LOOK WHAT GOD HAS DONE

EPHESIANS 1: 1-6

1. FOR MANY YEARS, HETTY GREEN WAS CALLED AMERICA'S GREATEST MISER. WHEN SHE DIED IN 1916, SHE LEFT AN ESTATE VALUED AT $100 MILLION, AN ESPECIALLY VAST FORTUNE FOR THAT DAY. HOWEVER, SHE LIVED SUCH A MISERLY LIFE THAT SHE ATE COLD OATMEAL IN ORDER TO SAVE THE EXPENSE OF HEATING THE WATER.

2. WHEN HER SON HAD A SEVERE LEG INJURY, SHE TOOK SO LONG TRYING TO FIND A FREE CLINIC TO TREAT HIM THAT HIS LEG HAD TO BE AMPUTATED BECAUSE OF ADVANCED INFECTION. IT WAS BELIEVED THAT SHE HASTENED HER OWN DEATH BY BRINGING ON A FIT OF APOPLEXY WHILE ARGUING THE MERITS OF SKIM MILK BECAUSE IT WAS CHEAPER THAN WHOLE MILK. SHE WAS AS RICH AS A PRINCE, BUT SHE LIVED LIKE A PAUPER! 1

3. THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS IS WRITTEN TO US, AS GOD'S PEOPLE, WHO MIGHT BE PRONE TO TREAT OUR SPIRITUAL RESOURCES, MUCH LIKE THAT OF MISERLY HETTY GREEN. LEST WE SUFFER FROM SPIRITUAL MALNUTRITION, THE APOSTLE PAUL GIVES US AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION, DEFINITION, AND DESCRIPTION AS TO THE RESOURCES AT OUR DISPOSAL.

4. SIR ROBERT ANDERSON SAID OF EPHESIANS, "IT IS A RECORD OF THE PROGRESSIVE REVELATION GOD HAS VOUCHSAFED TO MAN, AND THE DIVINE HISTORY OF OUR RACE IN CONNECTION WITH THAT REVELATION!"

5. THIS IS A BOOK PENNED BY THE APOSTLE PAUL DURING HIS TIME IN PRISON IN ROME. IT WAS PENNED BETWEEN 60 AND 62 A.D. TO THE BELIEVERS WHOM HE HAD PASTORED.

6. WE READ IN ACTS 19 OF PAUL'S JOURNEY TO EPHESUS. IT WAS IN EPHESUS THAT PAUL PREACHED IN THE SYNAGOGUE FOR 3 MONTHS, AND IT WAS A CHURCH BIRTHED IN REVIVAL. IT WAS ALSO IN EPHESUS THAT PAUL FACED HIS STIFFEST OPPOSITION.

7. THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS WAS BLESSED WITH GREAT PASTORS. PAUL HAD BEEN THERE FOR TWO YEARS, FOLLOWED BY TIMOTHY, AND IT WAS BELIEVED THAT JOHN PASTORED THERE AS WELL. DR. J. L. CAMPBELL SAID, "APOLLOS PREPARED THE SOIL, PAUL PLANTED THE SOIL, TIMOTHY CULTIVATED THE SOIL, JOHN WATERED THE SOIL, AND GOD GAVE THE INCREASE!" 2

8. IN THIS BOOK, WE FIND BASICALLY TWO DIVISIONS. THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS DEAL WITH DOCTRINE, WHILE THE LAST THREE CHAPTERS DEAL WITH DUTY. IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE BOOK PAUL EXPLAINS THE RICHES OF GOD'S GRACE; WHILE, IN THE LAST HALF HE DEALS WITH THE RECIPIENTS OF GOD'S GRACE.

9. MANY HAVE REFERRED TO CHAPTER 1 AS THE BOUNDLESS CHAPTER. CHAPTER 2 IS THE LIMITLESS CHAPTER. CHAPTER 3 IS THE MEASURELESS CHAPTER. CHAPTER 4 IS THE FATHOMLESS CHAPTER. CHAPTER 5 IS THE FAULTLESS CHAPTER; AND, CHAPTER 6 IS THE DAUNTLESS CHAPTER.

