The Many Blessings in Christ

Last Week

I hope that you were with us last week… We began a journey that will take us up to Easter, and then again after Easter. We will be looking at the Old Testament as a way to build our Foundation in Christ.

The best way to build a foundation is literally, one stone at a time. Carefully figuring out how they all fit together.

When they all fit, they form a Firm Foundation. That’s what we are after this year.

This journey is going to be a lot of work in the Old Testament. The Old Testament really scares people.

The text is difficult to understand.

There are some lingering questions about why we are even looking at the Old Testament. We are a New Testament people and the Old Testament just is not relevant.

There are lot’s of wars and God is killing lots of people.

And many, many others.

I am not a Bible genius… I work at it and it becomes clearer every day. That’s what I am after in the next 6 months.

Just work at it

If you are at a point and read something that does not make sense at all. Find someone just a bit smarter than you are about these things.

For me that’s easy… Most of y’all are smarter than I am.

Find a guide, call me, call a friend, open a study bible, carefully search on the internet for information… Carefully. Trust what you read… but verify!

Here is the last thing that I asked...

How are you going to choose to grow spiritually in 2022?q

I’ve got to tell you that the 4 people that indicated that they wanted to step it up a notch spiritually this year.

One more person asked to begin walking through the steps to Baptism, and still another wants to join the church.

This is a great way to start 2022. Keep up the good work out, listen to the spirit in your life and follow him.

No the stairs behind me were not covered, the aisles were full of folks looking for spiritual renewal and commitment.

But those that were touched and pushed ahead will really get somewhere by putting one foot in front of the other.

BIG QUESTION: What tools does God give us to live and love in Community?

Those are the Spiritual blessings that God gave us by sending His one and only Son, One that was JUST LIKE GOD, to earth.

Not to bring condemnation but to bring Hope, Love, Reconciliation, to US!

Today… Spiritual Blessings in Christ

There are a couple of things that I want to get settled before we begin.

Many of you know of our passage for today, Ephesians 1.

At first glance it is easy peasy!

Look carefully at V.4-5

Ephesians 1:4–5 ESV

4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

So go ahead and let’s talk about it...

“In love he predestinated us for adoption… That would seem to indicate that we have no choice in the matter.

The facts are this…

Up to the third century there was not any discussion of God predestining any one.

Another interpretation that ALL of Israel will be saved based on the Jews being God’s people, the chosen ones.

Israel, as a nation will exist in the end-times. Individual Jews must accept Christ to live in eternity with Jesus and the Saints.

Ephesians 1 refers to believers as predestined before the foundation of the world.

Answer: It took three hundred years before anyone in Church history interpreted the New Testament to teach that God individually predestines certain people to go to heaven, and “leaves” all others to go to hell.

These two verses 4 & 5 have torn friends, people, families apart for 1800 years.

This just has to STOP!!!

REALLY PEOPLE!!! There are things that are much more important that this… #1 is the Gospel. Christ, the God-man came to earth first as a baby, then as a man to bring the Love of God in human form, the form is that of Christ and He came to save us from our sin. -----------------------

I want to get to our passage for today. We are in the New Testament… Why, its important for us to have a foundation in the New Testament before taking our journey.

On the back of your bulletin you will find 15 blessings. These are the blessings that you have because of your relationship with Christ.

Save the bulletin. We printed extra so you can put this in your Bible and refer to it.

Turn with me to the Book of Ephesians Chapter 1.

Ephesians 1:3–20 ESV

3 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, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 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, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 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, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. 15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

Let’s look at the 15 Spiritual Blessings Paul declares over us…

1. Chosen Before the Foundation of the World

Eph1.4 “4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love”

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To know you’ve been chosen before the foundation of the world is to know that your life matters.

Your existence isn’t an accident or by-product of natural selection. God has been thinking about you before He ever said, “Let there be light.”

2. Holy and Blameless

Eph 1.4 “4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love”

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In Christ you are holy and blameless. This means you are fit to serve Him and worship Him despite your shortcomings.

God enjoys you when you approach Him and He gladly moves through your life to touch others, not because of your own righteousness, but because of the righteousness of Christ that has been given to you.

