Led by the Truth

Encouraging believers to learn and live the truth of God's Word

In the Study: The Character of the Blesser

Download a PDF of this study here.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Ephesians 1:1–3

The main theme of this first chapter of Ephesians opens with a short, yet poignant statement, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings…” Upon first glance at this passage, it is easy to bypass the words Blessed, God, and Father, and move to the phrase “all spiritual blessings.” Yet, the very meaning of the next several verses hinges upon this very phrase. It is the blessed God and Father who hath blessed us. Thus, the nature and character of our Blesser–the eternal God and Father–warrants special study and investigation.

Important Word Study

The word “blessed” comes from the Greek eulogetos, which literally means “a good word.” This word appears eight times in the New Testament and is translated in each of these eight instances in our King James Bible as “blessed.” In this particular context, the word blessed means to be worthy of praise or commendation; to be extolled. Thus, the main message the Scripture is trying to convey is that God is worthy of our praise and reverence. The next question we must investigate, then, is why is God worthy of our praise? Of course we know the short answer–because He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and infinitely holy. But let’s dig a little deeper to investigate why the Bible would make this statement in the context of our passage here in Ephesians.

Cross-Reference Analysis

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1 Peter 1:3

This particular reference is worded extremely similar to our text in Ephesians. Notice the parallels between the two passages:

In both of these passages, the phrase “blessed…Christ” is closely followed by “hath…us.” We see from this parallel that God is to be praised for what he has done; He is to be praised for His works. This is a truth that parallels with other passages in Scripture.

“Praise him for his mighty acts: Praise him according to his excellent greatness.”

Psalm 150:2

“Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, Talk ye of all his wondrous works.”

1 Chronicles 16:9

“That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all thy wondrous works.”

Psalm 26:7

“I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, And of thy wondrous works.”

Psalm 145:5

It is also understood from the context of Scripture that the works of God are glorious and honorable because God’s character is honorable and glorious.

“Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: For that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.”

Psalm 75:1

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

James 1:17

James 1:17 seems to best sum up the fact that God’s works and gifts extend out of His character. James reveals two things about God’s gifts and two things about God’s character that indicate how God’s character unites with the nature of His blessings.

James tells us that God’s gifts are:

  • Good
  • Perfect

The word good comes from a Greek word which has the idea of something that is naturally good in and of itself. The word perfect comes from a Greek word meaning to make complete or to finish. Thus, what James is saying is that the gifts that come from above (i.e., from God) are naturally good and complete in every way. In the next half of the verse, James parallels this with two attributes of God’s character–His holiness and His immutability (inability to change).

“…and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

James 1:17b

James describes God as “the Father of lights.” The Apostle John tells us that “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” This phrase, then, emphasizes God’s holiness. Because God is holy, the gifts which he gives us do not reflect any wickedness, inconsistency, or confusion. God’s gifts are given in accordance with His character as the Holy Light; they are innately good because they come from Him.

Not only that, but there is no change with God. The word “variableness” simply means a change or variation. Because God is immutable and is the same yesterday, today, and forever, the nature of God’s gifts are such that they always reflect the consistency of His character. There will never be a gift which comes from God that violates His command or purposes. We may, at times, misuse the gifts which God chooses to give us, but in and of themselves these gifts are not meant to violate the nature and character of God.

Final Interpretation & Application to Text

Now, back to the book of Ephesians. We understand from this study that God is worthy to be praised because…

  • He has done great things
  • He is infinite holiness and impeccable Light
  • He is completely unchangeable and abides forever and ever

It is the holy, unchangeable, and great God who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. These spiritual blessings, as we will come to study in future articles, extend from these three principles of God’s character that we have studied today.

May our hearts be warmed to intense gratitude for the fact that every gift, whether great or small, that God has given us reflects His holiness, greatness, and eternality. Any gift that comes short of these three character qualities of our God is not from above, but rather is of this world and is to be shunned and avoided at all costs.

Heed the Heavenly Warnings

“…the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned, and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults.”

Psalm 19:9b-12

Many people in this day and age do not heed warnings. The most common evidence of this is in hurricanes, tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms. Most of the time, warnings are issued in advance of these dangerous weather phenomena, but many people, for various reasons, choose to ignore the warnings and “ride out the storm.” Some manage to do this safely, while others do so to their own peril.

Likewise, there are many Christians who choose to ignore a much more important warning– the warning that comes directly from God. God makes it clear in this passage that God warns his servants by way of His judgments, or commandments. The commandments of God are the warnings issued by God to keep us from danger.

“For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light, and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.”

