Sermon Tone Analysis

The Riches You Have

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After all that Paul had said about his calling to preach salvation to the gentiles.

He summaries with a prayer.

He rally want them to get it and understand

he wants them united ....

No gentile, No Jew but Christian

Having stated that positionally the Gentile and Jewish believers are “one new man” (2:15), which is the body of Christ, Paul now prayed that they may be united experientially.

He desired that they might genuinely know and experience Christ’s love and thus exhibit it toward each other.

romans 10.11-13

Having stated that positionally the Gentile and Jewish believers are “one new man” (2:15), which is the body of Christ, Paul now prayed that they may be united experientially.

Having stated that positionally the Gentile and Jewish believers are “one new man” (2:15), which is the body of Christ, Paul now prayed that they may be united experientially.

Having stated that positionally the Gentile and Jewish believers are “one new man” (2:15), which is the body of Christ, Paul now prayed that they may be united experientially.

He desired that they might genuinely know and experience Christ’s love and thus exhibit it toward each other.

He desired that they might genuinely know and experience Christ’s love and thus exhibit it toward each other.

I The Cause

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

For this reason, refer back to chapter 2 with its description of what the Gentiles had been by nature and what they had become through union with Christ.

Their astonishing rise from poverty and death to riches and glory drives Paul to pray they will always live in the practical enjoyment of their exalted position.

His posture in prayer is indicated: I bow my knees.

This does not mean kneeling must always be the posture of the body, though it should always be the posture of the soul.

We may pray as we walk, sit, or recline, but our spirits should be bowed in humility and reverence.

The prayer is addressed to the Father.

In a general sense, God is the Father of all mankind, meaning He is their Creator (Acts 17:28, 29).

In a more restricted sense, He is the Father of all believers, meaning He has begotten them into His spiritual family (Gal.

4:6).

In a unique sense He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, meaning They are equal (John 5:18).

3:15 The particular role of the Father which Paul has in view is as the One from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.

This may mean:

1.

All the redeemed in heaven and on earth look to Him as Head of the family.

2. All created beings, angelic and human, owe their existence to Him not only as individuals but as families as well.

Families in heaven include the various grades of angelic creatures.

Families on earth are the different races springing from Noah and now divided into various nations.

3.

All fatherhood in the universe derives its name from Him.

The Fatherhood of God is the original and the ideal; it is the prototype of every other paternal relationship.

Phillips translates the verse, “from whom all fatherhood, earthly or heavenly, derives its name.”

For this reason or cause , refer back to chapter 2 with its description of what the Gentiles had been by nature and what they had become through union with Christ.

For this reason or cause , refer back to chapter 2 with its description of what the Gentiles had been by nature and what they had become through union with Christ.

Their astonishing rise from poverty and death to riches and glory drives Paul to pray they will always live in the practical enjoyment of their exalted position.

Don't get over getting saved.

His posture in prayer is indicated: I bow my knees.

His posture in prayer is indicated: I bow my knees.

This does not mean kneeling must always be the posture of the body, though it should always be the posture of the soul.

We may pray as we walk, sit, or recline, but our spirits should be bowed in humility and reverence.

Remember where you came from.

This cause is worth celebrating and enjoying.

3:15 The particular role of the Father which Paul has in view is as the One from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.

This may mean:

I want you to know all of it and enjoy the breath and depth of it all.

Illustration - scratching the surface - riches beyond

When Gold was discovered in California in 1848 more than 300,000 made the trip west to get the gold.

The surface had barely been scratched .... everybody wanted a piece of the action

When we live out the gospel and people can see the riches we have as united Christians ----- it will be contagious.

The cause is great and do we realized the riches we have?

Forgiven sin

A new life

Eternal destiny in heaven

understanding the love of God

1.

All the redeemed in heaven and on earth look to Him as Head of the family.

2. All created beings, angelic and human, owe their existence to Him not only as individuals but as families as well.

Families in heaven include the various grades of angelic creatures.

Families on earth are the different races springing from Noah and now divided into various nations.

3.

All fatherhood in the universe derives its name from Him.

The Fatherhood of God is the original and the ideal; it is the prototype of every other paternal relationship.

Phillips translates the verse, “from whom all fatherhood, earthly or heavenly, derives its name.”

II The Core

II The Core

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

We cannot help but be struck by the vastness of Paul’s request: That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory.

He is going to ask that the saints might be spiritually strengthened.

But to what extent?

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown answer: “in abundance, consonant to the riches of His glory; not ‘according to’ the narrowness of our hearts.”

Preachers often point out that there is a difference between the expressions “out of the riches” and according to the riches.

A wealthy person might give a trifling amount; it would be out of his riches, but not in proportion to them!

Paul asks that God will give strength according to the riches of His perfections.

Since the Lord is infinitely rich in glory, let the saints get ready for a deluge!

Why should we ask so little of so great a King?

When someone asked a tremendous favor of Napoleon it was immediately granted because, said Napoleon, “He honored me by the magnitude of his request.”

Thou art coming to a King,

Large petitions with thee bring;

For His grace and power are such,

None can ever ask too much.

—John Newton

Now we come to Paul’s specific prayer requests.

Instead of a series of disconnected petitions, we should think of them as a progression in which each petition lays the groundwork for the next.

Picture them as a pyramid: the first request is the bottom layer of stones.

As the prayer advances, Paul builds toward a glorious climax.

The first request is that they would be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man.

The blessing sought is spiritual power.

Not the power to perform spectacular miracles, but the spiritual vigor needed to be mature, stable, intelligent Christians.

The One who imparts this power is the Holy Spirit.

Of course, He can give us strength only as we feed on the word of God, as we breathe the pure air of prayer, and as we get exercise in daily service for the Lord.

This power is experienced in the inner man, that is, the spiritual part of our nature.

It is the inner man that delights in the law of God (Rom.

7:22).

It is the inner man that is renewed day by day, even though the outward man is perishing (2 Cor.

4:16).

Though it is of God, our inner man needs strength, growth, and development.

3:17 The second step is that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

This is the result of the Spirit’s invigoration: we are strengthened in order that Christ may dwell in our hearts.

Actually, the Lord Jesus takes up His personal residence in a believer at the time of conversion (John 14:23; Rev. 3:20).

But that is not the subject of this prayer.

Here it is not a question of His being in the believer, but rather of His feeling at home there!

He is a permanent Resident in every saved person, but this is a request that He might have full access to every room and closet; that He might not be grieved by sinful words, thoughts, motives, and deeds; that He might enjoy unbroken fellowship with the believer.