10. THE ENTIRE THRUST OF THIS BOOK IS WHAT CHRIST IS DOING WITH HIS CHURCH, IN HIS CHURCH, AND TO HIS CHURCH. ANDREW TELLFORD SAID, "IN CHAPTER 1, CHRIST IS COMPOSING A BODY. IN CHAPTER 2, CHRIST IS CONSTRUCTING A BUILDING. IN CHAPTER 3, CHRIST IS CONVEYING A BLESSING. IN CHAPTER 4, CHRIST IS COMBINING A BROTHERHOOD. IN CHAPTER 5, CHRIST IS COUNSELING A BRIDE. IN CHAPTER 6, CHRIST IS COMMANDING A BATTALION." 3

11. THROUGH IT ALL, THIS IS A CHRISTOLOGICAL EPISTLE. THAT IS, CAREFUL EXAMINATION UNFOLDS THE GRANDEUR AND THE GLORY OF THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. WE ARE REMINDED THAT IT IS CHRIST WHO IS PREEMINENT IN SALVATION, PREEMINENT IN EXALTATION, PREEMINENT IN SEPARATION, PREEMINENT IN EDUCATION, PREEMINENT IN ILLUMINATION, AND PREEMINENT IN OCCUPATION.

12. THIS IS BOOK FILLED WITH MANY KEY WORDS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THIS BOOK, THE WORD "RICHES" IS USED 5 TIMES; "GRACE" IS USED 12 TIMES; "GLORY" IS USED 8 TIMES; "FULLNESS" IS USED 6 TIMES; AND, "IN CHRIST" IS USED 15 TIMES.

13. IN THE TEXT BEFORE US THIS MORNING WE ENCOUNTER 'SHOUTING'' GROUND. MANY BELIEVE THAT VERSES 3-14 COMPRISE ONE SENTENCE IN THE ORIGINAL TEXT, ENCOMPASSING THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF GOD'S ETERNAL PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR HIS PEOPLE.

14. THUS, AS WE BEGIN TO EXAMINE ONE OF THE GREATEST BOOKS OF THE BIBLE, AND MY OWN PERSONAL FAVORITE, WE ARE REMINDED OF THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH, THE MASTERY OF THE CHURCH, AND THE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH; AND, IN THE VERSES BEFORE US TODAY, WE CAN'T HELP BUT BEHOLD, AND SAY, "LOOK WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE!" BRIEFLY, LET'S EXAMINE 3 TRUTHS THAT RELATE TO US AS BELIEVERS.

1. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF OUR PLACE WITH CHRIST!

1. IN VERSES 1 AND 2, WE ARE REMINDED OF THE FACT THAT OUR PLACE IS SIGNIFICANT WITH CHRIST.

2. W. LEON TUCKER SAID, "THE MESSAGE OF THE FIRST 2 VERSES OF EPHESIANS IS INITIALLY IN THE WILL OF GOD, INCLUSIVELY TO THOSE IN THE SON OF GOD, INSTRUMENTALLY BY THE PAUL THE SERVANT OF GOD, AND ULTIMATELY TO ALL THE 'SAINTS OF GOD!'" 5

3. WE ARE REMINDED OF A COUPLE OF TRUTHS AS RELATING TO THE DAY THAT THE LORD SAVED. IN FACT, NOTICE:

A. WE HAVE BEEN SAVED TO BE DELIVERED

1. NOTICE VERSE 1. "PAUL, AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST BY THE WILL OF GOD, TO THE SAINTS WHICH ARE AT EPHESUS, AND TO THE FAITHFUL IN CHRIST JESUS.

2. PAUL IS WRITING EXCLUSIVELY TO THOSE WHO HAVE REGENERATED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, REDEEMED BY THE SON OF GOD, AND RECEIVED INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD. HE IS WRITING TO BELIEVERS, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD.

3. IN THE DAYS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT WHENEVER SOMEONE SPOKE OF BEING 'SAVED' IT WAS A WORD THAT SPOKE OF DELIVERANCE. IT DID NOT DENOTE SALVATION AS YOU AND I KNOW IT; BUT, RATHER, AN INSTANCE WHERE SOMEONE HAD BEEN DELIVERED, OR BROUGHT OUT OF SOMETHING.

4. WHILE THE WORD 'SAVED' MEANS MUCH MORE THAN JUST DELIVERANCE TO US, IT BEGINS WITH DELIVERANCE. THAT IS, WHEN GOD SAVED US, HE DID NOT DELIVER US IN SOMETHING, HE DELIVERED US FROM SOMETHING.

5. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT GOD NEVER SAVES A MAN IN HIS SIN; BUT HE ALWAYS SAVES A MAN FROM, AND OUT OF HIS SIN. HE TAKES HIM FROM DARKNESS INTO LIGHT, FROM DEFILEMENT INTO CLEANSING, FROM DEADNESS INTO LIFE. HE BRINGS THEM OUT, AND DELIVERS THEM.

6. THAT IS THE IDEA OF WHAT DAVID SAID IN PSALM 40: 1-2. "I WAITED PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD; AND HE INCLINED UNTO ME AND HEARD MY CRY. HE BROUGHT ME UP ALSO OUT OF AN HORRIBLE PIT, OUT OF THE MIRY CLAY, AND SET MY FEET UPON A ROCK AND ESTABLISHED MY GOINGS."

7. THUS, THE DAY THAT WE WERE SAVED, AND BROUGHT INTO THE FAMILY GOD, HE NOT ONLY SAVED US, BUT HE BROUGHT US OUT. HENCE, PAUL FIRST REMINDS US THAT AS GOD'S PEOPLE, WE HAVE BEEN SAVED TO BE DELIVERED!

B. WE HAVE BEEN SAVED TO BE DISTINGUISHED

1. NOTICE VERSE 1. PAUL ADDRESSES HIS SUBJECTS IN A VERY INTERESTING MANNER. HE DOES SO BY SAYING, "TO THE SAINTS WHICH ARE AT EPHESUS."

2. THE WORD 'SAINT' THAT IS USED IS QUITE AN INTERESTING WORD. THE GREEK WORD IS "HAGIOS" MEANING "ONE WHO IS HOLY." THE WORD ALSO IS CONNECTED WITH THE WORD 'SANCTIFICATION,' AND IT SPEAKS OF ONE WHO IS SEPARATED AND SET APART.

3. MANY RELIGIOUS BODIES MAKE CERTAIN ONES SAINTS BY THE PROCESS KNOWN AS CANONIZATION. THE DECEASED PERSON'S LIFE IS EXAMINED CAREFULLY TO SEE WHETHER HE QUALIFIED FOR SAINTHOOD. IF THE CANDIDATE'S CHARACTER AND CONDUCT ARE FOUND TO BE ABOVE REPROACH, IF HE HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE TO WORKING AT LEAST TWO MIRACLES, THEN HE IS QUALIFIED TO BE A SAINT.

4. HOWEVER, THE PROCESS THAT PAUL IS SPEAKING OF HERE HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH US. IT IS A WORK THAT GOD DOES FOR US, AND TO US THAT MAKES US A 'SAINT.'

5. IN FACT, THE WORD 'SAINT' IS USED 9 TIMES IN THIS EPISTLE. IT THE NAME THAT GOD HAS FOR EVERY BELIEVER. IT DENOTES OUR STANDING IN CHRIST. GOD HAS MADE US SAINTS.

6. WE ARE SAINTS BECAUSE OF TWO THINGS PAUL MENTIONS, FAITHFUL AND GRACE. NOTICE, HE SAYS, "TO THE SAINTS WHICH ARE AT EPHESUS, AND TO THE FAITHFUL IN CHRIST JESUS. GRACE BE TO YOU, AND PEACE, FROM GOD OUR FATHER, AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST."

7. THE WORD 'FAITHFUL' CARRIES THE MEANING OF "BELIEVERS IN CHRIST JESUS." HE IS NOT SPEAKING OF PEOPLE WHO WERE SAVED BY LIVING FAITHFUL LIVES, BUT RATHER THEY PUT THEIR FAITH IN CHRIST AND WERE SAVED.

8. THE WORD 'GRACE' DENOTES "THE KINDNESS OF GOD TOWARD UNDESERVING PEOPLE." IT IS GOD GIVING US SOMETHING WE DO NOT DESERVE. THAT IS HOW WE BECAME SAINTS. IT WAS NOT US THAT MOVED TOWARD GOD, BUT IT WAS GOD THAT MOVED TOWARD US. HE PLACED US IN HIS FAMILY TO DESIGNATE AND DISTINGUISH US AS SAINTS.

