Ephesians 1:7-12
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Textual Idea: God is to be praised for what He has done for us.
Textual Idea: God is to be praised for what He has done for us.
There he goes again…using textual ideas from other sermons…yup. This is one long run on 202 word sentence remember?
Verse 3 is the popping the top of a bottle of Champaign, and 4-14 is the exuberant explosion of celebration that follows. What we see in verse 3 is that God is to be praised…and 4-14 are the reasons why. And what we find in verses 4-14 are the three members of the God Head blessing those of us who believe.In verses 4-6 we see, God the Father blessing us. In verses 7-12 we see, God the Son blessing us.In verses 13-14 we see, God the Spirit blessing us. Each of these segments end with a similar refrain. - To the praise of His Glory.
God, the Son is to be praised for what He has done for us.
God, the Son is to be praised for what He has done for us.
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,
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 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
10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In 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,
Jesus has redeemed us by His blood. (7a)
Jesus has redeemed us by His blood. (7a)
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
Redemption: the release from bondage because a price was paid.
Describe a scenario in your life when you have seen something “redeemed.” Redemption: the release from bondage because a price was paid.
ILLUSTRATION: Have you ever been to like a Chuck E Cheese?
Do you like Chuck E Cheese? Do you have any items in your household that you have “redeemed” from there or maybe a carnival?
You walk into this place and your realize that even before you step into this place, that you have made a bad life decision. Noise, Lights, Frantic kids running everywhere in hopes of getting something of value. Chucky Cheese is to a child, as the City of Vanity to Christian in John Bunyan’s the Pilgram’s Progress. The city where there is an ongoing festival called Vanity Fair…where all the world has to offer is presented to you…but the one thing that can satisfy you, you can’t find.
Anyway…I digress.
So…walk into this “house of coveting” and you look behind the “prize” counter. and your child’s eyes light up as they survey the shelves. Stuffed animals, inflatable baseball bats, video game systems, dolls, remote control cars, lego sets, lolipops and candy bars and other trinkets of “value” are being held captive by the evil clerk behind the counter.
Your kids are wide eyed and determined to rescue them…but how? How might I go about saving that prized possession of my choosing?
Well you have to “REDEEM THEM” with “Redemption Tickets.” They have to be paid for…and parent you know how costly it is right? In abut an hour or two you will walk out of there have spent like 40$ for a snicker bar, a couple toy soldiers and 4 tootsie rolls. Ya…that’s a fair price!
I digress...
Anyway…lovingly…give your child some money to go get the tokens to play the games to win some tickets while you pop a few IBProfin and try to find a happy place and you wait. Then you child approaches you some time later with tickets hanging out their pockets and are in need of your expertise in counting. You add it all up and you approach the evil clerk, who has been holding prizes captive while wondering why he isn’t getting paid more than minimum wage because there is like 5000% mark up on everything in the store…
I digress...
And your child says…I want that Snicker Bar!
Evil Clerk: That will be 1,500 tickets! (You then realize why you are in financial trouble). The child counts out 1,500 tickets and hands them over to the clerk. The clerk gladly accepts the tickets and hands over the snicker bar. And the Snicker bar now belongs to the child to do with whatever he want because the price has been paid.
Redemption has occured.
Jerry Bridges says:
“To redeem is to buy back or secure the release of someone from slavery or from captivity by the payment of a ransom. Redemption, then, is the action to secure release; the ransom is the price paid to effect the action.”
Now…look
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
We were the prizes held captive by and evil ruler and Jesus, took on flesh and dwelt among us and walked into this world and He saw us in our captivity and He said…I want them. Dad I want them.
24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
And God says: ok they are yours, but there is price to pay.
Jesus: I’ll do it…it that road looks tough…but not my will, Thy will be done.
And BLOOD WAS THE ASKING PRICE.
AND SO BLOOD WAS SPILLED…CROWN OF THONES, NAILS DRIVEN THROUGH FEET AND HANDS, THE FLESH OF HIS BACK FLAYED OPEN, SPEAR PIERCING HIS SIDE.
