Privileges of the Saint
Notes
Transcript
23 May 21
Eph. 1 - Privileges of the Saint
Please turn to Eph. 1. Thank you Kerry
Review: Remember, Ephesians is written to the saints. Saints - those in Christ.
There are two sides to sainthood -
The privilege side of “sainthood” is purely by the work of Christ.
It is through the cross, through His blood, His sacrifice, and our faith to receive that - we are made saints.
The responsibility side of “sainthood” is the expectation of the saint to pursue holiness and moral purity.
We’re focused on the privilege - chapters 1-3.
In verses 3-14, Paul opens his letter with a hymn of praise - let’s treat it that way
Blessed- to speak well of - to praise / to bestow favor with an intended outcome (e.g. here’s $20)
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,
Whatever is available in Christ is available to us.
We talked about reasons why we don’t experience these blessings as much.
Question - How can we experience …? Move beyond barriers of unbelief, control …?
My prayer - What happens on Sundays would be so powerful and so real that it changes our Mondays through Saturdays.
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
What does “chose” mean? God made an intentional choice to create humanity and love humanity.
Whom did God choose? In a general sense, whom has God chosen for salvation and relationship?
For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
Buddha and _______ will not save you. You have to earn it.
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?
God does not rejoice in the death of the unsaved. God wants all saved, so again - whom did God choose for salvation?
Now, when did God make this choice?
× Before the physical universe came into existence, every person was to be in relationship with God
× So what does this tell us about God and humanity?
No one is unwanted by God.
§ One reason why I believer abortion is wrong - even before we were born, God wanted us
o Think about all the people you and I encounter - get their faces and images in your mind.
§ Who among them is unwanted by God?
§ How do we show they are wanted? Valued?
§ How can we begin to show they are wanted?
§ How might it change someone’s day to say, “God chose you. God wants you.”
§ A difference between the devil and God - God wants you. The devil wants to destroy you.
What kind of person were you before coming to Christ?
Regardless of your condition before coming to Christ, God had already chosen you!
Before you and God got together, what kind of a person were you? Ungodly, sinner, rebellious, dead … (Rom. 5:6-8, Eph. 2:1-3). So what was it about me and you that made God say, “I choose them?” Nothing. He chose us when we were ….
What about the people around us? When did God choose them?
God chose us before we …..
Let’s take this idea of choice a littler further. God designed us to be what kind of people?
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
Holy - set apart. An exclusive relationship with God. We are to be wholly God’s - relationship of fidelity, commitment, loyalty - not perfection. I’m not perfect in my relationship with Susan, but I am loyal.
David - man after God’s heart. Intensely loyal to Yahweh.
Question - are we wholly, entirely God’s?
Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God.
For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground.
God - I don’t want you to be like them. Loyal love!
Are we wholly His?
It also says we were created to be blameless.
Two sides - right living and without consequences. Never created for consequences of sin / consequences of guilt. Adam and Eve created in nakedness - innocence - without blame
Who can claim innocence or blamelessness? For those who don’t know Jesus - this is the crux of the issue why we all need Jesus. Why we need grace, forgiveness …
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,
he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
It is a privilege to be chosen, is it not?
Closing Questions:
What can you do when you feel unwanted?
What is one thing you can do to move toward consecration?
Barriers?
What are you walking away with?