Paul J. Bucknell
Introduction: We are called to be children of God.
Read Ephesians 1:1-14: The past blessing is being chosen or election (Eph 1:3,4), the present blessing is adoption (Ep 1:5-8), the future blessing is “unification” when all things are put into Christ (Ep 1:9-10), and the scope of these blessings (1:11-14).
Ephesians 1:5 Adoption:
· This term is used in four other places (Rom 8:15 , 23 ; 9:4 ; Gal 4:5 ). It is alluding to Greek and Roman custom rather than a Hebrew one. Paul was referring to the Roman custom, which by law gave the same rights to adopted sons as a natural born sons.
· In Jewish law this is term is foreign. “Adoption in the sense of the legal transference of a child to a family to which it did not belong by birth has no place in Jewish law. Thus among the Romans a citizen might receive a child who was not his own by birth into his family and give him his name, but he could do so only by a formal act, attested by witnesses, and the son thus adopted had in all its entirety the position of a child by birth, with all the rights and privileges pertaining to that” (Earle 289).
We are joint heirs with Christ. Romans 8:17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him (NAS).
1. Our Responsibilities as children
2. Our confidence before God
3. Our befits as children
1. What are the responsibilities of adopted children?
· That we should be holy and blameless before him (4b). Yes, this is great
privilege, but also a great responsibility. If we are his children, God does
not spoil us, where we can go on sinning without any consequences for our
actions.
· Look at Hebrews 12:5-11.
· Do not lose heart (Heb 12:5b), because the Lord loves us (Heb 12:6).
Although Jesus was God the Son, sinless before the Father, as a man he still
learned to obey through suffering (Heb 5:8). Hardship is God’s school for
teaching us obedience (Psalm 119:67 ; 71 ; 75 ; 92 ).
· How we respond to discipline, whether we protest or give thanks is a
litmus test for spiritually maturity. If we are filled with the Spirit, then
we will endure hardship submissively, because love endures all things (1 Cor
13:7). Remember that we are blessed and will stand before the Lord will
confidence and joy, if we persevere in trials (James 1:12). Those who
persevere, by the power of the Spirit (Col 1:11), are consider blessed
(James 5:11).
· Do we wonder why hardships come into our lives? Do we complain when
hardships come? How should we respond?
· What is the result of enduring hardship as adopted children of God? The
result is more intimacy with the Lord and our love for other brothers and
sisters will increase (Heb 12:14 ; 2 Tim 2:10 ).
2. Confidence in this adoption
· God chooses us: look at verse 4. To what purpose did he choose us?
· What are some of the implications of election?
· We already know that we are called to live holy life, meaning we are to no
longer live lives analogous to that of the world.
· The doctrine of election is God’s doctrine not humanly revealed. Calvin
did not invent this doctrine, it is God’s word. We do not have time to get
into he discussion about predestination, whether it means that God chose us
without anything to do with our wills, or if God foresaw or foreknew what we
would choose, and then made us his children.
· Another practical implication of election is that its foundation is rooted
in God’s choice, and this should make us thankful, full of humility, not
pride. We cannot boast about our salvation. We cannot add anything to what
Jesus has done on the Cross. This is should keep us humble, and gives us
compassion for the lost, knowing that they can come to Christ, just as we
have, by grace.
· A final implication of our election is found in John 15:16. John 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go
and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you
whatever you ask in my name. What do you see in this verse, that should
comfort us and give us confidence to serve the Lord?
Point #1 The Father loves us like he loves the Son.
· Problem: Many do not feel loved God, because they focus on their past
sins.
· Answer: We are bought with the blood of Christ. Redemption means
deliverance by payment of a price. Through the blood of Christ, we have free
access to the Father. We can come to him at any time, but often we do not go
to him because of our pride. Humility is believing what God has already
said, and laying hold his promises by faith. The Father loves us just as
much as he loves the Son. John 17:23 I in them and you in me. May they be
brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have
loved them even as you have loved me.
I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me. (John 17:23, NASB).
· In Christ: Paul says that the saints are in Christ (1:1). This phrase
means that we are a new humanity, no longer “in Adam”. Once we were
separated from God, hopeless and helpless (2:12), but now we are spoiled
with every spiritual blessing in Christ! There is no blessing in the
Spiritual realms outside of Christ.
Point #2 We have all spiritual blessing in heavenly places.
· Problem: Many live in spiritual poverty.
· Answer: Know the promises, and live a spiritually rich life. Again, this
is choice, and we need to grab the promises by faith. Our job is to claim
them by faith, and God will apply them to our hearts as an answer to our
prayers. We have everything necessary to live victorious lives in Christ. 2
Peter 1:3,4 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and
godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and
goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious
promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and
escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. We need to pray
for revelation of what we have already received in Christ (Ep 1:15-2:10).
· Spiritual blessings: This does not just refer to the blessings on the
soul, but also pertain to the Holy Spirit. He is the one who applies to the
work of Christ to heart. He is the great blessing. He guides us and is with
us because of what Christ has done for us.
· Unless Jesus died and rose again, we would not have the blessing of the
Spirit. John 16:7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am
going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I
go, I will send him to you. He is the one who guides and comforts us. Do we
thank the Lord for the Spirit in our lives? Is the Spirit really that
important to us?
Point #3 Spiritual Authority.
· Problem: The enemy of souls keeps us in bondage
· Answer: Know the authority we have in Christ, and fight him by faith.
· In heavenly places: This term is not used to describe the sky, or the
glories of heaven, but rather the unseen world of spiritual reality (Stott
35). It is resembling a theater. The curtain coverts the actors and scenery,
but when the curtain opens, the audience will obviously be able to observe
what is behind the curtain. The unseen realties of the spiritual world are
behind a “curtain” as well. The Spirit uses the scriptures to open our eyes,
to see what is behind the curtain. This phrase “in heavenly places” is found
five times in this letter, and nowhere else in the NT.
· 1:3 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.
· 1:20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and
seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.
· 2:6,7 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the
heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 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.
· 3:10,11 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom
of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly
realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
· 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
· We reign with Christ. What does this mean?
· How you ever asked what the power of the enemy really is? What power does
he have over human beings (2:1-3)? Why does he have this power? Does he have
any power over Christ? No. Why?
· Remember that we are in war. This is so important. The enemy wants us to
forget, so that he can get great footholds in our lives. Undoubtedly, Paul
says in Ephesians 6 that we war not against flesh and blood. Do not tolerate
the enemy’s lies, when he says that we are warring against other people.
Satan uses other people, but he is our enemy. The enemy does not want us to
pray, so he makes us focused on other people, thus we fight with our carnal
weapons. However, our weapons are not carnal, but spiritual (2 Cor 10:3-5).
· Pilgrim’s Progress.
Conclusion
· What changes in our lives do we need to make in order to live victorious
lives? Do we have to wake up earlier in the mornings to seek God? Do we need
to let go of certain activities in our lives, in order to have more time
with Christ? Remember that we have the power to overcome sin in our lives
(Phil 4:13). The question is not about if we have power to overcome sin,
temptation or to walk with God. God provides all the power or grace we need.
The question is, like Dr. Huang has said, are we willing?
· Practical steps: Write down your struggles, fears, worries, and so on, on
a piece of paper. Then go into the word, and write down the scriptures that
confront our struggles, worries or fears. The more we mediate on God’s
truth, we will start to see a change. Remember that God’s word is powerful,
and we are called to renew our minds (Rom 12:1,2). Remember that this will
not be easy, but it requires work on our part. Also remember this is God’s
will, and he will give us grace to overcome as his children!