• Scripture: Ephesians 2: 6
• Broadcast Date: 12/28/2015

THE GIFTS GOD GAVE US
Ephesians 2: 6

At Christmas we give gifts, and God is no exception. Except that He gives gifts that money can’t buy and man can’t make. Gifts that last for eternity, if you can imagine it.
Let me explain. In Ephesians chapter two, verses 4 to 6 we are
told of His gifts that are past, present, and future, if you can believe it.
Here we are told that He “hath made us alive”, past tense; “made us sit together in heavenly places” which is present tense; and “in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace”, future tense. Yes, when God gives us something He does it right, far better than man can imagine. First of all, He made us alive”, that is, we were dead in our sins but God made us alive spiritually through the sacrificial death of His Son and the glorious resurrection that followed.
Spiritual life means that it will never end. As Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” (John 11: 25,26). Oh, I may die physically, but I will never die spiritually. To die spiritually means eternal condemnation. So that is one of the great gifts God gives. But, do you know what, that gift of eternal life will do you absolutely no good until and unless you accept it. How do you do that? You do that by personally asking Jesus to come into your heart and take away your sins; we need to promise to forsake our sinful ways and follow Him as our Lord and Savior. I was ten years old when I prayed that prayer and God saved me and gave me eternal life. It will never end. I beg of you, in your own words, to ask Jesus into your heart and live for Him.
You’ll make a lot of mistakes, but when you do, just confess your sins to Jesus and ask for forgiveness.
(I John 1:9). So now you have eternal life and have made to “sit in heavenly places in Christ”. (Eph. 2:6).
That means, in the sight of God, you are already seated with Christ in heaven! Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God, and when we accept Jesus, we are IN CHRIST, and are in heaven with Him.
St. Paul put it like this, “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3). That is, when we accepted Jesus, we died with Him on the cross. (Gal 2:20). We were raised with him in His resurrection
(Gal. 2:12), and we are seated with Him in heaven right now, not later, but right now! (Eph. 2:6).
This is all present tense, right now, today. But in the ages to come, listen to what God tells us, “That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:7). That means we will rule and reign with Christ when He sits upon the throne of David and the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled:
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government, and upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this”.
(Isaiah 9: 6,7). Those who receive the Gift of His Son will be a part of that kingdom. It is a gift of God.
You are very foolish if you don’t accept it!