Ons geestelike voordele

Christene besef dikwels nie die wonderlike voordele wat geloof in Jesus en Sy opoffering gee nie en is hulle s'n vir die vra.

  Onkunde oor hierdie voordele is so wydverspreid dat min daarvan weet en daarop aanspraak maak, en sodoende hul geestelike lewens verryk. Wat van jou?

  Hierdie voordele is te veel om in een kort artikel te lys, maar hier is nege vir u oorweging, gekies uit 'n studie van die Efesiërsbrief, en die beste van alles, dit is gratis vir die vra, so maak seker dat u dit opeis. Onthou God is ryk aan genade en liefde!

Omdat ons in Christus is, was ons:

Geseënd met alle geestelike seëninge in hemelse plekke - Efesiërs 1:3

Uitverkies in Christus voor die grondlegging van die wêreld - Efesiërs 1:4

Voorbestem tot aanneming - Efesiërs 1:5

Gegewe 'n hemelse erfenis - Efesiërs 1:11

Aanvaar in die Geliefdes - Efesiërs 1:6

Verlos deur Jesus se bloed met vergifnis van sondes - Efesiërs 1:7

Opgewek deur die doop uit dood tot lewe - Efesiërs 2:4

Sit saam met Christus in hemelse plekke - Efesiërs 2:5

Volmaak gemaak in Christus, sonder gebrek - Efesiërs 2:6; Kolossense 2:10

  Christene wat lede van die liggaam van Christus is (Efesiërs 1:22, 23) en wat werklik hierdie geestelike voordele van genade erken en dit opeis deur dit hulle eie te maak, kan 'n heilige "vrymoedigheid en toegang met vertroue" tot die teenwoordigheid hê van God.

  Wat bedoel ons met vrymoedigheid? Volgens Webster beteken dit "moed, dapperheid, gees, vreesloosheid, vryheid van skugterheid, selfvertroue, vertroue, vryheid van verlegenheid, versekering." Dit is om liefde en respek te hê wat 'n seun moet hê teenoor sy aardse vader, maar in hierdie geval selfs meer so teenoor sy Hemelse Vader.

  In Christus kan ons God met vreesloosheid nader, vry van enige bedeesdheid, en met volle versekering dat ons behoort. Nie weens ons eie opregtheid, opregtheid, toewyding of toewyding nie, maar weens die verdienste van die Here Jesus Christus en omdat ons deur geloof weet dat ons aan Hom behoort (Efesiërs 2:9, 10).

  As Christene geniet ons hierdie vrymoedigheid ten spyte van ons tekortkominge, tekortkominge en ten spyte van die feit dat ons struikel en val. Ons moet verseker wees dat ons vrymoedigheid kom vandat ons IN HOM is, want slegs deur Hom durf ons sulke vrymoedigheid by die Vader hê. Maar ons vrymoedigheid moet nie beperk word tot ons verhouding met die Vader nie. Ons moet ook vrymoedig wees om die Goeie Nuus van Groot Blydskap aan ander te bring, en weg te doen met bedeesdheid of vrees. ’n Skitterende voorbeeld van vrymoedigheid is opgeteken in Handelinge 4:13: “En toe hulle (die Joodse godsdienstige leiers) die vrymoedigheid van Petrus en Johannes sien en sien dat hulle ongeleerde en ongeleerde manne was, was hulle verwonderd; en hulle het van hulle geweet dat hulle by Jesus was.” Wees dus nie bang om te praat as jy "ongeleerd en onopgeleide" voel nie! By Petrus en Johannes is jy in goeie geselskap. Maak net seker dat jy ook “by Jesus was en van Hom geleer het” en praat dan met alle vrymoedigheid. Die Here het belowe dat Hy die woorde in jou mond sal lê (Matteus 10:19, 20).

  Ten slotte - Vrees God, maar moenie die mens vrees nie; “Want God het ons nie ’n gees van vreesagtigheid gegee nie, maar van krag en liefde en selfbeheersing” (2 Timoteus 1:7).

 Wees vrymoedig en moedig wanneer jy van Christus en die waarheid praat, en God sal met jou wees.

G. Boccaccio ©CDMI

Christians often fail to realize the wonderful benefits which faith in Jesus and His sacrifice gives and are theirs for the asking.

Ignorance of these benefits is so widespread that few know about and claim them, thus enriching their spiritual lives. How about you?

These benefits are too numerous to list in one short article, but here are nine for your consideration, selected from a study of the Epistle to the Ephesians, and best of all, they are free for the asking, so be sure to claim them. Remember God is rich in mercy and love!

Because we are In Christ, we have been: 

• Blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places - Ephesians 1:3

• Chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world - Ephesians 1:4

• Predestined unto adoption - Ephesians 1:5     

• Given a heavenly inheritance - Ephesians 1:11

• Accepted in the Beloved - Ephesians 1:6

• Redeemed by Jesus’ blood with forgiveness of sins - Ephesians 1:7

• Raised through baptism from death unto life - Ephesians 2:4

• Seated together with Christ in heavenly places - Ephesians 2:5

• Made complete in Christ, lacking nothing - Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 2:10

Christians who are members of the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22, 23) and who truly recognize these spiritual benefits of grace and claim them by making them their own, can have a holy “boldness and access with confidence” into the very presence of God.

What do we mean by boldness?  According to Webster it means, “courage, bravery, spirit, fearlessness, freedom from timidity, confidence, trust, freedom from bashfulness, assurance.”  It is having love and respect that a son should have toward his earthly father, but in this case even more so toward his Heavenly Father.

In Christ, we can approach God with fearlessness, free from any timidity, and with full assurance that we belong.  Not because of our own uprightness, sincerity, devotion or dedication, but because of the merit the Lord Jesus Christ and because we know, by faith, we belong to Him (Ephesians 2:9, 10).

As Christians we enjoy this boldness in spite of our failings, shortcomings and despite the fact that we stumble and fall.  We are to be assured that our boldness comes from being IN HIM, for only through Him dare we have such boldness with the Father. But our boldness should not be limited to our relationship with the Father.  We must also be bold in bringing the Good News of Great Joy to others, doing away with timidity or fear.  A shining example of boldness is recorded in Acts 4:13: “Now, when they (the Jewish religious leaders) saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and untrained men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” So do not fear to speak up if you feel “unlearned and untrained!”  With Peter and John you are in good company.  Just be sure you also “have been with Jesus and learned of Him” and then speak with all boldness. The Lord has promised He will put the words in your mouth (Matthew 10:19, 20).

In conclusion - Fear God, but do not fear man; “For God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

 Be bold and courageous when speaking of Christ and the truth, and God will be with you.      

G. Boccaccio  ©CDMI