In Christ Alone I Stand

The more I study the Word of God the more God's story line comes together.  God, from eternity past planned a marvelous plan of redemption!  It finds its expression in the person of Jesus Christ who is presently seated at the right hand of God the Father (Mk. 16:19).  The apostle Paul tells us, "Blessed be the God and Father or our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him." (Eph. 1:3-4) 

It is through the person Jesus Christ that we have redemption and it required His precious blood in order for us to experience the forgiveness of sins.  The idea of redemption is that Christ paid a price for us to be released from the slavery and bondage of our sin.  The penalty for our sin was so great that it condemned us to Hell.  The blood of Jesus Christ was the only payment that God would accept.  I love how Paul paints the picture that God "lavished" His grace upon us according to His riches (Eph. 1:7-8)

Through the story line of Scripture, God is making known the mystery of His will which He set forth in Christ (Eph. 1:9).  The fulfillment of God's amazing plan is "to unite all things in him, things in heaven and on earth" (Eph. 1:10).  This happens through Jesus Christ destroying the dividing wall of hostility between God and man as well as between man to man (Phil. 2:14).  Although there has been much uniting through the work of Christ, the process will not be complete until Christ returns to reign as our King.  Everything will be restored as it was intended.  God has always been in control and is at work even today!