The Hope of Your Calling

Reading from God’s Word

Ephesians 1:18–23 CSB

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength. 20 He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens— 21 far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

Introduction

It is always so good to be with you. Thanks for being here today.

This quarter we’re basing all three of our sermon series off the middle of verse 18 in today’s scripture reading.

Paul prays that the eyes of our heart be enlightened so that we may know what is the hope of our calling.

Today’ we’re going to talk about what the hope of our calling is.

And then throughout the rest of December, we’ll take a look in the past … examining how God worked to secure our hope.

Next week we’ll take a look back in the Old Testament and see how our God is a God who keeps His promises.

On the 24th we’ll talk about the coming of our Savior.

And finally, on the 31st we’ll talk about the cross.

Last Week

We learned how Ephesians 1.1-14 is a summary of our status in Christ. We might also call this our “position.” We could also call it our “identity.”

These are summarized by the six spiritual blessings in Christ described in v. 3-11.

We are chosen; predestined; adopted; redeemed; enlightened; and spiritually rich.

These things are already ours in part … and verses 13-14 outline the guarantee of it all: We’ve received the Spirit as a mark or indicator that we’re owned by God.

So this is the foundation from which we operate.

And this is just mind-blowing when you begin to ponder on just how great our salvation is in light of our former condition.

And this goes back to our Bible class last Sunday morning as we looked at a number of passages that define sin.

We said it is to be like Satan … deceptive & destructive.

We said it is open rebellion… deliberate defiance and disobedience toward God.

We said it is ungodliness … going against God’s holiness and righteousness.

We said it is lawlessness … direct transgression against God’s commandments.

Paul couldn’t have said it better than the way he did here:

Titus 3:3 CSB

3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.

And this is what Paul says next. Notice how he describes God interjecting himself into the situation. It’s like God bursting in on the scene...

Titus 3:4–5 (CSB)

4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared,

5 he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy...

Now this is just amazing.

In Ephesians, Paul prays that we come to a greater understanding of our new status.

Ephesians 1:17 CSB

17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.

In v. 18-19 he lists three things he wants them to grow deeper in by experiential knowledge:

Ephesians 1:18–19 CSB

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.

Notice: he prays that the eyes of our hearts be enlightened so that we may know:

What is the hope of his calling.

What is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints.

What is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe.

We need to know and appreciate these things so that we can better understand the basis for who we are in Christ. You will never be able to live out principles you do not understand. So, we need to know:

Each of us is a child of the king.

Each of us is one with Jesus Christ.

He lives in us and through us and that is the “why” that demands from us a certain response.

Today:

We’ll look at what Paul means by “the hope of our calling.”

Why is it so important for us to understand?

Our Calling

Ephesians 1:18 (CSB)

18 ... what is the hope of his calling, ...

What is the “calling” of v. 18?

It is God’s gracious invitation to salvation through the gospel. It is the means by which He brings to lost into a saving relationship with Christ.

Scripture speaks of our “calling” in the past, present, and future.

In other words, God saved you in the past, is saving you in the present, and will save you in the future.

In the past

To Timothy Paul says:

2 Timothy 1:9 (CSB)

9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.

Through the gospel, you received an authoritative summons … calling you to take part in the hope of salvation in Christ Jesus.

And you responded by faith, repenting of sin, and being baptized into Christ.

Who you are forever changed. You are a child of the king, having been adopted into His household. This impacts you:

In the present

In that in response to God’s mercy and grace you dedicate your life to be faithful to this calling.

1 Thessalonians 2:12 (CSB)

12 we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

God called you to come to Him to be saved.

God is calling on you to be faithful by being committed to the process of sanctification.

Ephesians 4:1 (CSB)

1 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received,

Philippians 3:14 (CSB)

14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.

Here, “the prize” is being transformed into the image of Christ.

You were saved… you became a disciple … to become like Jesus.

In the future

our calling brings the expectation (hope) of an eternal destiny.

confident expectation.

