It was gone, and there was nothing either of them could do to reclaim what was once theirs. It was a gift given to them, but they relinquished the gift to an evil and ruthless master. They had been given freedom and dominion over God’s creation and they had been given an intimate relationship with God their creator. But they had been deceived into selling that freedom and dominion to another master, an evil master. And, because they sold their freedom and dominion, they also lost that intimate relationship with God. Instead of having dominion, they were dominated, they were enslaved to the one to whom they sold their freedom. They were now slaves to Satan, and it was Satan who caused their degradation and ultimate death. And, because they sold themselves to Satan, all their offspring were born into that same slavery that always ultimately resulted in death. Adam and Eve, our distant ancestors, were once free, but Satan tricked them into distrusting God. Using the freedom God gave them when they were created, they purchased something they thought better than God’s freedom. They thought they would gain knowledge to be equal to God. Pride and distrust were planted in their minds by Satan. By yielding to that pride and distrust they sold themselves and their progeny into slavery to all kinds of depravity, pain, and ultimate death. Although Adam and Eve saw the devastation they caused, they could not turn back the clock and reverse their decision, reclaiming what they had so easily squandered. But God made a commitment to Adam and Eve. God promised that He would remedy the situation. God’s remedy would rescue Adam and Eve and all their descendants, including us, from the slavery resulting from Adam and Eve’s sin. God would rescue us even from the ultimate consequence of death. This promise of rescue was for all people, all races, all nationalities. It was incumbent on Adam and all his progeny to trust and wait for God’s perfect timing to effect the rescue.

And so, Adam and Eve waited and expectantly trusted God’s promise. Adam and Eve went to their graves waiting and trusting. A sample list of saints who lived and died waiting and expecting the fulfillment of God’s promise is shown in the book of Hebrews chapter 11. This is sometimes referred to as the “Heroes of faith” chapter in the Bible. The chapter references Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Samson, David, Samuel, and the prophets. The chapter tells that “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. …  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” Heb 11:13-16. These “heroes” through faith, “subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. … They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted” Heb 11:33-37. But the writer to the Hebrews had this final word about these saints, “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” Heb 11:39-40.

All of those listed in Hebrews chapter 11 waited for and trusted to the ultimate fulfillment of the promise God made to Adam. They all died expecting the remedy but never saw the actual fulfillment. They trusted it, they expected it, and they died in faith waiting for God’s time. What does it mean that “God having provided some better thing for us,” and “they without us should not be made perfect [complete]”? It means that God purposed and completed a remedy for mankind: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ came to do the will of The Father by offering His body as the complete sacrifice for sin forever. And His resurrection from the grave demonstrated that His sacrifice was accepted and complete. The believers in the early church including the author of Hebrews, the Jewish believers, the Gentile believers, and all believers from that time forward including us can look back at the completed event knowing that our sins are forgiven because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This knowledge is what makes it “better” for us. That is the reason the Old Testament saints could not be complete without what we now know. Peter explained the fulfillment of the promise and the fact that the Old Testament saints did not have a complete understanding of the promise when he stated the following, “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven” I Peter 1:8-12.   

It was imperative for God’s remedy to include the death of an innocent and willing sacrifice. The perfect justice of a perfect God required a perfect attitude and perfect obedience from His creation. Perfect justice required transgressions to be punished by death. The consequence of Adam’s transgression was death. God explained that consequence in declaring, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Gen 2:17.Justice required the sentence of corruption and decay, resulting ultimately in death. God’s remedy, however, was that a totally innocent and perfect man would willingly die to satisfy the justice requirement and thereby bring forgiveness to the transgressors. God’s perfect remedy entailed giving Himself as the innocent and perfect man, the One to die to satisfy the justice requirement and bring forgiveness to all transgressors who entrust themselves to God’s remedy. This remedy was pictured immediately after Adam’s transgression. God dressed Adam and Eve in the skins of an animal God had killed for that purpose. Later their son Abel offered a lamb to God. The concept of an innocent being sacrificed to cover the transgressions of the guilty was introduced early, from the first transgression, and continued throughout the Old Testament. Under the Mosaic Law the animals that were sacrificed had to be perfect, without any blemish or physical impairment. That requirement was a picture of the ultimate sacrifice, the perfect and innocent man necessary to cover the sins of a guilty world. The animal sacrifices were only “placeholders,” only pictures or demonstrations of the one sacrifice that would completely satisfy God’s perfect justice.

The writer of Hebrews explains it as follows, “For the law [Mosaic Law] having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? Because that the worshippers once purged should have no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” Heb 10:1-4.These verses explain that the animal sacrifices could never remove sin, they could not provide the remedy. They only showed the remedy in a picture, an object lesson. “Wherefore when He [Jesus Christ] cometh into the world, He saith, ‘Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a body hast Thou prepared me … Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God’ … By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man [Jesus Christ] after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; … For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” Heb 10:5-14. The object lesson shown by the animal sacrifices could not be the ultimate remedy, but it demonstrated the ultimate remedy provided by the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ.   

Paul also explained our forgiveness and righteousness before God in his letter to the Romans. The forgiveness and righteousness are based entirely on the work that Jesus Christ accomplished for us (the remedy). “Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: … Therefore as by the offence of one [Adam] judgement came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [Jesus Christ] the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience [Adam] many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one [Jesus Christ] shall many be made righteous.”  Rom 5:12-19. “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom 6:22-23. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Rom 8:1-2.

God’s perfect justice was satisfied. When Jesus spoke His final words, “It is finished!” from the cross, He knew the work was complete; the remedy promised to Adam and Eve and all their descendants was delivered. All the Apostles’ messages recorded in Acts have the same major focus and theme: forgiveness and reconciliation because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul could give the assurance for himself and all those trusting in the completed work of Jesus Christ, that God would not condemn us. Jesus is the only One with the authority to judge and condemn, but He is the One Who gave Himself for us. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 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.” Rom 8:32-34.

