Live Out Loud - Our Salvation April 1, 2007
Ephesians 1:1-14
Intro: Did you know that a wasp was larger when it first comes out of the egg than at any time in its life. It continually shrinks in size until it dies. Some Christians are like a wasp. Sadly, some believers are larger for God at the point of salvation then at any time in their lives. This shouldn’t be. Salvation should be the starting point, not the end. Christians shouldn’t shrink in size, they should grow. It is God’s will that we experience a full and meaningful life. If there has ever been a time when God was more real and you were more passionate for Him than today, then something is wrong!
Trans: This AM I am looking forward to starting a new series in Ephesians entitled, Live out Loud. The one thing we all have in common is life. If you have a pulse and are inhaling and exhaling then you’re alive! But just b/c you’re breathing, it doesn’t mean your living. Sadly, millions of people fall into the category of ‘dead man walking.’ They are people who comb the earth day after day in a catatonic trance existing like zombies, but not really living.
Note: Did you know that ‘life’ was the reason Jesus stepped out of heaven and into humanity? More specifically, it was for your life. John 10 says, He came to give us eternal life in the future and abundant life today.
Trans: In this new series we’re going to look into the abundant life God desires for us to experience. To accomplish this feat, we need to gain a basic understanding of the faith. We need to break it down to a nutshell.
Insert: When I lived in Norway I took a sightseeing trip called ‘Norway in a Nutshell.’ The day began w/ a 90 min. scenic train ride from the coastal city of Bergen into the mountains. Next, we boarded a bus that drove us down to the head of Sognafjord where we boarded a ship that escorted us thru some of the most beautiful scenery on the earth – mountains springing up out glacier fed waters over 8,000 ft. In 1 day, I experienced Norway in a nutshell.
Note: In Ephesians, we discover every element necessary for experiencing and following God. Ephesians is Christianity in a nutshell. We discover the trinity, the purpose of the cross, and how be saved. We discover the call of living a moral life, of being a part of a church, of how to be a good boss or employee. We discover the union of marriage and how to love our spouse and raise our children. And we’re informed of the spiritual war that exists in the heavenlies and how we’re to engage the battle. Everything we need to know about life is found in this one little book. It’s Christianity in a nutshell.
Note: Ephesians is divided into (2) sections. The first (3) chapters give us our POSITION in Christ – who we are; the last (3) chapters tell us about our PRACTICE in Christ – what we should do. The first section tells us what we believe – our doctrine; the last section tells us how to behave – our duty.
Trans: To get started, Paul says we need to grasp one key idea. The key to life begins w/ a genuine, life changing relationship w/ the Giver of Life.
Trans: In Eph. 1, Paul offers a remarkable glimpse into the reality of salvation as he outlines God’s master plan of evangelism. In v. 3-14 (one Greek sentence) Paul sums up the past, present, and future aspects of salvation in relation to the revelation of the Godhead. We discover that salvation was planned by the Father, purchased by the Son and is being preserved by the Spirit.
I Salvation was PLANNED by the Father
Text: For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Christ, in accordance w/ his pleasure and will — to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
Trans: To say that the choice of God is one of the great mysteries of the Bible is an understatement. For generations, Bible scholars have argued whether man chooses God or if God chooses man. The answer is simple – Yes! The Bible, w/out reservation, explains that God is sovereign and provides salvation to those He calls to Himself and yet, it teaches that every man has a true choice to receive by faith the free gift of God.
Note: I’m not here this AM to debate the issue, but to explain that we each bear the responsibility of how we respond to God’s grace. It doesn’t matter how God is going to deal w/ the man in deep dark Africa, we need to be concerned w/ what He has revealed to us. As sinners, we’re separated from God b/c of sin – we stand condemned. But God, who is rich in mercy, offered His only Son to die in our place and pay in full our indebtedness. So how does it work.
A The Father Chose JESUS as the Means
Note: The Father’s plan from the start was that no one would have their sins forgiven and their eternal destiny altered by any other means than the cross. The cross is God’s sole means of forgiveness and salvation. This has always been God’s Plan A – and there is no Plan B.
Insert: What is 2 + 2? Is it 3? Is it 5? No! It is always and only 4. Jesus is God’s one and only solution to the problem of sin. Man is a sinner; God is holy; and Jesus is God only means to bridge the divide b/w the two.
