Taught 8/31/2008
Ephesians 1:1-3
The Riches of Christ
Open your Bible to…
Eph. 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:
Eph. 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Pray
Intro
√ The riches of Christ
Hetty Green has the unfortunate notoriety of earning the Guinness World record for being the world’s greatest miser!
When her father died she inherited $7.5 million dollars which she invested in bonds, rail roads, and short term loans.
Though she possessed immense wealth her entire life she lived her life as a pauper!
Wore one old black dress her entire adult life that earned her the name “the witch of Wall Street”.
Refused to heat her home in the dead of winter because she didn’t want to waste money on coal.
Some claim that she ate her oatmeal cold because she didn’t want to spend the money to boil water.
When her son Ned broke his leg she took him to a charity clinic in New York City. When the staff recognized her they denied treatment so she stormed out of the hospital loudly protesting that she would tend her son’s wound by herself.
The leg became gangrenous as a result and had to be amputated!
At the time of her death in 1916 her estate had grown from $7.5 million to over $100 million dollars…
…about $2 billion dollars in today’s economy yet she never enjoyed it or used it for the benefit her own son!
√ You’re rich!
The main theme of Paul’s letter to the Christians in Ephesus was to let them know that they (and we) are rich beyond measure through faith in Jesus Christ…
“…who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” ~ vs. 3
That is, because of our faith in Jesus, God the Father has given us access to every spiritual blessing available.
All that we need to enjoy our pilgrimage here on earth.
Joy in every circumstance.
Contentment and satisfaction whether we have great material wealth, or none at all!
Sweet fellowship with God Himself.
Assurance of salvation and eternal life.
However, the Ephesians, like most of us, were living out their Christian faith as if they were spiritual paupers…
…spiritual Hetty Green’s!
Their lives lacked the dynamic zeal, joy, and contentment that Jesus promised to His followers.
So, Paul pens this letter to share with them the great spiritual riches he had discovered that are available to everyone who trusts in Christ.
Ap. We need to hear that message!
I believe that Christians in the West largely neglect, or are ignorant of the riches we have in Christ because we’re so distracted by our great material prosperity.
But all the material wealth in the world won’t bring contentment in life, or joy or peace.
We need the spiritual riches of Christ to enjoy the abundant life that Jesus promised.
The Author (vs. 1a)
√ The author
Eph. 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God…
Paul begins his letter by identifying himself as the author, typical of letters written in the 1st Century.
It may seem like an insignificant fact but to the recipients of this letter it was great news!
The reason is that Paul held a very special place in the hearts of the Christians in Ephesus.
√ Paul’s ministry in Ephesus
Paul’s ministry in the city of Ephesus is recorded in Acts chapters 18 through 20.
He first visited Ephesus on his 2nd missionary journey, sharing the Good News about Jesus Christ in the local synagogue, but he didn’t stay long. (Ref. Acts 18:18-23).
Two years later on his 3rd mission trip he set up a base of operation in Ephesus and taught the disciples for almost 3 years watching God grow the church and work awesome miracles through his ministry. (Ref. Acts 19)
He then left to minister in Greece and Macedonia and it wasn’t until his return trip to Israel that he visited with the leaders of the Ephesian church where Paul testified that they would never see him again because he was going to be arrested. (Red. Acts 20:37-38)
Luke records that visit…
“Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.”
Acts 20:37-38
After that meeting Paul was arrested in Jerusalem, moved to a jail in Caesarea, then shipped off to Rome where he was placed under house arrest waiting for trial.
By the time they received this letter it had been 10 years since they’d seen or heard from Paul and probably weren’t even sure he was still alive!
So, as they held this letter in their hands and read that first line…
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God…”
…they would have rejoiced because he was the one who introduced them to Jesus and then taught them how to walk with God.
√ Paul’s purpose in life
Paul wrote in vs. 1 that he was…
“…an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God”
That is, Paul knew that God’s will for his life was to be a messenger of the Good News!
He hadn’t always known that and had spent a great deal of his life pursuing a different path.
But, once Jesus got a hold of Paul’s life and gave him his marching orders Paul gave his life to fulfilling God’s will.
Because that’s where he found satisfaction, purpose and contentment in life.
His friends in Ephesus were just one of the rich rewards that Paul discovered as he fulfilled God’s call to be an apostle to the Gentiles.
