Conclusion for Ephesians Chapter One.

Ten Minute Talks – Everything In Christ

Text – Ephesians 1:3-14

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

 ¹¹ In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. ¹³ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Introduction

In these verses Paul is describing God’s actions in relationship with his children and the rest of creation.  

It is no surprise that Paul used the term “in Christ” eleven times in this reading, 36 times in Ephesians, and 164 times in all of his writings in the Bible! He uses this phrase because it is through, in, and because of Christ that God blessed us, predestined us, made known to us his plan, and did everything else that has to do with us and him together. While we are going through the book of Ephesians, this phrase is definitely worth paying attention to.

Point 1

a.            Point - In vv. 6-7 it talks about redemption and grace, both of which are necessary for us to have an eternal relationship with the community of God.

b.            Illustration - God reconciled his children back to himself so we could be in his family; this is our redemption. Now that we have been redeemed, God has given us grace so he can speak to us and use us anywhere on earth to work for his kingdom. Both of these concepts of redemption and of grace are found In Christ, Jesus that is... Redemption is through him and grace is in him.

c.             Application - Now, since we have been redeemed, and are walking to remedy in the grace of God, free from the law of Moses, we should make every effort to represent Christ at the movies, or our friend’s houses, or at a community pig roast; because without this grace found in Christ, we wouldn’t be able to experience these. Without this grace in Christ, we wouldn’t even be allowed to have a relationship with God because most of us are gentiles! And without redemption through Christ, we wouldn’t be alive to live in grace in the first place!  “In Christ”, its an important phrase.

Point 2

a.            Point - We belong to Christ because a) He chose us in him before the creation of the world, which is v.4a, b) we have heard and believed the message of the gospel, which is our salvation mentioned in v.13, and c) when time comes, unity of all things in heaven and on earth will be founded in Christ, for it is all his inheritance; this is in v.10.

b.            Illustration - Jesus is being made C.E.O. of his Fathers’ business; which is a big business. This business concerns the organization of everything in the heavenly realm, and all things in the physical realm too. He must have the gift of administration.

c.             Application – If we are under the ownership or leadership of Christ, this means that not only are we his, but we are working for him as well, we are of Christ’s business. His business is reconciliation and we have been made ambassadors of it. We get to distribute reconciliation for the rest of our earthly lives, without having to worry about being fired. Could you imagine Jesus: “you’re fired”   poof, gone; Thank God for grace.

Point 3

a.            Point - What is most important to remember, is that Christ is a place, he is the place where we reside, and we are made holy and blameless (v.4b) because we reside in him. This is the key to all life.

b.            Illustration - We ignore God or decide to do the opposite of his call because we often forget where we are. We forget that we are bringing his kingdom wherever we go; we forget that we are standing on holy ground wherever we are because Christ is also in us, he goes where we go.

c.             Application - If we are remaining in his presence, applying his word to our lives, acting in constant concern for what we wants, it becomes harder and harder to say “I know I live in Christ, but right now I’m going to do the opposite of what he expects.” It becomes natural to do what he wants because we are aware of where we are.

Conclusion 

a.            So everything is in Christ. Its funny how much meaning two words can have.

b.            Most of this talk was based on Ephesians 1:3-14,

c.             And we’ve found here, the two main proponents of our existence in God’s family, redemption, which wouldn’t last very long without grace, are both carried out through Jesus being in our lives. With these attributes in play, I am free to wear this shirt. We don’t have to worry about what is right to eat or wear, or where we are allowed or not allowed to go; it has all been taken up in Christ. He protects us because we are his, we’ve been reserved for him. We reside him so that we can have every single spiritual blessing in this life and the next.

Concluding sentence – God has really taken care of us.

Pray.

Ephesians 1 -

¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

   To God’s holy people in Ephesus,^[a] the faithful in Christ Jesus:

 ² Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

 ³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ he^[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship^[c]through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ he^[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

 ¹¹ In him we were also chosen,^[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. ¹³ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

 ¹⁵ For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, ¹⁶ I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit^[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray 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 his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
*********************************************


FYI! Instead of creating so many blogs for the same scripture, I'll be modifying this post daily. 
Here goes the new reading plan, I'm so so so so so so so exited for it! Really though, I'm so exited. Hope you enjoy it too!


Day 1: Read the chapter. Journal a personal response to or summary of the chapter.

Just read those last verses again, 22 and 23. 
"And God placed ALL THINGS...". God the Father, our creator and perfect God, has given Jesus his son, everything, everywhere. He even has the keys to hell! Everything is subject to him, who is the head of a body. The head and the body make up one entity, with the head giving direction to the rest, never the less, one entity indeed. If we are his hands and feet and legs, knees, toes and elbows, this means we are an extension of him! This means we will receive everything he has received!


If I try to think about that inheritance, try to imagine what it will be like, there is nothing overly incredible going on in my brain. Its like my arts department is out of paint; my comprehension of this inheritance, this gift, is nil. 


I am amazed though, but not at myself: the lack of comprehension is what does it. The fact that something incredible is there; its a succulent anticipation. 


*
*
*


Day 2: Read the chapter. Identify one or two key verses, and write them out.


1: ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 


2: ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.


*
*
*


Day 3: Read yesterday’s key verses out loud. Journal why you chose them. Rewrite them.


Vs 6. - In everything we do, may it be turned to thanksgiving and praise! Our God has chosen us to be with him eternally, picking us up from death, mourning, wickedness; placing us in the realm of perfection; a life that is FULL of ernest hallelujah, complete satisfaction, constant awe and wonder. And to think, without Jesus Christ, none of us have the claim to this life in the slightest. For he gave his whole being through death and resurrection, unleashing the marvelous life in which God lives daily. Grace has come from Christ, for us, and it is completely free!


Vs 10. There will be and end to all suffering on this earth. All things that God had made perfect in the beginning, but had fell in to chaos because of sin, shall be made perfect again! Gathered under the order to one head of state, to be made organized as when a father organizes his family affairs. Jesus will reign supreme over all that God had made, and his kingdom will have no alienation amongst it. One ruler, one kingdom, and all people shall be of one family. And not only will Jesus bring unity to his people, but he will also restore order in the fallen matter of our Earth. Bringing out life freely from where it struggled to remain once before. All things in heaven and on earth, together under one, in complete unity.


*
*
*


Day 4: Key verses aloud. Journal how they challenge you personally.

Ephesians 1:6 - ... to the praise of his glorious grace, with
which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Right now, nothing super challenging about this verse it jumping
out at me. It is more like, I'm in confident waiting 

for it to be fulfilled entirely. 

When all things are reconciled, then God will  receive the praise
he deserves. We will be able to praise him and live in 

his presence 100% of the time!

Ephesians 1:10 - ... as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite
all things in him, in heaven and things on earth.

This verse is tricky. 

All of the failures, and upsets, and brokenness; all of this is
going to be fulfilled in God, it is all

going to be made right in his eyes and our eyes. There will no
longer be any holes in our hearts from past

torments, for he is going to serve up justice over heaven and
earth. Justice that will allow all of creation to sing and 

dance and praise because God has taken care of his family.