Redemption In Christ

As we have walked through the first few verses of Ephesians 1, we see the phrase "In Christ (Him)" repeated. Paul is painting an elaborate and beautiful picture of the what is offered to those who live in relational connection to Jesus. We often times lump all the unique and wonderful blessings of God into the salvation experience. Do they all begin at salvation? Yes, I believe they largely do; however, each facet of what we acquire and lay hold of at salvation is an ongoing adventure and experience with God. We can too easily gloss over the promises of God in Jesus and forget that each one of them is an overwhelming expression of the love and nature of God......forever.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Alright. These aren't jokes. Well, these first two aren't. But they're but they're apparently true, and I could not share these. Apparently, you know how every nation has like an animal? The state of Montana, our animal is the grizzle bear, and the national bird is the eagle, and the national American animal is the American bison. But do you know what Scotland's is? The unicorn. Seriously. It's not a joke. I looked it up. It's amazing. See each of their own, right? You gotta get away. Or the unicorn? Alright, and apparently sea hunters hold hands when they sleep so they don't float apart. Okay, this one's called the dress. The poor country pastor was livid when he confronted his wife with the receipt for a $500 dress she had bought. How could you do this? He exclaimed. I don't know what she said. I was standing in the store looking at the dress, then I found myself trying it on. It was like the devil was whispering to me, gee, you look great in that dress. Well the pastor persisted. You don't know what to do. To have a deal with him, just kind of get behind me, Satan. She said, I did. He replied, it looks great from back here too. We have been talking about abiding in Christ, and for the sake of time, I'll try to kind of fast forward to this review, but John 15 talks about us abiding in Christ, like a branch abides in a vine that gets its nutrients, its life from that. We talked about how do we become grafted into that vine? And it's by believing and following Jesus Christ. And two, like an ongoing relationship and dependency upon him. Abide also means to remain. To stay there. This is Jesus. Abide in my love. Like stay there. If you obey my commands, you'll abide in my love just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and abide in his love. The abiding is remaining, staying, fixing your eyes, your gaze, your heart upon Jesus Christ. And the life that comes out of that is the divine life of God flowing through you. This is not just you try harder to do something better or to live a holy life. This is a dependency on God for the ability to live this life that He has for each one of us. We started talking in Ephesians chapter 1 about these statements that are in Christ or in him, kind of again going back to this picture of abiding, being connected to the vine. And the first verse, verse 3, we kind of went over is blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. And again, this life of believing Jesus Christ is our Savior, believing that through Him we have redemption and life of God living in and through us. And what does that bring? Blessing. All types of blessing. Blessing in relationships, in health, in our mindsets, in our families. Now we all want more of that reality evident in our lives, and of course, this is like an ongoing walk with God. And the the point of what I was sharing about the blessings of the Lord are they are for everyone around you. Ultimately, we are not, the goal is not to be blessed so you can sit on it all, so you can have it all for yourself. So many people they desire the blessings of the Lord, but really it's just for themselves. It's a selfish mindset. But as we look at Jesus Christ, he was a blessing. He was blessed, but then he blessed. His life was a fountain. And that's what we're talking about, being a fountain rather than a dream. So the desire for God to bless us is in order to be a blessing to others. 2 Chronicles 16, 9, the first part of that verse says, the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the earth to show himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts is loyal to him. The Lord is looking for people who can be the conduit for blessing in and around their lives, in and around their communities. And so I would hope that we as a church will become an increasingly productive, blessed group so that our community, our region, our state might be blessed. That we can become that pipe, that conduit for this to pour out of us. Next verse, then we talked about just as he chose us in Christ, in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. And we first talked about this idea of free will or the choice that we each have. We all have the choice to go with the will of God or with our own will or with the will of the enemy. Now we constantly have these off-ramps, if you will, of life. Do you want to do your own thing or do you want to follow God's path? The other thing is that we understand that God knows all things. So how do we begin to balance this? Who chose who? How did this happen? Who did it first? Do we even have a choice? And we looked at Matthew chapter 20, the first part there in Matthew 22, and there's two different parables that Jesus tells. And the point is at the end of them he says, Many are called, but few are chosen. So in one of those stories, he sends out invitations to a banquet to everyone, and not everyone came. And so the idea was everyone who did come received the joy, the blessing, the communion with God, which is everlasting life, and the robe of righteousness. Okay, so he, many are called, all these people were called, but few were chosen to receive the robe of righteousness and the this connection with God because they answered. They showed up. They said yes to God first. Second is Matthew 22, or sorry, Matthew 20, I'll go back. That is where it says there's this there's this boss, this landowner. He goes out and he looks for people who work in his field. And he keeps going out every couple hours throughout the day until it's like the almost the last hour, and he's still hiring people. And that's the image of Christ, of God. Um desires that none should perish, but all have everlasting life, calling them in. And those who answered, they all received the same payment, whether they had worked all day or just an hour, and that's a picture of salvation. And again, Jesus says, Many are called, but few are chosen. Few are chosen to what? Does God choose everyone? No, he has extended himself to all men, and those who respond, he now chooses to give them salvation. That denarius, that robe of righteousness, that connection with him. And so it's in response to our saying yes to him first. Verse 5, then we got into predestined, and this kind of gets deeper into these theological debates and things. So I likened it to this roly suitcase, predestination. So the idea is now when we say yes to God, he chooses us. He says, I choose, and the last verse to make you blameless and to uh sorry, blameless and holy. Wow. So we start seeing that not only does he say, alright, you're not gonna go to hell, no, he's also saying, and now I'm gonna make you holy. Like above reproach. I'm gonna make you spotless. I'm going to adopt you. Like these are each one of these things are like an unpacking of the suitcase, of the things that God has desired for our lives. So, uh, yeah, this is this year's predestination, if you ever heard anyone talking about it, it's a suitcase. Uh Ephesians 2.10 says that we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which he's fashioned, like he has for us to live out. It talks about um, it's the will of God in these next verses and in verse 5 and 6, I think. So he's having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Like this is his will for your life, that you would have no lack, that you'd be uh equipped and able for every good work, that you would lack nothing according to life and godliness. Like all these are scriptures that I'm quoting here. So we unpacked this last week a little bit. There's blessings in here, there's there's provision, adoption, and forgiveness. And the list keeps going on and on. We're conformed to the image of Christ. No eyes seen, no ears heard, we've entered into the hearts of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him. But he has revealed them to us through his spirit. The spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. So, this idea that predestination is God predetermining who's going to be saved and who's not, we kind of came against that basic kind of broad sweeping mindset that I don't feel these scriptures portray or jive with. He's actually talking about all the great things that he has in store for us, those who accept Jesus Christ, those who are in Christ, and remain there. Again, abiding and remaining. Okay, now we're going to get into the praise or the glory of his grace by which he made us accept it in the beloved. Okay, I might just have to fast forward a bit to this last bit, but let's go to verse 7. In him, again, this is talking about those who are in Christ Jesus, who have accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ and stay there. We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of time he might gather together in one all things in Christ. Now that's hard to grasp. I sat there for probably an hour trying to like really get my little brain around some of this. Because there's long, complicated sentences. Let's just go back to verse 7. In him we have redemption through his blood. Now I like to look up the definition of those words, like in the Greek, because I have an app. And it means to return to original position, purpose, and relationship. And the picture of it is like a conqueror releasing prisoners or like a master ransoming or releasing a slave. So in Christ we have redemption through his blood. This returning back to original purpose and intent. Well, that sounds to me a lot like creation. And I think I said this last week or the week before. You know, the first three chapters of the Bible where man, where God creates everything, and then man is living with God. However long that was, that might have been thousands of years, we don't know. But now, like the rest of this book, it's us trying to get back to the three chapters in the beginning. Maybe just the two chapters, right? We're just trying, this is all coming back to here. So when we realize that he's returning us back to original intent, purpose, and position, we have to think of the guard of being, I have to think perfection and man walked with God. That was the original intent, the engineering desire of the Creator. And then when it talks about forgiveness, it's a sending away, a release from bondage with the added quality of canceling out all judgment, punishment, obligation, or debt. So we understand this like in the eternal sense of now God doesn't hold our sins against us so that now we've got to go to heaven. But I also want to challenge you that I believe that God wants us to know that we no longer need to live under the effects and consequences of sin in this life as well. If you think of any type of decay, destruction, breakdown of any type, whether physical, emotional, relational, our bodies breaking down, that's a really, that's a very real disceral one, right? Especially some mornings. Those are all effects of sin. Now it doesn't mean that you, there's a certain sin you've committed. There can be, you know, like there can be things you do to your body, like drugs that really destroy your body and hyper-age it. But you don't have to live, we as Christians do not have to agree to live under the expectations of this sinful decay in the world. For example, I know a guy, and he had a very rough life, and he ended up in prison. And when he got out of prison, he had gotten saved in prison, and God told him, Alright, I want you to be a nurse, like a trauma nurse or whatever it was, and he said, I can't be. I have a I have a record. You can't do that. And God said, No, that's what I want you to do. He said, I'll go apply. He applied and he got accepted. And they did a background check and they couldn't find his record. So God had, in his grace, somehow made that not show up so that now he he became a nurse and he