Redeemer Church of Waterford

Why is anyone a Christian? In the eternal purposes of God, from the foundation of the world, God chose a people for Himself in Christ out of all of those who have been justly condemned as objects of His wrath. He did this not because of any merit in those He chose, but according to the good pleasure of His will, according to the exceeding greatness of his grace, according to the riches of His mercy.

In Ephesians we are brought face to face with God. In the very first verse and throughout the first chapter we are confronted with the glory of God in His eternal plan - the mystery of His will - to redeem a people for Himself. The mystery of God's will is devised in the counsel of His will according to the good pleasure of His will. God is behind all of the events of history for the praise of His glory and to redeem His people out of the world.

Our identity in Christ is not a result of us doing the imperatives of Ephesians 4 - 6, but rather resting in the indicatives of all that God has done for us in Christ in Ephesians 1 - 3.

In response to His obedience, the Father has given the Son a "name which is above every name." What is that name and how does it relate to the consecration of Jesus as King? We turn to Isaiah and Hebrews for the answers.