In Him
Notes
Transcript
Last week: Intro
We started the book of Ephesians
The Ephesians struggled with replacing faith with works, this would even become what Jesus would accuse them of in Revelation 2.
But our focus now is what Paul says in Ephesians 1:3
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,
With every Spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
I think of how Peter explains it in 2 Peter 1:3-4
3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
Today, we get to see these Spiritual blessings, all these things that pertain to life and godliness, promises we get to hold onto.
And what is so magnificent about all of these… is that they are in Christ, they are in Him.
Introduction:
There was a couple who wanted to go and spend a week away together somewhere nice together. They had spent the last 25 years raising their 4 kids, and now that the last one was leaving the house, they had some money to go on vacation. They decided that Cabo San Lucas would be a perfect spot since the price was reasonable and seemed to be really great place to go. So they bought and booked the trip
When they got there to their resort, they knew they didn’t have a whole lot of extra money, so they were going to be as frugal as they could so they wouldn’t be completely broke by the end. However, not too long into their stay, they began to get irritated by what they were seeing. They would have the staff come and offer them things to drink while next to the pool, and little snacks as they were strolling around. They knew that everything would be nickel and dimed, so their frustration began to mount, so much so, they tried to just stay in their room as not to be harassed by the staff.
Finally, their last night, they decided that they would splurge a little, knowing they had been disciplined for the whole week they had been there. So the meal and the time they had was extravagant compared to the rest of the time.
As the husband went the next day to check out and square up the bill, he was a bit nervous, knowing they had a great dinner the night before. As he was talking to the host, he heard the words that haunted him, “How did you enjoy your all inclusive meals and entertainment?” His heart melted as he walked away, knowing that what they had paid up front covered their stay, meals and entertainment and tip all included. Instead of enjoying their time, they were miserable because they did not understand what was included.
This is the sad reality of so many christians, is we don’t enjoy what we have in Christ, because we don’t realized exactly what that entails. Today, Paul is addressing that for us.
Spiritual Blessings (V.7-14)
V.7
O: In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,
I: We have been redeemed by the blood of Christ and have received forgiveness of our sins.
A: In Him… we have redemption
Not through our works, not through our efforts, not because we were good enough, not because we went after Him, but it is in Him that we are redeemed, it is in Him that we are forgiven.
to be redeemed- to be purchased
It is through the blood of Jesus that we have been purchased, that we have been redeemed.
In the old testament, when people were in hard times, they would often sell their property or even themselves to pay off debt.
3 ways to buy back:
You could buy or payoff yourself
A designated relative could buy back for you (redeemer)
Revert back to you the year of Jubilee
Remember what Paul says in Romans 7:14
14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.
We were in bondage to sin, but in Christ, in Him, we are redeemed, bought back, through His blood.
Not only redemption, but forgiveness
We are not merely redeemed, holding over us the guilt and shame of our sins. No, we have been forgiven… in Him
This is explained well in Hebrews 9:12-15
12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh,
14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
O: according to the riches of His grace
I: This is because of His unmerited favor upon us
A: My forgiveness, my redemption is not from my great work, but because of His grace
V.8
O: Which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight,
I: His grace has been overabundant toward us, because of His wisdom and His understanding
A: His grace toward us is not just a simple response, but one that is abundant and far greater than any of us could understand or comprehend
V.9
O: He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him
I: Through Christ, His will is made known to us according to His kindness
A: This is the second spiritual blessing, that we know the mystery of His will.
We see this over and over, this is the Father’s kind intention toward us, that we would not have to earn our salvation, but rather, that we would believe on His Son.
Jesus says in John 6:29
29 … “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
Then He also says in John 6:40
40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
This is the will of God, manifested in Jesus, the mystery, that we would believe in Him.
This isn’t overbearing, it isn’t ritualistic, it isn’t religion, it is according to His kind intention, that we would believe. This is His will
V.10
O: with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him
I: All things are fulfilled in Christ, the law, the end times, all of it.
A: Jesus is the fulfillment:
Jesus said that He came to fulfill the Law, and we all know that pretty well
When we get to Revelation, we see in Revelation 1:1
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,
When we get there, we see exciting things, but the most exciting, the biggest blessing is to see Christ in His rightful place, the fulfillment of all things.
This is why Jesus says in Revelation 22:13
13 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
V.11
O: Also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will
I: We have received a child’s future hope, which has always been God’s plan and purpose as God works everything out according to what He wants
A: Here is the third blessing… We are part of God’s family!!
We not only have redemption and forgiveness, not only the knowledge of His will, but we also receive the inheritance, the full blessing, as children. Not some second tier hope, but the hope of a child, that all that belongs to the Father is yours.
All this is after the counsel of His will
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
V.12
O: To the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.
I: These first believers were glorifying to God
A: The first to hope, those in Ephesus, first generation believers, both Jews and Gentiles in the mix and in the fold.
Paul will actually go more in depth about this in ch.2, but it was to the praise of His glory.
Only One could bring together such hostility, and that is in Jesus… in Him, to the praise of His glory.
V.13-14
O: In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth- the gospel of your salvation-
I: We have heard the wonderful gospel message of salvation in Christ
A: How do we know the message of Christ? Because somebody told us.
Whether it was a parent, a teacher, a friend, a pastor, a mentor, someone told us.
Think of Romans 10:14-15
14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”
This is why it is so important to share the message, because everybody is going to hear, is it you they will hear it from?
O: having also believed,
I: Not only did you hear, but you believed
A: This is important, that you would believe.
We can hear the gospel message time and time again, but it means nothing if we do not believe it.
The word is “pisteou”, which means to trust, to rely on.
That means it is an action, that we would not just have a head knowledge, but rely on the message for our salvation.
O: you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
I: The Holy Spirit became the guarantee, the seal of your salvation.
A: How do we know we are saved?
Because we have the Holy Spirit
16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,
John says it just as plainly in 1 John 4:13
13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
How do we know we have the Spirit? Because we have believed.
We can know with confidence that if we have believed, then we have the Spirit of God who dwells in us. Not because we feel Him, but because we have relied upon Him and His gospel message
V.14
O: Who was given as a pledge of our inheritance,
I: The Holy Spirit was given as a down payment of what we have in Christ
A: Not only were we sealed, but He is the down payment, the earnest money, put down for our inheritance.
This is the first thing put down to show how serious we are, how commited
It is not the whole amount, but just the start, the beginning, meaning, there is more to come.
What is the more to come? We will have an eternity to find out.
This shows just how serious God is about our inheritance in Him
O: with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
I: He had our redemption in His sights the whole time, for His glory
A: God didn’t make this transaction hoping it would work out, considering if this was worth the price.
He paid the cost because He wanted to redeem us to Himself.
He wanted us to be children of God, He wanted us to have an inheritance, He wanted our sins to be forgiven, He wanted us to know the mystery of His will, He wanted His Holy Spirit to dwell within us.
This is His doing. Not through our works, not through our efforts, not through our family, not through our friends, not even through our church… In Him
Conclusion:
God wants you to enjoy every Spiritual blessing in the heavenly places… In Him
