WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.620 All right, well, friends, imagine one day you come home and waiting for you at your door is a package. 00:00:09.740 --> 00:00:15.359 It's a gift from a friend, you notice, on the mailing label, and it's a big box. 00:00:15.960 --> 00:00:24.699 So you drag it inside, and you open up this big box, and out come the pieces of a brand new bicycle. 00:00:24.980 --> 00:00:26.260 Plop, plop, plop, plop, plop, plop, plop. 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:29.480 And you can tell it's a pretty nice bike, right? 00:00:29.480 --> 00:00:31.699 It's got this ultralight titanium frame. 00:00:31.899 --> 00:00:33.140 It's got these slick wheels. 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:34.719 It's top of the line. 00:00:35.880 --> 00:00:42.859 But as you kind of sort through the pieces of this incredible surprise gift that your thoughtful friend sent you, you realize that something's missing. 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:48.719 There are no instructions on how to put the thing together. 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:52.760 You know that this bike is supposed to be state-of-the-art. 00:00:52.760 --> 00:00:57.560 You can practically feel the wind whipping through your hair as you look at the pieces on the floor. 00:00:57.560 --> 00:01:00.719 But you have no idea how it all fits together. 00:01:03.940 --> 00:01:06.100 Or imagine you've been given an even greater gift. 00:01:06.480 --> 00:01:10.780 Imagine that some forgotten distant relative dies and leaves you an inheritance. 00:01:10.780 --> 00:01:14.739 And it's a piece of lakefront property. 00:01:15.859 --> 00:01:20.780 And not just a piece of property, but on that property are all the materials to build a vacation home. 00:01:20.859 --> 00:01:24.060 Apparently, they were hoping to build this home but couldn't complete the project. 00:01:24.420 --> 00:01:31.799 And so you head out to your newly inherited piece of property, and you see there all the materials stacked and stored and covered. 00:01:31.799 --> 00:01:38.140 But lo and behold, as you look through everything, there's no blueprint. 00:01:39.039 --> 00:01:43.620 There's nothing that tells you how this gift is meant to be put together. 00:01:44.379 --> 00:01:46.299 There's nothing that tells you how it's meant to be built. 00:01:48.640 --> 00:01:50.819 Now, why do I start with this illustration? 00:01:50.819 --> 00:02:01.759 Because spiritually, Christianity is about receiving a surpassingly great gift. 00:02:03.079 --> 00:02:08.979 About receiving the gift of what we call salvation in Christ. 00:02:08.979 --> 00:02:18.359 But you know, we live in a world where there are competing frameworks and competing worldviews and competing pictures of the good life. 00:02:18.620 --> 00:02:24.759 There are lots of options out there for you if you're out to construct the good life. 00:02:26.259 --> 00:02:31.859 So it's not as if we've just sort of lost the instructions, but there are lots of instructions that fall out of the box. 00:02:32.060 --> 00:02:33.839 And we're not really sure which one to pick. 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:43.099 And it seems that what we need, as those who have received this incredible gift of salvation in Christ, 00:02:43.159 --> 00:02:45.920 what we need is something like a blueprint. 00:02:47.539 --> 00:02:51.480 Something like a blueprint for how this gift is meant to be put together. 00:02:51.659 --> 00:02:53.439 For how its pieces all connect. 00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:56.800 For what it looks like and what it feels like when it gets lived out. 00:02:57.280 --> 00:02:59.939 And not just individually, but in our life together as the church. 00:02:59.939 --> 00:03:06.259 And the book that we're going to be studying this fall, we're starting a new sermon series tonight. 00:03:06.680 --> 00:03:10.359 The book that we're going to be studying this fall and actually on into the winter and into the spring. 00:03:11.340 --> 00:03:15.240 The book of Ephesians is actually just that. 00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:20.680 The book of Ephesians is something like a spiritual blueprint. 00:03:23.319 --> 00:03:26.300 So if you want to understand what the core of Christianity is all about. 00:03:26.579 --> 00:03:29.099 If you want to see how a lot of its pieces fit together. 00:03:29.099 --> 00:03:32.960 If you want to know how to build your life in light of what Christianity is all about. 00:03:34.120 --> 00:03:38.180 If you're curious just what Christianity is and what it does. 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:43.859 Then Ephesians is a great book to study. 00:03:44.560 --> 00:03:46.900 And that's what we're starting today. 00:03:48.479 --> 00:03:52.219 So if you haven't done so already, turn with me to the book of Ephesians. 00:03:52.219 --> 00:03:56.740 That's page 976 in the Black Pew Bibles there. 00:03:58.199 --> 00:04:01.460 Page 976, the book of Ephesians. 00:04:04.439 --> 00:04:10.280 Now as you turn there, you'll see right off that the letter of Ephesians, the book of Ephesians is a letter of Paul the Apostle. 00:04:11.240 --> 00:04:16.259 And if you kind of scan over it quickly, if you just flip the page, you see that it's pretty short. 00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:17.740 It's just six chapters. 00:04:17.740 --> 00:04:21.560 It's something you could probably read in one sitting. 00:04:22.100 --> 00:04:26.759 If you had a good stiff cup of coffee and you were awake, you could probably just plow right through it. 00:04:28.400 --> 00:04:30.780 But tonight we're just going to look at the opening couple of verses. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:34.720 You'll see in the sermon card, the little blue card in your pew that we're going to kind of walk through. 00:04:34.819 --> 00:04:38.620 You'll see how we'll break it down in the coming weeks if you want to sort of follow along week by week. 00:04:38.680 --> 00:04:42.079 But tonight we're just going to look at Paul's opening verses. 00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:43.980 His greeting in verses 1 and 2. 00:04:44.600 --> 00:04:46.040 So let me read this for us. 00:04:47.740 --> 00:04:50.800 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:56.420 To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus. 00:04:57.740 --> 00:05:03.699 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:05:05.180 --> 00:05:08.720 Well, let's pray together as we consider this passage. 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:15.760 Father, we do pray for just that, your grace and your peace as we come to your word now. 00:05:17.260 --> 00:05:23.100 Lord, many of us here have been students of the scriptures for some time. 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:25.780 Lord, some of us perhaps are completely new. 00:05:25.779 --> 00:05:35.119 But God, we thank you that because you're a living and active and real God, you can meet us and teach us and show us wonderful things. 00:05:35.579 --> 00:05:38.019 And what you've given us here in the Bible. 00:05:38.159 --> 00:05:41.219 So we pray that tonight that you'd help us to understand. 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:48.019 And in understanding to know you, God, and in knowing you to be really changed in our relationship with you. 00:05:48.019 --> 00:05:50.379 And we ask this in Jesus' name. 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:50.879 Amen. 00:05:53.560 --> 00:05:53.959 Okay. 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:54.659 Well, okay. 00:05:54.719 --> 00:06:00.479 This opening is roughly how all of Paul's letters begin, if you were to scan through. 