Through Christ
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Introduction
Introduction
Today we will continue in the 1st chapter of Eph. We will primarily focus on verses 7-10
Last week we studied verse 3-6 please review the podcast if you missed last weeks study
We see the apostle Paul praise and give glory to God the father in verse 3 when he says blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul starts with honor and praise for the father because, Paul is teaching the church doctrine here. He is teaching believers the spiritual blessings we have received. Paul is teaching the church all about grace.
Verse 4 he says even as he chose us in him. In other words Paul is connecting the concept back to the beginning of verse 3. He is saying “blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus christ since he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. He chose us in christ the we should be holy and blameless before him. This wasn’t done as a choice without emotion either. Look with me This choice was done motivated by love
He predestined us to be adopted to himself as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ. I taught you last week this has to do with position in the family. This was all according to the purpose of his will. To the praise of his glorious grace, with he has blessed us. Christ is the beloved and we are blessed to be in him.
All this means Grace is not a just a concept of an offer.
Grace is a deci
It is much more as we will look at today
Please stand with me for the reading of God’s word.
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.
We have been redeemed
We have been redeemed
In him we have been redeemed through his blood. Paul has already blessed and gave praise and honor to God for his election and adoption of men and women in Christ. He now will praise him for his redemption and forgiveness of our sins in christ who Paul calls the beloved.
The father chose in his wisdom and according to his will for this to happen, and Christ Jesus paid the price of death on a cross for us to be blameless and holy before him
Remember you did nothing
Redemption- This has to do with liberation from imprisonment and bondage.
the original word is (Apolytrosis) which means to be set free. The way it was used in the 1st century was commonly used to explain a slave owner being paid for a slave and then the person who paid the ransom then set the slave free. Paul says in verse 7 in him, so IN CHRIST we have redemption through his blood
The price that was paid was his death. His blood paid the price for us to be set free. Look with me at the verb tense of verse 7 in him we have redemption. This is something to be hoped for but something we already possess. We have redemption, we have the forgiveness of our trespasses. This was done for you not something you did. This is an act of Grace
he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
Hebrews 9:
Did you hear that? Thus securing an eternal redemption.
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Colossians 2:
All of this was according to the riches of his grace!!
He has lavished upon us
He has lavished upon us
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.
Eph 1:
Paul says God has lavished us with Grace. Redemption and forgiveness but he did it in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will.
He doesn’t want us to be ignorant of his plan. He wants us to know the mysteries of his will. He wants us to know him.
I love the word used her (Lavished) Perisseuo means to provide abundance, to overflow
For the believer God has provided grace to understand his plan, will and personhood. This is an act of grace. Lets look at a few truths to help us understand how much grace this actually is
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
The message of the gospel is foolishness to the unbeliever. They can’t understand it, and they think its non sense
But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.
1 cor 2:
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
1 cor 2:
But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
1 cor 2:9
For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
1 cor 2:11-
NON believers those who haven’t been born again by the spirit cannot understand the things of God
For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:6-
Paul is teaching one of the spiritual blessings in Christ we have is according to the purpose of GOD his adopted children will now be able to decern the wise plan and mysteries of his will. This is a complete act of Grace!! He has lavished us with this grace
John 6
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
All the father has given him will come to him. This is grace. He will lose nothing of what has been given to him. Everyone who looks to the son for salvation will be saved.
:44-
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
Everyone who has or ever will come to Jesus is an act of grace. They come and understand because of Grace. It has been lavished on his children. Next time you are down remember your redemption, eternal life and the fact you have and understand all this is the grace of God to the praise of his glory!
eph 1:
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.
God has a purpose and a future
the curse will be redeemed.
everything to be united in heaven and earth
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
God is to be worshiped and praised for his abundance of Grace
How dose your position as an chosen child effect your daily life?
Do you neglect the grace you’ve been given in regards to the word of God? You’ve been given grace to read and understand the bible. Do you take advantage of this act of Grace?? Will you commit to utilize this amazing gift.
Remember dear christian you have redemption. Forgiveness and acceptance has been granted. This is your present idenity as a believer. DO you walk defeated? Walk as a freed slave and say no to the choices of ungodliness