Ephesians 1:7-10 The deep and profound work of the blood

Ephesians 1:7-10

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Background

The way God uses to restore humanity and creation to His Kingdom is by regenerating man’s heart through the blood sacrifice of His Son. The blood of Christ has a deep and profound effect over humanity; it breaks the power of darkness over creation and reinstates His Kingdom’s values system therein. God is doing a work in our family, community and nation, by breaking the bondages of individuals that have deprived them of a life of peace, health and prosperity.

Observation

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us.

Christ’s blood activates the covenant of salvation that redeems or delivers us from eternal punishment, from poverty, from sicknesses and from all bondages of darkness. In redemption, we are freed from the oppression of the evil one to succeed and fulfill our calling. In the Old Testament, the blood of animals could not blot out the record of man’s sins and destroy the sinful nature of man. “The forgiveness of our trespasses” has a two-fold action: it blots out all records of sin (trespasses) and destroys man’s sinful tendencies. Provided man’s sins are forgiven and his heart cleansed of his sinful nature, there is no salvation. The comprehensive forgiveness of all trespasses speaks of the magnificent grace that God causes to abound towards humanity. Through Christ’s blood, the sins of believers will never be brought to mind or be allowed to discredit us in any way. Through Christ’s blood, we have power to reject the pleasures of darkness and sin and stand blameless before heaven and earth, perfectly accepted as God’s sons.

In all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

God’s plan to restore every man and woman to that shining image of God and to unite them under the kingdom of His Son is a God-size task that requires God-size wisdom and power. Conventional wisdom calls either for the destruction of all evil and to rule with an iron hand. Or to be tolerant of evil and seek to win them over through love. To destroy evil would include destroying all human beings because there is none who is truly righteous. Yet to tolerate evil would mean continual suffering for the weak. When it seemed like a dead end for humanity, God demonstrates His divine wisdom when He nailed the root cause of humanity’s woes by regenerating man’s heart through the sacrifice of His Son. The law may constrain evil but it can never cure society’s ills. It is only through a complete eradication of man’s sinful tendency can humanity live prosperously and peacefully. There will come a time when Christ will return to unite creation and all those who love and honor Him under His rule.

Truth

1.    The first step towards prosperous living is to take responsibility of our own failings. Many seek a secret methodologies through which they may prosper. Yet there are those who would put the blame on others instead of taking responsibility for their own failings. Enduring success comes when we seek God’s help in overcoming our personal shortcomings. When we take responsibility of our bondages and shortcomings, Christ’s blood breaks our bondages and impart the right behavior and wisdom for success. The below are some common bondages of man:

a.    A self-centered philosophy towards life. Such people always seek to put their own interests before the interests of others. Hence, people who dealt with them will never want to work with them again.

b.    A self-defeating mindset. Such people have a constant fear of failure and will not take risks nor strive for excellence. Hence, they prefer to err on the safer side and stick to a familiar routine or environment.

c.    An insecure mindset. Such people derive their self-esteem from the vibes and perspective of others. Hence, they always go out of their way to please others in hope that others will reciprocate and respect them.

2.    The way to create a conducive environment for growth of any community or organization is to uphold Christ’s values in the organization by being Christ-like in all your dealings with others. An organization that runs on Christ’s values system will succeed no matter how tough circumstances may be. Hence, we must not return evil for evil nor take revenge but bless our enemies. This is the secret of Christ’s success through which He restores humanity towards His Kingdom.

Application

1.    Write down in your knowledge a list of your shortcomings. Approach someone who knows you well and ask them to show you in their perspective your weaknesses. By comparing the two lists, it shows how well you know yourself. Seek your mentor’s help in dealing with these shortcomings.

2.    Concerning your shortcomings, ask God to reveal to you the deep root causes of some of your shortcomings. Take immediate steps to rectify them through the help of the Holy Spirit.

Dear Lord, I thank you for showing me my shortcomings. It is by the power of Your blood that I am able to overcome my shortcomings and prosper in all my endeavors. Use me to uphold Christ’s values first in me and use me to create a conducive environment for growth in my area of work. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.