Privileged Position in Christ

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I.Introduction

A.   Spiritual Blessings

As a Born Again Christian... like you, I certainly enjoy a lot of spiritual blessings and benefits because of my special relationship to Jesus.

We have a Privileged Position in Christ!

Wouldn’t you agree?

B.   Considered Lately?

Have you considered lately just how blessed you are in that privileged position... to be “in Christ”. If you will.

A part of His body. Saved & sealed.... an adopted daughter or son of God Almighty.

With a hope and a future in Christ! You’re Alive in Christ. United in Christ. One in Christ. With an inheritance in Christ.

C.   Inheritance Begins Today

You get the idea!

We have all those things and more.

We are rich, we are absolutely loaded from God’s perspective! Like the Donald Trump of the heavenlies. Yet with nicer hair.

Do you know why we are so rich? I think you do. Because we are what? IN CHRIST!

                                                                         

And I’m sure you’d agree. Because of our privileged position in Christ as His followers ... we’re just over-the-top blessed!

D.   Great Purpose        

Now I say all of that with great purpose and conviction this morning.

Why? Because we are beginning this morning a new series entitled Growing... guess what... in Christ.  

Yes... Growing in Christ... building a foundation upon Jesus Christ. That’s our aim!

E.   Exposition of Ephesians

Now this series is an exposition of the Book of Ephesians!

Don’t let the $52 word trip you up... we are going to continue to do what we normally do here at Refuge Calvary Chapel.

What do we do?

We unpack the scriptures one verse at a time. Why?

So that we can understand “what the passage says” “in context in which it was said” and then put “what was said” into practice in our lives.

That’s kind of what exposition means. At least to me!

F.    Phrase “IN CHRIST”

And as we expound the Book of Ephesians.

With knife and fork in hand and our bibs around our neck... as we dig into this amazing book over the next few months.

We are going to see a phrase repeated over and over again in this letter.

That phrase is this... IN Christ.

G.  Appears Nearly 40 Times

IN CHRIST and its many variations appears almost 40 times in the 6 chapters of Ephesians.

In Christ, In Him, in the Lord Jesus, In the beloved. Over and over and over again we see this theme!

It speaks of what? Our position... our privilege position in Christ.

H.   Wants Readers to Know

Now... think about this.

Do you know why the Lord had the Apostle Paul hone in on this theme in his letter? This whole theme of... being in Christ?

The purpose of Ephesians... what is it?

Well... the Lord wants us (His followers) to understand as we study this letter, the amazing spiritual benefits that we have what? IN Christ.

I.       How’s Help as Believer?

Now... knowing that... how’s that help me as a believer in my walk?

Here’s how! In order that we as Jesus followers, might grow in our relationship to Him.

The first step in Growing in Christ, is Knowing in Christ, if we can but Understanding who we are in Christ. That’s step #1!

J.    First 3 Chapters Purpose

And that’s why Paul, as lead by the Holy Spirit, devotes the first 3 chapters of Ephesians for that very specific purpose.

Reminding us of who we are in Christ.

Now... please bear with me... we are a laying a foundation here. We need this bird’s eye view before we begin to unpack the scriptures.

Now it is not enough to simply know who you are in Christ. From there... the Lord wants us to then Walk in Christ. That’s step #2!

And the ultimate aim and the exhortation of Ephesians.

K.   Walk in Revelation of God’s Truth

Walk in the revelation of who you are IN Christ.

That’s where the last 3 chapters of Ephesians come in.

L.    Ephesians Divides Simply

You see, the point I am trying to make then is this. The Book of Ephesians divides rather simply. There are two parts to the book. 3 chapters each.

The first 3 chapters are doctrinal. In other words... they are informational. Tell us all about the spiritual benefits that we have in Christ.

M.  Doctrine – What we Believe

Doctrine is a fancy way of saying. This is what we believe as Christians.

So once we have that straight. Understand what we believe as Christians and embrace who we are in Christ.

And getting real excited about all that!

The last 3 chapters. They are then practical. Exhorting us to now live in view of what we believe and who we are in Christ.

N.   Screaming Out to Us

You see.. the second half of the letter just screams out to the reader.

