Sunday, March 16, 2014 pm
STUDIES IN EPHESIANS - 3
Blessings in Christ - 2
Ephesians 1:4-6
Tonight we continue our study of the book of Ephesians.
In our last lesson we examined Paul’s introduction to our
blessings in Christ. VS. 3
calls for us to bless God (praise Him) because He has “blessed
us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”
We noted that in the text there are at least 7 blessings.
Tonight we want to begin examining these blessings in greater
detail.
a.
The word “chose”
means to pick out or select.
To make a choice of one or more possible alternatives. (L&N 30.86)
The text is dealing with our salvation and that God has made a
choice is indisputable.
BUT, the question we address deals with the nature of that choice –
1) Does it mean God arbitrarily chose specific individuals who are
compelled to acceptance? OR
did He choose a way or condition that all can access?
2) Is that choice conditional or unconditional?
True Calvinism teaches
that God randomly chose and predestined who would be saved (Unconditional election). The text we are examining is used to
support this view. It
specifically teaches that His choice is involuntary and man has no will
in the matter. Based upon
that premise, they contend that Jesus died only for the chosen and that
they would be moved by the Holy Spirit in a way they could not resist.
Jehovah’s Witnesses have a modified view of this, but offering an
alternative for those not of the chosen class.
This principle of Calvinism is
contrary to scripture – consider a few points of scripture:
http://padfield.com/acrobat/taylor/calvinism.pdf
1) Man is a free moral agent
– Gen. 2:16-17 – Adam and Ever were given a choice.
Josh. 24:15 – chose this day who
you will serve.
2) God is no respecter of
persons – Acts 10:32-33 – to Cornelius, the first Gentile to be
converted Peter spoke this.
1 Pet. 1:17 He judges without partiality.
3) HE desires all men to be
saved – 1 Tim. 2:3-4, 2 Pet. 3:9
4) Scriptures teach man has a
part in salvation – Eph. 2:8 “through faith”, Phil. 2:12, cf. Acts
2:38-40 – notice how Peter instructs them to take action.
Mark 16:16, etc.
5) The great commission makes
no sense if our salvation is unconditional – Mat. 28:18-20, Mark
16:15-16, etc.
God’s choice has to do with His determining the criteria for man to be
saved. Consider a math
teacher who before the school year begins “choses” who will get an A.
It is not randomly going down the row of students and picking
them. A standard is set –
Average 90% or greater on all tests, do and turn in your homework,
participate in class and you will get an A.
IF it is in this manner (establishing the criteria) that God made His
choice then it does NOT violate the various principles we just
discussed.
b.
“In Him”
– this is a qualifier that helps us understand who is chosen!
But of course that leads to the question – HOW does one find himself “in
Him”? Again we ask, is it
unconditional or conditional (requiring action)?
Romans 13:14 tells us to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no
provisions for the flesh…
Ephesians 4:22-24 says, “that you put off, concerning your former
conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful
lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on
the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness
and holiness.”
NOW Consider Galatians 3:26-27 - “For you are all sons of God through
faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ
have put on Christ.”
This verse tells us that we PUT ON CHRIST by acting – that is being
baptized.
c.
Before the foundation of the world – this was a part of God’s eternal plan that predated
this universe coming into existence.
Numerous passages appeal to this -
2 Tim. 1:9 - “who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which
was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,”
1 Peter 1:20-21 says, ““He indeed was foreordained before the
foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you
who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave
Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”
Later in this epistle we will find that the church was a part of His
plan (Eph. 3:10-11)
And when you study what the church you find it to be “the body of
Christ” (Eph. 1:22-23). Thus
to be in the church is also to be “In Him”.
NOTE: I am convinced that one reason the blood of Christ is acceptable
to completely remove sins (even though our guilt demands punishment) is
because God determined BEFORE the foundation of the world how one would
be saved – and it is “in Him.”
d.
That we should be holy
and without blame before Him in love – this is His goal concerning those who are “chosen in Him”–
To be holy is to be set apart
– as Christians we are to be separated from the world.
Continually it is emphasized that we are to live separate live –
2 Cor. 6:17, Rom. 12:1-2, 1
Pet. 1:13-16 speaks of our being holy because HE is holy.
