Why it is Crucial to Learn Christ!
Ephesians 1:1-14
Remember: The mind of fallen man is futile, leading only to death (Eph 4:17-19).The carnal mind is enmity against God, it is not subject to the law of God, neither can it be(Romans 8:7-8) But God has a mind renewal process (Romans 12:2) for the blood bought people of God. Learn Christ!!! Eph 4:20-24.
A Relationship With Jesus—Talk’s cheap! I hear a lot of people talk about a personal relationship with Jesus, but I am convinced that most “Christians” have what might be called a dating relationship with Him—“it’s been a wonderful day, give me a call tomorrow”. Or a sugar daddy relationship—“I really need such and such, pretty please.” Or a professor/student relationship--If I learn enough information about the Bible and God, I will be "spiritual". NO, God speaks in terms of marriage relationship—oneness!!! John 17:20-26; Ephesians 5:22-32.
Union & Communion: Sometimes this is spoken of as a doctrine—something you learn real well and go on to the next one. NO!!! This is what all those “in’s” are all about. (In Christ occurs 15 times in Ephesians 1, either directly or implied. By the way, The Father, including pronouns referring to the Heavenly Father, occurs 25 times!) This is the very “oneness” that John 17:20-26 is talking about.
Ephesians 1:1-14 gives us seven facets of this glorious jewel, this union, in the plan of the Heavenly Father for His People. All are about this relationship, this union with Christ, how the Father initiates it, nurtures it, and guarantees it.
I. This is the Father’s “idea”, His plan and will!!!
A. It is the Father’s Pleasure! The Father’s Pleasure is always in His Son. Vs 5 “according to the good pleasure of His Will.
Vs 9 “according to the good pleasure of His Will which He purposed in Himself.”
Vs 11 “Who works all things according to the counsel of His Will. Not just wishful thinking, but there is “action” involved in His Will.
B. It is for the Father’s Glory! If we are in union with the Son, we will see the Father. He will be Glorified before us and in us. Vs 6 “to the praise of the Glory of His Grace.”
Vs 12 “that we…should be to the praise of His Glory.”
Vs 14 “To the praise of His Glory.”
II. It is the Father Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing IN the heavenly places, IN CHRIST.
A. In the heavenly places or just the “Heavenlies.” The “bank” of the dwelling place of God is the only sure source of blessing. It doesn’t need to be fdic insured! Earthly blessings can only be true blessings if we understand that they flow out of heaven’s store house.
“The new birth ushers us into the Lord’s special Pavilion, where Christ sits at the right hand of the Father—the heavenlies, the region of the Spiritual (eternal) Life. It is the believers holy home, the new life in which the believer is already with Christ by faith at the Right Hand of the Father, the ward and admiration of the unfallen angels, the envy and target of the evil ones." Hugh Martin
B. In Christ—Our blessings are inseparably attached to the fullness of Christ. We are complete in Him, and only in Him. Colossians 2:9-10
III. And here are the blessings:
A. Vs 4 The Father chose us IN Christ before the first “let there be” was ever spoken. The “dna” of the body of Christ was set long before Christ was born. The outworking of this “dna” in time is covered in John 6:39-38, 44-45.
B. Vs 5 the Father predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ TO HIMSELF. The Father’s Chosen Ones aren’t just “saved souls”, they are His Adopted Sons and made so by His
Beloved Son!!! Election and predestination are always in a Family context, the Father's Family. (Ephesians 3:14-15) Romans 8:29 amplifies this sonship—the adopted sons are the “spitten image” of His Son!!
NOTE: If you have a problem with election and predestination, just remember, to eliminate these truths is to eliminate your sonship, and also (as we shall soon see) your inheritance!!!
1. A comment about “adoption as sons”, but no adoption as daughters. Was Paul a male chauvinist? In OT and NT culture, the inheritance passed to the firstborn son. Daughter’s were at the mercy of benevolent brothers. Not so to those IN CHRIST. All those chosen in Him, male and female, receive the full inheritance of the Firstborn! We become one with Him in all the Father’s Blessings.
C. Vs 6 The Father has made us accepted in His Beloved Son!!! Quit looking for any
ground of acceptance in yourself. The Father has taken care of everything!!
D. Vs 7 IN CHRIST we have redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Paid in full!!! No penance required! I dare not to try to add one iota to the blood of Jesus!
E. Vs 8 The riches of the Father’s Grace have abounded to us in all wisdom and understanding. And it is Christ who is made unto us Wisdom. (I Cor 1:30)
1. Vs 9-10 explains this wisdom and understanding which is summarized in vs 10, “that He might gather together IN ONE all things IN CHRIST.’’
F. Vs 11 IN CHRIST we have obtained an inheritance. Rom 8:17 “and if children, then heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ.” We receive nothing apart from Christ, we receive all things IN CHRIST. Rom 8:32!!!
G. Vs 13 Having trusted IN CHRIST, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, the guarantee of our inheritance!!!. You don’t have to go hunting for this Guarantee when something goes wrong, He
dwells in you, you can’t misplace Him.
Vs 12 And here is the greatest mystery of them all, “that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the Praise of His Glory. Me, You??? How can it be??? By our being found IN CHRIST, not having mine own righteousness, which Is of the law, but that which is through the faith IN CHRIST, the righteousness which is OF GOD by faith, THAT I MAY KNOW HIM, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to His death.” Philippians 3:9-10
Ephesians 3:8-12 The redeemed are the recipients and manifestation of the manifold Wisdom of God (Eph 1:3-11), that the principalities and powers in the heavenly places might behold it and Glorify God in it—but only by what the Father has accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord and only as we are IN HIM.
Set your hearts to Learn Christ, Beloved!!!
