In Christ
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Triune framing of this passage
Appropriations
Like a group project where all three people actually do the work (imperfect analogy because God is monothelic)
From God, In Christ, Through the Holy Spirit
How do you describe that you are a believer?
Jesus in my heart
Boy needing a heart transplant
Two prayers: Ask Jesus into his heart, get a new heart
Christian
Relatively uncommon in the NT; usually negative title given by unbelievers
Follower of Jesus
Paul’s description is one we often neglect
Man “in Christ”
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.
This idea is referred to in theology as “union with Christ”
Union with Christ is shorthand for a set of biblical expressions
In Christ
With Christ
Christ in me
It is through union with Christ that all our spiritual blessings from the father are granted
In union with Christ we have those things which Christ possesses
Friend with a boat
Union with Christ is like a stocking containing gifts – it is not the gift but contains all the gifts (Sam Alberry)
Union with Christ deals with: (Anthony Hoekema)
Regeneration
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Life
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
Growth/sanctification
16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Death
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Resurrection
22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
Glorification
4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Never is the concept more prevalent than in this passage
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
In Him We are Elect
In Him We are Elect
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
Last time we were in Ephesians we focused on the Father’s election of us.
Union with Christ enables that election
It is only in Christ that we can be chosen
Bad relationship choices reveal character concerns
Dating
In some mysterious way, God looks forward from the foundation of the world at us and sees us in Jesus enabling him to accept us even though we are by nature unacceptable
Our union with Christ has an eternal dimension
In Him We Are Redeemed and Forgiven
In Him We Are Redeemed and Forgiven
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
Redemption carries the idea of purchase from something that held power over us
In Paul’s time this would be a common idea as it pertained to slavery
What are we redeemed from?
The mention of forgiveness connects redemption with being owned by our sin
14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.
The curse of the law
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”
What are we redeemed with?
His shed blood
Our redemption is grounded in union with Christ because it is through union that he can take our curse and we can receive his blessing
It is this blood bought redemption that deals with our sin justly
In Him We Will Be Glorified
In Him We Will Be Glorified
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
We rehearse the section on election we covered a few weeks ago here.
This forms a bracket around the redemption portion of the text focusing in on the redemption and forgiveness we have in Christ
We receive with him an inheritance
All of his treasures are ours through union with Christ
Application
Application
Access this union through faith
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. […]
The implications of union with Christ
The implications of union with Christ
Relationship
Relationship
We don’t follow Christ at a distance
Unity with One Another
Unity with One Another
Personal Holiness
Personal Holiness
Sin is the imposter not holiness
Assurance
Assurance
The question is not are you having a good day; it’s whether Jesus is having a good day.
