Stones Hill Community Church
Ephesians - Finding Our New Identity
Welcome to an exciting new sermon series on the Book of Ephesians, one of the Apostle Paul’s most profound letters. Paul proposes that we are "in Christ." We have a new identity. In a sense, he encourages us to become what we already are!
Locations & Times
Ligonier, IN
151 W Stones Hill Rd, Ligonier, IN 46767, USA
Saturday 5:00 PM
MESSAGE TEXT
Ephesians 1:3-14
*
INTRODUCTION
The confidence of the Ephesian believers had been shaken because of these kinds of things. Their identity challenged; their worth and value called into question. They felt like they were not enough. Not brave enough, smart enough, gifted enough, sure enough, strong enough. Is God enough? Is there enough of Him to go around? Can God’s love cover the drawn-out drama of a strained or abusive relationship? Can He cover a financial, career, or health crisis? Is He enough for a challenging child or sending a teen out of the nest for the first time? Is God enough? Am I enough? Do I need other things to fill in the chasm between me and God? Only a Triune God is enough.
*
PROPOSITION
Salvation has a Triune Structure. We’re told that we have THREE GREAT PATRONS, THREE GREAT PROVIDERS, THREE VERY RICH PERSONS who are opening their coffers and their spiritual checkbooks and who are richly endowing us with more than we can ever count or calculate. All three members of the Godhead who sat in council are working together to author, accomplish, and secure our salvation. Trinity God is saving and transforming us and moving us toward a beautiful destination. The reason Paul talks about the praise of God’s glory three times is because He’s delighting in God. To glorify something is to enjoy and delight in them; to serve and defer; to orbit and rotate around.
*
In Ephesians 1:3-6, we’re told about what we have from God the Father. In Ephesians 1:7-12, Paul talks about what we have from God the Son. And Ephesians 1:13-14 talks about what we have from God the Holy Spirit (Morgan). To say it another way, we see in this passage: The selection of the Father (1:3–6), the sacrifice of the Son (1:7–12), and the seal of the Holy Spirit (1:13–14) All three persons of the Godhead are involved in our salvation. The Father authored it, the Son accomplished it, and the Spirit applies it. The Father loves. The Son saves. The Spirit helps. Paul is so overwhelmed, that he has to stop and offer doxology after he discusses each person of the Trinity.
*
Paul in breathless amazement itemized TEN GREAT REASONS to praise the triune God who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings. There’s a tendency to slide over these terms and phrases. Don’t do that. Paul lists spiritual blessings that every believer has. No matter how money-rich or money-poor you might be, these riches are yours—right now. The world can be very miserable and unhappy; it is full of cursing and complaints. But praise, thanksgiving and contentment mark out the Christian. Where does our joy come from?
*
First, we praise God because He blessed us with every spiritual blessing (1:3).
-
Second, we praise God because He chose us in Christ (1:4).
-
Third, we praise God because He adopted us (1:5–6).
-
Fourth, we praise God because He redeemed us (1:7).
-
Fifth, we praise God because He forgave us (1:7).
-
Sixth, we praise God because He lavished His grace upon us (1:7–8).
-
Seventh, we praise God because He made known the mystery of His will to us (1:8–10).
-
Eighth, we praise God because He provided an eternal inheritance for us (1:10–12).
-
Ninth, we praise God because He sealed us by the Spirit (1:13).
-
Tenth, we praise God because He guaranteed our inheritance (1:14).[1]
-
CONCLUSION
This love is what you’ve been looking for your whole life. Love for sinners not anger is what brought Jesus into our world. The cross is not a thirst for payback “Look what you made me do, you ungrateful rebels!” The cross is a determination to overcome alienation and separation at any cost; to pull you into the circle of his life.
-
Don’t reject all this love! The Son said, I will leave this glory for a while, I will dwell in the womb of a woman, I will be born as a babe, I will become a pauper, I will suffer insult in the world, I will even allow them to nail Me to a Cross and spit in My face. He volunteered to do all that for us, and at this very moment this blessed Second Person in the Trinity is seated at the right hand of God to represent you and me. He came down to earth and did all that, and rose again, and ascended to heaven; and it was all planned ‘before the world’ for you and for me.
