In Him Part II
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Introduction:
Introduction:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
eph
Review—Last Week
Review—Last Week
-Stand is the series based on Putting on the full armor of God
-Strongholds-are places that the enemy has sovereign rule in your life or church. He has that territory because we have surrender it to him....unforgiveness, long-term bitterness, lust, envy, deceit, lying, Gossip, Refusal to honor authority.
-Satan is the “Prince and Power of the Air” meaning he has been given constitutional authority in the second heaven down to Earth. Meaning he has home field advantage, the church is commissioned to expand its territory behind enemy lines.
-Fighting against Satan requires that we pull down strongholds brick by brick.
-Review of Eph---Written by Paul, Sent to Believers in Ephesus, written in 60-62 ad, written from Jail(Prison epistle). Ephesus is a territory that is infested with Occult activity, which is the worship of Spirits and Idols. They are experiencing a revival and the Territory is becoming the Property of the Church.
-The Key to studying books of the Bible is not the consumption of information, but to discover authorial intent. Meaning why did the author write the book, and what is he addressing.
-Helicopter View of
Eph
Thesis-The precious gifts that God bestow on us in the heavenly places are given to us freely but cost him everything, it was all done to bring him Glory, and bring us back to him.
I. In Him we are Chosen
I. In Him we are Chosen
Ephesians 1:4-
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
(v.4) Starts off with a conjunction connecting it with the last previous verse. In (v.3) it talks about “blessing in heavenly places” then Paul knowing that we might not understand what that means begins to walk us through what those heavenly blessings are.
(v.4) “He chose us in Him” In light of what his Son did before the foundation of the world “He” the father chose us. It is important that we play a little with that word “chose”
a. Chose-Eklego- “ek”- out; “lego” - select—to pick out or chose for oneself. It involves preference and selection from among many choices.
When did he chose?
“Before the foundation of the world” before “let there be light” was uttered in eternity past. God decided those that he would bestow his love on. This decision was not the effect of your decision to love him first. It was the cause of your decision to love him and express faith in him in return.
(v.4) “in Him” this is first of four times this preposition will be used during this long greek sentence that goes from (v.3-14)
Why would the author, Paul keep using this preposition?
-He wants us to recognize and glorify all of our heavenly blessing that are given by the Father and found in Jesus Christ.
-Before you jump to that “choosing some, but passing over others is not fair.” First give him thanks that you are one of those that he has chosen.
Sidenote---Let’s deal a minute on this fairness issue
(Help)
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. 12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—
(v.10-11) These verses talked about our being reconciled to God. then in (v.12) it turns the corner and gives some insight into our condition prior to salvation
(v.12) This tells us about one man who sinned allowing sin to enter the world, then death. This error caused death to spread to all men, because all sinned. This man is Adam the first man. This scripture tell us that Adam is mankind's “federal head” meaning that he is the representative of all mankind. As a human race our DNA all flows through Adams loins.
"The federal headship view considers Adam, the first man, as the representative of the human race that generated from him. As the representative of all humans, Adam’s act of sin was considered by God to be the act of all people and his penalty of death was judicially made the penalty of everybody."2 Bible Knowledge Commentary
-Conclusion-Rather than give all the billions of people that have lived a chance to go into the garden and not mess up. God used one person as the human representative of mankind.
-It’s really not necessary for God to do this because he is well aware of what everyone would do in every situation, so God can say to the person who yells “I would not have done what Adam did” Yes you would have! I am God trust me.
-This means that everyone is deserving of the death penalty total seperation from God. Once you settle that fact justice/fairness is out the window. Based on these truths the last things you want from God is justice!!! You better cry for his grace. Based on what Adam did and guilt that we all inherit “we all deserve hell” In other wards God is off the hook!! But look at God in
17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. 18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.
(v.17-18) Jesus reverse the curse for just as sin entered through one man(Adam) and spread to all men. “much more those who receive the abundance of grace” Notice he talks about the abundance of Grace; Grace is undeserved or unmerited favor. Death is what we deserved but God in his abundant grace sent his son to reverse the curse of death by Adam. Notice the wordplay just as sin/death entered through a person righteousness/life also entered through one person. The second Adam, Jesus the Christ.
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
eph 1:4-
; -7
(v.4) He chose to a purpose:
a. Holy and Blameless before Him
-He chose us as a gift to himself. A sanctified gift that would worship him and give him glory. We are Jesus inheritance a purified church.
-Then he
(v.5) “He predestined us” The “He” once again is Father God. We need to define our terms
a. predestined—To decree or determine beforehand
-He decreed or made a private declaration that he would chose me out of the orphanage of mankind and that he would adopt me even before I was conceived. All of my life events before I got saved where a setup to meet my Adoptive Daddy. What was decreed outside of time in eternity came to pass in time the minute I responded to his call to adopt me and become my father.
(v.6) “to the praise of the glory of His grace” this prepositional phrase is repeated three time in the next several verses. This tells us that Paul wants to be clear of why the Lord would do such a thing for a person of my character. It is to magnify his grace.
Transition Statement---We where chosen in him, and predestined in him if that was not enough we are also:
II. In Him we are Redeem
II. In Him we are Redeem
ephesians 1:7-9
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him
(v.7) “in Him” Paul is unraveling these heavenly blessing like a kid opens Christmas gifts. One after another. This salvation gift is like a gift that keep giving.
(v.7) “we have redemption”--- “have” is the verb it is in the present tense..Meaning that we possess redemption. This past act is our present possession, that has future implication.
a. Redemption: To let someone go free after receiving the price for them.