Ephesians 1:1-14
Remember: The mind of fallen man is futile, leading only to death (Eph 4:17-19).The carnal mind is enmity against God, it is not subject to the law of God, neither can it be(Romans 8:7-8) But God has a mind renewal process (Romans 12:2) for the blood bought people of God. Learn Christ!!! Eph 4:20-24.
A Relationship With Jesus—Talk’s cheap! I hear a lot of people talk about a personal relationship with Jesus, but I am convinced that most “Christians” have what might be called a dating relationship with Him—“it’s been a wonderful day, give me a call tomorrow”. Or a sugar daddy relationship—“I really need such and such, pretty please.” Or a professor/student relationship--If I learn enough information about the Bible and God, I will be "spiritual". NO, God speaks in terms of marriage relationship—oneness!!! John 17:20-26; Ephesians 5:22-32.
Union & Communion: Sometimes this is spoken of as a doctrine—something you learn real well and go on to the next one. NO!!! This is what all those “in’s” are all about. (In Christ occurs 15 times in Ephesians 1, either directly or implied. By the way, The Father, including pronouns referring to the Heavenly Father, occurs 25 times!) This is the very “oneness” that John 17:20-26 is talking about.
Ephesians 1:1-14 gives us seven facets of this glorious jewel, this union, in the plan of the Heavenly Father for His People. All are about this relationship, this union with Christ, how the Father initiates it, nurtures it, and guarantees it.
I. This is the Father’s “idea”, His plan and will!!!
A. It is the Father’s Pleasure! The Father’s Pleasure is always in His Son. Vs 5 “according to the good pleasure of His Will.
Vs 9 “according to the good pleasure of His Will which He purposed in Himself.”
Vs 11 “Who works all things according to the counsel of His Will. Not just wishful thinking, but there is “action” involved in His Will.
B. It is for the Father’s Glory! If we are in union with the Son, we will see the Father. He will be Glorified before us and in us. Vs 6 “to the praise of the Glory of His Grace.”
Vs 12 “that we…should be to the praise of His Glory.”
Vs 14 “To the praise of His Glory.”
II. It is the Father Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing IN the heavenly places, IN CHRIST.
A. In the heavenly places or just the “Heavenlies.” The “bank” of the dwelling place of God is the only sure source of blessing. It doesn’t need to be fdic insured! Earthly blessings can only be true blessings if we understand that they flow out of heaven’s store house.
“The new birth ushers us into the Lord’s special Pavilion, where Christ sits at the right hand of the Father—the heavenlies, the region of the Spiritual (eternal) Life. It is the believers holy home, the new life in which the believer is already with Christ by faith at the Right Hand of the Father, the ward and admiration of the unfallen angels, the envy and target of the evil ones." Hugh Martin
B. In Christ—Our blessings are inseparably attached to the fullness of Christ. We are complete in Him, and only in Him. Colossians 2:9-10
III. And here are the blessings:
A. Vs 4 The Father chose us IN Christ before the first “let there be” was ever spoken. The “dna” of the body of Christ was set long before Christ was born. The outworking of this “dna” in time is covered in John 6:39-38, 44-45.
B. Vs 5 the Father predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ TO HIMSELF. The Father’s Chosen Ones aren’t just “saved souls”, they are His Adopted Sons and made so by His
Beloved Son!!! Election and predestination are always in a Family context, the Father's Family. (Ephesians 3:14-15) Romans 8:29 amplifies this sonship—the adopted sons are the “spitten image” of His Son!!
NOTE: If you have a problem with election and predestination, just remember, to eliminate these truths is to eliminate your sonship, and also (as we shall soon see) your inheritance!!!
1. A comment about “adoption as sons”, but no adoption as daughters. Was Paul a male chauvinist? In OT and NT culture, the inheritance passed to the firstborn son. Daughter’s were at the mercy of benevolent brothers. Not so to those IN CHRIST. All those chosen in Him, male and female, receive the full inheritance of the Firstborn! We become one with Him in all the Father’s Blessings.
C. Vs 6 The Father has made us accepted in His Beloved Son!!! Quit looking for any
ground of acceptance in yourself. The Father has taken care of everything!!
D. Vs 7 IN CHRIST we have redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Paid in full!!! No penance required! I dare not to try to add one iota to the blood of Jesus!
E. Vs 8 The riches of the Father’s Grace have abounded to us in all wisdom and understanding. And it is Christ who is made unto us Wisdom. (I Cor 1:30)
1. Vs 9-10 explains this wisdom and understanding which is summarized in vs 10, “that He might gather together IN ONE all things IN CHRIST.’’
F. Vs 11 IN CHRIST we have obtained an inheritance. Rom 8:17 “and if children, then heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ.” We receive nothing apart from Christ, we receive all things IN CHRIST. Rom 8:32!!!
G. Vs 13 Having trusted IN CHRIST, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, the guarantee of our inheritance!!!. You don’t have to go hunting for this Guarantee when something goes wrong, He
dwells in you, you can’t misplace Him.
Vs 12 And here is the greatest mystery of them all, “that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the Praise of His Glory. Me, You??? How can it be??? By our being found IN CHRIST, not having mine own righteousness, which Is of the law, but that which is through the faith IN CHRIST, the righteousness which is OF GOD by faith, THAT I MAY KNOW HIM, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to His death.” Philippians 3:9-10
Ephesians 3:8-12 The redeemed are the recipients and manifestation of the manifold Wisdom of God (Eph 1:3-11), that the principalities and powers in the heavenly places might behold it and Glorify God in it—but only by what the Father has accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord and only as we are IN HIM.
Set your hearts to Learn Christ, Beloved!!!