Ephesians
We continue our brand new sermon series on Paul's letter to the Ephesians. As we'll see throughout this letter, Paul has two main purposes for the letter. On the one hand, he wants to root our identity, our sense of who we were as Christians and as a church, as being in Christ. On the other hand, he wants to show us how our identity in Christ shapes how we are to live as Christians and as a church, how our identity in Christ shapes our relationships at home, in the workplace and in our neighborhoods.
In our text for this Sunday, which is Ephesians 1:3-7, Paul begins to eulogize (praise) God for the numerous spiritual blessings he has poured out on those who are in Christ...a gracious work that began even before the foundation of the world was created. And as Paul recounts these spiritual blessings, he intends for us to receive these these blessings with praise. What are these blessings? They are election, predestination and redemption. All of these have to do with God's gracious work of salvation, and I look forward to unpacking those with you this Sunday.
To come prepared for the sermon, take time this week to read and meditate on Ephesians 1:3-7, Deuteronomy 7:6-8, 1 Peter 1:1, 2 Peter 1:10, John 15:16, Romans 3:23; 6:23 and WSC #74.
As we gather as God's people to praise Him for every spiritual blessing in heaven that are ours in Christ Jesus, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “Tell Out My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord” the Acclamation of Praise “He Will Hold Me Fast” and the Hymn of Response “We Are God's People”
Sermon Information:
Text: Ephesians 1:3-7
Title: Blessed in Christ
Outline
- We are blessed in Christ by God's design (vv. 3-4)
- We are blessed in Christ by God's determination (vv. 5-6)
- We are blessed in Christ by God's redemption (v. 7)