A Tale of Two Families
Ephesians 2:1-10
I. The Family in Christ–The Adopted Children of The Father of Glory! 1:17
A. Blessed beyond all measure. Eph 1:3-14
1. We are chosen IN the Beloved Son of God–The most “Secure Location” conceivable by the Eternal Father!!! Vs 3b-8
2. We are given the Ultimate Inheritance–That of the Eternal Son of God, again, (IN HIM)!!! Vs 11-14, Rom. 8:16-17 "The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ....."
3. We possess, have indwelling in our bosoms, the fully revealed WILL of our Father, the stated description of our Inheritance, the assured Personal Document, the very Holy Spirit of God. Vs 13-14, Rom. 8:1-39 (Note His Name! The Spirit of Adoption!!! Rom 8:15-16) It is His “job” to assure us of our Eternal adoption as children!!!
4. We are born (John 3;1-8) into the greatest possible purpose in Eternity–“that we should be to the praise of His Glory” (1:12 & 14)
5. We are the recipients of the Power of all Being, the Power of Eternity–already securely ours in the Resurrection & Seating of our God/Man, Christ Jesus, at the Fathers’ Right Hand of all Power and Authority!!! Since everything about us is only real IN CHRIST, by faith (“us who believe” 1:19) we dwell in the very “POWER STRUCTURE” of all Eternity.
6. We are not alone in this old hostile world. We are part of His Body, the church, the Bride of the Beloved Son. Vs 22-23 We are one with the Beloved as He prayed in John 17:20-26.
7. And all of this incredible BLESSING, depends solely on the “birthing grace of God”.
II. The children of disobedience 2:1-3
A. Every adopted child of God was born out of death! He (Christ Jesus) made us alive for the very first time!
1. Our former condition:
a. We were “trespassers” on God’s Creation, defiling it in sin.
b. We walked according to the course (conforming pattern) of this world.
c. Notice, (vs 2), this “course” is not neutral. Everything it dictates, runs after, longs for, is according to the prince of the power of the air! He is within, beneath, and behind all of the driving forces of the world systems. Note the next phrase: “the spirit who now works in the sons (and daughters) of disobedience.” Even nice people, even good people fall into this category.
d. Vs 3 This is our former “turf’. It was all about us–our passions, our desires, our wisdom. This was our very nature–“having no hope and without God in the world.” And our only inheritance was the Wrath of God!
III. But God, Who is Rich in Mercy 2:4-10
A. God’s only motivating factor–His great Love!!!
1. Vs 5 His Love not only exceeds our sins, it did all that was necessary to give eternal life to dead people. This is grace–uniting us, former dead people, to the Eternal Son of God!
2. Vs 6 By faith, this is our real location. Remember the power of 1:20? This is only because of “the working of His Mighty Power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His Right Hand in the heavenly places.” By faith we are “in” Christ Jesus, at the Father’s Right Hand. That’s Eternal Security!!!
3. Vs 7 The Eternal Show and Tell! It will take all the time of eternity for our God to display to us “the exceeding riches of His Grace in His Kindness TOWARD US in Christ Jesus.!!! The most mature of the children of God hasn’t a clue!!! Our vision while looking through the “looking glass of time” is beyond dim! We haven’t seen anything yet!!!
4. Vs 8-9 It’s all about the Riches of His Grace!!! Remember our former condition!!
(Vs 1-30) Remember the Richness of His Mercy and His great Love!!! Even the faith to receive this great gift is from. All we brought to the baby shower was the stench of our former deadness.!
5. Vs 10 He is the Craftsman. Even our clay isn’t fit for His craftsmanship. He has to place us in His Son to make anything satisfactory. Notice the inseparable connection to Christ Jesus in Vs 5-10. Vs 5–with Christ; vs 6–in Christ; vs 7–in Christ, Now vs 10–Created in Christ Jesus! We as new creations in Christ depend completely upon the restorative work of the Creator.
a. Notice: Created in Christ Jesus for a very specific purpose–for (Kjv-unto) good works! Just like Jesus who, “Went about doing good” (Acts 10:38) And this is that which brings praise to the Glory of the Father–His adopted kids doing good!
b. Notice again: God has already prepared the “soil” for our good works and all we have to do is walk in them. As the old saint, Joseph Irons said, “Just like our Jesus–obedient to the ordination of Providence.”
In other words, God has you where He wants you. He has placed His purpose for you right where you are. He wants us to live with thanksgiving and gratitude unto Him right where He has placed us, doing good unto all men
Galatians 6:10 “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
Remember where we came from: self will, self desire, self motivation–“I” was nearly the only letter in our alphabet! But God, Who is Rich in Mercy, because of His great Love with which He Loved us.” That “But God” has made all the difference! From the children of disobedience to the adopted children of the Most High God!
