Ephesians 1:1-6

Chad Myhre

Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

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Verse by verse study through Ephesians

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SLIDE 2

Ephesians 1:1–3 ESV

1 Paul, 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. 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,

SLIDE 3

Ephesians 1:4–6 ESV

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 to himself 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.

EPH 1.

Intro:

The beauty of Ephesians.. is this:

“Nobody is in trouble”

There’s not an opposition or division in church

..no infiltration of heresy

..no prominent dispute that needs to be settled..

This letter, is simply.. encouragement.. and instruction. ++

After Paul’s letters to Corinth and Galatia… this is refreshing.

For yes… sometimes we need correction. Sometimes we go wayward and we need a message that brings us back in line with God’s Word.

Yes, sometimes we are stubborn, and we need the same message repeated and rekapitchulated week after week. ++

This has been our experience over the past year… correction, and rekapitchulation…

But Ephesians is different..

Looking ahead, we see Paul’s method of delivery…

First off.. in chapters 1-3.. we get the encouragement..

Paul reminds the believers in Ephesus..

..who they are.. in Christ.

.. just, what it means, to be a believer..

..the riches.. the wonder.. the glory of our calling.. ++

This encouragement helps to bring our minds and our hearts are into the right framework..

Our minds and our hearts are brought into the right frame..

Why? So that we can then properly receive that which is given.. in chapters 4-6.. “the instruction” ++

..that which is given.. in chapters 4-6.. “the instruction”

SLIDE 4

The encouragement tells us where we stand..

The instruction.. then tells us.. how to walk.. ++

In chapters 4 and 5.. we are going to get some walking lessons.

Walk in purity.

Walk in love

Walk as children of the light

AND… - walk carefully

Not as those who are worldly.

.. Walk in love

Walk as children of the light..

Walk carefully..

And then.. in chapters 5 and 6.. we will told to

5. walk in harmony.. ++

This is in reference to the prominent relationships we have in life..

This instruction will speak to husbands and wives..

It will speak to parents and children..

And.. it will speak to masters and servants.. ++

After instruction is given.. on how to walk in purity and in harmony..

.. the letter closes.. with a call.. to

6. walk in victory.. ++

At some point down the road… know this, we have 6 distinct walking lessons in store for us..

But…

It’s very important.. before we get to the walking..

that we first understand.. the standing.. ++

God has ordained an order..

God has established a logical means for us to operate in.. ++

If I jump ahead to the instruction..

Without an understanding of the encouragement..

It will be hard to grasp.. - I’ll lack motivation and context. ++

Without the ++encouragement… I will have to apply myself to the instruction externally..

In the same manner as a legalist would.. ++

..not with an inward understanding of the grace which compels me on to obey..

But rather, by means of compulsion and blind compliance. ++

Paul lays out for us.. a masterpiece of communication..

Now.. it’s interesting to note..

he’s telling the church in Ephesus.. how free they are.. how privileged they are.. how blessed it is, to be in Christ..

and he’s telling them this, because he believes these things personally..

and exemplifies these beliefs in his own life.. ++

The reason this is so interesting..

Is because Paul.. is writing this letter, from prison.

CONDITIONALLY and POSITIONALLY… He is free… he is privileged… he is blessed… he is IN CHIRST… - but, circumstantially, he is in prison.

This is the destination of wisdom and of spiritual maturity. When we get to the place where our CONDITION and our POSITION in Christ… far outweighs our CIRCUMSTANCE… -then we begin to consider ourself in eternal truth… rather than, the temporary lie. ++

Paul is not exempting himself from the truth of chapters 1-3..

He is not telling them, that they have it good, because they are free..

And he does not have it good.. because he is in prison.

In fact, his imprisonment is not even an issue in this letter.. ++

Whether one resides in opulence in the finest palace..

Or in a cold, wet bug ridden dungeon..

The blessings.. of who we are in Christ.. remain the same..

..the blessings, so far exceed the temporal distractions of this life.. ++

That riches and poverty.. freedom and slavery..

Are in a far removed classification.. and category.

Paul spent three years ministering to the people in Ephesus..