00:06:00.839 --> 00:06:03.620 And this is actually how most ancient letters in general began. 00:06:03.620 --> 00:06:07.800 From so-and-so to so-and-so and then some kind of blessing, right? 00:06:08.600 --> 00:06:23.420 But you know, the more that you study Paul's letters in particular, the more you realize that Paul packs into his opening lines often some of the main concerns or the main themes of what he's going to say in the rest of the letter. 00:06:23.420 --> 00:06:34.180 And in just a minute, we're going to spend, you know, the bulk of our time tonight looking just at how Paul does that here in these opening verses to get a sense of what the book of Ephesians is all about. 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:45.860 But before we do that, you know, it's worth pointing out that if we were to go ahead and we were to sort of read the rest of the letter, we would actually notice something a bit peculiar about the book of Ephesians. 00:06:45.860 --> 00:06:57.400 The first thing that we would notice that's a bit peculiar is that this letter does not seem to be addressing a particular need or a particular crisis in this particular church. 00:06:59.720 --> 00:07:03.400 Now, if you've read some of the other in the New Testament, think about some of Paul's other letters. 00:07:04.259 --> 00:07:07.160 In Galatians, he's battling some false teachers. 00:07:08.139 --> 00:07:13.180 In Philippians, he's responding to a generous gift that the church has sent him, who are partners with him in ministry. 00:07:13.180 --> 00:07:18.259 In 1 and 2 Thessalonians, he's answering some questions about the Lord's return. 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:23.019 In 1 and 2 Corinthians, he's dealing with all sorts of issues and problems. 00:07:23.480 --> 00:07:27.439 If you want a little snapshot into that, you can check out the podcast from our morning service over the last year. 00:07:27.579 --> 00:07:31.319 We looked at 1 Corinthians and all of the crises and issues that Paul dealt with there. 00:07:32.519 --> 00:07:36.280 But what's very interesting is that here in Ephesians, there doesn't seem to be a crisis. 00:07:37.340 --> 00:07:40.579 There doesn't seem to be a pressing need that he has to address. 00:07:40.579 --> 00:07:45.579 Rather, it seems that the content of this book is... 00:07:46.699 --> 00:07:50.939 Well, I hesitate to say it's general because general sounds really boring, right? 00:07:51.019 --> 00:07:52.740 And Ephesians is anything but boring. 00:07:52.839 --> 00:07:55.180 Rather, the content of Ephesians is... 00:07:55.180 --> 00:07:56.000 I mean, how are we going to put it? 00:07:56.659 --> 00:07:57.620 It's universal. 00:07:59.019 --> 00:08:00.799 It's like the core of everything. 00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:06.600 In fact, if you're a student of Paul's letters, you notice that Ephesians is very carefully constructed. 00:08:07.540 --> 00:08:10.759 It's sort of written in beautifully wrought language. 00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:14.680 It doesn't feel like something that's polemical that Paul's just ripping off to meet a need. 00:08:14.740 --> 00:08:18.340 No, it seems like he's taken his time to construct this thing. 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:22.519 It feels sort of like a beautiful blueprint. 00:08:22.519 --> 00:08:28.519 And the second thing you notice if you read through the rest of the book that's kind of peculiar... 00:08:29.639 --> 00:08:35.019 ...is that Paul doesn't seem to let on that he has any intimate knowledge of the church in Ephesus. 00:08:35.319 --> 00:08:38.379 He makes very little mention here of his relationship with them. 00:08:39.299 --> 00:08:42.379 And again, that's very unlike many of Paul's letters. 00:08:42.939 --> 00:08:46.539 Often, Paul is addressing particular people by particular names throughout his letter. 00:08:46.539 --> 00:08:51.219 I plead with Euodia and Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 00:08:51.339 --> 00:08:52.079 That's Philippians. 00:08:53.179 --> 00:08:54.500 I mean, that's pretty direct, right? 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:57.079 That shows a pretty intimate knowledge of the people in the congregation. 00:08:58.579 --> 00:09:03.500 And it's particularly surprising here in Ephesus that he doesn't make any kind of personal mention 00:09:03.500 --> 00:09:10.219 because we know from the book of Acts, chapter 19, that Paul actually spent literally years 00:09:10.219 --> 00:09:13.139 ministering in Ephesus before he wrote this letter. 00:09:13.139 --> 00:09:17.620 He had an ongoing, long-term relationship with this church. 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:22.840 And yet, you would read this letter and it feels like it could be written to anyone. 00:09:26.759 --> 00:09:28.500 Third peculiar thing about this book. 00:09:29.539 --> 00:09:31.819 And it's actually found in the second half of verse 1. 00:09:32.360 --> 00:09:33.799 Look back at the second half of verse 1. 00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:34.299 We read there, 00:09:34.419 --> 00:09:38.799 To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus. 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:47.839 Now, notice, there's a little number 1, superscript 1, next to faithful there in our text of the ESV. 00:09:47.919 --> 00:09:48.399 Do you see that? 00:09:48.859 --> 00:09:50.639 That's telling you to look down in the footnote. 00:09:51.159 --> 00:09:55.319 And if you look down in the footnote, you read there that in some of the New Testament manuscripts 00:09:55.319 --> 00:10:00.479 that we have of this book, the words in Ephesus are omitted. 00:10:00.899 --> 00:10:01.500 They're not there. 00:10:01.500 --> 00:10:08.019 And in fact, it's that way in some of the oldest manuscripts that we have. 00:10:09.779 --> 00:10:10.899 Okay, well, what does that mean? 00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:16.980 Well, I think as we put all these peculiar pieces together, 00:10:17.720 --> 00:10:20.360 and many New Testament scholars have come to the same conclusion, 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:30.379 it seems pretty likely that this book of Ephesians originated as something like a circular letter. 00:10:31.279 --> 00:10:36.600 Something that Paul composed not just for one church, but for many churches. 00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:41.000 And that's why there isn't just one name there. 00:10:41.159 --> 00:10:43.580 That there are copies that exist without a city name, 00:10:43.680 --> 00:10:45.539 because they could be sent to any city. 00:10:45.539 --> 00:10:55.159 Now, if that's true, if Ephesians is some sort of circular letter that Paul wrote 00:10:55.159 --> 00:11:01.019 to be distributed broadly among the cities, that's a really cool idea. 00:11:02.699 --> 00:11:04.120 And here's why. 00:11:05.319 --> 00:11:09.860 Because if that's true, then what we have in the book of Ephesians 00:11:09.860 --> 00:11:15.120 is the Apostle Paul, one of the greatest minds of the early church, 00:11:15.539 --> 00:11:19.279 trying to distill the essence of his message, 00:11:19.439 --> 00:11:21.759 trying to get to the heart of Christianity, 00:11:21.899 --> 00:11:24.459 trying to get down to the bare bones of the gospel, 00:11:24.599 --> 00:11:26.879 and fit it into a power-packed letter, 00:11:26.959 --> 00:11:31.480 this short, explosive letter that churches all over could benefit from. 00:11:33.039 --> 00:11:34.799 In other words, he's writing a blueprint, 00:11:35.099 --> 00:11:38.480 not just for the church in Ephesus, but for all of us. 00:11:40.360 --> 00:11:42.500 To the saints who are in New Haven, 00:11:43.500 --> 00:11:44.879 and are faithful in Christ Jesus. 