Ephesians 1:12

so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, would be to the praise of his glory.

At that time, they could claim to be the first to set their hope on Christ.

You can be the first in your family to set your hope on Christ; it can even be in a geographical area, and Paul called someone the first-fruit of Achaia (1 Corinthians 16:15).

Paul knew those who were first to believe in Christ in different places, because he said his priority was to preach Christ where He had not been named, so that he would not build on another man’s foundation (Romans 15:20). 

In the focus verse, he mentioned setting our hope in Christ. Everything he has been saying since is all about setting our hope in Christ.

He has been using big, big spiritual words, like predestined, spiritual realms, spiritual blessings, chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, adoption as legal heirs, outpouring of His grace in forgiveness and redemption on us, and it goes on and on.

Those things encapsulate what God has done, the technical details of our salvation—what it entails, where it is leading, and what the spiritual reality is.

Those things are good to outline spiritual understanding. But on your own side, what happened was that you put your hope in God. It’s as simple as that.

It could be as simple as making a public declaration of faith in Jesus. Paul gave a profound answer in Romans 10. He said, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).

What God has defined before the foundation of the world, this focus verse says, is now being played out in time. We now have the Holy Spirit’s push down the ages to reach people, and He has reached you.

Paul also said something about that.

He said how can people call upon the Lord except they believe? Therefore, confession must be matched with believing in the heart (Romans 10:14–15).

We can hear what you say, but we do not know what is in your heart. That was why, after people believed in Christ, Paul urged them to continue in the grace of God (Acts 13:43).

Jesus also said something about the sower sowing the word, and we need to give it time before we are sure the word has taken root and a new life has been born (Mark 4:3–20).

I am saying all these to impress on us that salvation is tied to fruit-bearing. If the seed is there, the fruit will show.

Moreover, Paul has this red line: “The one who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from unrighteousness” (2 Timothy 2:19).

And in passage, we see that God chose us to be holy and blameless before Him, and down the line in chapter five, Paul wrote that Christ washed the church with the washing of water to present to Himself a church that is without wrinkle (Ephesians 5:26–27).

Everything starts when you put your hope in Christ, but it does not end there. The focus verse mentions that end: that we would be to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:12).

Our predestination assures our salvation, but it’s like we enter the spiritual factory, where the process is set out. It begins when we place our hope in God.

The point is, what is in the mind of God is more than what is in our mind at the moment we put our hope in God.

We may do it after hearing the gospel for the first time or after being around the gospel for a while. It may be gradual or instantaneous.

But the message of the gospel is simple: believe in the Lord Jesus. It is not about knowing a long list of doctrines.

It is putting your hope in Christ as the Savior. That means removing it from yourself or any other object.

When people asked Jesus what to do to do the works of God, He said, “This is the work of God: that you believe in the one He has sent” (John 6:29).

The gospel is preached, and people believe (1 Corinthians 15:1-2).

And no one can declare you saved. Paul said, “The Spirit Himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s children” (Romans 8:16).

There is something internal about the experience of salvation as the Holy Spirit dwells in your heart. And it is not transferred from parent to child. The reason everyone needs to call on the Lord individually to be saved is that we are individually sinners.

Rejecting Money-For-Blessings Schemes in the Church

Rejecting Money-For-Blessings Schemes in the ChurchAre you tired of the spiritual pressure to “sow a seed” for divine favor? Have you been left disillusioned by doctrines that portray God as a cosmic merchant who must be paid before He will bless you?This book, Rejecting Money-For-Blessings Schemes in the Church, offers a critical and deeply scriptural examination of modern financial doctrines that have crept into the church. It meticulously dismantles the notion that giving is a transaction meant to control God or “activate” a miracle.In this essential work, you will: Reclaim the True Picture of God: Understand God as the generous Father who gives to all—even the unrighteous—and whose nature is to give freely, not to withhold until a price is paid. Discover Biblical Giving: Uncover the true foundation for Christian giving, which begins with acknowledging that “everything comes from you, and we have simply given back to you what is yours” (1 Chronicles 29:14). Expose Misinterpretation: Systematically refute the false application of biblical parables, such as the Sower, and historical accounts, like the widow of Zarephath, to money-for-blessing schemes. Embrace a Cheerful Heart: Be released from the compulsion and fear-based giving tactics and learn to give “just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Reaffirm Christ’s Supremacy: Solidify your belief that “Christ who is your life” (Colossians 3:4), not material wealth, is the center of your devotion. This is a vital resource for anyone who has felt exploited, confused, or burdened by financial demands in a spiritual context. Return to the pure, unadulterated devotion to Christ, where the access to every good gift is secured by His blood, not your money. Reclaim the joy of true giving as an act of worship, not a down payment on a blessing.