He started by teaching in the Synagogues.. from which he was quickly banned..

He then moved on to a public lecture hall, where it appears he spoke on a daily basis.. ++

His message was so influential.. and so broadly spoken..

That all who were in the city and the surrounding region..

..had the opportunity.. to hear the gospel message. ++

The church in Ephesus.. was very diverse.

Some believers, were out of Judaism

Some believers, had little to no religious background..

And many.. especially from Ephesus..

Had backgrounds that were steeped in cultic and pagan worship… ++

Ephesus.. was a very religious city..

There were many temples.. many different deities were worshipped.. many different styles and forms of worship existed.. ++

The most prominent object of worship in Ephesus was the Goddess.. Diana..

In fact.. the temple to Diana in Ephesus was so great..

That ancient historians penned it as being.. one, of the 7 wonders of the ancient world.. ++

In our culture.. we drive through towns and cities.. and what do we see?

We see churches on every corner.. We see signs and bumper stickers with Christian messages..

.. these things are everywhere.. ++

But, sometimes.. we might see a cultic or pagan center of worship..

And in our minds.. we experience.. “offense”..

“I can’t believe that place is there.” ++

We are so accustomed to a prominent showing of Christianity..

That we feel threatened and offended.. when we find out that 25 Wiccans are getting together regularly to: light their candles, wear their robes and say their chants in a house down the street. ++

In Ephesus.. it was the other way around..

There were no church buildings..

No Xtian book stores..

To Xtian coffee houses..

No Xtian bumper stickers… ++

No way.. as they walked around the city..

It was one pagan temple after another.. ++

And it was in that house.. down the street..

Where the Christians were gathering.. ++

The Pagan presence.. was loud and clear..

It was visible..

And its influence.. was everywhere..

This is what it’s like when we travel to India… On occasion, you will see a church… But, between each church, you will see hundreds of Hindu references, altars and temples… ++

You see.. we think that we have it good.. because we live in a Country that has a prominent Christian presence..

We think.. we have it good.. because we live in the USA.. where Christianity is visible on every street corner.. ++

And sometimes, we feel threatened and upset if our presence and our voice is weakened publicly.. ++

But Paul is going to show us.. a privilege.. that far exceeds the identification of our environment..

Yes, I think it is good, that I live and operate in a nation that has a Christian heritage.. specks of which are still evident from time to time.. ++

But there is something, that far exceeds the circumstantial environment that is around us.. ++

There is a place, a condition, a position… .. that the Ephesians were told… that they existed in.. and it didn’t matter if their city had no visible presence of Christianity in it’s buildings or in it’s public institutions.. ++

.. that they existed in.. and it didn’t matter if their city had no visible presence of Christianity in it’s buildings or in it’s public institutions..

The Ephesians were blessed in knowing..

That they were “in Christ” ++

this.. was a truth that far exceeded the characteristics of their cultural surroundings.. ++

I often hear people say, that we are losing ground for Christianity here in the U.S.

We’ve lost the public display of the 10 commandments in our government buildings..

Scheduled prayer has been removed from our public schools..

Policies of moral and ethical contrast to Christianity are being established in our government..

Other religions are growing, and are developing a presence and an influence in our communities.. ++

We’re losing ground....

But I disagree. ++

Christianity has not suffered a single loss..

Our civil liberty has suffered a few losses… but not our faith. ++

Not when I consider the book of Ephesians, where Paul is telling a vibrant group of believers.. who are existing in the midst of an incredibly pagan culture..

Where Paul is telling a vibrant group of believers.. who are existing in the midst of an incredibly pagan culture..

How wonderfully blessed they are.. ++

Maybe we have lost.. a few token.. outward representations of our faith..

Maybe the church has lost a degree of secular influence..

The church might be slipping with its monopoly on religious representation.. ++

But tell me this..

What’s more effective?

A picture on the wall of a courthouse, where the 10 commandments are listed..

Or.. the 10 commandments instilled w/in the hearts of those believers.. who are walking in, and living according to the principles of God? ++

What’s more effective?

The teacher in the public school, who tells the kids..

