Jesus Asked - Believest Thou This? - Part 619

"Unto me who am less than the least of all saints is this grace given." (Ephesians 3:5)

Paul is speaking here of salvation --- and the "unsearchable riches of Christ" that allows all men and women to see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ, and is intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God -- if we only believe in Him. (Ephesians 3:8-10)

That we -- as believers in Jesus -- should know the mystery that has been hid in God from the beginning. Whereby when we read the Word, we may understand the knowledge in the mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men. According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I Timothy 3:16 states: "And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."

Why did God become flesh and then shed His holy precious blood on a cross for our transgressions? Just the idea of our Creator loving us so much that He would willingly hang on a cross so that we might be saved runs contrary to our human thinking. But the following points might serve as a starting point for offering some form of response to the question.

First, so that Jesus the Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith. Second, so that we, being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and depth and height of our Father's love for His people. Third, so that we could know the love of Christ, which passes all knowledge and understanding. Fourth, so that we might be filled with all the fullness of God. Fifth, so that we could love God with all our hearts, all our souls and all our minds, and then love one another in the same way that our Lord God and Saviour loved us.

For when He ascended on high, He -- Jesus -- God in the flesh -- led captivity captive once and for all. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." (John 11:25-26)

And then Jesus asked, "Believest thou this?"

Do you believe that God who is rich in mercy -- His great love wherewith He loved us even when we were dead in sins -- hath quickened us together with Christ? Do you believe that through grace we are saved and as a consequence, we will be raised up together and made to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus? That in the ages to come He will show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus? If so, praise Jesus!

For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, "It is the gift of God." Not of works lest any man should boast for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:4-10)

The next step in our walk is to be baptized every one of us in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins so that we shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38-42)

"Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us ... unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus through all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21) Be ye therefore followers of our Lord God and Saviour as dear children. Stand in the offering plate.