All Things in Christ

Introduction:

>>>Turn to Ephesians 1 – reading verses 7-10

Title of the sermon: All Things in Christ

PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!

Have you ever wanted to know something that you are just not able to comprehend?

What about wanting to go somewhere that is intriguing, but you are not permitted to go? Whether that be because there is an exhibit under construction or maybe a physical limitation that hinders you.

In life we all experience this, and it is a bothersome thing. Have you ever experienced this with God? Have you ever come across something that you are not able to comprehend for one reason or another? Does it seem like you will never be able to understand it?

For some people this is how they see the will of God. I think that is why many books have been written on the subject. I remember reading one book that said if you knew what God’s will is, you can do whatever you want. Boy, wouldn’t it be great to know!

Now I do agree with the quote from that book above. If you know God’s will, you can do whatever you want.

But how do we know God’s will? What should we look for? Has God made it plain to us? Is God’s will different for each person? How do I know that I am following God’s will?

Let me tell you that the answer to these questions is easier than you think, and it is not all that complex.

In order to answer this question rightly we must start with the source, and the source is the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, I want us to see that All Things are in Christ. Here is how we are going to do that.

I. God’s will made known by Christ (v.9)

II. The Plan of Salvation in Christ (v.10a)

III. Things in Heaven and on Earth are in Christ (v.10b)

1. God’s Will made known by Christ (v.9)

Paul begins verse 9 with another absolute statement. Christ makes known the will of God. This is the third blessing/gift that is given by Christ. The first two being redemption and forgiveness.

The Mystery of God’s Will

If God’s will is known through Christ, then why does Paul call it a mystery?

What kind of mystery is this? Our modern world has a different definition of mystery. “Most often we think of mystery as something that we do not now understand, and that on the face of it looks difficult but is ultimately explainable, like a murder mystery” (primematters.com).

The Greek gives this definition of mystery as “secret, that no unauthorized person would know it” (Thayer). Quite the difference in definition, isn’t it?!

Verse 9 could be written like this, “making known to us God’s will that is a mystery.” For the person who tries to wrap his head around God’s will without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, it is still a mystery to him. The one who is not in Christ, this is foolish talk.

There is one condition for understanding God’s will, and that is being “in Christ.” Without being in Christ, there is no indwelling of the Holy Spirit who aids and directs us in these things.

>>>1 Corinthians 2:7-12…Listen to the need of being in Christ as it is attributed to the working of the Holy Spirit…Verse 12 is especially helpful. Wisdom and understanding of who God is, comes from God Himself!

It is not mean or unfair of God that the mystery of His will is understood by His people only. This bestows upon believers the privilege of being elected, adopted, and also knowing His will. God has given us all we need for this life!

Turn back to Ephesians 1:9 and notice that it is not in the good pleasure of God that man remains in his sins. You won’t find that in verse 9.

However, it is the good pleasure of God that man be in Christ. Where do we see this? Since it is God’s good pleasure to clearly show His will through Jesus, then it delights God that we know His will. And since this is known by believers only, He delights in others coming to the same place where we are this morning and know God’s will!

Ephesians 1:9 is not written in the negative!

Blessed Eyes to see and Ears to hear

Jesus speaks to this in Matthew 13:10-17 with the explanation of why He taught in parables. There are two people that can sit down with the same Bible. One comes away believing in what it says, and another comes away saying that was a very nice story. Those who are in Christ do not see the Bible as just a nice story!

Matthew 13:11 says, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” Amazingly, Judas Iscariot heard this, and he refused to believe in Jesus.

Christian, you have blessed eyes and ears to be able to see and hear the words of God and know them (Matthew 13:16)! Not because you have worked hard at it, but because He has made these things known to us as the beginning of verse 9 says.

Imagine that you are a manager explaining some procedures that need to be followed so that a multi-million-dollar project can succeed. As you are explaining the basics, you notice that the people you are speaking to are staring at you, not understanding a single thing you said. They have that glazed over look. You stop talking, deeply concerned because these people are not getting it, and you wonder what to do next.

This is what is like speaking to someone that cannot and will not submit to the things of God. God has made His will known to His people. Yet, I ask this question. Are you deeply concerned as the manager was in the example above? Does it concern you that there are people all around you that do not know God? That do not know His will? That live in constant rebellion to Him?

As we progress through verse 9 and into verse 10, may the Spirit bring to mind those that we know that need to be given the gospel, those who need prayer for their salvation!

