Hope for the Inbetween
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Triune framing of this passage
Our salvation is provided through the entire triune God
From God, In Christ, Through the Holy Spirit
Appropriations
All the actions of the triune God are shared by the individual persons in a manner consistent with their relations
Like a group project where all three people actually do the work (imperfect analogy because God is has one essence and will)
We have addressed the Father and Christ’s role already, but today we move to the Spirit.
The Spirit brackets this text beginning and end
Ephesians 1:3 “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.”
Ephesians 1:13 “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,”
Conversion
Conversion
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,
We have talked about God’s election of us in eternity past as the ultimate cause of our salvation, but here we look at the immediate cause. The cause as we experience it – our conversion
We are included in Christ (united with Christ) when we hear and believe
You Heard
You Heard
The message described in two ways
“Message of truth”
“Gospel of your salvation”
News
Message of victory
Implications of these titles
It is true news
It is good news
It is saving news
In this section of Ephesians where God’s sovereignty in salvation is most clearly taught, the necessity of hearing the gospel is also taught
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Two responses – it’s a message to be heard and proclaimed
Listen to the gospel
Proclaim the gospel – be sepcific
You Believed
You Believed
This good news demands a response
Inadequate responses
Curiosity
I’m interested but unchanged
Moralism
I’m concerned so I have to work harder
Presumption
I’m good enough I don’t need anyone else
Despair
I’m too bad; it’s not for me.
Proper response
Belief
What happens if we believe what we hear?
Confirmation
Confirmation
[…] you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit […]
Here is where we see the work of the Holy Spirit most clearly in this passage. This isn’t all he does in our salvation, but it is what Paul chooses to focus on.
When we believe and are therefore included with Christ, we see the work of the Holy Spirit
The grammar here expects these events to happen at the same time
Marked with a seal (3 connections between a seal and our salvation)
1. Truthfulness
Seal on a passport
2. Ownership
Cattle brand
3. Security
This aspect is emphasized by the next image
We receive a deposit
Down payment (earnest)
Securities (SEC: Securities and exchange commission)
Our deposit and seal is the Holy Spirit himself
Sealed with not by the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit keeps us
“If I could lose my salvation I would have!”
My assurance is found in him not in myself
Two errors
I look to myself in my conversion – my faith in my faith
I look to myself in my present obedience – my faith in my works
Alternative
I look to him – knowing he will secure me
The Holy Spirit points us to Jesus
7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
I can rob myself of assurance through disobedience
The response to that lack of assurance is to look to him and when I see him obey him
Consummation
Consummation
14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
He keeps us in anticipation of the consummation of what Christ has done
Something Coming
Something Coming
He is a deposit on something coming
We don’t live for today
We don’t have all the good things we will have
Good news for those who wait
A taste of home (brats in Saipan)
We will be redeemed
Our inheritance comes with the consummation of our redemption by God
Confront/Comfort: Are you surprised that belief in Jesus hasn’t resulted in an easy life? Don’t be. Following Jesus is inherently and act of patience.
Pete Holmes
So we Display His Glory
So we Display His Glory
This is actually key to our doctrine of the Holy Spirit
Why don’t we talk more about the Spirit?
He exists to point us towards other things
Likewise our salvation is not about us it points to something bigger
Conclusion
Conclusion
Challenge: All of these things start with you hearing God’s call and believing in Christ.
