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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
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.
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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.
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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