9. I BELIEVE H. A. IRONSIDE SAID IT WELL, "WE DO NOT BECOME SAINTS BY SAINTLINESS, BUT WE SHOULD BE CHARACTERIZED BY SAINTLINESS BECAUSE WE ARE SAINTS." 5

10. THE WORD 'SAINT' SUGGESTS NO PERSONAL MERIT ON OUR PART, BUT A CONDESCENDING ACT OF ALMIGHTY GOD IN SETTING APART THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIS SON. IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE DO FOR HIM, BUT RATHER IT IS SOMETHING HE DOES FOR US. IT IS GOD WHO SANCTIFIES US. IT IS GOD WHO SEPARATES US. IT IS GOD WHO SAINTINIZES US. THUS, WE HAVE NOT ONLY BEEN SAVED TO BE DELIVERED, BUT WE HAVE BEEN SAVED TO BE DISTINGUISHED. PAUL OPENS HIS EPISTLE TO REMIND US OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF OUR PLACE WITH CHRIST!

2. THE SUFFICIENCY OF OUR PROVISION FROM CHRIST!

1. NOTICE VERSE 3. "BLESSED BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO HATH BLESSED US WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST."

2. WHILE VERSE 1 REMINDS US OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF OUR PLACE WITH CHRIST, VERSE 3 REMINDS US OF THE SUFFICIENCY OF OUR PROVISION FROM CHRIST.

3. THIS VERSE DENOTES A DOXOLOGY, AND A HYMN OF PRAISE FOR WHO GOD IS, AND WHAT GOD HAS DONE. THE WORD 'BLESSED' SPEAKS OF "BEING WELL-THOUGHT OF, OR TO CELEBRATE WITH PRAISE." IT COMES FROM THE WORD WE GET OUR WORD 'EULOGY' FROM. AND, THUS, PAUL IS READING THE EULOGY, AND MEMORIAL OF GOD IN REGARDS TO WHAT HE HAS DONE IN THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS, AND HE SEEMS TO SAY, "I HAVE NOTHING BUT PRAISE TO GIVE TO HIM."

4. HE SPEAKS OF THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE WONDERFUL PROVISION THAT GOD HAS PROVIDED FOR US. IN SO DOING, HE SPEAKS OF:

A. THE SOURCE OF A BLESSED PROVISION

1. NOTICE VERSE 3. "BLESSED BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO HATH BLESSED US WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS."

2. IT IS GOD WHO HATH BLESSED US. IT IS GOD WHO HATH MADE US RICH IN JESUS CHRIST. IT IS GOD WHO IS THE SOURCE OF OUR BLESSED PROVISION.

3. I THINK OF A CITY NEWSPAPER OWNER WHO HAD 3 SONS. HE OFFERED OWNERSHIP OF THE NEWSPAPER TO THE SON WHO COULD WRITE THE MOST SENSATIONAL HEADLINE OF ONLY THREE WORDS. THE FIRST SON'S HEADLINE READ, "REAGAN TURNS COMMUNIST." THE SECOND SON'S HEADLINE READ, "KHOMEINI BECOMES CHRISTIAN." BUT, THE THIRD SON INHERITED THE NEWSPAPER WHEN HIS HEADLINE WAS FINALLY SUBMITTED. IT HAD ONLY TWO WORDS, "POPE ELOPES!"

4. THANKS BE TO GOD WE NEED NOT EARN OUR SPIRITUAL INHERITANCE THAT WAY. WE DON'T HAVE TO EARN IT, NOR WORK HARD TO GET IT. IT IS GOD, IN HIS OWN GOODNESS, WHO BESTOWS UPON US HIS BLESSINGS.

5. I REMEMBER READING OF J. PAUL GETTY. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT HE IS WORTH $1.3 BILLION. BILL GATES' VALUE INCREASES $2 MILLION EVERYDAY, AND $5.1 BILLION EVERY YEAR. THE SULTAN OF BRUNEI IS SAID TO BE THE RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD WITH AN ESTIMATED WEALTH OF $37 BILLION.

6. BUT, THEIR WEALTH IS BUT PENNIES COMPARED TO THE WEALTH THAT WE HAVE IN JESUS CHRIST BESTOWED UPON US BY GOD THE FATHER.

7. JAMES SPOKE OF THIS, IN JAMES 1: 17, "EVERY GOOD AND EVERY PERFECT GIFT IS FROM ABOVE, AND COMETH DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHTS, WITH WHOM IS NO VARIABLENESS, NEITHER SHADOW OF TURNING." THUS, IT IS GOD, HIMSELF, WHO IS THE SOURCE OF OUR BLESSED PROVISION.

