Peter, an apostles of Jesus Christ to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galata, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia had a message to preach to the elect, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ; Grace unto you and peace be multiplied. (I Peter 1:1-2)
"Blessed the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love -- having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will -- to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace ... wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself." (Ephesians 1:3-9)
What is this mystery that He hath purposed in Himself? What is the mystery that included the adoption of children -- you and I -- unto Himself?
"That in the dispensation of the fullness of times, He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, [even] in Him -- in whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will -- that we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted Christ ..." (Ephesians 1:10-12)
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God -- to declare [I say] at this time His righteousness, that He might be just, and the justifier of Him which believeth in Jesus." (Romans 3:23-26)
"For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers, all things were created by Him and for Him and He is before all things and by Him all things consist. And He is the Head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence. For it pleased [the] Father that in Him should all fullness dwell; and having made peace through the blood of His cross; by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself, by Him [I say,] whether [they be] things in earth or things in heaven, and you that were sometime alienated and enemies in [your] mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled, in the body of His flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight ... if you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel which we have heard and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven." (Colossians 1:20-23)
Even the mystery which hath been hid from the ages and from generation but now is made manifest to His saints! The greatest love story ever told -- when the same God who created us loved us enough to shed His precious holy blood on the cross so that we might be saved. Ask Jesus to be Lord in your life today. Repent of your sins. Be baptized in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:37-42) And receive ye the Holy Ghost.
Stand in the offering plate.
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