1. We are in the beginning stages of an exciting study…
• Ephesians is such a rich and encouraging book highlighting the great blessings of God in our lives.
• It’s commonly been called the Alps of the New Testament.
• A highpoint in all of the Bible!
• What breathtaking and inspiring views we grasp of our relationship with Jesus Christ.
NOW Ephesians speaks about the CHURCH of Jesus Christ.
• A Body of Believers Jesus is drawing out of the world.
• From the beginning, it’s always been the pattern of God to draw a people out from the world for Himself.
John 15.16 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
• God’s choosing goes back to Adam, to Eve, to Noah, to Abraham.
• Through Abraham God called the nation of Israel.
• God chose them to be a light to the world. – But they failed.
• Then, through the Messiah, God began to draw another people.
• Jew and Gentile out for Himself… the church.
2. The CHURCH is not a building, or a physical location.
a. In the Scriptures the word church ALWAYS refers to a group of people… a group of called out ones.
b. We are the church… We gather here together for refreshment and a spiritual recharge.
c. But during the week the church is spread throughout the offices, cubicles, and workplaces of all Denver.
3. So, as we study through Ephesians, know that the focus is on you, the church, the Body of Jesus Christ.
d. It divides neatly into 2 sections.
e. 1-3 DOCTRINAL Speak of the heavenly calling of the church
f. 4-6 PRACTICAL Speak of our conduct on earth.
• Now turning our attention to CH 1 you’ll find that Paul speaks of our heavenly blessings in Jesus Christ!
BY THE WAY… that’s where you want to be this morning.
• IN Jesus Christ. In His will, In His Grace, In His Presence.
I. (1:3-5) Chosen.
1. (3) Blessed with EVERY spiritual blessing!
a. The glorious theme… God’s great blessings in our lives.
b. So often we hear the emphasis placed on what we should be doing for God, how we MUST do this, HAVE TO do that…
c. But the REALITY is that God has DONE SO MUCH FOR us…
NOTE: He has blessed me… blessed you… with EVERY SPIRITUAL blessing. This is amazing.
• There is nothing left undone in your spiritual life that God has not already provided you with the spiritual solution…
NOTE: Blessing literally means, oh how happy… oh how pleased… oh how satisfied… oh how content in Him.
Again… where is Paul writing these wonderful words?
• Is he pastoring a church of thousands?
• Is he living a healthy and prosperous life?
• Is he counting his millions on a yacht in the Med. Sea?
• NO… he’s in prison! He’s in solitary confinement…
• In the deepest, darkest, loneliest depths of imprisonment.
NOTE: But what isn’t he complaining?
• Whoa is me! I’m forsaken and forgotten. Oh God get me out of this, I hate it, I don’t want it… deliver me!
• Instead he’s excited… He’s just blessed!
• Maybe not materially… maybe not physically…
• BUT DEFINITELY SPIRITUALLY!
APP: Some of you might feel imprisoned this morning, in solitary confinement… alone and in pain…
• Maybe it’s a marriage that isn’t perfect.
• OR a job that isn’t inspiring or isn’t what you want.
• Are you buried under the weight of poor financial decisions.
• Dealing with this issue or that issue.
KNOW THIS… you’re blessed to know Jesus Christ.
• You are blessed with EVERY spiritual blessing.
• We live in a corrupt and fallen world… physically.
• We live in a perfect and lovely world… spiritually.
APP: The solution is not changing your job… not in changing your husband or wife… not in winning the lottery but rather…
• It is living in Jesus Christ. Enjoying your blessings in Him.
• Blessed: happy… content… secure… hopeful…
NOTICE Where do we find life? At the end of v3… In Jesus.
John 14.6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Where do we find peace? In Jesus, the prince of Peace!
NOTE: As we turn off our TV’s, put down our newspapers, set aside the things of this world…
• And pick up God’s love letter to us… reading it, thinking through it, applying its truths…
• You know what we find? Blessings in Jesus!
Psalm 1.1-3 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
2. (4) Chosen by God.
a. Wow… what a wonderful truth! You and I were chosen.
b. And we were chosen with a specific plan & purpose in mind.
NOTE: It is amazing to think that we were on the mind of God even before the foundations of the world!
NOW Theologians and Bible scholars continue to wrestle with the doctrine of ‘election’. It’s very weighty stuff.
• Among Christians it’s a doctrine that stumbles many…
• But it doesn’t have to. God can choose.
• The amazing part is that God put in you and me the ability to either accept or reject God’s plan.
APP: The question for all of us is this: Are you doing the choosing in your life or is God doing the choosing in your life.
• You see, His choices don’t end with our acceptance.
• He desires our loving obedience to follow His choices in life.
NOTE: Paul never thought of himself as choosing to do God’s work.
• He always saw and recognized God’s choice in his life.
Galatians 1.1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),
APP: Ministers are called and chosen of God.
• You can’t just decide to choose the ministry as a job or vocation. YOU CAN… but you’re struggle all the way.
• It’s God’s great pleasure to use you as you were designed!
APP: There is great freedom and pleasure and blessings…
• …in following God’s DESIGN & CALLING for our lives.
Jer. 1.4-5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."
NOTE: God knew Jeremiah and put a call in his heart that Jeremiah would never be satisfied as a human being until he completed what that Godly hand created him to do!
• We get a better understanding of the world system.