-
The Son has taken a redemptive journey to us; but will we participate in it?
Ephesians 1:3-14
*
INTRODUCTION
The confidence of the Ephesian believers had been shaken because of these kinds of things. Their identity challenged; their worth and value called into question. They felt like they were not enough. Not brave enough, smart enough, gifted enough, sure enough, strong enough. Is God enough? Is there enough of Him to go around? Can God’s love cover the drawn-out drama of a strained or abusive relationship? Can He cover a financial, career, or health crisis? Is He enough for a challenging child or sending a teen out of the nest for the first time? Is God enough? Am I enough? Do I need other things to fill in the chasm between me and God? Only a Triune God is enough.
*
PROPOSITION
Salvation has a Triune Structure. We’re told that we have THREE GREAT PATRONS, THREE GREAT PROVIDERS, THREE VERY RICH PERSONS who are opening their coffers and their spiritual checkbooks and who are richly endowing us with more than we can ever count or calculate. All three members of the Godhead who sat in council are working together to author, accomplish, and secure our salvation. Trinity God is saving and transforming us and moving us toward a beautiful destination. The reason Paul talks about the praise of God’s glory three times is because He’s delighting in God. To glorify something is to enjoy and delight in them; to serve and defer; to orbit and rotate around.
*
In Ephesians 1:3-6, we’re told about what we have from God the Father. In Ephesians 1:7-12, Paul talks about what we have from God the Son. And Ephesians 1:13-14 talks about what we have from God the Holy Spirit (Morgan). To say it another way, we see in this passage: The selection of the Father (1:3–6), the sacrifice of the Son (1:7–12), and the seal of the Holy Spirit (1:13–14) All three persons of the Godhead are involved in our salvation. The Father authored it, the Son accomplished it, and the Spirit applies it. The Father loves. The Son saves. The Spirit helps. Paul is so overwhelmed, that he has to stop and offer doxology after he discusses each person of the Trinity.
*
Paul in breathless amazement itemized TEN GREAT REASONS to praise the triune God who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings. There’s a tendency to slide over these terms and phrases. Don’t do that. Paul lists spiritual blessings that every believer has. No matter how money-rich or money-poor you might be, these riches are yours—right now. The world can be very miserable and unhappy; it is full of cursing and complaints. But praise, thanksgiving and contentment mark out the Christian. Where does our joy come from?
*
First, we praise God because He blessed us with every spiritual blessing (1:3).
-
Second, we praise God because He chose us in Christ (1:4).
-
Third, we praise God because He adopted us (1:5–6).
-
Fourth, we praise God because He redeemed us (1:7).
-
Fifth, we praise God because He forgave us (1:7).
-
Sixth, we praise God because He lavished His grace upon us (1:7–8).
-
Seventh, we praise God because He made known the mystery of His will to us (1:8–10).
-
Eighth, we praise God because He provided an eternal inheritance for us (1:10–12).
-
Ninth, we praise God because He sealed us by the Spirit (1:13).
-
Tenth, we praise God because He guaranteed our inheritance (1:14).[1]
-
CONCLUSION
This love is what you’ve been looking for your whole life. Love for sinners not anger is what brought Jesus into our world. The cross is not a thirst for payback “Look what you made me do, you ungrateful rebels!” The cross is a determination to overcome alienation and separation at any cost; to pull you into the circle of his life.
-
Don’t reject all this love! The Son said, I will leave this glory for a while, I will dwell in the womb of a woman, I will be born as a babe, I will become a pauper, I will suffer insult in the world, I will even allow them to nail Me to a Cross and spit in My face. He volunteered to do all that for us, and at this very moment this blessed Second Person in the Trinity is seated at the right hand of God to represent you and me. He came down to earth and did all that, and rose again, and ascended to heaven; and it was all planned ‘before the world’ for you and for me.
-
The Son has taken a redemptive journey to us; but will we participate in it?