Eph 1:4-14 - Lifestyles of the Rich and Infamous

Introduction

Do you consider yourself rich? Would a tribal warrior from Irian Jaya consider you wealthy? When demonstrators in the street carry signs about “tax the rich” or “make the wealthy pay their fair share” are they talking about you?

If taxpayers and tax collectors can’t agree on wealth, may it be that you are wealthier than you first thought?

TRANSITION: Today’s text shows us that all 3 persons of the Trinity are involved in ensuring you have an abundance of riches, even if your bank balance doesn’t reflect it.

Abundance from the Father (Eph 1.4-6)

We are chosen (Eph 1.4)

Last Fall our High School did a wonderful production of the musical Annie. In that story, Annie is chosen from all the others in the orphanage to be given great wealth.

Whenever a preacher mentions that God chooses some, the question is not far behind: “Are you saying there are some that are non chosen?” I have to say, This text doesn’t address those people. This is like a Coach talking to his team. Yes, there are people on the other team, there are other staff members, there are fan in the stands, but none of those are the focus of this talk.

There are people in other parts of the world who do not enjoy many of the blessings we have. Just because others do not have the same access to our blessings does NOT mean that we can’t celebrate our chosen position.

Notice the timing of this choosing, before the foundation of the world. Not after you believed, but before your “age of accountability”, before your first breath, before Eve chose to eat, before a tree of knowledge was ever created, God chose you to be in His family.

We are adopted (Eph 1.5)

1 Peter 2 describes those who were not a people, becoming God’s people.

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 35.53 ἀναιρέομαι; υἱοθεσία, ας

formally and legally declare that someone who is not one’s own child is henceforth to be treated and cared for as one’s own child, including complete rights of inheritance

Most of you know that my wife was adopted. However you may not know that out of dozens of foster children in the Begley home, she was the only one chosen to become a lasting, legal part of the family with a change in name and identity.

Adoption is more than just a formal or legal declaration. It changes the hearts of both adopter and adoptee. I’d share with you some words from an adopted child. Do some of these describe your emotion towards Father God?

My story didn’t start simple. My siblings and I went through things no kids should have to go through. We were separated, moved around, placed in different homes, and most families never get reunited after that. But somehow… we did. Every time life tried to tear us apart, God kept finding ways to bring us back together.

And then came the parents I have now — the ones who chose us. The ones who opened their home when they didn’t have to. The ones who stepped into a broken situation and decided to love us anyway. But I didn’t understand that back then. I was hurting. Angry. Confused...That’s when I became rebellious, when I pushed them away the most. I said things I didn’t mean. I acted out in ways I didn’t even understand myself. I was hurting in ways I didn’t know how to explain, so I took it out on the people who were trying the hardest to love me. I didn’t trust easily, and I didn’t know what real love looked like. So I pushed my parents away. I told them they weren’t my “real parents.”...choosing kids who are hurt, angry, guarded, and acting out isn’t something you do for money — it’s something you do because your heart is called to it.

...But even in the hardest times, they stayed. They didn’t give up on us. They fought for us when they didn’t have to. There were times when I couldn’t say “I love you” back to them. Not because I didn’t feel it — but because the words made me uncomfortable. They felt too vulnerable, too heavy, too close. When you grow up protecting yourself, even love feels scary. Saying “I love you” felt like opening a door I wasn’t ready to walk through. It wasn’t that I didn’t love them. It was that letting myself FEEL loved was terrifying.

...one thing that still sticks with me is when my mom would ask, “How come you don’t ever hug us?” And the truth is… I didn’t even know why. I hugged other people — friends, teachers, anyone else — but when it came to my mom and dad, I froze up. I kept them at a distance. It wasn’t because I didn’t care. It wasn’t because I didn’t love them. It was because hugging them felt too real. Too intimate. Too vulnerable.

...But they never stopped trying. Never stopped offering hugs I wasn’t ready to accept. Never stopped loving me through the walls I built just to survive. And seeing that now… it means everything.

...So today, I’m grateful. Grateful for the parents who chose me even when I didn’t make it easy. Grateful for the siblings I got to grow up with instead of losing forever. Grateful for the family I got back years later. Grateful for every mistake, every miracle, every lesson, every tear, every moment that shaped me... And I’m thankful for all of it. Every single part. I love you mom and dad.

Sometimes adoption happens early and that is the only life an adopted child knows. Sometimes adoption only happens after deep hurts. I don’t know if you were adopted into God’s family early, or after hard living. I don’t know if your early discipleship bore marks of the rebellion this lady describes.

