Sunday, 12 Jul 2015; Trinity 6

Ephes. 1.3 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 for adoption to sonship 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 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 reach their fulfilment – to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under 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 put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 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.

My first full-time permanent job was with Regional Offfice of Eagle Star Insurance Group in Norwich. I went round be trained in the various departments. The head of the private motor section was a rather fearsome looking older lady. In those day we dictated any letters on the phone to the typing pool. This lady had a problem with her punctuation, or rather, lack of it. Sometimes her sentence filled an entire paragraph.

Today's epistle is one, breathtaking, galloping, outpouring sentence.

Paul starts of by praising God. Why?

Well it is always good to praise God, but specifically here the praise is for God the Father who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

We have lots to be thankful for materially, but here the thanks is for every spiritual blessing. We are blessed in the heavenly realm because that is where the blessing comes from, for that blessing is in Christ. Believers are united with Christ, so there is a sense in which we are with Christ in heaven now. Colossians 3.1 refers to this. Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Because we are in Christ and united with Him, God no longer sees our imperfections, he sees the glorious, righteous, perfect Lord Jesus in our place. Verse 4 says this, For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

The word holy means set apart for God and by God. It doesn't necessarily refer to moral perfection, though, as we mature in the faith our behaviour should improve! But this is about how God sees us because we are in Jesus, not the way we behave.

People are not put right with God because of anything they have done or are. They are put right with God because he has chosen them. Verse 4 says this, For he chose us in him before the creation of the world

Verse 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.

This is mind bogglingly amazing for some and disconcerting for others, who may see this as being unfair.

For those who God has chosen it is amazing, because our salvation depends upon God choosing us. Not on how religious we are, how good we are, how much we give, pray, read the Bible or attend church, if we understand theology, speak Hebrew and NT Greek. It depends on his grace! Verse 6 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.

God's grace, his undeserved favour demolishes the barrier between people and God through the gift of trusting in Jesus. Paul writes of grace at the start of Chapter 2, something that is not in the lectionary in the next few Sundays. He wrote, 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Our security is in God alone, who chose us before the creation of the world. Before the first dinosaur roared, the first clock ticked, even before Bruce Forsyth told his first joke!

That knowledge should make Christian secure as a rock. We have our worth, our identity, our future in the hands of this Father God who loves us so much. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will

Romans 5. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

I mentioned that some people think it is unfair. The Bible tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and that this leads to death, separation from God. Everyone deserves to be separated from God, apart from Jesus, who was perfect, yet endured separation from God in the cross when he took upon himself the punishment for the sins of the world.

I have heard it said that it is not unfair that God is gracious enough to save some people. You wouldn't say it was unfair if someone managed to save three out of eight people from a sinking ship, for example.

I don't think we will ever be able to understand this fully because it involves factors like the free will of people, the all-knowingness or omniscience of God, and that God lives outside time.

A story is told of many people hurrying down the broad road of life, ignoring God's door that invites them, “Whoever will may come in”. The invitation is for everyone. 1 Timothy 2.4 says that God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. A few, inspired by God's Spirit enter through the door. The other side of the door reads chose in Christ before the creation of the world.

The choosing of believers by God involves them being adopted by God. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will

Adoption involves the adoptive parent choosing the child. In the Roman world the adopted son gained the full rights of a natural son, inheriting everything.

Being in Christ also brings verse 7 redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. The word redemption belonged in the slave market. It means release from slavery by paying a ransom price. Jesus has paid the ransom price for sin on the cross. This brings forgiveness for sin to those who are in Christ.

God has also blessed believers spiritually by revealing is will. 9 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 reach their fulfilment – to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

God has revealed to believers that one day everyone and everything will submit to Jesus as Lord and Master.

We can praise God because he has blessed us in love spiritually. He has chosen from before the beginning of time to be united in Christ. He has revealed His will for us, especially regarding the eternal future that is our in Christ. This is the inheritance that awaits those who are united with Jesus.

One commentator wrote, “God's spiritual blessings are based not only on the sovereign election of God the Father, and the redemptive work of the Son, but also on the seal of the Holy Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit opens people's eyes spiritually, convicts them of sin and gives trust in Jesus. He lives in every believer. In Paul's time a seal carried the imprint of a master and signified security, authentication, approval, genuineness and ownership.

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.

Believers are God's possession. They have the Holy Spirit to gaurantee their inheritance. Like a down payment or deposit or engagement ring.

What should our response be to these many blessings we have received?

In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – 6 to the praise of his glorious grace,

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 put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

We are chosen, adopted, predestined, loved so that we may be for the praise of His glory. This can refer to the praise, adoration and worship that believers do individually and corporately.

It can also refer to the whole life of the believer, which should of itself be an act of worship (Romans 12.1), that results in others glorifying God. Jesus spoke of this Matthew 5.16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 1 Peter 2.12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

In the light of this passage I would like to invite you to be thankful and grateful for who God is and what He has done from you through Jesus, implanted in your heart by His Holy Spirit.

I invite you to live in Him, with the love, security, peace, joy, forgiveness and promised inheritance that this brings.

I invite you to worship God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with your whole life, so that others may see how he has changed your life and that this may bring glory, honour and praise to Him.