00:11:45.539 --> 00:11:49.879 So let's take a few minutes then, 00:11:49.939 --> 00:11:53.360 and see how these opening verses highlight some of the important themes 00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:54.860 that we're going to see in the rest of the letter, 00:11:55.240 --> 00:11:58.419 this letter that was meant not just for Ephesus, but for all of us. 00:11:59.539 --> 00:12:05.120 First, our blueprint for Christian life and doctrine in the book of Ephesus 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:08.639 opens with the will of God. 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:12.159 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, 00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:14.539 by the will of God. 00:12:15.220 --> 00:12:18.100 Over and over and over in this book, 00:12:18.199 --> 00:12:21.059 we're going to learn about God's purpose, 00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:22.799 God's plan, 00:12:23.199 --> 00:12:24.379 God's will. 00:12:24.779 --> 00:12:26.960 In other words, what God desires, 00:12:27.580 --> 00:12:29.299 what God brings about. 00:12:30.100 --> 00:12:32.620 Ephesians is going to take us from eternity past, 00:12:32.620 --> 00:12:34.360 before the foundation of the world, 00:12:34.560 --> 00:12:35.580 on through the present, 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:37.799 and into eternity to come. 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:40.019 And along the way, 00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:43.159 Paul is going to show us what God's heart is. 00:12:44.899 --> 00:12:47.440 What the one true creator, 00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:50.080 God's unfailing purpose is. 00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:51.940 His sovereign plan. 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:54.019 His fatherly will. 00:12:54.019 --> 00:12:59.379 And what we're going to see is that God's purpose, 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:00.039 his plan, 00:13:00.139 --> 00:13:00.600 his will, 00:13:00.779 --> 00:13:03.480 is not some cold, 00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:04.879 abstract, 00:13:05.819 --> 00:13:06.679 distant thing. 00:13:07.019 --> 00:13:09.179 That it's not just the decree 00:13:09.179 --> 00:13:12.120 of some far-off deity. 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:17.720 But it's the burning desire of God 00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:21.439 to express his glorious grace 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:24.420 in the redemption of his lost children. 00:13:27.380 --> 00:13:28.340 Think about Paul. 00:13:30.260 --> 00:13:31.260 As a young man, 00:13:31.340 --> 00:13:32.000 who was Paul? 00:13:33.860 --> 00:13:36.020 If we were to read a news article about Paul, 00:13:36.100 --> 00:13:36.740 the young man, 00:13:36.940 --> 00:13:38.200 do you know what we would call him? 00:13:38.840 --> 00:13:40.600 We'd probably call him a terrorist. 00:13:41.660 --> 00:13:42.320 He was a murderer, 00:13:43.100 --> 00:13:43.980 a religious zealot, 00:13:44.060 --> 00:13:44.880 whatever you want to use, 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:45.620 whatever words. 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:47.900 He hated Christ, 00:13:48.020 --> 00:13:48.980 and he hated Christians, 00:13:49.140 --> 00:13:49.600 and yet, 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:53.060 what we read here in verse one 00:13:53.060 --> 00:13:56.000 is that the will of God, 00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:57.740 the purpose, 00:13:57.940 --> 00:13:59.180 the plan of God, 00:13:59.899 --> 00:14:00.779 intervened. 00:14:02.779 --> 00:14:04.759 And the persecutor of Christ 00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:08.800 was transformed in the proclaimer of Christ. 00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:11.360 The persecutor of Christians 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:14.500 became the pastor of Christians. 00:14:17.320 --> 00:14:18.139 Friend, I wonder, 00:14:18.220 --> 00:14:19.160 do you think it's possible 00:14:19.159 --> 00:14:20.620 for people to change? 00:14:22.139 --> 00:14:24.139 Or will we always be stuck 00:14:24.139 --> 00:14:26.079 in the same old ruts, 00:14:26.699 --> 00:14:29.279 in the same old bad habits, 00:14:29.819 --> 00:14:31.860 in the same old spiritual deadness? 00:14:33.779 --> 00:14:34.980 And not just personally, 00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:35.799 how about our city? 00:14:36.839 --> 00:14:39.179 Do you think that things can change 00:14:39.179 --> 00:14:39.939 in New Haven 00:14:39.939 --> 00:14:42.620 or whatever neighborhood you live in? 00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:45.700 Do you think that we could see 00:14:45.700 --> 00:14:47.600 our city become a place 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:50.000 where God's name is honored 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:51.060 and loved and praised, 00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:52.220 and people are freed 00:14:52.220 --> 00:14:53.399 from the darkness 00:14:53.399 --> 00:14:54.539 and selfishness 00:14:54.539 --> 00:14:56.340 and sin 00:14:56.340 --> 00:14:57.860 and self-destruction 00:14:57.860 --> 00:14:59.639 that we're trapped in? 00:15:02.220 --> 00:15:03.580 It's easy to lose hope, 00:15:03.659 --> 00:15:04.000 isn't it? 00:15:05.560 --> 00:15:06.440 It's easy to think 00:15:06.440 --> 00:15:08.159 that we'll never see renewal 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:09.019 or change, 00:15:09.699 --> 00:15:10.480 either personally 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:11.459 or communally. 00:15:12.980 --> 00:15:13.620 And you know, 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:14.579 in ourselves, 00:15:14.719 --> 00:15:15.879 in our own strength, 00:15:16.079 --> 00:15:17.480 in our own will, 00:15:18.620 --> 00:15:19.740 it is impossible. 00:15:21.959 --> 00:15:23.419 But not for God's will. 00:15:23.419 --> 00:15:27.599 What we're going to see 00:15:27.599 --> 00:15:28.299 in our journey 00:15:28.299 --> 00:15:29.179 through this book 00:15:29.179 --> 00:15:31.539 is that God takes 00:15:31.539 --> 00:15:33.679 the things that are dead. 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:35.339 Not just weak, 00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:36.779 not just faltering, 00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:38.279 not just in need of help, 00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:40.179 but the things that are dead 00:15:40.179 --> 00:15:42.199 and makes them alive. 00:15:43.699 --> 00:15:45.000 And God takes the things 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:46.000 that are far off, 00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:47.079 that are strangers, 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:48.579 that feel like they're lost 00:15:48.579 --> 00:15:49.639 and gone forever, 00:15:49.860 --> 00:15:51.219 and he brings them home. 00:15:51.220 --> 00:15:54.800 God's will. 00:15:58.019 --> 00:15:59.540 I hope you want to learn more 00:15:59.540 --> 00:16:01.040 about God's purpose 00:16:01.040 --> 00:16:02.060 and God's plan 00:16:02.060 --> 00:16:03.100 and God's will 00:16:03.100 --> 00:16:03.920 because, 00:16:04.259 --> 00:16:05.000 whether you like it or not, 00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:06.700 it's coming in this book. 