Insert: If there is any other way for a person to have their sins forgiven other than the cross, then why did Jesus die on the cross? B/c there is no other means of grace and forgiveness. Jesus is the only way, truth, and life.
Verse: Salvation is to be found through Jesus alone; in all the world there is no one else whom God has given who can save us. Acts 4:12 (GNB)
Note: From the start, upon realizing that Adam would sin and that all men would be tainted by sin and condemned to be eternally separated from Him, God planned the Cross to rescue us, release us, and restore us to Him self.
B The Father Chose HOLINESS as the Measure
Note: Chosen people are always chosen “for” something. It doesn’t matter if you’re picking teams or dealing w/ God. But when it comes to God, He has chosen that those who receive Him are to be holy and blameless in His sight.
Note: God planned from the start that those who received Christ as their Savior would become holy and blameless in His sight and would pursue a lifestyle that would be holy and blameless among men. Thus, if you’re a believer, it is God’s will that you strive to obey His Word and serve His kingdom.
1 POSITIONAL Holiness
Trans: Positional holiness pertains to our state or condition. I am holy b/c of what God has done for me.
Verse: He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His Son w/ whom we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of sin. Col. 1:13-14
Note: When we were saved, our old nature was crucified w/ Christ, and His righteousness was placed in our heavenly bank account. God lifted us out of our sin and transferred us into His kingdom where we were set free and given a new citizenship in Him. God set us apart from sin unto Himself and His righteousness became our righteousness making us holy and blameless in His eyes b/c we’re “in Christ.”
2 PRACTICAL Holiness
Trans: Practical holiness pertains to my response to His action and to my standing or intimacy w/ Him.
Note: B/c of our position in Christ, we now have a practical responsibility to set ourselves apart from sin unto God. We are to set our focus and lives upon the call of God so that our life fulfill its proper use.
Verse: Have your minds ready for action. Keep alert and set your hope completely on the blessing which will be given you when Jesus is revealed. Be obedient to God, and do not allow your lives to be shaped by those desires you had when you were still ignorant. Instead, be holy in all that you do, just as God who called you is holy. Scripture says, "Be holy b/c I am holy. 1 Pt. 1:13-16
C The Father Chose ADOPTION as the Method
Note: When God chose us, He planned that upon salvation we’d become part of His family through spiritual adoption.
Trans: Paul compares the transaction and result of faith to the Roman adoption process. Listen to Barclay.
Quote: When the (Roman) adoption was complete it was complete indeed. The person who had been adopted had all the rights of a legitimate son in his new family and completely lost all rights in his old family. In the eyes of the law he was a new person. So new was he that even all debts and obligations connected w/ his previous family were abolished as if they’d never existed.
Note: This is exactly what God has done for us. We were absolutely in the grip of the power of sin. We belonged to the family of Adam – condemned to die b/c of sin. But God, through Jesus and the cross, took us out of Adam’s family and adopted us into His family; and His adoption wipes out the past making us completely new.
Verse: If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation. The old is gone; behold all things become new. 2 Cr. 5:17
II Salvation was PURCHASED by the Son
Text: In him we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins, in accordance w/ the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us w/ all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment — to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity w/ the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
Note: I want to focus on v. 7. In Christ alone we’re redeemed and forgiven. At the cross, Jesus purchased our redemption and forgiveness. 1 Cor. 6:19 says He bought w/ a price – that is, Christ purchased our lives by paying in full the required price – His blood.
A The Son Purchased REDEMPTION
Note: In the Roman Empire, slavery was an accepted institution. Slaves were bought and sold like livestock. It is believed that at the height of the empire there were some 6 million slaves. Interestingly enough, Roman law made a provision for any slave to be set free so long as the buyer paid the purchase price. This was called apolutrosis – to buy back for the purpose of setting free. This is the term Paul uses here for redemption.
Note: Spiritually speaking, we’re all slaves to sin and prisoners of condemnation. Sin is our master and we can’t escape its bondage. To be released, someone who is able, willing, and worthy had to pay the ransom price of death.
Verse: For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45
Note: Jesus stepped out of heaven into flesh to pay our ransom. The price of our redemption was His blood shed on the cross.
