THE SUPREME MYSTERY – THE BODY OF CHRIST
ACT I: Foundations Of A Supreme Mystery – Identification
1.THE SUPREME BLESSING (Ephesians 1:1-6)
Introduction: Background & Context
WHO? Ephesians was clearly written by the Apostle Paul, under the full inspiration
of the Holy Spirit.
WHAT? An epistle. Epistles are similar to letters, except that they tend to be shorter, and are intended for wide distribution (as opposed to being read simply by an individual or group).
WHERE? Written from a Roman prison to the church at the city of Ephesus (3:1; 4:1; 6:20; 6:21; Col. 4:7). Ephesus was one of the truly great cities of the classical world! It was located on the Aegean coast on the edge of the Cayster River Valley (modern-day Turkey). It also had easy access to the Hermas River Valley to the north and the Meander River Valley to the south. As such, Ephesus was ideally located and was a tremendous maritime, transportation and commercial city. In addition, Ephesus was the capital of the Roman province of Asia, one of the largest cities in the entire Roman Empire, and a religious center. It was also home to the great temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient wonder. It was a place of great religious diversity, exploration and tolerance. In other words, not really that different from our world today!
The importance of Ephesus, not only to the Roman Empire but also to the spread of Christianity, is evident in the fact that Paul spent more time there than in any other city. It was also the first-mentioned recipient of the seven letters to the churches in Revelation (2:1-7).
WHEN? About 62 A.D. One of four epistles sent together, and commonly referred to as “The Prison Epistles.”
WHY? The Roman “prison” from which Paul wrote was more likely a situation of being under strict “house arrest.” Through visitors (probably Epaphras in particular), Paul received reports about the happenings and situations of the churches he planted and oversaw. This epistle is a response to those reports: a letter to His fellow Christians who are struggling to live for God in the midst of a bustling and utter pagan culture!
Further, this epistle was clearly intended for a large, general circulation and deals with the implications of the gospel and what it means to be a Christian and a church. It is a circular message that truly is for the Church everywhere and in every age or time.
The breadth, influence and significance of this epistle even to our day is well attested. Various scholars and luminaries of the faith have referred to Ephesians in such phrases as: “the divinest composition of man,”1 “the consummate and most comprehensive statement which even the New Testament contains of the meaning of the Christian religion,”2 “pure music,” and “the Grand Canyon of Scripture” (referring to its breathtaking beauty and inexhaustible depth).3
THEMES: Ephesians focuses on the implications of the supremacy of Christ for the church and Christian living. Relative to Christ’s supremacy and cosmic role, what is the church’s place and purpose? What does it really mean to be a Christian and a church, the Body of Christ? How does this apply to our daily lives and what does it demand of us?
The central truth of Ephesians is that salvation is by grace through faith alone (2:8-9) - and this according to the will and purposes of God! We will be studying these truths in three “Acts.” In the first we will explore the Foundations of A Supreme Mystery (Chaps. 1 & 2). In the second Act, we will discover The Mystery of The Body Unveiled (Ch. 3:1-4:6). In the third and final Act we will see The Supreme Mystery In Action (Ch. 4:7-6:24). The first two “Acts” will focus primarily on revealing the foundational doctrine. The third “Act” will primarily outline the means and implications of applying these truths into our daily lives as Christians and as a Church.
We begin today in Act I, Scene I: The Supreme Blessing.
The Supreme Blessing
As we prepare to now ’dive’ into the Lord’s text for us, I would like to ask everyone to first consider a few questions.
1. How do you identify yourself?
2. Can you remember or identify at which point God first chose you as His own?
3. To what has He chosen you?
Now, let us read His Word and divine guidance.
THE WORD: READ EPHESIANS 1:1-6
1.Salutation (vv. 1-2)
1. Paul’s Identification (v.1a)
* Immediately, Paul identifies himself, not only in name but in position in Christ.
How often do you think of or identify yourself as in relation to Christ?
* “An apostle” means that he is one who was personally commissioned by Jesus Christ
with special authority to preach the gospel, maintain its integrity and represent Him.
* “by the will of God” NOT Paul’s ambition, in fulfillment of others’ plans for him, or the request
of a church. Just “the will of God”
- Thus, it is by calling and even necessity that Paul preaches, teaches, corrects, admonishes
and encourages (2 Timothy 3:16; 4:1-5; Col. 2:2). It is not by his choosing or for his
choosing, but by the will and choosing of God!
2. Identification of Believers in the Church (v. 1b)
* “To the saints” “Saints” or “holy ones“ (hagioi in the Greek) means those set apart for
the sole use and purposes of God.