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:08.220 But friends, 00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:09.000 it's awesome. 00:16:10.040 --> 00:16:11.300 And you want to see it. 00:16:14.040 --> 00:16:15.139 But let's keep moving. 00:16:15.960 --> 00:16:17.040 In the rest of verse 1, 00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:18.759 this blueprint speaks 00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:20.759 not just about God's will, 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:21.779 but it speaks about 00:16:21.779 --> 00:16:23.179 our identity. 00:16:25.019 --> 00:16:25.580 To the saints 00:16:25.580 --> 00:16:26.659 who are in Ephesus, 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:27.460 who are faithful 00:16:27.460 --> 00:16:28.679 in Christ Jesus, 00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:29.360 Paul writes. 00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:30.439 Notice here 00:16:30.439 --> 00:16:32.139 that we're called saints. 00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:34.759 And in the New Testament, 00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:36.460 that word doesn't mean 00:16:36.460 --> 00:16:37.860 the extra holy 00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:38.960 and righteous Christians. 00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:40.519 Saints in the New Testament 00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:41.919 are not the super Christians 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:42.799 who do everything right. 00:16:43.319 --> 00:16:43.580 No. 00:16:44.179 --> 00:16:45.059 Saints is a term 00:16:45.059 --> 00:16:45.720 that Paul uses 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:46.939 for all Christians. 00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:48.120 It's something that's true 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:49.059 of all of us. 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:49.700 For everyone 00:16:49.700 --> 00:16:50.740 who's put their trust in Christ, 00:16:50.740 --> 00:16:52.460 you are a saint, 00:16:52.659 --> 00:16:53.820 according to the New Testament. 00:16:54.899 --> 00:16:55.779 And a saint, 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:56.919 biblically speaking, 00:16:57.019 --> 00:16:57.720 is someone 00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:59.720 who's been set apart 00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:01.419 for a noble purpose. 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:04.599 Someone who's been set apart 00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:06.900 for a noble purpose. 00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:10.539 And where have they been set apart 00:17:10.539 --> 00:17:11.519 for this noble purpose? 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:14.180 In Ephesus. 00:17:14.180 --> 00:17:16.920 See right there, 00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:17.779 Paul says saints 00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:19.620 who are in Ephesus. 00:17:19.620 --> 00:17:20.680 Or we could even read 00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:22.400 saints who are in New Haven. 00:17:22.539 --> 00:17:22.980 Right here. 00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:26.480 Set apart by God 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:29.320 for a noble kingdom purpose 00:17:29.320 --> 00:17:32.480 right in this city. 00:17:34.100 --> 00:17:35.779 There's a mission here, 00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:36.380 you see. 00:17:36.380 --> 00:17:38.660 We have a calling 00:17:38.660 --> 00:17:40.800 to inhabit our city, 00:17:40.980 --> 00:17:41.760 our neighborhoods, 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:42.820 our colleges 00:17:42.820 --> 00:17:46.000 as those who have been set apart 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:47.400 for a noble purpose. 00:17:47.400 --> 00:17:49.280 To shine the light of Christ 00:17:49.280 --> 00:17:49.980 into the darkness. 00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:51.580 To call the dead to life. 00:17:51.780 --> 00:17:53.500 To help bring the strangers home. 00:17:53.880 --> 00:17:54.500 And to love 00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:55.560 with the love of Christ. 00:17:57.960 --> 00:17:58.920 So on the one hand, 00:17:58.980 --> 00:17:59.600 we're saints 00:17:59.600 --> 00:18:02.080 in fill-in-the-blank 00:18:02.080 --> 00:18:02.720 Ephesus. 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:05.400 But we're also faithful 00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:06.500 in Christ Jesus. 00:18:06.660 --> 00:18:07.860 We inhabit the city. 00:18:07.940 --> 00:18:09.559 Yes, we're in New Haven. 00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:10.600 We're in Ephesus. 00:18:10.740 --> 00:18:12.279 But we also inhabit Christ. 00:18:12.360 --> 00:18:14.039 We are in Christ Jesus. 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:15.559 We are in Him. 00:18:15.660 --> 00:18:16.279 We're united 00:18:16.279 --> 00:18:17.220 and one with Him. 00:18:19.360 --> 00:18:19.759 How? 00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:21.839 How are we united 00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:22.579 to Christ? 00:18:22.620 --> 00:18:23.539 How are we in Him? 00:18:23.579 --> 00:18:25.480 We get how we're in Ephesus. 00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:26.600 We sort of live here. 00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:28.500 We pick up the language 00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:29.960 of New Haven. 00:18:30.200 --> 00:18:30.600 Right? 00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:31.860 Which is one of the things 00:18:31.860 --> 00:18:32.339 you pick up 00:18:32.339 --> 00:18:33.019 if you live in New Haven 00:18:33.019 --> 00:18:33.439 long enough. 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:34.199 You say right 00:18:34.199 --> 00:18:35.019 at the end of all 00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:35.699 of your sentences. 00:18:36.419 --> 00:18:37.579 But how do we inhabit? 00:18:37.659 --> 00:18:38.480 How do we dwell 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:39.899 in oneness with Christ? 00:18:42.139 --> 00:18:42.539 Well, 00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:44.139 Paul says here, 00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:46.019 it's by faith. 00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:48.699 Faithful in Christ Jesus. 00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:51.819 And faithful here 00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:53.539 means not so much. 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:54.799 Paul's not talking so much 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:56.619 about our trustworthiness 00:18:56.619 --> 00:18:57.819 or our reliability 00:18:57.819 --> 00:19:00.899 to do or to accomplish things. 00:19:00.900 --> 00:19:02.980 rather it's as if he's saying, 00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:04.240 he's talking about 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:06.360 those who have placed 00:19:06.360 --> 00:19:07.820 their trust in Christ. 00:19:08.620 --> 00:19:10.180 Those who are believers 00:19:10.180 --> 00:19:12.000 in Christ Jesus. 00:19:12.380 --> 00:19:12.740 Faith, 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:13.280 trust, 00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:13.720 belief, 00:19:13.800 --> 00:19:14.420 they're all sort of 00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:15.800 the same word 00:19:15.800 --> 00:19:16.500 and concept 00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:17.300 in the New Testament. 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:20.740 So he's talking about 00:19:20.740 --> 00:19:21.900 those who have been 00:19:21.900 --> 00:19:23.800 united to Christ 00:19:23.800 --> 00:19:25.259 through trust, 00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:25.980 through faith. 00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:29.539 who are you? 00:19:30.120 --> 00:19:31.279 Who am I? 00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:33.740 Aren't these some of the most 00:19:33.740 --> 00:19:35.079 foundational questions 00:19:35.079 --> 00:19:35.779 we can ask? 00:19:35.860 --> 00:19:36.940 And our blueprint here 00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:38.259 is saying right from the start 00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:39.559 that first and foremost, 00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:41.000 you are through faith 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:43.140 in Christ Jesus. 00:19:43.380 --> 00:19:44.660 And in Christ Jesus 00:19:44.660 --> 00:19:45.940 through faith, 00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:47.039 not works, 00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:48.319 not family background, 00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:49.259 not wealth, 00:19:49.579 --> 00:19:50.200 not status. 00:19:50.380 --> 00:19:50.740 No. 00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:52.180 Through the simple gift 00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:52.880 of faith, 00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:54.539 you are united 00:19:54.539 --> 00:19:55.900 to the king. 00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:01.539 And being united to him, 00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:03.200 you are a saint 00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:04.740 with a mission 00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:07.660 to inhabit your city 00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:08.539 as an ambassador. 00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:12.759 So friends, 00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:13.259 when you wake up 00:20:13.259 --> 00:20:13.720 in the morning 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:16.240 and before the flood 00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:17.480 of your to-do list 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:18.359 comes crashing 00:20:18.359 --> 00:20:19.180 into your brain, 00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:21.579 this week, 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:22.480 first thing, 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:25.480 try reminding yourself 00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:26.039 of this 00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:27.659 before your feet 00:20:27.659 --> 00:20:28.500 even hit the floor. 00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:31.480 Remind yourself 00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:33.879 that you are a child 00:20:33.879 --> 00:20:34.779 of a king 00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:37.220 and that you have been 00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:37.720 set apart 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:38.920 for a noble purpose 00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:39.900 in this place 00:20:39.900 --> 00:20:41.180 and in this time. 00:20:42.620 --> 00:20:43.440 And that first 00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:44.279 and foremost, 00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:46.279 you are not 00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:48.460 what your education level 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:49.180 says you are 00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:51.279 and not what your job title 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:52.000 says you are 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:53.779 and not what your bank account 00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:54.480 amounts to. 00:20:55.180 --> 00:20:56.299 You are first 00:20:56.299 --> 00:20:57.779 and foremost, 00:20:57.900 --> 00:20:58.660 if you've placed 00:20:58.660 --> 00:20:59.920 your trust in Jesus, 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:02.140 you are beloved 00:21:02.140 --> 00:21:03.460 in him. 00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:08.319 and this book, 00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:10.259 as we peel back 00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:10.779 the layers, 00:21:11.100 --> 00:21:12.660 is going to unpack that. 00:21:12.860 --> 00:21:13.539 It's going to unpack 00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:14.319 what it means 00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:16.079 to be in Christ 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:17.039 and it's going to do that 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:19.120 in stunning ways. 00:21:19.600 --> 00:21:21.000 I guarantee you 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:22.519 that if you haven't studied 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.720 the book of Ephesians before, 00:21:24.059 --> 00:21:25.680 you are going to be shocked 00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:27.120 by what this book says 00:21:27.120 --> 00:21:27.920 is true of you 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:28.960 and true of the church 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:29.720 in Christ. 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:31.079 I guarantee it. 00:21:31.860 --> 00:21:32.960 And if you have studied 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:34.019 the book of Ephesians before 00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:35.640 and you haven't been shocked, 00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:36.900 you haven't understood 00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:37.779 what you've been reading, 00:21:38.700 --> 00:21:40.500 this book is going to 00:21:40.500 --> 00:21:42.579 blow your mind 00:21:42.579 --> 00:21:44.440 about who God has made you 00:21:44.440 --> 00:21:45.319 in his son. 00:21:49.019 --> 00:21:49.819 Third thing, 00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:50.380 last. 00:21:51.380 --> 00:21:52.019 This blueprint 00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:53.000 is about God's will, 00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:54.759 it's about our identity, 00:21:55.319 --> 00:21:56.120 and last, 00:21:56.819 --> 00:21:57.920 it's about grace. 00:21:57.920 --> 00:22:00.660 Grace to you 00:22:00.660 --> 00:22:01.360 and peace 00:22:01.360 --> 00:22:03.180 from God our Father 00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:05.300 and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:06.580 Grace. 00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:08.160 Friends, 00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:08.820 what is grace? 00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:11.660 In the Bible, 00:22:11.840 --> 00:22:14.560 grace is undeserved favor. 