That is the fulfillment of the promise. That is the Good News! 

He was my greatest cheerleader and fan. He never missed a football or baseball game I played from grade school through high school. He always came. I knew he was there even when I was not able to spot him in the stands. There were times I could even hear his voice. Until I reached junior high and high school, he came to almost all practices as well. His presence and support were a great encouragement for me. Just knowing my father was in the stands and wanting me to do well gave me the necessary incentive to never give up, to continue to strive and compete regardless of the difficulty and the outcome of the game. I had an indomitable spirit that was in large part due to my father’s support and encouragement.

He also gave me some very tangible encouragement. In the grade school years there were milkshakes. If I played a good game, which really meant that I gave my best effort, he would stop at the local Dairy Queen and buy a milkshake for me. My father may have been biased about my performance because I do not remember ever passing that Dairy Queen without stopping. In high school the stakes were higher. I would receive an entire frozen cream pie at home after the game and my sister, mother, and father would share one. I thought it was a great tradition and do not remember ever missing a frozen cream pie.

My father was a smart man and a diligent worker. He eventually worked his way to be an instructor of service technicians for all manner of large and small appliances, along with refrigeration and air conditioning systems. He doggedly worked for one company for most of his working life and retired in his early sixties. He had other opportunities that may have proved more lucrative such as a motel complex on the beach in Fort Lauderdale, but they were risky. He had a wife and two children to support, so he chose to stay with the one company to ensure he could provide shelter, food, and necessities for his family. He was a good and conscientious provider. As such, he was not willing to risk the financial and family stability to pursue something unknown and unfamiliar. He provided what our family needed, and it was sufficient.  

By example and counsel my father taught me two important lessons that became an integral part of my life. In sports he taught me to hustle not only in games, but also during practice sessions. He also advised me to be sure the coach knew I was interested in playing. I applied this advice in practice such that the coach asked my father if he was feeding me something different. He explained to my father that I was hustling and hitting like he had not seen me do before. Then, during games I would be constantly at the coach’s side or underfoot letting him know that I was ready to go in the game. This approach and drive carried over into my career as well.

But the most important lesson, and one I think he would be proud to know I applied, relates to familial relationships. My father loved my mother and was always faithful to her. I observed that, and my father explained that principle to me when I became a teenager. That observation and explanation helped keep me in check during my teenage and early adult years. It has also been a guiding principle in my relationship with my wife.

As with most children, there were times when I needed correction. Discipline is the word often used. And, I remember some of those “correction” moments. My father did his best with the application of the “rod of correction.” I did not, and even now cannot, agree with all the correction received, but I know the intent and appreciate my father’s efforts. The correction applied by my father helped me mature and grow to be a more responsible adult.

I have related how my father was an encourager, a provider, a counselor, and a teacher. Another aspect of being a child is inheritance. That was one aspect of parenting my father was not well able to perform. The money he was able to put aside for his retirement was used for his living expenses before he died. It was not really what he wanted, but it was better for the money to be used for his benefit than for him to be destitute to give a benefit to my sister and me. We were in favor of him using the money for himself.

What has all this to do with being a “Child of God?” These aspects, these duties, of our earthly fathers are merely an imperfect reflection of the characteristics of God, our heavenly Father. God is a perfect provider, a perfect teacher, a perfect counselor, has bestowed a perfect inheritance, and is a perfect encourager.

As a Perfect Provider

                The Apostle Paul explained to the Philippians that God would supply all their needs, “But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:19. Such a great statement, and such confidence that Paul showed in God’s ability to provide all that was necessary for the Philippian believers. Paul wrote to the Philippians from first-hand experience. He knew that God supplied his needs while he was in prison in Rome, and that is the place from which he wrote to the Philippians. This was written for our comfort and confidence as well.

                The Apostle Peter made the confident assertion that God has given to believers all things that pertain to life and godliness and has given us promises for us to become partakers of His nature, “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” II Peter 1:3-4. God has given us everything we need to have a godly life because of our knowledge of Him.

                The Apostle John explained it more succinctly, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” I John 3:1. We are called sons of God. We have all our needs supplied. We have all that is necessary to live a godly life. 

                The Apostle Paul explained the greatest of God’s provision for us in several of his letters. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:11-14. “But we are bound to give thanks always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through the sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: hereunto He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” II Thess 2:13-14. “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Thess 5:9. “In Whom [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace;… In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation …” Eph 1:7-13. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek [Gentile].” Rom 1:16.

                The other apostles preached the same salvation that Paul explained. “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name [authority] of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom ye crucified, Whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man [the lame man healed by Peter and John] stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12. “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man [Jesus Christ] is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” Acts 13:38-39.   

                At the birth of John the Baptist, Zacharias, John’s father, gave praise to God and referenced the Messiah (Jesus Christ, not yet born), “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David; … To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant; the oath which He sware to our father Abraham, That He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life.” Luke 1:68-75. Then, when Jesus was dedicated in the temple as a baby, Simeon said these words, “Lord, now lettest Thy servant depart in peace [he was ready to die in peace], according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32. This salvation was God’s greatest provision for us.

As a perfect teacher

                God also teaches and corrects us to mature us in our trust of Him and to purify our actions. “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Rom 8:29. This correction and discipline conforming us to the image of Jesus is explained in more detail by the author of Hebrews, “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, ‘My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou are rebuked of Him:’ For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons … Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Heb 12:5-11.

As a perfect counselor

                When we need advice or counsel, our God is the foremost and best resource. Paul explained, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, ‘Abba, Father’ [dear daddy].” Rom 8:14-15. To be led by the Spirit of God is to allow God to guide our manner of life, not to yield to what our fleshly nature wants, but to yield to God. This is accomplished in us by our trust in the work of Jesus Christ. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the  flesh, but after the Spirit.” Rom 8:1-4.And, “This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Gal 5:16-17. “But the fruit of the Spirit [that which the Spirit of God produces in us as we submit to His counsel] is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If [since] we live in the Spirit, let is also walk in the Spirit.” Gal 5:22-25. Walking in the Spirit is walking in His counsel.