Okay, for the next 5 minutes we are going to have a time where we recite a prayer..

Or.. prayers being lifted up continually, all day long.. by the believing students and teachers in the schools? ++

Don’t get me wrong. I think it is sad, that we are loosing these outward expressions of our Christian heritage..

But, when we compare it to that which cannot be taken away..

These things are but tokens… ++

They can take away our tokens..

For, compared to the treasures we have.. in Christ..

That’s all they are.. ++

The believers in Ephesus..

They didn’t have the tokens..

They did not have churches on every corner..

10 commandments in their courthouse..

Prayer to God in their public schools..

Governing laws that were morally and ethically harmonious to scripture.. ++

They did not have the tokens..

No way.. but they surely had the riches..

And no matter who is charge.. in Washington..

Our riches.. will never be threatened.. ++

SLIDE 5

Ephesians 1:1–2 ESV

1 Paul, 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.

Paul has not been in Ephesus.. for nearly 10 years..

But, with confidence.. he has no problem calling them “saints”.

This is an important tid-bit of information.

Since the early days of the church, it became common terminology.. to refer to believers in Christ as “saints”.. ++

The word saint.. is “hagios”

Which means.. “holy” or “holy one”

The ancient culture used this word to refer to anyone who possessed the quality to approach a deity…

So, in Christianity, the word that was used by the cultists and the pagans, actually bore significant truth.

We have full access to the throne of God. We can enter into God’s presence with confidence. This is what it means to be a saint…

This word “hagios” is the root word for “hagiotes”

Which means.. holiness.. ++

Now.. this is where it gets interesting..

Holiness, comes from the root word for.. saint..

But saint.. comes from the root word.. “hagos”..

Which means.. “an awful thing” ++

A minor spelling change, one little action… would reverse the meaning of “awful thing”

To.. holy-thing.. ++

One quick change.. one little action.. changes… awful thing.. into holy thing..

Why were the believers called saints?

It’s the same story.

One quick change.. one little action..

Changes.. their standing before God.. completely.. ++

Before we received the redemption of Christ..

We were, to the presence of God..

.. an awful thing. ++

After we received the redemption of Christ..

We became.. to the presence of God..

A holy thing..

We became.. a “saint”… ++

Now.. certain traditions in the church say, that sainthood is something that is given to a few special people..

after they die.. their lives are investigated to validate their holiness..

and they become canonized..

and they get to have their image preserved as a little statue..

And they get to receive from us humans.. specific prayers of specific nature.. ++

And in a nut-shell.. that’s how one becomes a saint.. ++

But, in the New Testament.. the term saint is thrown around freely.. and casually.. as a simple reference.. to those who have received JX as their Lord and Savior. ++

As a simple reference.. to those who have received JX as their Lord and Savior.

Why are you and me, considered saints?

Why are we.. considered holy.. in spite of our nature and our questionable behavior? ++

Simply this..

Because.. we are in Christ..

Now.. I drive a Mazda..

When I am in my Mazda. or, WHEN I AM, IN MAZDA… it does not mean, that I am Japanese.. because my car is Japanese..

It does not mean, that I am dependable.. because my car is dependable.

It does not mean, that I am economical and efficient.. because my car is… ++

You see.. I was not created in the image of my car..

I was created in the image of God..

Being in my car, is a completely different concept to being ‘in Christ’... ++

When I am in Christ.. I am restored to a holy condition and a holy position... ++

w/Christ.. it’s a different story..

In Him.. I am holy.. because He is holy.

It’s not about me..

It’s about Him..

He has changed us.. from being.. “an awful thing”..

To being.. “a holy thing” ++

SLIDE 6

Ephesians 1:3 ESV

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,

Galatians 1:3 ESV

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,

Paul is speaking a familiar language to those who came out of the cultish religions..

He uses the term “heavenly places”

A term that is used exclusively here, in Ephesians..

Used elsewhere in:

This term, “heavenly places”.. would have struck a familiar chord with many of these believers..

For, in previous times, many of them subscribed to a belief..

That the events of their lives.. the events of culture and humanity.. the issues, both good and bad..