See from his head, his hands, his feet…sorrow and love flowed mingled down.
Did ere such love and sorrow meet…or joy compose so rich a crown…
This is what we deserved for our crimes against God.
This is the the implication of being a wretch when God is majestic in holiness.
This cost him His life.
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
and because He paid the cost...
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Whenever we learn something about God…it should lead us down the pathway of praise.
To the praise of His Glorious Grace.
What was the price for our redemption? What had to be traded in, so that we could be purchased?
Jesus has redeemed us by His blood. (7a)
Jesus has redeemed us by His blood. (7a)
Jesus has forgiven our trespasses. (7b)
Jesus has forgiven our trespasses. (7b)
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 upon us, in all wisdom and insight
Forgiveness of our trespasses...
Forgiveness: a permanent cancellation of or release from the punishment of sin since it has been paid for by Christ’s sacrifice.
Remember?
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Sin occured, death followed. This is simple cause/effect logic.
20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
Adam sinned and he died. All born after Adam…were born in Adam’s line as sinners and although we were born physically we were stillborn in our souls.
We sin because we are sinners.
Well what about Jesus? The soul that sins shall die…and He was without earthly Father (born of a virgin), and He lived a sinless life…why did He die?
If the soul that sins is supposed to die (Ezekiel 18:20), and Jesus was sinless, why did He die?
Well...
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
He died in our place. He took on our punishment...
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
So what about that cause effect relationship? Between sin and death?
Well with Christ death...
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—
Through His Virgin birth and through perfect works, the curse on us is reversed and we are His purchased church.
Let’s talk about that cause and effect logic again…as it relates to reversing our sin problem.
Redemption is the cause of our release from punishment, and forgiveness is the effect.
God slaughtered His Son…He is not lenient with sin…a price was paid…and since it was paid in full…there has been a permanent cancellation of or release from the punishment of sin.
Hallelujah…What a Savior!
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 upon us, in all wisdom and insight
And now to sound like an infomercial…”But wait…there’s more...”
This was done by and act of His grace that is rich.
But wait…there’s more...
that rich grace has been lavished on us. and just to burn this in your minds today.
ILLUSTRATION: Lavished (to provide a great deal of something).
What do you think is the most annoying infomercial? Have you ever broken down and bought a product you’ve watched an infomercial for?
Jesus Christ is the Head of all (8-10).
Jesus Christ is the Head of all (8-10).
8 which 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 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
1. God set up the plan and then...
2. He executed it too perfection.
A plan executed to perfection is a thing of beauty.
Like today when Andy Reid draws up plays for Patrick Mahomes to throw the ball sideways or under handed…or behind the back to Travis Kelce or Tyreek Hill and they run for a touchdown. It is a thing of beauty right?
You know the joy of a well executed plan right?
Remember when the Seahawks' coaching staff, while trailing the Patriots 28-24, with 30 seconds left in the game decided to let Russell Wilson throw the ball from the one-yard line instead of handing the ball off to Marshawn Lynch who had already rushed for 102 yard and a touchdown. What a great plan right? (Still too soon?)
Verses 8-10 are a plan executed to perfection.
There was a mystery that was concealed, but now with the accomplishments of the Christ, the mystery is now revealed. What has been revealed to us is what Peter says in chapter 1 of his epistle that prophets and angels in the Old Testament longed to look into (1 Peter 1:10-12). You got this knowledge how amazing is that?
So I want to talk about God’s plan and the fact that we know it…that it has been revealed to us who believe.
1. God set up His plan.
1. God set up His plan.
God set up and accomplished His plan. Well what was His plan? How did He accomplish it in Christ?
What does Paul mean by mystery? Now some of you already know that, but Paul loves this term mystery. 20 times by Paul / 6 times in this Epistle)
Paul uses the concept of mystery a lot…at is essence when Paul uses this term he is referring to the plan of God that “unites all things in/under Christ and His authority.”