Proverbs 6:23

The spiritual dangers of this world lurk all around us and continually obscure and darken our pathway so that we cannot see the eventual destruction they cause. God’s commands, like a flashlight shining into a dark room, illuminate the darkness of life’s pathway and reveal those hidden dangers so that we may steer clear of them and remain on the proper path that God has for us.

To ignore the heavenly warnings of God’s Word is to set ourselves on a collision course with the dangers of life and align ourselves with death and destruction. No Christian sets out for their lives, testimony, and ministry to be ruined by sin, but the slightest dismissal of God’s warning, however small it may seem, is the first step down this tragic path.

“He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

proverbs 29:1

The reason why people do not heed severe weather warnings is because they do not believe the storm will be as destructive as it is forecast to be. In some cases, this turns out to be true, but in other cases the storm turns out to be just as powerful and catastrophic as expected.

Friend, the Scripture says the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. The heavenly warnings issued by God are never inaccurate or unreliable; you had better believe that the destruction God warns us of will occur if we do not heed His commandments.

We must humble ourselves and admit that we cannot understand our errors, neither can we understand our own way (see Proverbs 20:24). We must ask the Lord to cleanse us of the sins and errors which we cannot see because of the stubbornness of our own hearts. Then, we must determine to never again ignore God’s heavenly warnings and embrace the promise presented in this passage that if we heed His warnings, we will experience a great eternal reward that surpasses any fleeting sinful pleasure or pathway which we were previously seeking.

The Blessing of the Lord

The Lord hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless them that fear the Lord , both small and great. The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children. Ye are blessed of the Lord which made heaven and earth.

Psalms 115:12‭-‬15 KJV

Five times by direct discourse, and once by implication, God tells Israel that He will bless them. The greatest lie of the devil is that God has not been mindful of us, that he has forgotten us, and has no desire to bless us. The inspired words of this psalm fly in the face of such an indictment. God has remembered those who have been washed in the blood of His Son as a father remembers his child. God is mindful of our most precarious predicament and our deepest, innermost woe and need. God may not necessarily deliver us from our affliction immediately, but He will give us the peace to endure it, and that, fellow believer, is certainly a blessing. We never need to fear any trouble that comes our way; God will bless us, if we trust in Him and in no one else.

Trust in the Lord!

O Israel, trust thou in the Lord : he is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord : he is their help and their shield. Ye that fear the Lord , trust in the Lord : he is their help and their shield.

Psalms 115:9‭-‬11 KJV

Three times God gives the instruction to Israel to trust in the Lord. Why? Because He (God) is their help and their shield. Spurgeon tells us that this psalm was sung at the Passover as it is part of The Hallel. The three-fold reminder to trust in the Lord, then, is most likely a direct reference to the fact that God proved Himself as a help in parting the Red Sea and a shield in using the pillar of cloud and fire to prevent the Egyptians from prevailing over them.

We would do well to remember our Lord’s deliverance from our sins as proof of His help (in that he redeemed us) and His shielding protection (in that He keeps us in the palm of His hand and none is able to pluck us from it). O that these truths would drive us to trust in the Lord and not in ourselves or vain idols!

Are You Trusting in Idols?

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.

–Psalm 115:4‭-‬8

Today, most people and religions do not worship physical idols made of silver and gold. However, the application of this passage certainly extends to the modern day idols of money, success, physical pleasure, entertainment, and the like.

May it be said that when we give ourselves to trusting in these idols, whether as Christians or non-Christians, we are transformed to become like the idols themselves. We will be dumb so that we cannot speak when our destruction occurs, blind so that we cannot see our coming judgment, deaf so that we cannot hear the voice of Jehovah the true God, unable to smell so that we cannot experience the aroma of a life that is blessed by God, and maimed so that we cannot walk down the righteous paths of the godly or handle the words of the Almighty.

Friend, if you are trusting in any idols today, know that the Almighty is infinitely greater than any poor, deformed idol of this earth, no matter how convincing it may seem. If only more souls could see the deficiency of idols and grasp ahold of the all-encompassing sufficiency of God, what a peace our world would have!

Are You Giving God Glory?

Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But unto thy name give glory, For thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.

–Psalm 115:1


One of the key principles in this life and in eternity is that God’s glory will not be shared with another. God declares in Isaiah 48:11,


“For mine own sake even for mine own sake will I do it for how should my name be polluted and I will not give my glory unto another.”


Every time we take the credit for a work of grace in our lives (which includes anything and everything we do for God), we ascribe glory to ourselves rather than God.

In contrast, we should give God glory for the abundant mercy He has shown to us in salvation and in our present walk with Him. We should also give glory to God for the truth of who He is; He is just, holy,  all-powerful, all-knowing, and loving. We should lift up these attributes of God in our speech, daily living, and service.