B. THE COURSE OF A BOUNTIFUL PROVISION

1. NOTICE VERSE 3. PAUL STATES NOT ONLY THE SOURCE OF A BLESSED PROVISION, BUT THE COURSE OF A BOUNTIFUL PROVISION. HE SAYS THAT GOD HAS "BLESSED US WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS."

2. THE PHRASE "SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS," IS LITERALLY RENDERED, "BLESSINGS OF THE SPIRIT," OR "SPIRIT-BESTOWED BLESSINGS."

3. THE PHRASE IMPLIES THAT THE ABOVE PROVISION, FOR OUR NEED, IS CARRIED OUT BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, PROCEEDING FROM THE FATHER AND THE SON.

4. IT IS THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO CHANNELS OUR RICHES TO US FROM GOD THE FATHER, AND THROUGH GOD THE SON. IN FACT, ANY BLESSING WE RECEIVE HAS BEEN PARTAKEN TO US OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

5. WE'RE TOLD THAT THE SPIRIT HAS BESTOWED UPON US "ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS." THE CIRCLE IS COMPLETE AND NOTHING IS WANTED. THERE ARE NO CONDITIONED BLESSINGS, ONLY CONFERRED BLESSINGS. THUS, WHILE GOD THE FATHER IS THE SOURCE OF A BLESSED PROVISION, GOD THE SPIRIT IS THE COURSE OF A BOUNTIFUL PROVISION.

C. THE FORCE OF A BELOVED PROVISION

1. NOTICE VERSE 3. PAUL CLOSES IN A WONDERFUL MANNER. "BLESSED BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO HATH BLESSED US WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS, IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST."

2. THE PHRASE 'IN HEAVENLY PLACES,' IS LITERALLY "IN THE HEAVENLIES." IT IS ADJECTIVE WITHOUT A NOUN. HANDLEY MOULE SAID, "IT DENOTES NOT ONLY A HEAVENLY ORIGIN, BUT A HEAVENLY LOCALITY." 6

3. THE WORD 'HEAVENLY, OR HEAVENLIES,' OCCURS 5 TIMES IN THE EPISTLE. IT IS NOT A FIGURE OF SPEECH, BUT RATHER A PLACE IN SPACE, AND A HABITATION FOR SPIRITUAL PEOPLE.

4. WHILE THE UNSAVED PERSON IN INTERESTED IN 'EARTHLIES,' THE BELIEVER IS CONCERNED WITH THE 'HEAVENLIES.' OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN.

5. THUS, THE 'HEAVENLIES' DESCRIBES THE PLACE WHERE THE LORD JESUS IS SEATED RIGHT NOW. HOWEVER, PAUL REMINDS US THAT WE ARE SEATED WITH HIM, "IN HEAVENLY PLACES," OR "IN THE HEAVENLIES."

6. I THINK OF THE TIME WHEN YOUNG VICTORIA WAS SHIELDED FROM THE FACT THAT SHE WOULD BE THE NEXT RULING MONARCH IN ENGLAND. WHEN HER TEACHER FINALLY DID LET HER KNOW THAT SHE WOULD ONE DAY BE QUEEN OF ENGLAND, VICTORIA'S RESPONSE WAS, "THEN I WILL BE GOOD!" HER LIFE WOULD BE CONTROLLED BY HER POSITION. NO MATTER WHERE SHE WAS, VICTORIA WAS GOVERNED BY THE FACT THAT SHE SAT ON THE THRONE OF ENGLAND. 7

7. YET, THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT NO MATTER WHERE WE, AS BELIEVERS, MAY BE ON THIS EARTH, WE ARE SEATED "IN THE HEAVENLIES" WITH THE LORD JESUS. WE ARE AS SURE FOR HEAVEN AS IF WE WERE ALREADY THERE BECAUSE OF THE SOURCE OF A BLESSED PROVISION, THE COURSE OF A BOUNTIFUL PROVISION, AND THE FORCE OF A BELOVED PROVISION. THAT IS THE SUFFICIENCY OF OUR PROVISION FROM CHRIST!