Ephesians 2:1-10
I. The Family in Christ–The Adopted Children of The Father of Glory! 1:17
A. Blessed beyond all measure. Eph 1:3-14
1. We are chosen IN the Beloved Son of God–The most “Secure Location” conceivable by the Eternal Father!!! Vs 3b-8
2. We are given the Ultimate Inheritance–That of the Eternal Son of God, again, (IN HIM)!!! Vs 11-14, Rom. 8:16-17 "The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ....."
3. We possess, have indwelling in our bosoms, the fully revealed WILL of our Father, the stated description of our Inheritance, the assured Personal Document, the very Holy Spirit of God. Vs 13-14, Rom. 8:1-39 (Note His Name! The Spirit of Adoption!!! Rom 8:15-16) It is His “job” to assure us of our Eternal adoption as children!!!
4. We are born (John 3;1-8) into the greatest possible purpose in Eternity–“that we should be to the praise of His Glory” (1:12 & 14)
5. We are the recipients of the Power of all Being, the Power of Eternity–already securely ours in the Resurrection & Seating of our God/Man, Christ Jesus, at the Fathers’ Right Hand of all Power and Authority!!! Since everything about us is only real IN CHRIST, by faith (“us who believe” 1:19) we dwell in the very “POWER STRUCTURE” of all Eternity.
6. We are not alone in this old hostile world. We are part of His Body, the church, the Bride of the Beloved Son. Vs 22-23 We are one with the Beloved as He prayed in John 17:20-26.
7. And all of this incredible BLESSING, depends solely on the “birthing grace of God”.
II. The children of disobedience 2:1-3
A. Every adopted child of God was born out of death! He (Christ Jesus) made us alive for the very first time!
1. Our former condition:
a. We were “trespassers” on God’s Creation, defiling it in sin.
b. We walked according to the course (conforming pattern) of this world.
c. Notice, (vs 2), this “course” is not neutral. Everything it dictates, runs after, longs for, is according to the prince of the power of the air! He is within, beneath, and behind all of the driving forces of the world systems. Note the next phrase: “the spirit who now works in the sons (and daughters) of disobedience.” Even nice people, even good people fall into this category.
d. Vs 3 This is our former “turf’. It was all about us–our passions, our desires, our wisdom. This was our very nature–“having no hope and without God in the world.” And our only inheritance was the Wrath of God!
III. But God, Who is Rich in Mercy 2:4-10
A. God’s only motivating factor–His great Love!!!
1. Vs 5 His Love not only exceeds our sins, it did all that was necessary to give eternal life to dead people. This is grace–uniting us, former dead people, to the Eternal Son of God!
2. Vs 6 By faith, this is our real location. Remember the power of 1:20? This is only because of “the working of His Mighty Power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His Right Hand in the heavenly places.” By faith we are “in” Christ Jesus, at the Father’s Right Hand. That’s Eternal Security!!!
3. Vs 7 The Eternal Show and Tell! It will take all the time of eternity for our God to display to us “the exceeding riches of His Grace in His Kindness TOWARD US in Christ Jesus.!!! The most mature of the children of God hasn’t a clue!!! Our vision while looking through the “looking glass of time” is beyond dim! We haven’t seen anything yet!!!
4. Vs 8-9 It’s all about the Riches of His Grace!!! Remember our former condition!!
(Vs 1-30) Remember the Richness of His Mercy and His great Love!!! Even the faith to receive this great gift is from. All we brought to the baby shower was the stench of our former deadness.!
5. Vs 10 He is the Craftsman. Even our clay isn’t fit for His craftsmanship. He has to place us in His Son to make anything satisfactory. Notice the inseparable connection to Christ Jesus in Vs 5-10. Vs 5–with Christ; vs 6–in Christ; vs 7–in Christ, Now vs 10–Created in Christ Jesus! We as new creations in Christ depend completely upon the restorative work of the Creator.
a. Notice: Created in Christ Jesus for a very specific purpose–for (Kjv-unto) good works! Just like Jesus who, “Went about doing good” (Acts 10:38) And this is that which brings praise to the Glory of the Father–His adopted kids doing good!
b. Notice again: God has already prepared the “soil” for our good works and all we have to do is walk in them. As the old saint, Joseph Irons said, “Just like our Jesus–obedient to the ordination of Providence.”
In other words, God has you where He wants you. He has placed His purpose for you right where you are. He wants us to live with thanksgiving and gratitude unto Him right where He has placed us, doing good unto all men
Galatians 6:10 “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
Remember where we came from: self will, self desire, self motivation–“I” was nearly the only letter in our alphabet! But God, Who is Rich in Mercy, because of His great Love with which He Loved us.” That “But God” has made all the difference! From the children of disobedience to the adopted children of the Most High God!