“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING in the heavenly realms because WE ARE UNITED WITH CHRIST.” (Eph. 1:3) How are we united with Christ? “God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; He made us PURE and HOLY, and He FREED US FROM SIN.” (1 Corin. 1:30) He told us “…sin shall no longer be your master, because you are UNDER GRACE.” (Rom. 6:14) And very importantly, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ LIVES IN ME. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME.” (Gal. 2:20) And now, “…we are members of HIS BODY, of HIS FLESH and of HIS BONES. For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be UNITED TO HIS WIFE, and the two will become one flesh.” This is A PROFOUND MYSTERY—but I am talking about CHRIST AND THE CHURCH.” (Eph. 5:30-32) Just as a young man and woman are united by a marriage covenant, we are united to Christ BY COVENANT as well.
“Even BEFORE HE MADE THE WORLD, God loved us and CHOSE US in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him GREAT PLEASURE.” (Eph. 1:3-5)
IT BROUGHT GREAT PLEASURE TO GOD TO UNITE US WITH HIS SON, TO FULFILL THE PROFOUND MYSTERY, TO BE FULFILLED AT THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB…
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham