How to have it all
‘In Christ, we have what money cannot buy’
The cartoon showed a lawyer reading the last will and testament of a deceased man to a group of greedy relatives. As they leaned forward expectantly, they heard the lawyer read, “I, John Jones, being of sound mind… spent it all!”
When Christ left His last will and testament, He made it possible for all true believers to share His spiritual riches. Instead of spending it all, He paid it all. Every person who sincerely trusts Christ as Saviour and becomes a child of God is truly “well off ” in the place where it really counts in light of eternity. That’s because earthly treasures are temporal; heavenly treasures are forever. In Ephesians chapter one, verses 3-14, Paul reminds us that our salvation brings blessings from all three persons of the Godhead, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
In verses 4, 5 and 6, we learn that the Father has chosen, adopted and accepted us. We are “accepted in the beloved.” John wrote in his gospel, “All the Father gives me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me will by no means be cast out.”
In verses 13 and 14 we learn Christ’s role in our becoming Christians. Verse 7 informs us that He has redeemed us. The word “redeem” means “to purchase and set free by paying a price.”
The price for our salvation was His own blood which He shed on Calvary’s cross. Our Saviour set us free from the penalty and power of sin.
The second part of verse seven informs us that Jesus has forgiven us.
The word “forgiven” means “carried away.” Christ died to carry our sins away so they would never again be seen. John, in his gospel, wrote of Jesus, “behold the lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world.” Verses 11 and 12 adds that in Christ believers have an inheritance. We are “joint heirs with Christ” of all the riches of heaven.
In verses 13 and 14, Paul was inspired to describe the role which the Holy Spirit has played in our conversion. Verse 13 says that He sealed us. His words are that when a sinner believes on the Lord Jesus he is “sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”
The moment we place our faith in Christ and trust Him as our Saviour, we immediately receive the Holy Spirit. True believers will never lose their salvation because God has sealed them.
But there is more. The Spirit of God has also given an “earnest.” In Paul’s day, an “earnest” meant the down payment to guarantee the final payment for some commodity or piece of property. This is God’s guarantee that He will eventually finish His work of taking us to heaven. We are told elsewhere that “He who has begun a good work in us will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” The “redemption of the purchased possession” refers to the redemption of our bodies at the return of Christ.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are working to make us rich where it counts most. Born again believers have it all. We were saved when the Father chose us in eternity past, when Christ died for us on the cross, and when the Holy Spirit brought conviction to us and we received Christ as Saviour.
In Christ, we have what money cannot buy. These riches are open to all who confess their sins and invite Christ into their lives.
Pastor Alex Rockwell is host of Just a Minute heard each weekday at 5 p.m. on CFCY and other Canadian radio stations in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. He is also the Visitation Pastor of Georgetown Baptist Church. A guest sermon runs regularly in Saturday’s Guardian and is provided through Christian Communications.