Knowing what you know about being IN Christ. Now practice what you preach.

That’s how you Grow in Christ. Start walking in Him. Walking the talk! Living in the fullness of the blessings that you have in Christ!

That’s kind of the rough outline of what we are going to discover over the next few months as we study the book of Ephesians!

O.  What Got Me Excited

Now.... here is what just has me over-the-top excited as I have been pouring over Ephesians to prepare for this exposition.

Here is what has me crazy excited!

P.   Open & Exposed Heart

If we take this study seriously.

As individuals and as a church body. Approach it... you see... with an open and exposed heart before the Lord.

I am stripped bare before you Father... I am ready, I’m willing, I know you are able to do some work on my heart and in my life as we study Ephesians.

That’s what I want Father. Help me to Grow Up!

Church... God answers those kind of prayers!

Q.  Tired of Making Messes?

Some of us are going to lose our spiritual diapers as we study this book. You see!

Tired of making messes? OK... get serious about this study!

Others are going to transition from milk to meat. Are you hungry for more of God & His Word. Good... get serious about this study!

Our hope, our prayer then is this. That we would all Grow in Christ! That’s a worthy aim isn’t it?

R.   Anyone Arrive

Anyone here arrived... got the whole Christian life perfected.

Without sin.. loving people like Jesus every time... on every occasion. Loving the unlovable.

Good.. the lack of hands tells me that we all agree... no one in the room has arrived. No perfect people in the room.

We all have areas where the Lord wants to grow us.

S.   Study with Purpose

Now to that end... let’s agree on this one thing as we study Ephesians.

Let’s all agree to study this book together with a purpose. The purpose is this. I want to grow. I want more of you Jesus and less of me.

                    

I am going to ditch the diapers, going to lay down the bottle for a knife and fork. I’m ready for some meat. I am ready to Grow in Christ.

T.    Put on Big Boy Shoes

We are going to put on big boy shoes. You ever do that as a kid. Dress up like mommy and daddy.

Let’s do that. Let’s put on Christ!

Do you want to make that our purpose... Church? Our purpose our aim... I am ready to Grow in Christ. Are you with me on that?

Good... if we purpose that in our heart church... God’s is going to met us in a fantastic way! Do some extraordinary things. You wait.. you see!

II.Greeting

Ready to dig in! Let’s go. Verse 1 of Ephesians chapter 1.

Ephesians1:1-3 1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

A.   Typical Greeting

Pretty typical greeting for a letter in that day. We learn right away who the author is.

Who is the author of Ephesians? The Apostle Paul! Who is Paul writing to?

The Christians in Ephesus. Paul calls them saints... and the faithful in Christ Jesus.

B.   First Reference In Christ

There it is.... you see it? Our first reference to IN CHRIST. We will see this phrase over and over again in the book of Ephesians.

These Christians are just like you and me... they are in Christ!

That’s why the Bible calls us saints. We are set apart in Jesus! Part of His body, no longer part of the world!

C.   Written To All Christians

Now... though originally written to the churches in Ephesus and the surrounding region.

This letter is for all Christians throughout all the ages you see.

D.   Written to Us

In other words, it was written to us... Christians in this very room this morning. Those here who have trusted Jesus in faith and are born again.

                            

That is what is just so exciting about Paul’s letters to the churches. They are written to Christian folks. Like you and me.

What does that tell me then? We can learn allot from these letters.

E.   I Don’t Understand

You say... Ray... I don’t understand Christianity. I don’t know what’s my position in Christ. Or what is expected of me as a follower of Jesus.

Well... good news for you. You’ll have the answers to those questions and many more before we get through studying this letter.

It’s written to you!

F.    One Long Sentence

Now as we pick up in verse 3... it is very important to note that from verse 3 clear down to verse 14.

Have you ever heard that this passage is just one big long sentence?

11 verse with no punctuation. A total of 202 Greek words stacked one on top of the other.

G.  Greek Scholar

One Greek scholar actually went as far in saying that verse 3-14... it is the most monstrous sentence conglomeration that he has ever found in the Greek language.

It’s a big sentence for sure! Certainly put this scholars shorts up in a bunch!