.. were determined.. and set in motion by the placement of the stars.. ++

The heavenly places.. were far off..

And they, as people.. were random subjects.. to this far off force.. ++

There was.. the power of influence… and it.. was way out there, in the stars… distant, mechanical, impersonal… ++

And then.. there was.. the subject of influence.. way down here, determined by whatever fictional reasoning the cultists ascribed to it.. -

interestingly, people still ascribe to this mentality every time they think the cultic lie of their horoscope means something…

But now.. Paul is telling them.. and he’s telling us..

That such a separation.. no longer exists.. ++

The old faith.. did not have a personal connection.

The old faith.. was an issue of random force.. falling randomly upon non specific people.. ++

But the new faith.. works differently..

We are personally connected..

In the heavenly places.. there are spiritual blessings for us..

And they are given.. with decision, determination and love..

By God.. to those who are in Christ. ++

The source.. and the force.. – it’s no longer a “far off.. non-personal influence randomly falling upon random subjects.” ++

We don’t have to read our horoscopes to find out what random force may or may not be subject to our lives..

All the good stuff is in Christ..

And if we are in Christ.. we are in that place.. where the good stuff is. ++

SLIDE 7

Galatians 1:4–6 ESV

4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

Ephesians 1:4–6 ESV

eph 1.

Most of the time.. scripture is abundantly clear in its explanations..

If we need to know.. A B C and D on a certain topic..

We can usually find: A B C and D..

Clearly defined and written out in the Bible.. ++

But sometimes.. we have topics.. where God doesn’t give us all the facts..

He gives us.. A B and C..

And if we want a D.. - we have to make a deduction…

We have to use our own.. deductive reasoning and logic.. to come up with a conclusion.. ++

In the area of Election and Predestination..

The church has come up with several D’s… several ‘deductions’ ++

It has created.. conclusions.. based on the information that is given..

And these conclusions have been the result of logic and reasoning.. - which are good things… logic is good… reasoning is good… ++

But the ones who employ logic and reasoning, are flawed… we are imperfect sources… and sometimes our logic and reasoning filters through a context that is foreign to the Biblical writers… ++

This issue, creates division in the body…

On one side of the fence.. you have those whose conclusions completely and totally dismiss the free will of man..

Man has no influence or choice on whether or not he does or does not become a Christian.. ++

Once he possesses his salvation.. he will progress consistently in it, as a validation of his election..

If he falls away, or amongst the purists.. if he is merely backslidden..

It becomes a validation.. that he was never a true elect believer in the first place..

That he was merely deceived into thinking.. that he received salvation by faith.. ++

They also, logically conclude..

Since God has only predestined a certain amount to be saved..

That Jesus only died and suffered on the cross, for the specific sins of the predestined.. ++

He did not die, and suffer sufficiently, to provide forgiveness for those who were, reversely elected unto damnation.. ++

The logical, and reasonable conclusions state.. that God must be economical.. and therefore, His atonement was limited.. ++

This is, in part… point D… the DEDUCTION… for many in the church..

This is a logical conclusion.. that has been drawn..

Based on the information that is given.. ++

It’s been prevalent since the days of Augustine..

It was re-enforced by Calvin..

And is held by those in modern times.. who refer to themselves as: Calvinists.. or Reformed. ++

On the other end of the spectrum.. we find those who have come to a different conclusion..

… based on the same information.. ++

They see so many verses in scripture that call mankind to a place of responsibility and choice..

Instead of rejecting free will all together..

They embrace it fully.. to the extent.. that salvation is fully received and maintained..

.. based on the will of man… ++

The extremists of this camp.. believe that salvation can easily be lost.. if man chooses to sin. ++

The church is divided.. not over the scriptures..

but rather.. over their deductive conclusions.. ++

Now.. as a side note.. let me say this..

There is a pressure and an expectation out there.. that says, you must be on one side, or the other..

There is no middle ground.. you must claim a conclusion..

You must pick a team.. You’re either in Calvinism or Arminianism…

You must embrace one extreme deduction over the other… ++

To this expectation, I would challenge you..

