The Blessings of Christmas pt 2

Introduction

This sermon is part two of a three part sermon series from Eph 1 on the gifts we have all received because of what Jesus accomplished for us beginning that first Christmas morning. Jesus didn’t merely come to earth so he could know what it was to be human. He didn’t decide to come down on a whim because he thought it would be fun to do. Jesus came for a purpose. And because of what He did 2000 years ago, our world has changed.

Life is completely different now for the believer in Jesus Christ. We have been blessed with many spiritual blessings vs 3 or gifts because of what Jesus began on Christmas. Last week, we looked at the first three: we are chosen, adopted, and accepted in Christ. This morning we are going to open three more presents.

I know it is after Christmas, but sometimes some of the presents don’t arrive on Christmas day; so we are going to continue to unpack the remaining gifts from Jesus Christ today. We will do three this morning and the rest tonight.

The Gift of Redemption

Ephesians 1:7 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

The verse begins with those same words in whom reminding us from who we receive these gifts. This next gift might seem like one you would think would be assumed for the Christian. It is the gift of redemption, but do we really understand what it is and what it means.

Have you ever gotten a gift and you thought you knew what it meant, but it had a deeper significance than you were aware of at first? Its kinda like a girl who opens a Christmas gift from her boyfriend and it is a diamond ring. It might not phase her at first. Its a diamond ring, it looks pretty and it fits her. But if she is oblivious might there be a greater significance to that ring than she first understood?

What is redemption?

In the bible, there are actually four different Greek words all translated redemption or redeem. Each has its own significant meaning. In this passage redemption means a complete loosing or release from, but what is it that we are released from? The very next phrase tells us. We are released from the penalty of our sins. Forgiveness is a formal release from an obligation or debt. God is no longer calling us to account for our sins.

This is at the core of what salvation is. It is a releasing from the penalty from our sins. It is forgiveness. It isn’t just a ticket out of hell. I had a debt I couldn’t pay and because of Christ, I have been released from that debt.

How do we receive this gift?

by the blood- this gift was purchased for us by the blood of Christ. Jesus death on the cross accomplished our redemption, our forgiveness of sins. His blood was the payment exacted because of our sin.

according to the riches of his grace- this gift is given to us who place our faith in Jesus vs 12-13 because of God’s grace, his unmerited favor on us. There is nothing we did to earn it. It is all of grace.

I think we struggle with truly understanding this concept when we sin as a Christian. When God brings chastening into our lives, we think he is punishing us. But chastening isn’t about punishment, it is about correction- fixing a problem in our lives that is causing destruction and straining our relationship with God. The punishment for our sins fell upon Jesus Christ Isaiah 53:5–6 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

A second problem we often make is thinking of the judgment seat of Christ as a place of punishment. Our deeds whether good or evil will be tried there; so we jump to the logical conclusion that we must be getting punished for our bad deeds there; but again, if that were the case then Christ has not truly paid the penalty for our sins. If we must bear the punishment then Christ has not born our punishment. This judgment is about rewards not punishment.

This point impacts our view of God. Many a Christian views God as an angry, harsh, taskmaster who is constantly pushing us to do more and more for him until we pass out from exhaustion. This god snaps over every little infraction that we commit and is going to come down in judgment. Churches have built entire philosophies of ministry based on this heretical view of God (I say heretical because it is a denial of the effects of the gospel). The pastor is an overlord who rules with a rod of iron over the sheep that God has given him forgetting that he is supposed to feed the sheep, and lead the sheep. This spiritual abuse of the flock stems from a wrong view of God and his grace in salvation.

I can’t think of any greater gift I could receive than to know that my sins are paid in full for by Jesus Christ. To know that I am free, loosed from my obligation. I don’t have to work to earn it, I don’t have to pay for it, I don’t even have to make up the difference. It is all taken care of.

The Gift of Abundance

Ephesians 1:8 KJV 1900

Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

Verse 8, ties together with verse 7. As I mentioned last week, this is all one sentence in Greek from vs 3-14. But notice the word Wherein- refers back to grace. God’s grace is what saved us, but that isn’t the end of God’s grace for us.

It isn’t like in some western where the hero comes in and saves a kid from lynching by some bad guys. He comes and shoots them up, cuts the rope and gets him down, but as soon as the kid can breathe, he turns to him and says, “ I saved you kid, but from now on, you are on your own.” The kid pitifully wanders behind just hoping to be near his rescuer trying to stay safe.

God’s grace saved us, but it continues to abound toward us. The english here is a little unclear because it makes it seem as if God is abounding, but it is actually grace which God is causing or making to abound toward us.

Grace is what abounds

God is the giver

We are the recipients

The word Abounded- to provide abundantly or to have so much that there are left overs.

God is not a stingy giver. God’s grace flows from his character not your conduct (according to the riches of his grace). His grace abounds. It is something He is rich in. In fact, God is infinite in grace. There isn’t a moment when He runs out.

When I sin, I turn back to my own vomit, I can return to christ, confessing my sin and expect that He will receive me because His grace is abounding. It doesn’t dry up, reach its limit, hit a wall. What would it look like if we had abounding grace for others?