Verse: For you know that it was not w/ perishable things like silver or gold that you have been ransomed from the worthless way of life handed down to you by your ancestors, but w/ the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb w/out blemish or defect. 1 Pt. 1:18-19
Note: At the cross, Jesus purchased w/ His blood our redemption. He bought us back from our sin to set us free into His righteousness through forgiveness.
B The Son Purchased FORGIVENESS
Insert: Remember Jesus’ words in the upper room when He served the cup? Then he took a cup, gave thanks to God, and gave it to them. "Drink it, all of you, this is my blood, which seals God’s covenant, my blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Mt. 26:28
Word: forgiveness (aphiemi) means to send away, to repay, and cancel a debt. This picture is portrayed in the Jewish sacrificial system that Jesus fulfilled.
Insert: In the O.T., the Israelites celebrated the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). On that day, the high priest would take two unblemished goats for the atonement. The first goat was sacrificed and his blood was sprinkled over the altar as a covering for sin. Then they’d lay hands on the second goat symbolically transferring the sins of the people to that goat, which was taken so far out into the wilderness that it could never find its way back – thus, that goat became their scapegoat.
Note: On the cross, Jesus became our scapegoat. His blood was a sacrificed to cover our sins and His death served to take away our sins as far as the east is from the west – where they’ll never return to us.
Trans: It was always the Father’s plan that the Son would purchase would be His single means to secure our redemption and forgiveness.
III Salvation is PRESERVED by the Spirit
Text: You were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him w/ a seal, the promised H.S., who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession; to the praise of his glory.
Note: Before I discuss the work of the Spirit, I want you to notice the responsibility of every man to believe. The Bible says, ‘Having heard the Word of truth and having experienced the call of God, you have to exercise faith and believe in Christ unto salvation. This means God has done everything for us to be saved. He came to earth and died on the cross to pay for our sin in full. But that’s not all. He also calls to man convicting him of his sin leaving man but one response – he must accept or reject Christ as his Savior and Lord.
Note: Once a person believes and receives God’s offer of salvation, God gives His H.S. to seal the deal and guarantee this transaction of faith.
A A Stamp of AUTHENTICITY
Note: The Spirit’s sealing is comparable to the seal of a king’s signet ring. A king would dip his ring in wax to seal its contents and promise its authenticity.
B A Stamp of AUTHORITY
Note: Not only did the seal authenticate the king’s message, it served as his governing word. Whatever was sealed carried the king’s authority
Story: It’s said Alexander the Great once sent an emissary to Egypt to discuss Egypt’s obstruction to his interests. The emissary was sent w/out weapons or a military escort, carrying only the seal of Alexander. Wishing to save face when confronted, the king of Egypt said that he’d take Alexander’s request under consideration. At that the emissary drew a circle in the dirt around the king and said, “Do not leave this circle w/out informing me of your decision.” Talk about confidence. In the household of his enemy, unarmed and alone, the emissary delivered his message w/out fear b/c he knew that the kind wouldn’t dare touch a hair on his head b/c he bore the seal of Alexander. To touch the emissary was to strike Alexander himself.
C A Stamp of ASSURANCE
Note: God’s seal serves as a deposit guaranteeing the security our salvation. Just as our salvation has nothing to do w/ our abilities or goodness, neither does the security of our faith depend on us.
Note: The H.S. is God’s means of provision and promise. The Spirit is God’s down payment on our lives guaranteeing our eternal hope.
CONCLUSION
Story: Several years ago, Glenn sent me on an 18 hour train ride to Poland to scout out a potential mission partnership w/ the EBC. The trip taught me more about authentic faith than any experience in my life. On the trip, I bought this souvenir (Russian dolls). In this doll set is an amazing biblical principle: Jn 14:20 says, I am in the Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Let me illustrate. B/c Jesus is in the Father and I am in Jesus – I’m secure.
Note: To be is Christ is an amazing comfort. God the Father planned that the Son would purchase our salvation on the cross and the Spirit would preserve it, if we would receive it when it was offered. He offers to you today.
RESOURCES
Sermons: Jeff Ward – Alive – Ephesians 1:3-14
David Dykes – Series in Ephesians
Books: Max Anders – The Good Life
John MacArthur – Commentary on Ephesians
Curtis Vaughn – Commentary on Ephesians
