SLIDE – Introduction
The Book of Ephesians is neatly divided into two distinct portions.
The first portion is about our calling
The second portion is about our conduct
The first portion is really about right believing.
The second portion is really about right behaving.
The first portion is about indicatives
The second portion is about imperatives
And that is really important to us –
just to simplify it for us Indicatives vs Imperatives
Indicative: I’m indicating what something IS
This is a microphone
That is an example of an indicative.
Imperative: Speak into the microphone.
An imperative is telling you something to DO
It’s important that we keep these two things
in mind when we are reading scripture.
The difference between indicatives and imperatives
The difference between law and the gospel
Indicatives are those things which God has accomplished
on our behalf through the person and work of Jesus Christ.
That is who we are in Christ before God, the Father.
The imperatives, those are the things that we are called on
and enabled to do as a direct result of the indicatives.
We should not and cannot
separate these two - the indicatives from the imperatives,
nor should we separate the imperatives from the indicatives.
If we separate them,
we are confusing what the gospel requires
and what the gospel produces.
Now, all that the gospel requires is repentance and faith.
That’s it. Nothing else.
I pause here intentionally…..
Because, Some get confused here:
Well, What about obedience?
Shouldn’t we be obedient? YES, of course!
BUT that’s not what the Gospel REQUIRES..
Obedience is what the Gospel PRODUCES.
If the Gospel were to require obedience from us
that would mean we could be obedient
apart from the person and work of Christ…..
and therefore Jesus died for nothing.
The gospel produces obedience in us, joyful obedience in us.
Again, if we get these two things mixed up,
then that’s where we end up in legalism
and moralism and works righteousness.
And that’s when the GOOD NEWS
is really is not good news at all.
And the GOOD NEWS of God’s Gospel is good news,
Very good news indeed.
Ephesians 1:1-2
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints
which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: GRACE
be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord
Jesus Christ.”
Paul is writing a letter (an epistle)
to the fellow believers at Ephesus,
and, in general,
to all of the faithful believers which are in Christ Jesus.
We note that Paul declares that he is an apostle.
He is an apostle - not by the will of Paul,
not even by the will of the other apostles,
not even by the will of those who follow Paul,
but by God, Himself.
In Biblical days, beginning a letter (an epistle)
by declaring “grace” and “peace” to the recipient of the letter,
was a normal opening of a letter.
But let’s understand, from a spiritual point of view:
There is no PEACE with God
unless first there is the GRACE of God.
Paul declares, in his opening words of this epistle,
GRACE and PEACE from God, the Father
AND God, the Son (the Lord Jesus Christ).
And so, to level-set the opening comments, by Paul,
to those believers, who live in the city of Ephesus,
let’s understand the meaning of GRACE.
What is GRACE?
“God Giving To Us What We Do Not Deserve”
From the perspective of a Holy, Righteous God,
we deserve absolutely NOTHING.
Yet, from the perspective of God –
in His love, He (God) freely gives to us,
underserving humans,
all that we do not deserve, nor will ever deserve.
Greek word “khar’-ece
acceptable, of benefit, favor, gift, joy, liberality, pleasure, thanks,
God has shed “MUCHO GRACE” on us, in Christ!
1st – God (in His grace) has blessed us INDICATIVE
V3 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ."
Blessedness is not spoken of regarding humans.
Blessedness is reserved for Deity alone.
Yet, Deity (God) has chosen to BLESS US! (NOW!)
And to bless us
“with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”
ALL spiritual blessings / IN heavenly places / IN Christ.
What spiritual blessing are available
IN heavenly places
IN Christ?
EVERYTHING we need or desire to live/thrive/be joyful/etc.
IN the presence of Deity. (NOW!)
We deserve NOTHING – but God, in His love, chooses to bless US
How absolutely astounding is that?
Grace – God giving to us what we do not deserve!
He didn’t have to, but in His Grace, He did!
2nd – God (in His grace) has chosen us INDICATIVE
V4, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation
of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.”
Chosen – selected from
Grace – God giving to us what we do not deserve!
He didn’t have to, but in His Grace, He did!
3rd – God (in His grace) has adopted us INDICATIVE
V5, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children
By Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of
his will.”
Placed as a son, not a child
Grace – God giving to us what we do not deserve!
He didn’t have to, but in His Grace, He did!
4th – God (in His grace) has made us accepted INDICATIVE
V6, “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made
us accepted in the beloved.”
(highly favored)
Accepted – endue with special honor, to be highly favored
Done as an act of grace
Made us – made us all we need to be before God
Grace – God giving to us what we do not deserve!