Be A Rebel!

If we are to be responsible with the Word..

we must keep the things which are clearly revealed.. as being solid and true.. ++

and.. the things which are concluded.. on our part..

- by means of deduction…

the things we conclude by filtering the Bible through our modern understanding, culture, or church creed… instead of through the context of the ancient writer…

the things we deduce and conclude by the fallible means of human logic..

THESE THINGS… -must be kept.. in constant question, until more information comes available. ++

These must be kept.. in constant question.

These must be challenged regularly..

When we moved from the old building… 1 mile down the road, to this building… - I regularly turned the wrong way when coming here. ++

Every morning.. I took the same route.. I took the same turns.. I went the same direction..

I became so accustomed to driving that route..

That sometimes.. if I found myself driving down 250 from Pantops..

I’d come off the exit driving W. on I-64, and I’d turn right. Not left...

I’d turn right at the CVS..

Then, as I passed Tractor Supply, I’d ask myself..

Why?

Why did I turn here?

Because that’s what I had naturally trained myself to do..

We do the same thing doctrinally..

We read the verses on predestination..

And we can’t help.. but to establish our route of doctrinal conclusion, based on the path we’ve always taken.. ++

Based on the path we’ve always taken..

We’ve placed the validity and authenticity of our deductive conclusion..

On equal ground.. with the clearly revealed scripture.. ++

Such a thing..

Is dangerous. ++

This topic.. is mysterious..

It has some blank spots.. where our understanding might not be satisfied.. ++

It leaves us with a challenge.. to draw logical conclusions.. that may or may not be taught in scripture..

In a nutshell, many have concluded.. that if God has predestined and elected some to salvation..

that naturally.. it’s logical to say.. that He has also predestined and elected some to damnation.. ++

It’s logical for us to draw this conclusion..

But.. this conclusion.. on its own.. is not taught in the Bible..

I believe.. that God has determined it to be.. His will, and His wish.. that all would be saved.. that all would come to repentance..

SLIDE 8

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

(NKJV)

9 lThe Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but mis longsuffering toward 3us, nnot willing that any should perish but othat all should come to repentance.

SLIDE 9

Matthew 18:12–14 ESV

12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

(NKJV)

12 m“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 Even so it is not the nwill of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

If it’s God’s will, that all come to repentance.. can we easily conclude, that God has elected some to damnation?

I wouldn’t be able to say that… but this is where many who embrace certain views on predestination are forced to go. ++

I would struggle.. personally, trying to make sense of those things..

In the verse.. you might say.. “the sheep, refers to believers”

Let’s put it a different way..

Can we say.. that the sheep, are those whom God has written in the “Lamb’s book of life”? ++

Every farmer.. every shepherd keeps inventory of his stock..

God is no different.. he keeps a list..

And that list.. the “Lamb’s book of life”.. is His inventory.. of His flock..

Now.. let’s see what we can learn about the Lamb’s Book Of Life.. ++

SLIDE 9

(NKJV)

Revelation 3:5 ESV

5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

5 He who overcomes ishall be clothed in white garments, and I will not jblot out his name from the kBook of Life; but lI will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Now, I used to think.. that the Book of Life, was a list of all the people who were saved..

You get saved.. and your name is written in the book of life.. ++

But, as I consider the logic that is being laid out in this verse..

It would seem, if it’s God’s will that none should perish..

That all names are written in the Book of Life..

And those.. who overcome.. are the names.. which will not be blotted out.. ++

This is one way to see this… ++

Next question.. what does it take to overcome?

Is it a work of perseverance on our part?

No way.. - Those of us who have studied Galatians for the past few months have this driven into our skulls..

It’s a work of Christ.. ++

SLIDE 10

Consider what it says in:

(NKJV)

1 John 4:4 ESV

4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than dhe who is in the world. [1]

Jesus is our over comer, and as long as we are in Christ.. we have overcome. ++

There are many passages.. in reference to predestination..

and they tell us, according to what we have been predestined.. ++

in .. we find out that predestination is according to foreknowledge..

those He foreknew.. He also predestined.. ++

It’s a mindboggling thought.. to think.. that God knew us, before we even existed..