H.   No Ordinary Sentence

But this is no ordinary big sentence... what it is a spontaneous utterance of praise by Paul to His Father in Heaven.

Isn’t that amazing?

It’s like this. Paul is so hopped up on Jesus Christ and so excited about the spiritual blessings that we have in Him.

                                                                            

He just starts to overflow with praise and adoration to God!

I.       Prayer Meeting

You ever been in a prayer meeting or praying with someone.

And the person that is praying just starts praising God, thanking Him, exalting Jesus and it opens up... like this... flood gate of blessing toward the Lord.

You think they are going to pass out because they haven’t taken a breath in 5 minutes. So caught up in the wonder and amazement of God.

J.    Where Paul’s At

That’s where Paul heart’s at as he writes these verses that we are studying this morning.

He is over the top blessed by the amazing position of privilege that He has in Christ – that He just overflows with blessing toward the Lord.

III.Every Spiritual Benefit in Christ

Well ... let’s get to verse 3... and listen in on Paul as he begins to praise God!

Ephesians 3:3 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places

Now... let’s pause right there real quickly.

That word blessed in verse 3... as in Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It comes from the Greek word eulogéō. It is where we get our English word Eulogy and it literal has the sense of “speaking well of someone.”

To honor them.. to speak highly of or extol a person.

A.   What Happens at a Eulogy

What do we do at a eulogy for a dead person at their funeral? We say nice things about them.

                             

The things we should have said about them while they were still alive. I guess it’s better late than never!

B.   Honor the Person

But in a eulogy.... we honor the person by remembering the good things that they did in life.

You see, that’s the whole heart of what Paul is doing here as he begins this 11 verse spontaneous utterance of praise to God.

He is honoring God. Speaking well of God.

C.   Why Honor God?

Why is Paul honoring God?

Verse 3... because God has blessed us IN Mohamed. Now... it doesn’t say that. Does it

God has blessed us in whom? IN Christ!

And what has God blessed us with IN Christ? It’s right there in verse 3. With every Spiritual blessing in heavenly places.

D.   Blessing of Heaven are Mine!

What that tells me is this.

As a child of God IN Christ... as a part of His body. All the blessing of heaven are mine.

I am just loaded up with spiritual blessings and benefits because of my privileged position in Christ.

Isn’t that just awesome!! Should cause us to spontaneously break out in praise to God with Paul this morning!

E.   What are Spiritual Benefits?

Now what are some of the spiritual benefits that we have IN Christ?

Well that’s what we are going to consider with the time we have left this morning as we expound verses 4 to 14 of Ephesians 1.

In fact we are going to consider 3 of the many spiritually blessing that we have because of our privileged position in Christ.

We want to join Paul in praising God because!

F.    Privilege Position in Christ

1.    God the Father Selected Me

2.    God the Son Saved Me

3.    God the Holy Spirit Sealed Me

IV.God the Father SELECTED Me

Now.. again, we want to praise God this morning for these spiritual blessings that we have in Christ.

First observation as we do that is this. I have a privilege position in Christ because God the Father SELECTED me!

That’s a spiritual blessing if I ever heard of one! But what does it mean? It sure sounds good!

Verse 4... God the Father has blessed us...

4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

A.   Cause Comfort

What do you say?

Paul’s pretty excited about the fact that God chose us.

And knowing that the Father chose you specifically... that should cause you to feel likewise blessed this morning.

B.   Adopted Me Too

Now... not only did God the Father choose me... He had a purpose in choosing me.

What’s that? To adopt me as His son or daughter.

That should give all us as Christians comfort and even greater reason to praise Him this morning.

C.   Means Election

Now the word CHOOSE here in verse 4 ... it speaks of election. Now this in no ordinary election. You and I didn’t get a vote in this.

There is only one person who got to vote.

Who was that? God the Father! In all reality, since only God voted... we can call this selection. God selected me.

D.   Pickup Dodge Ball

It’s like this.

Do you remember back in gym class as a child when the two best players used to pick up sides for dodge ball?

Kinda of the least athletic of the kids.. they would be sitting there thinking.

Are they going to pick me? Does anyone want me? Please let me get picked. Not last!

