Sovereign Grace Church

By Elder Bruce Reed

Ephesians Chapter 1:7-10

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him.

Truth Taught

Jesus gave His life as a ransom for His people and now has revealed a mystery concerning His eternal plan of unification.  

1.         The blood of Christ is the only currency valuable enough to pay the ransom of a sinner’s debt.      (Ephesian 1:7)

 2.  God has revealed to us the mystery of His eternal plan to unite all things to Himself      (Ephesians 1:8-10)

a. God has revealed the mystery of His will to those whom He who has forgiven.

b. Gods redeemed people consist of Jews and Gentiles.

c. All of God’s Creation will be united in the fullness of time.

Introduction:

Today we find ourselves in Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians. In chapter 1 Verses 7 through 10 Right in the thick of the longest sentence in the whole bible. The content here is so rich, packed full of glorious truths. that we must take our time and thoroughly digest what is being said. or else we might rob ourselves of the riches to be found in these verses. Paul is writing here praising the Lord in this doxology in a fashion which only the self-proclaimed chief of sinners could do. Why? You may ask. Because those who are forgiven much loves much. since Paul persecuted the church of God, he considered himself completely unworthy to be called an apostle. But nevertheless, an Apostle is exactly what he was. You see, Paul caught an amazing glimpse of God which ravished his heart. God had revealed to Paul that he was a sinner who stood condemned and deserved nothing short of eternal anguish in a fiery hell and yet, while on his way to persecute the church on the road to Damascus, instead of being met with the righteous anger and Justice of God. we see Paul was met with unmerited favor, mercy and unconditional love. It was love that didn’t make sense. It was a love that was too good to be true. As the old hymn goes “Amazing Love how can it be that thou my God should die for me!” by the blood of Christ Paul had been fully forgiven of all his past, present and future sins. He was Set free from the bondage of sin that he was held captive too.

I hope as you hear me speak of the apostle that you can relate to him in his conversion experience. I hope that you can say yes! I was on my way sinning as usual living life fulfilling all your sinful heart’s desires without an ounce or care in the world for our savior. And then some how some way you encountered Christ. You heard of the Blood that He shed for you on the cross. You saw your sin! You saw your guilt. you heard that precious inward call. The call that raised you from death to life. The call that gave you a new heart with new affections. That made you hate your sin and your old way of life to leave it all behind and follow Christ no matter the consequences. No matter where He may take you, no matter what you must suffer. You can say with Solomon I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine. Again, brothers and sisters I hope you can truly say this. I hope that your sins have been forgiven you. I hope as you heard the words which I have spoken your heart leapt inside your chest and your response is yes and amen this is a reality in my life. But my dear friends if this is not a reality for you. If you cannot relate to the Apostle, You should be afraid. You should be Very very afraid. You must not know your true condition. you are a sinner. Your sins have been committed against a Holy and righteous God. And according to John 3:36 The wrath of God abides on you and your need for a savior is greater than you may know. Now this leads us into the sermon this morning. Now let us stand in honor of the reading of Gods true and Infallible Word.

Ephesians Chapter 1:7-10

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him.

                     You all may be seated

Our first point this morning is.

1.         The blood of Christ. The only currency valuable enough to pay the ransom of a sinner’s debt.      (Ephesian 1:7-9)

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight

Some of the greatest most harmful lies today in modern evangelicalism is that we’re all children of God. Or if God is loving surely, He wouldn’t send anyone to hell, would He. But these are Lie’s from the father of lies himself. Going on believing lies like these will send you headlong into an eternal hell. We are not all children of God in fact Jesus in John 8:44 Told some of the Jews that they were children of the devil and were doing the works of there Father. And in 1st John 3:10 the apostle John literally teaches us how to discern between the Children of God and the children of the devil. So that Lie can’t be true. Now to address this 2nd lie that God is so loving that He could never send any one to hell Let us recall what David says in Psalm 5:4-6 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. 6 You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. Here we see that God hates all evil doers, and He will destroy all those who speak lies.  so clearly God destroys evil doers, and he does so by pouring his wrath out upon them for eternity in Hell so, lie number 2 not true. Now moving on keeping in mind that God hates all evildoers. in romans 3 Paul says “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”  Here Lyes man’s greatest problem simply put. God is Good and we are not. Ever since the first sin was committed in the garden of Eden. When Adam ate of the forbidden fruit sin entered the world, and death through sin and so death spread through all men according to romans 5. But this wasn’t just physical death which did occur and clearly is still occurring today but, man’s relationship with God was severed. A spiritual death had occurred. now instead of walking with God in harmony in the cool of the day. Man hides from God and is enslaved to sin seeking to do his own will which is only evil continually. since man is wicked and doesn’t seek after God And, God hates evildoers and destroys them. My dear friends, our only hope is to be redeemed from this terrible condition. The word redemption found here in verse 7 also means to ransom. To be redeemed or ransomed means a price must be paid. Instead of just using the word salvation here Paul, uses the word redemption because of the connection it makes to the Old Testament. Some of you may remember what a kinsman redeemer is. A kinsman redeemer was a blood relative of one who was sold into servitude or into slavery. The Kinsman redeemer would pay the debt that was owed by his relative. By paying the debt, the redeemer purchased the freedom of the person who had been enslaved. This is a mere type and shadow of the Supreme Kinsman redeemer Jesus Christ.  This kinsman Redeemer wouldn’t purchase us with silver or gold or any perishable thing. Our sins are against a Holy, righteous and eternal God. The currency to be paid must be of infinite value. let us recall what peter said in 1 peter 1:18-19. “Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” That’s It! The blood of Christ was the only thing valuable enough to pay your sin debt. God couldn’t just sweep your sins under the rug because then he wouldn’t be just. To be just and the justifier of wicked men He went to the Cross in your place bearing the wrath of God which you rightfully deserved. Your sin was imputed to Him and His righteous ness imputed to you. This is good news! This is the only hope for sinners! If you believe that Jesus died for your sins Than you are saved from the Wrath of God. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the proof that the payment was accepted. your future is eternally secure thanks to the first born of many brethren Our supreme kinsman redeemer Jesus Christ! O how Great our forgiveness is but brethren God didn’t just stop there. that brings us to my second point. Which consists of 3 parts is

