Ephesians 1:1-2 (NLT)
This letter is from Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.
It is written to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.
[2] May grace and peace be yours, sent to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
Background
Written to the church in Ephesus
– Deals with nurturing and maintaining of unity within the church
Paul was under house arrest in Rome
Ephesus was one of 5 major cities in the Roman empire
– Cultural, political and religious center of Asia Minor
A Reputation of Faithfulness
The Ephesians were known as faithful
What does it take to be characterized as faithful?
– Deep commitment to your faith
– Walking by faith, not by sight
– Obedience to God in all areas of your life
Could the same be said of you?
Ephesians 1:3 (NLT)
How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ.
Because You Belong
We have all of the blessings of knowing God
– Chosen for salvation
– Adopted as sons and daughters
– Forgiveness of sin
– Divine revelation
– Gifts of the Holy Spirit
– Divine power for living
– The promise of eternal life
These blessings are here and now
– Our relationship with Jesus is the key
Ephesians 1:4 (NLT)
Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
You Are Chosen
The work of salvation is God’s
– You could not earn it
– You did not deserve it
– God chose to give it freely to you
God has planned for your salvation since before the world began
– His desire is that you be holy and blameless
In Jesus we become blameless in God’s sight
– Our sin has been replaced with the righteousness of Christ
Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)
His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.
Welcome to the Family
God has always intended for you to be a part of His family
Through Jesus’ sacrifice we have been adopted as sons and daughters
– All of the rights and privileges are included
Galatians 4:5-7
Galatians 4:5-7 (NLT)
God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. [6] And because you Gentiles have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father. [7] Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you.
Ephesians 1:6-8 (NLT)
So we praise God for the wonderful kindness he has poured out on us because we belong to his dearly loved Son. [7] He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven. [8] He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
Bought with a Price
God’s kindness results from our “belonging” to Jesus
The blood of Jesus paid the price
– Redemption – paying the price to bring us from the slavery of sin to freedom
– Forgiveness – Jesus blood was shed as the final and perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin
With salvation comes understanding and revelation
Ephesians 1:9-10 (NLT)
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. [10] 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.
The Plan has been Revealed
The plan was fully revealed when Christ arose from the grave
– All creation will be subject to the authority of Christ
Philippians 2:10-11
Philippians 2:10-11 (NLT)
so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The Plan has been Revealed
The plan was fully revealed when Christ arose from the grave
– All creation will be subject to the authority of Christ
Philippians 2:10-11
– All will declare: “Jesus is Lord”
Ephesians 1:11-12 (NLT)
Furthermore, because of Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us from the beginning, and all things happen just as he decided long ago. [12] God’s purpose was that we who were the first to trust in Christ should praise our glorious God.
You are His Inheritance
God has always planned for you to experience His saving grace
God is never caught off guard by circumstances
– He has seen the ups and downs of your life
– Nothing goes to waste
Our responsibility is to bring glory to God
– Telling of God’s grace in our lives
– Telling of God’s grace available to everyone
Ephesians 1:13-14 (NLT)
And now you also have heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. [14] The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us everything he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God.
It All Comes with a Guarantee
When we come to faith in Christ we receive the Holy Spirit
– The indwelling presence of God
– The source of power in the Christian’s life
Acts 1:8
Acts 1:8 (NLT)
But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
It All Comes with a Guarantee
When we come to faith in Christ we receive the Holy Spirit
– The indwelling presence of God
– The source of power in the Christian’s life
Acts 1:8
The Holy Spirit guarantees the inheritance to come
– Validates our faith
– Identifies us as God’s child
Key Points
You’ve been bought with a price
Your salvation is by God’s grace and is freely given
God has planned for your salvation since before the world began
The Holy Spirit provides the guarantee of your faith and the things to come
**Powerpoint available on request
