The Working Out of the “In Christ” Blessings
Ephesians 1:15-2:10
Remember: We have seen that the fallen mind of man is futile. It grows out of a death context (bondage-Hebrews 2:14-15), and it leads to a “dead end”. The Father’s solution for the transformation of the mind of the redeemed is for them to Learn Christ. The “curriculum” of that learning is the liberating Blessings that the Father has given us In Christ in the heavenlies. These are Eternal Blessings assured by the gift of the Indwelling Holy Spirit. Now we look at the working out of those Blessings in the here and now. The "bank" is in heaven, but faith draws on that bank moment by moment!
I. The Enabling Power for Eternal Life in this fallen world.
A. Paul’s Prayer Eph 1:15-23
1. Vs 15 Why is he praying this for them? He has evident testimony that their profession is real. How, by their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the outworking of that faith toward the other Adopted Children of God! Col 1:4; Hebrews 6:9-12; I John 3:13-19
Note: According to Paul & John, Lone Ranger Christians have no biblical foundation for assurance of salvation. The sacrificial Love of our Savior will be worked out in His People by His Holy Spirit. It is the Family Likeness, and is worked out in a family context!!!
2. Vs 17ff The content of his prayer
a. It is to the Source of all Blessing—The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory!
b. Vs 17b That the Father may give them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Christ Jesus). Unless the Father gives us the “Tools” to grow in the transformational knowledge of Christ Jesus, we will just learn “stuff” about Jesus, and remain in our sins.
c. Vs 18 Notice the resulting contrast with Eph 4:18—from a darkened understanding to an enlightened understanding!!! And what does that new understanding grasp? The hope of His calling (Romans 8:29) and the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints!!!
3. Vs 19-23 His exceeding Greatness of His Power toward us who believe!!!
a. This is no ordinary power, this is the Power of the Most High God, the Father of Glory. And it is focused (toward) on us earthly weaklings!!!
b. This power toward us is already a DONE DEAL!!! The Father worked it to completion at the Resurrection of The Son of His Love from the dead and the seating Him at His Right Hand, the ultimate place of Power and Glory! This is the Power of the Gospel that Romans 1:16 speaks of!
c. Vs 21 The Power of the Father resides in the God/Man, Christ Jesus in an impregnable location and at an elevation that nothing in angelic or human history can touch.
d. Vs 22a And secondly, the Father has given Him all authority to do whatever He wills to do over all creation, angelic and human. Ps 110:1-2; Hebrews 2:5-9
e. Vs 22b He is the Head of His Body, the church, in all things! Do not think visible structures and governments here. Those are man made. God is not worshipped with men’s hands as though He needed anything!!! (Acts 17:24)
f. Vs 23 Amazing—the church is His Body, the Fullness of Him Who fills all in all. Note: In anything that concerns His Body, if it does not grow out of union and communion with the Head, Christ Jesus, it is emptiness!!! He is the Fullness of the Godhead bodily, and we are ` complete only in Him. (Col 2:9-10)
B. Ephesians 2:1-10 And here’s the outworking of that DONE DEAL Power in the here and now.
1. He has made us, the former dead people, ALIVE.
Vs 2-3 Our former family portrait!!! It looks exactly like Eph. 4:17-19
2. Vs 4 “But God, Who is rich in Mercy”. Its all of God!!! And it is all because of His Great Love with which He loved us!!! There is no other cause!!!
3. Vs 5 Our only contribution to the process was our death. But get a hold of this: the Loving, Merciful Father made us alive together with Christ, raising us up together with Jesus at His Resurrection!!! WE ARE ETERNALLY ALIVE, IN CHRIST JESUS, RIGHT NOW, THIS VERY MINUTE!!! AND BY THE WAY, IT IS ALL OF GRACE!!!
4. Vs 6 And what’s more, we are seated together in the heavenly places IN CHRIST JESUS.
5. Vs 7 Why? So that the Father could show off the exceeding riches of His Grace IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US IN CHRIST JESUS!!!
6. Vs 8 And here it is again, “For by Grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of your selves, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD!!!
7. Vs 9 If you add any thing of unredeemed humanity to it, it is boasting in human flesh and is damnable. In Christ alone, by the Grace and Mercy of our Loving Father. As wonderful as that is, only faith activated by the Holy Spirit can receive it!!!
8. Vs 10 “For we are His Workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, unto good works, which were foreordained, that we should walk in them. KJV Our living out our life in Christ leaves no more room f or boasting than our coming to that life. It is all of Grace!
Jesus answered and said unto them, "This is the work of God, that you believe on Him Whom He has sent."
Ephesians 1:15-2:10
Remember: We have seen that the fallen mind of man is futile. It grows out of a death context (bondage-Hebrews 2:14-15), and it leads to a “dead end”. The Father’s solution for the transformation of the mind of the redeemed is for them to Learn Christ. The “curriculum” of that learning is the liberating Blessings that the Father has given us In Christ in the heavenlies. These are Eternal Blessings assured by the gift of the Indwelling Holy Spirit. Now we look at the working out of those Blessings in the here and now. The "bank" is in heaven, but faith draws on that bank moment by moment!
I. The Enabling Power for Eternal Life in this fallen world.
A. Paul’s Prayer Eph 1:15-23
1. Vs 15 Why is he praying this for them? He has evident testimony that their profession is real. How, by their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the outworking of that faith toward the other Adopted Children of God! Col 1:4; Hebrews 6:9-12; I John 3:13-19
Note: According to Paul & John, Lone Ranger Christians have no biblical foundation for assurance of salvation. The sacrificial Love of our Savior will be worked out in His People by His Holy Spirit. It is the Family Likeness, and is worked out in a family context!!!
2. Vs 17ff The content of his prayer
a. It is to the Source of all Blessing—The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory!
b. Vs 17b That the Father may give them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Christ Jesus). Unless the Father gives us the “Tools” to grow in the transformational knowledge of Christ Jesus, we will just learn “stuff” about Jesus, and remain in our sins.
c. Vs 18 Notice the resulting contrast with Eph 4:18—from a darkened understanding to an enlightened understanding!!! And what does that new understanding grasp? The hope of His calling (Romans 8:29) and the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints!!!
3. Vs 19-23 His exceeding Greatness of His Power toward us who believe!!!
a. This is no ordinary power, this is the Power of the Most High God, the Father of Glory. And it is focused (toward) on us earthly weaklings!!!
b. This power toward us is already a DONE DEAL!!! The Father worked it to completion at the Resurrection of The Son of His Love from the dead and the seating Him at His Right Hand, the ultimate place of Power and Glory! This is the Power of the Gospel that Romans 1:16 speaks of!
c. Vs 21 The Power of the Father resides in the God/Man, Christ Jesus in an impregnable location and at an elevation that nothing in angelic or human history can touch.
d. Vs 22a And secondly, the Father has given Him all authority to do whatever He wills to do over all creation, angelic and human. Ps 110:1-2; Hebrews 2:5-9
e. Vs 22b He is the Head of His Body, the church, in all things! Do not think visible structures and governments here. Those are man made. God is not worshipped with men’s hands as though He needed anything!!! (Acts 17:24)
f. Vs 23 Amazing—the church is His Body, the Fullness of Him Who fills all in all. Note: In anything that concerns His Body, if it does not grow out of union and communion with the Head, Christ Jesus, it is emptiness!!! He is the Fullness of the Godhead bodily, and we are ` complete only in Him. (Col 2:9-10)
B. Ephesians 2:1-10 And here’s the outworking of that DONE DEAL Power in the here and now.
1. He has made us, the former dead people, ALIVE.
Vs 2-3 Our former family portrait!!! It looks exactly like Eph. 4:17-19
2. Vs 4 “But God, Who is rich in Mercy”. Its all of God!!! And it is all because of His Great Love with which He loved us!!! There is no other cause!!!
3. Vs 5 Our only contribution to the process was our death. But get a hold of this: the Loving, Merciful Father made us alive together with Christ, raising us up together with Jesus at His Resurrection!!! WE ARE ETERNALLY ALIVE, IN CHRIST JESUS, RIGHT NOW, THIS VERY MINUTE!!! AND BY THE WAY, IT IS ALL OF GRACE!!!
4. Vs 6 And what’s more, we are seated together in the heavenly places IN CHRIST JESUS.
5. Vs 7 Why? So that the Father could show off the exceeding riches of His Grace IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US IN CHRIST JESUS!!!
6. Vs 8 And here it is again, “For by Grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of your selves, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD!!!
7. Vs 9 If you add any thing of unredeemed humanity to it, it is boasting in human flesh and is damnable. In Christ alone, by the Grace and Mercy of our Loving Father. As wonderful as that is, only faith activated by the Holy Spirit can receive it!!!
8. Vs 10 “For we are His Workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, unto good works, which were foreordained, that we should walk in them. KJV Our living out our life in Christ leaves no more room f or boasting than our coming to that life. It is all of Grace!
Jesus answered and said unto them, "This is the work of God, that you believe on Him Whom He has sent."