If He Had to Do Over...

If He Had To Do It Over Again…He Would!

Introduction

A.       We are beginning a new series this morning based on the book of Ephesians called, “A Powerful God in a Broken World.”

B.       Let me give you a little background before we get into our message.

1.      Written by the Apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus in about AD 62.

2.      Ephesus was an important Roman city in western Turkey, of about half a million people, but not extinct.

3.      On Paul’s second missionary journey Paul evangelized the city and a church was established then. Later he was arrested and shipped to Rome for trial. It was while imprisoned in Rome that Paul wrote this letter.

4.      Unlike most of Paul’s other letters, which began with an issue Paul was addressing, such instructions are absent from this letter. It begins with a lengthy eulogy or song of praise to God. This prayer stretches to the end of chapter 3.

5.      This letter was intended not only for the Ephesians but was passed on the other churches of the region. 

6.      Paul’s letters were intended to be read publicly in the churches.  Most people were illiterate at the time. He did not visual people sitting at desks poring over his letters word by word.

<Ephesians 1:1-14>

When I was in high school I wasn’t very popular. Although I could play sports pretty well, most people felt stuck in playing with me…lineups for picking teams…right field in baseball…guarding the goal in basketball…playing goal in hockey…I was on the team but I never felt like I belonged…all of us can relate to this feeling in some area of our lives…Probably we have all wondered, at one time or another, If they had to do it over again, would they choose me? Would they hire me? Would she marry me?

C.       Maybe some of you even have thought, If God had to do it

 over again, would he save me again? Some of you believe

 that you have been such a disappointment to God that he

 would probably have been better off not to have saved you

 in the first place.

D.       The message of Ephesians 1 is the exact opposite. The message of Ephesians is that God accepted you into the body of Christ not because he had to, but because he wanted to. I’d like to show you five reasons why I know he would do it again.

After a brief introduction in the first 2 verses Paul gets into an exciting song of praise to God. So gets so excited that verses 3-14 consist of one long run-on sentence in the Greek

I.   <Because of God blessings.> <v. 3>

A.      The Apostle Paul blesses God because God has blessed us.

1.      God has been good to us.

2.      God has reached out to us with his favor.

3.      He as made us rich.

B.      We access these blessings through Christ.

Christ is our password to our spiritual bank account.

C.      Our wealth is a spiritual wealth.

1. Character of our wealth: “in the heavenlies.”
2. Nature of our wealth: not about cars, real estate, or money – but spiritual wealth!

Illustration of our first pet do Pepper. Pepper was snatched from  death row when he came to our home. We paid hard-earned money to free him from Dog Pound Prison…he never really understood he was safe with us…first few days…if we didn’t tie him up he would run away…he became afraid when we pack our suitcases…he was doted on the with all the riches a dog could want but still had the shakes when we’d leave along…I’ve met a few Peppers in church over the years…timid, cowering…wanting to run away…yet afraid of being abandoned – not having a clue about what it means to be part of God’s family…

I know he would do it again because of the blessings he pours out!

II.   <Because God has a plan>  

A.      God is following a plan that he himself has designed <v. 4>

(Salvation was in the mind of God before he formed the  world.)

B.      God is following his plan without any outside compulsion <v. 5>.

1.      According to his will.

2.      Acted in sovereign freedom – he didn’t have – there was no authority to which he was accountable.

C.     Don’t be afraid of the word  “predestination.”

Some people think this removes all human freedom and human choosing…”Haven’t I been predestined to be saved?...to make money on the stock market?...to be killed in a car accident?...to marry my current boyfriend?...what’s the point, then?

1.      He was speaking here about God’s plan to save this world. What was predestined was that God’s saving work would be done through Christ!

2.      The word Paul uses does not have the connotation that “predestine” has for some of us now. It does not refer to something that’s fixed or set in stone eternally. It speaks of something that has been arranged before hand.

Evangelist D.L. Moody used to pray, “Lord, save the elect - and then elect some more!”

D.    Because God is working freely from his own plan we have hope (…we’re not just a piece of the cosmic junk floating around the sun) <vv. 8-10>

I know he would do it gain because of his plan he is unfolding!

