Subject – That we should be to the praise of his glory
Text - Ephesians 1:12 “That we
should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.”
This scripture right here is such a blessing to everyone who
has been saved by God’s grace through His Son Jesus the Christ. Verse 11 ended
with these words, “…being predestinated according to the purpose of him
who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:”
We (as
Christians) were predestined to be God’s children and also servants of God in
Jesus Christ. God said in verse 12b “…who first trusted in Christ.” The word
“trusted” is actually defined as “hope” which is the very first thing all
believers do whether Jews or Gentiles we are all the same and all one in Christ
Jesus, Whom we fist trusted. All hope we have in in One man and His name is
Jesus Christ in Whom we have faith, hope, and trust. It is through Jesus that
we gain anything of the Father, but after our trust all other things are added
to each believer as God has predestinated for each individual believer. Let us
look farther into this in Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before
ordained that we should walk in them.” God has created us in Christ Jesus to
do what He elected ordained for our work for us is in this world. We do not
choose our destiny no more than we choose our salvation; God ordained it for us
before the foundation of the world. For a Christian is the clay which the
Potter (God) molds us and makes us. To truly grasp the honor and glory in this
is to understand just how much God not only ordained our life accomplishments,
but also makes it all work according to His planned or predestinated will. The
second blessing to this is how God dressed us up or tooled us up to accomplish
His will. The more we understand the workings of God, the more we appreciate
the workings of God in our life to accomplish His will and appreciate how we bring
glory and honor to the Trinity. Romans 9:21, 23 - 24 "Hath not the
potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour,
and another unto dishonour? (23) And that he might make known the riches
of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
(24) Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the
Gentiles? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one
vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?" Our design as
Christians was as God ordained it, whatever our Christian works are they are
exactly as God ordained them. Let us look at Jeremiah, Jeremiah 1:5 - 7
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest
forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the
nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou
shalt speak." Jeremiah
did not choose his own destiny because God chose it before he was born. God also
sanctified him (or caused his to be clean), and God also said “I ordained
thee a prophet unto the nations” There was no choosing on Jeremiah’s part,
he had no say at all. The first thing God did after he was born is to cleanse
him then sent him as a young man to preach for him. God even told Jeremiah, “that
I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak."
This is exactly what God is talking about in Ephesians 2:10 with us.
“That we should be to the praise of his glory” This
is why God has accomplished everything that He has willed for us, for His own
glory. God does not use us for our glory, He uses us for His glory. This
is where a lot of Christians fail in their walk and a lot of preachers fail in
their work, they think some glory belongs to them. If Jesus did not seek glory,
then what makes any Christian in their walk think they deserve glory? We are
tools of God chosen to accomplish God’s will to bring glory to Him, never to
ourselves. If the spotlight is ever on the worker in their walk, then they
need to exit that spotlight immediately so that is will shine on God. God said
He will reward the believer with rewards and crowns when we are with Him in
glory, rewards not ours on this earth except to earn them. The life of a
Christian is like a puzzle every piece must fit perfectly to complete the
puzzle. God not only made the pieces to the puzzle but He puts them in place as
He hath ordained, when the “fullness of time comes” for each piece to be placed,
and when completed, the puzzle perfectly brings glory to God. Folks, it all begins
and ends with grace and mercy to each believer, this is exactly why Paul said “I
am what I am by grace” 1Cor. 15:10 Paul also wrote in Ephesians 3:7 - 8
"Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of
God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am
less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should
preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;" Paul
knew what grace was and exactly how underserving he was for it, he recognized God
deserves all glory and honor. We would do well to follow Paul’s example of humility.
After we trust in Christ, then we become the praise of His glory. 2
Thessalonians 2:13 - 17 "But we are bound to give thanks alway to
God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning
chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the
truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of
our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions
which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus
Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given
us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts,
and stablish you in every good word and work."