* This same word is used of the ’holy vessels’ – the pots and pans to be used in the tabernacle.
They were not called ’holy’ because they were perfect in form and function. In fact, they were
likely banged and dented from the wilderness years. Rather, they were ’holy’ because they
were dedicated to God for His use! J. Vernon McGee explained ’saint’ this way:
“A saint, my friend, is one who has trusted Christ and is set aside for the sole use of God.
There are only two kinds of people today: the saints and the ain’ts. If you are a saint, then you
are not an ani’t. If you ani’t an ain’t, then you are a saint.”
* To those with a Jewish background, seeing this designation being applied to them and to the
Gentile believers would truly have been astounding and perhaps even mind-numbing!
* “the faithful” Their “saintliness,” or holiness, is here directly connected with their faithfulness
- actively believing and trusting in God!
It is an unending upward spiral in which one begets the other begets the other. . .
* “in Christ Jesus” He is the ultimate and only Source by which they may be called saints,
and live faithful lives!
* The emphasis here is not on Jesus as the object of faith (though He is), but on the implication
that all believers (saints) are indeed united with Jesus and joint participants in this new life. We
are in Him and He is in us!
3. Greeting of Identification in Unity (v. 2)
* This greeting presents a significant twist on a combination of the traditional Roman and
Jewish greetings of the time.
* The traditional Greek/Roman greeting of the time was “Rejoice!” (chaire). But Paul changes
This to the similar sounding, but far stronger and richer “Grace!” (charis).
* The traditional Jewish greeting was “Peace” (shalom in Hebrew).
* Paul combines and delivers these greeting from God and Jesus, thus going beyond both
traditions with an emphasis on: (1) redemption; (2) the gospel; and (3) identification with the
Father and the Son as the true Authors. The world can never know peace (Shalom) until it
knows the grace of God. ’World peace’ or any peace must begin first with peace with God,
which can only follow the forgiveness of our sins and renewed relationship with Him. To have
this, we must know His grace.
2.Praise for the Grace of our Election and Position (vv. 3-6)
1. The Blessing Begun (v. 3)
* Paul bursts forth in praise to God and all He has done on their behalf! How often do any of us
dwell on such things, let alone burst out in a song of praise about it?
* Paul chooses to begin with an expression of praise (vocalized in song) common in the Jewish
synagogue worship and often called the berakhah (Hebrew for “blessing”).
* Paul’s berakhah is uniquely Christian in that it is addressed to “the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ… in Christ.”
* The blessing is for “every spiritual blessing.” Every spiritual blessing is in Christ! Note that
these blessings are spiritual, not material, in nature. That is not to say that Christ cannot or will
not bless us in ways that have a material component. But this is not their source, emphasis or
primary purpose.
* “in Christ” Believers are not identified, looked upon, or blessed as distinct individuals,
but in Christ. We share common life together with Jesus and other believers. It is
only in this common, resurrection life that God bestows every spiritual blessing to
His chosen people. He is doing this NOW, not just in the future!
* “in the heavenly places” This is a phrase which suggests that every believer (saint),
anywhere and everywhere in the world, is together and at the same time spiritually “seated”
with Christ and within the heavenly Kingdom. Because of Christ’s work on the cross for us
and our renewed relationship with Him, we now have access to His spiritual power in our
struggle against evil and darkness!
2. The Grace of Our Election (v. 4a)
“He (God) chose us in Him before the foundation of the world”
The most important thing here is the significance in the fact that God Chose You and Me! Not ’chance,’ the ’fates,’ ’karma,’ or some ’universal lottery,’ God and God alone!
He didn’t have to. He didn’t leave it up to us to earn or figure it out. God Almighty took the initiative to reach down and – in grace – make your life special and eternal!
As we are in the midst of examining potential new members at Perth, consider the boy in Memphis,TN who wanted to join a conservative, fundamental church, and the deacons were examining him. They asked him, “How did you get saved?” He answered, “I did my part, and God did His part.” The deacons thought they had him in error, so they asked him what was his part and what was God’s part. The young man said, “My part was the sinning. I ran from God as fast as these rebellious legs would take me and my sinful heart would lead me. I ran from Him. But you know, He done took out after me ’til He done run me down.”
Undoubtedly, there are some of us today who are thinking, at this point, “But I sure haven’t experienced anything like that.” Perhaps God is choosing you today – even now as I speak?!
A little boy once was asked, “Have you found Jesus?” This bright young lad replied, “Sir, I didn’t know He was lost. But I was lost and He found me.”
