Ephesians 1:12
12 That [eis] we [hemas] should be [einai] to [eis] the praise [epainos] of his
[autos] glory, [doxa] who [ho] first trusted [proelpizo] in [en] Christ. [Christos] KJV-Interlinear
12 to
the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of
His glory. NASB
In eternity past, God set
out the divine decrees that included among other things, our detailed plan and
destiny for both time and eternity. That
plan includes a phenomenal blessing, and reward, and inheritance. All of which are far beyond our imaginations.
Neither you nor I nor any
human being nor angel, have the capacity or ability to even begin to imagine
what blessings God has in store for us in eternity. We do not even know what attributes the next
universe will have. We can only think in
terms of our present universe.
Therefore, because of
that blessing, ‘we should be to the praise of His glory,’ meaning because of
this phenomenal plan of Gods, we should, or now, have the occasion and means of
celebrating Him, appreciating Him, thanking Him. And this is all a result of our salvation.
For, were it not for God
and His plan which includes our salvation, then we would have nothing and be
nothing.
‘Who first trusted in
Him,’ does not mean Paul nor the apostles having first believed in Him, for
there have been believers since Adam.
This phrase, ‘first trust’ means because of Gods plan, then our trust in
Him, or faith, is the foundation and basis of our hope and confidence. This hope is in advance of all other
confirmation.
We must first be saved,
before any of Gods plan applies to us.
It does not apply to any unbeliever while they remain an unbeliever.
Likewise, all blessings
go to mature believers. And therefore,
all blessings and rewards for mature believers have an underlying foundation
based on their spiritual growth, which is likewise based on doctrine learned
and applied and conformed to by means of His defined plan for the spiritual
life.
All immature believers,
or anyone who rejects Gods definition for the spiritual life and growth, lack
that foundation. No study, no
blessing. It is as simple as that.
So, every human being
born into life has an opportunity to be saved.
They need only believe in Christ.
That takes but a split second to accomplish. We have exceptions of course for babies and
those mentally disabled who do not have that opportunity. One must reach an age of responsibility and
formally reject Christ, before one can be held accountable. God is fair.
Also, once saved, then
every believer who has believed in Christ, has an opportunity to advance in
their spiritual life. They need only to
want to know, to want to study, and then do so.
Spiritual growth will take over and God will accomplish all of that work
as well.
It is those who
stubbornly reject Gods method and refuse to study and learn and grow up, who
lose out on this blessing package which awaits them.
Salvation precedes
eternal life. Spiritual growth to
maturity precedes reward.
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