Sermon Notes at Hesston MB from "Live From Not For"
Today, my message at Hesston MB was based on Ephesians 1:7-10. Here are my notes:
Introduction: A
question that often starts a conversation when people first meet is, where are
you from? Talk with the person beside you and discuss why we ask this. We think
this helps us know better who the person is. I have placed a map of where I am
from. You will notice that I include multiple locations. Why? Because
each of these places I am from, has shaped who I am. So, I have titled the
message this morning “Live From, Not For” and that is based on a quote I share
often with my kids and others, “Live from your identity in Christ, not for it
today.”
Background: Paul writes this to the church in Ephesus.
Before Paul tells us what we should do as followers, he reminds us who we are.
Ephesians 1-3 focus on our position in Christ while Ephesians 4-6 focus on our
practice as those in Christ. We are told who we are in Christ no matter what we
think, what others think, or what the world tells us. Paul wants the Ephesians
and us to know who we are because it will impact what we do.
Read
Ephesians 1:7-10—FYI-verses 3-14 are one sentence.
Union vs. 7-8a
·
Vs.
7-In Him
o
Paul never uses the word, Christian, in
his writings. However, Paul uses the
phrase in Christ, in Him or related phrases over 160 times. In this really long
sentence (Ephesians 1:3-14), he uses the phrase 11 times. It is easy to skip it
over it, but I would encourage you to underline the phrase every time you see
it and not take it for granted because there is great truth in that simple
phrase.
o
You have heard me say before that if
something is repeated it is important.
So, what do we need to understand more based on these verses? The focus
is on our union with Christ.
o
I would encourage you to try and
understand union with Christ more. In
the class I teach, last year we spent half a year talking about it. Rankin Wilborne says union with Christ means
that you are in Christ and Christ is in you.
·
Vs.
7-Redemption
o
The image is one of deliverance by payment
of ransom to free slaves or prisoners. What was the price? The blood of Christ.
o
Redemption not only looks back to Calvary,
but forward to the freedom in which the redeemed stand. We are redeemed from
our former way of life. Our past & sins no longer define us. Jesus paid the price with His blood!
o
Redemption
is the foundation of God’s work on behalf of humanity. Without redemption
nothing else could be done. We have this redemption, this new standing with our
Creator, not because of our own worthiness, but simply according to the wealth
of his grace[1]
o
redemption is a present privilege which we have and enjoy now.[2]
o
In this verse, the ideas of ransom, of
sacrifice, and substitution are brought together.
·
Vs.
7-Forgiveness
o
Through Christ’s death, you are
forgiven. Your past, present, and future
sins are forgiven. All of us have sinned and we need forgiveness. Christ provides us that forgiveness.
o
The actual word used here comes from the Greek
word ἄφεσις,
(aphesis) taken from verb which means “to send away.” Again, a reminder of Psalm 103:12 “As far as
the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”
The psalmist indicates a distance that no man can measure: “as far as the east
is from the west,”[3]
o
the
forgiveness of sins-because our sins are not imputed to us and
freed from the chains of the devil and of death.[4]
·
Vs.
8-Lavished with Grace
o
Definition of lavish—spending or giving
with liberality or abundance. Think of
the recent wedding of Meghan & Prince Harry. You could say it was lavish.
o
Charis Gk. Root word for grace. It is
translated as grace, favor, beauty, thankfulness, gratitude, delight, kindness,
good turn, benefit. Grace is something we receive but we don’t deserve. It is
entirely about what God in Christ through the Spirit gives to us without any
merit or earning on our part.
o
You probably get tired of hearing me talk
about grace. If you do, I’m sorry, but
it is the message this world desperately needs to hear. Even though it is a church word, do we really
understand grace? Even in church, we use
images and phrases to help us better understand what grace is. Think about the songs we sing about grace—it
is amazing, it is greater than all our sin, your grace is enough, Jesus sought
me when a stranger, unfailing love, that you would take my place that you would
bear my cross You laid down your life that I would be set free Jesus I sing for
all you have done for me, your kindness makes me whole, you’re making me like
you, where Jesus bled and died for me. I will never get tired of hearing and
growing in my understanding of grace and talking about grace with others. John
Calvin felt the same way. Listen to this
quote.
o
Riches,
and the corresponding word overflow,
in the following verse, are intended to give us large views of divine grace.
The apostle feels himself unable to celebrate, in a proper manner, the goodness
of God, and desires that the contemplation of it would occupy the minds of men
till they are entirely lost in admiration. How desirable is it that men were
deeply impressed with “the riches of that grace” which is here commended![5]
Understanding vs. 8b-9
o This
wisdom and understanding does not
refer to our wisdom and understanding, but to God’s Divine understanding,[6]
o God
from his wisdom and understanding has chosen to reveal to his people His plan.
o The
word mystery has nothing to do with
things eerie.[7]
o Mystery-not
secretive or cult like as many in Paul’s day would have understood, but instead
the good news that Christ died for sinners which included Jew and Gentile,
slave and free, male and female, rich and poor.
o A
mystery was something not revealed in the past but which is now made known. The
Church, Jews and Gentiles together in one body, was a mystery during the OT
times. [8]
o Why?
For God’s good pleasure
Unity vs. 10
o
When will we achieve unity in this world?
In the United States? How will it happen?
o
Times have reached their fulfillment-at the
end of time. This is not saying that unity is not important for us today or
that we should not seek it. But a complete unity will not come until the end of
time.
o
I have some good news for you today. No matter what happens in your life, in this
church or in this world, Christ is the head of the church, but one day “every
knee will bow and every tongue confess” that Christ is the head.
o
We are brought into actual unity by Christ
alone.[9]
And the goal of this unity (is not just unity itself but) will be his anointed king.[10]
Closing:
We
have looked at Ephesians 1 and seen our union, understanding and unity through
Christ alone, grace alone, faith alone. I’m
going to invite the worship team forward as we transition to communion. We gather around this table because it’s all
about Jesus who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Communion is a reminder of our union with
Christ, our redemption, forgiveness, and grace lavished upon us through Jesus’
life, death and resurrection.
[2]
Stott, J. R. W. (1979). God’s new society: the message of Ephesians
(p. 40). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
[3]
Lenski, R. C. H. (1937). The interpretation of St. Paul’s Epistles to the Galatians,
to the Ephesians and to the Philippians (p. 366).
Columbus, O.: Lutheran Book Concern.
[4]
Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul to the Galatians and
Ephesians (p. 202). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible
Software.
[5]
Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul to the Galatians and
Ephesians (pp. 202–203). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible
Software.
[6]
Sproul, R. C. (1994). The Purpose of God: Ephesians (p.
27). Scotland: Christian Focus Publications.
[7]
Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary
(Vol. 2, p. 12). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[8]
Bond, J. B. (2010). The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians.
In R. N. Wilkin (Ed.), The Grace New
Testament Commentary (p. 864). Denton, TX: Grace Evangelical Society.
[9]
Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul to the Galatians and
Ephesians (p. 205). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible
Software.
[10]
Sproul, R. C. (1994). The Purpose of God: Ephesians (p.
30). Scotland: Christian Focus Publications.
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