The Letter to the Ephesians You are Rich in Christ

Eph. 1:1-14 shows us just how rich we are “in Christ”.

1

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

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 predestined us to be adopted as his sons 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 And 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 will have reached their fulfillment —to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. 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 hope in Christ , might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having 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.

I. We are Rich because we are In Christ and have Grace

Asia Minor’s “circle of wealth”

and peace

What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?

– profit and income are two different things.

– The rich man and Lazarus – Seek first the Kingdom of God. . .

– Thou fool, this night your soul is required, then whose will those things be?

– Grace and peace are the dollars and cents of eternity. Got Some? eternity: what is it?

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

II. We are rich because God is our Father and has blessed with every spiritual blessing in the place where it counts.

• William Randolf Hurst looked for treasures he already owned. Are you?

• On earth, we are not sheltered from need, but this is a test of where we place our values. “He is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep in order to gain that which he cannot lose.”

8

We are

troubled on every side, yet not distressed;

we are

perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward

man

is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding

and

eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen

are

temporal; but the things which are not seen

are

eternal.

III. We are rich because we are fulfilling God’s Gracious Purposes

• Chosen and Predestined to praise His glory and grace. (shopping by permission; no one wants him; lose mind or soul) • Holiness and blameless in love • Adopted as Sons • Privy to His plan—to bring everything together in One person —Jesus Christ • Sealed with a down payment guaranteeing inheritance —the Holy Spirit of promise.

Questions

• 1. Are you “in Christ”? Can you survive in this “present evil world”? (like a scuba diver is “in scuba gear” so he can survive in an alien environment?

• 2. Do you have “grace” and “peace”?

• 3. Do you know the Father and understand the vastness of your inheritance?

• 4. Are you fulfilling God’s real Purposes? Or, are you “bored” in life?