E.   I Want You

What God did was this. Not even anything close to that. He said... I want you! And I want you and you and you and you and you.

But it had nothing to do with talents or skill of any kind or any other thing that you had or did.

                                                                                  

Isn’t that amazing?

Now... God not only selected you. It’s better than that.

He selected you with a purpose in mind! His will was to make you a permanent member of His family.

To adopt you into His family when you got saved.

F.    The Text is Clear

Now the Bible is clear when it speaks of election... the context tells us that God chose you by reasons only know to Him.

With no regard to influence outside of Himself.

                                                                   

The point is this.

God didn’t see something in me that He particularly liked more than others.

I wasn’t more appealing to Him than other people. Quite the opposite. I was a real mess before Jesus!

G.  Don’t Know Why Choose

Well then why did God choose me and not the guy over there?

I don’t know! We just don’t know why God chose the people He chose.

But what we do know is that it had nothing to do with anything we said, or did or any of our merits. We are saved by grace.

And if I had anything to do with God choosing me... then it’s not grace.

Salvation is all about Him! And His grace! And Him getting glory for saving me!

H.   When Did God Have Election

Now... let’s develop this a little further.

When did God have this election to choose those that would become His children?

When did He choose us?

Verse 4...

I.       God Choose Before Foundation of World

Before the foundation of the world. So before Genesis 1:1. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Before that. Before there was a universe. God choose you!

The point... God chose back then. It had nothing to do with anything you did or didn’t do.

Why would God choose me.. why not the other person over there.

I don’t know... only God knows.

J.    How Reconcile With Free Will

Now... you may be thinking by now.

Ray how do you reconcile God choosing us with the fact that we have a free will?

Those two things don’t go together. God can’t both chose me and I am free to decide. How do you reconcile that? Ray

I don’t... I can’t reconcile them. Why? Because God hasn’t reveled it to me. Hasn’t revealed it to any human being!

K.   Stop Trying to Reconcile

And quite honestly... we should all stop trying to reconcile election with free will.

We mustn’t speak into God’s silence any longer. God has some secrets.

Deuteronomy 29:29 29The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever

                                                                       

Newsflash.... God hasn’t told us everything. We may think we know everything. But we are surely mistaken.

L.    They Don’t Belong to Us

The bottom line then is this...

How God’s sovereign choice and our free will fit together! They don’t belong to us!

Our job isn’t to figure out the mind of God. We are simply to trust in faith that the Bible teaches both. Election and man’s freewill!

M.  OK That God Has Secrets?

God has some secrets. Are you OK with that?

I am real cool with a God who I can’t fully understand. He is that big. He’s that amazing. That far reaching. That’s why Paul is praising Him!

If God weren’t able to absolutely blow my mind. I wouldn’t be able to worship Him!!!

He is that big...

N.   Depth of Riches

Romans 11:33-34 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34"For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?


No one has! That’s the point!

Do you think that you actually know God well enough that you can counsel Him? I don’t think so.

So Paul is saying here in essence in Romans 11... God just blows my mind. And therefore I am going to praise Him.

O.  Content in Things Don’t Know

Church we must be just as content in the things that God hasn’t revealed to us as we are with the amazing truth that His given us in His Word!

God wants us to have a child like faith.

Where we can say... Father... your word tells me that I was both elected and had freewill Father... I believe it. That settles it for me. It’s a done deal!

P.   Set Love on You

Christian.... God chose you.... that should cause you to praise Him!

James MacDonald said on the matter!

The bottom line, if you know Christ. It is because God chose to set His love upon you... period. Now if for all eternity. God never did another thing for you. Still should pour forth from your lips a ceaseless overflow of praise.

Why? God Chose me! That’s amazing!

V.God the Son Saved Me!

Now.. again, we are praising God this morning for all the spiritual blessings that we have in Christ.

I have a privilege position in Christ because God the FATHER SELECTED me!

Now there is even more as we pickup in verse 7... I have a privileged position in Christ because God the SON SAVED me!

Equally as mind blowing!!

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

We spoke allot about redemption last week as we closed out our series on the cross.

