There is no doubt in my mind that the great God we serve is full of grace and glad tidings. As a result of His immeasurable grace and kindness, He has revealed many things to us. He abandoned doubt and helplessness when He provided His inspired word to guide and direct our lives. Because of that blessing, we don't have to wonder about how we're going to please Him, or wonder who He is or what to expect from Him. He has plainly and openly left that for us! That is the aim of this series of blogs; to notice various things that God has openly laid before us for our encouragement and for building our faith in Him.

The Bible says in Ephesians 1:9, "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself..." This verse, if it were left alone might cause confusion. Questions could arise for those who hadn't studied this that would include: "What is made known? What is the mystery? What purpose was made? Who is being talked about here? Is it Jesus?" You might think that the answers to those questions are obvious, but let's look at the general context anyway.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath 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, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:3-14)

This is a lengthy reading but it really carries along one thought. That thought is, what a salvation that is ours! God has declared and left it plain and open for all to see the salvation that can be obtained through Jesus Christ! Stop and consider the enormity of this truth. If God had not been so kind as to communicate to us the conditions into which one can be added to the church where would we be? We would be hopelessly lost, wandering about with no ambition for life, wondering where we would be after death! It is of eternal importance that it be revealed!

This passage begins with Paul communicating the source of every spiritual blessing -- in Christ. Then there is recognition which should result in love and thankfulness. Because Jesus has given every spiritual blessing which includes salvation from sins, the access to God through prayer and such like we ought to live holy lives and love Him for what He has done. God loved us and thought of us so much that he predestinated us! This isn't a predetermined state on an individual basis; God did not have an unconditional election that would unchangeably predetermined which individuals would be saved and therefore exclude others from salvation. It is like that of which Peter spoke in 1 Peter 1:2 -- Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ... It is as Paul stated in the passage of our interest in Ephesians 1 -- adoption. It is upon our obedience that we are adopted into Jesus' family and His body.

Our adoption into Christ via our obedience is the same time we are redeemed from sin by His blood. Heaven is our home because of all that has been done for us coupled with meeting the conditions of our salvation. God did His part, then He told us how we could do our part! What an awesome blessing it is to have the lights turned on, to be free from living in darkness. It is this same revelation that the prophets longed for and angels sought to look into (1 Peter 1:10-12). We have the honor of being a part of the Christian age, where these things were revealed. Because of Jesus, because of the eternal purpose  which He purposed in Christ (Eph. 3:10), because of Gods grace, salvation is a mystery no longer.

Praise be to God revealing His will for our soul's salvation in Him. May we draw nearer to Him in obedience and be active in teaching others how they can contact the blood, and turn the lights on toward knowledge, peace, and salvation. To God be the glory!

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     Hearing produces faith (Romans 10:17). Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Repentance, a decision made within the mind to change the direction of your life, is required for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Confessing with the mouth leads to salvation (Romans 10:10). And the culmination of all these actions occurs when one is baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3, 4). It is at this point that a person puts on Christ (Galatians 3:27). It is at this point that a person’s sins are washed away (Acts 22:16). It is at this point that a person is saved (Mark 16:16). It is at this point that a person has access to all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3).
     Yet, after this point, it is still possible for a person to sin (1 John 1:8). Even so, it is possible for a person to so sin as to be lost eternally (1 John 5:16; 2 Peter 2:20-22). With this fact in mind, it is often the case that Christians find themselves “walking on eggshells” in fear of so sinning. Furthermore, they will sin,  and then become discouraged, begin to doubt their salvation, forgetting the power of the blood of Christ, and live in misery, wondering why such misery can be found in those that are to be most happy of all. Dear friends and brethren, such doubt should not be found in a Christian, for we have blessed assurance! There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1a). Will you consider with me the power preserved in this pithy passage?

     In the King James Version, the third word is a word found 1,236 other times in the same Bible, yet a word that cries out for further study at every mention. The word: therefore. What is therefore there for? Or for what is therefore there? Paul is concluding something. He has just been explaining the discouragement, heartache, and struggle that came with living under the old law (cf. Romans 7:5-25). Paul begins such a discussion with the phrase, for when we were in the flesh (Romans 7:5). Flesh was a symbolic term that Paul sometimes used to refer to the temporary old law (cf. Galatians 3:1-3). What was wrong with the old law, Paul? Nothing! The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good (Romans 7:12). It served exactly the purpose God intended for it (cf. Galatians 3:19-27). Then, what is the problem? With a paraphrase of Romans 7 and evident events in Paul’s life, consider what he might say:  Me!  I’m the problem; I have sinned! Let me explain. It’s the yearly Passover Feast. I have my beautiful young lamb. Many friends and family will be there.I take my lamb to the priest. I smell the burning flesh. I see blood all over the place. I tell him my sin, and just for a moment I hoped...I thought that maybe...but he said, “Remember, you’re still a sinner.”  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Romans 7:24).
     But now. There is therefore now. Can you try to picture Paul’s face as this was being written? I wonder if his eyes lit up with joy? Perhaps a smile came across his face and tears began to roll down his cheeks? Now. Paul was a man that knew what it was like to live under the old law and under the new law--the Gospel! Do we ever stop and thank God that we live now in  the course of time?

     The original word here translated condemnation literally means “down judgment”. When we think of heaven, we think “up”. When we think of hell, we think “down”. To be condemned would mean that at the judgment, one would be going “down” to hell.  
     However, we are talking about no condemnation. When a house is condemned, it is declared “unfit for use”.  There is no life in that house. Likewise, there is no life in a condemned person. But in Christ, there is no condemnation, and His life is in you (c.f. Romans 6:3, 4; Galatians 2:20). Consider the end of the chapter in which our text of focus is found: 
     Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35-39).
     O, the blessed assurance of no condemnation!  Who can separate me from the love of Christ? Only I can separate myself from the love of Christ. The Apostle Paul knew this, for he said, I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (1 Corinthians 9:27).

     The phrase in Christ occurs some 77 times in the New Testament. In the Lord can be found some 111 times throughout the Bible. The Bible gives definite importance to one being in Christ.
     What is so great about one being in Christ? It is in Christ that the fulfillment of prophecies and eternal plans are found (Ephesians 1:10). It was in Christ that God’s eternal purpose was accomplished (Ephesians 3:11).  It is in Christ that all spiritual blessings are found (Ephesians 1:3). Think about the blessing of approaching our Father in prayer.  Think about the blessing of forgiveness of sins. Think about the blessing of offering up spiritual sacrifices in spirit and truth on the first day of the week. Think about the blessing of walking in the light. If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin...If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7-9).
     Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). If we are walking in the Light, it is the same as saying we are walking in Christ! Sometimes we do not realize how saved we are! God is not like human beings in that He is not watching our every move with intentions of catching us in a fault. He does not want to condemn us! He wants to save us (1 Tim. 2:4)!
     Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:4-8).
     These latter words are quoted from a man that was in prison when he wrote them.  They are quoted from a man that received 195 stripes from the Jews, had been stoned and left for dead, was beaten with rods on three occasions (no telling how many times they hit him), was shipwrecked on three different occasions (could you imagine being in the deep?).  No one could stop a man like Paul because he had blessed assurance.  It has been said that if you let Paul free, he would convert the world, if you put him in prison, he would write the Bible, and if you kill him, you will put him right where he wants to be--with Christ.  He said, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).
     “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long.”  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1a).