The Body of Christ - Ephesians

Blessings of Redemption 1:1-8

This morning we are starting a new series from the epistle of Ephesians titled The Body of Christ.

In this letter Paul writes to the churches of Asia Minor, which Ephesus was the capital city, and he writes from prison in Rome.

The purpose of the letter was to help each local church to present each individual as members of Jesus’ body, possessing the closest possible relationship with Jesus and each other.

Paul came to Ephesus on his second missionary journey and left Priscilla and Aquila there to continue the work of reaching the area for Christ.

Acts 18:18–19 NASB95

18 Paul, having remained many days longer, took leave of the brethren and put out to sea for Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquila. In Cenchrea he had his hair cut, for he was keeping a vow. 19 They came to Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

This morning we will begin this series with a message from verses 1-8 and looking at the Blessings of Redemption

If you have your Bible look with me at Ephesians 1:1-8.

(entire text)

Pray

I. The Greeting

Ephesians 1:1–2 NASB95

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

This greeting is normal for Paul’s letters.

He begins with stating his name and that he is an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.

An apostle is a messenger.

Paul also lets us know who he is writing too, and that is the saints, or believers at Ephesus.

He states Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

In this letter Paul magnifies God’s grace, and grace is undeserved favor.

Paul mentions grace 12 times in this letter as he declares God’s calling and purpose for every believer.

Paul catalogues God’s many rich blessings through Christ - blessings that should strengthen every Christian’s confidence and endurance.

This letter records one blessing after another and the incredible difference those blessings can make in our service, confidence, and fellowship with other believers.

II. God’s Blessings

Ephesians 1:3–4 NASB95

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love

In verse 3 Paul begins the letter with worship: Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

To bless the name of God is to speak well of Him, and to praise Him.

Worship is the celebration of who God is, what He has done, and what we trust Him to do.

God is not interested in spectators.

He invites you to praise Him.

Why do we worship God, because in Christ, He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.

What is the heavenly places Paul states here, it is a reference to the spiritual realm where God and Satan battle for our allegiance.

This promise is NOT one of earthly blessings that will pass away but of spiritual blessings that will endure for ever.

The things that happen in the physical realm have originated in the spiritual realm.

Conflict in our homes, then, is a spiritual problem.

Although conflict is visible fruit, its root is spiritual in nature.

Think of this like a video chat, or face-time call, in a sense we are in two places at the same time.

We are seated physically in one place, but we are interacting in another place.

Donetta and I talk to our grand kids a lot through face-time, and we are physically here in Georgia, but in a sense interacting with them there in Florida.

As believers we are present in two places at the same time: we are physically located on earth but are to operate from heavenly places.

God wants our heavenly position to dictate our earthly activity.

Only by operating from a spiritual perspective will we have access to God’s kingdom power and provisions to deal victoriously with life in the physical realm.

In verse 4 we are told that God chose us before the foundation of the world.

Spiritual blessings are only accessible because God has chosen us.

He chose us to be holy and blameless.

1 Peter 2:9–10 NASB95

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Sinning is failing to give God glory, and attempting to make God revolve around us when we are supposed to be revolving around Him.

God has created us for Himself, for His happiness.

He has chosen us to be holy and blameless so that the church will bring Him pleasure.

When we pursue His pleasure, we position ourselves to experience the blessings of God, which have already been preordained for us.

God choosing us does not do away with our responsibility of faith, that is trusting God for all things.

III. God’s Grace

Ephesians 1:5–6 NASB95

5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

Paul tells us God predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, this word or term predestined can be confusing if we do not understand it.

Predestined is the mysterious doctrine of election.

Predestined literally means to mark off or choose before.

God chose those He knew would participate in His plan of salvation and extends it to all who respond in faith.

God’s election is not abstract; it is centered in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The focus of this Ephesian letter is the corporate church, not on individual Christian salvation.

Therefore, the choosing and election to which Paul refers to is not for individual but regards God choice to establish a group of people, that is, the body of Christ the church.

The purpose of the body of Christ is to live godly lives and reflect His holy character in a sinful world.

This election defines the corporate identity believers share because of their relationship to Christ.

God chose us because He knew who would accept Him and have faith in Him.

We that are chosen are adopted as sons, to be adopted in Bible times means receiving the same rights, privileges, and inheritance due to a natural-born adult son.

Therefore, as believers we are adopted into God’s family and receive the same rights, privileges and inheritance as Jesus Christ the Son of God.

In Christ Jesus, God adopts sons and daughters for Himself for a specific purpose.

Once you are adopted because of your faith in Christ, you are defined by your new Father.

God gives all of His children access to every spiritual blessing - according to His good pleasure and to the praise of His glorious grace.

IV. His Blood

Ephesians 1:7–8 NASB95

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight

In Jesus Christ we as believers have been redeemed through Jesus’ blood.

Redemption refers to the release of a slave or captive upon receipt of the ransom.

The ransom for our salvation was the blood of Jesus Christ .

Therefore, as believers we have been redeemed or released from the bondage of sin and freed by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

The sinless Son of God had to die to pay for our sins so we might have forgiveness and forgiveness is God’s grace richly poured out on us.

The word forgiveness literally means to send off or away.

In Scripture forgiveness means separating the sinner from their sin.

God accomplished forgiveness by transferring our sin to Christ on the cross and judging it there.

God lavished which means God heaped or gave readily in large quantities His grace on us.

Therefore, God heaped or poured a large quantity of His grace on believers.

The result of this is all wisdom and insight.

The word wisdom here refers to a knowledge of the true nature of things.

The word insight or prudence has to do with the practical application of this wisdom leading to the right course of action.

Let me ask you this morning have you been redeemed by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

If not today is the day of salvation.

If you have not accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, please come and talk with me, if you are watching online, please reach out so that we can pray with you and for you.