Is It Enough?

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Is It Enough?

Contributed by Lonnie Erwin on Sep 24, 2007 (message contributor)

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Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-7

Denomination: Baptist

Summary: When I consider what my life is like how can God forgive me for what I have become?

Is It Enough?

Ephesians 1:3-7 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, in Christ; 4 for He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love 5 He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will,6 to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us with in the Beloved.

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

The Question: When I consider what my life is like how can God forgive me for what I have become?

1. We have been Chosen

Matthew 22:14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen."

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:4-12 true Christians are a chosen generation; they all make one family, a sort and species of people distinct from the common world, of another spirit, principle, and practice, which they could never be if they were not chosen in Christ to be such, and sanctified by his Spirit.

[2.] All the true servants of Christ are a royal priesthood. They are royal in their relation to God and Christ, in their power with God, and over themselves and all their spiritual enemies; they are princely in the improvements and the excellence of their own spirits, and in their hopes and expectations; they are a royal priesthood, separated from sin and sinners, consecrated to God, and offering to God spiritual services and oblations, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

[3.] All Christians, wheresoever they be, compose one holy nation. They are one nation, collected under one head, agreeing in the same manners and customs, and governed by the same laws; and they are a holy nation, because consecrated and devoted to God, renewed and sanctified by his Holy Spirit.

Rom 8:30 And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.

1 Cor 6:20 for you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

Eph 1:4 for He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love

Col 1:13 He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves,

2. We have been Adopted

John 1:12-13 But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.

Rom 8:16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,

Rom 8:23 And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits — we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

Rom 9:4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption , the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple service, and the promises.

Gal 4:5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

3. We have been Redeemed

Gal 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written: Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.

Romans 3:24-26 They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.25 God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.26 He presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus.

Romans 8:3-4 What the law could not do since it was limited by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in flesh like ours under sin’s domain, and as a sin offering, 4 in order that the law’s requirement would be accomplished in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.

1 Peter 1:18-21 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things, like silver or gold,19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.20 He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the times for you21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Illustration: Jesus, Our Stunt Double

Actor Kevin Bacon recounted when his 6-year-old son saw Footloose for the first time:

He said, "Hey, Dad, you know that thing in the movie where you swing from the rafters of that building? That’s really cool, how did you do that?"

I said, "Well, I didn’t do that part--it was a stunt man."

"What’s a stunt man?" he asked.

"That’s someone who dresses like me and does things I can’t do."

"Oh," he replied and walked out of the room looking a little confused.

A little later he said, "Hey, Dad, you know that thing in the movie where you spin around on that gym bar and land on your feet? How did you do that?"

I said, "Well, I didn’t do that. It was a gymnastics double."

"What’s a gymnastics double?" he asked.

"That’s a guy who dresses in my clothes and does things I can’t do."

There was silence from my son, then he asked in a concerned voice, "Dad, what did you do?"

"I got all the glory," I sheepishly replied.

That’s the grace of God in our lives. Jesus took our sin upon himself and did what we couldn’t do. We stand forgiven and bask sheepishly triumphant in Jesus’ glory.

-- Joel Sarrault in Fresh Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching (Baker), from the editors of Leadership.

Illustration: Thorns Become Roses

An old legend tells of a parish priest who found a branch of a thorn tree twisted around so that it resembled a crown of thorns. Thinking it a symbol of the crucifixion of Christ, he took it into his chapel and placed it on the altar on Good Friday. Early on Easter morning he remembered what he had done. Feeling it was not appropriate for Easter Sunday, he hurried into the church to clear it away before the congregation came. But when he came into the church, he found the thorn branches blossoming with beautiful roses.

Contributed by Lonnie Erwin on Sep 24, 2007 (message contributor)

Summary: When I consider what my life is like how can God forgive me for what I have become?