En Tois Epouranios #5

By Michael S. Mecikalski

Carrying on with our undertaking in the truths about and surrounding the marvelously spiritually potent scriptural Greek term En Tois Epouranios, "In the Heaven far above all heavens" (Eph. 1:3, 1:20, 2:6, 3:10, 6:12).

In our understanding of Eph.1:6 previously, we realized that we are, as adopted sons predestinated before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4,5), "very highly favored" (accepted = Gr. charitao) in the Beloved One (i.e. Christ Jesus our Lord).

Eph. 1:7, "In Whom (the Beloved One) we have redemption (Gr. apolutrosin) through His blood the forgiveness (Gr. aphesis) of sins (Gr. paraptoma), according to the riches (abounding wealth) of His grace."

It is in the Beloved One that we also have redemption and forgiveness of sins through His precious blood ... redemption (Gr. apolutro - Sin = literally means being delivered from the punishment and guilt of sin by payment of a "ransom" ... this ransom actually being and "atonement"); forgiveness (Gr. aphesis = the setting free from a punishment of debt that is due; the jubilee year of Israel, when all debt was forgiven, figures "in type" here); sins (Gr. paratoma = a falling aside from being upright as to the standard of a holy God. Herein lies another utterly, fabulously beautiful "picture" of what, in reality, the Lord has done for us - an atonement (Gr. katallaga = actually being an "exchange"). The Lord Christ Jesus divested Himself of glory and shed his innocent blood in exchange for the resulting wrath of God which we were objects of because of falling aside from being upright (sin) as to the standard of our Holy God. His blood being the ransom payment and thereby we were set free from the proper punishment, this, forgiven as if we had never committed any offense whatsoever! We thereby obtain salvation and a new relationship with the Most High God; we have peace with Him (Rom. 5:1, Col. 1:20). Our redemption is seen in type when Israel was saved from slavery in Egypt (Egypt is a type of the world; in the world we were "slave to sin" without the "covering" blood of Christ Jesus our Lord). If this doesn't move us to humility, loving praise and worship, folks, we better check to see if we are conscious or not!!!

All of the callings and blessing of all the "saints" contained in Scripture, including those chosen in Christ in the Heaven Far Above All Heavens, would be absolutely useless and meaningless without the shed blood, death, and resurrection of our Beloved Savior. When I personally truly understand (Gr. ginosko) what the Lord has done for us, the love (Gr. agape) wherewith He loves us, I am left in humble speechless awe! "The excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord" (Phil. 3:8) - Awesome!!