Bestowed a perfect inheritance

                Since we are God’s children by our trust in Jesus Christ, we have an inheritance. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God [our inheritance] is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom 6:23. The writer of Hebrews gives a more detailed explanation of the idea of inheritance and the full content of our eternal life inheritance. “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. … How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause He is the mediator of the new testament [a legal will], that by means of death [the death of Jesus Who mediates this legal will], for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament [the old will], they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” Heb 9:11-15. “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figure of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; for then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Heb 9:24-28. That inheritance is our salvation. It is eternal life with Him. It lasts forever.

A perfect encourager

                When Jesus walked this earth as a man, there were times He looked for and received encouragement from the Father, just like we do. It is interesting to note what seemed to be a great encouragement to Him. “Then cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith to her, ‘Give me to drink.’ (For His disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat).” John 4:7-8. This simple request for a drink of water from the well is the beginning of Jesus’ discourse with the woman. The comment about the disciples being gone to buy food will be visited again later. Jesus set the stage for the conversation with the woman, and a lesson of encouragement for the disciples.

                After Jesus had His conversation with the woman, she ran back to the village telling the people about the Messiah she met. The villagers then came out of the village toward the well. While Jesus watched them come, the disciples returned with food and encouraged Jesus to eat. Jesus stated that He had already eaten. When they questioned Him, He pointed to the people coming out of the village to see and talk to Him. Instead of ignoring the woman’s testimony, they wanted to come and see for themselves. Many in the village believed in Jesus both from the woman’s statements and because they talked to and listened to Him. Because the woman believed and the villagers believed, that was an encouragement to Jesus.

                Jesus was teaching a crowd in a house when four men brought in a pallet a friend who had palsy. When they could not get into the house because of the crowd, they carried him to the roof, opened it, and lowered the man through the roof in front of Jesus. Jesus saw the faith of the men and healed their friend. He rewarded their trust in Him, and I expect their faith and persistence was an encouragement to Jesus (Luke 5:17-20). There was another incident in which a Roman, a centurion, wanted Jesus to heal his servant. The centurion explained that Jesus had no need to come to the house; merely a word spoken by Jesus had the authority to heal the servant. Jesus indicated that the centurion, a Gentile, had greater trust than the Jews in Israel (Luke 7:1-10). I am sure that the faith (trust) of the centurion was an encouragement to Jesus.

                Just as Jesus received encouragement from His father, so He encourages us as our heavenly Father. We need to learn to look for these kinds of encouragement from God in our own lives. Many times, it is simple things, things we do not realize are the workings of God’s Spirit within us. Be observant and pay attention to even “little” answered prayers, small conversation opportunities with loved ones, acquaintances, and strangers. There are many ways that God can give us “milkshake” or “frozen cream pie” encouragements.

The Summary

So, what does it mean to be a “Child of God?” We recognize God as our heavenly Father. He has provided our salvation from sin and its penalty. We have been adopted into God’s family, which means we have everything we need; He has provided all. He teaches us even during the hard circumstances of life. He guides our lives and gives us direction and meaning. He has provided an inheritance that will last forever, even beyond this life. And He gives us encouragement in big and little things He allows us to do as we spend our lives trusting Him and serving others.  

                The formal definition of “life” as specified in the Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary is an organism having “functional activities including metabolism, growth, and reproduction.” Metabolism is defined in the same dictionary as, “the chemical changes in living cells by which energy is provided for vital processes and activities and new material is assimilated to repair the waste.” And “the sum of processes in building up and destruction of protoplasm incidental to life.” When a human life is conceived the processes of metabolism are initiated and growth begins. Life, from the formal definition, has begun. The body in which the life abides is not fully developed or functional at first but develops and grows rapidly. Once the body is born it continues rapid development and growth for around eighteen to twenty years until reaching physical maturity. Even at physical maturity the metabolic processes continue through the prime years and eventually into old age. When that physical body dies the metabolism stops. The life ceases.

This “life,” as described in the formal definition, is very temporary. It typically lasts seven, eight, or nine decades. It may also cease much sooner, sometimes even before birth. Humans were created to live forever, but our ancient ancestors, the original man and woman from whom all humans descend, were tricked into distrusting the provision given to them by God. That distrust introduced sin into our world, resulting in pain and death.

God, however, provided a restoration of that “forever” life for those who desire it, those who hunger and thirst for a life with God. Jesus declared, “Blessed [happy, favored] are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matt 5:6. Righteousness is a right standing with God. It is a restoration of fellowship with God which the originator of humanity lost when distrusting God and introducing sin. John wrote of that righteousness but called it life. “In Him [Jesus Christ, the Word of God] was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4. Jesus also taught the idea of a new life, a restored life, when talking to Nicodemus. “Except a man be born again [receive a new life], he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3. Nicodemus did not understand, so Jesus explained a little more. “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:5-6. Jesus was explaining that the new life came directly from God (Spirit). John explained that concept earlier in his book, “As many as received Him [Jesus Christ, the Word of God], to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:11-13.

 God is the one who gives this new “forever” life. When one believes the gospel, the message of Jesus Christ, the one believing receives the Spirit of God, is born of God. And that new birth is the birth of the new life. John recorded more of Jesus’ teaching on this new life, the life that is eternal. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. … He that believeth on Him [Jesus] is not condemned.” John 3:16-18. Jesus told the woman in Samaria, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14. Jesus was obviously talking about something other than natural (physical) water and referencing something more than the natural, physical life. Jesus also spoke to the Jewish religious leaders explicitly telling them that His words bring life to those who listen and believe, “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life” John 5:24. Jesus also admonished them to search the scriptures and they would find that the scriptures referenced Him as the Messiah, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of Me.” John 5:39. But Jesus knew that they would not believe, so He followed the admonition with, “And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life.” John 5:40. Jesus also explained that His words are life, “It is the Spirit that quickeneth [makes alive]; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63.