(help)
24 For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
(v.24) This tells us that after his death he did not enter into any temple made by man. But went into heaven itself, to appear in the presence of God for us. This sacrifice was a one-time sacrifice and presentation. And he did it to put away sin finally and decisively.
-He stood in our place as the sacrificial lamb of God. For present christians this was a past act that has future implications. Meaning that when Christ died 2000 years ago the payment for my sins was made. In other wards Christ bought my ticket to heaven before I was even born.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him
Eph 1:
(v.7) This was done “according to his grace” remember grace is his undeserved/unmerited favor.
How did we receive his grace??
(v.8) “he lavished on us” To abound or superabound. He gave us more forgiveness than what was needed. He filled our cup up and keep going until wine/grace was spilling off the table.....Analogy of eating in the South when people fill your plate till there is no space left. This is how God pour his grace in our life.
(v.8-9) “in all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will” This right here is a gift in that he has revealed his plan of salvation to mankind. A mystery once hidden to OT saints has now been made plain to NT saints. We are not left hoping, nor speculating about the will of God concerning the redemption of mankind. We know the redeemer, we know what he did, and we know what he requires.
Transition Statement—In him we are chosen, In him we are redeem, then he takes it a step further. In him
III. In him we have an Inheritance
III. In him we have an Inheritance
Eph 1:10
10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.
10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.
(v.10-11) At the end of (v.10) we see the third “in him” preposition. This tells us that Paul is still opening the gift of salvation.
(v.11) “we have obtained an inheritance”
eph 1:
a. obtained-passive verb—meaning it was not something we obtained or worked for but it was given as a result of our adoption. It was given to us by our adoptive parent. Salvation in the bible is never talked about as a wage, or payment. It is always unmerited PURE GRACE
-Inheritance-- this means portion or lot. This tells that he have obtained a portion or lot based on our adoption meaning when he adopted us he put us in the will. We have been given an inheritance by the one who owns everything and has an unlimited wealth of resources. Just by product of you being my Son everything that I have you have.
(v.11) “having been been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will” In (v.5) Paul tells us what he Predestined us too “Adoption” but in (v.11) Paul tells the thought process behind this predestination. The predestination was for his purpose after he had a full conversation with himself. We call this the hidden knowledge of God. There are some things that will never be revealed by God.
(help)
29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.
-So stop wasting brain matter wondering why God didn’t chose everyone, but praise him for choosing you!!! Spend the rest of life believing that he chose others besides you, and go out with that hope spreading the Good News.
12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.
(v.12)
(v.12) Notice the end of (v.12) again this is second time this is used. Paul uses it in (v.6) Pointing out that all of these heavenly blessing point back to Christ and bring him glory.
Transition Statement—He chose, He predestined, He redeem, we have an inheritance in him, now he saved the best blessing for the end. In Him
IV. In Him we are sealed
IV. In Him we are sealed
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
Eph 1:13-
(v.13) “In Him” this is the 4th use of this preposition telling this that Paul is still expounding all of the heavenly blessing at our disposal.
(v.13) After hearing the gospel and then believing the gospel we were “sealed”(closed Up-food savor) with the HS of promise. In antiquity Kings and dignitaries would use couriers(before the USPS) to get their private correspondence to a general on the battlefield, a King from another nation, or a family member. The King would seal the letter with his ring, which was initialed to indicate this is the King letter. If that seal was found to be broken when it got to it’s destination folks died.
(v.13) After believing the Gospel the Lord closed you up(Sealed) with his Spirit. It’s one thing for the gift giver to give you a gift, but it’s a whole another thing for the giver to move in with you. When you get saved the HS showed up at the front door of your life knocked on the door with his suitcase and moved in. Once he gets in the house and closes the door back it is a permanent reservation.
(v.13) Paul knows that he has just named several spiritual blessing that we have to Trust are ours before we see the tangible manifestation of these blessing. These are called invisible blessing. We accept them by faith, but to help with this process he tells us:
14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
eph 1:
(v.14) The HS is given as a pledge/downpayment. What the HS does in our lives is provide tangible evidence for our future inheritance. His work can be seen in the lives of believers and in the church. The HS is conforming us to the image of the Lord from glory to glory. This visual tangible proof is given as downpayment/pledge that our Lord is coming back to pickup his merchandise from layaway. Yall remember lay away:
-Mom & Dad would get all our school clothes then they would total it all up, and then the would pay a downpayment. A percentage of the total, and then later they would come back and pay the balance and pick up the clothes. During that time the clothes would remain at the store, but they are your clothes as long as you make payments.
Promissory note: a signed document containing a written promise to pay a stated sum to a specified person or the bearer at a specified date or on demand. You see my Father has a promissory note on my life that has been signed by him and seal by his Spirit. A promissory note is a promise to redeem. That promise is that at a later date he would come back to settle accounts and redeem his property. So although our redemption is a settle fact, the full manifestation of that experience is a future reality. Listen to the text:
14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
(v.14) “with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession” with a view meaning something to look forward to the redemption(of our bodies) which are still cursed by sin. Paul helps us with this reality in
(help)
9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—
(v.9) There are no earthly adjective that can adequately describe the things that God has prepared for those that have been Chosen, Predestined, Redeem, and Sealed.
14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
eph 1:
(v.14) Look at how Paul ends this sentence that started in (v.3) all of this, all of these blessing, all of these gifts, all of these benefits are “to the praise of His glory”
Conclusion
-Chosen in him---Called out of many
-Predestined in him---decreed before the foundation of the world were laid
-Redeem in him---bought and paid for by his blood
-Inheritance in him---all that he owns is our’s
-Sealed in him---closed up and signed personally by the Father as a guarantee that I am coming back to redeem my property.
Open the Doors of the Church