The Letter of Paul to the Ephesians 29SEP
Ephesians ABF • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Welcome
Welcome
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Memory Verse, eph 2:8-9, anyone have it?
Scriptures for today on whiteboard
Gal 4:4-7
Rev 3:12
John 6:36-40
Rom 3:24
1 Cor 1:30
Deut 4:20
Titus 2:14
Rom 12:2
Act 20:32
Last week
Last week
Objects of Predestination
man/angels/Christ
Parts of Predestination—> v4: “…He chose us…” = Election
group picked for a purpose / offices / SALVATION
Election (unto salvation) Characteristics
It’s an expression of the sovereign will of God, His divine good pleasure
It’s immutable
It’s unconditional
It’s irresistible
The purpose of election
Immediate - Save souls
God’s Glory
PRAY (ask someone)
PRAY (ask someone)
Adoption
Adoption
Ephesians 1:4–6 (ESV)
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.
v5 “In love he predestined us for adoption to himself…”
***maybe ask this*** Any saints in this room have adopted children, or were adopted yourselves?
In our human, familial context, what is adoption?
Let’s take a look at what this means in the Bible.
Greek: to “put/place a son” or “to purpose as a son”
It’s an action to redefine the nature of a human, to give a new identity to a human, a new bloodline, a new family.
Roman society: primary connection — inheritance.
paterfamilias (head of the family) had patria potestas (paternal legal authority) over his familia.
“sons” adopted in to preserve familial lines and provide a benefactor for the paternal inheritance.
Reader…
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Legal connotations are interesting…
Justification = declared righteousness; a forensic term
Adoption = declaration of paternal legal authority bestowed upon an individual
Justification (declared righteousness) is the basic/foundational blessing
Purpose - crucial step in salvation
Adoption is the crowning blessing
Purpose - permanent intimacy w/ God as heavenly Father; His Paternal Authority; His inheritance
But it goes so much further than that!
What are some characteristics of a good father?
Benefits of Adoption
New relationship with God: can approach Him in boldness and confidence (contrast to Sinai!)
Familial Bond: closeness, affection, generosity, to the billionth degree!
New Identity—> new life entirely
Reader…
The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
(Jesus’s message to the Church in Philadelphia, a positive message, one of faithfulness, culminating in this promise)
A heart burning to imitate, pleasing, and glorifying the Father
affects prayer, worship, conduct…hobbies, activities, relationships, our words, our style, use of our resources, what entertains us, what we care about, how we spend time, where our thoughts/minds wander to, the countenance on our faces, the clarity in our eyes
EVERYTHING comes under the paternal authority of the loving Father, who creates these changes in us
Relationship via the Spirit — providing understanding + connection to the rest of the Godhead in love
A new understanding of holiness
We WANT to change (4.c.i.1) because the Spirit moves in us to cause us to change!
We WANT to “do good”, not to conform to societal rules/be favored by peers, but because we want to glorify God!
OBTW, doing the latter may OFTEN directly attack the former
Assurance of Salvation
Fatherhood — sonship, when the Father is eternal = secured relationship
Reader…
But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
H.S.’s witness and the believer’s transformed life further confirms assurance of salvation
1 John 2:5–6 “but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”
Glory of the Christian Hope**************
If all that we’ve said about adoption is true…then what can we say about Christian hope? What can we hope for?
Future glory / guaranteed inheritance (I’ve prepared a place for you in my father’s house) / resurrected body / eternal fellowship with God / ZERO pain-tears-agony-wars-hunger-worry-fear-loss-decay-jealousy-neglect—SIN
To summarize Adoption in one simple, all encompassing point…
to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
To be adopted as sons, in Christ, “in the Beloved” v6
Means the Father loves you like he loves Jesus, the Father’s only begotten son
So, the glory that is Christ’s now is share with his adopted spiritual siblings. Us. AMAZING!
?? Read the final portion of the Sons of God chapter in Knowing God, pg 228 ??
Finally, moving on…
Finally, moving on…
Opening Benediction for…
(1:3-6a) the Father’s gracious purpose.
(1:6b-10) the Son’s redemptive accomplishment.
(1:11-14) the Spirit’s sealing work of the new creation.
Assign READERs on the spot…
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.
The Son’s redemptive accomplishment
The Son’s redemptive accomplishment
v.7
v.7
Ephesians 1:7 (ESV)
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
“in Him” “His” <—> v.6 “Beloved” = Jesus
Structure: “according to” defines flow
out of, as a result of “riches of grace”, we get = heart of the gospel[redemption, forgiveness]
What does redemption mean?
root word is lytron-ransom.
explain ransom: buy back from slavery, typically incumbent of the family to do, purchase-price to release from bondage
Romans 3:24 “and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”
1 Corinthians 1:30 “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,”
“The act of buying back or rescuing something or someone that was lost, enslaved, or in a state of bondage.”
“forgiveness of our trespasses”
God doesn’t just hand-wave sin
Combine with redemption…forgiveness was BOUGHT by redemption = HEART OF THE GOSPEL
What’s the purchase-price of sin?
DEATH.
OT, spotless lamb’s blood shed in Atonement, payment for sins of the people
Jesus’s blood is the lytron, the ransom, for human sin
And it had to come from a perfected human IOT ransom human sin. HAD TO BE God Himself. Brilliant!