     Jesus described the new life as full, abundant. “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10. This abundant life Jesus described is not our natural physical lives. He does provide for our physical needs, but the life He is talking about is the new life, the everlasting life. It is abundant. Nothing more is necessary or desirable. He has provided all. Too often we focus on our physical life and look for abundance here and now. Such was a man coming to Jesus asking for Jesus to take his side against a brother in an inheritance issue. Jesus’ response was pointed directly at the man making the request, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Luke 12:15.

  Peter describes the new life given to us by God as an inheritance. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope [living expectation] by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation…” 1Pet 1:3-5. This inheritance will not, cannot lose value. It will not lose its effectiveness, “Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation [manner of life] received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: … that your faith and hope might be in God. … Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Pet 1:18-23. Titus also wrote of that new life, “But after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, … Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7.

Paul explained how the new life changed him, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Gal 2:20. Paul also gave a detailed explanation of the loss of life because of Adam’s sin and the restoration of life through the accomplished work of Jesus Christ, “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. … Being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. … We were reconciled to God by the death of His Son … We also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: … For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ … for the judgement was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offenses unto justification. … by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. … by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” Rom 5:8-18.

The disciples were preaching and teaching in the temple and on the streets that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, and that He rose from the dead. Many people were hearing and believing, but the Jewish religious leaders were not happy with what the disciples taught. “Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.” Acts 5:17-18. The ruling council of the Jews put the apostles in jail and planned to interrogate and punish them the next day. What happened? God opened the jail, let them out, and gave them a commission, “But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth and said, ‘Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.’” Acts 5:10-20. They were commanded to go and speak the words of this new life, this eternal life, that one receives from God when he or she believes Jesus Christ is the Messiah and therefore accomplished the total work of salvation for all people.

What is life? Jesus Christ has given us true life. We are forgiven. We can claim the righteousness that God gives. This new life is forever. We have been made truly alive and are no longer dead in sins. We are now, by Jesus Christ, truly alive and free.

LORD, open my heart and spirit to fully sense that life and freedom. I know Your salvation but teach me to fully joy in that new life, to feel the life of Your Spirit flowing through me. Amen.

                Disgrace as a verb (an action) means to bring reproach or shame, to put to shame or out of favor. Disgrace as a noun means loss of grace, favor, or honor. It is the condition of one fallen from grace or honor. It may also reference something causing a fall from grace or bringing dishonor. Some synonyms that add nuances to the word are shame (painful or humiliating disgrace often suffered because of another’s act or behavior), infamy (stressing notoriety and well-deserved extreme contempt), and opprobrium (implies severe reproach or condemnation). Disgrace implies a loss of favor or esteem once enjoyed or a severe humiliation.

                Adam and Eve were the crowning glory of God’s creation. They were created in God’s image and were given dominion over all the creation. God gave them favor and grace, but something happened. Adam and Eve disgraced that honor, favor, and grace from God. Instead, they favored Satan’s deceitful offer of “wisdom” and distrusted God’s provision. In doing so, they spurned the honor and favor of God. What they received instead of wisdom was shame and opprobrium. They received total disgrace and humiliation. They received condemnation, dishonor, and disfavor. They brought reproach to themselves and to all their progeny. They also confined themselves and their progeny to slavery in Satan’s domain with no possibility to extricate themselves. Through their distrust of God, they spurned His honor, favor, and grace.  They humiliated themselves and suffered complete disgrace and shame, not only for themselves, but for all their descendants forever. 

                God’s design and purpose to favor and honor mankind could not be compromised by the behavioral catastrophe committed by Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve, and all their descendants, suffered complete disgrace, but God had already planned their reconciliation. God planned for One to come, the Messiah, Who would live a life bringing no dishonor, no disgrace, no reproach, no condemnation, always trusting and honoring God. This Messiah, completely innocent of any wrongdoing, would suffer the ultimate humiliation of undeserved death, to redeem all mankind (Adam and his progeny) from Satan’s bondage. Mankind could not extricate themselves because of their own guilt, but the guiltless Messiah could extricate mankind from that enslaved condition by His death and resurrection. The favor and honor of God that Adam spurned, God restored by the death and resurrection of His Son, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ is that Jesus is God incarnate (God in flesh), that He lived a perfect life, that He died a sacrificial death for all the sins of mankind, and that He raised from death to bring us back to a position of honor and favor with God. When one believes that message, he or she (a believer) is no longer in the condition of humiliation and complete disgrace. He or she is in the condition of grace.   

                But the message of Jesus Christ has been disparaged by many. The idea that mankind needs anything from God is considered preposterous. “Foolishness” is the word that describes mankind’s opinion of the gospel (Rom 1:18). And, to a Jewish person, the fact that their Messiah would die as a common criminal by a most humiliating and degrading execution method is offensive. God’s plan, God’s purpose is not attractive (Isa 53). But it was God’s method to return honor and grace to mankind. The Apostle Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ (the message of Jesus Christ) knowing its power to bring us back to God, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth … For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’” Rom 1:16-17. What is that righteousness of God? “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Rom 3:22-26. This gospel that Paul preached and for which Paul felt no disgrace (not ashamed) is the message that declares believers to be righteous before God. God assigns righteousness through the completed work of Jesus Christ. That righteousness is appropriated to those who trust that Jesus did, in fact, die and rise from the dead to reconcile all to God.

                The “trust” is also sometimes called a “hope.” Hope, as used in this context, has a meaning of “expectation, a posture of trust having sound reason for expectation, a confidence.” MCT Greek Dictionary. This is not an “I hope so” kind of hope, but an assurance. It is something we can be confident will happen. This hope assures the believer, the one having this hope, that there is no reason to be ashamed, to be disgraced because of his or her sin and weaknesses. “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By Whom we have access by faith into the grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. … And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Rom 5:1-6.     

