MESSAGE TEXT
Ephesians 1:1-3
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INTRODUCTION
The Gospel asserts that in Jesus, there are new sentences written on the blackboard of our lives, before we ever recognized the potential that was even within ourselves. Paul drops these new sentences throughout his 12-13 letters that he wrote. His hope is that we would finally conclude: “I’m going to base my life on the reality that Someone loved me, gave His life for me, forgave me for my wrong-doing, and bestows on me a new reason for living.”
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BACKGROUND
Believers in Jesus were being bullied and shamed by some of the citizens of Ephesus after Paul had planted the church there in 52 AD - some 8-10 years prior to his letter to them around 62 AD. “You Christians aren’t pretty enough, thin enough, rich enough, loved enough, smart enough, athletic enough – you’re just losers here in Ephesus and nobody likes you.”
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Realizing these statements were written on the blackboard of their hearts, Paul just pours it on about who they were in Christ, how wealthy we are in Him, and how much worth and value we have. If Christ affirms your worth, that’s a life identity.
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PROPOSITION
Bryan Chapell calls this a “U-Turn Letter”. It’s a “U-Turn Letter” with “Formerly…but now” Expressions (see slides). And in keeping with Paul’s “true identity” theme – it’s time to do a U-Turn and to see yourself as God sees and defines you. There are several U-Turns in this brief salutation and if you’re not careful, you’ll breeze right by them.
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The salutation has a doubling theme in it which prompts some Double-Takes. We see double authority (apostle of Christ Jesus… by the will of God), double designation of believers (holy people and the faithful), double address (in Ephesus and in Christ) double blessing (Grace and peace) and finally a double source for all the grace and peace, it comes from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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You see all this fullness double stuff in the first two verses. And you get the idea you’re going to get some tremendous riches coming your way out of Ephesians. So these few salutatory verses prompt some “Double-Takes.”
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MAJOR POINTS
Identity Shaping Salutation – with lots of “doubling” and full of…“Double Takes”
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Double Take: You are Saints rather than Sinners - To God’s holy people in Ephesus…
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Double Take: Your Creator is Father rather than Fuhrer - Grace and peace to you from God our Father
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Double Take: This letter is Positive rather than Negative - 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.
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Double Take: It’s “Paul” rather than “Saul” - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus
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Double Take: You’re now in Christ rather than in Adam - the faithful in Christ Jesus
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Double Take: You are now Unified rather than Divided - Grace [Greek greeting word] and peace [Hebrew greeting word] to you…
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CONCLUSION
“Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth. Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide. Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow. Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.”