26-27
Jan 2019, Christ Mountain Top
Jan 2019, Christ Mountain Top
Praying
the Psalm, Psalm 23
the Psalm, Psalm 23
Children,
Mark 6.53-56
Mark 6.53-56
Message,
Ephesians 2.1-10
Ephesians 2.1-10
Mission
Moment,
Moment,
Ephesians
begins with the wonder of Christ Jesus, beyond imagination, “all in all,” our
fullness and our destiny. It continues with practical direction on being in Christ. For eight weeks, we are
going to study this short letter. One of its marvelous features is its prayers.
Repeatedly, Paul offers his prayers for the readers of this letter – prayers for us – and he closes asking for our
prayer for him. One of those prayers will be our theme Scripture as a church
for 2019:
begins with the wonder of Christ Jesus, beyond imagination, “all in all,” our
fullness and our destiny. It continues with practical direction on being in Christ. For eight weeks, we are
going to study this short letter. One of its marvelous features is its prayers.
Repeatedly, Paul offers his prayers for the readers of this letter – prayers for us – and he closes asking for our
prayer for him. One of those prayers will be our theme Scripture as a church
for 2019:
Ephesians
3:18-21 I pray that you may
have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and
length and height and depth, 19
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be
filled with all the fullness of God. 20
Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly
far more than all we can ask or imagine,
21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all
generations, forever and ever. Amen.
3:18-21 I pray that you may
have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and
length and height and depth, 19
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be
filled with all the fullness of God. 20
Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly
far more than all we can ask or imagine,
21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all
generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Two
weeks ago: blessing in Christ, to the praise of his glorious grace
weeks ago: blessing in Christ, to the praise of his glorious grace
Adoption, Inheritance, Chosen, Redeemed
Last
week: power and fullness in Christ, all in all
week: power and fullness in Christ, all in all
This
week: Created and Made Alive in Christ: Grace through Faith
week: Created and Made Alive in Christ: Grace through Faith
Pastor,
I just can’t figure out why I’m still here, what God has for me to do …
I just can’t figure out why I’m still here, what God has for me to do …
Pastor,
I ask God what I should be doing. I really have no idea.
I ask God what I should be doing. I really have no idea.
Question of connection (older adults)
Question of calling (younger people)
Important
questions. In this passage, Paul has an answer for us, yet he does not address
(directly) matters of our connections or callings.
questions. In this passage, Paul has an answer for us, yet he does not address
(directly) matters of our connections or callings.
Two
biblical salvation stories that Paul uses to describe saving grace:
biblical salvation stories that Paul uses to describe saving grace:
· Resurrection
· Creation
· Resurrection
of the dead, being made alive together with Christ
of the dead, being made alive together with Christ
· Creation,
created in Christ Jesus
created in Christ Jesus
Resurrection
of the dead:
of the dead:
Only dead things rise
And dead things can’t do anything to raise
themselves
themselves
Elaborating
our “deadness”
our “deadness”
Following the course of the world
Following the prince/ruler of the power of
the air
the air
The same spirit at work among the
disobedient
disobedient
Following our desires/senses
By nature, “children of wrath”
That is, up to our own devices,
that’s what we get
that’s what we get
Mad spouse, mad parents, mad
kids, mad boss, mad …
kids, mad boss, mad …
Even
the wrath of God, not because God is spiteful toward us but because God can’t
abide evil of any kind
the wrath of God, not because God is spiteful toward us but because God can’t
abide evil of any kind
Resurrection
of the dead:
of the dead:
Only dead things rise
And dead things can’t do anything to raise
themselves
themselves
“Not by works”
Christians are NOT good people, they are
sinners!
sinners!
Instead,
salvation is “by”
salvation is “by”
God, rich in mercy
God, loves us with a great love
God, saves us by grace
God, who is lavish in kindness
God, who GIVES us salvation (faith a gift)
Resurrection
of the dead:
of the dead:
Only dead things rise
And dead things can’t do anything to raise
themselves
themselves
Creation
out of nothing
out of nothing
Biblical story – out of stuff that is
“not” (formless/empty)
“not” (formless/empty)
Hosea – once you were not a people, not
received mercy/loved
received mercy/loved
Paul does not expand on this theme here
Ephesians 2:10 For we are what he has made us,
“Workmanship,”
Greek poeima (poem), work of art (Stott, 84)
Greek poeima (poem), work of art (Stott, 84)
Ephesians 2:10 For we are … created in Christ Jesus for good
works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
Made
for something
for something
LeBron (basketball), Brady
(QB), Celine (sing)
(QB), Celine (sing)
Vanessa, doing hair
Pastor,
I just can’t figure out why I’m still here, what God has for me to do …
I just can’t figure out why I’m still here, what God has for me to do …
Pastor,
I ask God what I should be doing. I really have no idea.
I ask God what I should be doing. I really have no idea.
Begins
and ends with same Greek word: peripateo, walk (way of life) (Stott, 85)
and ends with same Greek word: peripateo, walk (way of life) (Stott, 85)
Ephesians 2:1-2 the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once lived
Ephesians 2:10 for good works, which God prepared beforehand
to be our way of life.
to be our way of life.
The
good works are not defined. At least not as specific works, or as something
unique for you and me, or as an area in which we excel or do a “good” job. No,
these good works are only defined by contrast. They are NOT the “trespasses and
sins” that once characterized our lives when we were enslaved to sin, captive
to death, and children of wrath.
good works are not defined. At least not as specific works, or as something
unique for you and me, or as an area in which we excel or do a “good” job. No,
these good works are only defined by contrast. They are NOT the “trespasses and
sins” that once characterized our lives when we were enslaved to sin, captive
to death, and children of wrath.
Ephesians
2:6 seated us with him in
the heavenly places in Christ Jesus
2:6 seated us with him in
the heavenly places in Christ Jesus
Ephesians
1:3 blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
1:3 blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
Wherever
Jesus goes, heaven follows. Wherever we go, heaven follows.
Jesus goes, heaven follows. Wherever we go, heaven follows.
Wherever
Jesus is, there is a new creation. Wherever we are, as children of God,
followers of Jesus, there is a new creation.
Jesus is, there is a new creation. Wherever we are, as children of God,
followers of Jesus, there is a new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:17 if anyone is in Christ, there is a new
creation
creation
Resources:
John
R. W. Stott, God’s New Society: The
Message of Ephesians, 1979.
R. W. Stott, God’s New Society: The
Message of Ephesians, 1979.