3. THE SECURITY OF OUR POSITION IN CHRIST!

1. IN CONCLUDING THIS SECTION OF CHAPTER 1, PAUL REMINDS US OF HOW SECURE OUR POSITION IS IN CHRIST. WE NOT ONLY HAVE A PLACE WITH HIM, AND A PROVISION FROM HIM, BUT WE HAVE BEEN POSITIONED IN HIM. IN FACT, NOTICE:

A. WE HAVE BEEN SELECTED BY HIM

1. NOTICE VERSE 4. "ACCORDING AS HE HATH CHOSEN US IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, THAT WE SHOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLAME BEFORE HIM IN LOVE."

2. THIS IS A VERSE THAT HAS BEEN MISCONSTRUED, AND MISINTERPRETED BY MANY TODAY. IT IS A VERSE THAT HAS BEEN THE SOURCE OF MUCH DEBATE AND CONFUSION AMONG RELIGIOUS CIRCLES.

3. WHAT IS BEING DEALT WITH HERE IS THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION. SOMEONE HAS SAID, "TRY TO EXPLAIN ELECTION AND YOU MAY LOSE YOUR MIND. BUT TRY TO EXPLAIN IT AWAY AND YOU MAY LOSE YOUR SOUL!" 8

4. THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF 3 KINDS OF ELECTION. ONE IS GOD'S THEOCRATIC ELECTION OF ISRAEL. THE SECOND KIND IS CALLED VOCATIONAL ELECTION WHEREBY GOD CALLED MEN OUT OF THE TRIBE OF LEVI TO BE HIS PRIESTS, AND CHOSE 12 MEN TO BE HIS APOSTLES. THE THIRD KIND IS SALVATION ELECTION. THE FIRST TWO

HAVE NOTHING WHATSOEVER TO DO WITH

SALVATION.

5. IN THE BIBLE, ELECTION IS ALWAYS UNTO SOMETHING. IT IS A PRIVILEGE, WHICH CARRIES A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.

6. IF YOU ARE A BELIEVER, THEN, AS FAR AS GOD THE FATHER WAS CONCERNED, YOU WERE SAVED WHEN HE CHOSE YOU IN CHRIST IN ETERNITY PAST. AS FAR AS GOD THE SON IS CONCERNED, YOU WERE SAVED WHEN HE DIED FOR YOU ON THE CROSS. BUT, AS FAR AS GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT IS CONCERNED, YOU WERE SAVED THE MOMENT YOU YIELDED TO HIS CONVICTION, AND RECEIVED CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR.

7. ELECTION ONLY, AND ALWAYS CONCERNS GOD'S PEOPLE. IT EXPLAINS WHY WE ARE HIS. WE DID NOT CHOOSE HIM, HE CHOSE US, AND IT CAN NEVER BE APPLIED TO ANYONE OTHER THAN THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SAVED.

8. THUS, PAUL REMINDS US THAT "HE HATH CHOSEN US IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THIS WORLD, THAT WE SHOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLAME BEFORE HIM IN LOVE.." THE PURPOSE OF GOD'S ETERNAL CHOICE IS NOT SALVATION BUT SANCTIFICATION. JOHN CALVIN SAID, "IT IS WRONG TO SAY THAT ANY OF US WILL ATTAIN PERFECTION IN THIS LIFE; NEVERTHELESS, THIS IS THE GOAL TO WHICH THE WHOLE COURSE OF OUR LIVES MUST BE DIRECTED, EVEN THOUGH WE CANNOT REACH IT TILL WE HAVE FINISHED OUR COURSE!" 9. SIMPLY PUT, IF YOU'RE A BELIEVER TODAY, IT IS BECAUSE HE CHOSE YOU LONG BEFORE YOU CHOSE HIM. YOU WERE SELECTED BY HIM TO LIVE FOR HIM!

B. WE ARE PERFECTED TO HIM

1. NOTICE VERSE 5. "HAVING PREDESTINATED US UNTO THE ADOPTION OF CHILDREN BY JESUS CHRIST TO HIMSELF, ACCORDING TO THE GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS WILL." WE ARE NOT ONLY SELECTED BY HIM, BUT WE ARE PERFECTED TO HIM.

2. THE WORD 'PREDESTINATED' IS ANOTHER VERY MISUNDERSTOOD WORD. THE WORD DEALS WITH THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD. IT SPEAKS OF GOD'S ENFORCEMENT ACT WHEREBY WHAT HE HAS DETERMINED FOR US IS CARRIED OUT.

3. YOU SEE ELECTION REFERS TO PEOPLE, WHILE PREDESTINATION REFERS TO PURPOSE. WE HAVE BEEN PREDESTINED TO CARRY OUT A CERTAIN OBJECTIVE.

4. THE BIBLE NEVER TEACHES THAT GOD PREDESTINES ANY ONE TO HELL. AND, ANY SUCH TEACHING IS HERESY, AND A BLASPHEMY OF THE SCRIPTURE. THE WORD 'PREDESTINED' ONLY APPLIES TO THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN SAVED. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PREDESTINED FROM SOMETHING, BUT RATHER TO SOMETHING.

5. THUS, PAUL INFORMS US THAT WE HAVE BEEN PREDESTINED "UNTO THE ADOPTION OF CHILDREN IN JESUS CHRIST TO HIMSELF."

6. THE WORD 'ADOPTION' IS A WONDERFUL WORD. THE WORD SPEAKS OF THE ACT OF GOD WHEREBY HE GIVES HIS BORN ONES AN ADULT STANDING IN THE FAMILY.

7. THE WORD DOES NOT IMPLY WHAT WE THINK OF IT TODAY WHERE A COUPLE, BY A LEGAL ACT, TAKES A CHILD, NOT THEIR OWN, INTO THEIR FAMILY.

8. BUT, THE ADOPTION OF THE BELIEVER IS A FUTURE ACT, WHEREBY GOD SETS A GOAL FOR THAT BELIEVER. IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS AWAITING US. PAUL DEFINED IT IN ROMANS 8: 23, WHEN HE SAID, "AND NOT ONLY THEY, BUT OURSELVES ALSO, WHICH HAVE THE FIRST FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT, EVEN WE OURSELVES GROAN WITHIN OURSELVES, WAITING FOR THE ADOPTION, TO WIT, THE REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY."

9. ONE DOES NOT GET INTO GOD'S FAMILY BY ADOPTION. THEY ARE BORN, OR BIRTHED, INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD. HOWEVER, ONCE THEY ARE IN THE FAMILY, HE THEN "ADOPTS" THEM, AND GIVES THEM AN ADULT STANDING SO THAT THEY MIGHT BEGIN TO CLAIM THEIR INHERITANCE AND ENJOY THEIR SPIRITUAL WEALTH. ADOPTION DOES NOT MEAN 'SON-MAKING,' BUT RATHER 'SON-PLACING!'

10. WHILE IT WILL BE FINAL, AND CONSUMMATED IN THE FUTURE, BY REDEMPTION COMPLETE, WE CAN ENJOY ALREADY EVERYTHING THAT GOD HAS PROVIDED FOR US IN CHRIST, AND THROUGH THE SPIRIT. WE HAVE NOT ONLY BEEN SELECTED BY HIM, BUT THANK GOD, WE ARE BEING PERFECTED TO HIM!

C. WE ARE ACCEPTED IN HIM

1. NOTICE VERSE 6. "TO THE PRAISE OF THE GLORY OF HIS GRACE, WHEREIN HE HATH MADE US ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED."

2. SOMEONE HAS SAID, "SOME PEOPLE CAN'T GET SAVED BECAUSE THEY WON'T ACCEPT THEIR SINNERSHIP, AND SOME CHRISTIANS CAN'T WALK IN VICTORY BECAUSE THEY WON'T ACCEPT THEIR SAINTHOOD!"

3. THIS IS PAUL IS SPEAKING OF HERE. WE HAVE NOT ONLY BEEN SELECTED BY HIM, AND PERFECTED TO HIM, BUT WE HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED IN HIM.

4. THERE IS NOTHING WE COULD DO TO MAKE OURSELVES ACCEPTABLE TO GOD. ISAIAH REMINDS US THAT, "WE ARE ALL AS AN UNCLEAN THING, AND ALL OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS ARE AS FILTHY RAGS." IN OUR BEST DAY, WE FALL TRAGICALLY, AND ETERNALLY SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.

5. HOWEVER, GOD, BY HIS GRACE, MAKES US ACCEPTABLE IN CHRIST. IT IS NOT MY RIGHTEOUSNESS, BUT IT IS HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. THUS, I AM JUSTIFIED IN HIS SIGHT. AND, IT IS 'JUST-AS-IF-IED' NEVER SINNED.

