Richochet

Ephesians  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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Called to be saints

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Sermon - Ephesians 1:1
Introduction:
1 aPaul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.[1]
This is the introduction to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.  It is a brief statement. He addressing who he is and who he is addressing.  Unfortunately,  I tend to  just blast through these introductions.  I want to get to the meat of what Paul is saying.  But this can be a mistake.  There is a lot being said here if we will take the time to explore it a little.  So we are not going to get very far this morning.  In fact, we aren’t going to go past the first verse.
When we shoot a gun, we expect our bullet to go in a certain trajectory based on our experience or knowledge. We practice our shooting trying to keep all the variables consistent so that that bullet goes where we expected it to go. We can work on the things we can control and try to make them consistent. But every once and a while something unforeseen, un-thought of or outside of our control will dramatically change where that bullet goes. We say the bullet ricocheted off something.
I have some sons that learned the hard way that if you shoot at something in or under the water with a BB gun or 22, Shazam the bullet tends to not go where intended. Like into the window of van or the house. You probably have seen some of those video clips where a guy shoots a high-power rifle and immediately his hat goes flying off. The bullet ricocheted off his target and came right back at him.
We can think about this idea of ricocheting as it relates to our lives, can’t we? Do you remember when something happened in your life, either expected or unexpected when your life took a dramatic turn? I can. I remember thinking when I proposed to Melissa, “My life is needs to and is about to change dramatically”. When I held Joshua for the first time, I remember thinking, “My life is needs to and is about to change dramatically”. Those changes were anticipated and expected even though I didn’t necessarily know what they were going to look like. However, the richochet that I didn’t anticipate or expect in my life was the one that happened well before those events. It took take place when I ran into the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Basically, I ran into a Rock. When I took on the title of Christian, the trajectory of my life was permanently changed by the will of God. I know that most of you can lay claim to the similar experience.
Paul
I think you probably see where I am going as we enter into this beginning of Ephesians. Paul had a pretty dramatic ricochet in his life when he encountered the risen Christ on his way to Damascus. There couldn’t have been a more “about-face” in someones life. Saul was heading to Damascus in an zealous effort to totally aniliate Christians and the Christian Church. The fact that he was heading so far away from Jerusalem to search and destroy the Christians gives you some clue as to his drive and focus. (Damascus is in a totally different country, it is 136 miles by direct route.)

9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

9 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem

But something dramatic happened on the way to Damascus: He went from being Saul to Paul. Do you realize that the way he addresses himself is a picture of this dramatic change? Did Jesus give him the name Paul like Jesus gave the name Peter to Simon? No, he actually had two names.

Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

His Hebrew name was Saul and his Roman, “gentile” name was Paul. When he was approving ad watching the martyrdom of Steven, he was Saul. When he was persecuting the Church he was Saul. When he was exercising his authority as a Pharisee and an agent of the Sanhedrin, he was Saul. However, when he met Jesus and was given the new title of Apostle, and a new mission to the gentiles, he most likely addressed himself and was called by that name which more closely associated him with the people God had assigned him to serve.

13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles

We first see the change of use from Saul to Paul in the Bible when he was on his first missionary journey. He was confronting Elymus, the sorcerer on the isle of Paphos.

Then

13 Now when

An Apostle of Jesus Christ
So Paul chose to use his Roman name because God had given him a new title and purpose in life. He was now an Apostle of Jesus Christ. What is an apostle? The greek word means “a messenger” or “he who is sent”. Now in the bible that word can be used in the reference to the Twelve Apostles and Paul. The big “A” Apostles. And it is used in a generic sense to include anyone who is an ambassador of the Gospel, which really includes all of us at some degree.
However, we should be careful how we use that word. For instance, when a missionary is sent to a foreign land, they are considered an apostle of Jesus Christ. They are sent by a church to be a messenger of the Gospel to those who may not have heard. However, they are not a “big A” Apostle.
This specific type of apostle is not present in the church today. The job description has already been filled. Why is this important? Because of the New Apostolic Reformation movement.
The qualifications of the “Big A” apostle were these - and you had to have all three in place:
(1) to have been a witness of the resurrected Christ (Acts 1:22)(1 Corinthians 9:1),

Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection

9 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

(2) to have been explicitly chosen by the Jesus (Acts 9:15),

15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

and (3) to have the ability to perform signs and wonders (Acts 2:43; 2 Corinthians 12:12).