To be without blame is to be
forgiven – sin is the stain on our spiritual life.
If we are to be able to approach God with must remove our sins.
And how is that done?
Acts 22:16 – “Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on
the name of the Lord.”
Rom. 6:3-6 – in baptism the body of sin is done away with.
This is done “in love”
– love is the motivating factor.
Some might ask, is it His love for us or our love for Him?
Both are certainly true
Out of love we serve Him – John 14:15 – if we love Him we will
keep His commandments. 1 John 5:2-3 which says that by this we know that
we love Him – if we keep His commandments.
His love for us – John 3:16
These ARE related! 1 John 4:17-19 – we love Him because He first loved
us.
NOTE:
One more thought about our condition as His chosen in Him.
Ephesians 5:25-27 says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as
Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might
sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He
might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or
wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without
blemish.” ONE Of the points Paul emphasizes in the book of Ephesians
is the church in Christ.
Paul told the Corinthians that we are baptized into the body (1
Cor. 12:13). Acts 2:47 says,
“The Lord added to the church
daily those who were being saved.
a.
The term predestined
means “to predetermine”. It
conveys the idea of setting boundaries before the fact.
The statement in this verse is related to being chosen.
Those chosen are predestined.
The difference in the two words is that “chose” deals with WHO
while being predestined deals with the RESULT.
NOTE: All the principles of Calvinism STILL apply with this point.
b.
We are predestined to
adoption as sons
– we become His children.
Adoption as used here is equivalent to what we think of – a child being
given full family membership even though he is not born into that
position.
Again consider how one way our salvation is described is as being “born
again” –
John 3:3,5; 1 Pet. 1:22
See also Galatians 3:26-7:7.
This is a text filled with descriptions of our being “sons of God” and
not merely slaves. While the
text does deal with Jews and Gentiles, the point that applies to all of
us is the relationship we have with Him.
AGAIN, it is dependent upon our response (not an unconditional,
arbitrary choice).
See also Romans 8:12-17 which speaks of us as being children and heirs
because we are “adopted”.
c.
By Jesus Christ – again, it is associated with our coming in contact with Him.
d.
According to the good
pleasure of His will
– Paul finally observes that this is something God WANTS to do!
God as our Father is not a tyrant nor done reluctantly.
He is glad to do what HE has done for us.
IT is His “good pleasure.”
1 Cor. 1:21, “it pleased God through the foolishness of the message
preached to save those who believe.”
As we continue our study of the blessings in Christ we will see this
expression twice more (vs. 9, 11.
Phil. 2:13 – we work out our salvation, “for
it is God who works in you
both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
See also 2 Thess. 1:11
e.
To the praise and glory
of His grace
– going back to vs. 3 we
are reminded that we are “blessing” God - that is - praising and
exalting Him.
In vs. 6, we are given reason to praise Him – because of what He has
done “in Him.” IF your sins
have been forgiven should you show tremendous gratitude?
Certainly!
Just as a child who fully comprehends loving parents choosing to adopt
him should demonstrate profound gratitude, so should we respond to His
“choosing” us?
See again Romans 8:15,
“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to
fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba,
Father.””
f.
By which He made us accepted in the Beloved
– the ultimate result of
the death of Jesus. He died
for our sins and God established the mode through which we come in
contact with that death. As
a result we are now accepted in Him.
Accepted means to be highly favored – when we obey the gospel we are not
merely and barely tolerated, we are wholly accepted.
ONE thing I see in this is that our acceptance is NOT about us in that
we deserve it, it is the GRACE of God.
It is His grace that made all things possible.
Paul will elaborate on this in chapter 2.
g.
OUR final observation is
that this acceptance is in the Beloved – for the
third time in these 3 verses reference has been made to Jesus.
He did His part freely and willingly.
Therefore He is described as “the Beloved”.
God is grateful that Jesus willingly died for our sins. Recall
the words of God at both the baptism and transfiguration of Jesus, “This
is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:17, 17:5)
Consider also Phil. 2:5-9.
We have been offered adoption by our heavenly Father.
Will we accept? AND,
if we have accepted it, do we demonstrate due gratitude to Him for His
blessings? Think about it.