A.   Chose You – The Edict

And one thing for sure as the topic comes up once again this week....  we can’t talk enough about God’s salvation. Can we?

The Father Selected us. Said I chose you.

That’s the edict. That’s the proclamation... I have chosen these as my own.

B.   God Can’t Look Over My Sin

Now that presents a small problem doesn’t it? What about my sin?

What happens next? God can’t just over look my sin. Right? Can He?

He chose a mess when He chose me.

So the question that needs to be asked then is this?

C.   How to be Reconciled

How are rebellious human beings who have a huge separation between them and the Father... how can they be reconciled together with Him?

                                  

Here’s how. The Father Selected, the Son saves.

Redemptions through God the Son. It was the Fathers will that the Son would die for our sins.

D.   Redeem to Be Forgiven

You see, the Son saved us by redeeming us so that He might forgive our sins and restore our relationship to the Father.

The Father selected and the Son saved!!

E.   Redemption

You see... redemption in verse 7 is the word used in the 1st century market place to buy a slave with the full intention to set them free.

Sure sounds like what Jesus did for me on the cross. Gave His life for my life.

He bought me with His precious blood (His death) to pay off my sin debt to set me FREE!

Redemption means the paying off a ransom in order to be released from bondage or slavery.

F.    Who was in Bondage?

Who was in bondage... who was in slavery? I was... you were. Slavery to what? Sin!!

Jesus paid my ransom so that I could be set free.

G.  Owed a Debt Could Not Pay

We owed a debt that we couldn’t pay. The debt of sin. The just penalty for breaking God’s law was against us all. And Christ died for us.

When He cried out on that cross. It is finished!! That word in the original means Paid in Full!!

The price for my forgiveness was paid by Jesus Christ as He atoned for my sin on the cross.

Jesus subbed in for me!! And thereby satisfied God’s just demand for my sin!

H.   Forgiven

Not just redeemed me... but He has forgiven me. Canceled the debt of sin against me. I have a clean slate in Christ.

And the beautiful end of all of that is that I can now become a Child of God? Because I am justified... declared righteous before God in Christ.

And I can one day along with all things in heaven and on earth be united with my Father . Why? Because I am in Christ.

That’s amazing! 

I.       Lavish His Grace

How did that happen? How did we become children of God?

Well... God made know to us the mystery of his will through the gospel and when we believed the gospel in faith.

God forgive us our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, in which he lavished upon us!

All that so we could be restored back to the Father. United with Him as a son and daughter

J.    Riches of His Grace

I love what it says in verse 7... God forgave us according to the riches of His grace.

God lavished His grace on us.

Church... God is rich in grace. What that means is this... there is an unending supply of His grace available to the sinner.

K.   Never Runs Low

It’s like He can never run out of grace. He’s rich in grace! Imagine if He could run out of grace!

                         

Hey we need a moratorium on sinning down there on earth. We are running low on grace up here.

Got to slow things down a bit. Let the reserves of grace build back up again!

No... God is rich in grace and He lavished His grace on you.

It’s an unending supply of His unmerited, undeserved favor for you! Because you trusted in Jesus salvation by faith!

Are you ready to praise Him yet this morning!!

VI.God the Holy Spirit Sealed Me

We are praising God this morning for all the spiritual blessings that we have in Christ.

I have a privilege position in Christ because God the FATHER SELECTED me! Not only that... God the SON then SAVED me!

And there’s more... verse 11... God the HOLY SPIRIT SEALED me!

11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

A.   Christians Miss Out

That’s just totally amazing what we just read.

Here’s WHERE I think a lot of us Christians totally miss out. We don’t fully realize and appreciate the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

B.   Took Up Residence

At the very moment that you gave your heart to Jesus Christ in faith. The Holy Spirit took up residence in your heart.

And what He did was to seal you and He has become your guarantee of the inheritance that you now have in Christ as a child of the living God.

C.   God’s Stamp of Approval

That is... the Holy Spirit in a sense put God’s stamps of approval on you. This one is one of my kids. Don’t mess with him or her.

There is great hope & security when you get that Christian. When you realize that God is so totally for you.

That He will put His mark on you. You’ve been branded. On your forehead you’ve been stamp. It says. A Child of the King!

