HE HATH MADE US ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED

Eph. 1:6

Morning Meditation 4/17/2014

"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."

Paul plumbs the depths in Ephesians 1. I want to look at this one thought which is “to the praise of the glory of His grace.”

WE SEE HERE A WONDROUS MANUFACTURE — “MADE”

This is brought out in the words, “he hath made us accepted,” and translates one word, “charitoo” and means, “to make graceful, charming, lovely.” This verb is an aorist tense, active voice, and indicative mood. The aorist tense represents action at a point of time, the active voice means God did it for the subject of the verb is “He” (God), and it is indicative mood which is simply a statement of fact.

God created man for His glory. He allowed him to be tried by Satan, and man failed the test, and died spiritually the day he ate of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

In redemption God recreates man but He does it differently this time. He recreates man in Christ. Christ is the God-Man who stands the trial. He is also tried in the temptation by Satan. This time Satan utterly fails. He is unable to get Christ to commit the smallest fault. So what the saved man is he is in Christ. 1 John 4:17 says, "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." Read this verse carefully. There is a reason that we will have boldness in the day of judgment. It is because “as he is so are we in this world.” He is presently glorified and sits on the right hand of the Father never to face temptation again. We are in Him and in Him we are as He is. That is to the glory of His grace.

THE WE SEE A GRACIOUS PROVIDER TO PRAISE — “HE”

We are His workmanship. Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

The word “workmanship” translates “poiema” and means that God has done a creative work in every instance of the new birth. He has provided for our salvation. He paid the price of man's redemption on the cross. When man answers God's call to salvation, God does a creative work again. 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

“Not our prayers, not our repentance, not our faith, not our attendance upon the means of grace, not our efforts, not our holiness, not what we are or can promise to do, not our good works, not anything that is of us or man, but He, Himself, because He would and because Christ died.” —F.E. Marsh.

A BLESSED CERTAINTY — “HATH”

The word “hath” translates, “proetoimazo,” and means, “to prepare before, to make ready beforehand.” This verb is an aorist active indicative. The aorist tense means that it has already been accomplished in a once-for-all creative act. The active voice means that God did it Himself. Salvation is a merciful act of grace when God saves. Remember, Christ did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

When one is saved, he is saved forever. Where does this salvation take place? It takes place on this earth. The believer is put into Christ never to be removed. He does not need to wait until the judgment to know if he is saved. John 5:24, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

UNWORTHY RECEIVERS — “US”

We who were once dead in trespasses and sins, hath HE quickened; we, who were once rebels, hath He reconciled; we, who were once under the curse, hath He become a curse for us; we, who were once under condemnation, hath He permanently removed condemnation. Christ came into the world to save sinners. Paul in giving his testimony said in Romans 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."

Man is an awful judge. Spurgeon said in one of his sermons, “when you get to heaven, don't stare, when you see someone you thought would not be there, there will be those who will be surprised to see you there.

A GLORIOUS TRUTH — “ACCEPTED”

There are those who resist God’s call to salvation because they do not want to change the crowd they run with. There is one place of acceptance and that's in Jesus Christ. Isaiah 32:2, "And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." Do you feel that you are accepted here and now? By faith you can say it because it is true.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White