The Eternal Riches of God (Eph 1:3)
Notes
Transcript
Handout
As Christians we are very rich.
Ephesians 1:18 “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,”
Ephesians 2:7 “so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 3:8 “To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,”
Ephesians 3:16 “that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,”
Ephesians is in 2 parts:
Chapters 1-3 Doctrinal
Chapter 4-6 Practical Application (Praxis)
God’s glory is internal, but also displayed
That glory is found in the church!
When a lost sinner repents and becomes a saved saint
The lost man becomes a good father or the lost woman becomes a good mother
**Ephesians 1:3-14 is one sentence in Greek
Blessed be the God...
Eph 1:4 “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love”
**God the Father**
-In the past-
Eph 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,”
**God the Son**
-In the present-
Eph 1:13 “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,”
**God the Holy Spirit**
-In the future-
The glory of God is displayed in the church
Ephesians 1:3 (ESV)
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,
The Father blesses us
and Christ the Son blessed us...
I. The Blessedness of God
I. The Blessedness of God
A. the Father, not just some god...
*The God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ
B. Is Jesus God?
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
Yet God is called Jesus’ God
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
What Does this Mean?
We get a glimpse of the nature of God.
Jesus is eternal- uncreated
Jesus is Creator
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
ii. Yet Jesus is Unique
iii. Jesus added to His deity sinless humanity
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
a. Born of a virgin; Retained his deity
b. Always God; never sinned
c. Cried for Lazarus; Raised Lazarus
d. A man rode on boat; as God stilled storm
Jesus referred to God as His Father
For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
C. Jesus must live a sinless life to be our substitute
Jesus was born under the Law
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
ii. Jesus humbled himself to become human, and honored.
a. He was tempted in all points, but without sin
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
D. Jesus knew God as Father even After the Resurrection
i. Not inferior to the Father, but a servant
Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”
and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.
The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
ii. But Jesus is still God
II. We Should Always Speak Well of God
II. We Should Always Speak Well of God
I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
God deserves all praise we can give Him.
III. We are Blessed
III. We are Blessed
A. God speaks well of us- He takes care of us!
He gives
He blessed us with every spiritual blessing
. Everything we have is a blessed gift from God.
B. God blessed us with spiritual blessings
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
C. Kinds of Spiritual Blessings:
i. Strength- I can do all things through Christ
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
ii. Love- the love of God shed abroad in our hearts
and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
iii. Joy- fruit of the Spirit
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
iv. Peace- Jesus said I give to them peace
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.