Chosen In Christ 3

Hello Everyone,

WE WERE CHOSEN IN CHRIST BEFORE THE WORLD

Ephesians 1:11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.

Ephesians 1:4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

“Before the world”. What was before the world?

Many people would say, “Before the world there was nothing!” WRONG! Before the world was GOD!

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God....”

John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”

Before planet earth and the whole universe existed, there was God! Before everything existed, there was God!

It’s hard for most people to wrap their minds around that idea but it’s true. God has always existed. He is from everlasting to everlasting. He has no beginning and no end.

Ephesians 1:4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

God knew us all before we were ever born. Do you realize this? He knew us before we were formed in our mother’s womb. How amazing is that?! How could this be? Because He is God who knows all, sees all, and is limitless in POWER.

How could God choose us to be His children before we were born?

He knew man would sin and would need a Savior so He planned to send Jesus before mankind came into existence.

We were chosen in Christ before the world began in the sense that God knew we would choose Jesus as our Savior.

But God’s plan started before earth and man came into existence.

Greater Things Are Still To Come!

Pastor Phil 

Chosen In Christ 4

Hello Everyone,

WE WERE CHOSEN IN CHRIST FOR A PURPOSE

Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Why are you here? What’s your purpose in life? God didn’t save you in Jesus, just to look at you and admire you, like you are display in a museum case!                       What’s your purpose in life?

God has a purpose for your life.

Did you know what your purpose in life was while you were still in high school? I didn’t.

I didn’t have a clue other than knowing that I had to go to work.

That was something that was either taught or caught in my home. Mom and dad worked hard and they expected us children to work.

Beyond work, I really didn’t know what life was all about.

DID YOU? You might have had some idea about your real purpose in life if you were raised by Christian parents.

Rick Warren, in his book, THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE, wrote, “Contrary to what many popular books, movies, and seminars tell you, you won’t discover your life’s meaning by looking within yourself. You didn’t create yourself, so there is no way you can tell yourself what you were created for!”

Colossians 1:15-16 The Message Bible reads: “For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.”

Do you get the picture? Our purpose in life is not that we are here for us, but rather we are here for Him, to know Him, to please Him, to live for Him, to live for His GLORY! We are: God’s possession—to the praise of His glory.

Colossians 3:1-4 “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

Christ is our life!

I Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

We have been chosen for a purpose and that purpose is to LIVE for Christ, and for His GLORY no matter what we choose for our life’s work or whom we marry, etc.

He is God in the flesh and He alone gives the promise of eternal life.                           He alone gives purpose and meaning to life!

CONCLUSION:

We are chosen in Christ. We are God’s chosen people and it’s all because of Jesus.

Life is about knowing our Creator and we can only come to know Him through Jesus. Jesus came to SHOW us the Father. And He came to seek and to save the lost.

John 10:10 “I have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” There is nothing better!

Greater Things Are Still To Come!

Chosen in Christ 2

Hello Everyone,

WE ARE CHOSEN IN CHRIST

Ephesians 1:11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.

IN HIM WE WERE CHOSEN!

Matthew 16:13-16 “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” And is not this the heart of the matter into regard to all of life? Or the most important question that any person could answer?

The reason is because the answer to this question can determine what we will do in life and where we will spend eternity! The answer to this question will have affect on everything we do in life.

Do you BELEIVE that this Jesus is THE Christ, the son of the living God?

Make no mistake about it: Jesus is who He claimed to be and He can do what He said He could do! Give us eternal life!

We are chosen in Christ. We are privileged characters to God and it’s all because of Jesus. We became God’s chosen ONES when we chose Christ as our Lord and Savior!

I’ve heard it said that it was like God said, “Those who accept my Son will be chosen ones.”

Greater Things Are Still To Come!

Chosen in Christ 1

Hello Everyone,

For the next few weeks we are going to be looking in Ephesians and DISCOVERING our position in Christ.

Chosen in Christ, Alive in Christ, Power in Christ, Life in Christ, Wisdom in Christ, Strong in Christ.

This week CHOSEN IN CHRIST                                                              

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love

Do you realize that you are special to someone? Even if you never felt special to your mom and dad, you are extremely special in the eyes of God!

Max Lucado put it this way: “God is crazy about you. If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If God had a wallet, your picture would be in it. Whenever you would talk, He would listen. And you might go days without thinking of Him, but there would never be a moment when He would not be thinking of you.”

Isn’t this a cool thought? And I believe it’s true! I do believe that we who are in Christ are God’s special people!

I Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." NIV

A chosen people! Royal, holy, a people belonging to God and it’s all because of Jesus. We are God’s chosen people because of Christ.

Paul explains our chosen position in Christ in this text.
1- We are chosen in Christ
2- We were chosen in Christ before the world
3- We were chosen in Christ for a purpose

Greater Things Are Still To Come!

Pastor Phil        

the Capability of God's Grace 4

Hello Everyone,

God’s Grace Is Capable in Sin

Grace is greater than all our sin!

Romans 5:20 says, “…where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more…”
(Message) ”... But sin didn't, and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace.”

You can’t out-sin God’s grace.

You may have as many sins as sand on the beaches or stars in the sky or gallons of water in the ocean, but God’s grace exceeds your sin.

You say, but you don’t understand.

• I have sinned so much

Listen, “where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more.”

And lastly God’s Grace is Sufficient in Service

II Corinthians 9:8 says, And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

It does not matter where He places me or how.

That is for Him to consider not me.

For the easiest positions, He must give grace; and in the most difficult, His grace is sufficient.

So, if God places me in a challenging situation, will He not give me guidance?

In positions of great difficulty, much grace?

In circumstances of great pressure and trial, much strength?

”As to work, mine was never so plentiful, so responsible, or so difficult; but the weight and strain are all gone. His resources are mine, for He is mine!”

- J. Hudson Taylor

Living in God’s Grace:

1. Surrender Absolutely

2. Walk Accordingly

a. Walk in the light
b. Have grace towards other

3. Respond Appreciatively

a. Praise God for His grace

4. Preach Constantly

Greater Things Are Still To Come!

Pastor Phil