Sermon Tone Analysis

Ephesians 1:3-10

Precursors to Christmas: The Reason for the Season

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.[1]

Children today are raised to look forward to winter festivals or snow carnivals.

One could almost conclude that there exist a conspiracy within the education profession—a conspiracy of individuals who fear acknowledging our European heritage—a heritage which reflects Christian roots.[2]

I do not believe this is an issue which belongs in the courts, but I nevertheless consider the situation of political correctness run amok to be a tragedy of immense proportions to go through the holiday season without knowing why it is a holy-day.

We who name the Name of Christ need to educate the world to know that Christ is the reason for the season.

Jesus is the reason for the season.

Actually, among the churches of our Lord, that particular phrase serves as a sort of seasonal buzzword.

Jesus is the reason for the season.

What do we mean when we say that, however?

Who is this Jesus?

In what way is He the reason for the season?

Perhaps the best way in which we can answer such questions is to refer to the encyclical which we have received as Ephesians.

There, the Apostle begins the letter by referring to the work of God in the life of Christians.

Join me in exploring the passage so that we will definitely understand what Jesus has to do with this glorious season of the year.

If, as I set out in a previous message, a settled date for the observance of Christ’s birth is not particularly mandated in Scripture, then it is proper that we always keep in mind His incarnation.

It is appropriate that the incarnation of the Son of God (the prophecies concerning His birth and His millennial reign, the events surrounding His coming and the purpose of His coming) be held central to the Faith we have received.

Christmas is a Time to Praise God.

Whatever else may be said concerning this particular passage, it praises God and stimulates us to praise Him as well.

Focus on that first affirmation and the word with which it begins.

Blessed be God … who has blessed us!

Εὐλογητὸς.

God is to be praised.

His virtues are praise worthy.

God is to be glorified by man, His creature.

Therefore, God is to be blessed.

The purpose for blessing follows.

Man is to bless God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, precisely because He has blessed us in Christ.

We are recipients of every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

What is not apparent to the casual reader of the Bible is that as Paul begins to draft this letter, beginning with this eulogia, it is almost as though he is so gripped by the excitement of the knowledge of God the he is compelled to write and write and write.

The Greek sentence (if it can be called a sentence) continues for two hundred two words!

Verses three through fourteen are all one long sentence in that original tongue.

The Apostle burst forth in praise and acclamation.

While it is true that certain Christians have trained themselves to repeatedly use the phrase, “Praise the Lord,” there is nothing glib about Paul’s language.

His is not mere formality; rather the words burst forth as an expression of the heart.

All that follows is the subject of Paul’s praise of God.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is not unlike the blessings we discover in the Old Testament.

Blessed be God [*Psalm 66:20*].

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel [*Psalm 41:13*].

Paul has, of course, Christianised the blessing.

In the Old Testament, God is blessed for His actions on behalf of man.

Blessed be God, because He has not rejected my prayer [*Psalm 66:20*].

Blessed be the Lord, the God is Israel, who alone does wondrous things [*Psalm 72:18*].

Here, God is blessed because He has blessed us in Christ.

The specific blessing with which Christians are blessed include election to holiness; instatement as God’s children; redemption and forgiveness; the gift of the Holy Spirit; and the hope of glory.

All this is in Christ.

In Christ, we have every spiritual blessing.

Paul is unconcerned at this point with material blessing, not that they are of no importance.

However, the spiritual blessings we have received are eternal, reserved in heaven and kept until that day they are to be revealed in Christ the Lord at His return.

Those outside Christ cannot enjoy these great blessings, however much they may attempt to seize them or act as though they possessed them.

Only those in Christ are elect to holiness, are instated as God’s sons and daughters, are redeemed and forgiven, have the Holy Spirit residing within and enjoy the hope of glory.

Only those in Christ are blessed and able thus to praise God.

As an aside of no small consequence, the term eὐλογητὸς occurs in the New Testament eight times.[3]

Each time, the word is used doxologically.

It is never used in reference to man, but rather it speaks of man’s response to God.

Never is man said to be blessed or *well-spoken of*.

God is glorified and praised within Himself, but man is called to give Him glory or to praise Him.

Faith means that we give glory to God.

Praise is the inevitable outcome of Christian experience.

Praise and thanksgiving are the great characteristics of the Christian life.

Those who know the Lord Christ are a grateful people, and in gratitude to Him they burst forth in praise.

Try though they might to stiffle the joy which bubbles in their souls, it breaks out in joyous exclamations or praise and glad songs of thanksgiving to God.

I want to indict the few who reveal their sour dispositions.

Some who share our services look as if they were weaned on dill pickles.

They seldom smile, and always wear a sober and solemn expression as others about them rejoice and sing.

They make no attempt to join in the songs of Zion, their demeanor defying joy and expressing their dissatisfaction with life in general.

Rejoicing in the Lord is foreign to their lives.

Children of God who are free of condemnation cannot help but laught and rejoice.

Their infectious joy causes them to praise God.

Praise of God and thanksgiving differentiate us from the world.

The world is miserable and unhappy, full of cursing and complaints.

However, praise, thanksgiving and contentment mark the Christian as no longer belonging to the world.[4]

Praise distinguishes the Christian particularly in his prayer and in his worship.

All the great devotional manuals of the centuries recognise this truth and urge the saints of invest time in adoration and worship of God.

Seriously, what role does adoration and praise play in your private prayer life?

If adoration and praise are so rare in public worship, what part must it play in private prayer?

Be honest with yourself.

When did you last find delight simply in being in the presence of the Lord?

When did you last lose yourself in adoration of the Lord your God?  Do you know what it is to cry out spontaneously, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ?

Here it is Christmas, and we have a glorious opportunity to honour the Lord.

Do we priase God?  Or is there grumbling?

Can we lift our hearts from this moment to thank God for the spiritual blessings we have received?

Or shall we complain that we haven’t enough of this world’s goods?

What will the pagans about us hear?

Will they hear praise to God for sending His Son to redeem us?

Or will they hear us grumble that things aren’t as we wish?

Some among us grumble and complain about our lot in life.

Brother, look up!  Christ has come to set you free from the bitterness of heart which sentences you to eternal grumbling.

Sister, look up!  Christ has come to bring you salvation.

He has given us the people to God to share our condition, and though these people are not all perfect as you yourself, they love you and rejoice in God’s goodness to you.

Can you not rejoice in this glorious gift and praise God that He has given you each of them?

If you cannot praise God for the gift of His Son, what will you praise Him for?

Perhaps you can cease focusing on yourself for a moment and praise God for the church.

He has placed you here and given you all these who share the service with you.

Perhaps you can praise God for not giving you what you deserve and for showering you with grace and mercy instead.

Christmas Reminds us that God Elected Us to Holiness.

In Christ, we are chosen.

This singular concept comforts me so very much that I can scarcely speak of it.