Ephesians 1:3-14
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
New Series (Read, Listen, Discuss)
First three chapter what does it mean to be In Christ?
Who we were outside of Christ and who we are in Christ?
3. Then 4-6 how do you live in light of this.
4. Last week we discussed how important the background to this book is.
5. Paul uses so many things from their culture to help illuminate the goodness of what Jesus has done, and he is directly addressing false teachings that he is concerned have infiltrated the church.
This morning:
This morning:
I would argue that much of this first section in the letter is Paul taking direct shots at an early form of Gnosticism.
Gnosticism: an early heresy that you can achieve “fullness” outside of Christ.
Pleroma:
(in Gnosticism) the spiritual universe as the abode of God and of the totality of the divine powers and emanations.
(in Christian theology) the totality or fullness of the Godhead which dwells in Christ.
It may not be as mystical today but yet we see this happen every day…
Churches that teach a work based gospel.
A society that is constantly pushing us towards finding our worth in our achievements.
A constant struggle to think if I had blank____ I would be fulfilled.
The Beauty in the gospel is that the work is already done…. and in the work of Jesus we can experience a fullness that puts the rest of the stuff into proper perspective.
So this morning: we are going to remind ourselves what Jesus has accomplished in the macro sense… here is the big idea for this morning.
Big Idea: Jesus did the work. Jesus gets the glory.
Big Idea: Jesus did the work. Jesus gets the glory.
Read Eph 1:3-14
Read Eph 1:3-14
ephes
Jesus: Blesses
Jesus: Blesses
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
What are all our spiritual blessings in according to the passage (In Christ)?
What are all our spiritual blessings in according to the passage (In Christ)?
Every Spiritual Blessing.
Every Spiritual Blessing.
Gods Blessings are wide…
Spiritual blessing (what we really desire) vs physical blessing.
it is all found in Jesus.
Heavenly places vs earthly places
Stuff vs eternity
The total generation of solid waste in 2018 was 292.4 million tons
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
At your core how to do you want God to bless you?
At your core how to do you want God to bless you?
In the Heavenly places = “Already but not yet”
Peace
Hope
Eternal Blessing not momentary
May we be a people who gather in worship together until we find ourselves there..
Transition: Jesus freely blesses and therefore we offer our praise (blessing back to him) this is how paul begins then Paul Continues.
Jesus: Predestined
Jesus: Predestined
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
What did he do: he chose us in him before the foundation of the world
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
Who =“He Chose”
Jesus did it.
Your role in your salvation is receiving… It is not doing or accomplishing.
When = “Before the foundations of this world”
God has had a plan since the beginning.
God is infinite we are finite
Why = “So that we can be blameless”
God desires a restored relationship with his creation
God is always at work in restoring things and bringing us back to him.
Transition = So from the begin God chose to restore us back to him.
he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
Predestined defined = Predetermined to Redeem.
We want to ask how does that work rather than let it lead us to worship…
We want to ask how does that work rather than let it lead us to worship…
Illustration: (How) People tracking the solar eclipse down to the second. and we are finite.
How God Creates the Sun and the Moon:
God created the sun and the moon. the purpose of the moon is so we have a little bit of light at night. the purpose of the sun is so that we have light in the sky. God also created the heaven and the earth. God created everything but your house and everything in your house and every building. God created people to make those things
Now its not to late to believe in my God he died for you and me when you feel like you full know my God ask him to come into your heart.
This is the kind of wonder and worship we should have when we think about all or God has done.
(Why) In Love
(Why) For his praise so that he might receive the Glory…
When we read… when we see all you have done… we cant but be moved to worship!
Pauls illustration Adoption:
he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
First Century adoption… you can not be disowned.
The First century church was made up of so many adopted individuals (a child was born in the first century world)
Think of the Heart of our father God…
If any congregation should get this its ours…
Please do not miss words in this next section like:
A. He lavishes gifts upon us.
B. In him we have obtained an inheritance.
Beloved:
to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
The Loved ones by God!
When you recognize your creator, the one who holds all things together had a plan since the very begining to bring you home you cant help but to praise.
Transition: So Blessed, chosen, adopted, Beloved lets keep on going…
Jesus: Redeems
Jesus: Redeems
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
Redemption:
Restored
Payed for
Reestablished
Redeemed to what:
a life of forgiveness and grace… now lavished upon us.
and insight and wisdom (Holy spirit)
Clarity of the gospel.
The mystery has been revealed = this is the Gospel
The mystery has been revealed = this is the Gospel
There is no puzzle to crack… God has made it clear.
Jesus has provided a way for all people to be reunited with God
Jesus has provided eternal hope
Transition: So therefore… We give him all the GLory
Conclusion: So that… Jesus gets the glory.
Conclusion: So that… Jesus gets the glory.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
To the Praise and his Glory
Important language shift: Until this last section it is all we and us… now paul transitions to talking about you.
May we treat this section of the sermon the same…
1) You have heard the Gospel
2) You have the opportunity to be saved in this Gospel
3) you have the ability for your eternity to be sealed… To walk in light of this new reality.
When we understand this truth our hearts should be moved to worship!
When we understand this truth our hearts should be moved to worship!
Lets Praise God in that (I will pray and Pastor Jon is going to come up lead us through communion this morning.
Lets Praise God in that (I will pray and Pastor Jon is going to come up lead us through communion this morning.