2.         God has revealed to us the mystery of His eternal plan to unite all things to Himself      (Ephesians 1:9-10)

9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him.

a.         God has revealed the mystery of His will to those whom He who has forgiven.

God is so amazing that He could have just stopped at forgiving us and I believe we could be content and in awe of that reality for all eternity, but He has chosen to lavish His grace upon us in all wisdom and insight. God has decided to make known to us the Mystery of His will. when I say “us” I mean who are believing by faith in the finished work of Christ whose sins have been forgiven. It is important that I make this distinction first because, if you are not saved then you do not have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you. And if you do not have the Holy spirit dwelling in you than all you can do by reading your bible is acquire a whole lot of head knowledge which most likely would just make you prideful and puffed up in your understanding. I recall 2nd timothy 3 speaking of Jannes and Jambres opposing Moses when the verse says they were 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.  Remember I’m sure the devil knows the scriptures much better than all of us combined and he is as saved as Judas Iscariot is. Continuing this train of thought the main proof text that I wanted to share is found in 1st Corinthians 2:14 This verse says 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. Here it is made very clear that the natural unsaved man cannot understand the things of God. It is impossible for Him to do so. For He thinks they are folly anyways. Man in His fallen condition Hates God and He loves darkness Rather than light for fear that his evil deeds will be exposed. But Brethren This doesn’t concern you if you do indeed have the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit Illuminates the Word of God for us. And leads us into all truth. The truth that is at hand is that God has revealed to us a mystery. Now we must ask ourselves what’s the meaning of a mystery here in verse 9. Is a mystery an insolvable problem? Or is it Like The game of clue which consist of a murder mystery, and we must figure out all the details of what happened. Or is there some secret mystical Hidden information in our Bibles that maybe if we do all kinds of good works and fast a whole lot and put together articles from all kinds of current events, we might decode some secret information about the Antichrist. I’m sorry to inform you as let down as you may be that the mystery in which the Apostle is speaking of here as R.C Sproul puts it so well is “the concept of redemption in Gods eternal plan that was once hidden and obscure but is now revealed.” This brings us to letter b. of my second point.

b. Gods redeemed people consist of Jews and Gentiles.

Gods will Before the foundation of the world was to unite Jews and Gentiles into One body which is the True Israel. Or what you might call the spiritual Israel. Don’t hear what I am not saying here. Gentiles do not replace the Jews as Gods chosen people even though Jews played a significant role in redemptive history. What I am saying is that it was always Jews and gentiles that were Gods chosen people. Let us turn our bibles to Romans 4:1-12

Abraham Justified by Faith

4 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in[a] him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,

    and whose sins are covered;