That God knew us.. before the foundations of the world..

But, in the same breath… we find it easy to say, that God is not bound by time..

That God.. is omnipresent..

Everywhere at once.. ++

That’s God… He is existing in the eternal now..

Where a day is as a thousand years.. ++

If you have not received Jesus.. and you are here today.. - there might be a time in your future, where you do accept Him..

If so, He is already there..

He has already experienced your openness, your willingness, your faith, and your repentance… ++

He has already seen your faith.. to walk in the truth that He reveals..

And in that case… He has chosen you.. and predestined you… according to that foreknowledge.. ++

Those who completely oppose free will.. will say, that you did not choose Jesus..

If you chose Jesus.. then you received your salvation by way of works.. ++

I agree in part..

We chose.. but it wasn’t our work..

You see, choosing to accept Jesus.. is an act of faith, that we can’t do on our own.. ++

He has to reveal the truth to our hearts.. by His H.S.

Because it’s a truth we cannot attain with our own logic..

It is a truth, that has to be given, by the H.S. ++

Then, we are given the power and the ability.. to receive the gift that is given..

It’s His Work, it’s His Power..

And it’s our responsibility.. to do what He is empowering us to do… ++

We receive on faith..

And acting on faith.. is not a work…

Working eludes to earning..

And if you are receiving freely, that which is not earned..

The act of receiving, cannot be a work. ++

Salvation remains.. 100%.. a work of Christ..

And not a work.. on my part.. - even as it depends upon me, to receive it by faith.. ++ ++

So.. if God knew.. who would not choose Him…

Why would He let them live?

Why would Christ die for the sins of the world.. and not just the sins of the elect?

Why? Logic would say.. that God is not working economically here.. ++

And you’re right..

It’s neither logical.. nor economical.. ++

But.. it is gracious..

And Jesus is more popular as a guy who walks in grace..

Than he is, as a guy who walks in sound economical practices.. ++

Could God say.. that He loved the whole world?

Could God say, that He died for everyone?..

Could God say.. that He was ..

If, redemption was only available.. to those whom He foreknew.. would receive? ++

We ask questions.. that are based in our reasoning..

.. but that’s not a realm.. that God is working in.. ++

His ways.. are not our ways..

According to this passage… He has predestined us to adoption.. ..

..according to the good pleasure of His will.. ++

Is there a bad pleasure of His will?

Well, He has willed salvation for all..

But many.. rejected it..

Of that, I’m sure, that God is not finding pleasure.. ++

But us?

We acted on faith.. when He empowered us to do so..

He’s known our heart.. from the beginning of time..

And He has been in love with us…. Always and forever.

That, is an incredible thought..

To know.. that we are held in such a place.. in the heart of God..

And that we have been.. in that place.. for eternity.. ++

Hey.. you are not an afterthought to God..

You are not.. a less-favored possession.. ++

Paul is laying out this incredible fact.. to the people of Ephesus..

They live in a pagan world..

They are surrounded by contrary thought.. and contrary philosophy..

They don’t have any influence on the government..

Their churches aren’t given tax exempt status.. ++

And yet..

They are realizing.. that they are so unbelievably blessed..

So incredibly rich.. in God..

Accepted.. in the Beloved.. ++

Conclusion..

I would hope.. if we are downcast.. because we think, as Christians.. we chocking up losses in our nation… we are losing our liberties and our freedom… our influences are being limited.. ++

…I hope… that we would realize.. those things: they are trinkets..

They are nice little benefits.. .. ++

They are, compared to the gold and silver that we will be reading about here in chapters 1-3..

They are.. car-wash tokens..

Chuckie Cheese Tokens.. ++

It’s a bummer to loose our tokens..

But, may the realization.. of who we are.. and what we have.. in Christ..

Be so much greater to us.. ++

We have no need to ever, bow our heads in defeat..

Every spiritual blessing.. is ours..

We nearly need to walk in them, grow in them and learn through them..

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[1] The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Thomas Nelson: Nashville ++

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