                Paul explains the idea of faith and righteousness by referencing some of the Old Testament prophets’ writings, “That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone; as it is written, ‘Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed [disgraced]‘” Rom 9:30-33. “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, ‘Whosoever believeth in Him shall not be ashamed.’ … For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Rom 10:9-13. John also wrote about our confidence in one of his letters, “And now, little children, abide in Him [Jesus]; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” I John 2:28.     

                These scriptures are all encouraging, letting us know that because of God’s redemption in Jesus Christ we no longer need to be disgraced. What does God Himself say about us? “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became Him, for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of One; for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, ‘I will declare Thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee.’ And again, ‘ I will put my trust in Him.’ And again, ‘Behold I and the children which God hath given me.’” Heb 2:9-13.

Jesus Christ, the One paying the price for our sins, our errors, our disgrace, is not ashamed [not disgraced] to call us His brothers. He is not ashamed to claim me as His sibling. I am not a disgrace to Him. He is not ashamed to claim you as His sibling. You are not a disgrace to Him. It was His choice, His purpose, to do all that was necessary to reconcile us to the Father. God could have left humanity floundering, and done nothing to redeem us, or He could have destroyed us and started again. Instead, He instituted the plan to reclaim us (reconcile, redeem) and restore the honor, favor, and grace mankind once had with God. And, He was not ashamed or disgraced to do it. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them and embraced them, … now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.” Heb 11:13-16. God is not ashamed [disgraced] to be the God of those that trust Him. He is not ashamed of us. He is willing, and not ashamed, to be our God.

                It is possible to dishonor God, to disparage His grace. When one does not believe the gospel, the message of Jesus Christ, that distrust of God’s provision dishonors God. Adam and Eve did it initially, but the dishonor and disgrace rebounded back to Adam and Eve. All mankind has suffered that disgrace, but God, in His mercy and grace, provided the method by which God throws off the disgrace: Jesus Christ. He removes that disgrace and provides “robes of righteousness” for those who trust His completed work of salvation. For the unbeliever, the disgrace is not “thrown off” and the unbeliever does not have the “robes of righteousness.” “Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. … He that believeth on Him is not condemned [called into judgement]: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation [verdict], that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:15-19.

                We who believe the gospel of Jesus Christ are not ashamed, not disgraced. The total disgrace, the opprobrium, the dishonor, the condemnation that was thrust upon us by Adam’s transgression was thrown off and replaced by God’s righteousness through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God is no longer ashamed of us and no longer disgraced by us because we believe Him and trust Him for our salvation, our forgiveness, and our acceptance.

                The gospel of Jesus Christ is truly “Good News.”    

The apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesian church about the blessings God had given to them. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ …” Eph 1:3.  Just exactly what are these blessings? What did Paul mean by “all spiritual blessings?” What effect would those blessings have for the Ephesian believers and for believers today?

Paul’s first clause, “Blessed be the God and Father …” is a praise to God. To bless God is to speak well of Him, to praise Him, to thank Him. Paul was stating that God is and should be praised. He should be regarded highly and spoken of with great respect and appreciation. Why? Well, He is God, the Almighty, and He has regarded us with favor. God has favored us with these “spiritual blessings;” gifts that have immeasurable value. These gifts will last beyond our physical lives. These gifts, these “spiritual blessings” are listed by Paul in his letter to the Ephesians as follows:

1. We were chosen by God before the world was created. “He hath chosen us in Him [Jesus Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” Eph 1:4.
2. . “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will…” Eph 1:5.
3. “To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Eph 1:6.
4. We have redemption from the curse and hold of sin by the death of Jesus Christ. Our sins are completely forgiven. “In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” Eph 1:7.
5. . “Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, … That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him” Eph 1:9.
6. . “In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will” Eph 1:11.
7. . “In Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance” Eph 1:13.  

We were chosen by God before the world was created (Eph 1:4)              

God chose us and has made us holy and blameless by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins. “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” I John 1:7. If we are cleansed from all sin, we are holy, blameless. And, we walk in the light if we are trusting Him. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. … That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. … as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” John 1:1-14.

The writer to the Hebrews explains holy and blameless in a little more detail, “we are sanctified [made holy] through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all … this man [Jesus Christ], after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God [place of authority]… For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified [made holy].” Heb 10:10-14. God chose us to be holy and blameless through the sacrifice of Jesus, allowing us to have fellowship with Him. “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more [by the sacrifice of Jesus to remit our sins] …Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, … Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” Heb 10:17-22. 

Another scripture illustrating the fact that we are chosen, holy, and blameless is in the letter to the Romans, “If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 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. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? …I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, …shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom 8:13-39.

We are adopted into His family (Eph 1:5)

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will…” Eph 1:5. We are adopted into God’s family. Moreover, it was God’s purpose to adopt us into His family. The adoption is a pleasure to Him. “But as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13. It is the will of God for us to be sons of God. It is His will and pleasure to adopt us. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, ‘Abba, Father’ [dear daddy]. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Rom 8:14-16.

That Spirit of adoption gives us the confidence that we can approach God as a dear and loving Father. “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” Gal 3:26. Our trust in Jesus and His atoning work is what makes us His children. “When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, … to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, ‘Abba, Father.’” Gal 4:4-6. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. …That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” Phil 2:13-15. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: … now are we the sons of God, and … we know that, … we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” I John 3:1-2. It is a great joy and comfort to know that God has taken pleasure in adopting us.