3. In His Love

Eph 1.4 “4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love”

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In Christ you stand in unconditional love. You cannot earn it.

Today, you are unconditionally loved in Christ. All that we have to do is receive. There is nothing that you can do to reject it. YOU ARE LOVED BY THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE.Have you received it?

4. Predestined to Adoption

Eph 1.5 “5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,”

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God has predetermined to call you His own in Christ. He has selected you to be His son or daughter.

You are a part of His family. He is your Father. Many times when parents adopt a child, they go through a selection process for making a decision on who they will adopt and who they won’t adopt.

God already went through His decision-making process about you a long time ago and decided to adopt you as one of His children.

5. Accepted in the Beloved

Eph 1.6 “6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”

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You are not rejected. You are not an outcast. You are not unworthy of approval.

The Creator of the universe accepts you in Christ.

You have been relationally reconciled in Christ and are pleasing to God.

There is nothing between you and God today.

6. Redemption through His Blood

Eph1.7 “7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,”

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Outside of Christ you were a slave to sin and eternal death.

You couldn’t buy or earn your way out of it.

The price for your freedom was the precious blood of Jesus.

Jesus wasn’t a slave.

Jesus was already free.

Jesus paid for your freedom anyways.

7. Forgiveness of Sins

Eph1.7 “7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,”

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In your life you have turned your back on God.

You have consciously rebelled against His law in your heart.

You have ignored His wisdom and thought yourself to be the wiser many-a-time.

In Christ, you are forgiven today.

8. Riches of His Grace Abound To You

Eph 1.7-8 “7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.”

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Grace means “unmerited favor.”

Abound means “to have in abundance.” 

In Christ, there is an abundant measure of unmerited favor flowing to your life like a river that will last from here into the never-ending depths of eternity.

9. Made Known to You the Mystery of His Will

Eph 1.9 “9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ”

In a fallen world of war, suffering and disease; a sinful world where bad things happen to good people;

God has revealed His solution to us.

He wrapped-up every answer to every aspect of the human condition in Christ and He gave it to us.

To accept Christ is know the mystery of His Will!

10. Obtained An Eternal Inheritance

Eph 1.11 “11 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,”

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Revelation 21:4 describes Heaven in the following manner:

Revelation 21:4 ESV

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

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That’s what awaits all of us… if you have committed your life to Christ He will do all of these things… He promises

11. Heard the Word of Truth

Eph 1.13 “13 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,”

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God’s truth is a light in darkness.

We are not without counsel.

We are not left in the dark. We have heard His good news and discovered the path of life.

12. Sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise (v.13)

Eph1.13 “13 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,”

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The Promise of the Holy Spirit that was prophesied about by the prophets

Isaiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah, Joel, John the Baptist and Jesus has been made available to you in Christ today!

13. You Know the Hope of His Calling (v.18)

Eph1.18 “18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,”

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His calling over your life is the basket you can put all of your eggs in.

It’s an anchor. It’s a rock. It will never end in vain.

14. You are the Riches of His Inheritance

Eph 1.18 “18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,”

You are of great value to Jesus.

As Christ brought you back to God, God gives you back to Jesus as His inheritance. You are valuable in Christ, you are the righteousness of God in Christ. You are His eternal reward that He cherishes.

15. The Exceeding Greatness of His Power

Eph 1.19-20 “19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,”

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Paul says the exceeding greatness of His power is toward you who believe.

What kind of power of this?

It is the same power that raised Christ from the dead!

It is the same power that conquered sin, death.

In Christ, this same power is present in your life today!

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I do want to return to our BIG QUESTION.

What tools does God give us to live and love in Community?

He has just given us 15 ways that we can live in community and fellowship with Christ Jesus. This where our responsibility begins.

We must live like we are simply on a travel visa here on this earth. Our home is in Heaven we are here to witness to others, to show fellowship, to win others to Christ. USING WORDS IF WE HAVE TO.

The Community that we live in is full of Holiness, Perfection, Sinlessness and we belong here because of the sacrifice of Christ Jesus on the Cross.