Thought of the Day June 19, 2019 Father's plan
(Continuing Our Glorious Inheritance)
Without the Son of God in our lives in a
meaningful way, nothing else is of lasting worth. There is no
eternal life with God without being in union with the Son
Paul, again in Ephesians, confirms the centrality
of Jesus in the life of the believer, but then adds another piece to the
picture of our inheritance. “In him you also, who have heard
the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were
sealed with the promised holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, to
the praise of his glory.” (1:13-14)
In
the Father’s plan for our salvation, the scriptures tell us that Jesus was sent
to redeem us through his obedience to the Father’s will in everything, even to
his death on the cross. But redemption is one essential part of our salvation.
Sanctification and mission are also aspects of God’s plan for us as his adopted
sons and daughters. For this to be fulfilled, the Spirit was sent to accomplish
this. As Paul reminds us, the Spirit is “the first installment” or down payment
of our inheritance.
It
is the Spirit who enables us to proclaim that Jesus is Lord. It is the Spirit
who convicts us of sin. It is the Spirit who reveals the truth to us. It is the
Spirit who remains with us and within us.
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