Union With Christ
Notes
Transcript
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 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, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Introduction:
This morning I want us to begin looking at the book of Ephesians. Ephesians is the sister epistle to the book of Colossians and most believe it is a good exercise to read them together.
I want to give a disclaimer this morning. I will not be able to unpack all that I will expose you to this morning, its too much. What I do want you to get is the essential principle that is necessary for understanding the book of Ephesians. Well actually for understanding salvation and the Christian life. That is the doctrine of union with Christ. You will find it here in chapter one with qualifying prepositions like: in Him, by Him, for Him, and through Him.
So, this morning I want us to ask a question and then answer that question with three questions. Here’s the question I want us to ask: Who Am I in Christ? I want to answer that with these three questions: What does “in Christ” mean?, What are the Blessings of Being in Christ?, and How do I get in Christ? So, are you ready?
What Does “In Christ” Mean?
What Does “In Christ” Mean?
Now, remember I said that I could not unpack all that I expose you to this morning. This one question could occupy all of our time. But I want to limit ourselves to three thoughts here.
One, is perception. Now, this is a weak word but its the best I could think of on short notice. The idea is how God the Father perceives us once we repent and believe in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ through His life, death, and resurrection.
Well how does God see us. He never sees us outside of Christ again.
I’m not sure who coined this statement but it goes something like this: “On the cross, God looked at Christ and saw you, now He looks at you and sees Christ.”
It’s not a trick of the eyes, but a supernatural transaction that took place where you and I moved from one realm to another. From one headship to another. We were in Adam and now we are in Christ. We lived in the kingdom of darkness, now we are in the kingdom of His marvelous light. We can understand this better by looking at Romans 5:18-19
Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
This theme goes on over into chapter 6 of Romans as it speaks about baptism. We were buried with Him into His death, that just as He was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Perception, God sees us with Christ, His work of righteousness is seen as ours.
Second, is position. The idea of blessing that we read about in Ephesians 1:3
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,
These blessing is a result of Jesus’ position as the firstborn Son. Look in Colossians 1:15
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
This passage has been misinterpreted throughout the years. Arian in the 3rd century was expelled as a heretic because He stripped Jesus of His divinity, stating that He was born, not eternal. The body of pastors from all the known world gathered at the council of Nicea to state that Jesus is “begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father.”
What Colossians 1:15 is telling us is that postionally Jesus is the firstborn son and rightful heir of everything that belongs to the Father. Read Romans 8:16-17
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
And then third, as we think about what it means to be “in Christ” lets look at perfection.
There is a mind-boggling phrase in Ephesians 1:4 for me.
just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
To be in Christ means that God has purposed in Christ that we will be holy and without blame before the judgment seat of God.
That’s what it means to be in Christ. Perception, Position, and Perfection. The second question is What are the Blessing in Christ Jesus?
What Are the Blessing in Christ?
What Are the Blessing in Christ?
I can’t elaborate today, but I will in the weeks to come. So, let’s just state what the text states.
We are Chosen or wanted (verse 4).
We are adopted (verse 5).
We are accepted (verse 6).
We are forgiven (verse 7).
Abounding in Wisdom and Understanding (verse 8)
A first-class ticket to paradise (verse 9)
An inheritance (verse 10)
We are protected or sealed (verse 13).
And don’t forget verse 3, every spiritual blessing in heavenly places. What does that mean? Everything at Christ disposal is at ours to accomplish God’s will.
Okay, last, How do I get in Christ?
How Do I Get Obtain This Status?
How Do I Get Obtain This Status?
Look with me again at Ephesians 1:13
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Hear the Gospel
Trust in Him an act of transference, repentance
Believe in Him, put your absolute faith in Him.
The conclusion, we do nothing but surrender.
