It’s All about Us
Ephesians 1:1-14
~Paul’s writing here in this book of Ephesians is about us and to us. So many times we look so close to what others think and say about us. When really all that matters is what God Himself thinks of us. He, and He alone has set the bar for us to measure up to, and that is the goal that we should be pressing towards.
~To many times we lower ourselves to meet the “requirements” of others that we may fit in, that we may feel wanted, accepted, or loved, when we should be striving towards the high mark that Christ has raised. We have been made winners and NOT losers in the eyes of Christ. It is in this time and place of this sin sick that world we raise from the filth of sin and oppression to the place that Christ has prepared for us.
In this first chapter of Ephesians Paul is clearly trying to encourage us by the place we find ourselves in, “In Christ”. He identifies nine (9) different things about “us” that we may stand firm in who we are in Christ.
For time, today we will just look at three points in this passage.
1. He has Blessed US. Vv.3
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
>What can we think of that just today we have been blessed with?
(I can Breath, I can See, I can Hear, I have a Family, I have a Car to drive, I have a Job, I have a Place to Live, I have Jesus)
>To many times we as people are wrapped up in the things that we DO NOT have and forget how blessed we have been in the now!
Look at verse #3 again;
>The words “hath blessed” in this verse, is in the form of a past tense phrase.
It is not something that will be done in the future, but it is something that we have obtained NOW!
>Let us not complain of what we do not have, but rather rejoice at what we do have, and how we have been blessed of the Lord.
>It’s tough in this day and age we live in to tell some on the saints from the aint’s, if we are just listening to there conversation; 90%-10% rule.
A. Paul is NOT speaking to everyone; he is speaking to the CHURCH. This letter is sent to the Ephesians and the Saints. Look at verse one (1)
B. All these things in this chapter are not for everyone, but for the CHURCH of God!
C. What has he blessed us with in this verse? “Spiritual Blessings” which are not for the world but again, for the CHURCH. Look at verse 3 again
D. Paul speaks of the persons referred to as having "redemption," and "the forgiveness of sins;" as having "obtained an inheritance," and as being sealed with the "Holy Spirit of promise”. All of these are for believers.
E. The only way to receive these is through the Spirit of God.
F. What a Blessing it is, that God has thought enough of us that he gave us all nine of these things in Ephesians chapter one.
2. He has Accepted Us. Vv.6
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved
>It does not matter of your back ground, your past, your nationality, if you’re fat, skinny, tall, short, beautiful, or ugly.
>If you have been deserted by your family, felt alone, abandoned, left behind, in or out of the click, a nerd or a jock, even if the world loves or hates you.
>God has welcomed and opened His arms for you to be a part of His family; His call goes out to whosoever will.
The Bible says…
Matthew 16:25
For WHOSOEVER will save his life shall lose it: and WHOSOEVER will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Luke 12:8
Also I say unto you, WHOSOEVER shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God
John 3:15
That WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 11:26
And WHOSOEVER liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Acts 2:21
And it shall come to pass, that WHOSOEVER shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10:1
For WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved
Ephesians 2:14-22 says
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
3. He has Redeemed Us. Vv.7
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace
>Not only has the price been paid in full by the blood for our redemption, but it was accepted as payment to the Father, which causes us to be blessed by the Father.
The Bible says….
Colossians 1:14 says…
14 In whom we have redemption (1st blessing) through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins (2nd blessing):
The Bible says…
Psalms 111:9-10 says…
9. He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever
>It was the fall of Adam that has caused mankind to be in need of Redemption. It is and was the Blood of Jesus Christ that would be sufficient to redeem mankind.
>The forgiveness of our offences is the redemption through the blood of Christ, apart from the shedding of the blood of Christ, there is no remission of sin.
>Thank God for His Son, Jesus Christ, who giveth us the victory!
>It is all about what Christ has done for us. There is no way that we can obtain Heaven, other then through Christ. That alone makes us accepted.
Pastor Stepp
