“Graced In the Beloved” (Eph 1:6)

 

“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he has made us graced* in the Beloved” (vs6).

In His infinite glory and wisdom, God CREATED us in union with Jesus Christ, seeing us, from before the world, perfected in the Beloved. He knew what the Son would do for us, destroying the old man, to create the new (Eph 2:15). He gave us to Christ in union with Him in all that He is - He as the Head, and we as the beneficiaries, the Body of Christ. We are heirs of God by grace only; we have not earned or contributed the least thing to eternal blessedness (Eph 2:8). Our change from death to life is by God giving us to Christ and uniting us to Him, that He might display His glorious grace in redemption - “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace“ (Eph 1:7). You and I are PREDESTINED in love unto riches, and we are favored now, in the Beloved, in the obedience to death of Christ.

Jesus earned blessedness for us. He gave Himself to the cross - the Lion was first a Lamb - humbling Himself unto death for us, uniting us to holiness and praiseworthiness by the triune work of God. He purposed in love, paid for in holy love, and sets us apart as favored. He did this for us by His will. No one stops Him (Eph 1:11-12).

He kicks open mercy’s door boldly, but He compelled us to come in - “According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will“ (Eph 1:4-5). He favored us, and don’t ever think God isn’t on your side and doing you good. He put you in Christ and created you in His resurrection and victorious power. He saves you now lovingly, even as He predestined He would, in His love. He chose us for blessings, and now we enter by faith - “As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he said unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe“ (Mark 5:36). Do nothing to earn God’s blessing. Wait on His promise in Christ, knowing that He is good. He will not break covenant with you. He will not fail.

Heshimu

* Freely bestowed (5487) (charitoo from charis = grace) means to cause one to be the recipient of a benefit. It means to bestow grace or favor upon or to show kindness to someone…

Thayer says charitoo means to "pursue with grace, compass with favor, to honor with blessings."

Precept-Austin