“riches of His grace”, heart of the gospel, harkens back to v.3 “spiritual blessing in the heavenly places”
v.8
v.8
which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
Who’s “wisdom and insight” is Paul talking about? (ours?)
God’s!
“lavished upon us” / “caused to abound”: Grace ABOUNDS
“wisdom and insight” = heart of the gosepl [forgiveness via redemption]
Goes back to 4.c.iii.1 above
v.9-10
v.9-10
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.
Summarizing what’s been stated thus far since v7
From God’s perfect wisdom, he poured out his abounding grace/love upon us, by saving us, forgiving our sins, by purchasing them through the ransom price of Jesus’s blood.
Doing this = God informing us of the “mystery of his will”
We talking about voodoo mysteries here? What is Paul talking about?
Mystery =/= hocus pocus, occult (obviously), or even a riddle. Mystery = hidden.
From the beginning, God has progressively revealed His purposes…
Any examples?
Abraham: just promised that thru his seed, all nations would be blessed
Even earlier, the protoevangelion (Genesis 3:15 “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”)
Romans 11:25 “Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”
Not exactly clear in OT that Gentiles would be included in the saved category.
Rahab/Ruth/Isa 2:2-4 , Zech 8:20-23.
What was once hidden is now made manifest.
God purposed to reveal this hidden plan, “which he set forth in Christ” in the “fullness of time”…
Where have we heard that before?
Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,”
Mark 1:15 “and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
fullness = pleroma = completeness, filled the the brim, a total quantity
time = kairos = an indefinite period of time, an age or era
“to unite all things in Christ”
LSB: “summing up of all things in Christ”
ALL Things (in heaven and on earth)
Staggering assertion in this verse:
God’s purpose in Creation was to sum up all things, in both earthly and heavenly domains, in the His Son, Jesus Christ!
JESUS IS THE PURPOSE, and has always been the purpose.
Goes beyond the individual…
The Purpose of God: Ephesians The Goal of History
God predestined from all eternity not only that Jesus should be Saviour, but that Jesus should be King of kings and Lord of lords. God has already crowned his Son, for the coronation has taken place in the ascension; but we live in a world that does not recognise its ruler, that does not kneel in obeisance before its appointed king. The same one through whom all things were made, by whom all things were made and for whom all things were made, will receive all things at the end of time. God’s appointed plan for the universe is to bring all things on heaven and on earth together, under one head. The goal of creation is neither chaos nor disharmony but unity, and the point of unity will be his anointed king.
The Spirit’s sealing work of a new creation
The Spirit’s sealing work of a new creation
Assign READERs on the spot…
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.
v.11-12
v.11-12
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.
Ephesians 1:11(ESV)
In him we have obtained an inheritance…
In Him, we also have been made an inheritance…
“inheritance”
Reference slide, after in Him, it’s a single Greek word! eklērōthēmen
Difficult translating, compound word. Roots in the idea of appointing someone to a position by casting lots.
“Greek nerds” basically say: both renderings (ESV and LSB) are contained in the single word, “both and”
We’ve obtained an inheritance: salvation, an adoptive relationship with the Father, a home in heaven!
We are an inheritance of God’s
Reader…
Deuteronomy 4:20 “But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of his own inheritance, as you are this day.”
Titus 2:14 “who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”
The Father has prepared a people to give to Himself (to the Son), to be the Son’s sheep, for the Son to know/love/save/redeem/represent in judgement/prepare a place in heaven
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.
“according to” - kata statements, tons of them, deriving purpose - = “because of” or “due to”
“counsel of his will”
We’ve talked about the will just a little bit
Our will = “truth source”, where we begin to make decisions, the driving factor for what we choose and how we think
Can be informed by (enslaved to) sin //OR// “renewed” to something holy and perfect
Reader…
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
It’s out of this perfection, is where God derives His purpose behind…
predestining us to hope in Christ, SO THAT…
we would be 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.
v13-14
v13-14
hear then believe then SEALED
again, we’ve talked about the concept of a seal (identity, assurance)
Reader…
Acts 20:32 “And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
The Spirit, indwelt in the human, literally is a “down payment” (arrabōn)
A down payment of what?
Unity with Christ: Christ’s spirit dwelling within us, foretaste of everlasting communion in heaven
Unity with God: the HS is the seal (mark, guarantee) while in the here and now on the people God has chosen, a shadow before the final kingdom is consummated.
And all for what???
To the praise of His glory!!
_______________________________________________________________
Closing
Closing
Let’s not forget: Paul’s pastoral purpose
Here it is…
If you have heard the gospel and have believed it, genuinely…
the know this: out of God’s PERFECT will…
Comfort:
God chose you,
gave you a new heart,
paid your sin debt, all of it, it’s gone!
has adopted you as a son or daughter,
Given you Christ as a spiritual sibling
Equipping
He’s SEALED you, indelibly marked you, as HIS, and “NONE that the Father has given me will be cast out!”
John 6:36–40 “But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.””
Jesus’s spirit dwells within you, conforming your will into a righteous one, like His.
So, let’s be like an Ephesian elder…
Acts 20:32 “And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
PRAY
PRAY
See you next week!
Ephesians 1:15-23