God's Gift of Freedom

God's Gift of Freedom

Ephesians 1:6-14

Ephesians 1:6–14 NLT

6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. 9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. 12 God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. 13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

INTRODUCTION:

A- Independence Day celebrates political freedom.

B- Political freedom does not guarantee complete freedom.

I- THE PLAN FOR GOD’S GIFT OF FREEDOM (Ephesians 1:6-11)

A- God’s plan was to purchase our freedom at a great price.

(Ephesians 1:7)

Ephesians 1:7 NLT

7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

(ἐν ᾧ ἔχομεν τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν διὰ τοῦ αἵματος αὐτοῦ, τὴν ἄφεσιν τῶν παραπτωμάτων, κατὰ τὸ πλοῦτος τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ )

1- Jesus paid the price for our rebellion against God with His own blood.

(Galatians 3:13)

Galatians 3:13 NLT

13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

B- God’s plan was to offer us freedom even though we don’t deserve it.

(Ephesians 1:6, 8)

Ephesians 1:6 NLT

6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.

Ephesians 1:8 NLT

8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

1- We are all sinners and deserve death.

(Romans 3:23)

Romans 3:23 NLT

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

(Romans 6:23)

Romans 6:23 NLT

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

2- God calls us to receive His free gift of salvation.

(Matthew 11:28)

Matthew 11:28 NLT

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

C- God’s plan is to establish one kingdom of all who would trust him.

(Ephesians 1:9-11)

Ephesians 1:9–11 NLT

9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

1- God loves every person so much that He wants to save all.

(John 3:16)

John 3:16 NLT

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

2- Christ has offered an eternal inheritance to all who believe.

II- THE PURPOSE FOR GOD’S GIFT OF FREEDOM (Ephesians 1:12-14)

A- God’s purpose was to make it possible for us to honor him.

(Ephesians 1:12, 14b)

Ephesians 1:12 NLT

12 God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God.

Ephesians 1:14b NLT

14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

(12. εἰς τὸ εἶναι ἡμᾶς εἰς ἔπαινον δόξης αὐτοῦ τοὺς προηλπικότας ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ· )

(14 ὅ ἐστιν ἀρραβὼν τῆς κληρονομίας ἡμῶν, εἰς ἀπολύτρωσιν τῆς περιποιήσεως, εἰς ἔπαινον τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ)

1- We are to glorify God with our entire life, (1 Corinthians 6:19-29)

1 Corinthians 6:19 NLT

19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,

2- He enables us to honor him with our lives.

(Ephesians 1:11b)

Ephesians 1:11b NLT

11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

B- God’s purpose was to provide us with life-transforming salvation.

(Ephesians 1:13)

Ephesians 1:13 NLT

13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.

1- God saves us.

2- God places his identification mark on us through transforming us through His Spirit.

C- God’s purpose was to insure our future with him.

(Ephesians 1:14a)

Ephesians 1:14a NLT

14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

1- He provides us with an inheritance that is permanent.

(1 Peter 1:4-5)

1 Peter 1:4–5 NLT

4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

CONCLUSION: