Mind-blowing realities!

Mind-blowing realities

Ephesians 1:13-23

Introduction

Having given detailed and foundational teaching on the Holy Spirit last Sunday which I felt compelled to do, I don't have the same feeling this week about the Holy Trinity. For those of us who follow, however gently, the Church's Year, today is Trinity Sunday.

God, as Trinity is a core and creedal belief: One God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, totally biblical and demonstrable as such. What we shall do as we look at the passage which has been laid on my heart to preach from, Ephesians 1, is observe what is present in so many scriptures God working as one - Father, Son & Holy Spirit.

1. Unflinching and Unquestioned Inclusion - verses 13-14

[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.

I am aware I have come into a passage mid flow of what Paul is saying and so, being very concise, the first part establishes how the first, and Jewish believers, came to be incorporated into Christ as part of God's eternal plan.

So, who is the 'you' of verse 13a?

The Christians at Ephesus and the significance in the emphasis of 'you also' is that they were not Jews but Gentiles. When they believed the gospel of Jesus, they became a part of the household of faith without any distinction from the Jewish believers. By extension the 'you' of verse 13a is all Christians from all walks and strata of life down through the ages - us right now!
One tier Christianity! Unpack that in your thoughts!!!

Then verses 13b-14, paralleling a point we looked at last week:

Sealed with the Holy Spirit - God's mark of ownership
Guaranteeing the inheritance of redemption

Jews and Gentiles (latter is you and me as none Jews) completely on the same footing. No 2nd class or 2nd rate Christians.As I said, one tier Christianity - but too often 'them and us'. Some on pedestals, others not really welcome or side-lined because . . ..



2. Dedicated and Dynamic Prayer - verses 15-23

Last week I highlighted a point on prayers which said we don't always need words just that deep seeking of the mind and will of God. Here, Paul is absolutely specific in his prayer for these Gentile Christians which, please note, is surrounded by thanksgiving for their generous love, for their faith in the Lord Jesus and love for God's people. We also saw, two weeks ago, how Jesus prayed very specifically in the upper room in John 17.

Side note - the Christian faith isn't just about me and God but me, God and other believers!

So, his prayer coming from this thankfulness

For God to acts in us as Father, Son & Holy Spirit - verses 15-17

[15] For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God's people, [16] I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. [17] I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

All three persons are mentioned and so active in the purpose of Paul's prayer which is that we may know Him (God) better because we are given wisdom and revelation. That in turn should arise from some bible knowledge and relationship with God.

Side note - these folks had no new testament! It was in the process of being written and so after what they heard of the Old Testament, the rest would be the accounts being shared about the life and events of Jesus.

For us to open eyed to appreciate our inheritance - verses 18-19a

[18] I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, [19] and his incomparably great power for us who believe

What he is saying is that our hope is based on our inheritance which flows from the victory of the cross with the price of sin paid -forgiveness comes through saying sorry and changing (repentance); death being defeated through resurrection and that brings in life which is eternal!

Check - this is what Jesus has inherited and He is the first to rise and be in the heavenly realm!

In the same breath Paul brings in us knowing the incomparably great power for us as believers. No brevity in his words but that was because he knew all this for himself!

And when Paul gets rolling, he just rocks on and so the final part of what we are looking at which follows on from power:

For us to be constantly aware of the power and authority we are under - verses 19b-23 and I have to read it again:

That power is the same as the mighty strength [20] he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, [21] far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. [22] And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, [23] which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

We have access now to the same power that raised Jesus from death and into eternity
That raising placed Jesus in sovereignty over any and every other kind of authority and power - human or demonic - for all time and the result is:
everything is subject to him, under his feet, and he rules it all including the church, he is the head over it, which means we / it is his body that serves him and not ourselves.

We have a phrase to the effect: power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely!

This power, the power of the cross, resurrection and exultation of Jesus: respects, liberates and brings hope and life itself because it was born out of complete servitude and humility by submitting to the corrupting power of sin and death at our hands! (see Philippians 2:5-11). It is the power of victory arising from apparent weakness and defeat!

Conclusion

Finally,

This morning we have explored, broadly, two matters:

That all who are called, who have responded through repentance to that call, and are now In Christ, stand before God as co-heirs. Hopefully we also stand before each other's as equals.


That the Holy Spirit power which lives in us, individually and corporately, also assures that with Jesus reigning over all with complete and utter victory, we are safe.

Yes, life is good, yes life can be tough and at times very, very tough and terrible as well as wonderful things happen to God's children. He suffers with those who suffer and rejoices in the good. We rest assured in joys and struggles that nothing can rob us of what we have or snatch us out of the Father's hand. Jesus, the shepherd king speaking, John 10:28-30

[28] I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. [29] My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. [30] I and the Father are one."

Now, finally, finally!

I came up with the heading for this talk 'Mind-blowing Realities' and what Paul say is: mind-blowing and stretching at one and the same time. Realities because God is who he is, Father, Son & HOLY SPIRIT - beyond comprehension; but, at the same time He has brought victory out of seeming defeat which results in our security now and for ever. Why? Because through faith / trust in Jesus we have all that Jesus has.

God the Father loves us; Jesus the Son has won salvation and God the Holy Spirit imparts it to you and I freely, but, with the paradoxical cost of our lives as servants of the living God.


Rev S.J. Abram


Chaplaincy of Poitou-Charentes