04/17/2025
Mark Albriton
HEIR TO THE KING, CHOSE BY A PRINCE, REDEEMED BY A SAVIOR
INTRODUCTION
Inside of me stirs a longing to be part of something great. The yearning to be accepted, to be loved, and to be wanted, lives at the very core of my being. The heaviness of the truth that I am unworthy, yet all the desires above have been met because, a King sent a Prince to redeem me of my sin. I will underscore some of the themes that pull at the strings of my core desires and show, using the book of Ephesians, how God adopted me, therefore fulfilling His purpose and my longings.
UNWORTHY, YET CHOSEN
Had the story ended with the Old Testament Scriptures, there would have been no hope for a gentile like myself. All my dreams, visions, my desires, and the question of “who I am” would have been in vain and gone unanswered. For over 2,000 years gentiles, like myself were not part of God’s redemption plan. However, God vowed to His chosen people, the Jews, in Isaiah 49; 6 “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me, I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth”. This salvation plan was from the beginning. Ephesians teaches me that I was predestined. MacArthur puts it this way, “election is God’s perfect plan for the destiny of His creatures; it conforms both with His love and grace and with human beings’ responsibility to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior”, (4). I indeed was accepted, loved, and not only wanted, but chosen! I am a fellow heir with the Jews, to God, and a partaker of His promises (Ephesians 3: 6). I’m not an outsider, because as Miller puts it so well, “From one man-Abraham-to one nation-the Jews-God has taken the next major step in His plan of salvation. Out of the Jewish nation comes one man-Jesus-the Savior of an entire world”, (411). Ephesians makes it clear, echoing John 3; 16, that I have redemption through his blood, and forgiveness of my sins according to the riches of His grace (Eph. 1; 7).
PRIASE AND UNITY
Knowing the sure fact that I have been chosen (Eph. 1: 4), ignites within me utter gratitude. The unity that comes with being adopted into a new humanity and the understanding that I am not alone, but part of something bigger than myself brings a joy unmeasurable. Stanley stats, “The Spirit-Filled life is a life of interdependency. We are to remain dependent on the Holy Spirit But we are to live interdependently with other believers to accomplish His will”, (122). A sentiment shared by Paul as he gives thanks for fellow believers and prays for them (Eph. 1: 16). Multiple times throughout Ephesians I noticed the phrase “praise to His Glory”, for my salvation and the salvation of all those that have been predestined and purchased by God, through the Blood of Jesus Christ, was done for His glory, which is an astounding victory over sin. The natural response to this redemption is the act of Praise. I have truly understood that my debt has been paid and I have been brought into a full relationship with a God who reigns. Taylor penned this, “When we see God as he is, we will praise God as we ought! Praise is nothing more or less than a commitment to, and a confession of, the sovereign power and providence of God”, (24-25). That means no matter my circumstances, even if it is, how Paul’s was, in jail, I can respond with praise and thanksgiving for who God is and the understanding that His finished work on the cross has brought to me salvation.
FILLED WITH THE FULLNESS OF GOD
Paul gives a declaration that the “desires of the flesh and of the mind were by nature the children of wrath” (Eph. 2; 3) but goes on to say, “but God, who is rich in Mercy, for His grace love where with He loved us” (Eph. 2; 4). This is a battle that rages continually within my own heart and flesh. The truth that, I must daily sacrifice myself before God’s grace in order to walk in His will and in His way, causes me to cry out to the Lord for His perfect strength and to be empowered by His perfect Spirit. Stanley gave me something to think about when he wrote, “Jesus let it be known that God was looking for more than our best. He was looking for a life-style and attitude that superseded our best, a life-style and attitude that we could never attain through our own efforts. The promise of a Helper presupposed that we need help”, (8). In God’s wisdom he knew we would, as Ephesians tell us (Eph. 6; 12), wrestle against spiritual warfare. I cannot understate the necessity of God’s gifts to empower and equip me to wage against my own flesh, spiritual warfare, and the attacks of the enemy, so I may, as Paul encouraged his fellow believers (Eph. 4; 16), make increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
EMPOWERING REQUIRES MORAL STANDARDS
The struggle is certainly real, and being filled with the fullness of God is crucial, but cannot be obtained unless we are willing to, as Paul exhorts, “Be not ye therefore partakers with them” (Eph. 5: 7), referring to those who continually dwell in sinful behavior. In the past I have chosen the easier route and missed great opportunity to fulfill God’s great commission to reach the lost because, I was not empowered in my own walk with the Lord, therefore leaving myself weak and susceptible to temptation. My mission therefore, was to remain in my own spiritual bubble to ensure my purity and what I thought was holiness. Thankfully God sent those in my path to help me understand the error of my ways and now evangelism is central to my walk with the Lord. This leads me to another admonition from the book of Ephesians.
It’s not enough to sustain from sin, but I also must have characteristics that are congruent with a life changed by Christ.
As God’s word tells me, “With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men”, (KJV Eph: 6 7). I need to strive to, as Smith puts it, “be a good steward of my life, of the gifts, talents and opportunities that God gives to me”, (23)
CONCLUSIION
Ephesians has provided a wonderful glimpse in how I was adopted into Christ, therefore calling me to live in such a way that portrays His character for His glory and for my greater purpose. Ephesians tells me not only what to abstain from but what to strive to. Its pages are filled with wisdom and truths to live by and commands to obey. The New Testament book gives me warning of spiritual darkness but brings me the intelligence of how to defeat the spiritual wickedness of this world.
I celebrate being bought with a price by the precious blood of Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. I embrace my God-given potential and work to use the gifts that God has given me, in unity with other, for such is His desire.
Works Cited Page
MacArthur, John. Ephesians “Unleashing God’s Truth, One Verse at a Time”. Nashville, TN:
Thomas Nelson, Inc. 2007 Print.
Miller, Stephen M. Complete Guide to the Bible. Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
2007. Print
Taylor, Jack R. The Hallelujah Factor. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press. 1983. Print.
Stanley, Charles. The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc. 1992. Print
Smith, Gordon. Courage and Calling: Embracing your God-Given Potential. Downers
Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press. (2011). ISBN: 978-0-8308-3554-6.
