Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel."
Text: Ephesians 3:6
GOD’S COVENANT-PROMISE THROUGH THE CENTURIES
God has always graciously given special promises to select individuals. These received His promises for themselves and for their descendants. The word “promise” was wonderfully expressed in the word “covenant”. The following may be highlighted:-
1. God’s promise to Abraham (Genesis 12, 15, 17, 22; Psalm 105:42)
2. God’s promise to David (2 Samuel 7; Psalm 89)
3. God’s promise to the Levites (Numbers 25; Malachi 2)
God has always faithfully kept His covenant-promise. On the other hand, man has consistently failed to upkeep his end of the covenant.
GOD’S GREATEST COVENANT-PROMISE
Of all the promises God gave to man, the greatest must be couched in the words of Jeremiah the prophet.
They shall be My people, and I will be their God;
then I will give them one heart and one way,
that they may fear me forever, for the good of them
and their children after them.
And I will make an everlasting covenant with them,
that I will not turn away from doing them good
but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will
not depart from Me. Yes, I will rejoice over them
to do them good; and I will assuredly plant them
in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul.
JEREMIAH 32:38-41
There is a great deal of similarity to the previous covenants. This everlasting covenant is further developed in the following text:-
‘Behold the days are coming,’ says the Lord,
‘that I will perform that good thing which I have promised
to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah:
In those days and at that time
I will cause to grow up to David
A Branch of righteousness;
He shall execute judgment and righteousness
in the earth.
JEREMIAH 33:14-15
The apostle Paul identified all these great promises of God with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He saw all these promises as given and fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ, hence the significant phrase, “partakers of His promise IN CHRIST”.