Sermon Recap 11-8-09

Morning:  "Praise Be to the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ," was a sermon that focused on Ephesians 1:1-14.  Paul's brief introduction (Eph. 1:1-2) sets the stage for everything that follows by expressing dual themes of being in Christ ("an apostle of Christ Jesus") and the will of God ("by the will of God").  With the stage set, Paul launches into his most pressing concern.  Ephesians 1:3 expresses the theme of this passage.  It states, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ."  God the Father is worthy of all praise, because in Christ he has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the spiritual world.  The letter to the Ephesians will unfold the nature of these spiritual blessing and demonstrate the praiseworthiness of God.  In Ephesians 1:4-14, Paul explains six of these "spiritual" blessings. 

First, Paul states that God chose us, in Christ, before time began, to be holy and blameless in his sight.  God determined to make us holy and blameless, through Christ, before he spoke anything into existence.

Second, Paul states that the Father predestined us to be adopted as sons though Jesus according to his pleasure and will.  The idea of making us his children, in Christ, pleased the Father so much he determined to make it happen.

Third, though the blood of Christ, he has bought our redemption.  The blood of Christ has made it possible for us to find forgiveness.

Fourth, the Father has revealed the mystery of his will.  He has planned, from all eternity, to unite all things in heaven and earth under the headship of Christ.  He is at work bringing all things under Christ's rule. 

Fifth, He has made us an inheritance for himself.  John Stott, the theologian and expositor, argues powerfully that Ephesians 1:11 is best understood to mean that God has chosen us for himself as his possession.  The church is God's prized possession, his particular people, his holy priesthood.

Sixth, we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit, until the day of redemption.  Upon believing the good news of Jesus Christ we are indwelt by the Spirit.  His presence guarantees that God will bring about our full and ultimate redemption (glorification).

Having demonstrated the nature of some of the spiritual blessings that are ours in Christ, Paul urges us to praise the Father for his "glorious grace."  Infinite and matchless, God's grace has paved the way for us to experience life, through Jesus Christ.  The reality that God is mindful of us should astound us.  It should move us to praise him with our mouths and our lives.

Evening: We talked about the doctrine of Election from The Baptist Faith and Message 1963 and from Monticello's Articles of Faith (which are drawn from the Abstract of Principles).  We also considered several passages of Scripture.