2. Lesson 2 Ephesians Chosen in Christ Chapter 1 verses 7 to 14

Ephesians 1:7 to 14 Church of Christ Dapto The letter to the Church in Ephesus Lesson 2—Chosen in Christ      Chosen in Christ Ephesians 1:7-8 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. In Him The truth is that there is only one means of redemption from death. It is in and through Christ Jesus, and only through Him. There is no other way, nor will there ever be. Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 1 Corinthians 1:30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Colossians 1:13-14 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Redemption Redemption means that we have been bought from our previous owner to become God’s possession. We have been redeemed from our past, and redeemed for a new future. 1 Peter 1:18-19 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. Titus 2:14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. If we have been redeemed from the empty life, from all wickedness these have no further power of ownership over us. through His blood The price paid to redeem us from death and sin was the blood of Christ Hebrews 9:22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. forgiveness of sins His blood redeemed us from death, because His blood cleansed us from sin: the penalty of sin and the power of sin, and brought us forgiveness from God for all the sins we had ever committed. The penalty for sin is death. We deserved that penalty. We were bought from the penalty of sin by the blood of Christ because we no longer have any sin in God’s eyes. Luke 11:4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. He chose us in (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:4 Dapto Church of Christ Sermon Series The Letter to the Ephesians – Lesson 2 - Chosen in Christ September 29 2019 Page 2 in accordance with the riches of God’s grace God’s grace is a gift He gives to us that we have not earned and can never earn. God’s grace is eternal and overflowing to us. Our redemption and forgiveness is only limited by the generosity and love of God, both of which, in God, are without limit. that He lavished on us The grace gifts of forgiveness and redemption are just part of the generosity of God to us. He has lavished His grace on us, and continues to do so. with all wisdom and understanding Not only has God lavished forgiveness and redemption on us, He has also lavished His wisdom and understanding on us. He does that so that we can use His wisdom and our understanding of His plan and Love to guide our lives and be an example to others. Our lives are guided through our new ability to understand ourselves as God does, and understand the world, as the world itself cannot because it does not have God’s wisdom. Such wisdom and understanding is intended to be a great blessing in all areas of our lives and its presence in our lives is evidence to the world of the unlimited grace of God to His chosen ones.      The lavished wisdom and understanding Ephesians 1:9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, The wisdom and understanding that God has lavished on us allows us to know and understand the plan He put into place before creation. This wisdom, given by His Spirit, gives us the understanding of Christ’s sacrifice and the knowledge to accept His forgiveness. Ephesians 1:10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfilment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. God has allowed us to understand that the whole world is summed up in Christ Jesus. It is His world. We are His people. He is the Creator of the world. He will judge the world. He is the Head of the Church. He is the Saviour of the World. He is the King of the World. Our lives only have meaning and purpose as we acknowledge Him by obeying Him. Chosen in Him Ephesians 1:11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, Chosen to be holy He chose us in (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:4 Dapto Church of Christ Sermon Series The Letter to the Ephesians – Lesson 2 - Chosen in Christ September 29 2019 Page 3 For His praise Ephesians 1:12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. Sealed for praise Ephesians 1:13-14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.      What does this verse mean for your life? The cost of redeeming you was astronomical. The only way you could be redeemed from the powers that were bringing you to death, was for someone else to die on your behalf. The One who had to die on your behalf had to be without sin so that He did not need to die to pay the penalty for His own sins. Christ, who was God with us, accepted God’s plan laid down from before creation, to give His life so that you could escape death. Christ’s blood bought you for God from death. If you have been redeemed, or bought, by God out of sin, out of the power of death, out of the power of sin, out of the power of satan, how can any of those still have any power in your life? If they still have power in your life, does that mean that this verse is a lie? If your sins still rule your life, or you continue to give them power to do so, how can you have been redeemed from them? Does it mean that Christ’s blood was not sufficient to pay the penalty for all your sins? If Christ died so that God can forgive your sins, why do you still want to think about your sins and indulge in them? Does it mean that you think that God’s grace is insufficient to save you and that there is something more you need to do? Is your wisdom greater than God’s wisdom? Is your plan for your life more important than God’s plan for your life? Since Christ died to forgive your sins, and God no longer sees them, how can we believe that we can use those past sins as an excuse to justify disobedience? If Christ died to forgive all your sins, why do you allow Satan to continue to remind you of them so that you feel guilty? Did Christ die so that you can feel guilty for your sins? Remember that you are forgiven as you forgive. Do you seek forgiveness for your own sins, but refuse to forgive anyone who has wronged you? Did you redeem yourself? Can you redeem yourself? Does God demand that you redeem yourself? He chose us in (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:4 Dapto Church of Christ Sermon Series The Letter to the Ephesians – Lesson 2 - Chosen in Christ September 29 2019 Page 4 Why live as though you are trying to redeem yourself? If you cannot accept the complete forgiveness Christ has bought for you, how can you say that you believe in Him? If you want to wallow in sin, and then wallow in guilt, how are you any different to the people of the world? If God also lavished wisdom and understanding on you, through Christ, can you still claim that you cannot understand the Word, including this verse? Accept the fact that you needed to be redeemed. Accept the fact that you needed forgiveness of your sins. Accept the fact that you could not redeem yourself, or earn yourself forgiveness. Accept the fact that you still cannot earn God’s forgiveness no matter what you do as a Christian. Accept the fact that you were redeemed and forgiven through Christ and through Christ alone. Accept the fact that the redemption and forgiveness you were given is only limited by the power and generosity of God. Accept the fact of God’s forgiveness and forgive those who have wronged you. Accept the fact that sin and death no longer have any power over you. Accept the fact that you were redeemed and forgiven so that you could live a holy and blameless life before Christ. Accept the fact that you were redeemed and forgiven so that you could live like Christ did. Do not just accept these facts by agreeing that they are true. You can only show you accept these facts as God’s Truth by using them to govern your mind, your thoughts, your actions and your words and never going back to your past. God said He did all this. He sent Christ to earth to bring it about. Do you really believe Him?  Next Lesson: Chosen to know     Ephesians 1:15-23 Focus Verse: Ephesians 1:18,19a          He chose us in (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:4