6. I DON'T HAVE TO BE ANYTHING, OR BECOME ANYTHING TO BE ACCEPTED. HE ACCEPTS ME IN THE PERSON OF HIS SON, THE LORD JESUS.

7. J. DAVID HOKE SAID, "GOD DOESN'T CHANGE SO THAT HE CAN LOVE US; HE LOVES US SO HE CAN CHANGE US!" 10

8. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GOD HAS DONE FOR ME, "TO THE PRAISE OF THE GLORY OF HIS GRACE." IT IS HIS GRACE, ALL HIS GRACE, AND NOTHING BUT HIS GRACE THAT MAKES ME ACCEPTED IN HIM.

9. THE SONGWRITER PUT IT WELL:

"WHEN HE SEES ME, HE SEES THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB,

HE SEES ME AS WORTHY, AND NOT AS I AM!"

10. WE ARE SELECTED BY HIM, WE ARE PERFECTED TO HIM, AND WE ARE ACCEPTED IN HIM. THANK GOD, OUR POSITION IS ETERNALLY SECURE IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

11. I THINK OF DR. P. W. PHILPOTT, WHO ONCE PREACHED IN A CHURCH WHERE JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER WAS A MEMBER. AFTER THE SERVICE, PHILPOTT WAS HANDED A CHECK FOR $100 HUNDRED, AND WENT HIS WAY. WHEN HE GOT HOME, AND LOOKED AT THE CHECK, HE NOTICED THAT IT HAD BEEN SIGNED BY JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER HIMSELF. HE PROCEEDED TO MARCH STRAIGHT TO THE BANK, PROUD OF THE FACT THAT HE WAS CARRYING A CHECK SINGED BY THE MAN WHO WAS KNOWN AS 'THE RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD.'

12. HE GAVE THE CHECK TO THE TELLER, AND SAID, "I SUPPOSE THAT THE SIGNATURE OF JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IS ENOUGH FOR YOU?" THE TELLER HANDED THE CHECK BACK TO PHILPOTT, AND SAID, "YES, BUT YOU MUST SIGN ON THE BACK AS WELL." DR. PHILPOTT ASKED, "FOR WHAT REASON DO YOU REQUIRE MY SIGNATURE?" THE TELLER ANSWERED, "YOUR ENDORSEMENT IS THE RECEIPT THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE MONEY." PHILPOTT SAID, "BUT I HAVEN'T RECEIVED MONEY." AND, THE TELLER REPLIED, "NO, NOR WILL YOU RECEIVE THE MONEY UNTIL YOU SIGN YOUR NAME TO SAY YOU HAVE RECEIVED IT!" 12

13. GOD IN CHRIST HAS GIVEN US EVERYTHING WE WILL EVER NEED TO LIVE A VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIFE. HOWEVER, THOUGH HE HAS GIVEN HIS SIGNATURE, WE WILL NOT RECEIVE IT UNTIL WE HAVE SIGNED IT, AND REALIZED ALL THAT WE HAVE IN CHRIST.

14. TO OPEN HIS EPISTLE, PAUL HAS SOUGHT TO REMIND US OF WHAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US. HE HAS SPOKEN OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF OUR PLACE WITH CHRIST, THE SUFFICIENCY OF OUR PROVISION FROM CHRIST, AND THE SECURITY OF OUR POSITION IN CHRIST. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT ALL I CAN SAY IS, "LOOK WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE!"

1. THE JOHN MACARTHUR NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY, EPHESIANS, MOODY, PG. 1.

2. SEVEN GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS, WADE HORTON, PG. 81,

3. STUDIES IN EPHESIANS: THE CHURCH-HIS BODY, ANDREW TELLFORD, PG. 5.

4. STUDIES IN EPHESIANS, W. LEON TUCKER, PG. 26.

5. DEVOTIONAL STUDIES IN GALATIANS AND EPHESIANS, LEHMAN STRAUSS, PG. 116.

6. IBID, TUCKER, PG. 35.

7. BE RICH, WARREN WIERSBE, PG. 13.

8. IBID, PG. 18.

9. IBID, STRAUSS, PG. 120.

10. "OUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST," SERMON BY J. DAVID HOKE.

11. CONQUERING THE CAPITAL 'I', A. LINDSEY GLEGG, PG. 94.