Ap. What are you by the will of God?
What would you write in place of “apostle”…
“Your name, an ? of Jesus Christ by the will of God”
“Tabitha, a mom, housekeeper, and home- schooler of Jesus Christ by the will of God”
“Barney, a PE teacher & mentor of young men for Jesus Christ by the will of God”
The Bible tells us that God has a will for each of us and a purpose for which He created us!
Do you know what God’s will is for your life?
If you do, are you doing it? If you don’t, are you asking!
It’s important for you to know God’s will for your life and to do it because that’s where you’ll be happiest.
If you are doing something that God didn’t make you to do, or intend for you to do…
…you’ll be frustrated in life because you won’t be able to do what you’re trying to do!
For example, I know that I’m not called to be a mechanic!
Ex. Working at Gino’s garage
So, find out what God’s will for your life is and start doing it!
Ap. Good book
“Finding your way” ~ Gary LaFerla
The Assembly (vs. 1b-2)
Eph. 1:1 …to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:
Eph. 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
√ The assembly
Did you catch to whom Paul wrote his letter…
“…to the saints who are in Ephesus” ~ vs. 1b
If you grew up in a religious tradition like I did you’re thinking…
“Saints, I thought those were dead people who were really spiritual during their life on earth!?”
You know, those little statue guys you put on your dashboard, or bury in your yard, or whose likeness is imprinted on a medallion!
Why would Paul be writing to them!?
Obviously that definition of “saints” is different than what Paul had in mind!
√ Saints
When Paul writes “saints” he has in mind all the Christians in the local church at Ephesus to whom Paul was writing. In fact, Paul calls them, himself, and all the other Christians “saints” 9 times in this letter!
The word “saint” simply means…
…”holy” or “set apart”.
That is, when a person places their trust in Jesus Christ they are “set apart” from the World to belong to Jesus.
In that sense the Christian is “in” the world but not “of” world because they are now “in” Christ and a citizen of heaven. (Ref. John 17:14-16)
The point is that a person doesn’t become a saint by the vote of some church counsel…
…they become a saint by the declaration of God the moment they place their faith in Jesus!
Ap. You could call me “saint Paul” but let’s not overdo it!
So, the saints to whom Paul was writing were the believers in the church at Ephesus.
Ephesus was wealthy and also the center religious practice in the Roman Empire ~ Temple of Diana (AKA “Artimis” ~ one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World)
It was also a center for the occult and magic arts.
There were powerful and unusual demonstrations of God’s power through miracles, healings, and deliverance.
Great resistance from the enemies of the Gospel leading to a city-wide riot ("idol" hands are the devil's tools!")
The church was later pastored by Timothy and then John in his last days, his tomb is there.
So, the saints at Ephesus had been “set apart” from the false religions, occult, magic and materialism of the world and…
…placed “in Christ”.
Take note because we’ll find the phrase “in Christ” used 27 times in this letter!
It ‘s important because it describes our spiritual position as a believer in Christ and reveals why it is that we have access to the same spiritual wealth that Jesus does!
Ap. You’re “in Christ”
When you approach the Father in prayer, and make your request to Him, remember that He sees you “in Christ”…
…that is, He sees you as possessing all of the righteousness and spiritual rights as His own Son!
So, all of the benefits that Jesus enjoys as the Second member of the God-head are passed along to you because you’re “in” Him!
So, you can approach God with confidence because you’re not coming to Him in your own merits, rather, you’re coming to Him in Christ’s merits!
The Aim (vs. 3)
Eph. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
√ The aim
Every book of the Bible has a main theme for which it was written.
“Genesis” means “beginnings” and is primarily concerned with recording those beginning events that define why we’re here, who we are, and how we got to the place we’re at!
Galatians main message is the freedom we have in Christ, freedom from the Law so that we can serve God from a motive of love instead of fear.
As I’ve already alluded the theme of the book of Ephesians is our riches in Christ.
The source of our blessings
Every person who is born-again is born rich!
Through our relationship with Jesus we now share in all that belongs to Jesus.
We share in…
“the riches of His grace” ~ Eph. 1:7
“the riches of the glory of His inheritance”
Eph. 1:18
“rich in (God’s) mercy” ~ Eph. 2:4
“the unsearchable riches of Christ” ~ Eph. 3:8
Our heavenly Father is not poor and He has made us rich in His Son!
