Now Unto Him That Is Able To Keep you From Falling, And To Present you Faultless Before The Presence Of His Glory With Exceeding Joy - Part 2077

" ... that in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us through Christ 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." (Ephesians 2:7-9)

Thankfully, we are no longer waiting in anxious anticipation for "the ages to come." (Ephesians 2:7) 

Instead, we are privileged to live in this "current dispensation of grace" because herein the Lord has proved the exceeding riches of His grace and kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. "After the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared ... (Titus 3:4-7)

But even more so, He took our place on the cross -- "and for this cause He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament [is], there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament [is] of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator lives. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood." (Hebrews 9:15-18)

Thus, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who THROUGH the eternal Spirit offered Himself without sot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. (Hebrews 9:14) He made the purchase -- Christ once offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation." (Hebrews 9:28)

This is why must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world; but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." (Hebrews 9:26; Acts 20:28)

 

[As an aside, and similarly for clarity, this is not to suggest that the Lord God was not merciful and gracious from the beginning of time, but rather that we who live in this dispensation have received the very promise that those who obtain a good report through faith did not. (Hebrews 11:1-40) I refer specifically to Exodus 34:6-7 which states, "The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin ..." (Exodus 34:6-7)] 

So, continuing, how is the Lord's exceeding riches toward us displayed? Those exceeding great and precious promises that is spoken throughout the New Testament? Let's look at the scriptures -- the Word of God -- and understand what He is saying to us this day. And how we who believe in the Lord Jesus by faith are to "rejoice, inasmuch as ye/[we] are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." (I Peter 4:12)

For additional understanding, you might want to study I Corinthians 12:1-12, and the gifts that the One and Selfsame Spirit -- the Holy Ghost -- the Spirit of Jesus now dwelling within -- divides severally to every man as He will -- the diversities of gifts, differences of administrations, and diversities of operations -- are elaborated upon. But there is manifold much more when it comes to His great and precious promises -- which allows us to be partakers of the heavenly, as members of the body of Christ church.

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (II Peter 1:4)

To the churches in Ephesus, apostle Paul went further, expounding on the exceeding greatness of His power, so that we might come to a place wherein we truly understand the greatest love story ever told, "and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe according to the working of His mighty power." (Ephesians 1:19)

"Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us ..." (Ephesians 3:20)

Indeed, "the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." (I Timothy 1:14)

Jesus -- the same yesterday, today and forever, -- King of kings and Lord of lords. Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. He is our all in all! It is He that is able to keep us from falling and to present flawless before the presence of His glory. And this is true even when we face trials and tribulations, and become weary from the drudgery in this world. 

As apostle Paul points out, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory..." (II Corinthians 4:17) And again, as Paul writes, "I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation." (II Corinthians 7:4)

Remember, the apostles were often taken before magistrates, and the powers that be for exceedingly and repeatedly "troubling our cit[ies]." (Acts 16:20) And what happened? The Lord continued to part the waters for them so that they could preach the good news gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to one and all.

" ... and by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you." (II Corinthians 9:14)

Thus, "let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice." (Psalms 68:3)

This is our hope! So many examples throughout the scriptures, proving the Lord and His goodness and grace for those who love Him and keep His commandments. Certainly, if we can use the wise men as an example, we know that they not only saw the star in the east, but"rejoiced with exceeding great joy" as they ventured far distances to find Jesus -- to worship the King of the Jews. (Matthew 2:1-6)

Therefore, be patient in all things, and most particularly "unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until He receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge stands before the door. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the Name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation." (James 5:7-12; Matthew 5:34-37)

Thus, as James writes -- "blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." (James 1:12)

Remember too, as did the apostles, "we are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith grows exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other abounds ... " (II Thessalonians 1:3)

Rejoice, I say, rejoice for our salvation drawers nigh. Stand in the offering plate.