Clyde Raynard - September 8th, 2024

Northbrook Bible Chapel

Clyde Raynard AXIOS Part 2 - September 8th, 2024, 2024 God … who has blessed us Ephesians Chapter 1 Ephesians 4:1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called. Walk…Worthy of (your) calling! It is a Heavenly Calling – Hebrews 3:1 “Therefore holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession…” “Heavenly” in – Origin – Nature, and – Destiny It is a Holy Calling - 2 Timothy 1:9 “(God) who has saved us and called us with a holy calling…” God is holy / we are called to be holy as well. It is a High Calling – Philippians 3:14 (KJV) “I press toward the mark for the prize of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus.” It is a Hopeful Calling – Ephesians 4:4 “…just as you were called in one hope of your calling;” “Looking for the Blessed Hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Christ Jesus…” Titus 3:13 Ephesians’ two parts: Our Motivation for a Worthy Walk – Chapters 1-3 The Manner of a Worthy Walk – Chapters 4-6 VV 3-6 - The Father’s Plan / The Father’s Will / The Father’s Selection VV 7-12 – The Son’s Provision / The Son’s Work / The Son’s Sacrifice VV 13-14 – The Spirit’s Pledge / The Spirit’s Witness / The Spirit’s Sealing The Father’s Plan 1:3-6 – To Save US! Verse 3 Blessed be…God! The Praiseworthy God Revelation 4:13-14 1 John 4:8b-10 Blessed be … God! He is The Praiseworthy God! Blessed be… the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ… The Personal God How can “God (Jesus)” have a God? “The hypostatic union of Christ” Hypostatic - (to stand under) – refers to the substance or essential nature of an individual As God , the Lord Jesus Christ has the first Person of the Trinity as His Father. As man, the Lord Jesus Christ has the first Person of the Trinity as His God. John 5:17-18 Matthew 27:46 John 20:17 God the Father, is our God and our Father as well! Galatians 3:26 3) The Prodigal God Eulogeo (verb form) Can mean: To cause to prosper, to make happy, to bestow blessing on Blessing Spiritual Blessing Every Spiritual Blessing Every Spiritual Blessing in the Heavenlies Every Spiritual Blessing in the Heavenlies in Christ …every… The Aggregate of Our Blessings “…spiritual (of the Spirit)…” The Author of our Blessings …in the heavenly (places)… The Abode of Our Blessings …in Christ… The Agent (means) of Our Blessings “The most significant phrase in the epistle (Ephesians) is made up of two words, ‘in Christ’.” “If one is not ‘in Christ’ he can know nothing experientially of these ‘spiritual blessings’.” - L. Straus What does it mean to be “in Christ”? 1Corinthians 15:22 Romans 5:19 2Corinthians 5:17 A Mind at Perfect Peace – Catesby Paget - # 32 in Hymns of Worship and Remembrance V2 By nature and by practice far, How very far from God! Yet now by grace bro’t nigh to Him, Thro’ faith in Jesus’ blood. V3 So near, so very near to God, I cannot nearer be; For in the person of His Son I am as near as He. V4 So dear, so very dear to God, More dear I cannot be; The love where with He loves the Son: Such is His love to me! V5 Why should I ever careful (anxious) be, Since such a God is mine? He watches o’er me night and day, And tells me “Mine is thine.” Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,… ) How Does One Become “In Christ”. Admit you are a hopeless, helpless, hell-deserving sinner Believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died at Calvary to pay your sin-debt to God, and He rose from the dead - to verify the payment was accepted by God Commit your eternal destiny to the sufficiency of this gift of God’s grace alone - trusting only in what Christ has done for you on the cross He is the Praiseworthy God! He is the Personal God! He is the Prodigal (lavishly extravagant) God!