We are accepted by The Father because we have trusted the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ (Eph 1:6)

“To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Eph 1:6. What does it mean that we are “accepted in the beloved?” The word “accepted” means to endue with special honor, to graciously favor. The “beloved” is the one having been loved. Jesus Christ is the One having been loved by the Father, and we are in Christ when we believe in Him and His salvation. We have been given special honor to be “in Christ,” to be graciously favored by Him. “There is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus …” Rom 8:1. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” II Cor 5:17. “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them”   II Cor 5:19. We are accepted, graciously favored, because we have believed (trusted) the salvation of God through Jesus Christ. 

We have redemption from the curse and hold of sin by the death of Jesus Christ. Our sins are completely forgiven (Eph 1:7)             

Our sins are completely forgiven because of the redemption from sin by the work of Jesus Christ. “Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, …But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: …Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” I Peter 1:18-21. “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God…” I Peter 3:18.  “’For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,’ saith the Lord; ‘I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people: … For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.’” Heb 8:10-12. “Once in the end of [purpose of] the world hath He [Jesus] appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Heb 9:26. “But this man [Jesus], after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” Heb 10:12-14. “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” Rom 4:7-8. “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened [made alive] together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses” Col 2:13. “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins” Col 1:13-14. 

God has revealed to us the mystery of His plan and purpose for us (Eph 1:9)      

God has allowed us to hear and comprehend the mystery of His will, His purpose and plan from the beginning of creation. That mystery was not known until Jesus Christ came and accomplished the purpose of God. The mystery from the beginning was that God would gather believers from all nations and races (people groups) into His family in Christ. “Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, … That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him” Eph 1:9-10. “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: … which none of the princes of this world knew” I Cor 2:7-8. “How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery; … That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel” Eph 3:3-6. “The mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: … which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Col 1:26-27. “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” I Tim 3:16.

A “mystery” is something undisclosed. The Old Testament prophets saw visions of the Messiah, but not the full revelation. The full work of the Messiah was not completely disclosed or revealed to them. It was only in the completed work of the Messiah, Jesus, that the undisclosed is completely revealed (disclosed). We have been given the privilege to see and comprehend that completed and now fully disclosed plan of God reclaiming His creation and bringing us back into His family in Christ.

God has given us an eternal inheritance (Eph 1:11)          

We have obtained an inheritance. There is something God has prepared for us that is ours because of the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. Paul described the commission Jesus gave him as, “ to open their eyes [eyes of Gentiles to whom Paul would be sent], and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me.” Acts 26:18. That inheritance is that we are in the kingdom of Jesus Christ. We are adopted sons of God with all the privilege that sonship provides. “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet [to make sufficiently qualified] to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: in Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins” Col 1:12-14.

An even better explanation of the inheritance is given by the author of the letter to the Hebrews, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause He [Jesus] is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” Heb 9:14-15. The inheritance we receive is eternal. It never goes away and the value never diminishes. Peter explains, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” I Peter 1:3-5.   

God has guaranteed that inheritance by giving us His Spirit (Eph 1:13)

God has also confirmed the inheritance by endowing us with His Spirit. “In Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.” Eph 1:13-14. Peter declared to the Jewish rulers, “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, Whom God hath given to them that obey Him.” Acts 5:30-32. Paul mentions the gift of the Holy Ghost in several places. “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Rom 5:5. “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you … But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken [make alive] your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. … For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” Rom 8:9-15.

Jesus promised the Spirit to His followers, “But when the Comforter is come, Whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, Which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me.” John 15:26. “When He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: … He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you.” John 16:13-14.   

These are the spiritual blessings with which God has blessed us. He has given us the ultimate good. He has:

• Chosen us in Christ before the world was created, that we would be holy and without blame (completely forgiven).
• Adopted us into His family and given us full privileges as His children.
• Accepted us because of our trust in the sacrifice and work of His Son, Jesus Christ.
• Completely forgiven our sins and rescued us from the domain of Satan.
• Disclosed the mystery that Jesus would bring salvation and forgiveness for all people groups (Jews and Gentiles).
• Given us an eternal inheritance that cannot be destroyed or depleted.
• Given us His Spirit, sealing the ultimate disposition of the eternal inheritance to those who trust God’s work and promise.

These spiritual blessings are eternal and have a value much greater than we can imagine on this earth. God is worthy to be blessed – spoken well of, praised.

Praise Him for these blessings. He is worthy to be praised and worshipped.

Thanks LORD, for these great blessings that You have given, by Your Grace.

 I was extremely proud. Arrogant may be the more appropriate word, but it carries a more negative connotation, so I am reluctant to use it to describe myself. At 150 pounds, I was a starting offensive lineman and starting inside linebacker on our high school football team, extremely aggressive and unafraid. I was typically one of the smallest players on the team and the smallest interior lineman and linebacker, and I loved it. I developed that proud (arrogant) attitude after playing a few years until the attitude became pervasive by my senior year. This, of course, was many decades ago (over 5 decades) when players were not as gargantuan as today. Most interior linemen averaged between 180 to 220 pounds with a few being as heavy as 240 pounds. There was only one game in which I was matched against a 300-pound fellow. Moreover, the blocking rules were different. We were able to use position, angles, and quickness, not just extreme size and upper body strength and mass. I certainly could not compete in today’s environment, even if I were young again.

At that time, I was a nominal Christian which helped obscure my arrogant attitude, or at least make it not quite as noticeable or offensive (I think), but it was still there. So much so in fact, I prayed that God would allow me to go one on one, face to face with Satan. I pictured Satan across the line of scrimmage from me. I could block him. I could drive him off the line. I could take him. I was unafraid, and proud of my own abilities, never realizing the folly and sin of my pride. I was already beaten in the one on one but did not know it. God allowed my foolishness and pride for a little time while all along He had some lessons prepared for me.

