Paul is spurring the Ephesians on to bless God for all the spiritual blessings He has granted to us in Christ Jesus. After describing the glorious blessing of choosing us in Christ before the foundation of the world, He goes on to describe the blessings that come to us in Jesus Christ His Son.
Teaching Notes:
Our Riches In Christ
Ephesians 1:7-12
Intro:
In Ephesians 1:3-14 we are given a sweeping panorama of God’s master plan of salvation from eternity to eternity. Notice it begins with God choosing us in Christ from before the foundation of the world, and it ends in vs.14 with the Holy Spirit sealing us unto our eternal inheritance in glory. Between these 2 we have the work of Jesus Christ – redemption. Here we have Paul’s description of our spiritual blessings in Christ. Last Sunday we discussed the first blessing that Paul enumerates – election. We were chosen by God the Father. We discovered that God’s choice was unconditional, of particular persons to eternal salvation, was made before the foundation of the world, was unto the goal that we would be holy and blameless before Him, was made on the basis of His love, and the good pleasure of His will, and for the ultimate end of glorifying Himself.
This morning we continue our meditation on our spiritual riches, but the focus changes a bit. Last Sunday the focus was on the spiritual blessings that come to us from the Father. Today, we will examine the spiritual blessings that come to us through the Son. Remember that 1:6 ends “to the praise of the glory of His grace.” That is an important phrase. It occurs 3x in this section. First time it concludes the blessings of the Father; the 2nd time it concludes the blessings of the Son; the 3rd time it concludes the blessings of the Spirit.
The are 3 blessings of the Son that we are going to look at this morning: redemption, revelation, an inheritance.
1. He has Granted Redemption To Us: 1:7
A. The Meaning of Redemption: “to set free by the payment of a ransom”; “to purchase out of slavery”; “to ransom”. We were the slaves of Satan and sin, and helpless to free ourselves. The inevitable result would be our eternal death
B. The Objects of Redemption: “we”. Who? 1:4-5 – those chosen and predestined. Though Christ’s redeeming work is sufficient for all, it was designed to actually redeem the elect.
C. The Price of Redemption: “through His blood”. This refers to Christ’s life laid down in sacrifice. Why was it necessary? Because of God’s inflexible justice. Sin must be punished. God’s plan was that it would be paid in a Substitute. 1Pet.3:18.
D. The Result of Redemption: “the forgiveness of our trespasses”. Forgiveness = “to cancel a debt.” God cancelled our debt because Christ paid it.
E. The Ground of Redemption: “according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.”
2. He has Revealed God’s Will To Us:
A. New Living Translation: I usually prefer the NASB because of its word for word literal translation, but in this case I find it awkward & difficult to understand. Because of that I read several newer translations. I want to use the NLT as it gives a very clear and simple paraphrase of this text: “God’s secret plan has now been revealed to us; it is a plan centered on Christ, designed long ago according to His good pleasure. And this is His plan: At the right time He will bring everything together under the authority of Christ – everything in heaven and on earth.”
B. God’s Secret Plan: “mystery of His will.” Mystery refers to something previously unknown but now revealed. In other words, it was a secret in the OT era.
C. Centered on Christ: Jesus is at the center of this plan of God. This plan focuses on exalting Christ as the Supreme Head of all things.
D. According to His Good Pleasure: Not only was it God’s good pleasure to choose us in Him from before the foundation of the world; it is also His pleasure to form this plan to glorify His Son.
E. At The Right Time: NASB = “the fullness of the times”. Notice this is yet future – “at the right time He will bring everything together.” Must refer to end of human history when all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.
F. He Will Bring Everything Together Under the Authority of Christ: things in heaven and things on earth. Phil.2:9-11. People under OT had no idea that One would come into human history, live a perfect life, die substitutionary death under wrath of God, rise again from dead, ascend to heaven, sit down at God’s right hand, and that one day every knee of every person who would ever live would bow and confess that He is Lord!! It was a secret. However, it has now been revealed to us! This is God’s plan to Glorify His Son! Col.1:16. All things have been created through Him and for Him. How were they created for Him? To glorify Him; for His pleasure. Christ will either be glorified in His justice in their damnation or in His grace in their salvation. But either way He is the Head, the Authority of all created beings!
3. He has Given an Inheritance To Us:
A. Obtained an Inheritance: Greek words means “to assign by lot.” Just as Israel’s earthly inheritance of Canaan was parceled out to the 12 tribes by lot, so our heavenly inheritance is granted by God’s sovereign disposal. This inheritance includes heaven and all its glory and all our eternal rewards. Not only will Christ be universally recognized as the supreme authority in the universe, but we who have been redeemed will enter into a blessed eternal inheritance at that time!
B. Having Been Predestined According to His Purpose: not only have we been predestined to be adopted as His sons, but we have been predestined to receive the inheritance of His sons. Predestination comes from Pre and Destination. Pre = beforehand (prefix, preview). Destination = where you will arrive. Where we ultimately arrive was determined beforehand by God. If we arrive at a heavenly inheritance it is because of God’s purpose and will. This predestination is according to His Purpose. If you do a study of God’s purpose in Scripture you will find that it is a purpose that is fixed, unwavering, and will never fail. Rom.8:28-29; 9:11.
C. Who Works All Things After the Counsel of His Will: this passage began with God’s will – 1:9, and now ends with a reference to His will – 1:11. Notice that God is working. He hasn’t just created the world, wound it up like a clock, and then has left to let it run down on its own. He is working in the world. To what end? To accomplish the counsel of His will. Rom.8:28. How many things does God work after the counsel of His will? All things! Does anything every happen that is not bringing to pass the counsel of God’s will? No! Even the sin in this world is part of God’s ultimate overall plan, and will bring about His sovereign plan in the end.
D. To the end that we would be to the praise of His glory: what is God’s goal in this sovereign plan? The praise of His glory!
Application:
1. God Has A Plan: Notice the words “His will, purposed, predestined, counsel.”
2. All of Human History is Moving Toward the Fulfillment of This Plan: this plan concerns the exaltation of Christ. All of human history is moving wards His Exaltation. He is actively working everything together to bring about the glory of Christ. Remember, this world is not all about us – it’s all about Christ. This is the God-Show, not the Brian-Show.
3. The Smartest Thing We Can Do Is Get In Sync With This Plan: God is working all things to glorify Christ as Head over all. Best thing we can do is recognize Him as Head, bow our knee and submit our lives to His Lordship now! Confess that He is Lord! One day everyone will do so, but if wait until then, will be too late! Those that gladly confess Christ is Lord now receive salvation – those that grudgingly confess that He is Lord then will receive damnation. What will you do with Jesus Christ?!
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