This series is entitled “discovering our treasure in Christ” because I’m convinced that very few Christians actually realize who we are in Christ and what God has given to us through His precious Son. Every Christian possesses a vast amount of spiritual riches, yet we live like paupers. Instead of living “paycheck to paycheck” we live “Sunday to Sunday”. Many never truly realize what God has given to them in Christ.
They struggle and we strive and frustration all too often marks their spiritual life. Why is this the case? I believe that it’s because believers don’t realize what we have in Christ.
The letter to the Ephesians spells out for us, in great detail, the riches every believer has in Christ. Last week we looked at the introduction or salutation and we learned that Paul was addressing the “saints”…those who have been justified, people who have been made totally new by the grace of God. But we also discovered that not only are the saints justified but they are also being sanctified…they have an outward manifestation of an inner holiness. They are being transformed into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul also addressed the faithful. The faithful are those who have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and they believe it. They have a faith that believes but they also have a faith that lives. In other words, they display the character of faithfulness in their lives.
The faithful believer is one who no longer lives for themselves, but they realize they have been bought with a price and they rightfully belong to the Lord Jesus Christ because they are in Christ. In other words they are part of Christ…they are joined to Him, therefore they faithfully live their lives according to His plan, His purpose and His word.
We also learned how a person becomes a “saint” and faithful to Christ…it is by the grace of God that comes through Jesus Christ. It’s that grace that saves us, sanctifies us and secures us. It’s that grace that gives us peace with God and peace of mind.
This is the message that Paul gives as he opens the letter to the Ephesians. What a tremendous beginning…what a tremendous reminder that we are considered saints in the Lord Jesus Christ. But believe me when I tell you that Paul is just getting started!
This morning we continue our series in the book of Ephesians by getting into the body of the letter. Ephesians actually has two very identifiable parts: a doctrinal section and a practical section. The doctrinal section begins in chapter 1 verse 3 and it tells of the treasures we have in Christ.
The practical section begins in chapter four verse 1 “I therefore the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” The practical section teaches us how to live out all that we have and all that we are in Christ.
Why is the letter written this way? The answer is simple, you can’t effectively live the Christian life until you know who you are in Christ and all that Christ has done for you. Too many times churches make the mistake of trying to only communicate the “how to” part of the Scripture without adequately teaching the “why” part of the Scripture. The result is normally a group of people who try really hard to live the Christian life, yet they lack the understanding that is required.
So this morning we’re going to dive into the doctrinal part of the letter. I know what some of you may be thinking…“doctrine is boring!” I could not disagree with you more…doctrine is wonderful! What’s more, doctrine must be taught.
D Martin Lloyd Jones wrote: “Whether we know it or not our main trouble as Christians today is still a lack of understanding and knowledge. Not a lack of superficial knowledge of the Scriptures, but a lack of knowledge of the doctrines of the Scriptures. It is our fatal lack at that point that accounts for so many failures in our Christian life.”
Consider the fact that God’s Word has been given to us so that we can learn doctrine! 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for DOCTRINE, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
Notice the order in which those things were listed:
1. Doctrine
2. Reproof
3. Correction
4. Instruction in righteousness (right living)
5. This produces maturity
6. This gives us the ability to perform good works…to actively and consistently live out our faith
Jesus said let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Question…how are we going to let our light shine and do good works if we haven’t taken the time to learn doctrine? Answer…we can’t live as a light and an example before a lost world if we aren’t taught who we are in Christ and what God has done for us through Christ!
Doctrine is not only important…I submit to you today that it is vital! And with that thought in mind, lets read our text this morning.
What we have just read is perhaps the longest single sentence in all of ancient literature. In the Greek there is no punctuation of a full stop…you see verses 3-14 are verses filled with rhythm, recurring phrases and exalted theology. Many say this is the greatest of Paul’s writings and possibly the greatest single sentence found in the entire Word of God.
The sentence also addresses all three parts of the trinity. We see the Father in verse 3-6; we see the Son in verse 7-12 and we see the Holy Spirit in verses 13-14.
Each part is identifiable by the concluding statement “to the praise of His glory” (vs. 6, 12, 14) which also indicates that this whole sentence is theocentric…(“Theo” – God; “Centric” – Central). God is the central focus of this passage of scripture.
In verse three we read of Paul breaking into praise…but why?
The answer to that question is simple especially when we consider…
I. The Object of Our Praise – vs. 3a
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…”
A. Paul begins with the word “Blessed”
1. This is the word from which we get our word Eulogy
2. It literally means “to speak good of” or “to praise”
3. Paul begins the doctrinal portion of this letter with praise offered to God
4. Praise is the natural outflow of a person who realizes they are a saint by the grace of God and because of that they have peace with God
5. When we truly understand who we are in Christ and what we have in Christ we can’t help but praise God
a. The believers in Acts exemplify this….they were a suffering and persecuted people yet the whole book of Acts is filled with a spirit of praise and thanksgiving
b. Paul exemplified this…remember where he was when he penned the word “Blessed”…he was under arrest, he had lost his freedom and he was awaiting trial
Philippians 3:7-8, 10 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ…10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
6. The ability to praise no matter the circumstance or situation marks us as a peculiar people…this should be the characteristic of all saints
a. Too many times we live like the world lives
b. By this I mean to say that our lives are often marked by…
1) Complaining
2) Grumbling, murmuring and griping
3) When we live a life that is marked by these things we are no different than the world…unbecoming to saints
Philippians 2:14-15 Do all things without murmurings and disputings 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
4) The fact of the matter is that God hates murmuring, grumbling and complaining
Example: Children of Israel got tired of manna and complained about God’s provision for their lives. They wanted the food they had in Egypt.