Jesus Christ was sent by the Father to accomplish what Adam (our former federal head) failed to do. Jesus executed the game plan fully to the point of death, even death on a cross and so...
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Every person…whether Jew or Gentiles, redeemed or unredeemed will all fall under the authority of Jesus. We will all, no matter who we are, our backgrounds, our upbringings, our political alignments, our varying takes on hot button topics all fall under the authority of Jesus. He was the fulfilment of the plan and all things have been given into his hands and from his hands we will all either receive WRATH or GRACE.
Every person is under the authority of God’s Christ. Jesus will either dispense wrath or grace. Which option is coming towards you…and why?
2. Jesus executed it to perfection.
2. Jesus executed it to perfection.
And all this was done as the text says in, “the fulness of time.” Look at this sovereign power.
10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
fullness of time (literally: when the time was ripe - fruit…berries - you got to do it just right…you have to know something about the process....
ILLUSTRATION: Jon, I am sure that I am going to completely butcher the process, but this week I was recalling our conversation we have a few months back when you picked my up from SEATAC airport. We discussed what your company does to package berries.
I remember you mentioned that you had to get them when they were “just right.” Not to firm, not to soft…otherwise the flash frozen process didn’t work as well.
In order to do that a PLAN had to be established and ACTED on.
Get the workers ready…get the equipment in the field, get the transportation lined up, get people in place to receive the product at the packing plant.…offload the product, make sure the machines are properly functioning…which means employing and training a maintenance crew, a cleaning crew, (sanitation crew because of covid).
You go to have the liquid nitrogen, ordered, delivered, stocked and ready to go…and then all the packaging supplies for storage and transport.
All of this for a berry.
All of it to redeem a berry to benefit other people.
Look at what God has done for us. Look at what he has done “in the fullness of time.”
The unfolding story from Genesis to the end of the Gospel of John to the end of the Revelation of Jesus.
God had a plan and he executed it.
Genesis 3:15 God promised that a seed from the woman would one day crush the head of the serpent.
The entire OT carried out that plan as it traces the seed line, through the exodus, and the judges, and the conquest of the land, through the united and divided kingdoms, through the time of the exile, to the return of God’s people to the land, through the 400 years of silence…and then a baby cried.
This was the time, the fullness of time, it was the unfolding of HIs plan.
Jesus was going to be planted in the flesh. (The God Man) dwelling among us.
Jesus was going to grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man…the seed would turn into a…young plant.
2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
That seed, that was planted, that grew into a plant, would eventually be cut off from the land of the living.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?
And then his body was planted again…accept this time…not in the flesh, but in the earth.
He was processed…wrapped in a linen shroud and then he was buried.
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
God set up His plan to redeem us by the blood of His son…and Jesus executed it to perfection.
That which was concealed in mystery has been revealed to us by the God of history.
This is God’s doing…and it is mysterious until He reveals it to us.
This knowledge is something that needs to be “revealed” to us because it formerly eluded our dull minds. Remember last week when I picked on Warren? Remember…I said God chose him because he was foolish and weak. (Notice he isn’t here today???). To understand this complex mystery of God (that even the prophets and angels didn’t quite get), it needed to be revealed to us. Christ did that. Not only did he reveal it through his teaching ministry…but he accomplished it through the sacrifice of himself on the cross.
Everything in history…as crazy as it seems, happened on schedule. God was executing HIs plan to unite all things in Christ…even foolish and weak people. Foolish and weak people were chosen by God to have this mystery revealed to them.
So yes God chose because you are foolish and weak, but now I say to you, that is for those of you to whom Jesus Christ has been revealed…I say, “you are the wisest and strongest people in the world.”
How can that be? Well it has been granted to us, insight into the most important thing in the universe. The most important thing is that this is God’s creation that we have wreaked, but He has sent Jesus into to His creation to redeem it. You who know that are the wisest and strongest people in the world.
1. For those in the Beloved…you aren’t fools anymore…you know the most important thing to know.
and when you know the most important thing to know…that makes you strong.
2. For those in the Beloved…you aren’t weak anymore…you are the strongest people in the world.
You are willing to give up everything for the sake of knowing Christ Jesus and Him crucified and to somehow gain the resurrection from the dead.
Jim Elliot - “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”
23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
The mystery that has been concealed for ages, but that has now been revealed to us who believe is not to be kept a secret anymore…we are to shout it from the rooftops as though God were making His appeal through those of us who have had the mystery revealed so that it is no longer concealed.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Jesus Christ is the Head of all.
Jesus Christ is the Head of all.
and so we proclaim him.
We have an inheritance waiting for us. (11-12)
We have an inheritance waiting for us. (11-12)
11 In 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, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
The passage is going to pivot just a bit to introduce a major theme in the letter…that is both Jews and Gentiles are part of this plan. This wasn’t just a local, ethnic, regional movement…this was for everybody at all times. Saul of Tarsus, who became Paul the Apostle is writing these words to Gentile Ephesians and he uses the the pronouns, “we” (meaning Jews) and “you” (13-14) (meaning Gentiles)…as having recieved the same “inheritance” because of the connection to Christ.
God’s way of restoring harmony between Himself and all of His creation was to make Christians, not policies in the worlds governments that attempt to mandate God’s morality on unregenerate people. It won’t work. We need God to move by His Spirit to empower His called out ones to love another another and to live in such harmony with one another that people see in our behavior towards one another something they don’t see anywhere else. (OH BOY I COULD PREACH HERE) - God has broken down the wall of hostility…(Ephesians 2:14).
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Here in a few weeks we will look at the hostility that existed between Jews and Gentile that only God could mend. But for today…in our passage I just want to highlight two phrases in verses 11-12.
“Obtained an inheritance” and “all things according to the counsel of his will.”
Because we are “in Christ” we have “obtained an inheritance.” We have been blessed with “every spiritual blessing.”
What joy for those who find themselves blessed with every spiritual blessing! Even if everything is stripped away we can be content because He said,
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Well I don’t have much. Well guess what you do have…you have Jesus, the priceless treasure and He will never leave you. Not now…not ever…and so you are not only the WISEST AND STRONGEST person in the world, but you are also the RICHEST.
In what sense are those in Christ the “wisest, strongest, richest” people in the world?
Praise God!
Final phase to consider today...
11 In 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,
It’s hard think of a more encouraging Scripture.
There is a reason and a purpose behind EVERYTHING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU…AND there is a reason and purpose behind EVERYTHING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED EVERYWHERE!
Stunning.
By definition God is sovereign. He directs all things according to the counsel of HIs will.
This should give us who believe great comfort...
Westminster confession of Faith Chapter three line one: God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass.
God uses human means to fulfill what He has ordained.
Evil will not triumph in the end. It serves at the pleasure of the Almighty…God can even take what was ment for evil and turn it to good…Ask Jospeh. As all the Israelites who were preserved for generations because of the evil that was done to Joseph.
In fact ask yourself…the evil…that was intended for evil, was turned for good for your benefit, because through that evil…and the rise of Joseph to power was used of God to preserve the seedline of the Promised Messiah back in Genesis 3:15. He can turn it for our good and His glory!
So no matter what life throws at you…you have the assurance of ultimate victory.
There is nothing--no circumstance, no trouble, no testing--that can ever touch me until, first of all, it has gone past God and past Christ right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with a great purpose, which I may not understand at the moment. But as I refuse to become panicky, as I lift up my eyes to Him and accept it as coming from the throne of God for some great purpose of blessing to my own heart, no sorrow will ever disturb me, no circumstance will cause me to fret, for I shall rest in the joy of what my Lord is--that is the rest of victory! - Alan Redpath
God, the Son is to be praised for what He has done for us.
God, the Son is to be praised for what He has done for us.
God set up His plan.
God set up His plan.
Jesus executed it to perfection.
Jesus executed it to perfection.
We have an inheritance waiting for us. (11-12)
We have an inheritance waiting for us. (11-12)
Whenever we learn something about God…it should lead us down the pathway of praise.