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BLESSINGS                    

Paul tells us about blessings that God has given to us as Gentiles

1. We were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. (Eph. 4:1):
(Eph. 1:4).
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
2. We are fellowcitizines with the saints and the household of God. Eph. 2:19,20:
(Eph. 2:19).
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Eph. 2:20).
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

3. Through Christ's Death we are now unreprovable. (Col. 1:18-22):
(Col. 1:18).
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

(Col. 1:19).
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

(Col. 1:20 ).
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

(Col. 1:21).
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

(Col. 1:22).
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
4. We are complete in Christ. (Col 2:10):
Col. 2:10
And ye are COMPLETE in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
5. Saved by grace through faith alone--NO WORKS. (Eph.2:8-10, Titus 3:5):

(Eph. 2:8).
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

(Eph. 2:9).
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
(Eph. 2:10).
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

(Titus 3:5).
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6. When we were Dead in sin, God made us alive in Christ. (Eph. 2:1-5):
(Eph. 2:1).
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

(Eph. 2:2).
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

(Eph. 2:3).

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

(Eph. 2:4).
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

(Eph. 2:5).
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
7. We GENTILES have redemption through Christ's BLOOD. (Eph. 1:7):
(Eph. 1:7).
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8. There is NOW no condemmation for those in Christ. (Rom. 8:1,2):
(Rom. 8:1).
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
(Rom. 8:2).
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
9. Baptized into Christ's Body by the Holy Spirit. (1Cor.12:13):
(1Cor. 12:13).
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
10. We have been made JOINT HEIRS with Christ. (Rom.8:17):
(Rom. 8:17).
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
11. Law of Spirit of life in Christ freed us from Law of Moses. (Rom.8:2, Col 2:14):
(Rom. 8:2).
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
(Col. 2:14).
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
12. We now have the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST. (1Cor. 1:30):
(1Cor. 1:30).
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
13. We are NOW citizens of heaven. (Phil. 3:20):
(Phil. 3:20).
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
14. We have the promise of being raptured. (Thess.4:16,17):
(1Ths. 4:16).
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

(1Ths. 4:17).
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
15. Blessed with ALL spiritual blessings in the heavenlies. (Eph. 1:3):
(Eph. 1:3).
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
16. We have the Holy Spirit interceding for us. (Rom. 8:26,27):
(Rom. 8:26).
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

(Rom. 8:27).
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
17. We have Christ as our advocate. (Rom. 8:34):
(Rom. 8:34).
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
18. We have been sealed for all eternity. (Eph. 1:13):
(Eph. 1:13).
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
19. Our position is now seated with Christ in the heavenlies. (Eph. 2:6):
(Eph. 2:6).
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
20. Christ is in us--the hope of Glory. (Col. 1:27; 3:4):
(Col. 1:27).
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

(Col. 3:4).
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
21. All trespasses forgiven. (Col. 2:13):
Col. 2:13
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all
trespasses;
22. We have an eternal home in heaven. (2Cor. 5:1-8):
(2Cor. 5:1).
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

(2Cor. 5:2).
For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

(2Cor. 5:3).
If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
(2Cor. 5:4). For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

(2Cor. 5:5).
Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

(2Cor. 5:6).
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

(2Cor. 5:7).
For we walk by faith, not by sight:

(2Cor. 5:8).
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

How many of these blessings can one find recorded outside of the Apostle Paul ?
In Paul's writings alone we find the doctrine, position, walk, and destiny of the church which is HIS BODY. Paul is the only one to talk about the present day church as being the BODY OF CHRIST. (Eph. 1:22,23):
(Eph. 1:22).
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
(Eph. 1:23).
Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Thanks Brother Ambassador, Amen

I second that. Amen.

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
(Hebrews 4:12)

One more Amen

Good one Bro :)

This is my Gem for today. Thanks for posting it.

Still one of my FAVORITES :)

Brother Love :)

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"OUR BLESSINGS IN CHRIST"




  In Ephesians 1, verses 3 to 14, we get a glimpse of the eternal purpose and plan of God which is now being worked out through the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  At the time Paul penned these verses he was suffering untold cruel- ties of earth, but he was enjoying unlimited visions of heaven.   Though he was lodged in a Roman prison, he launches forth into the message of this epistle with the triumphant word "blessed" in (verse 3).

  The clause, "blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" in verse 3, reminds us of this testimony in 2 Cor. 1:3-5:

  "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort where- with we ourselves are comforted of God.  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ."

  Paul seems to never forget the blessing and praise that belongs to our God and Father and to our Lord and Saviour.  Perhaps our prayers would be more far--reaching if they were filled with more praise and gratitude to God for what He has already done, and less begging for things we think He ought to do.

  We call your attention to four things about the blessings of verse 3.  He "hath blessed us with all...blessings."  They are "spiritual blessings."  They are blessings which belong to the "heavenly places."  And they are blessings which are secured "in Christ."

  Seven of these blessings are dealt with in detail in these verses.  They are as follows:

  We were "chosen" in Christ "before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without playing before Him in love" (verse 4).

  God "predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will"
(verse 5).

  "He hath made us accepted in the beloved" (verse 6). That is, He hath made us acceptable to Himself by robbing us in the righteousness of His own Son.

  He has redeemed us through the blood of His Son by which we have "forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace"(verse 7).

  He has instructed us "having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath pur-posed in Himself" (verse 9).

  "He has sealed us with the Holy Spirit of promise" until the day of the redemption of our bodies when the church is caught  into glory (verse 13).

  Finally, He has enriched as with a specified "inheritance" which will be given unto us when we, "the body, the church" meet our Lord  and Head in glory.

  As members of the "church, which is the body of Christ," we are God's children or sons (verse 5). This is true because we are His Son.  Our redemption and the forgiveness of our sins is "according to the riches of His grace" and the riches of His grace" "unsearchable" (Ephesians 3: 8).  Therefore the measure of forgiveness which we enjoy in Christ is the measure of the "unsearchable" riches of Christ.  In Christ we stand "holy and without blame" before God.  God cannot see us as we were in Adam, fallen and condemned; but He sees us as we are in Christ, risen and accounted righteous.  This reminds us of Colossians 1:21--22:

  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblame-able and unreprovable in His site.

  It is true that "we are all as an unclean thing, and all our  righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away" (Is. 64:6).  Yet, it is also true that we who are saved have been  made clean through the blood of Christ and we are now robed in His infinite righteousness.  Therefore, we are a new creation and we no longer belong to the fall race of Adam.  Our citizenship is in heaven and our standing before the Heavenly Father is just as perfect as that of His dear Son, because we stand in Him and in His righteousness.  
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By Ike T. Sidebottom taken from the book Fellowship of the Mystery.

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