RICHES FROM THE FATHER AND SON Eph. 1:4-8

Transcription

1 RICHES FROM THE FATHER AND SON Eph. 1:4-8 TODAY THE PORTFOLIO ENTRIES FROM GOD THE FATHER AND JESUS THE SON Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus and the surrounding churches All the church age. Teaching about how fabulously wealthy they were as His church AND SO ARE WE! Vs forms the longest sentence ever found in ancient Greek. A BERAKAH in Greek 1

2 THROUGH THIS EULOGY Paul demonstrates that believers have all manner of spiritual blessings OUR PAST call to salvation by GOD OUR FUTURE inheritance with CHRIST OUR PRESENT power available to Us through the HOLY SPIRIT. THE ENTIRE TRINITY AT WORK IN BLESSING US! 2

3 WHAT IN THE WORLD IS PREDESTINATION? Since the start of the Reformation in 1517 the Calvinists and Arminian camps have been feuding over this issue Lets look at the two sides! 1. CALVINISTIC UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION AKA BIBLICAL FATALISM 2. ARMINIAN CONDITIONAL ELECTION GOD IS NO LONGER SOVEREIGN IN READING THE SCRIPTURES CAREFULLY, YOU LL FIND THAT BOTH POSITIONS ARE VIABLE IN OUR BIBLES. 3

4 THE MIDDLE GROUND AS DL MOODY WISELY SAID Try and explain the doctrine of election you may lose your mind but explain it away and you may lose your soul--- The doctrine of election teaches that we are saved only because of God s grace and mercy. As believers we are not saved by our own merit. It focuses on God s purpose or will Eph. 1:5, 9, not on ours. God does not save us because we deserve it But we do have to choose Believe on Him. 4

5 SO WE ASK WHY DID GOD CHOOSE ME? It s the view from Gods Blimp over the Super Bowl of Life HE NEVER BLOWS A CALL! ETERNO-VISION Why would God choose some and not others? A BETTER QUESTION IS---- Why would God choose anyone at all? WHEN YOUR HEAD SPINS WITH THE MYSTERY OF ELECTION, LET YOUR HEART ALSO SWELL WITH THE REALITY OF GRACE. HIS COMPASSIONS NEVER FAIL! 5

6 AMAZING ADOPTION! We stand guilty as charged and convicted before god, the righteous judge. But thanks to the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, we are pardoned declared not guilty and set free. Even more, we are taken into God s family and given the status of sons and daughters. 6

7 OUR STANDING When you consider your standing before God, do you see yourself as a pardoned convict or as an adopted child? Chosen -----in Him Very few issues cause more confusion and even arguments among Christians than the issues of ELECTION and PREDESTINATION. It is very difficult to simultaneously embrace God s sovereignty and human responsibility. 7

8 GRACE IS A FREE GIFT GOD S GRACE GOAL IN THE ELECTION OF BELIEVERS IS THAT WE PRAISE HIM. Praise means celebrating God all of him and all he has done. It as if our lives are an ongoing parade to honor the savior! Think fourth of July Let your prayer life and worship express your gratitude to God. 8

9 THE GLORY OF REDEMPTION OUR FREEDOM INCLUDES: RELEASE FROM THE GUILT AND THE DESERVED PUNISHMENT FOR SIN. Christ became human, like us, so that he could free us from slavery to sin. How Should you respond to your freedom? Would you show appreciation for your liberator? 9

10 ALL PEOPLE ARE ENSLAVED TO SIN. Jesus paid the price to redeem us, to buy our freedom from sin. The purchase price was his blood. Real cleansing from sin came with Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world John 1:29 Jesus became the final and ultimate sacrifice for sin. WHAT FABULOUS WEALTH --WE HAVE IN GOD THE FATHER S LOVING SACRIFICE OF HIS OWN SON IN OUR PLACE! 10