Ephesians 1: 9-10
Luke 2:14 ESV
Hebrews 11: 6 ESV
Philippians 2:13 ESV
Ephesians 1:4-5 ESV
Revelation 4: 11
Psalm 149: 4 ESV
1 John 3:16-24 ESV
2 Corinthians 5:9-11 ESV
Created for the pleasure of God:
With Rev. Brian Moseley
In the beginning we were created physically in the image of God and to be “imagers” or representatives of him on earth. Before the fall, the spiritual “heavenly” realm and the physical, were intermingled. There was no separation between the two. Then, the physical was corrected. A separation took place because of sin.
With the arrival of Jesus, and his death and resurrection, God made it possible for us to reunite with him. The war was over!
In Ephesians 1: 9-10 it says “9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” So, although we seek for physical signs of unification with through Jesus, we are not there yet. God’s plan is spiritual for us currently. Upon our salvation and receiving the Holy Spirit, we are new creatures in Christ. We are now remade in the image of Christ and created spiritually for the pleasure of God. But what does this mean? We tend to approach scripture from the physical aspect, applying all teaching in a physical context. The one thing that pleases God isn’t of the physical. It directs the physical, it manifests results in the physical, but it is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. It is faith! In Philippians 2: 4-8 it says “4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
The war is over!! The true meaning of Christmas and the birth of Jesus:
Luke 2:14 ESV
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
The King James version says, “goodwill toward men”. This means that at the birth of Christ, God was no longer angry and wrathful with mankind. The holy lamb, the perfect sacrifice was born, who would offer salvation to all mankind was born! But what does it mean “among those with whom he is pleased”?
Hebrews 11: 6 ESV
“6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
Philippians 2:13 ESV
“13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
Ephesians 1:4-5 ESV
“4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us[a] for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,”
– We were chosen according to the purpose of his will! His will is his purpose and his pleasure!
Revelation 4: 11
“11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
– It was his will and his pleasure that we were created.
Psalm 149: 4 ESV
“4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with salvation.”
2 Timothy 1:9 ESV
9 who saved us and called us to[a] a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,[b]
– He saved us and called us because of his own purpose and grace.
Psalm 37:23 ESV
23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
when he delights in his way;
– When we walk in faith (delight in his ways)” our steps are established by the Lord.
Psalm 147:11 ESV
11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.
– He takes pleasure in those who fear him and have faith in his steadfast love.
1 John 3:16-24 ESV
16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God,[a] and God[b] in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
– Faith isn’t just talk. It is acting in deed and truth. We receive from him because we do what pleases him.
2 Corinthians 5:9-11 ESV
9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.
– We should be making it our aim/ goal to please him by walking and living in faith. We should know the fear, awesomeness, and love of the Lord. This should motivate us to persuade others. We should live spiritually, realizing that what we are is known by God In every way, and we should weigh that against our conscience.
– As new creatures in Christ, we were made for this!
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