389. Tuesday after Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity.
God Holy Spirit, enlighten us
with thy gifts. Amen.
Ephesians 1, 8-14. Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will; that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
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To gather, to gather together is the good pleasure of the Lord. Understand that it is the nature of love, and hear what the apostle says on this subject; and you will pray for grace to gather together, but have a dread of rending asunder. It is God’s good pleasure from eternity that he “might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth.” The fullness of time is come, the dispensation has been established, and the gathering together is in progress; one church has been built, with one gospel, and one baptism, and one communion table; one Spirit unites Jews and gentiles in one body, whose head is Christ. Even as all things in heaven and earth are created by him, and by him all things consist, so all things are by him reconciled unto God, who has made peace through the blood of his cross (Col. 1, 16-20). While the angels in heaven had no need of redemption, as they did not fall, yet the love of God in Christ is their bliss also; so that they also have been included in the same dispensation. Christ is the head of the church of thrones, and of principalities, and of the Jews and gentiles who have been saved. We also have obtained an inheritance in him. God, “who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will,” has foreordained that there now shall be a gathering into his kingdom here among us; and he has predestinated us, who hear and believe, to partake of this salvation. For this reason we also have received the Holy Ghost as earnest. Every believer clings to God in Christ; cannot let him go; expects salvation at his hands; worships him with childlike fear and confidence; and has his peace and joy in him, saying in his heart: “Heavenly Father, I bless thee for the salvation in the blood of thy Son; help me to believe until my last hour, and to bless thee forevermore!” This is the voice of the Spirit, not the voice of flesh and blood. The longing after God, and the joy in God’s love are the earnest of our salvation; and he who has given you this earnest money cannot deceive you. He is himself the seal with which you are sealed; can it, then, fail to be valid? Believe in him, have faith in him, and you shall receive the inheritance. “Inheritance” it is called; and in truth it is an inheritance with Jesus, and mercy altogether; faith, and the earnest, and purification, and sanctification, all is grace only. Do not let your sins and imperfections create any doubt in you; for the grace in the blood of Christ is the one thing on which everything depends.
Praise be to thee, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost! Enlighten us, that we may know the excellence of our inheritance. Give us grace to gather together and unite in Christ, from far and near, and to approach ever nearer to perfect holiness. Amen.*
Welcome, O my Savior, now!
Hail! my portion, Lord, art thou!
Here, too, in my heart, I pray,
Oh, prepare thyself a way!
And when thou dost come again,
As a glorious king to reign,
I with joy may see thy face,
Freely ransomed by thy grace.
[TLH 91, LSB 352, ELH 165; listen here]
* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.