00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:16.980 It's favor 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:18.160 that you've done 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:19.340 nothing to deserve. 00:22:21.600 --> 00:22:22.100 And you know, 00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:23.200 this whole book 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:23.920 is structured 00:22:24.560 --> 00:22:26.920 according to the deep logic 00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:28.440 logic of grace. 00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:30.500 It's structured around it. 00:22:30.539 --> 00:22:31.460 It's a blueprint 00:22:31.460 --> 00:22:33.100 of God's grace. 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:35.300 And I want to show you 00:22:35.300 --> 00:22:35.920 how the whole book 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:36.420 is structured 00:22:36.420 --> 00:22:37.360 before we wrap up. 00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:38.400 How Paul put this 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:39.060 whole book together. 00:22:39.360 --> 00:22:40.180 He wrote it actually 00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:41.000 in two halves. 00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:43.880 And in chapter 1, 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:44.300 verse 3, 00:22:44.360 --> 00:22:44.779 look there, 00:22:45.100 --> 00:22:45.560 we read, 00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:46.940 blessed be the God 00:22:46.940 --> 00:22:47.340 and Father 00:22:47.340 --> 00:22:48.660 of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:22:48.800 --> 00:22:49.460 This is chapter 1, 00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:49.920 verse 3. 00:22:50.580 --> 00:22:51.779 Who has blessed us 00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:52.519 in Christ 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:54.380 with every spiritual blessing 00:22:54.380 --> 00:22:55.300 in the heavenly places. 00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:55.579 Now, 00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:56.339 next week, 00:22:56.379 --> 00:22:57.000 we're going to unpack 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:57.399 that verse 00:22:57.399 --> 00:22:58.240 in a little more detail. 00:22:58.339 --> 00:22:59.019 But for now, 00:22:59.399 --> 00:23:00.839 notice that that verse 00:23:00.839 --> 00:23:01.599 is all about 00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:02.519 what God has done 00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:03.460 for us 00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:04.359 in Christ. 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:05.680 And for the next 00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:07.119 three chapters, 00:23:08.119 --> 00:23:09.899 Paul's going to unfold 00:23:09.899 --> 00:23:10.799 all that God 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:11.480 has done for us. 00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:12.500 What he's accomplished 00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:13.220 in Christ 00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:13.799 on our behalf. 00:23:13.919 --> 00:23:14.779 That's chapters 1, 00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:15.480 2, 00:23:15.619 --> 00:23:16.200 and 3, 00:23:16.299 --> 00:23:17.039 the first half 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:17.480 of the book. 00:23:18.879 --> 00:23:20.299 Now look at chapter 4, 00:23:20.419 --> 00:23:21.079 verse 1. 00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:22.899 Paul writes, 00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:24.320 I therefore, 00:23:24.860 --> 00:23:25.960 a prisoner for the Lord, 00:23:26.120 --> 00:23:27.080 urge you to walk 00:23:27.080 --> 00:23:28.200 in a manner worthy 00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:29.080 of the calling 00:23:29.080 --> 00:23:30.660 to which you have been called. 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:32.440 And that begins 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:33.300 the second half 00:23:33.300 --> 00:23:33.720 of the letter. 00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:34.840 Where Paul, 00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:36.340 having laid this foundation 00:23:36.340 --> 00:23:36.940 of what God 00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:37.759 has done for us 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:38.180 in Christ, 00:23:38.380 --> 00:23:39.400 now tells us 00:23:39.400 --> 00:23:40.060 what our life 00:23:40.060 --> 00:23:41.080 should look like 00:23:41.080 --> 00:23:41.980 in response. 00:23:42.300 --> 00:23:43.100 How do we walk? 00:23:43.300 --> 00:23:44.160 How do we live 00:23:44.160 --> 00:23:45.259 as those who have received 00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:46.460 every spiritual blessing 00:23:46.460 --> 00:23:47.080 in Christ? 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:48.500 And that's chapters 4, 00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:49.080 and 5, 00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:49.600 and 6. 00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.560 So you see how 00:23:51.560 --> 00:23:52.060 this whole thing 00:23:52.060 --> 00:23:52.720 is put together? 00:23:53.280 --> 00:23:53.860 Chapters 1, 00:23:53.940 --> 00:23:54.060 2, 00:23:54.100 --> 00:23:54.480 and 3 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.740 tell us what's true. 00:23:56.360 --> 00:23:57.240 And chapters 4, 00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:57.780 5, 00:23:57.820 --> 00:23:58.160 and 6 00:23:58.160 --> 00:23:58.720 tell us now 00:23:58.720 --> 00:23:59.280 what to do. 00:24:02.980 --> 00:24:03.840 And as I said, 00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:04.560 that, friends, 00:24:04.600 --> 00:24:06.160 is the deep logic, 00:24:06.280 --> 00:24:07.320 the deep pattern 00:24:07.320 --> 00:24:09.200 of the gospel of grace. 00:24:10.660 --> 00:24:11.660 This is the blueprint 00:24:11.660 --> 00:24:13.300 at its most 00:24:13.300 --> 00:24:14.460 foundational level. 00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:16.160 First, 00:24:16.940 --> 00:24:17.860 God's grace. 00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:19.120 Then, 00:24:19.280 --> 00:24:20.060 in response, 00:24:20.380 --> 00:24:21.780 are works. 00:24:22.900 --> 00:24:24.840 You know, 00:24:24.860 --> 00:24:25.220 we go through 00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:26.280 most of life 00:24:26.280 --> 00:24:28.259 thinking this way. 00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:30.060 Most of our life 00:24:30.060 --> 00:24:30.620 we go along 00:24:30.620 --> 00:24:31.220 thinking that 00:24:31.220 --> 00:24:32.000 if I obey, 00:24:33.460 --> 00:24:34.820 then God 00:24:34.820 --> 00:24:35.440 will accept me. 00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.780 We put works 00:24:38.780 --> 00:24:39.440 first, 00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:41.240 then God's favor. 00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:44.519 And that is 00:24:44.519 --> 00:24:44.940 the blueprint 00:24:44.940 --> 00:24:46.200 that nearly all of us 00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:47.120 build our lives on 00:24:47.120 --> 00:24:47.680 by default, 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:48.100 isn't it? 00:24:48.099 --> 00:24:49.459 If I'm good enough, 00:24:49.959 --> 00:24:51.240 then I'll be blessed. 