Unity in Christ Alone

June 16, 2024
Pastor Jack

grace image

Ephesians 1:1-14

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love, having predestined us to adoption through Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace that he bestowed on us in the beloved, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, that he caused to abound to us in all wisdom and insight, making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in him, for the administration of the fullness of times, to bring together all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth, in him in whom also we were chosen, having been predestined according to the purpose of the One who works all things according to the counsel of his will, that we who hoped beforehand in Christ should be for the praise of his glory, in whom also you, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also when you believed you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

Grace and Peace

This week marks a shift from an “action story” of Esther, to a study of doctrine. So, what is “doctrine”?

Doctrine is the systematic statement of foundational, core, and fundamental beliefs and teachings central to our faith. Some examples:

  • The Trinity
  • Deity of Christ
  • Salvation by Grace Alone
  • The Inerrancy of the Bible

Ephesus was a city in modern-day Turkey with a population over 200,000, making it significant in its time. It was a religious city with many temples, most significantly the Temple of Artemis (Diana), which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Greeting

Ephesians 1:1 (ESV):

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

  • Who is the author of Ephesians?
  • To whom is the book written?
  • What is a saint?
  • What, if any, significance do you see in the phrase “and are faithful in Christ Jesus”?

Ephesians 1:2 (ESV):

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

  • What is “grace”?
  • What is “peace” in this context?

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Ephesians 1:3 (ESV):

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

  • What does it mean to you that we are blessed in Christ?
  • What do we do to deserve such a blessing?
  • What do you think “in the heavenly places” means?

Ephesians 1:4 (ESV):

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

  • Think about God choosing you before He ever spoke the world into existence. What does that mean to you?
  • What does that mean to be “holy and blameless? What is “holy”?
  • Can you describe the difference in “sin” and “sins”?

Ephesians 1:5 (ESV):

he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

  • Think about God desiring to adopt you as a son or daughter, before time eternal. What does that mean to you?

Ephesians 1:6 (ESV):

to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

  • How can or do you give God praise for His glorious grace?
  • Who is this “Beloved”?
    • Read Matthew 3:16–17 (ESV): And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Ephesians 1:7 (ESV):

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

  • What is “redemption”?
  • Remember Boaz in the story of Ruth? He was referred to as the “kinsman-redeemer”.
  • Do you know His forgiveness? Do you know His acceptance?
  • How can you help others feel that acceptance and forgiveness?

Ephesians 1:8–10 (ESV):

which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

  • This is His plan from ages past, which has now been executed in Christ!
  • This is His will, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth!

Ephesians 1:11 (ESV):

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

  • What is this “inheritance”?
  • We can be a part of the family!
  • We can be the insiders!

Ephesians 1:12 (ESV):

so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

  • What is your purpose?
  • What does it look like to you to give praise and glory?

Ephesians 1:13–14 (ESV):

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

  • Can you describe being “sealed with the Holy Spirit”? What does that mean to you?

Thoughts for Reflection

  • God so loves you that He provided a way to return you to Him! (see John 3:16)
  • That Way is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ!
  • You can know Him; do you?
  • If you do know Him, celebrate that!
  • Be the alarm clock for someone else to “wake up” and know Him.
  • Will you live up to the challenge to live on mission for Him?
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