EPH 1:8-9 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

>>The great mystery of His will lies in the fact that our fall in Adam could not frustrate the love of God — nor His decree wherein He chose His people to be holy before the foundation of the world.

EPH 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world [not because we are holy, but], that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

>>Herein we see the wisdom of God abounding " toward us in all wisdom and prudence," — when there was nothing in us to attract Him — but much to hinder

EPH 1:5-7 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

>>The wisdom of God " hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence," — in providing a Mediator to reconcile a holy and righteous God with rebellious sinners.

EXO 20:18-21 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

>>God's wisdom abounds unto us in the reconciliation He has provided in Christ — and in His means of administering it

2CO 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

>>Satan's design was to dishonor God in the eyes of man — and to destroy the image of God in man.

GEN 3:4-5 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

>>Therefore, " 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,"

>>How did He do this? By sending His own Son — "Who, being in the form of God . . .was made in the likeness of men." PHI 2:6-7.

>>Satan's first assault was against the Character — and the goodness of God — now by the incarnation of His Son — the true Character of God is revealed.

HEB 1:2-3 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

>>God Incarnate is a full representation of the love of God — not envying holiness and happiness in man — but purchasing it at an inestimable cost — showing love — and teaching it to the chiefest of sinners.

1JO 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

>>The love of God is eminently demonstrated in the Son assuming our human nature — This He did to atone for us i.e., that He could restore the harmony lost in Paradise.

ROM 5:8-9 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

>>Satan's design was to make an irreparable separation between God and man — However, as our text says in context — In the incarnation of Christ — "he hath made us accepted in the beloved."

EPH 1:6-9 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

>>It would not be for the honour of God to grant a pardon without submission — Therefore, He has established terms upon which we are to receive a pardon i.e., faith and repentance.

>>The wisdom and prudence of God abounds to us — in His design to glorify Himself in the free gift of His grace and salvation — through the gifts of faith and repentance.

EPH 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

>>Faith in the promises fits us for obedience — making it comfortable — dissolving our will in the will of God.

PHI 2:12-13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

>>God exalted Christ "with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins," ACT 5:31.

>>Walking in the newness of life is greatly to the honour of God — Can you imagine the dishonor it would bring upon God's Name — to expect a pardon while we continue in sin?

>>God "hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence," — exalting Christ ", for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins," — for His own glory

>>By true gospel repentance the self-condemning sinner acknowledges the justice of God — and shows honour for His laws.

LUK 11:32 The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

>>Nineveh was a very great — but also a very wicked city — But see wherein they honored God with repentance!!

JON 3:8-10 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.

9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

>>Of the unrepentant we read in REV 16:9 " . . . and they repented not to give him glory.

>>This same principle is also taught in MAL 2:2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.

>>Surely those who have been redeemed from the kingdom of darkness — and translated into the marvelous light of the gospel — will be constrained by the love of Christ.

LUK 7:44-47 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

>>True gospel repentance transforms the heart to love those whom it severely hated.Therefore, it is rewarded with tastes of God's love.

1PE 2:1-3 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings,

2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

>>In the application of His grace to the believer, God has abounded towards us in all wisdom and prudence — by a mixture of His Divine power — and wisdom — We are both taught and drawn

JOH 6:44-45 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

45. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God.

>>Both the opening of the blind eyes of our understanding — and the turning of the hard heart — are of the wisdom and prudence of God abounding toward us.

ACT 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

>>Our lovely Lord has no pleasure in any thing we do out of compulsion — neither does He drive any man to Christ with the whip of the law

>>Christ draws by making them willing — transforming their attitude and will

ROM 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

>>When Christ draws by a faith's view of His love — we run

SON 1:3-4 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

4 Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.

>>The drawing power of the love of Christ — and the renewed will of man come into perfect harmony

PSA 51:9-13 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

>>By the power of His grace — Christ wins the consent of the most rebellious sinner — changing our nature into the image of God from which we fell.

2CO 3:15-18 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

>>Our text says, EPH 1:8-9 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

>>Job was a very religious man — but the Lord made known the mystery of His will in the furnace

JOB 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

>>There is an excellency in the life of those whom Christ has drawn by His love to desire this sort of life.

PRO 12:26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

>>In light of these things we are admonished, EPH 5:14-17 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.