(subtitle: Lessons from Ephesians)
Sermon for Golden Triangle Church on the Rock
Pastor Kenneth Bent
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
In about AD 60-62, the Apostle Paul was under house arrest, living in his own rented quarters under guard by Roman soldiers. He had appealed to Caesar and so was taken to Rome to have his case heard.
Paul had now been preaching the Gospel and planting churches for nearly 30 years.
According to Acts 28, Paul was allowed to have visitors and could minister without hindrance as far as his confinement permitted.
During this time, Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, began writing 3 letters to churches and 1 letter to an individual.
4 men were dispatched to carry the letters.
Imagine 4 men carrying letters in their satchels as they walked past the Roman guards.
4 men carrying letters with life changing, kingdom shaking truths which would ultimately spread throughout the whole Roman Empire and out to the rest of the world.
Truths which would eventually help the gospel and instructions in truth and practical Christian living spread all throughout the Roman empire.
The truth in these letters eventually helped to cause the triumph of Christianity in the Roman Empire, leading to the conversion of the Roman Emperor himself – in spite of at least 10 Major waves of persecutions of Christians over the next 260 years.
Imagine Paul saying:
Epaphroditus! – take this letter to the church and believers in Philippi and its environs – it’s about living a victorious Christian life– it teaches about Christ and his condescension on the cross for us and his exaltation in His resurrection, and encourages them to rejoice in the Lord always, to think right thoughts and to keep supporting the work of the gospel by faith even in good times and difficult.
Epaphras! - take this letter to the church at Colossae – it is about Christ being the head of the church and gives truths that will counter false teaching and gives practical Christian living instructions.
Onesimus! - take this letter with you to Philemon – whom you once served as slave, and from whom you ran away….and now that you have believed in Christ – it is time to be reconciled with him as a Christian brother and as his servant. This letter will be an example to others about the price Christ paid for us to get us out of the slave market of our sin, about Christian reconciliation, and how Christ changes us, and will also instruct believers how to act and live out their Christianity in the midst of a pagan society.
Lastly, Titus! – take this letter to the church in Ephesus. It will teach the believers there their Position in Christ and what should be their Practice as Believers.
Or, to put it another way, it will show Christians:
Where they SIT
(in Christ, in the heavenly realm, blessed with all spiritual blessings)
How they should WALK
(knowing what to do, say and how to treat others)
And when and how to make their STAND against the powers of darkness.
(how to fight in spiritual warfare for the advance of the Gospel)
Ephesians was written so believers would gain a better understanding of:
POSITION IN CHRIST – where they “SIT”
Ephesians 2: 4 ¶ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
6 And God raised us up with Christ and SEATED US with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
In other words:
- the HOPE of their CALLING
- the RICHNESS of their INHERITANCE
- the MIGHTY WORKING of HIS POWER
so that they would learn their
PURPOSE IN CHRIST – How they should WALK and How they should STAND
So that believers can live a life that is worthy of God’s calling and that is glorifying to Him.
Another Outline of Ephesians can be simply stated as:
Chapters 1-3 – Doctrine or Theology – Christian Calling
Chapters 4-6 – Exhortation or Ethics – Christian Conduct
TONIGHT:
We will follow the outline:
SIT – Ephesians 1 – 3 Our Position in Christ
WALK – Ephesians 4:1 – 6:9 – Our Practice in Christ
STAND – Ephesians 6:10-20 – Our “Panoply” (Armor) in Christ
SIT (POSITION)
WE ARE BLESSED!
IN CHRIST:
Salvation blessings are
Determined by the Father
Secured by the Son
Applied by the Holy Spirit
We are blessed in Christ:
1:3-6 – BY THE ELECTION OF THE FATHER
Ephesians 1:4 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
The word “chose” here is in the indirect middle (or reflexive) voice, and essentially means that God chose us for Himself for His own pleasure and glory.
We are blessed in Christ:
1:7-12 – BY THE REDEMPTIVE WORK OF THE SON
Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
The phrase “IN CHRIST” is used many times in the New Testament –
20% of these usages occur in the book of Ephesians.
WE NEED TO KNOW WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST.
We are blessed in Christ:
1:13-14 – BY RECEIVING THE EARNEST AND SEALING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Ephesians 1:13 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.
25% of all references to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament occur in Ephesians.
The Holy Spirit is both an EARNEST – a “down payment” or guarantee that the final installment of salvation and glory is assured – and a SEAL – securing and authenticating a product for a future occasion.
Christians need to learn to “SIT” in their POSITION in CHRIST – resting in the full blessings of the FINISHED WORK of CHRIST in His death, burial and resurrection.
The blessings of our place in Christ:
REDEMPTION BY HIS BLOOD
FORGIVENESS OF SINS
GRACE LAVISHED ON US
HIS WILL MADE KNOWN TO US
AN ETERNAL INHERITANCE
SEALED AND RECEIVED THE DOWN PAYMENT GUARANTEE OF HEAVEN!
MADE PART OF THE CHURCH – THE ETERNAL PURPOSE OF GOD
WALK (PRACTICE)
Ephesians 4:1 – 6:9 tells us how we should walk – in the light of the great blessings we have received
UNITY – 4:1-16
Ephesians 4:1-6:
1 ¶ As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
2 ¶ Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
HOLINESS – 4:17-32
Ephesians 4: 17 ¶ So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
LOVE - 5:1-6
Ephesians 5:1 ¶ Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 ¶ But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
About 1/6 of all occurrences of the word “LOVE” in the New Testament occur in Ephesians. (17 times)
LIGHT – 5:7-14
Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
WISDOM – IN CHURCH, FAMILY AND SERVICE TO OTHERS - 5:15-6:9
Ephesians 5:15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,
16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
STAND (PANOPLY)
Ephesians 6:10 – 20 – tells us how we need to conduct warfare, how to STAND against the schemes of the enemy.
We do it by putting on our spiritual armor.
We do it by establishing ourselves in the strength of the Lord.
We do it by maintaining the correct attitude.
EPHESIANS CHAPTERS 4 THROUGH 6 CARRY THE BULK OF THE IMPERATIVES IN THE GREEK. ESSENTIALLY A GROUP OF COMMANDS FOR BELIEVERS.
ONE OF THE DERIVATIONS OF THE COMMAND TO “STAND” WAS A COMMAND GIVEN TO THE TRIARII – A SPECIAL GROUP OF BATTLE HARDENED VETERANS IN THE ROMAN MILITARY.
IN 6:14, THE IMPERATIVES CARRY A SENSE OF URGENCY.
PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD
VARIOUS COMMENTS ON THE ARMOR MAY FOLLOW.
