This podcast covers Lesson 6 of the Graceful Living Bible Study.

Lavished with Treasure in Christ

"It is as though (Paul) was ecstatically opening a treasure chest, lifting its jewels with his hands, letting them cascade through his fingers, and marveling briefly at them as they caught his eye." (Dr. Constable’s Notes on Ephesians 2019 Edition, p. 15 regarding Ephesians 1:3-14)

We receive every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 1:3)

• These blessings are associated with the heavenly realms—the unseen world of spiritual reality. God and all angelic beings, both good and bad, operate in this unseen dimension. John 3; 2 Kings 2:11; 6:8-17; Daniel 9:21-23; 10:12-14; Matthew 26:53
• When Christ was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven, He was exalted over all the powers there in the unseen world—angels, demons, and Satan. We as believers, all of us (the Church), join Christ there. Ephesians 1:20-22; 2:6; 3:10

Blessing jewel in Ephesians 1:4—chosen to be holy and blameless

• To be chosen does mean that God had a plan from the beginning for all believers to be in Christ and to be made holy and blameless in Him. We are not told how God knows beforehand who will believe in Him. And, God commands all people to believe and that the gospel is to be preached to all people. Whether Jew or Gentile, all Christians are now called chosen. Acts 16:31; 1 Timothy 2:4; Matthew 28:18-20; Deuteronomy 29:29
• To be chosen does not mean that God chose some people to love and some to not love before any were ever born. God loves everyone, and everyone can believe in Him. John 3:16; Romans 8:38-39

Blessing jewel in Ephesians 1:5—predestined to be adopted as sons & heirs

• Predestined does mean that God determined beforehand that all believers would be adopted as His sons & daughters with full inheritance rights.
• Predestined does not mean that you are a puppet with no control over your "destiny." Individuals choose to be for Him and receive all spiritual blessings plus heaven or choose against Him and receive nothing plus eternal separation from God.

Blessing jewels in Ephesians 1:6-8—redemption, forgiveness, & lavished with grace

• To lavish means “to bestow something in generous or extravagant quantities.” God’s grace is poured out upon us richly. He lavishes us with it though we don’t deserve such favor. Grace is summed up in the name, person, and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. We receive this favor or acceptance from God as a free gift through faith in Christ.

Blessing jewel in Ephesians 1:9-10—revelation

• God has made known to us a mystery that was kept in the heart of God until Christ came. Part of the mystery being revealed is that the Gentiles and Jews are joined together through the gospel into one body, the Body of Christ. Ephesians 3:6
• Another part of God’s plan for the future has been revealed to us so we can know it. His future plan will bring all things in heaven and on earth together under the headship of Christ. We know the what, but we do not know the when.
• God give us this revelation to give us hope as we live in this fallen world.

The blessing jewel of being sealed and secured by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14)

• A seal was a common thing in Paul’s day that carried with it the idea of ownership, identification, security, permanence, and completeness.
• God marks His people as His own through the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
• His seal means we are wanted, valuable and important.
• Being sealed gives us continued assurance that we are God's children and will receive all the inheritance promised to His children—such as heaven, new bodies, and living with Christ in His kingdom. There is no power greater than God who could break the seal, including yourself.
• Sealing also communicates that the contents are prepared and complete. All those gifts of the cross prepare and complete us.
• Sealing takes place the moment you believe in Christ for salvation for all believers. No exception is given. It is immediate and permanent.
• God the Father does the sealing; the Holy Spirit is the seal. Nowhere are we exhorted to ask for it so it must be universal and immediate.
• We are guaranteed all that God has promised for our future. The Holy Spirit being present within us assures us that we are God’s, that He won't forget about us when Jesus returns, that we go to be with Him when we die, that our sins will never again count against us, that we are new creatures and that all those truths about our identity in Christ are ours forever.
• Let your heart overflow in praise and thanksgiving for those blessing jewels which are in your Treasure in Christ. Use prayer, prose, poetry, drawing, song or whatever you choose.

Let Jesus satisfy your heart with His grace so that your life overflows with His grace every day. You will experience a life of freedom and joy!

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