Friend, are you glorifying God today, or are you glorifying yourself?

How’s Your Sacrifice?

In this passage, the Lord uses the analogy of a servant’s relationship to his master and a son’s relationship to his father to illustrate the fact that as Israel’s Heavenly Father, he deserved the utmost honor and respect; as Israel’s Master and Lord, he deserved reverential fear. God phrases this analogy in the form of a question, which God often does to prick the hearts of men and cause them to consider their ways:

If then I be a father, where is mine honour?
And if I be a master, where is my fear?

Malachi 1:6 (KJV)

God’s intention in posing this question to the priests was to show them that godly fear and honor did not exist in their lives. The chief reason that God identifies for the dearth of these two spiritual qualities is the priests’ ungodly attitude towards God and His work. God said they were guilty of despising His name and calling the table of the Lord contemptible (utterly despicable). As a result of this attitude, the priests were in the business of profaning the Lord’s Name and work by sacrificing polluted, blemished animals on the Lord’s altar instead of the unblemished, proper sacrifices required by the Old Testament law.

Friend, there is much application for us to make from this passage concerning the New Testament believer-priest as he or she worships God. First, the proper honor, respect, and fear of God must envelop every facet of our lives. It is easy for us to give lip-service to the fact that we honor, love, and fear the Lord, but if these qualities are not the consistent tenor of our public and private lives, then we face the same indictment placed upon the priests of Israel.

Second, we must have the right attitude while doing God’s work. Beware when Satan begins to tempt you with subtle murmurings and disputings about the responsibilities you have in your local church, or how much you are constrained to give in the services, whether in time or money. From these seemingly small complaints arises a spirit of discontentment which, in time, will solidify into the callous of utter disdain and contempt for the Lord and His work.

Lastly, we must bring proper spiritual sacrifices before the Lord. When our fear of the Lord has waned, our attitudes have gone sour, and our spirits have become hardened to the things of God, we will offer the polluted sacrifices of heartless praise, dead worship, lackadaisical service, and carnal living to the Lord. Not only that, but we will, like Cain, expect God to accept our offerings even though we know that our actions are not pleasing in His sight. When we as believer-priests find ourselves in such a state, it is then when the Lord sternly reminds us that “sin lieth at the door.”

Yet, God in His love still admonishes us to repent. If we confess our sin of dishonoring the Lord in our life and service, then God will remain faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse our hearts so that we may offer to Him the holy, acceptable, living sacrifices of heart-filled praise, Spirit-filled worship, fervent service, and consecrated living. May God help us to be in such a state every day of our Christian lives.

How’s Your Love?

“The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi. I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us?”

Malachi 1:1-2a (KJV)

It is convicting that God would begin what is essentially a message of rebuke with a proclamation of His love for Israel. God’s love is a love of the most intense devotion; it is utterly unconditional. Yet, Israel responds flippantly to this loyal love in asking “Wherein (how) hast thou loved us?” This question would be more appropriate if it were posed to our fellow man because man is sinful and the quality of man’s love is not on par with God’s. We don’t always back up our proclamations of love with the actions that prove our loyal devotion to those whom we say we love. However, Israel made this same accusation against Jehovah God, the omnipotent Ruler of the universe. How it must have hurt the heart of God to see His love that He had shown for thousands of years consistently and arrogantly left unrequited.

Yet, in reality, we are not far from the Israelites. We may not necessarily lift up our voice to God and say, “Wherein hast thou loved us,” but every time we choose to live carnally as a believer, we have in essence asked this very question. Christian, how is your love life? I’m not talking about with your spouse, your family, or your friends. I’m asking about the status and quality of your love for the Savior–your Savior. Are you in fellowship with Him, or are you walking in the darkness of sin? Are you being faithful to Him in your service, giving, and witnessing? Are you daily in His Word and daily in prayer, seeking to know more about the One who loves you? May you and I seriously consider these questions and do business with God to get our hearts–our love–for Him renewed and restored to complete fervency and vigor.

Originally published under the title: “Devotional Thoughts from Malachi 1:1-2”

The Resurrection (Bible Reading)

Today’s post will be a little different. Since today is Resurrection Sunday, the author thought it appropriate to post the details of the Resurrection as recorded in Matthew 28. The last post in the series will be tomorrow.

Matthew 28 (KJV)

1In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

2And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

3His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

4And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

5And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

6He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

7And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

8And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

9And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

10Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

11Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.

12And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,

13Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.

14And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.

15So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

16Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

17And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, evenunto the end of the world. Amen.