Have you ever sat there eating the candy in your Christmas stocking? We usually have a mix of truffles, reese peanut butter cups for Katy and some sort of gummy or fruit snack. But that stocking can only hold so much candy; at some point it is going to run out. You get down to that last piece and you are left craving for more.

God’s grace isn’t like that. It isn’t a gift you use up and then you are done with it. It is something we need and experience the rest of our Christian lives. It doesn’t flow really well one moment and then trickle down at others. It is always abundantly available to the believer. If there seems to be some lack, that lack is on our end; not his.

The Gift of the Knowledge of His Will

Ephesians 1:9 KJV 1900

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

Some gifts are special even though they can’t be wrapped in a box. For the last few Christmases, we put an emphasis on providing experiences as a gift for Christmas. Instead of buying toys, we bought season passes to the zoo, or the science museum or to Silver dollar city. Sometimes it was a special trip that we planned to take as a family. I think if you were to ask our kids, these were some of the best gifts they received.

A type of gift that often isn’t appreciated until much later on is knowledge. Parents can invest in their children by teaching them life skills. investing in their minds. The last gift this morning is a gift of knowledge.

This isn’t a gift everyone has. In fact Paul calls it the mystery of his will. This mystery was previously unknown but it is now revealed in His word, but it is also more personally revealed to His own. The verse says it has been made known unto us. This is because we have begun to experience the reality of it today. But what is his will in this verse? This is a knowledge available to every Christian. There are no super Christians who are the secret carriers of this knowledge.

What is His will?

Ephesians 1:10 “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:”

God’s will is that He will gather together in one all things in Christ. That seems like a weird desire and it may be unclear what that means so let me explain. Gathered together- the word means to sum up under one head, the word literally is a combination of head and under- used of points in an argument- everything will be brought under its proper order in Christ.

Some take this phrase to mean everything and everyone will eventually be saved. This doctrine is called universalism and has been around for a long time. Back in second century, a man named Origen taught this. But this is not what the phrase means. It is about headship, authority. There is coming a day when all of Creation, along with every man and woman will be brought under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Believers willingly because they are in the family of God, unbelievers will be subdued as the enemies of God.

Philippians 2:10–11 “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

When will this happen?

Ephesians 1:10 “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:”

I recently taught on dispensationalism on a Sunday morning. Verses like this are where we get the idea of dispensationalism. Dispensation means an administration or a method of tending to or managing the affairs of a group of people. It refers to a shift in how God is managing the affairs of mankind.

This change of dispensations occurs at the fulness of times. This phrase refers to the end of the current ages. There is coming a future day when Jesus will be made Lord and King over all of creation.

How much of creation will be affected?

Ephesians 1:10 “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:”

This change in dispensation will effect all of the world. it will affect the animals, the lion and the lamb will lie together in peace, it will affect the land, the crops will produce what they were supposed to produce abundantly, and it will affect mankind, the nations will come to worship their Lord.

Bu this isn’t a future gift waiting for us to open it up, it is something we possess now: Made known is past tense. We possess this knowledge, this gift today.

What is the gift here? We know what is coming and we are already on the right side of history. Imagine if you lived in Nazi Germany during the rise of Hitler. It seemed like Hitler was taking over the entire world. England itself was under seige. Africa and Asia were under the influence if not in alliance with Hitler. You might be tempted to see the writing on the wall and just fall in line or you might hide thinking Hitler’s power is inevitable. But what if someone told you what the future was going to be like. What if they told you that the allies would win and Hitler would commit suicide in a bunker hiding for his life. Would that knowledge give you any more bravery to stand for truth, to resist oppression and fight for right?

The gift we have been given is knowledge of the future. We know how it is all going to end. This was important for persecuted early Christianity. It gave them the strength to carry on, to not deny their faith and to boldly proclaim the gospel even when they were opposed.

Today, we have been lulled into sleep. Christianity has had it too easy for too long, but tides are changing. Does the news strike fear into your heart? When you think about the future, are you overcome with a fear that shuts you down? It should not be like this. We have been given a glimpse into the future and guess what? Christ wins. Things may get dark and hard between now and then, but blessed are those who endure to the end. All the world, will be made right again, all the world will be forced to acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. We are on the winning side.

Conclusion

This morning I want us to sing a gospel chorus. Maybe you know it, maybe not. It is pretty easy and the word’s will be on the screen. Those of us who know it, sing it out.

If you need to pray and talk to the Lord this morning or come to make some decision, feel free to slip out while we sing.

Once I drifted out in sin, had no hope nor joy within, And my soul was brurdened down with pride; Then my Savior came along and he showed me I was wrong and Now I know I'm on the winning side

Chorus: I'm on the winning side,yes I'm on the winning side, Out in sin no more will I abide, I've enlisted in the fight or the cause of truth and right Praise the Lord- I'm on the winning side

I will never have a fear, for my Lord is ever near, And in him so often I confide; He's the keeper of my soul since I gave him full control, And he placed me on the winning side

Chorus: I'm on the winning side,yes I'm on the winning side, Out in sin no more will I abide, I've enlisted in the fight or the cause of truth and right Praise the Lord- I'm on the winning side