Embracing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:3-14
“3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4) just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5) He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,” Ephesians 1:3-5
In Ephesians 1:3-14, Paul introduces a profound truth. (Stop and read the full context). Each member of the godhead was and is active in your salvation. Look at this short outline:
Vs 3-6 God the Father Planned Your Salvation Vs 7-12 God the Son Performed the Work of Your Salvation Vs 13-14 God the Holy Spirit Actively Works to Perfect Your Salvation
Let me make a few foundational observations from these verses. First, this same outline can be applied to the work of Creation in Genesis 1 & 2. The Father planned the Creation, the Son performed the work of Creating, and the Holy Spirit added order, design and beauty to it. They always work together.
Second, you are important to each member of the Trinity. The details of your life were in the mind of God before time began. (Read Psalm 139:13-18). God is for you and not against you! Accepting this little truth is a huge first step in renewing your mind!
Third, God invites you to build a deep, loving and growing relationship on all three levels. He wants you to know the love and acceptance of the Father, the forgiveness and grace of the Son, and the filling and power of the Holy Spirit. Many Christians are out of balance and relate to only one member of the Trinity. God intends intimacy on all three levels.
Finally, according to many Scriptures in the New Testament, there is no limit to the depth of fellowship and intimacy you can experience in your present walk with God. Take a moment and read Scriptures like 1 John 1:1-2:2; 2 Peter 1:2-11 and John chapters 10 and 15. Your only limitation is yourself. This will become clear as we move forward in this study.
Today’s study will reveal deception in your thinking about God and expose hurts you may hold toward one or more members of the godhead. For example, if you were rejected, neglected or abused by your earthly father, you might have a distorted view of God the Father. Or, if you had shattered dreams, trauma or loss in your past, you might have walls of bitterness toward Jesus for not protecting you. It is also possible you have been listening to the harsh and condemning voice of the accuser of the brethren. He always heaps guilt, shame and condemnation on you for past sin and failure. The voice of the Holy Spirit is firm, but it is also gentle and convicting offering forgiveness and healing.
Satan works hard to distort our view of each member of the Trinity and convince us that God is against us. In Freedom Quest Two, you will discover unfathomable truth about each member of the godhead and be drawn into a healing, thriving and abundant relationship with God on all three levels.
John 10:10 is about to become a profound reality for you as you grow forward in the Word of God. Shortly, you will begin to discover and enter into the “abundant Zoe life” Jesus intends for you. (There is that term “Zoe life” again!) You will also be able to recognize, resist and reject the stealing and destructive traps of the thief in your life.
So you ask; “Where do I begin?” My simple answer is; “Start by reading, studying and mastering Ephesians 1:3-14.” Understand, accept and embrace the roles of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in your life! Dive deep into these verses until you form a solid relationship, truce, trust and allegiance with each member of the Trinity. Invite the Holy Spirit to guide you.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