• SO many are going from this thing to that, from this fad, from this drug, from this relationship… looking for satisfaction.
• Satan is a master at diverting and distracting…
APP: If you look for satisfaction outside of God’s plan: Frustration.
• But in Him you find ultimate fulfillment and blessing.
• Let’s visit John 15:15ff again…
WHY were we chosen? To be holy and blameless in Love.
• Some read this and hear… YOU MUST BE holy and blameless…
• But he’s saying YOU WILL BE holy and blameless.
• You were chosen… you were set apart… so that you will be holy.
• More than just an exhortation, it’s also an expectation!
• Because I’m holy, God says, in Me you will be holy.
• It’s a natural byproduct of walking in the Spirit.
3. (5) Predestined us to adoption…
a. Another controversial doctrine…
b. But let’s stay practical here… God has the right to choose.
c. Nowhere in the Bible, on any page, will you ever find God predestining anyone to hell. He predestines to heaven.
d. It’s God’s desire that NONE should perish…
Q: Some might wonder “Why is there a hell then?”
• Hell was created for Satan & those that follow him… Matt. 25.41
• It’s never God’s intent to allow anyone on earth to spend eternity in Hell.
• He has done everything possible to prevent that…
• YET… if you really want to go then you must step over Jesus.
• He died to rescue & protect you…
SO how do I know if I’m chosen? Believe! It’s that simple.
Someone else has put it like this. On the door to heaven, from our side, it says, "Whosoever will may enter. I am the door: by Me if any man. . . ." Any man -- that means you. You can come in and find pasture and find life. When you get on the other side of the door someday in heaven, you’re going to look back, and on that door you will find written, "Chosen in Him before the foundation of the world." I haven’t seen that side of the door yet; therefore, I give God (since He is God) the right to plan His church.
Paul also mentions our adoption…
• In Paul’s day this referred to a slave being adopted into a family, bought out of bondage and into freedom.
• Often the slave would become a part of the family…
NOW it’s NOT adoption that brings you into the family…
• It’s REGENERATION… new birth… Jesus told Nicodemus:
John 3.3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
NOTE: Adoption is a term of relationship.
• It speaks of intimacy & closeness with the Father.
• Adoption has brought us close and keeps us close…
Why? According to His heart’s desire…
• That places such a high value on His relationship with us.
NOW… At this point as we read we can begin to think…
• Yes, that’s right… I’m chosen, I’m a joint heir with Jesus.
• He knew what He was getting when He chose me.
• He made a great choice by the way…
• But it’s not in you or for you. It’s HIS HEART’S DESIRE.
Deut. 7.6-8 "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. 7 "The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; 8 "but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
APP: You are so valuable to the Lord… so precious!
• We have a loving Heavenly Father who loves to lavish His blessings and gifts upon you!
• It’s not because we are a mighty people, or that we have our act together or we’re perfect… OH NO…
NOTE: It’s to the praise of the glory of HIS GRACE. That’s key…!
• In the ages to come… all of the millions of angels, all of creation, will look at us who have been CHOSEN… ADOPTED…
• They will have just ONE CONCLUSION. GOD IS GRACIOUS!
1 Cor. 1.26-27 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;
4. (6) Accepted in the Beloved.
a. Wow… Blessed… chosen, predestined, adopted, saved…
b. And accepted.
c. Jesus doesn’t reject you… He won’t reject you.
John 6.37 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
Chosen…
II. (1:7-11) Freed.
1. (7-8) In Him we have redemption.
John 8.34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
NOTE: That’s what sin does… it entices you and then entangles you to the point where you serve it and are enslaved to it.
NOTE: Jesus comes on the scene and redeems us out of that situation.
• In Revelation , we find the church is singing a new song.
Revelation 5.8-10 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
• He bought us… purchased us… freed us!
• It was His shed blood that cleansed us from all sin.
• Releasing us from an utterly hopeless fight against sin.
There is a saying among Italian sculptors, who often miss the chisel and hit their own hands with the hammer: "When the blood flows out, the mastery enters." It was so with Jesus Christ. It was his death on Calvary that made him the master of our souls. "There is power in the blood."
Redemption sees no boundaries…
• All sin is forgiven… All people who turn to Jesus…
• Sin has an equalizing force… But Jesus has overcome!
It’s like the little boy who was being taught by his mom about sin. His mom said, “Now Billy, tell me what we must do before we can expect to be forgiven for our sins.” He thought about it for a second and then answered, “First we gotta sin.”
That includes everyone. Anyone can be cleansed… just ask!
a. (8) He made it abound… I love that word!
b. The blessings of salvation and freedom come in abounding measures… not just a little, but more than we’ll ever need.
2. (9-10) So that we are one in Him.
a. Not only has He forgiven us, chosen us, predestined us, washed us, cleansed us and elevated us… BUT
b. He’s made known to us by grace what the BIG PICTURE is!
c. God is moving everything forward to the time with Jesus Christ will rule over all things in heaven and earth!
d. It’s all taking us to Jesus. He is the pre-eminent one.
APP: That’s why our focus here at Calvary Chapel is on Jesus and the fullness of His Grace.
• As we follow Jesus, learn of Jesus, walk like Jesus, and share Jesus, we are in line with the will of God upon the earth.
NOTE: Chosen and Freed in Christ Jesus!
