READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l Paul’s letter to the Ephesians starts with a thanksgiving prayer. The 12 verses in today’s text is actually one long sentence in Greek.
In Christ
The phrase “In Christ” appears eight times in these verses, indicating the centrality of Christ in the life of a Christian. Being “in Christ” must affect how we think, decide, behave and speak. Some think that when we reach the pearly gates of Heaven, the passport to entry is whether we have said the sinner’s prayer or if we have been baptised. But Paul reminds us that the most essential point is whether we are “in Christ”. Just as a marriage certificate or living under the same roof does not make a marriage, so also church membership or church attendance are no assurance of our salvation. Critically, are we “in Christ” or not? As we receive Holy Communion – in receiving and feeding on the Body of Christ – we pray that God would fill, nourish, sustain and transform us in Christ.
Spiritual Blessings
God has chosen us. This was not an afterthought after the Jews rejected the Lord. Rather, even “before the creation of the world” (vs.4), God chose us. It is an amazing fact that we are so valued and loved by God. We are His special possession.
Christ has redeemed us. Through His death on the cross, Christ has paid for our sins and redeemed us. Our past failures are no longer obstacles to commune with God. 2 Cor. 5:17 declares “if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”. We can start anew in Christ.
The Holy Spirit assures us. The Spirit is God’s pledge to us (vs. 13,14). He is the guarantor of the covenant God has made with us. We are marked as God’s people. As the Holy Spirit dwells in us, we are assured of our status in Christ. “The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship…the Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Rom.6:15-16).
Chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son and assured by the Holy Spirit – what tremendous spiritual blessings we have.
Right response to each blessing
Vs 6, 12 and 14 echo the appropriate response we ought to give to the spiritual blessings we have received, namely, to live for the praise of His glory. As we start the new year, whether in anticipation of good outcomes or living with trials and challenges, will we live for His praise? Let us offer ourselves as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1), asking God to fill us so that we can truly live to His glory.
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Read Eph.1:3-14. What are the different spiritual blessings in Christ?
- Briefly re-cap the key points in the sermon. Must one be led to say the ‘sinner’s prayer’ and be baptised to be ‘in Christ’?
- Which point in the sermon speaks to your situation?
- Describe expressions/examples of living for the praise of God’s glory.