He didn’t have to, but in His Grace, He did!
5th – God (in His grace) has given us redemption and forgiveness
INDICATIVE
V7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”
Redemption – ransom paid in full
What was paid for is now gone, riddance.
Forgiveness – pardon, deliverance, liberty, remission
To send forth, gone away, dismissed.
Grace – God giving to us what we do not deserve!
He didn’t have to, but in His Grace, He did!
6th – God (in His grace) has given us wisdom and prudence
INDICATIVE
V8, “Wherein he hath abounded toward us
in all wisdom and prudence.”
Wisdom – higher spiritual knowledge-therefore worldly also
Prudence – mental, intellectual and moral insight
Grace – God giving to us what we do not deserve!
He didn’t have to, but in His Grace, He did!
7th – God (in His grace) has made known the mystery of His will
INDICATIVE
V9, “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will,
according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in
himself.”
Mystery – that which is concealed or hidden.
He had made known unto us - By His Word and Spirit
that which cannot be known until we have redemption, forgiveness, wisdom and prudence.
Grace – God giving to us what we do not deserve!
He didn’t have to, but in His Grace, He did!
8th – God (in His grace) has made us all one in him.
INDICATIVE
V10, “That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might
Gather together in one all things in Christ, both which
are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him.”
One – to sum up (all are brought together as one)
In Christ – it’s all about Him
The wisdom of God, in a mystery, is revealed in Christ alone.
And He has made us blessed, chosen, adopted, accepted,
redeemed, and forgiven in all wisdom and prudence
– to be ALL ONE in Christ.
Grace – God giving to us what we do not deserve!
He didn’t have to, but in His Grace, He did!
9th – God (in His grace) has given us an inheritance
INDICATIVE
V11, “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being
predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.”
Because we are His (by His blessing us, choosing us,
adopting us, and He has made us accepted, redeemed,
given us wisdom and prudence, and made know
the mystery of His will, and because we are
one (in Christ) – He gives us an inheritance
Grace – God giving to us what we do not deserve!
He didn’t have to, but in His Grace, He did!
10th – God (in His grace) caused us to bring glory to Him
INDICATIVE
V12, “That we should be to the praise of his glory,
who first trusted in Christ.”
Two ways – 1 that because of all that He has done (indicative)
for us, that should cause praise
to be given to God.
2 that because of all that he has done (indicative)
for us, that WE should give praise to God
Grace – God giving to us what we do not deserve!
He didn’t have to, but in His Grace, He did!
11th – God (in His grace) has sealed us by the Holy Spirit
INDICATIVE
V13, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.”
Almost like a P.S. on a letter….
Isn’t it enough to be blessed, chosen, adopted, accepted,
redeemed, forgiven, wise, prudent, understanding
the mystery of God’s will, made one in Him,
given an inheritance,
and bring glory to God
– I guess not!
Sealed – to stamp (with a signet)
It shows the authority, genuineness, authentic,
confirmed by the author.
Not just sealed until the right person could unseal it,
but sealed (secured, preserved, kept secret)
Grace – God giving to us what we do not deserve!
He didn’t have to, but in His Grace, He did!
12th – God (in His grace) give us earnest till full redemption
INDICATIVE
V14, “Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the
redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise
of his glory.”
Still not enough? Ha!
Earnest - A pledge, to make fast with a seal or signet,
a part of the purchase money
or property given as security.
The Holy Spirit (God Himself, third Person of the Trinity),
that we are sealed with, is just the “earnest”
of the full redemption.
The earnest of the incorruptible and never fading inheritance
Awaiting us in heaven – it is the Father’s gift.
And it only belongs to His children.
Grace – God giving to us what we do not deserve!
He didn’t have to, but in His Grace, He did!
You don’t get the EARNEST of the inheritance,
until you have been SEALED with the Holy Spirit
v13, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that we believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.”
You don’t get SEALED until you trust (believe), and you don’t trust (believe) until AFTER you hear the Word of Truth (the Gospel) – then you are SEALED
You hear, then you believe, then you are sealed.
WE are: BLESSED
CHOSEN
ADOPTED
ACCEPTED
REDEEMED
FORGIVEN
WISE (in spiritual things)
PRUDENT (due to wisdom)
HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL
ARE ONE IN CHRIST
HAVE AN INHERITANCE
GIVE AND BRING PRAISE TO GOD
SEALED (and that is just an EARNEST of what is to come!)
INDICATIVES are those things which God has accomplished
on our behalf through the person and work of Jesus Christ
That is who we ARE in Christ before God, the Father.
Because of these INDICATIVES, what IMPERATIVES should we be doing?