III.   <Because of God’s Provision.>

A.      Paul speaks continually of all God provides for us based on his grace – his unqualified reaching out to us in love. (He’s no tight-fisted Scrooge) <v. 6>

B.       He provides us with redemption.  

<“In him we have redemption through his blood…”  (v. 7a)>

     1.   To redeem means “to purchase and set free by paying a price.” There were six million slaves in the Roman Empire, and often they were bought and sold like pieces of furniture. But a man could purchase a slave and set him free, and that is what Jesus did for us. The price he paid was his blood.

     2.   “Redemption” speaks to those in captivity. The kidnapper has been defeated. We are now free.

C.      He provides us with forgiveness.

<“…the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”  (vv. 7-8)>

1.      Whatever is contrary to the will of God, whether actions, attitudes, or thoughts is sinful.

2.      Some people are very conscious of their trespasses and feel guilty and condemned. While others never give a thought of them being accountable to God.

3.      God is aware of each person’s moral condition and through his son Jesus Christ full forgiveness is provided for.

D.      He provides us with a new identity.

<“…he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ…”  (v. 5)>

1. Our identity comes from the new community to which we now belong.

Adoption was common in Ephesus. It wasn’t just a case of childless parents choosing to provide a home for a parentless child. Adoptions often occurred for business or political reasons. It wasn’t uncommon for a grown man to adopt another grown man to ensure that his wealth and power were passed on I the way that he intended. EG. The Emperor Claudius adopted Nero, whom he wanted to be his successor. That’s what God has done has done for the believer.

1. We can now enjoy all the rights and privileges as sons and daughters of Christ.

I know he would do it again because of what he has provided!

IV.            <Because of God’s Promises.>

A.      The seal of the Holy Spirit is the mark of ownership that God has placed on the church. <v. 13>

1.      In that day a seal was used to identify ownership. In God’s program, the Holy Spirit is the seal, the sign that we belong to God.

B.       The seal of the Holy Spirit is also a mark of authenticity.

  1.   The presence of the HS proves the believer is genuine.

Before Christ ascended He promised, “You shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” 40 days later, on the day of Pentecost, it happened.

C.      The seal of the Holy Spirit also provides a guarantee for our inheritance. <v. 14>

1.      The Spirit is the down payment on a purchase God has made.

2.      Earlier, redemption was mentioned as a past event. Now, Paul speaks of a future redemption.

3.      We still live in our frail, imperfect bodies, the Holy Spirit is a pledge, the guarantee that God will complete the transaction he has already successfully begun.

The Holy Spirit functions like an engagement ring from a faithful lover, the promise of even better things to come.

I know he would do it again because of his promises!

V.   <Because of God’s Purpose.>

A.      The purpose why God has, and is, accomplishing his plan in us is for the praise of his glorious grace (He needs us to get this done).

<“…to the praise of his glorious grace…might be for the praise of his glory…to the praise of his glory.”  (vv. 6a, 12b, 14b)>

1. We often have the idea that God saves sinners because he pities them, or wants to rescue them from eternal punishment, but God’s main purpose is that he might be gloried.

B.       It is when we can see how we fit into God’s purposes that our lives begin to take on significance.

The famous preacher Charles Spurgeon wrote a book entitled A Checkbook on the Bank of Faith. It contained a promise from the Bible for each day of the year, along with a short devotional message. The money is in the bank to anyone who would claim it by faith, as a person would write a check against his bank account. By faith we can claim God’s promises and draw upon His limitless wealth to meet every need we may face.

C.      God’s purpose will have fullest expression in the future.

A distraught wife told her Christian counselor that her marriage was about to dissolve. “But we have so much,” she kept saying. “Look at this diamond ring on my finger. It’s worth thousands!. We have an expensive home…we have three cars…even a condo in the Bahamas. Why we have everything money could buy!”

The counselor replied: “It’s good to have the things that money can buy providing  you don’t lose the things money can’t buy. What good is an expensive house if there’s no home? Or an expensive ring if there’s no love?”

Conclusion

·      Today I am challenging you to view your relationship with God in a new way...in a non-adversarial way.

·      God isn't mad at you. He isn't disappointed in you. He isn't sorry that he chose you. He didn't choose you because he had to, he chose you because he wanted to. And if he had to do it over, he would choose you again.

·      Why? Because you have been on his mind from the very beginning.