Not merely vague and wistful longing for the triumph of good...

But the sure promise of life with him as his people for ever.

1 Corinthians 15:19 CSB

19 If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.

There has to be more!

Our Calling Brings Us Hope

Ephesians 1:18 (CSB)

18 ...the hope of his calling, ...

Look at how Paul defines this in Romans 5.1-2:

Romans 5:1–2 (CSB)

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

Hope of the glory of God.

This is the hope of being manifested in glory with Christ when he returns.

Colossians 3:3–4 CSB

3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

See the assurance. See the certainty.

This is your destiny. appearing with Him in glory.

What a blessed thought!

Are you currently living with that expectation?

It is my earnest prayer that you are … and if not, you do what you need to do to do so.

Look at how Paul speaks of hope in Romans 8:

8.15:

Romans 8:15 (CSB)

15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”

We don’t live under fear or terror in our relationship with God.

Instead, we have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”

Now we relate to God as our Father.

Intimate, tender, close access.

8.16:

Romans 8:16 CSB

16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,

You are a son or daughter of God.

What does that bring?

8.17-18:

Romans 8:17–18 CSB

17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.

8.24-26:

Romans 8:24–26 CSB

24 Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience. 26 In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.

The Spirit intercedes .... not a book. Not your bible. The Spirit.

He helps you in all your weakness … not just when you struggle in prayer.

God is not an impersonal God.

He is with you all the way.

His care for you want not just shown for you at the cross … and then its all up to you...

He is with you every day … all the way home.

He is for you not against you. He is never indifferent.

Our hope is not only to be with him … but it also involves what we will be like when we are with Him.

A few minutes ago, I mentioned Paul’s pressing toward the prize in Phil. 3.14.

“The Prize” is being fully transformed.

The prize is not just heaven.

A very real and relevant piece of our hope centers on our complete transformation.

Look at how Paul says it in Ephesians 5.27:

Ephesians 5:27 (CSB)

27 He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.

Notice how we look ahead to the day when there will be no sin in our life.

The body of sin will have been destroyed.

We’ll have a new body that will never be tainted by it.

And that is why John says this:

1 John 3:1–2 (CSB)

1 See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him.

2 Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is.

Now this is simply amazing.

You are part of God’s great plan. From before the foundation of the world, he predetermined that those who choose to trust or depend on Him for salvation, will be saved.

And this is what Paul is praying for in our text… that we come to a greater realization of what we have in Christ, who we are, and where we’re headed.

As He says again from Romans 5.2, it is in this hope that we boast:

Romans 5:2 CSB

2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

On What Basis Can We Boast?

Not in ourselves …

But in God.

Because we have been marked or sealed by the Spirit as being owned by God, we live with the utmost assurance, Ephesians 1.13.

Your possession of the Spirit, or His being with you, is the guarantee.

Ephesians 1:14 (CSB)

14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

Certainty. Not wistful thinking. Certainty.

This leads to unparalleled and unmitigated joy.

As We Close...

Have you embraced your identity with Christ?

We really need to understand and appreciate who we are...

children of God … adopted into His family .... members of His household.

This realization should impact every attitude and action in my life.

Are you living with confident expectation?

One of your eternal destiny.

Two of your transformation into Christ-likeness. You are headed toward being completely holy and blameless.

There is no more powerful motivation to push through earthly and spiritual challenges than know this.

Philippians 1:6 CSB

6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Have you made the decision to reject fear and anxiety in your relationship with God?

You are a son or daughter of God.

He desires to approach Him as a loving father.

Do you know Him as a Father?

If you’re outside of Christ, you’re still aligned with Satan.

You are still lost and totally alone.

You have no hope. Heaven will not be yours. Only eternity in hell.

Today He is calling you through His word to depend only on Him for salvation, turn from your sinful way, and allow Him to do his work in the waters of baptism, where he awakens your soul, casts off your sin, and brings you from darkness to light.

Will you come?