GOSPEL TRUTHS

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13 NKJV).

The Book of Ephesians gives many wonderful truths about salvation. Here in this verse, we want to note the person for salvation, the problem for salvation, the plan for salvation, and the product of salvation.

Person for salvation – “Christ Jesus.” Salvation is all in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no such thing as salvation outside of Christ. Acts 4:12 states, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” The Lord Jesus Christ is the beginning and the ending of salvation and all that is in between. If the Lord Jesus is not in our theology, then we do not have a Redeemer in our theology. Much of our world today is anti-Christ which is tragic. This means that they are despising the only Person who can provide eternal salvation.

Problem for salvation – “You who once were far off.” Why do we need to be saved? Because we are “far off” from God. This means being “far off” from the best things in life and from an eternity in heaven. Sin has caused us to be far from God, which means that the unsaved live “far off” from God. Being “far off” from God is not something to be taken lightly. Dying in this state means an eternity in hell apart from God.

Plan for salvation – “Brought near by the blood of Christ.” The plan for salvation was Calvary where the Lord Jesus Christ shed His blood for the souls of mankind. His blood is the only agent that will wash away our sins. It is “the blood Jesus Christ . . . [that] cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

Product of salvation – “Have been brought near.” Salvation brings us near to everything that matters spiritually. Salvation brings us near to God. It brings us near enough to God to experience the blessings from God. To be near God is to be safe from eternal judgment for our sins. A person who is far from God need to be saved to be brought near to God.

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Bible Reading 3)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“You are not saved by the plan of salvation. You are saved by the man of salvation!”

Adrian Pierce Rogers (1931 - 2005)

American Baptist Pastor and Author 

Word Study

Firstborn

In Col. 1:15 we read, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (NKJV).

“Firstborn” is the Greek word prōtótokos (πρωτότοκος = pro-tot-ok'-os). It is made up of two words: “prōtos” which means first, foremost in place order or time; rank, dignity; and “titko” which means to beget, to bear, bring forth. Thus, the word prōtótokos could refer either to first in order of time, such as a first-born child, or it could refer to one who is preeminent in rank. Here in Col. 1:15 the emphasis is on the priority of the Lord Jesus’ rank as over and above creation. He is not, as some folks believe, the first one created or born, but the One who has the preeminence or the right to rule. He is the first and the only Son of God. Neither here, nor in any passage containing the word “firstborn,” is there a suggestion that the Second Person of the Trinity was born, created, or generated.

Did You Know…

According to the apostle Paul, the mystery that had “been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints,” was that the Lord Jesus Christ would indwell Gentiles (Col. 1:26-27).

Bible Quiz

After offering a sacrifice on the evening of the first day of the Passover Celebration what were the Israelites commanded to do with the meat?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz

For how many days did the Lord Jesus appear to His disciples after His resurrection? 40 days - “…being seen by them during forty days…” - Acts 1:3.

Prophecies Fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ

He committed Himself to God (Psalm 22:20-21; cf. Luke 23:46)

"Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog. Save Me from the lion’s mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen!” (Psalm 22:20-21 NJKV).

Picturing his adversaries as vicious animals, the Psalmist David pleads to the Lord to save him from the goring of the horns of the wild oxen. Similarly, the nails pierced the hands and feet of the Lord Jesus. Here we have a description not only of the great danger and misery of both David and His Greater Son the Lord Jesus Christ, but especially their trust in the LORD God as their deliverer. Only God can deliver Him from death, and the certainty of Messiah’s deliverance is underscored in v. 21 by the phrase “You have answered Me.” And so, as the Lord Jesus Christ dies on the cross, He anticipated the Father’s deliverance, believing His cry had been heard.

Did You Know – Christian History

Giovanni da Plano Carpini was born around 1185. He was an Italian diplomat, Catholic archbishop, explorer and one of the first Europeans to enter the court of the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire.

For centuries, Europe lived with almost no knowledge of the huge realms of East Asia. But one day a Mongol chieftain knocked on Europe’s door and changed that. Genghis Khan’s hordes slaughtered so many people in such horrible ways that Europeans could no longer ignore Asia. Thus, the pope felt it prudent to discover the intentions of this terrifying mounted army. Carpini was a fat, sixty-year-old Franciscan friar when Pope Innocent IV summoned him to carry a message to the great Khan. Although Carpini seems an unlikely choice for such a mission, the pope knew him as a zealous preacher, a good organizer and an astute people-watcher. In the letter that Carpini carried, the Pope urged the Khan not to attack Europe, lest he fall under divine wrath. Carpini was also to keep his eyes open and pick up whatever knowledge he could obtain. It would be good to get a hint of the intentions of the Mongol warriors.

Carpini set out for the heart of Mongol Asia on February 2, 1245. The early parts of the journey were not hard, but the Asian stages of the journey were every bit as difficult as expected. Further, Carpini found it difficult to communicate his intentions and suffered from the harsh weather, attacks by bandits, days of hunger, threats, forced marches, and long delays at the hands of suspicious officials. However, the situation improved when Carpini’s men reached a Mongol camp on the Volga River. Batu, a high official, decided the friar’s errand warranted sending him and his companions forward by the imperial post. When Carpini arrived, he found the Mongols in transition, with Güyük Khan preparing to assume leadership of the empire, his predecessor having recently died. Carpini delivered the Pope’s letter, which urged the Khan to repent of his monstrous massacres. It also urged the Mongols “to become Christians, and to embrace the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, because they could not otherwise be saved.” However, in the eyes of the Khan, Carpini and the Pope were insignificant figures. He kept Carpini waiting for weeks. When Carpini finally received an audience with the Khan, he tried to convert him to Christianity. The Khan considered the matter but, in the end, rejected baptism. He sent Carpini back with a message for the pope. In his response, the Khan had written: “We have chastised the Christian nations because they disobeyed the commandments of God and Genghis Khan. The power of God is manifestly with us.” Further, the Pope was ordered to present himself at the Mongol court if he wished peace. Not very comforting words, and for decades Europe lived in terror of another invasion. Fortunately, it never came. Pope Innocent IV rewarded Carpini by making him an archbishop. Carpini died on August 1, 1252, at the age of sixty-seven years old.

A Little Humor

The “For Sale” sign read: “Single owner tomb. Only used three days and still has that new tomb smell. Reason for sale – resident resurrected.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Son screen prevents hell burn!”