Turning our attention to the second half of verse 9. We have touched on the good pleasure of God, but what about it being “purposed in Him?” What is Paul getting at here?

Simply stated, the will of God is purposed or carried out in the Lord Jesus Christ. What is this purpose?

Listen to this, “Christ was publicly put forward according to God’s plan of redemption as the crucified and risen Savior” (Mounce). We will touch more on this in our second point.

What I want us to see is that in Christ, we see God’s will in an absolute way.

Consider Isaiah 14:24-27. Before knowing what God’s will was, what would we have made of this text? Yahweh declares that He will destroy Assyria, and the Israelites will no longer be enslaved to her.

Upon reading it we may think, what in the world does this have to do with God’s will or me? This text matters to you and me a great deal. Why?

With Cyrus fulfilling this text as told in Isaiah 45:1-13 with taking over Babylon and liberating Israel in 539 B.C. the way was clear for the promised Messiah to come in the next half a century.

God’s will is written all throughout the Bible. May you and I be strengthened in our trust in that God knows exactly what He is doing, and He gives us insight through Christ our Redeemer.

2. The Plan of Salvation in Christ (v.10a)

I want to shift our focus slightly and see that all things are in Christ including salvation. Looking back on those Isaiah texts for a moment, the goal of Israel’s freedom was that God’s people would be free, not of a nation only, but of their slavery to sin.

The Plan of Salvation

It was and is always God’s plan to save those who are lost, those who are called according to His purpose.

The ESV renders the administration as the plan. One commentator refers to this plan as “the plan of salvation.” This is not a hard thing for us to understand. For we know that the entire Bible is about the work of Christ in saving broken and fallen humanity so that He would be most glorified.

Bill Mounce, a Greek professor, writes that this is an “arranged plan.” Verse after verse, the Greek tells us that salvation was carefully planned and executed to absolute perfection.

None of this is as the skeptic would say is “coincidental or by chance.”

This plan is singular in nature, but it reaches the ends of the earth and the totality of human existence, from beginning to end.

Christ’s administration or plan is not a 4-year term. His term is eternal, and what He says goes. And what a joy it is to submit to Him, for His plan includes redemption, forgiveness, and the knowability of God’s will.

This plan of salvation will come to its conclusion at what Paul calls “the fullness of the times.” In other words, you and I are waiting for the completion of our salvation.

Are you struggling right now with the current way the world is going? How about the back and forth between politicians slandering one another? Or maybe it is the public school system teaching things to children that should not be taught? Or maybe it is the threats that are put on Christians from those who say that love is love? Listen, it is a part of the will of God for you and me to be here at this particular time as our salvation is being worked out day by day.

We are not hopeless; we do not despair at what we see around us. No! We have the promise that our salvation will be carried out at the fullness of the times.

Daniel 9:24-27 is helpful. Verse 24, specifically, is such an encouragement. In this prophecy Daniel is told that there will be a complete end of sin. And what takes sins place? Everlasting righteousness. Brothers, we are not hopeless! God’s plan of salvation in Christ will be fully carried out (Acts 3:19-21).

May these truths bring us to a place where we remove the focus off ourselves and fixate them upon Christ.

The Fullness of Time in the birth of Christ

Galatians 4:4 speaks of the fullness of times and Christ’s birth. In other words, when the right amount of time had passed according to God, Christ was born. Not a minute too soon or too late.

The same is true for the completion of our salvation. Amazingly, the fullness of time is said of Christ’s birth, and He has the power to complete our salvation in the fullness of time in Him!

Bill Mounce ties Galatians 4:4 and Ephesians 1:10 in a beautiful way. He says, “There seems to be an already/not yet aspect to the “fullness of time,” for on the one hand the “fullness of time” has been reached at the coming of the Messiah into the world, but on the other hand the “fullness of time” points to the consummation of all things.”

Paul wants his hearers to see the emphasis on the consummation in Christ that he states it twice. The overarching theme in the first 10 verses up until this point are divine in nature, Christ in substance. Remember it is the good pleasure of the Father that all things find their completion in His Son.

Because salvation is in Christ, so is our redemption, sanctification (1 Thessalonians 5:23), and future glorification.

The Fullness of Time prophesied in Christ

Most commentators agree that Genesis 49:8-12 is a Messianic prophecy. I agree with this conclusion. Verse 10 is of particular importance for our consideration of the vastness of the plan of salvation.

