny Monday spinning in infinite space.

I do not have the slightest idea and I am convinced that no one has the least idea Ernest Hemingway well respected author, novelist on his deathbed, he said, crying out my life is as empty as a broken television with the plug pulled out of William Shakespeare, one of the greatest playwrights that evolution writing and probably his most well-known drama Mac base. This is what he said and I quote he said history is a tale told by an idiot, he of sound and fury signifying nothing. What hopelessness the world out there.

My friend is standing on platforms from San Diego to Chicago making all kinds of wonderful pronouncements about how the world is going or sort itself out and turn around when I'm going to say to you, my friend, that when God by his grace sent Jesus Christ to die upon the cross, he said I'm not only going to get to you my forgiveness.

I'm going to pour out upon my people not only wisdom but I'm going to give you brutal understanding.

I'm going to make a hopeless hopeful I'm going to like the helpless Sense and purpose in life. I'm going to turn around time to give you meaning to write a new song upon your heart onto your prayer the very fabric of your being, and I'm gonna make you a real person again. And because I'm the only person who can do it alone. God, the Lord your God and you shall have no other gods before me. Because I am placing please forgive the interruption will be back with more of Dr. Wilton's message in just a moment, but so many folks are asking about this wonderful DVD that we have available on our website right now ITE W online.org celebrating the life and legacy of Ruth Bill Graham.

Not only does it have a great deal of insight on refill brand but also special performance from billing Gloria Gaither again if you're interested, visit our website TE W online.org to discover more now back to today's message. What a blessing with Dr. Don Wilton forgiveness wisdom and understanding that there's 1/3 reason for the blessing we receive a holy heritage.

Verse 11 in him we were also chosen in the Greek text my friend that reads quite accurate in him we were also made heirs. You could also translated. We also receive and heritage and yet the apostle Paul is saying what a blessing this is why, because it points to the aspect of salvation which is primarily future. We were predestined before the world began, we received redemption in this present age but we will receive our completed heritage when we are transported by the angels to be seated at the feast table of the King of Kings and Lord of lords, and I'm here to make an announcement this morning that when you give your life to Jesus Christ – loses its victory why because we will receive a holy heritage.

But there's 1/4 blessing.

There's 1/4 blessing, we will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

I want you to notice that we not talking about the gifts that first Corinthians 12 talks about here it is in verse 13 and 14, having believed, you were mocking him with the seal. The promise of the Holy Spirit what is the gift of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus went back to heaven he said don't be afraid I'm going to send my spirit at Pentecost. The spirit came down in cloven tongues of fire and filled those that put their and they knew that they were in the presence of the King of Kings and Lord of lords.

The gift of this is the guarantee of God's celebration in the life of his believed. How does he do it two ways. First of all, he put the seal upon you. That's what the word says it is the mark of God see what is the seal do it does three things it authenticates you as being genuine. Number two it renders you as being secure. Number three.

It didn't notice God's ownership of your life. I want to run those by again number one the seal of God's Spirit in your life.

My friend authenticates you as being a genuine product number two. It absolutely settles the issue of your security according to Matthew chapter 27 in verse 66 and number three.

It denotes ownership. Revelation 7 verse three it means that you belong to God. That's what it means you are seeing with a block of the Holy Spirit.

God has given evidence.

You belong to him. That's not only the first there's the second thing the Bible says that the gift of the Holy Spirit is your deposit is God's deposit guarantee. It is his Ernest look at verse 14. What is it it's like an engagement ring whereby the true object froze to one another, accepting one big difference once God puts these guarantee he's deposit is earnest upon your life no matter what you happen to feel about it. You never going to get that ring back to him again. God has saved you once and for all. So what is the gift of the spirit. It is God's guarantee and God's pledge to the life of all believers. Wow, what a blessing redemption, forgiveness, wisdom and understanding of holy heritage. The gift of the spirit. What is it do for me. It makes me want to worship him. It encourages me and it absolutely warns of Oaxaca, so to tell every person, every man and woman, boy and go that you must you must give your life to the Lord Jesus Christ. You must because without him nothing friend I'm nothing with him.

We have everything you been listening to Dr. Don Wilton if he's been preaching and teaching God's word from Ephesians chapter 1 in the pulpit. Now he steps into the studio to share his heart. Are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why don't you pray this prayer with me right now. Dear God, I know that I was seven and I know that Jesus died for me on the cross. Today I repainted my sin and by faith I receive you into my in Jesus night, my friend.

I welcome you today into the family of God. This is exciting news and by the way, don't go away because I'll be right back and just. Perhaps you just prayed with pastor giving your life to Jesus Christ re-dedicating your life. We have wonderful resources. Dr. Don Wilton's you have absolutely free if you call us at 866899 word that's 866-899-WORD 9673 or email us at online@tewonline.org that's TE W online.org we have a number of resources that we believe God can use to strengthen your walk of faith here is Dr. documents.

One particular what you not love to be a part of your daily devotional love to be able to sing The Encouraging Word daily devotional be a part of what God sees to each one of us through his word every day. You can become part of that and received one your self from me just go online to TW online.org. Next, T. W online.org and get your copy of The Encouraging Word devotion today that number called his 866-899-WORD 866-899-WORD 9673 or email us at online@tewonline.org remember this broadcast ministry is sponsored by The Encouraging Word and your generous prayer and financial support. Thank you so