But, like Hetty Green most of us never draw on the bank of God’s riches and as a result miss out on the benefits available to us in Christ!
So, God is the source of all spiritual blessings.
The scope of our blessings
Look at the scope of the blessings we have in Christ…
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” ~ vs. 3
Did you see that! We haven’t been given…
“Some” of the spiritual blessings of God, nor even “most” of the spiritual blessings…
…God has given us “every” spiritual blessing!
Specifically vs. 3 should be understood to mean we’ve been given all the blessings of the Spirit!
That is, through the indwelling Person of the Holy Spirit we have everything needed to live a vibrant, powerful, successful and satisfying Christian life!
The Holy Spirit within us is the conduit through which the Father passes all of His riches onto us!
Ap. Spiritual not material
Please don’t misunderstand the nature of the riches we have in Christ.
They are spiritual, not material.
The point is that having every spiritual blessing doesn’t mean that we won’t suffer poverty, sickness, or even persecution.
Ex. Jesus and Paul
Both suffered greatly in a physical and material way, but both were rich spiritually!
Paul discovered that the spiritual riches he had far outweighed his physical experience and gave him great joy no matter what condition he found himself in.
He writes…
Phil. 4:11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
Phil. 4:12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Phil. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
So, while we may face difficult times in this material world if we learn the scope of our spiritual riches in Christ we will never be discontent!
The sphere of our blessings
Eph. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Before the Ephesian Christians put their faith in Jesus they were primarily concerned with earthly things.
That’s because they were citizens of the world who lived in and for the material pleasures and goods of the world.
They, like all unsaved people were as Jesus called them…
“children of this world” ~ Luke 16:8
But, once they came to faith in Jesus they exchanged their earthly citizenship for a heavenly citizenship and from that point built their lives around heavenly things instead of earthly things.
√ Children of heaven
The believer no longer looks at the world in the same way because it’s not their home! Rather, the Christian recognizes that they are just passing through this world because their…
Citizenship is in heaven ~ Phil. 3:20
Name is written in heaven ~ Luke 10:20
Father is in heaven ~ Rev. 5
Loved ones are in heaven ~ Rev. 5
Rewards are in heaven ~ 1 Cor. 3:14 & James 1:12
Home is in heaven ~ John 14:2-3
So, while we still live in this world the sphere of our blessings is in heaven.
Ex. Duel citizenship
We live in this physical world, but spiritually our place and authority is in heaven! Later in this letter Paul reveals that God has…
“made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…” ~ Eph. 2:6
The point is that we operate in both spheres, the human and the divine!
One visible, the other invisible.
It is in the heavenly sphere though from which we receive our power and direction for life.
Ex. The seat of power
The President of the Untied States has a chair in the Oval Office that is often referred to as the…
“Seat of Power”
The idea is that the person who occupies that chair exercises the authority and power of the office of the President.
That chair represents the sphere of his power and authority.
However, he doesn’t have to stay in that chair to exercise the power of the President!
Anywhere he travels he is still the President and maintains the sphere of the power and authority of the office.
Ex. September 11, 2001
The President spent most of that day airborne as a precautionary measure since we didn’t yet know the extent of the terrorist attacks.
But, even though he wasn’t at the White House he was still able to use all of the power and authority of the office.
That’s what Paul is describing here in vs. 3!
Ap. Your sphere of power
Our power is in heaven and our victory too!
That’s why we’re supposed to use “spiritual weapons” to fight against temptation and the attacks of Satan!
Satan can’t beat us when we look to God and employ the spiritual resources He has given us.
Unfortunately we often, like the Ephesians, try to fight Satan with earthly weapons (like our will power, our money, and our wisdom)…
…we’re doomed to failure because they are ineffective against him.
Close
√ The riches of Christ
We have so much available to us through our relationship with Jesus Christ.
We’re rich beyond our wildest dreams!
However, we like our brothers and sisters in Ephesus need to know what kind of riches are available to us and how to use them.
Ap. Read ahead
Look for financial words like…
“riches”
“inheritance”
“filled”
“fill”
Highlight those verses, read them in context, and you’ll have a good foundation for apprehending all the blessings that God wants you to discover in our study of Ephesians!