Ephesians Week 1

Can you think of something that is a regular part of your life that you don’t understand how it works?

Cars, Airplanes, Women.

there are a lot of things that we don’t understand how they work or why they work the way that they do. We trust these things we know that they are important but they are complete mystery to us.

How much time do you spend worrying about knowing how they work? Does it bother you when you don’t understand?

The truth is we don’t spend a lot of time studying or worrying about that unless we have a deep interest in it. WE trust that there are experts out there that know and will keep us safe as we use these items. There are some of us called to it and some of us who just aren’t.

I had a professor in college tell us about this very idea.

The study of Greek is something that all pastors really should do. We need to learn about it and understand it. Yet, we also don’t. Our professor always treated the class in this way. She told us that the majority of the class will probably barely use greek for the rest of their careers as Pastors and that was okay. Only a few of us would go on to become greek scholars. Yet, she knew and we knew that we were better for having a basic understanding of the language and why it is important and to know enough that we can spot when people are miss using it in their teaching.

The bible like much of life is full of mysterious things. Theological questions that we don’t understand and may never fully understand.

Ephesians 1:1–14 NIV

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Paul wrote this letter to a church in a hostile environment. This city was the third largest in the Roman empire. It had a diverse set of inhabitants including Jewish citizens. The City was home to various religious beliefs. Particularly the city participated in the worship of Artemis the goddess of fertility, magic and astrology.

The Imperial Cult was also strong (worship of the Emperor)

Gnosticism—superior philosophy was present

Magic had a strong presence in the city.

This was not the most friendly of places for a religious system that focused on serving one God and rejected the belief systems of many of these other religions. Christians were very isolated as the minority.

What does it mean to be Adopted?

What does it mean when God is adopting us?

Deuteronomy 7:7–8 NIV

7 The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. 8 But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Why did God choose the Israelites? Did they “earn” his choosing in some way?

What can we assume About why God has chosen us?

Deuteronomy 9:6 NIV

6 Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.

John 6:37–39 NIV

37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.

What does Jesus say about his own work?

John 6:44 NIV

44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.

How does God Draw People?

Ephesians 1:9–10 NIV

9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

God is showing the mystery of the universes have been fullfilled in Christ. That his purpose and good and perfect will is being fullfilled in Jeus christ. it will lead to unity in both heaven and earth. It is predestined ment to happen that God’s will will come to happen. Yet, does that mean we have lost all freedom of will? It is here that we encounter the mysterys of the bible that make it difficult.

Deuteronomy 29:29 NIV

29 The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

What is the difference between the secret things and the things revealed?

Why is it important that we treat these things differenlty?

Is it easy to get captivated by the secret things?

Let’s reread some of these verses together.

Ephesians 1:11–14 NIV

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

According to these verses Who are we?

chosen people

predestined people

“for the praise of his glory

Included in Christ

marked with a seal

Heirs, with a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance

The most important word in these verses is the shortest. “be”

The text is going on about God’s Choosing, and his purpose and he is working out everything. Why though?

In order that we might be for the praise of his Glory

We exist to bring Him praise.

We aren’t going to solve all the theological mystery together tonight. That will continue to be a challenge that many of us will face. Predestination is a topic that many people struggle with. The truth though is that we can know that God is working to fulfill his will That is predestined because the scriptures tell us that. He has worked so that all can come to know him in Christ. That all can come to him and be drawn to him. It is his work that we can be confident in and be transformed by.