Others of us want to know “what are the broader implications?” “Does this imply that we have no choice or freedom in our lives?” Who are the ’elect’?
The late evangelist D. L. Moody puts it this way: “The whosoeverwills are the elect and the whosoeverwon’s are the nonelect.” Which are you today?
In our Foundations Sunday School class (9:30 AM), we will later be exploring this question in much greater detail – especially as it relates to our salvation and the debate concerning the relationship between God’s sovereign predestination and our free will.
* “before the foundation of the world” Not only did God choose each one of us individually,
but He chose us from the beginning of everything!
* Charles Spurgeon once proclaimed, “God chose me before I came into the world, because if
He’d waited until I got here, He never would have chosen me.”
* Can you understand the incredible depth of this privilege and
grace that He has bestowed upon us who believe? Can there then be any doubt that you
have been chosen specially for a special purpose? Does this not give you tremendous
reason to celebrate? To live, breath and move according to His purpose?
3. The Grace of Our Position (vv. 4b-5a)
* “that we should be holy and blameless before Him...” This is, in essence, the reason for
which God us chosen us (see also Col. 1:22; Heb. 12:14; 1 Pt. 1:2)
* To be “holy” and “blameless” is to represent both sides of the “coin” of sanctification.
Positively, we are to be “holy,” set apart from the world and consecrated for God’s service.
“Negatively“, we are to be “blameless” - without any spot or blemish, our lives a perfect
sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1).
* This is to be true of us “before Him” both now in our present, earthly life and later when
we appear before Him in heaven.
* “in love” Agape love which is of one’s essence and given by choice or one’s (regenerated)
will.
* “having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself…”
* Under Roman law, an adopted son enjoyed the same status and privileges as a natural son.
* Believers, chosen and saved by His grace, become adopted children of God. As such,
we are co-heirs (Romans 8:17), enjoying all the blessings thereof.
* In the OT God is only referred to as “Father” 14 times, and in relation to being the “father” of a
people or nation, not specifically an individual. But in the NT, Jesus never refers to God in any
way other than Father (with the exception of when He quotes from Psalm 22 on the cross).
In fact, Jesus consistently uses the personal, adoring Aramaic term for father, “Abba!” - similar
to our “Daddy!” What is even more astounding, is that Jesus meticulously passed this on to all
believers. He instructed His disciples to pray in this manner (Mt. 18:10; Jn. 1:12).
4. The Purpose of His Grace (vv. 5b-6)
* “according to the good pleasure of His will” That is, what brings Him satisfaction,
because it represents the expression of his being. Just think: God has chosen you, saved you,
redeemed you, and is making you holy and blameless, because He wants to and because it
brings Him pleasure!
* “to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved”
* God’s grace in our lives should evoke unrelenting and unlimited praise from us! There can
be nothing more exciting, more welcomed, more rich, more praiseworthy, and less deserved
than the love-gift God gave us of His beloved Son (John 3:16)!!!
CONCLUSION:
When God calls out to you, it is because He desires to pour out His grace and peace through Jesus. Even greater, He desires this not because of anything we have said, done or deserve, but because He has chosen you in love! He desires for you to be His child, the heir to His love, time, provision and great gifts! Jesus died on the cross and cries out to us in order that He may specially set us apart for His divine purposes in your life.
Christ grants to each and every one of His saints spiritual blessings. We then have two choices in respect to what we do with them: we can either claim them or not claim them.
Has anyone ever heard of Stanley William McKenna Walker? I didn’t think so. He was an Oxford graduate and the son of a very wealthy and successful English shipbuilder. Around the middle of the last century, when Stanley was 50, his father died and left him heir to half of an $8 million English estate. There was just one problem. Nobody knew for sure where he could be found. His last known place of residence was as an indingent (homeless) in the city of Chicago. The city’s missing persons squad had to resort to methodically searching the slums, saloons, brothels an two-bit hotels looking for a drunk homeless man who owned half of an $8 million English estate. Imagine being an heir to so much and yet choosing to reject and forget it to instead live in a filthy, drunken stupor? My friends, too many of us are living like Stanley William McKenna Walker! In Christ, we are heirs to wealth and blessings beyond our wildest dreams! Not just those we have yet to receive, but those before us even now. Yet, like Stanley, we choose to forgo them in favor of the filth, poverty, abuse and homelessness of the world! WHAT ARE WE THINKING?!!!
By the way, weeks later they did find Stanley . . . dead in a doorway on a cold late-Fall night (like tonight will be).
Will we too continue to reject living in Christ and His blessings until it is too late?!
