God's Glorious Grace
Notes
Transcript
As we begin a series on Ephesians today, we’re going to be hearing from Paul’s letter to the churches around that region that displays the scope of God’s eternal plan for all humanity. As I read our scripture, I’m going to read the passage twice. The first time without the words on the screen, the second time I’ll put them up for you. Listen for repeated phrases or words that the Paul uses. As we prepare to hear God’s Word this, let us take a moment to quiet our hearts and minds in silence.
Wait in silence
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 to himself as sons 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.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:3-14
Ephesians 1:3-14
What words or phrases did you hear? Think about it. What’s the message?
Let’s listen again - this time the words will be on the screen.
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 to himself as sons 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.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:3-14
Ephesians 1:3-14
Now, what did you hear?
There is so much in this passage! This is true of most Scripture, but the theological implications here are profound. For Paul this entire passage was perhaps one single sentence as it was all one complete thought.
As I read this passage over and over again this week I pick up on words like blessed and blessing; that we were chosen and predestined for a purpose; and then there’s that phrase “to the praise of his glorious grace” (v. 6) and “to the praise of his glory” in vs. 12 & 14.
As I said, there is a lot in this passage, so I’m going to focus upon this aspect - the praise of his glory.
When I was in college one of my roommates described himself as an atheist. When I asked him why he said that it was difficult for him to believe in there being a God that was so self absorbed as to demand himself to be praised. At the time I didn’t have an answer for him.
It does raise a question though, doesn’t it? Is God self-absorbed to be commanding our praise? Or, Is God loving? We see one as inwardly focused and the other outward. One is wrapped up in oneself and the other in others. Which is God? What does our passage have to teach us?
Self-absorbed or Loving?
Self-absorbed or Loving?
Three times in our passage Paul points us to God’s ultimate goal of being “glorified in his saints, and marveled at among all who believe,” (2 Thessalonians 1:10).
In love, he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons…to the praise of his glorious grace (v. 4-6).
We have been predestined according to the purpose of him so that we might be… “to the praise of his glory,” (v. 11-12).
And finally, “... the Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory,” (v. 13-14).
God takes delight in his children’s praises of his holiness and glory!
This sounds so self-serving and egotistical. That’s not what the Bible teaches us to be. Aren’t we told to serve others, and to “not seek our own”? (See the great Love chapter of 1 Corinthians 13:5).
So, how can a loving God be so focused on His own glory?
This is where we must consider the character of God.
Character of God
Character of God
This is how I would answer my former roommate’s challenge so many years ago.
Let’s think upon who God is and I borrow from John Piper here:
Because God is unique as an all-glorious, totally self-sufficient Being, He must be for Himself if He is to be for us. The rules of humility that belong to a creature cannot apply in the same way to its Creator. If God should turn away from Himself as the Source of infinite joy, He would cease to be God. He would deny the infinite worth of His own glory. He would imply that there is something more valuable outside Himself. He would commit idolatry.
Piper, J. (2003). Desiring God (p. 47). Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers.
To build upon this, If it is true and I believe it is, that God is absolutely pure, holy, and undefiled then it is absolutely true that God is worthy of praise and glory. If in the purity of character God may only praise and glorify that which is worthy of praise and glory, then of course he must bring himself glory, and praise.
The assumption my college roommate had made was to judge the creator based on the fallen creation. You and I are not worthy of glory simply because we are not pure, holy, nor undefiled; for any one of us to make such requirements to receive praise from others is selfish as we are not deserving of it.
So...?
So...?
And knowing we are not deserving of praise, we also know we’re not deserving of any of God’s blessings, yet note what Paul says we have.
God the Father has blessed us in Christ...
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,
with all the spiritual blessings of heaven!
Why?
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
Paul goes on to tell us that because of God’s love he,
predestined us for adoption to himself
blessed us in the Beloved
Redeemed us through Christ’s blood and forgiven our sins
made known the mystery of his will
…according to the riches of his grace
which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
This was not a mistake. God knows your life from beginning to end. There is absolutely nothing you can do that will surprise our all knowing God.
God has lavished the riches of his grace upon you in all wisdom and insight.
God didn’t give you grace and go, “Oops!”
God didn’t give you grace and go, “Oops!”
This is all according to God’s purpose.
God isn’t an ego-maniac. Though sometimes we are. Sometimes we think of ourselves far better than we are. God though, sees you very clearly for who and what you are. Other times we are our strongest critic and God still sees you clearly for who and what you really are.
God predestined us for adoption to himself...
God knows all of your best efforts and successes and your worst failings. God knows everything any parent or friend might boast about you, and your deepest and darkest secrets; your public persona and your hidden self.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
You don’t get an inheritance unless you’re family. We became family because of God’s work and plan. We read in verse 5, In love...
he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons 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.
And finally in closing,
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Yes indeed, to the praise of his glory. What we realize as we move through this passage is that God is not self- absorbed, but incredibly loving. God’s joy is made complete in the sharing of his glory and the reflection of it back in the Creation.
C.S. Lewis wrote in Reflections on the Psalms:
Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (Third Edition) (Delight Is Incomplete until It Is Expressed)
I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed.
And so it is with God. God is the only one for whom seeking praise is in the end a loving action. According to Piper,
Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (Third Edition) Delight Is Incomplete until It Is Expressed
When He does all things “for the praise of His glory,” He preserves for us and offers to us the only thing in all the world that can satisfy our longings. God is for us! And the foundation of this love is that God has been, is now, and always will be for Himself.
So as we journey through Ephesians, what might be our take away from this passage:
We are blessed beyond measure.
God doesn’t make mistakes.
We have much for which to glorify God.