43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles

12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

The responsibility of the twelve apostles, laying the foundation of the church, would also argue for their uniqueness.” (Got Questions) The foundation of the church and the Canon has already been laid.
So, when we read in our text that Paul was an Apostle of Jesus Christ, if we think about it, does it mean that Paul was an Apostle that “proclaimed” Jesus Christ or was he an Apostle that “belonged” to Jesus Christ. As your read through the letter you know it can mean both.
By the will of God
This is where I really think the thrust of this introduction lies. Paul did not choose God, God chose and appointed him. Therefore, he was addressing the Ephesians as one who had the authority of God himself.
We see this dramatic change of wills, the richochet of Paul’s life when he is face down on the road to Damascus. This is where the battle of the wills came to an end. Paul on his face cried:

Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said,

When we talk about the “will of God” we need to consider what we are talking about. Now we could get deep into the weeds, legitimately, discussing this, but I want to bring it down to two basic definitions: the revealed will of God and the sovereign will of God. The Bible is God’s revealed will. It tells us what He wants of us to do and believe. It even gets very specific in certain places revealing His will.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

The problem is: not everyone Christian is thankful and not all men are saved. So this will of God must have the ability to be disobeyed.
Now there is another will of God that is His sovereign will. It cannot be thwarted or disobeyed. In fact, it normally is not even know until after the fact.

The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water:

He turneth it whithersoever he will.

Whatsoever the LORD pleased,

That did he in heaven, and in earth,

In the seas, and all deep places.

Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

2  I know that thou canst do every thing,

And that no thought can be withholden from thee.

This is what I think Paul was saying when he introduced himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. Being God’s a primary emissary and builder of Christ’s church was not on his radar screen. God willed it. As Jesus revealed to Ananias before he met the blinded Paul,

15 But the Lord said unto him (Ananias), Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

As you read through Ephesian, you will see both aspects of the will of God. Paul will tell you of the soveriegn will of God in which He does things for His glory and good pleasure. Paul will actually explain the great “mystery” of God’s sovereign will for the Gentiles. Paul will also reveal the will of God in how you should act considering all spiritual blessings he has showered on us in Christ.
Because God willed for Paul to be an Apostle, it was important for his audience to realized that he was God’s ambassador and wielded God’s authority. I heard something the other day, “All legitimate authority is given”. If you think about that it is true and biblical. Even Jesus was given all authority from the Father. A person who grabs or takes on authority has no real authority in a persons life. So Paul was given authority. He was no ordinary Joe writing to the Ephesians. What he was about to say in his letter had the authority of God and the believers would do well to listen.
Unfortunately, Paul was constantly having to defend his authority and make that very point that he wasn’t self appointed, but appointed by Christ.
However, when authority is granted by God it is for the purpose of service. One who is in authority lays down his life for Christ and His Church. We see this appropriate use of authority in Jesus, Paul and actually many in the church throughout the ages. The flip side of this is that if you have a legitimate authority in your life, it means that it was granted to them by God or you gave it to them, and therefore you are obligated to follow and obey to the degree that they lead biblically.
(Okay, by bible program states that if I read all my words I should be 19 minutes into this sermon - how am I doing. )
To the saints which are at Ephesus
I grew up in the Catholic church. Saints were important Christians from the past who probably had a statue made of them. That is all I knew. I was really surprised to find out after I became a Christian that I could claim, rather was granted that title of a saint.
If you are a Christian. If you have repented and put your faith in Jesus Christ. You are a saint. Paul is addressing the saints at a specific place and a specific time in Ephesus.
What is a saint? The word saint is ἅγιος in the greek. It is also often translated as “Holy”. So in this case, saints are “holy ones”. What does that mean? It means you have been chosen to be sacred, consecrated, set apart for God’s use. You have been separated from the earthly for that which is heavenly.
If you are a Christian, you have encountered the risen Christ in and through a saving faith. Your life has ricocheted. You have turned from sin and self to the living God. Your life has been forfeited for His. You are no longer your own by are set apart for God’s use. That is primarily what it means to be a saint. Is that true for you? Is it obvious to others?
Notice too that this is a personal letter to a specific group of saints that were in Ephesus. This was the local church at Ephesus. Church in Greek is ἐκκλησία. It is formed by putting the two words ἐκ (out of, from) and καλέω (call, bid) together. So church is a gathering of the “called out” ones. Which matches with the definition of saints (holy, consecrated, set apart).
And to the faithful in Christ Jesus
This is the same group of people. The faithful are the same group as the saints. Paul is speaking to the ones who have put their faith/belief in Jesus Christ. In fact, it is because they have put their faith in Jesus Christ that they have been justified before God and can therefore be called saints.
I thought this an interesting quote from John Stott,
Paul’s description of his readers is thus comprehensive. They are ‘saints’ because they belong to God; they are ‘believers’ because they have trusted to Christ; and they have two homes, for they reside equally ‘in Christ’ and ‘in Ephesus’. Indeed all Christian people are saints and believers, and live both in Christ and in the secular world, or ‘in the heavenlies’ and on earth. Many of our spiritual troubles arise from our failure to remember that we are citizens of two kingdoms. We tend either to pursue Christ and withdraw from the world, or to become preoccupied with the world and forget that we are also in Christ.[1]
[1] John R. W. Stott, God’s New Society: The Message of Ephesians, The Bible Speaks Today (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979), 23.
Conclusion - So what do I want you to take away.
What I realized in this introduction to the book of Ephesians, is that the ricochet that took place in the life of Paul, is no less a miracle of God’s grace which has taken place for everyone who has put their faith in Jesus Christ. If you are a believer, then somewhere you had a Damascus road experience in which you were confronted with your sin and told God, “What would you have me do?” or “What must I do to be saved?”. And in so doing, your life took an “about face”. You turned from sin, self and ignorance to God and the truth of the Gospel. Same miracle of a changed heart and redirection of the will. Same miracle no matter your background. It doesn’t matter if you grew up in the church or came out of crime-ridden life. You, like Paul, were a child of wrath bent on your own destruction and you ran into Jesus.
Actually, it probably better to say that Jesus ran into you. It was by the will of God that you were drawn to Jesus and understood the truth of the Gospel.

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day

65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

19 We love him, because he first loved us.

To be made a saint means that you had to be taken from that which was common and be set apart to be that which is consecrated and holy. You had to be taken out of one group and placed in another. The God of the universe. The God who created the incomprehensible vastness of space and minutest atoms. He chose you to be His own. Friends, the Bible is full of statements that proclaim that you were chosen, elect, called by the will of God to be His. This is a fact of God’s revealed will.
Aren’t you thankful? Do enjoy and marvel at the fact that you a saint of God? God loved me. God sent His Son to die for me. God chose me. When you are feeling down or depressed. When you feel like you don’t matter. When you have sinned again. Will you get up and fall back on this fact that you are a saint of God, set apart by Him for holy purposes.
So that brings us to the final challenge. You are called a saint like Paul was called an apostle. That is a statement of fact because of your faith in Jesus Christ. You are called a Holy One, are you walking in holiness? Paul does this throughout his letters. He makes statements of doctrinal facts and based on these facts he calls us to live a certain way. If we are set apart for God, does our life reflect that? Have we truly ricocheted and turned our lives around for the sake of Christ and His Gospel? Is that 180 turn evident in our lives? As one person stated, “Is there enough evidence to convict you of being a Christian?” If not, there is a problem. God willed you to be His own but He also wills you to walk in holiness and obedience.
What if he were still Saul? What would that trajectory of his life have accomplished if Jesus hadn’t stood in his path. He most likely would have ended up being used as a great tool of Satan leaving in his wake a legacy of death, destruction, and misery. Ultimately, his life would have ended in judgement, wrath and and an eternity separated from God. Friends, if you have not repented and put your faith in Jesus Christ that will be the trajectory of your life and its final target.
However, Jesus confronted Paul and the trajectory of his life was used to be an everlasting example of what it means to be an apostle of Christ and to build His church. If you are a believer, God has done a very similar work in changing the direction of your life. We should therefore live our lives in accordance with our new callings as saints. This is what Paul advocates when we get to the fourth chapter of Ephesians,

4 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called

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