8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

God promised Abraham, He would make Him the father of many nations. the blessing of salvation is not for the Jews only. Abraham was Justified by faith alone before the Law existed. So, this means that it is not keeping the law that saves us but doing works is our just due. The Uncircumcised here are the gentiles which is us in this room today which are also saved by Faith alone In Christ alone. Whom have a righteousness by faith. Just like Abraham. And we also see that Abrahm is the father of the circumcised which are Jews who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of our father Abraham. I want to be clear here. Walking doesn’t mean they did works to be saved but that they were justified by faith alone just like Abraham which means What Romans 10:11-13 so clearly sums up. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  Now I want us to see How Paul and Peter both used psalm 118:22-23 to show Gods mystery and unification further revealed in Christ. That the Church consists of Jews and Gentiles with Christ as the cornerstone. Psalm 118:22-23 says  22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.[a]23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. Look at how the Apostles use this text to show the unification of Jews and Gentiles. Paul says later in Ephesians 2:19-22 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,[a] but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by[b] the Spirit. Now here is what peter says in.  1 peter 2:4-10 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Brethren what A marvelous mystery this is that has been revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. What Grace this is that has been lavished unto us. God has set forth and purposed this eternal plan of redemption through Christ not only for Jews but to us Gentiles as well. We once were far off. We were not a people but now we are Gods people for His own possession. Is it not easy to see now how Paul could just burst into this uncontainable praise Here early in this first chapter of Ephesians. is it not easy join in with the apostle and praise God with Joy and thanksgiving knowing where God found you at. The mess you were in. How Hopeless and sinful you truly are and yet before you were aware that you even needed saved or even existed The Creator of the universe set His eyes upon you and declared you His and there is nothing you did to earn it and nothing in the world not even Satan Himself can Separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. If you have been truly saved, then this must resonate in your innermost being but maybe you’re not as enthused as you once were. Maybe you’re feeling a little down or maybe even depressed or lethargic because even though you once leapt with Joys over these truths there is still the sin that remains in your flesh. There is still sin that remains in the world and our adversary the devil is still prowling around as roaring Lion seeking whom he can devour. And maybe you’re being attacked on every side, it seems by the world the flesh and the devil and it just won’t let up. Well, let me try and encourage you by taking your mind off the present and on to the bigger picture of the future realities of the things to come. which brings me to letter c. of my second point.

c. All of God’s Creation will be united in the fullness of time.

In Isaiah 46:10 God says For I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done saying my counsel shall stand and I will accomplish all my purpose. Jesus according to Revelation 13:8 is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world God has had this plan of redemption from all eternity past and so from ancient times he has declared His purpose, and they shall stand. God is Sovereign over all things. He is completely in control of all His creation. Everything happens by His providence However and whenever He pleases. Whenever God pleases to do something Its it’s the perfect time for it to be done the fullness of time. If you remember in Galatians 4 it says when the time had fully come God sent forth His Son born of A woman.  And in this case, we are speaking of God uniting all things in Christ in the fullness of Time. This is Gods Ultimate plan from the beginning. It’s bigger than your own personal salvation, it’s bigger than Jews and Gentiles being saved. Romans 5:6 says For while we were still week, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. But brethren Christ accomplished so much more than the redemption of the ungodly in His death. His ultimate purpose is to Unify all things to Himself. And to unify all things to Himself He must make all things new. In the book of Genesis on day 6 God created man male and female and after God saw everything that He had made He beheld it and said that it was very good.  Then Genesis continues into the historical events of Adam and Eve, and we come across another character there the serpent of old and this serpent talks and when he talks, he starts telling lies. and the rest is History. But why do I bring this up you may ask. Because before Adam and Eve sinned and sin entered the world. Sin existed in heaven. And even though all the details are not clear exactly how the devil sinned in the first place we know it to be true. And a third of the angels fell with Satan which we would call demons or fallen angels. And then of course Adam and eve sinned and when they sinned mans died spiritually and sin and death entered the world. So now we see that Heaven, angels, men, and the earth all need to be redeemed. And redeemed it is Let us remember What Jesus said on the cross in John 19:28-30 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. When Jesus said it is Finished, He knew ALL THINGS were finished! He had accomplished the Unification of All things to Himself. With His blood He bought His people Jews and Gentiles alike from every tribe, nation and tongue out of the bondage of their Sins. By His blood He purified the heavens according to Hebrews 9:23. By His blood Jesus Crushed the serpents head whom had bruised His heel Fulfilling prophecy set forth Long ago.  And now beloved here we are the blood bought bride of Christ waiting for her Bridegrooms return which is sure and inevitable. As we wait let us take A glimpse into the glory that awaits us. One in which was obtained and is completely secured by the blood of Christ.

Revelation 21: 1-6 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place[a] of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,[b] and God himself will be with them as their God.[c] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

This Mornings reading is from Dr, Martyn Lloyd Jones an excerpt from a His sermon titled God’s Ultimate Plan.

I do not know whether another World War is coming or not. But whether it be war or no war, as Christians we are in this plan of God. No bomb can be invented, no bacteria can be cultivated and used, no chemicals or gases can be brought into use that can ever make the slightest difference to these things. That is God’s plan as revealed in Scripture, and God’s plan will be carried out. And if you and I are in Christ, we are involved in it. We are destined to be elevated and restored to what man was meant to be. We shall be lords of the creation. Know ye not that the Saints shall judge the world and angels, says Paul to the Corinthians and 1st Corinthians 6, two and three. Let us decide to spend less time in reading the newspapers and more time reading the Bible. God forbid that we should abuse the Scriptures by reducing them to the level of our ideas of or contemporary events! Look at the ultimate. That God’s grand and glorious purpose. do not be over particular in your interpretation of contemporary history. Do not waste your time in attempts to fix times and seasons. What matters is God’s plan, which is being worked out since the beginning of the fullness of times. Think of, and live for the ultimate restoration of that glorious harmony which is coming, when we, with our whole being, shall praise the Lamb that was slain.