touched a lot of lives and he changed a lot of people's lives. Um, and so this idea that we just have to kind of live underneath this decay, and you know, you're just gonna get old and break down. Now maybe that's happening to you, but I believe that God, in what he's saying here, not only does he forgive your sins for heaven's sake, but also for the here and now. That we don't have to live under the effects of sin and destruction that's around us. Okay. I digress. Okay. So we're just gonna quickly go over these verses. Verse 8 again. Okay, so he's talking about the grace which he made to abound towards us in all wisdom and prudence. I never I don't usually think of the word prudent and like an oversupply at the same time, right? So in God's eyes, he's like, I'm being prudent and wise with this. I'm gonna give a superabundance to you. I'm gonna overpay for you. Like in his mind, that's prudent. That's acceptable, that's wise. We'll we'll circle back to that in a little bit. But here's another scripture that talks about this abundance, okay? Okay, to abound. The Greek word means to exceed a fixed number or can't. Overflow, to be over. Okay, what is grace then? Sorry, it's verse 7, I guess, still, but I put it under eight. But according to the riches of his grace, okay, what is grace? Grace is the power of God to free us from sin and empower us to live and receive all God has for us. We've talked about this before. Grace is like a power and the outlet that we connect to with our faith, with believing, to release the power that's there. So the power is to free us from sin, to save us, but also to give us the ability to live the Christian life. So many people are like, yeah, I can't live the Christian life, and I would immediately say, neither can I. Only through the power of God, only through the help of the Holy Spirit can that be possible. Another verse that talks about this is Romans 5, 17, this abundance of grace. And the author of Romans is talking about how Adam fell, and we all understand the effects of that. We live in that right now. For if by one man's offense, Adam, death reigned now through the whole earth forever, or all this time, through that one man, much more, again, this is abundance talking, right? Much more. Those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ. So I just want to touch again on this abundance of grace that God thought was just reasonable and wise, prudent. So we are receiving God's power to set us free and enable us to live in union and connection with God. And what does it require? Like, what is the mindset that is required to receive this grace? You have to believe it exists and God wants it for you. How do you live in a, like I'm saying, this abundance of grace? One, we have to believe that God actually provided that for us through the death of Jesus Christ. You can't receive something you don't believe exists. Two, what's the other mindset? That redemptive work on the cross makes you able to receive it. You have full legal right to it. So, one, we have to believe that it exists, and two, we have to believe that that's what God wants for us. Abundance, this abundance of grace. So, what he has given us, how he gives, is there is never lack. How he wants to give himself the things of God, these things in this bag, never lack. He doesn't just give us enough grace for today, he gives us an oversupply. Why? Because, as the next verse says, it's actually revealing the mystery of Jesus, of God's will. Verse 9 in Ephesians chapter 1. So having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in himself, this again goes back to this idea of this abundance of grace that comes through this the blood of Jesus Christ and this redemptive work. And then verse 10 just talks about how in the fullness of time, the dispensation of the fullness of time, it's just saying at the end of all things, that the Father would gather together in one all things in Christ, which both which are in heaven and which are on earth in him. That Jesus Christ would receive the reward of his suffering. Jesus Christ would receive the victory and the prize for what he did for us and on behalf of the fallen man. Alright, so I need uh I need an assistant. Brave person. Alright. Okay, Leo, it's your birthday. Here, roll up your sleeve. You know, this is gonna be wild. You ready? Ta-da! Alright. So, abundance of grace, prudence. Alright. This is a cup. It's salvation. Okay? Put it over the trash can. Alright. Salvation. So. So, how does God like to give? This is his grace. We've got to fill up this cup, because your cup's empty, right? You can't save yourself. You can't displace what's in here. Only God can, alright? So, what is your what are your parents? How full do your parents usually make it? Like that? That full? That full? Okay, don't. Oh, what? Okay. Do you think it's enough? How do you know it's enough? Oh, it's over fun. I just want to make sure it's enough. Do you think it's enough? Okay. Alright, okay. Good job. I'm just gonna top you off. Alright. There's salvation for you. Is that enough? Is it more than enough? Call that an abundance, huh? Okay. Here's um redemption. So not only are we gonna is he saving us, but now he's making us as if we've never sinned. So that we can be fully received and loved and blessed by God in every way. Like in this life or in the next one. That sounds cool. Alright. Tell me when. Okay? Yeah? Okay. You sure? Now why would you need that much? That seems excessive. Because I thought it was prudent. Yes, you get to pour it. Okay, what's this cover? Let's make something up. Well we got some. Oh. Oh, you know me. Sometimes I give and sometimes I take away. Sorry. I mean I don't I mean I filled those up for you. You should be happy. Oh wait, never mind. It's number one. Do you think that's a lot of love? Is that more love than you can handle? That's a lot of love. Do you think I like to do this? Alright. Thank you. Do you need more? Because there's more where it came from. That is a picture of the grace of God. He does not give prudently as we would. He gives prudently as the heart of God would desire. I'm not saying this is scriptural. I just want to maybe challenge us with a picture, a mental picture real quick. Again, I'm not saying