Thoughts on Mark 1:41

The Spirit of God, the self-same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead (see Romans 8:11), has been given to us as a down-payment, or deposit in earnest, guaranteeing our inheritance.

A word, if I may, about “dispensation.”

God has predestinated that all who are in Christ will be saved. He has not only included the chosen Hebrew people, but He has included the outcast Gentile people who had been without hope and without God in the world. This is the grand mystery.

He has placed His Spirit within us. It is in this way that He has abounded toward us, or lavished upon us, these tremendous blessings. He has given us Himself!

Can’t you almost hear your heart leaping for joy at this incomprehensible truth? Saints, we are forgiven completely.

A theme central to the book of Ephesians, and indeed to all of Paul’s teaching, is that we should know that we are “in Christ.” These words, “in Christ” or “in Him” reverberate through this epistle 19 times.

Acceptance by God can come about in only on way. We must be holy as our Father in heaven is holy.

Remember that I mentioned that verses 3-14 are a single sentence in Greek? The next two words in our text bring that into the forefront. They are “in love.”

He chose that all who would agree to be reconciled, would be forgiven of their sins and wickedness and placed into relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Kingdom of God is within us. We carry in our being the heavenly realm.

Ephesians 1:3-14 are all contained within a single very lengthy sentence in the Greek. Notably, there are three sections we might observe. Each section ends with praise for God and each highlights a different Person of the Trinity.

I find it difficult to read the word “saint” without commenting on the Greek behind it. (Okay, I find it hard not to comment on the Greek much of the time.) But “saint” translates a Greek word that I think we would all benefit from committing to memory.

As is Paul’s way, he presents us first with the doctrinal truth upon which his practical instructions rest. First he tells us what God has done for us and who He has made us. Only when this has been established does he instruct, admonish or command.

In our heart, we want to have godly attitudes and actions, but the flesh sometimes (maybe even often) results in our failure to do that. Ungodly attitudes and actions happen when the temptation of the worldly way of living by what seems best to our senses draws us away from the godly responses and behaviors we truly want.