Ephesians 1:1-14
It is when we begin to understand these
words that we can apply them and accept them. Now let's look at the other one,
“blameless”. Most people refuse to think of themselves as
blameless because they know that they have done many things for which they
ought to be blamed. That is, they have made choices, deliberate choices, against
right, against God, and even against the knowledge of the consequences. But we
confuse this word with another, because it is not sinless. Never having done anything wrong is sinless. But,
the Bible says you can be sinful and still be blameless. Do you know how? By handling your sin in the right way. If you
did something that injured someone else, and the full result of it was not
visible to you when you did it, but afterward you saw how much you had hurt the
person, and you acknowledged it, apologized to them, asked for forgiveness, and
did what you could to restore it, then there would be nothing further you could
do. From that point on you would be blameless. You would not be sinless -- you
still did it -- but you also did all you could to handle it rightly, or to make
it right.
The idea is the same with our offenses
against God. What can you do about your sins? You can't go back and straighten
it all out, no, but you can ask for and accept his forgiveness. You can
acknowledge what you did and your need for forgiveness, you can seek to restore
the relationship, and when you've done that, you're blameless! That is what God
has chosen us to do -- to learn this wonderful process of being whole (holy) and
blameless. Notice that these things are to be reckoned true even though we don't feel that way. We need to accept the fact that God chose us “in Christ” to make us holy and blameless. And as we walk before him in his prescribed way, that is what we are…we ought to “reckon” that we are, and we ought to rejoice in that great fact.
Now look at the second great aspect which is recorded of the work of the Father, and which is related to the first, (Ephesians 1:5-6 )
Here is a partial explanation of how God takes care of all the past failures and the shame of our lives, in order to produce someone who is holy and blameless. It is by means of a “change” of family relationship. "He predestined us to be sons" …Most of us are familiar with the process of adoption. Adoption means leaving one family and joining another. Leaving behind all that was involved in the first family and assuming the name, the characteristics, the resources, and the relationships of another family. We've been transferred and adopted into a new family. This is why we are called the “family of God.”
Now, my question is: Are you enjoying your inheritance? Do you wake in the morning and remind yourself at the beginning of the day, "I'm a child of the Father…El Elyon…the “Most High God"…"I've been chosen by him to be a member of his family." Because He chose me, He imparts to me His peace, His joy, and, His love, His resources, His knowledge and wisdom…and much more. They are my inheritance from which I can draw every moment of life. And I have them no matter what my circumstances may be. In His sight - through Jesus Christ His Son - I am holy and blameless!” Well, I reckon it’s true!
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