Sermon Central
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Mucho Grace
Contributed by Richard Stevens on Mar 9, 2024 (message contributor)
Summary: Ephesians is divided into two portions. One is calling, then right believing. One is indicatives, then imperatives. Indicatives are what we ARE in Christ. And that is by GRACE. God giving us what we do NOT deserve. This message is a simple look at 12 imperatives given to us by God by His Grace
SLIDE – Introduction
The Book of Ephesians is neatly divided into two distinct portions.
The first portion is about our calling
The second portion is about our conduct
The first portion is really about right believing.
The second portion is really about right behaving.
The first portion is about indicatives
The second portion is about imperatives
And that is really important to us –
just to simplify it for us Indicatives vs Imperatives
Indicative: I’m indicating what something IS
This is a microphone
That is an example of an indicative.
Imperative: Speak into the microphone.
An imperative is telling you something to DO
It’s important that we keep these two things
in mind when we are reading scripture.
The difference between indicatives and imperatives
The difference between law and the gospel
Indicatives are those things which God has accomplished
on our behalf through the person and work of Jesus Christ.
That is who we are in Christ before God, the Father.
The imperatives, those are the things that we are called on
and enabled to do as a direct result of the indicatives.
We should not and cannot
separate these two - the indicatives from the imperatives,
nor should we separate the imperatives from the indicatives.
If we separate them,
we are confusing what the gospel requires
and what the gospel produces.
Now, all that the gospel requires is repentance and faith.
That’s it. Nothing else.
I pause here intentionally…..
Because, Some get confused here:
Well, What about obedience?
Shouldn’t we be obedient? YES, of course!
BUT that’s not what the Gospel REQUIRES..
Obedience is what the Gospel PRODUCES.
If the Gospel were to require obedience from us
that would mean we could be obedient
apart from the person and work of Christ…..
and therefore Jesus died for nothing.
The gospel produces obedience in us, joyful obedience in us.
Again, if we get these two things mixed up,
then that’s where we end up in legalism
and moralism and works righteousness.
And that’s when the GOOD NEWS
is really is not good news at all.
And the GOOD NEWS of God’s Gospel is good news,
Very good news indeed.
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints
which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: GRACE
be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord
Jesus Christ.”
Paul is writing a letter (an epistle)
to the fellow believers at Ephesus,
and, in general,
to all of the faithful believers which are in Christ Jesus.
We note that Paul declares that he is an apostle.
He is an apostle - not by the will of Paul,
not even by the will of the other apostles,
not even by the will of those who follow Paul,
but by God, Himself.
In Biblical days, beginning a letter (an epistle)
by declaring “grace” and “peace” to the recipient of the letter,
was a normal opening of a letter.
But let’s understand, from a spiritual point of view:
There is no PEACE with God
unless first there is the GRACE of God.
Paul declares, in his opening words of this epistle,
GRACE and PEACE from God, the Father
AND God, the Son (the Lord Jesus Christ).
And so, to level-set the opening comments, by Paul,
to those believers, who live in the city of Ephesus,
let’s understand the meaning of GRACE.
What is GRACE?
“God Giving To Us What We Do Not Deserve”
From the perspective of a Holy, Righteous God,
we deserve absolutely NOTHING.
Yet, from the perspective of God –
in His love, He (God) freely gives to us,
underserving humans,
all that we do not deserve, nor will ever deserve.
Greek word “khar’-ece
acceptable, of benefit, favor, gift, joy, liberality, pleasure, thanks,
God has shed “MUCHO GRACE” on us, in Christ!
1st – God (in His grace) has blessed us INDICATIVE
V3 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ."
Blessedness is not spoken of regarding humans.
Blessedness is reserved for Deity alone.
Yet, Deity (God) has chosen to BLESS US! (NOW!)
And to bless us
“with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”
ALL spiritual blessings / IN heavenly places / IN Christ.
What spiritual blessing are available
IN heavenly places
IN Christ?
EVERYTHING we need or desire to live/thrive/be joyful/etc.
IN the presence of Deity. (NOW!)
We deserve NOTHING – but God, in His love, chooses to bless US
How absolutely astounding is that?
Grace – God giving to us what we do not deserve!
He didn’t have to, but in His Grace, He did!
2nd – God (in His grace) has chosen us INDICATIVE
V4, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation
