Ephesians building Gods new community

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Ephesians building Gods new community

• The riches of the Christian (1.1-2.3)

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Introduction

• I saw a new world. Everything was new I had
  a new outlook, new experiences, new attitudes to
  other people. I loved God and Jesus Christ became
  the centre of everything. I had been quickened
  I was really alive (John MacKay)

The riches of the Christian
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Introduction the background to the Epistle

• A question of authorship
• A question of recipient

The riches of the Christian
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Introduction the blessing of God

• The source of the blessing
• The Father who has blessed us .in Christ (1.1)
• The scope of the blessing
• with every spiritual blessing
• The sphere of the blessing
• in the heavenly realms

The riches of the Christian
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Introduction the blessing of God

• Paul begins by blessing God for blessing us with
  every conceivable blessing (John Stott)

The riches of the Christian
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The riches we receive

• For he chose us in him before the creation of
  the world .to be holy and blameless in his
  sight. (vs.4)
• How does this blessing manifest itself?

The riches of the Christian
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The riches we receive

• We have been chosen
• For he chose us in him before the creation of
  the world .to be holy and blameless in his
  sight. (vs.4)
• The privilege of being chosen
• The purpose of being chosen

The riches of the Christian
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The riches we receive

• We have been adopted (5b)
• In love he predestined us to be adopted as his
  sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his
  pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious
  grace, which he has freely given us in the One he
  loves
• The heart of God in adoption
• The plan if God in adoption
• The delight of God in adoption

The riches of the Christian
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The riches we receive

• We have been redeemed (7a)
• In him we have redemption, through his blood
• A picture from the slave market a debt
  cancelled
• A picture from the temple a debt paid

The riches of the Christian
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The riches we receive

• We have been forgiven (7b)
• In him we have redemption through his blood, the
  forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the
  riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with
  all wisdom and understanding
• A new start we could not imagine!
• A new start we could not deserve

The riches of the Christian
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The riches we receive

• We have known Gods will (9)
• And he has made known the mystery of his will
  according to his good pleasure which he has
  purposed in Christ.  to be put into effect when
  the times will have reached their fulfilmentto
  bring all things in heaven and on earth together
  under one head, even Christ.
• What is the mystery?
• Who knows the secret?

The riches of the Christian
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The riches we receive

• We have the seal of the Spirit (13b)
• And you also were included in Christ when you
  heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
  salvation. Having believed, you were marked in
  him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit
• The Gospel in a single verse (33 words!)
• You heard that God loved you
• You believed - that God forgave you
• You were sealed and God said Youre mine

The riches of the Christian
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The riches we receive

• We have the seal of the Spirit (13b)
• And you also were included in Christ when you
  heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
  salvation. Having believed, you were marked in
  him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit
• The seal expresses authenticity
• The seal expresses ownership
• The seal expresses security
• The Holy Spirit is our deposit guaranteeing our
  inheritance 14a

The riches of the Christian
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The riches we receive

• We have the seal of the Spirit (13b)
• Where the indubitable seal
• That ascertains the kingdom mine,
• The powerful stamp I long to feel,
• The signature of love divine?
• O shed it in my heart abroad -
• Fullness of love, of heaven, of God!

The riches of the Christian
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The riches we receive

• We have been chosen (4a)
• We have been adopted (5b)
• We have been redeemed (7a)
• We have been forgiven (7b)
• We have known Gods will (9)
• We have the seal of the Spirit (13b)

The riches of the Christian
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The riches we receive

• Blessings that come from the Father
• We have been chosen (4a)
• We have been adopted (5b)
• Blessing that are won through the Son
• We have been redeemed (7a)
• We have been forgiven (7b)
• We have known Gods will (9)
• Blessing channelled through the Spirit
• We have the seal of the Spirit (13b)

The riches of the Christian
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The riches we require (Ephesians 1.15-23)
The riches of the Christian
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The riches we require (Ephesians 1.15-23)

• 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. 18 I pray also 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 the saints,
  19 and his incomparably great power for us who
  believe. That power is like the working of his
  mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ
  when he raised him from the dead and seated him
  at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
• We need to know his person (17)

The riches of the Christian
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The riches we require (Ephesians 1.15-23)

• 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. 18 I pray also 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 the
  saints,
• 19 and his incomparably great power for us who
  believe. That power is like the working of his
  mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ
  when he raised him from the dead and seated him
  at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
• We need to know his person (17)
• We need to know his promise (18)
• The promise of holiness in Christ
• The promise of heaven in Christ

The riches of the Christian
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The riches we require (Ephesians 1.15-23)

• 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. 18 I pray also 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 the saints,
  
• 19 and his incomparably great power for us who
  believe. That power is like the working of his
  mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ
  when he raised him from the dead and seated him
  at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
• We need to know his person (17)
• We need to know his promise (18)
• We need to know his power (19b-21)
• Whats the power like?
• Whats the power for?

The riches of the Christian
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Ephesians building Gods new community

• The riches of the Christian (1.1-2.3)

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The riches of the Christian

• The riches we receive
• The riches we require
• Conclusion