Living the Abundant Life

Ephesians 1:3-14

 

3 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.4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

 

In the Garden, In the Ark, In Abraham’s family, In Israel.  All of these are pictures of what it means to be IN CHRIST!!

 

  1. Blessed With Every Spiritual Blessing in the Heavenly Realms in Christ

 

  1. God still blesses people

        Adam and Eve walked with God in the cool of the day

Enoch walked with God

Noah found favor with God

Abraham was blessed by God

Moses was chosen by God

Israel’s promise from God:

Exodus 19:

3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’

 

  1. Jesus is the source of all blessings

        The blessings of God: That which makes life good. Look at the     Genesis 2 and 3 picture:

A mutually beneficial marriage where the two of you are on the    same team and you care for and support one another.

Meaningful work that has a sense of creativity, meaning and self-         sufficiency to it.

A family that has healthy blessed children.

A relationship with God that is personal, real and friendly.

 

Add to that the blessing of Noah: Escape from the wrath of God.

Add to that the blessing of Abraham: God is on your side, God     will bless others through you, God will bless your descendants.

 

You are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:7

7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

God saves us so that He might be kind to us going forward!       

        Blessed in Christ, chosen in Christ, predestined through Christ, Redeemed and forgiven in Christ, God’s will and purpose are carried out through Christ. Your life will result in praise and glory to God.

 

  1. The Blessings

 

  1. Holy and Blameless in God’s sight v.4

4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

 

  1. Predestined to be God’s sons v.5

In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

 

 

  1. Redemption and forgiveness v.7

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us.

 

  1. Wisdom and understanding of God’s will v.9

With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

       

  1. We will result in praise and glory to God v.11-12

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

 

  1. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit v.13-14

God the Father blesses, chooses, predestines, loves, exercises His pleasure and will, lavishes His grace, wisdom and understanding. And He receives pleasure, glory and praise as a result.

Jesus becomes the vehicle for every blessing (those listed above) and accomplishes the Father’s will.

The Holy Spirit then seals, acts as a guarantee for us. He is the energy of God within us. Phil 2 For it is God who is at work within you both to will and do His good pleasure. We understand that we are sealed when we see the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment. He energizes service. He leads us to victory over the flesh. He gives life to our mortal bodies that are steeped in sin. He leads us.

        When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 (who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession)—to the praise of his glory.

 

  1. You are included in Christ when you believe V.13

13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

 

John 6: 25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

 

To believe in Jesus means to believe what He has said about how to attain life. It means to trust in Him. When you see something, you relate first to its purpose. A chair is defined by how you will use it, its utility. Well, what is Jesus’ utility to you? That is what you believe about Him. In the first century Jewish context it was clear that Jesus called people to a way of life that was different from the Roman way or even the way of the Jewish leadership.

Today Jesus calls us to a way of life that is different from the American way, the way of pleasure as long as you are not hurting anybody. He calls us to a way of life that is different from the Muslim way, the Buddhist way, the atheistic way, the postmodernist way etc. Even if there are intersections in these ways of life that might even be big. Ethically, Judaism and Christianity are extremely similar, Jesus is OUR Way. If we believe in Him, we walk out His way of living.