00:24:51.359 --> 00:24:52.159 Then I'll be accepted. 00:24:53.119 --> 00:24:53.519 Recently, 00:24:53.639 --> 00:24:54.199 I was at my 00:24:54.199 --> 00:24:56.039 son's preschool. 00:24:56.639 --> 00:24:57.099 We had this little 00:24:57.099 --> 00:24:57.980 end-of-year picnic 00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:59.719 back in May. 00:25:00.419 --> 00:25:01.779 And one of the ladies 00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:01.939 there, 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:02.659 she's a real cool lady, 00:25:02.719 --> 00:25:03.639 she had this t-shirt on 00:25:03.639 --> 00:25:04.079 that said, 00:25:04.659 --> 00:25:05.679 no yoga, 00:25:06.119 --> 00:25:06.740 K-N-O-W, 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:07.619 no yoga, 00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:09.059 no peace. 00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:11.619 So if you do yoga, 00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:12.519 bam, 00:25:12.859 --> 00:25:13.679 you get peace. 00:25:14.259 --> 00:25:14.919 It's that easy. 00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:17.279 But isn't that 00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:17.960 kind of the logic 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:18.880 that we all live by, 00:25:19.080 --> 00:25:19.259 right? 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:21.220 If you devote yourself 00:25:21.220 --> 00:25:21.840 to the practice, 00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:22.759 if you do the work, 00:25:23.220 --> 00:25:23.820 if you exercise, 00:25:24.420 --> 00:25:25.279 if you try hard, 00:25:25.580 --> 00:25:26.259 then as a result 00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:26.680 of the work 00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:27.500 that you put in, 00:25:28.200 --> 00:25:28.920 you'll know peace. 00:25:30.840 --> 00:25:31.200 Now, 00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:31.779 I'm not just picking 00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:32.220 on yoga 00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:33.000 because that's what 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:33.840 happens in every 00:25:33.840 --> 00:25:34.640 area of our life. 00:25:35.340 --> 00:25:36.080 In our work, 00:25:36.320 --> 00:25:37.000 in our relationships, 00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:37.759 whatever, 00:25:38.180 --> 00:25:38.920 we are programmed 00:25:38.920 --> 00:25:39.680 to think that my 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:40.640 acceptance is based 00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:41.340 on my performance. 00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:42.880 If I get a good grade, 00:25:43.160 --> 00:25:43.860 I'll get a good job. 00:25:43.859 --> 00:25:45.199 If I make her laugh, 00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:46.259 I'll get a second date, 00:25:46.379 --> 00:25:46.559 right? 00:25:46.919 --> 00:25:47.799 That's how it works. 00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:50.859 And on and on and on. 00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:55.299 But Paul is showing us here 00:25:55.299 --> 00:25:55.879 that Christianity 00:25:55.879 --> 00:25:57.500 is completely different. 00:25:59.099 --> 00:25:59.919 That the message 00:25:59.919 --> 00:26:00.500 of Christianity 00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:01.319 is that God 00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:02.399 accepts us 00:26:02.399 --> 00:26:03.240 by grace 00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:04.319 first, 00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:06.599 apart from our performance, 00:26:07.139 --> 00:26:08.159 and then, 00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:09.379 as a result, 00:26:09.939 --> 00:26:10.459 we obey. 00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:13.000 Look again 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:13.559 at chapter 4, 00:26:13.619 --> 00:26:14.039 verse 1. 00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:14.940 Therefore, 00:26:15.859 --> 00:26:16.500 Paul says, 00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:17.480 I urge you, 00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:18.519 da-da-da-da-da-da-da. 00:26:19.660 --> 00:26:20.400 What's the therefore 00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:21.319 referring back to? 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:23.920 All of chapters 1 and 3. 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:26.740 The grace of God 00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:28.680 that brings us 00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:29.480 peace with God. 00:26:30.700 --> 00:26:31.140 Grace 00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:32.319 and peace. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.579 And of course, 00:26:35.619 --> 00:26:36.339 the great question is, 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:37.160 how is God able 00:26:37.160 --> 00:26:38.000 to accept us 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:38.900 apart from our works? 00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:39.640 How is God able 00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:40.420 to come to us 00:26:40.420 --> 00:26:41.320 and accept us 00:26:41.320 --> 00:26:42.539 wholly apart 00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:43.500 from our performance? 00:26:43.880 --> 00:26:44.680 Why would God, 00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:46.019 who is holy and just, 00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:47.279 extend to you and me 00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:48.039 grace and peace? 00:26:51.360 --> 00:26:51.980 Well, again, 00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:53.120 the answer is right here 00:26:53.120 --> 00:26:54.820 in these opening lines 00:26:54.820 --> 00:26:55.920 in verses 1 through 2. 00:26:56.980 --> 00:26:57.880 In each of these 00:26:57.880 --> 00:26:58.920 three little lines 00:26:58.920 --> 00:26:59.640 that we've read, 00:27:00.300 --> 00:27:01.000 what do we see 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:02.060 again and again? 00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:04.039 Or rather, 00:27:04.120 --> 00:27:05.460 who do we see 00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:06.080 again and again? 00:27:06.079 --> 00:27:08.439 Who is it that Paul 00:27:08.439 --> 00:27:09.579 just can't help 00:27:09.579 --> 00:27:10.679 but mention 00:27:10.679 --> 00:27:11.679 as he speaks 00:27:11.679 --> 00:27:12.480 of God's will 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.539 and our identity 00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:14.699 and God's grace? 00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:16.179 Who's at the center 00:27:16.179 --> 00:27:16.859 of this blueprint 00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:17.720 that Paul has 00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:18.720 constructed for us? 00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:20.679 Who is it that we 00:27:20.679 --> 00:27:21.819 should build our lives 00:27:21.819 --> 00:27:23.139 around and upon? 00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:23.939 Who is it that this 00:27:23.939 --> 00:27:24.919 building ultimately 00:27:24.919 --> 00:27:26.240 is meant to display? 