Numbers 11:10 Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.
Moses was so displeased that he prayed that God would kill him because the people were such a burden to him
5) When we complain our focus is always on self and not on God
6) It’s impossible to complain when we are aware of who God is and what He has provided for us in Christ
7. The point and primary purpose of worship is to give praise to God
a. Not to earn God’s favor
b. Not to be comfortable
c. Not to be pleased
8. Our lives must be marked by praise to God…Paul starts with “Blessed”
B. Paul continues by reminding us that God is…
1. The Father
a. The concept of God as Father scarcely appears in the Old Testament
1) He is revealed as Elohim – the Creator
2) He is revealed as Jehovah – the God of the covenant
3) He is revealed as Adoni – the Lord
4) He is revealed as El – the Almighty
5) He is revealed as El Shaddai – the gracious giver
6) He is revealed as Jehovah Jireh – the Lord who provides
b. Not until Jesus came was God fully revealed as the Father – “Wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers business?” Luke 2:49
1) In the parable of the prodigal the word “Father” is used a dozen times
2) The name “Father” was spoken by Jesus as he prayed in Gethsemane
2. He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
a. He is just like Jesus and Jesus is just like Him
“The visible expression of the invisible God” – Colossians 1:5
b. In this phrase we discover two treasures
1) He is our Lord Jesus Christ – personal relationship
2) He is Lord – Master, ruler, etc.
Church, our lives should be lived in praise to God…He and He alone is to be the object of our praise and as we discover our treasure in Christ we’ll learn about all that He has done for us and provided for us and we’ll be compelled to give Him the praise that He is due. The next half of this verse begins to uncover our treasure in Christ for it gives us…
II. The Reason for Our Praise – vs. 3b
A. God has blessed us (who is referring to God)
1. The word blessed here is a verb that actually means that God has provided benefits
2. A benefit is an advantage, a profit or a gain that is received from another
3. I want you to know that God has bestowed benefits upon us…who does “us” include?
a. Verse 1 – “The saints”
b. If you are saved then you must know that God has bestowed benefits on you
c. You must also know that you’ve done nothing to deserve those benefits…God has given them to you only because He is good!
B. God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings
1. All in this phrase is better translated “every”
2. It simply means that God has given to believers every kind of Spiritual blessing
a. In the Old Testament God primarily blessed with material benefits
b. In the New Testament God provides every spiritual blessing
1) These blessings are of the Spirit…source of them is the Spirit of God
2) These blessings are the opposite of temporal blessings
3) These blessings are superior to material blessings – They allow the believer to live for Christ in this world
4) These blessings are found only in Christ – You’ve got to be saved to possess them.
3. Notice the word ALL…(every) it means that we lack absolutely nothing!
a. Another treasure has been revealed
1) We have everything we need in to live the Christian life…we lack absolutely nothing!
2 Peter 1:3-4 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
It’s not that God will give us but that He has already given us “everything pertaining to life and godliness”
He has blessed us already with every Spiritual blessing…we are complete “in Him” (Col. 2:10)
2) Many times ask God for what He has already given
➢ We pray for more love
Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. We pray for peace
➢ We pray for peace
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
➢ We pray for Joy
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
➢ We pray for strength
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
John MacArthur writes: “Our resources in God are not simply promised; they are possessed. Every Christian has what Paul calls “the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:9). God cannot give us more that He has already given us in His Son. There is nothing more to receive. The believers need, therefore, is not to receive something more but to do something with what he has.”
In Joshua chapter 1 verse 3 God makes this statement “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.”
You see, the land had already been given to the children of Israel…there’s no debate about that. Cannan Land belonged to God’s people…but this did not become reality until Joshua placed his foot on it.
It would have done Joshua no good to pray that God would give them that land…it had already been given, but they had to move forward in obedience to God and complete trust in Him to claim it by faith.
Christian if you’re thinking to yourself, “I don’t have everything I need to live the Christian life…I struggle too much…I’m spiritually deficient” then you don’t understand this important principle. To say you’re deficient is to say that God is deficient in the spiritual blessings He has given you. If you say you don’t have everything you need then you are saying that God did not hold his end of the bargain.
I submit to you this morning that the reason the believer does not receive spiritual benefits is not because God is in some way stingy or because you must beg and plead for them, but because believers are not appropriating by faith what God has already bestowed in their behalf.
I want you to know today that God is to be praised because He has enriched believers with every spiritual benefit in the heavenlies in Christ. To say that God is blessed implies that praise is due. To say that believers are blessed implies that spiritual benefits have been given.
Christian, are you living like you’ve received every spiritual benefit for your entire spiritual well being? Or are you living like one of the paupers I talked about last week…completely neglecting the vast wealth God has bestowed upon you through Christ. Christian, don’t continue to live that way…begin applying what God has given you to your life…you’ve been blessed with every spiritual blessing…in Christ.
You have what you need and for that we say “Praise God”!