Because of the size disparity between me and my opponents, I developed an injury to my right shoulder. With certain blocks and hits, the nerve trunk from the spinal cord to my right shoulder and arm was tearing. During my senior year, the injury was occurring at least once each game, sometimes more often. In practices it happened enough that the coach did not allow me in contact drills. Before the end of the season I visited a neurologist who explained what was happening. He told me that the injury would continue to worsen until some block or hit would tear the nerve completely and I would permanently lose the use of my right shoulder and arm. It was devastating news. All my pride in my physical abilities and prowess was dashed. I could not understand why God had allowed such a disaster for me. But God was teaching me about something much greater than my abilities. I learned that confidence in my own perceived abilities was misplaced confidence. And, God was letting me see that the pride and arrogance was itself sin and failure.  

There was a greater victory I could have. This lesson from God, though taught through trying circumstances, was life changing. The lesson was liberating. The lesson was that God already won the victory. He (Jesus) had faced and defeated Satan for me. The battle to defeat Satan was not mine to fight, it was God’s. God defeated Satan. God put Satan to flight. Paul stated it in I Cor. 15:55-57,

“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law, But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Jesus Christ defeated Satan for us. Paul gives a further explanation in Rom. 8:32-39,

“He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. … Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? … Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I learned that I was incapable of winning the battle of sin in my own life, but that God fought and won that battle for me. It was God’s work and it was God’s battle. He is more than adequate to face our adversary. Because of our trust in Him and His work through Jesus Christ, we are victorious. We need to always realize that the battle and victory belong to God. Some examples in the Scriptures illustrate this concept. Asa, a king of Judah, had to face an army of one million invaders from Ethiopia. His prayer is recorded in II Chron. 14:11,

“And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, ‘LORD, it is nothing with Thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on Thee, …’”

Jehoshaphat, a later king of Judah had a similar problem with an invading army. His prayer is recorded in II Chron. 20:12,

“O our God, wilt Thou not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon Thee.”

In both examples God prevailed and defeated the enemies. It was God’s battle. We can also look at David’s trust and confidence in God when he addressed the Philistine warrior, Goliath,

“Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, … that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s …” I Sam. 17:45-47.

Our battles are typically a little different than those of Asa, Jehoshaphat, and David, but the concept is the same. Regardless of the invasion, the problem, the sickness, the persecution, the tribulation, the distress, the whatever, the battle always belongs to God. We need to remember that. Our confidence, our trust, is always directed toward God. As Paul stated in Rom. 8:37 as previously quoted,

“… in all these things we are more than conquerors [given a decisive victory] through Him that loved us.”

Paul also stated in Eph. 6:10-12,

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

No wonder that I could not win by my own efforts. I was overmatched. I had no hope to win. But God changed that. He prevailed against Satan, against the powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness. And God has given us the armour and strength, by His Spirit in us, to stand against Satan’s deluge against us. Isaiah mentioned what God did and does for us in Isa. 59:19,

“When the enemy [anything Satan throws at us] shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard [cause to vanish, chase, put to flight] against him.”

The standard the LORD lifted for us is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That death and resurrection is what put Satan to flight, chased him away, defeated him on his own turf.

Whenever we face the trials and troubles of this life, we know the battle belongs to God, not us. Our confidence is in our God, just as Paul wrote to Timothy (II Tim. 1:7),

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

And because we know we have God’s Spirit for power, love, and sound mind, and we know that we have been redeemed unto God by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we can also trust what James wrote,

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16.

 We are righteous because we believe the message of God’s Son. We know that we are forgiven because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Peter also wrote about our rejoicing even during trials,

“Wherein [in the salvation of God] ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations [even if for a while you are suffering some trials]: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: … Receiving the end [result] of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” I Peter 1:6-9.

In all trials, in all temptations, in all troubles, our battle belongs to God. He has fought the battle for us and is totally victorious.

It was around 1960 and I was 10 years old. I was playing baseball in the “Little Leagues” in the neighborhood. My father had given me a very old style of baseball glove, very small, a little pocket for the ball, little padding, and well used.  I used the small glove for a while, but when my father and mother noticed that I enjoyed playing baseball, that it was not just a passing fancy, they purchased a “Trap-eze” model fielder’s glove for me. It was made by Rawlings and signed by Eddie Matthews (played for the Boston, Milwaukee, and Atlanta Braves from 1952 – 1966, hit 512 home runs, was selected to the All Stars 12 times, and inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1978). It was a great glove like the ones used by the major leaguers. And, it was an expensive gift.  I was thrilled and appreciated the sacrifice my parents made in purchasing that glove.

                As with many boys that age, I was not always responsible, and my gratitude, though real, was not always foremost in my mind. I had been “playing catch” with some of my neighborhood friends in the yard (we always played in my yard), and when finished, I laid my glove on the ground and then forgot it. When my father came home that evening, he found the glove lying on the ground and brought it inside. Later in the evening, after supper, he asked if I knew where the glove was. After thinking a minute, I started outside to get it. My father stopped me and handed me the glove. He then proceeded to explain that the dew and moisture from the ground would ruin the leather, that the glove should never be left on the ground or in the weather, and if it ever got wet it needed to be dried and oiled again. He also explained that the glove was expensive and that he had to save money for a long time before he could purchase it. He was also disappointed that I would care so little for something that he had to sacrifice so much to purchase for me. 

                My father’s lecture had the desired effect. I sincerely apologized and proceeded to diligently care for that glove. It served me well during all my years playing baseball. I still have the glove some sixty years later, and it is still serviceable. Before my father died, we were having a get together, and I brought out the glove and a card for my father. The card was a “Thank you” for the lesson, and I asked if he remembered the glove. He did. And I intended the little ceremony with the glove and the card to let my father know how much I appreciated this particular gift, but also all the other gifts and sacrifices he and my mother made when raising my sister and me.  

                The apostle Paul wrote in II Corinthians 9:15:

“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.”