00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:29.619 Three times 00:27:29.619 --> 00:27:32.000 in three breaths 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:33.879 he's mentioned here. 00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:35.480 Look again. 00:27:36.919 --> 00:27:37.899 Christ Jesus. 00:27:39.899 --> 00:27:41.679 An apostle of Christ Jesus. 00:27:42.819 --> 00:27:44.059 Faithful in Christ Jesus. 00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:45.819 Grace and peace to you 00:27:45.819 --> 00:27:46.740 from God our Father 00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:49.480 and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:27:50.599 --> 00:27:51.879 Because of what God 00:27:51.879 --> 00:27:53.699 has done in Jesus, 00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:55.659 we are made partakers 00:27:55.659 --> 00:27:56.579 of his grace, 00:27:56.699 --> 00:27:57.960 his undeserved favor. 00:27:59.179 --> 00:28:00.819 When we were sinners 00:28:00.819 --> 00:28:02.759 under God's wrath, 00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:04.359 Christ came 00:28:04.359 --> 00:28:06.119 and stood in our place 00:28:06.119 --> 00:28:08.059 and died for our sins 00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:09.799 and was raised again. 00:28:10.139 --> 00:28:11.639 God unleashing him 00:28:11.639 --> 00:28:12.299 from the power 00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:13.079 of death and sin 00:28:13.079 --> 00:28:14.719 and unleashing everyone 00:28:14.719 --> 00:28:16.379 who trusts in him 00:28:16.379 --> 00:28:17.599 from sin 00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:18.879 and from death. 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:21.260 friend, 00:28:21.320 --> 00:28:21.900 is there any 00:28:21.900 --> 00:28:23.640 better gift 00:28:23.640 --> 00:28:25.000 that you could 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:25.760 imagine 00:28:25.760 --> 00:28:26.680 receiving? 00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.880 Bicycles are great. 00:28:32.780 --> 00:28:33.720 A nice piece of 00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:34.540 lakefront property 00:28:34.540 --> 00:28:35.280 would be even better. 00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:39.120 But you and I both know 00:28:39.120 --> 00:28:40.240 that those gifts fade. 00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:43.059 they grow old, 00:28:43.059 --> 00:28:44.599 they lose their splendor, 00:28:44.839 --> 00:28:45.960 and eventually 00:28:45.960 --> 00:28:48.559 we long for something else. 00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:49.940 Even if we get 00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:51.819 what our hearts desire 00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:53.059 in earthly things, 00:28:53.620 --> 00:28:54.839 sooner or later, 00:28:55.079 --> 00:28:55.960 it's not enough. 00:28:55.960 --> 00:28:59.079 But this gift, 00:28:59.620 --> 00:29:01.079 the gift of God 00:29:01.079 --> 00:29:02.259 in Christ Jesus, 00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:03.740 this gift of grace 00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:04.900 and peace, 00:29:05.180 --> 00:29:07.259 this gift of knowing God 00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:08.880 will know no end. 00:29:09.400 --> 00:29:10.259 It will never lose 00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:11.240 its splendor, 00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:12.700 and it will never lose 00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:14.360 its power to thrill us. 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:15.380 And instead of growing 00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:16.840 older and older 00:29:16.840 --> 00:29:17.559 with time, 00:29:17.640 --> 00:29:18.460 it grows newer 00:29:18.460 --> 00:29:19.360 and newer 00:29:19.360 --> 00:29:20.440 into all eternity. 00:29:20.440 --> 00:29:24.480 And what we see 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:25.519 right here 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:26.860 in Ephesians 00:29:26.860 --> 00:29:27.960 is that this gift 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:28.860 is available 00:29:28.860 --> 00:29:30.519 right now 00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:32.180 for all 00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:33.259 who come to God 00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:34.660 through Jesus Christ 00:29:34.660 --> 00:29:35.779 and put their trust 00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:36.160 in Him. 00:29:38.700 --> 00:29:39.220 Friend, 00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:40.100 do you have that gift? 00:29:42.500 --> 00:29:43.720 And if you have it, 00:29:44.059 --> 00:29:44.539 do you know 00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:45.299 what to do with it? 00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:48.820 In the coming months, 00:29:48.860 --> 00:29:49.380 this book is going 00:29:49.380 --> 00:29:49.980 to show us 00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:53.240 what it is 00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:54.880 and what to do with it. 00:29:55.799 --> 00:29:56.740 So keep coming back 00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:58.460 and we'll keep unfolding 00:29:58.460 --> 00:29:59.480 this blueprint together. 00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:00.059 Okay? 00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:01.599 Let's pray. 00:30:05.360 --> 00:30:06.000 Lord Jesus, 00:30:06.099 --> 00:30:07.220 we began our service 00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:07.620 tonight 00:30:07.620 --> 00:30:10.099 by confessing 00:30:10.099 --> 00:30:10.559 that we are 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:11.480 forgetful people. 00:30:13.079 --> 00:30:13.680 But Lord, 00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:14.559 we also confess 00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:15.259 that there are many things 00:30:15.259 --> 00:30:15.900 we haven't learned 00:30:15.900 --> 00:30:16.420 about you 00:30:16.420 --> 00:30:17.799 and about your gift 00:30:17.799 --> 00:30:18.299 of grace. 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:19.620 So we thank you 00:30:19.619 --> 00:30:20.559 for the book of Ephesians 00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:21.639 that teaches us 00:30:21.639 --> 00:30:23.500 the ins and the outs 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:24.319 and the foundation 00:30:24.319 --> 00:30:25.000 of what it is 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:25.759 we stand on. 00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:26.799 Lord, 00:30:26.879 --> 00:30:27.579 bless our journey 00:30:27.579 --> 00:30:28.179 through this book 00:30:28.179 --> 00:30:28.959 this coming year 00:30:28.959 --> 00:30:30.659 and help us to grow 00:30:30.659 --> 00:30:32.239 more and more 00:30:32.239 --> 00:30:33.299 to the praise 00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:34.359 of your glorious grace, 00:30:34.459 --> 00:30:34.879 we pray. 00:30:35.879 --> 00:30:36.779 In Jesus' name, 00:30:36.779 --> 00:30:37.299 Amen. 00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:37.579 Amen. 00:30:37.579 --> 00:30:38.379 Amen. 00:30:39.579 --> 00:30:39.720 Amen. 00:30:39.720 --> 00:30:40.920 Amen. 00:30:40.920 --> 00:30:41.619 Amen. 00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:42.819 Amen. 00:30:43.660 --> 00:30:44.700 Amen. 00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:01.039 Amen.