What You Have (Ephesians Series)

What You Have in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 1

We are in a new Bible study series at my church.  Our pastor is calling today's sermon "What You Have."  We are studying from the book of Ephesians.  The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon.  You are invited to watch, listen, and worship with us here.

In the opening of the book of Ephesians, Christ followers are called saints.  Jesus made us saints.  Every Christian is a saint and every saint is a Christian.  If you are a saint (Christ follower), you are going to learn what you have today.  If you are not a Christ follower, learn more about how to have a relationship with Jesus here.

Let's begin by reading Ephesians 1:3-14.

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, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him, regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in the Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. - Ephesians 1:3-14

If you have ever visited The Varsity in Atlanta, then you know that when you approach the counter, the counter worker will yell at you with a quick "What'll ya have?!"  They take this job very seriously, and if you don't order fast enough, they'll yell at you again.  At least this has been my experience when I visited the popular Atlanta fast food chain.  

In the video above, our pastor shares his own experience which was similar to mine.  Then he mentions that the apostle Paul takes us to the "buffet" of salvation in Ephesians 1.  He says the table is full.  There are many dishes, and they are filled with every spiritual blessing.  According to my pastor, this is Paul's version of "What'll ya have?!"

What we have is our position.  Feasting on what we have should be our condition.

Truth:  You don't need what you already have.  You already have all that you need.

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all have spiritual wealth to give us.  Believers are blessed with every spiritual blessing.

What You Have

1.  What We Have in the Father (verses 4-6)

We are chosen.  God chose us before the foundation of the world.  You are not an afterthought.  Before anything existed, we (YOU) were on His mind.

We are adopted.  God calls us sons and daughters.

We are accepted.  

2.  What We Have in the Son (verses 7-12)

We are redeemed.  Jesus paid the price for our sin with His blood.  We were slaves to sin but in Jesus, we are now free, redeemed.

We are forgiven.  There is good and bad to learn here.  The bad news is that we are all guilty and there is a penalty to be paid.  The good news is that Jesus took our blame and our guilt.  He has completely forgiven us.  

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our wrongdoings from us. - Psalm 103:12

I have wiped out your wrongdoings like a thick cloud and your sins like a heavy mist.  Return to Me, for I have redeemed you. - Isaiah 44:22

They will not teach again, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their wrongdoing, and their sin I will no longer remember.” - Jeremiah 31:34

I will endure the rage of the Lord because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me out to the light, and I will look at His righteousness. - Micah 7:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. - 1 John 1:9

This wall art is available here.

God's grace does not end.  Your sin will never outweigh His grace.  Don't let the devil bring up your past!

We have insight.  We are chosen and adopted.  We are not victims of the age.  The cancer of sin is spreading all over the world but history is His story.

We have an inheritance.  We are valuable to Jesus.

When Jesus Christ wrote His last will and testament for His church, He made it possible for us to share His spiritual riches.  Instead of spending it all, Jesus paid it all.  His death on the cross and His resurrection make possible our salvation.  He wrote us into His will, then He died so the will would be in force.  Then He rose again that He might become our advocate to make sure the terms of the will were correctly followed. - Warren Wiersbe

This Bible Commentary is available here.

3.  What We Have in the Holy Spirit 

We have been sealed.  To seal something is to make it secure.  This speaks of authenticity and permanence.  Everything is secure.  It can never be lost.

We have been guaranteed.  

God blessed us immensely.  He chose us unconditionally.  He adopted us adoringly.  He redeemed us graciously.  He forgave us completely.  He gave grace lavishly.  He revealed His mystery wisely.  He granted us inheritance eternally.  He sealed us permanently.  He guaranteed our position personally.

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What You Have in Christ Jesus

Don't Miss Christmas: Focus on Simplicity

Don't Miss Christmas:  Focus on Simplicity

We are continuing our Don't Miss Christmas Series at my church.  Last week, we learned how to not miss Christmas by staying focused on Jesus.  This week, we are going to learn how to keep things simple.  Sometimes the Christmas season can be a bit overwhelming.  There is always so much to do.  We can busy ourselves into missing Christmas.  Don't miss Christmas.  Focus on simplicity.

The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon titled "Don't Miss Christmas:  Simplicity."

You are invited to watch, listen, and worship with us here.

Keep It Simple | December 8, 2019 | Pastor Jeff Crook from Christ Place Church on Vimeo.

Simplicity

The first Christmas was a Christmas of simplicity.

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. - Luke 2:1-5

It was prophesied by God that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem.

But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.

His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity. - Micah 5:2

The Christmas stories that we have enjoyed since childhood are not exactly historically correct.  We typically see Mary and Joseph traveling alone to Bethlehem, but in those days, people traveled in caravans.  Mary and Joseph were most likely traveling with many others.

While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. - Luke 2:6-7

We usually picture Mary and Joseph knocking on the door of an Inn that might be like an ancient hotel, but it is likely that inns back in those days were very different.  Inns in Bible times were more likely to have been rustic places, perhaps even caves, where animals and shepherds stayed.

Swaddling clothes were more like shop rags.  The manger was probably made of limestone instead of wood.  

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. - Luke 2:7-8

This beautiful Christmas ornament is available here.

The humble shepherds were the first to learn about the birth of Jesus.  Back then, shepherds were thought of as dirty and "less than."  Shepherds were not allowed to enter the temple to worship.  They were not allowed to testify in a court of law.  BUT, they were the first to worship Jesus!

Don't let anyone tell you that you that you are not good enough.  God has a plan for you!

And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
 

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”  

So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them. - Luke 2:9-20

The story of Jesus' birth is a simple story, not one filled with fluff and bling.  

What did the shepherds do after they had seen Jesus in the manger?  They went out and told others what they had heard and seen.

In the Biblical story of Jesus' birth, there were not gifts brought to Jesus while He was still a baby in a manger.  The wise men with gifts came later. 

The only gift given on that first Christmas night was straight from God - the gift of Jesus.

Keep Christmas simple.

Spend less, love more.  Give fewer gifts and give more of your presence. 

Why do we overdo it?

- to impress others. 
- to be likable or to please others.
- to find more happiness.
- to be loved or return love.
- because it is the lifestyle we were raised in.

For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. - Galatians 1:10

When we overdo, we might go into debt.  We might fall into a depression.  We might get overwhelmed with distractions.  When we go into debt, we cannot give generously and wisely.

This Christmas, embrace the simplicity and humility of Jesus Christ.

Go to Jesus with your burdens and leave with the gift of freedom in Jesus.

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Read other posts in the Don't Miss Christmas Series here.

Some people think they are not good enough to receive God's grace and forgiveness, but Ephesians 1:7 tells us that through the blood of Jesus, we receive forgiveness.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. - Ephesians 1:7

  The following are my notes taken during my pastor's sermon.

Image Credit - Ben White - CCO Public Domain Image - via Freely Photos

Hope - I'm Forgiven

1.  We are forgiven because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

And according to the law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. - Hebrews 9:22

Blood = broken, guilty, stained

Today, we are broken by sin.

How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? - Hebrews 9:14

The blood of Jesus cleanses our consciences. 

When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. - Colossians 2:13-14