Christ’s Sacrifce on the Cross Paid for All our Sins Forever

firstslider

Leviticus 14:13

(13) And he shall slay the lamb in the place where he shall kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the holy place: for as the sin offering is the priest’s, so is the trespass offering: it is most holy:

Hebrews 10:12

(12) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Hebrews 10:14

(14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Our text today includes three verses, one from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament. Today, the author would like to explain the magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross.

If we take a look at the verse from Leviticus, we see that the Bible refers to the “sin offering”. First, what is a sin offering?

Let’s take a look back at Exodus for a moment:

Exodus 29:14

But the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it is a sin offering.

The word “bullock” here is referring to a young bullock without blemish (or without any sort of disease, deformity, or other problem). The Bible says that the flesh, skin, and dung of the bull was to be burned with fire for a sin offering. This establishes the principle found in Romans 6:23 that the wages of sin is death. The young bullock had to die as an atonement for sin.

Now, let’s take a look at Leviticus.

Leviticus 5:1-6

(1) And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.

(2) Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.

(3) Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.

(4) Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these.

(5) And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing:

(6) And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.

aaron-burden-76177-unsplash

The Bible says in Leviticus that “if a soul sin…he shall bear his iniquity.” This once again confirms the principle found in Romans 6:23 that sin has a penalty, a wage, or an earning. That earning is death as we saw in Exodus 29:14. In Leviticus, the Bible also says that a trespass offering needed to be offered unto the Lord for “his sin which he hath sinned.” The Bible said that this animal needed to be a female from the flock, a lamb, or a kid of the goats for a sin offering. The priest then was to make an atonement (or a temporary covering) concerning his sin.But, death is not the only penalty for sin. Listen to the next part of God’s commandment concerning the sin offering:

Leviticus 5:8-9

8, And he shall bring them unto the priest, who shall offer that which is for the sin offering first, and wring off his head from his neck, but shall not divide it asunder:

9, And he shall sprinkle of the blood of the sin offering upon the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be wrung out at the bottom of the altar: it is a sin offering.

The Bible says that the blood of the lamb was to be sprinkled on the side of the altar and that the rest of the blood was to be wrung out at the bottom of the altar as a sin offering. Thus, both death AND the shedding of blood was necessary to atone, or pay, for sin.

You may be asking by this point: where is the author going with all this? What the author is trying to get at is that Jesus’ death on the Cross was the fulfillment of all these sacrifices and sin offerings that are recorded in the Old Testament. How so?

1. Leviticus 5:1 establishes the fact that the soul that sinned must “bear his iniquity.” This means that there is a penalty for sin. However, the Bible states that Jesus Christ has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows and that the iniquity of us all was laid on him. In other words, Jesus Christ himself paid the penalty for all our sins so we wouldn’t have to!

Isaiah 53:4, 6

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The Bible says that God the Father laid on Jesus Christ (his Son) the iniquity of us all. The penalty for sin rested solely on Jesus Christ.

2. Exodus 29:14 establishes the fact that death is the penalty for sin, which is restated in Romans 6:23. Jesus died a cruel death on an old, rugged Cross so we could be saved from our sin, and live eternally with Him.

 

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3. Leviticus 5:8-10 establishes the fact that blood must be shed in order to pay for sin. This is confirmed again in 1 John 1:7b:

“…and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Finally, in John 1, John the Baptist identified Jesus as the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God that paid the sin offering for our sin: he bore our iniquity on the Cross by dying for our sins; he shed his blood on the Cross and through his beatings, and Jesus Christ was a sinless Lamb of God, which made Jesus Christ the perfect and ultimate sacrifice for all our sin. Praise God. This is why Hebrews declares:

Hebrews 10:12

(12) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Hebrews 10:14

(14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Jesus’ one offering for sins on the Cross 2,000 years ago paid for all sins: past, present, and future. The only thing you have to do is simply accept Jesus’ sacrifice via his gift of salvation by believing in Christ through faith.

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Ephesians 2:8-9

“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.”

Friend, you cannot earn your salvation through good works or through the killing of lambs or goats. Jesus Christ was and is the perfect propitiation (satisfying sacrifice) for our sin. Our good works will not amount to anything, nor will any animal sacrifices. If you still believe that your good works can get you to Heaven, consider the following verses:

Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

The above verses clearly state that even our “good deeds” cannot get us to Heaven. Only the Blood of Christ can pay for our sin.

Hebrews 9:22b “…without shedding of blood is no remission.”

Romans 3:25 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;

Friend, if you desire to accept Jesus’ sacrifice today through His free gift of salvation, please do not hesitate to click here. May God bless you as you desire to trust Him as your Lord and Savior.

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