this is scripture. I'm just saying, wouldn't this be interesting to think about? Okay, before the world existed, let's say the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit were sitting there taking counseling themselves. And they're deciding to create the world. But they know what will happen if they do. They understand that what they create is ultimately going to reject God, reject goodness, and create evil, create sin, destruction, and decay, judgment. And all of a sudden Jesus steps forward and says, What is the price to redeem mankind? Now let's just say, I'm not saying again, like there's a quantity or amount, but let's say one drop of pure, holy, God-ordained blood would be enough to wipe out all the sins of all mankind forever. He says, okay. What would it cost to give them my peace? Well, that would maybe cost another drop. How about my blessings? The same blessings that you would give me as a son, what would it cost to give them? They said, well, two drops. What would it cost to make them adopted and beloved and holy before you? Well, that would cost another five drops. And Jesus says, How about I just give it all? Like, how about I just overpay? Now I'm not saying that he didn't need to go to the cross or maybe the cross, like he could have just bled a little bit, and that's what I'm saying. I'm not saying this is scripture, but I'm saying the picture is that Jesus Christ gave all an overabundance. He overpaid for you. He overpaid for what's in here. You think of going to a store and somebody goes, hey, how much? How much is this toy, this thing? And they go, five bucks, okay, here's a thousand. Keep the change. That would be prudent, right? That would be in line with our wisdom. Jesus goes, how much is that worth? They say, five bucks, and he says, here's a billion. That's what he does for each one of us. That's what he does for our life. That's why we don't look at our circumstances to understand the love of God. We look at the cross. That's why abiding requires that we fix our eyes on Jesus Christ. Because he's forever the picture of that divine love. That was overabundant, that was excessive in every way. And we need to caution ourselves to question the goodness and love of God because we look at anything else. Do you know why the devil loves to kill, steal, and destroy? Because it's so visceral, it's so tangible, it's in our face. Do you know why he loves watching all our fields blow away? Because we all have to sit there and watch it happen. He likes to grind it in our face, right? But if if what's happening becomes bigger than what Jesus Christ did on the cross, then we're gonna get off really quick. And we start questioning if God's really good, because these things happen. Because this was a let go. But that's why the abiding is necessary to live in abundance. It's because we have to be so firm in our own hearts and minds. God is so good. We stop looking for circumstances, things, and people to affirm that so we can believe it. That's why it says it requires faith. It requires faith to even receive God's love. And sometimes we don't want to have faith, we just want it to be proven to us. And that works sometimes because God has put great and wonderful blessings into our life. But all of a sudden, when one of those gets taken away or something happens that disrupts equilibrium of our life, now we find ourselves questioning if God really loves us. The proof is on the cross. Proof is its overabundance of grace towards us. So this is not a translation, this is my extrapolation from these verses because they're really complicated. Try to follow this. By believing and abiding in Christ, we are returned to original value, position, and purpose that God had before time existed for each one of us. He removed the legal right and eternal consequences that sin had on us by over-supplying his grace. Again, what is his grace? The power of God to free us from sin and empower us to live in and receive all God has for us. Okay, so again, that sin. He removed the legal right and eternal consequences that sin had on us by oversupplying his grace, by sacrificing himself. By doing this, he showed us in real time the overabundant love and value that he has placed on each one of us to reveal his perfect will, which has been a mystery for so long. Because of this, Jesus Christ will receive the reward of his suffering in the right time. That's what I think it's really saying. This redemption is so far beyond what we what we have ever considered. And that that reveals the mystery of God's true heart and intent for us that he would go to actually. You've done so much for us, God, that we don't even acknowledge, understand, or comprehend. But I ask you, Holy Spirit, to continue to reveal to us the depth of the love and nature and goodness of God, that we would understand just a little more the intent and purpose you have for our lives to receive from you blessing and love and goodness all the days of our life. And that this is not for us alone, but this is for those around us and ultimately for your honor and your glory, so that in the fullness of time you would receive the reward of your suffering through our lives and through this earth, the people of it turning and glorifying you in whatever way that you desire, Lord, in our lives to pour out how we are each individually a piece of this tapestry and the mosaic of what you want to be revealed and shown in this earth. Lord, we just say, may it be so with us. May we be that piece in that part of that beautiful picture and tapestry. And we thank you, Jesus, for what you've done for us on the cross and for this day. And Lord, I stand with these other people here and declare that what the enemy has stolen will be returned sevenfold. That's a right we have in Scripture. And we call it out. And we say not only monetarily, but that this, that souls would come to know you, that people would turn to you, that lives would be transformed, that people would come to the end of themselves and turn to you and would live in this abundant life, God. And that what the enemy meant for evil, that God can turn it for good. So we thank you for that opportunity, Lord, to agree and to declare these things with you. In Jesus' name, amen.