| Introduction Nothing excites the local news coverage more than the forecast of snow. At the first prediction of snow, the news outlets send their reporters in their heaviest parkas to Snoqualmie Pass to look for the first snow flake. The news flash from place to place in Western Washington in a desperate effort to find some justification for the label snowmaggedon 2019 (or whatever year). Most of the time, this coverage turns out to be an over-exaggeration and the news comes across in a very silly way. In the words of James Boice, "In Ephesians 1 Paul presents the greatest news story there has ever been, as he traces the plan of salvation that began in the mind of God even before the beginning of this world and which will be continued throughout all eternity." This is no snowflake chasing story! There are so many ways that we could organize our explanation of the last four verses of Paul's introduction to this letter. We could organize it in terms of the Trinitarian work of God with the Holy Spirit applying what the Father planned and the Son accomplished. We could organize it in terms the eternal work of redemption from God's choosing a people to himself in eternity past to his saving that people in history. The way that I want to organize it is around the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or as Paul says, "the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation." I. The Absolute Sovereignty of God in the Gospel, 11-12. A. God is the only absolutely sovereign being in the universe. 1. In Christ, God predestined, elected, chose a people that he was going to save in time. 2. And he did that according to the counsel of his will. 3. God is the only being who can listen only to himself and be better off for that. B. He works all things according to the counsel of his will, that is, he is sovereign over all things. Gen. 6-9 (the universal flood and all its accompanying events). Ex. 7-11 (the plagues of Egypt) Ps. 104:10-30 (God's control of the weather, the plants, the animals, and the physical activity of man) Jonah [cr. God's sovereign control over the great fish (1:17), the plant (4:6), and the worm (4:7)] Gospel accounts of Jesus' power over weather, the sea, and the fish 2. Sovereign over trivial events, or so-called chance events 1 Kings 22:23, 34– "Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has declared disaster for you."… But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded." Prov. 16:33– The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. Mt. 10:29– Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 3. Sovereign over circumstances and affairs of individuals and nations. 1 Sam. 2:6-8(Hannah's prayer) – The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world. Prov. 16:9– The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Dan. 2:21– He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding… Acts 17:24, 26– The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man…. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place… 4. Sovereign over free actions of people Ex. 12:36– And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians. 2 Sam 17:14– And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel." For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom. Rom. 9:17-18(quoting Ex. 9:16) – For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. 5. Sovereign over moral actions of his creatures Gen. 45:5-8– And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Acts 2:23– this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. Acts 3:17-18– And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Acts 4:27-28– for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. Gal. 5:22-23– But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Eph. 2:10– For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Phil. 1:6– And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Phil. 2:13– …for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. C. God is especially sovereign over salvation. Jn. 1:12-13– But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. D.God does things this way so that once someone is saved, the salvation of that person brings glory to God and God alone, 12. II. The Unifying Nature of the Gospel, 12-13. A. Throughout this epistle, Paul makes the point that the Gospel brings people together. 1. The wein v. 12 refers to Paul and his Jewish companions and the youin v. 13 refers to the Gentile Ephesians. 2. Both Jew and Gentile trusted (actually hoped) in the same Gospel and brought together into the same body. B. It is true that the Gospel brings division and even animosity between the believer and the unbeliever (the sword), but for those who believe in Jesus Christ, the Gospel unities. Eph. 4:1-6– I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There isone body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who isabove all, and through all, and in you all. C. Brothers and sisters are to walk in unity because of our common faith in our common Savior. Jn. 17:11, 20-21– Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are…. I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, arein Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. D.It is so sad when brother cannot dwell in unity. III. The Power of the Gospel, 13. A. Paul preached to them the Gospel of Jesus Christ and they believed and were saved! B. The way to build the church and to disciple the nations is through the simple proclamation of the Gospel. Rom. 1:16– For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. C. Because the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation, we have to pay attention to how we listen to it. Lk. 8:16-18– No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts itunder a bed, but sets iton a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anythinghidden that will not be known and come to light. 18 Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him morewill be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him. D.As we hear the word of truth proclaimed and we believe, then you are sealed with the Holy Spirit. 1. The Holi Spirit authenticates your salvation as genuine and true. 2. The Holy Spirit marks you as the property of God. 3. The Holy Spirit secures you. IV. The Reward of the Gospel, 11a, 14. A. The inheritance or reward for the believer is eternal life. B. But this is not eternal life like bodiless souls. C. This is eternal life in the new heavens and the new earth in our resurrected bodies. 1. That's what "the redemption of the purchased possession…." 2. The redemption of the purchased possession is the final redemption of the whole person at the coming of Jesus Christ. D.The proof that we will be raised at the return of Christ is the presence of the Spirit in us. 1. He is the earnest money (guarantee) of the promise of God. a. Earnest money – the money you put down so that the person you buy something from knows that you are serious about your interest in the thing you are buying. b. The earnest money or down payment is so large that there is no doubt that what God promised will come to pass. 2. So, the Spirit testifies to us that Christ is coming back for us. 3. That gives a great comfort and assurance – the Spirit lets us know that because God purchased us (last week's sermon) we are secure in his hands. Heidel. 1 – What is your only comfort in life and in death? That I am not my own, but belong— body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him. V. The Glory of God in the Gospel, 12, 14. A. Nothing brings more glory to God than the salvation of his people through the Gospel. B. Throughout this chapter Paul keeps on repeating this refrain. C. From the thought in the mind of God in eternity past to every step of the development of the plan of redemption, everything is being done in a way that maximizes the display of God's glory. D.We see that illustrated in the three parables in Luke 15. 1. One the one sheep out of a hundred is found there is great rejoicing in heaven. 2. When one coin out of ten is found there is great rejoicing in heaven. 3. When one son out of two returns home there is great rejoicing in heaven Lk. 15:7– I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. 4. Why so much rejoicing? Because God is being glorified.
As James Boice, "In Ephesians 1 Paul presents the greatest news story there has ever been, as he traces the plan of salvation that began in the mind of God even before the beginning of this world and which will be continued throughout all eternity." All to the praise of God's glory.
http://olympiabp.blogspot.com/2019/03/for-gods-glory-ephesians-111-14.html
|  | Send olympiabp blog feed to OBPC Podcast |  |
Unsubscribe from these notifications or sign in to manage your Email Applets.  |
