From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Thu, Jun 23, 2022 at 6:17 AM

Subject: 6-23-22 THOUGHTS

6-23-22   THOUGHTS

“In the BELOVED” is  agapao, from agape,  LOVE!  This is love as a personal noun!  I think of “The WORD became flesh and dwelt among us” in John 1:14.  We read “every spiritual blessing...  IN CHRIST”!   Then...  “In Him” redemption, forgiveness, and that “His kind intention was PURPOSED IN HIM.”  The “FULNESS OF TIMES” terminology in verse 10, brings into view all of history and God’s providential guidance of that history.   It is called a
“summing up of all things in Christ”.  “Gospel” and “truth” are connected to “salvation”.  It closes appropriately with our being “sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise”.  We are so blessed!  Think on these things.  Gain this larger, awesome perspective.  Hold it in your heart!

Eph 1:3-14    Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4  just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5  He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6  to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace  8  which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight  9  He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him  10  with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him  11  also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,  12  to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.  13  In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation — having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,  14  who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Col 1:16-18    For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities —  all things have been created   through Him and for Him.  17  He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18  He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
Col 2:9-10    For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,  10  and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;

My Prayer:
O God, help us to see each moment in the fulness of your love for us.  The totality of love became flesh and we beheld His glory.  May your great love be joyfully compelling in us.  Help us to die to self and live to Your love.  Lift up our eyes and our hearts to see eternally and spiritually.  We want to be with You forever.  Keep in our hearts that we have been bought with a price.  We praise you and love in the name of Jesus,     Amen.