The key phrase in verse 10 is “Until Shiloh comes.” Why is this important? Because Shiloh is a reference to that which is God’s. Who is the promised Shiloh? The Lord Jesus Christ!

The next line down in verse 10 is that Jesus will have “the obedience of the peoples.” Who are these peoples? They are every saint, those before us, those after us who are from every tribe, tongue, and nation. Every believer who makes up the promised seed of Abraham fulfilled in Christ will be in willful and joyous obedience to Him.

The plan of salvation is in the fullness of time, as it has been given and governed by the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. Things in Heaven and on Earth are in Christ (v.10b)

For our third point, I want us to focus on the last part of verse 10. We have seen the will of God and our salvation in Christ. We now look at things in heaven and on earth that are in Christ.

If all things are in Christ, then all things that He has made are in subjection to Him. Paul further and more intricately expresses the “all” in Christ.

You could say that Christ has the right and authority to have the final say in all things.

The Greek emphasizes that the heavens and the earth will be “gathered up” in Christ. The parable of the wheat and tares came to mind.

Matthew 13:41-42 is the record Jesus’ explanation of this parable. You will remember that the wheat and the tares in Jesus’ parable are gathered separately. They are both living with one another “until the harvest.”

They will be judged separately as well. Verses 41 and 42 tell us that the tares will be thrown in the fire and the wheat into the barn. Consider the weight if you are a tare this morning. Hebrews 10:31 says, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Christ alone has the power to save and condemn.

Regardless of where you are headed this morning, the point I am making here is that every human being on earth is under the subjection of God.

Notice that Paul does not pick one group of people or the other, but ALL THINGS are in Christ, and all things will be gathered to Him. This includes human beings. And as the wheat and tares articulates, one group will be gathered into His presence, and the other group will be cast out of His presence into the lake of fire, that is hell.

In all of this, I hope that you clearly see the immense and great power that our God has! In Christ is the completion of the times, in Christ the wicked will be judged, in Christ we will be welcomed into His presence, all things are in Christ because He is powerful enough to handle it all.

Christ’s power, sufficient for you

Are you struggling this morning with a problem? Do you have concerns that keep you up at night? Are you concerned about how a future medical appointment might go? Maybe you are under the thought that your needs will not be met? Are you maybe doubting your eternal destiny? Fear not!

Listen, if Christ is powerful enough to control the entire universe without a sweat, and He is powerful enough to gather all things to Himself at the end of the age, is He not powerful enough to handle the problems and difficulties you are facing right now? Brothers may this be an encouragement to your ears this morning!

The Heavens gathered to Christ

A few moments ago, I spoke about the terrifying destiny of the tare. But for you who are a part of the wheat, listen to the manifold blessing applied to you as the heavens are gathered to Christ.

The older I get, the more I desire the glorified body that is promised me. And for those who are older than me I am sure that your desire for your glorified body far outweighs mine.

Listen to this guarantee that Paul tells the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52…

What a wonderful thing to look forward to! In a moment our corruptible bodies will be changed. The heavens are going to be gathered to Christ and what comes of it is an incredible dwelling place in the presence of God for all eternity! And all of this in incorruptible glorified bodies.

Conclusion

I want to share with you a few means we can take these things to heart.

I. All things are in Christ therefore all things are His. The money that you earn is His, the things that you have been given are His, the home you live in is His blessing upon you, the air you breathe is His for He made it, and the body you have is not your own. You are merely a steward of it. I do not say these things to condemn in any way, but I do say these things to encourage you to set your mind and heart upon Christ, who is the giver of all things and not on the blessings in and of themselves. You and I are merely sojourners in a foreign land. We await the day when the heavens and earth are gathered to Christ, and we are in His presence forever!

II. Your salvation is not your own but has been meticulously planned by God for you. Take that to heart and may it be a renewed joy to you this morning! It is in Christ that the plan of salvation occurs and further it is in Christ that you are a part of it! Rejoice, for in His kindness to you, He has saved you from your sin!

III. Because your eyes have been opened to the will of God, God requires you to go. Christianity is not a stand still faith. It is an active and ever working faith. As you and I live our days seeing God’s will played out, I implore you to take hold of the faith, go forth confidently and strong in the finished work of Jesus Christ who has made God’s will known to you and is in complete control of “all things.”

Let’s pray!

Benediction

Romans 16:25-27