Praise God, Because Of What He's Made You In Christ (Ephesians 1:1-14) Series

This sermon marks the new start of a series I'm planning on Ephesians. Whenever you start a study on a new book in the Bible, it's normal to give a few introductory remarks about the book to give you kind of a big picture to work with. So the big picture of Ephesians looks something like this, I think: God has this vision, this plan, to make a single, holy family, who will live in peace with himself, and with each other. He is going to accomplish this vision through Jesus. Our responsibility, in response to this, has two parts. First, we say "yes" to God. We join God's family. HOW we say "yes" I'll talk about later. Second, we walk worthily of our calling.

The Ephesians have said "yes" to God, but they aren't walking worthily. They are living in their old sins. They aren't living in peace. And so Paul writes this letter to them, to show them how and why they should start walking rightly with God. And, mostly importantly, to push them to start walking rightly. This is a letter that is designed to persuade the Ephesians to change how they think, and how they live.

I'd explain all this better, but the problem with introductions is that they can ruin the book. It's like explaining a movie or a novel before you even start it. Why not instead let it explain itself?

Let's start by reading through all of Ephesians 1:1-14. Try to listen for two things as I read:

(1) How God has blessed us, and (2) How God has blessed us through Jesus.

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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through God's will:

To the holy ones being in Ephesus, and to the faithful ones in Christ Jesus.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed/praised! [is] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the one

blessing us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in the King,

in so far as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love,

predetermining us for adoption through Jesus Christ to himself,

according to the good pleasure of his will

for the praise of the glory of his grace,

[with] which he showed favor to us in the beloved.

In him we have the freedom/release through his blood--the forgiveness of wrongdoing --

according to the riches of his grace,

which he caused to abound toward us,

in/with all wisdom and understanding making known to us the mystery of his will,

according to his good pleasure which he planned in him,

for the stewardship of the fullness of the times, to bring together everything in the King,

the things in the heavens,

and the things in the earth in him.

In him also we were chosen,

being predetermined according to the purpose of the one accomplishing everything according to the desire of his will,

so that we, the ones having first hoped in the Christ should be for the praise of his glory.

In him also you, hearing the word of the truth-- the good news of your salvation--

in him also, giving allegiance, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of the promise,

who is the down payment of our inheritance,

for the redemption of possession,

for the praise of his glory.

Verse 2:

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

We tend to skip over the introductions to letters--or maybe it's just me. But Paul begins his letter with something we really don't want to miss. Paul here announces to them, as God's representative, that God gives them two things: (1) grace, and (2) peace.

Grace is one of those million dollar Christian words that no one can really explain. Right? More often than not, you can translate it as "God's favor and help." God loves the Ephesians; he desires to help them and do good for them. We sometimes wonder what God thinks of us, and I assume that this was true for the Ephesians as well.

Know that God loves you. Know that God likes you. Know that God wants to help you, and do good for you.

The second thing Paul announces to them is God's peace. Paul is writing this letter to a church made up entirely of Gentiles. Gentiles, historically, were not God's people. They rebelled against God, and lived outside of the covenant God set up with Moses. They lived as God's enemies. But now, through Jesus, we Gentiles live in peace with God.

So far in the letter, you should know that God loves you, that he likes you, that he wants to do good to you, and that you are at peace with him.