But I DO know that God’s adoption of sinful humans is a beautiful, amazing demonstration of His love, and it demands our response.

I also know that some of us may still be on the outside of the family looking in. Wondering if we could truly be welcomed like this. I stand before you to attest of the power of God’s love to accept those who are scared and fear we are unloveable.

We are accepted (Eph 1.6)

in the beloved is an exclusionary phrase.

This is far more than being liked on social media. the beloved is definite, it speaks of a clearly defined class. This love is not just fondness or politeness. it goes way beyond common kindness. The blessings come to those who are within the fold of Agapao - those who abide under God’s Sacrificial love.

TRANSITION: Because of the divine plan to adopt and accept, Jesus came do do what was necessary for that to become reality.

Abundance from the Son (Eph 1.7-12)

We are redeemed (Eph 1.7a)

I have read and viewed presentations of America’s historical slave markets. It is disgusting and turns my stomach to think of the auction block where plantation managers would trade human beings like commodities, looking for bargains to pay the least amount possible for laborers.

Contrast that to Jesus who was not looking for bargains. He was redeeming those who demanded a high price. Those whose redemption would require a bloody death of a perfect substitute in order for the wrath of God to be satiated. Not just any substitute, but offering Himself as the only adequate replacement.

We are forgiven (Eph 1.7b)

The word justified does not appear in this paragraph, but it does appear in Romans when the same author describes what happens when the Gospel has the intended effect.

Justified is closely connected but somewhat different than forgiven. In one common explanation of the theological idea some describe justified as “just as if I’d never sinned”.

If you were remodeling a room, and covering a wall with wood planks, would you prefer to use brand new lumber or weathered barn wood?

Forgiven doesn’t plane the boards so that they lose all the patina and character; It says, "even though there are knot holes, nail scars, and crooked grain, I’m going to reclaim this and proudly display this beauty as worthy of my use.”

We have direction (Eph 1.8-10)

God’s will, purpose, and plan are all described in Eph 1:8-10 as evidence of the usefulness and value of redeemed and forgiven people.

Paul is reminding us of the wealth that is ours even if we are infamous and flawed.

We have an inheritance (Eph 1.11-12)

I love the interplay between inheritance and works all things in Eph 1.11.

We don’t fight our way through life hoping that on the other side of death that the good outweighs the bad and we are granted a golden ticket through the pearly gates!

Because the outcome has been determined, we NOW benefit from God’s presence and power; His purpose and plan. We ARE living the eternal life, not just hoping we will gain eternal life.

TRANSITION: This now life that is guaranteed by the ransom paid by the Son is described in the final verses of today’s text.

Abundance from the Spirit (Eph 1.13-14)

We are secure (Eph 1.13)

The idea of verse 13 has been described as “once saved, always saved”. I prefer to use the term “eternally secure or eternally sealed”.

Imagine you are wading in the Cottonwood under the bridge between CWF and Strong City when the current begins to drag you further and further away from safety. Somebody downstream ties a rope around his waste and tethers it to trees on either bank of the Cottonwood. As you approach, He grabs you securely and works his way to the bank, saving your life from drowning.

Once that rescue has happened there will never be a time the rest of your life, when that rescue did not happen. You will always have been saved from the current on that day.

But does that mean you will never fall in the river again and need saving again?

The sealing of this verse DOES mean that even if you fall in the river again, you will NOT be swept away in need of a second rescue.

We are sure (Eph 1.14)

Depending upon the translation of the Scriptures that you hold the key noun in this verse is guarantee, deposit, pledge or ernest. It is the idea of something valuable that is in place to demonstrate how serious the giver is to fulfill the promise.

This is more than wearing his letterman’s jacket or her class ring on a chain. This is more than a promise ring, or even an engagement ring. This is a non-refundable deposit that holds the date of something we will absolutely acquire.

Conclusion

Robin Leach documented the experiences of people with champagne wishes and caviar dreams. The Apostle Paul says we are the blessed recipients of something far greater than bubbly, fermented grapes or pickled fish eggs!

Each person of the divine trinity has increased your abundance if you are in Christ. These 9 blessings bestowed on all who have been born again constitute a deep account from which we can withdraw.

Light and Lamps

Light for the Path

God has chosen and blessed us in Christ, securing our identity and future in Him, which empowers us to live out our faith with confidence and purpose.

Lamps for my Steps

THINK – Since God has a plan for earth (v.10), how does your “things to do” list accomplish Godly goals?

FEEL – How does your seal (v.13) increase confidence?

DO – How can you extend privileges of being in the family (v.6) to someone currently outside the family?