D.   Adopted into God’s Family

Your adoptions comes with great privilege and blessing. But also it comes with security and protection. And identification.

You have an amazing God who is looking out for you. Who lavishes His grace on you.

Why? Because you are His! A child of the King! With the blessing and inheritance that go with it!

Simply amazing.

E.   Given All Blessings of Son

You see... as an adopted member of God’s family.. in this life... you receive blessing and privileges.

                                                                    

And it doesn’t end there. Because your adoption, you will also be a partaker in an amazing inheritance in Christ.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ

You are a fellow heir with Jesus Christ!

That’s like if you sitting there in the law office as lawyers are reading your rich aunts last will and testament.

And your name comes up. Because of your relationship to her – you are instantly rich.

F.    Way Better Than That

This is way better than that. Your name is written in the lambs book of life.

You are sealed in Him and therefore you get to share in His eternal inheritance.

                         

You’ve become a child of royalty because of your privilege position in Christ!

G.  Two Brothers

Two brothers signed up for little league and the coach was confused as he looked over their applications.

The coach said... I don’t understand. It says here that you are brothers. But your ages are only 6 months apart. How can that be?

H.   One of Us Adopted

The boys said. One of us is adopted.

Which one the coach replied? The boys said we don’t know. Our dad treats us both the same!

I.       Picture of God’s Love

That’s a picture of God’s love for you... He treats all of us... as His adopted sons and daughter as if we were His very own son. Jesus.

We get all the same blessings and inheritance as His Son Jesus.

Are you feeling a rise of praise... an overflowing in your heart to your Father this morning?

We’ll talk more about our inheritance next week. But suffice it to say this.

J.    Inheritance Called Eternity

We have an amazing inheritance that’s called eternity. An eternity with Jesus Christ in a New Heaven and New Earth.

Revelation 20 describes it this way...

Revelation 20:1-5 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." 5And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new."

Church... that’s what is in your future because of the inheritance that you have in Christ!!

K.   Holy Spirit Down Deposit

Now... it said in verse 14 of Ephesians 1 that the Holy Spirit who indwells me. He is my guarantee or down deposit on that inheritance.

What that tells me is this.

We haven’t seen the half of it. As amazing as it can be in this life when we are walking and living in the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

It will be infinitely better then... when we are with our King Jesus... adorning... sinless, perfect bodies just like His.

If the Holy Spirit living in me is just the down deposit of that. Wholly smolly. I can’t imagine what God has in store for me!!

L.    My Response

When I truly begin to realize that I am one of God’s children’s. It changes me. It softens my heart toward God!

                                                                

And... my only appropriate response as He softens my heart is that of a child crying out to a Father!

                                                                                           

Romans 8 15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" 

M.  Abba - Daddy

That word Abba is a term of endearment for a Jewish child to their father. Kind of think our English word daddy.

When I begin to fully appreciate the fact that I am a son or daughter of God– I will look at Him as an endearing child looks upon their Daddy!

N.   Isn’t God Worthy of Our Praise!

Isn’t God worthy of our praise!

God is so for us.

We have a future and a hope in Jesus. We are His kids. An inheritance awaiting us in heaven.

VII.Conclusion

Christian... you have an amazing Father... a poppa, a daddy who wants to lavish you with His love and grace this morning.

Cry out to Him as His child this morning. Come to Him with that child like faith. Abba, Father.

Daddy... I just want to praise you and adore you. I’ve lost sight of how amazing it is to be your son or daughter.

Thanks for reminding me of this amazing position of privilege that I have in Jesus my King!

A.   Praising God this Morning

We are praising God this morning for all the spiritual blessings that we have in Christ.

I have a privilege position in Christ because...

B.   Privilege Position in Christ

1.    God the Father Selected

2.    God the Son Saved

3.    God the Holy Spirit Sealed

Selected, Saved, Sealed... we sure have a privileged position in Christ.

He chose us so that we could be adopted sons and daughters. He redeemed us so that we could be forgiven.

And He topped it off by giving us a down deposit in the Holy Spirit. Sealed the deal.

Let’s praise Him together this morning church!

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