It is an interesting word study. Paul is saying we need to express our gratitude to God for His gift to us. The gift is one that cannot be fully expounded (explained); thus, it is translated “unspeakable.” The gift is a voluntary present or sacrifice. A more detailed explanation of the word translated as “gift” is as follows: “a present or offering that is costly or highly prized which is voluntarily offered of one’s own free will to another, without the requirement of having it received or the thought of reciprocation” (Mickelson Clarified Dictionary of New Testament Greek). God gave a gift to us, and the full measure of that gift’s value cannot be adequately expressed. God willingly gave the gift, requiring nothing of us. The gift was Jesus Christ willingly giving His life, a sacrifice for our sin, to bring us back into fellowship with the Father.

                We need to continually express our gratitude for such a gift. And how can we express our gratitude? By not forgetting the gift. Do not leave it somewhere and forget about it. As Paul also wrote to the Philippians:

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phil 4:7-8.

What is Paul telling us? What is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and worthy of praise? It is the gift God has given to us. It is the offering, the sacrifice, willingly given by Jesus Christ to bring us into a right relationship with God through the forgiveness of our sins. We have been made God’s children, adopted into His family, by the voluntary sacrifice of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. That is the gift that cannot be expounded or fully explained. It is indescribable.

                Meditate on God’s gift for us. And, as we meditate on all that gift has provided, we will grow to cherish that gift with a deeper appreciation of God’s love toward us. That is praise. That is expressed gratitude. That is worship.

I often communicate prayers to God by writing them. It helps keep my mind focused on the concern of the prayer. It also gives me the opportunity to review and see how God answers. The following is a prayer of mine. Although it is a personal communication between God and myself, and shows my own weaknesses and confession, I am sharing it with the hope that it will be a help to some others. I do not think I am alone with these emotions and feelings. I also know that when we articulate such to our Heavenly Father, healing and help comes.

9/22/2013

“LORD, I blew up at You on Friday, after telling You in the morning that I was ready to trust, regardless of what happened. Simply put, I failed. Not only did I fail, and fail miserably, I railed at You; I called You names; I said most unpleasant things. I was wrong. I had no right to say those things, especially to You. I am truly sorry.

“How could I say, ‘I trust’ and then get completely and insanely frustrated when things did not go as I wanted? I guess my trust was conditional on You performing as I wanted. I was not trusting You, but instead trying to manipulate You to perform my will. What I told You was that I wanted Your will. What I demonstrated was that I wanted You to do my will. Lord, forgive me for such an attitude, and thanks for showing me that I had such an attitude.

“It is not really all that comfortable to be shown wrong attitudes and thinking on my part (if You show me someone else’s problems, that is much more comfortable), but I am pleased to know that You still spend time and effort teaching me. I fall short often, but You are still teaching me. Thanks that You are still with me, and You were with me even on Friday.  

“Trusting, when I do not see the end, when I do not know what is to happen next, is difficult, but it is the only logical course. Who cares for me more than You? When I screamed at You on Friday and made the accusation that You do not care, I was angry, frustrated, confused. You know the need that Judy and I have and You have promised to meet our need. Your seed, Your children, are never forsaken. Jesus Himself felt forsaken when on the cross and asking why His God had forsaken Him. Since He was finishing the entire work of salvation for all mankind, He was fulfilling the eternal purpose of the Father, I cannot imagine that He was truly forsaken. He felt it though. And so did I, but for different reasons.

“Jesus was accomplishing the most unselfish act in the history of the world’s existence. Taking my sins, and the sins of all mankind upon Himself, was a heavy (and impossible for mankind) burden to bear. This was the absolute will of the Father, that Jesus would pay the ultimate price for all sin and bring mankind back to fellowship with God. In my case, it was being self-willed and unwilling to patiently wait on You to provide the answer. And, You were, and are, still there for and with me.

“I am anxious for income. While I desire to write and teach, there needs to be income. You, of course, know this. You also know my resolve to be able to distribute books, materials, and lessons for free. My resolve is based on reading and, I think, understanding Your scriptures. Freely I have received, freely I should give.

“LORD, I need Your help to trust. I cannot do it on my own.”  

                “You are my hiding place.  You always fill my life with songs of deliverance.  Whenever I am afraid I will trust in You.  Let the weak say, ‘I am strong in the strength of the Lord.’ “

                These are the words of a song.  They are based on one of David’s psalms.  Men should not sing this song (I cannot sing so I am O.K. there), nor should we (men) say those words (oops, I am guilty here).  Men are not supposed to be afraid and are not supposed to look for hiding places.  Men should stand and face the challenge, and defeat it.  We are never afraid.  We never ask for help.

                And yet, David the king penned these words, “Thou art my hiding place; Thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.” Psa. 32:7.  David, as a lad, killed Goliath the giant.  David fought in many battles for King Saul.  David fought in many battles after becoming king himself.  Was such a man as he needing a hiding place?  Was he ever afraid?  Was Psalms 32 just one isolated incident in David’s life?  A quick glance at a few other of David’s psalms might tell us something:

“The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” Psa. 9:9.

“Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust.” Psa. 16:1.

“Keep me as the apple of the eye.  Hide me under the shadow of Thy wings.”  Psa. 17:8.

“I will call upon the LORD, Who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”  Psa. 18:3.

“For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock.”  Psa. 27:5.

                Hmmmm!  So, David looked at God as a refuge (hiding place) in time of trouble.  David trusted that God would preserve him.  David wanted God to protect him, shield him under His wings.  This is a reference to the way some birds shield their chicks from danger.  David trusted that God would save him from his enemies.  David trusted, and experienced God taking him to His secret pavilion in times of trouble.  Maybe, just maybe, that is the reason David could be strong and brave.  Maybe David understood that God was his true strength and source of courage.

                Maybe I can sing the song.  Maybe I can say the words.  I can trust that God’s strength is powerfully demonstrated in my weaknesses.  I can remember the scripture that declares I can do all things through Christ, Who gives me strength.

                God, I thank You for giving me that hiding place.  Thanks for the deliverance.  Thanks that I cannot only say, but can also experience the fact that I am strong in the strength of my God.