Ephesians 2:11-22 pt.1

TEXT:

“[11] Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—[12] remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. [14] For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility [15] by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, [16] and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. [17] And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Why is remembering who we were before Jesus important for us as believers?

2. What does it mean that those who were far off have been “brought near by the blood of Christ?”

3. How would you respond to someone who says that they “love Jesus but not the church?”

Ephesians 2:1-10 pt.2

TEXT:

“[1] And you were dead in the trespasses and sins [2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—[3] among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. [4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—[6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What are we saved from?

2. What does “this” refer to in verse 8 and why is this significant?

3. What does it mean that God created us for good works He prepared beforehand?

4. How should we live in light of this passage?

Ephesians 2:1-10 pt.1

TEXT:

“[1] And you were dead in the trespasses and sins [2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—[3] among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. [4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—[6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Spend a few moments sharing with one another your testimony.

2. Why is it important to see the gospel in light of our depravity? Put another way, “Why do we need to understand the bad news before we understand the good news?”

3. Spend a few moments discussing the beauty of verses 4-7. How is the message in these verses good news?

SERMON MANUSCRIPT:

At the end of chapter one, we find Paul praying for the church. He prayed specifically that the church would grow in their understanding of God and that they would know God better. He prayed that they would know the hope to which God has called them, that they would know what the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and that they would know the immeasurable greatness of his power toward those who believe.

Paul could've pointed to many different things to demonstrate God's power. He could have pointed to creation. He could have pointed to the parting of the Red Sea. He could have pointed to the fact that God's holding all things together at this moment in time. But instead, he points to the resurrection, ascension, and eternal reign of Jesus. So, we know God is truly powerful because the one who died on the cross for our sins has risen from the grave and is now seated at the Father's right hand. The empty tomb is the ultimate display of power for us who believe!

Well, at the start of chapter 2, Paul connects the dots between the resurrection of Jesus and the resurrection of our hearts. We will begin to see that what we have experienced upon belief in Jesus is no small feat. Your testimony is miraculous. Today's passage teaches us that God possesses the power to change us.

As a pastor, I hear people say all the time, "I just don't have a good testimony." Well, our passage today exposes that statement as a lie. The testimony of every believer is good. You were dead, but now you are alive. You once had a heart of stone, but now you have a heart of flesh. You were far from God, but now you are close to God. You were following your own flesh and desires, but now you deny your flesh. You were once walking in sin, but now you are walking in righteousness. The power that resurrected Christ from the dead has resurrected you from the dead. The power that has seated Christ at the Father's right hand in the heavenly places has seated you in the heavenly places.

Now, I'm going to assume there will be two camps of people here today: those who have never read these verses and those who have read these verses 1,000 times. I'm doubtful there's any in between for us today.

In my humble opinion, no ten verses in the Bible more clearly lay out the message of the gospel for us than these. No ten verses more clearly describe what occurs within the heart of those who believe in Jesus. So, my prayer for us today is that these verses will deeply grip our hearts in a way they never have before. I pray that we will walk out those doors with a sense of awe and wonder because we understand the immeasurable greatness of God's power toward us who believe.

So, let's dive in.

"[1] And you were dead in the trespasses and sins [2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—[3] among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. [4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—[6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."

As I look at these ten verses, I see three different sections:

• Section one: who we are/were before Christ (vs. 1-3).

• Section two: what God has done for us in Christ (vs. 4-9).

• Section three: who we now are in Christ (v. 10).

Today, we will look at these first two sections: who we were before Christ and what God has done for us in Christ. Then, next week, we will unpack who we are now in Christ.

So, let's first answer the question, "Who were we before Christ?"

AND YOU WERE DEAD…

In verse 1, we find Paul pointing his finger at the church and saying, "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked…"

So, we see right from the jump that before Christ, we were dead. Before we trusted in Jesus, we were dead in our trespasses and sins. In the original language, believe it or not, the word dead means to be without life. It is to be lifeless. Dead means dead.

My brother and sister-in-law bought my children two goldfish a few years ago for Christmas. Flo and Phil were their names. For goldfish, they lived a long and healthy life. But, unfortunately, the day came for them to breathe their last breath. I came home to Flo and Phil floating upside down in their bowl.

At that moment, did anything visually change about the fish? Yes and no. They still possessed all of the vital organs of life; there was just no life within the fish anymore. They still had eyes, but they couldn't see. They still had a nose, but they couldn't smell. They still had a mouth, but they couldn't eat. They still had fins, but they could no longer swim.

Paul is saying the same is true of us spiritually apart from Christ. We possessed everything we needed to walk in life and godliness. There was just one minor problem: we were dead. As John Stott puts it, "[We were] blind to the glory of Jesus Christ, and deaf to the voice of the Holy Spirit. [We had] no love for God, no sensitive awareness of his personal reality, no leaping of [our] spirit towards him in the cry, 'Abba, Father,' no longing for fellowship with his people. [We were] unresponsive to him as a corpse."

This highlights the reality that we are entirely incapable of experiencing life (or salvation) through our efforts because we were dead in our sins. I could put food in Flo and Phil's bowl, but I shouldn't expect them to eat what's before them. Those who are dead cannot walk in life, nor can they bring themselves to life.

IN YOUR TRESPASSES AND SINS…

We were dead "in our trespasses and sins."

"Trespasses and sins" are two words that highlight different nuances of the same truth. Tony Merida summarizes these words by saying, "'Trespasses' draws attention to acts of sin. 'Sins' is a more comprehensive account of human evil. We were dead, committing trespasses, in a sinful state."

A trespass is intentionally going past a set boundary. It's you knowing you should not do something and choosing to do it anyway. It's you seeing the "do not fish here" sign and still choosing to fish there. It's you choosing to hop the fence and walk past the no-trespassing sign. On a deeper, more spiritual level, it's Eve eating from the tree that God told her not to eat from. It's David calling up Bathsheba when he knew better. It's you knowing you should honor your father and mother and choosing not to honor them. It's you knowing you should not murder and still pulling the trigger. It's you knowing you should not commit adultery and going to her house anyway. It's you knowing you shouldn't pull up that website and pulling it up anyway.

God has placed good boundaries in our lives for our joy and protection. Yet, we don't always see them as good. Therefore, we decide to hop the fence and give in to temptation. A trespass is you intentionally walking past the good boundaries God has placed in your life. We've all done it, and we're all guilty. Therefore, we are dead in our trespasses.

A sin is the act of missing the mark. It's you falling short of a standard. It's you going in the wrong direction.

When Kayla and I first married, we were still in college, and I played baseball. I had a game in Pensacola, which is where I'm from. So, Kayla and her sister decided to come watch. On her way home, she gets on the interstate, and instead of turning west, she turns east, going in the opposite direction. Thirty minutes later, she begins not recognizing anything on the highway, leading her to realize she's going the wrong way.

This is us in our sinful nature. We've missed the mark, and we're driving the wrong way. Kayla was driving well. With both hands on the wheel, she was driving safely. But there was one problem: she was moving in the wrong direction. Similarly, we were all driving in the wrong direction in our sinful nature. We were all driving away from God. We may have been doing good things while navigating life's roads safely. But we were safely driving in the wrong direction: away from God.

FOLLOWING THE PRINCE OF THE AIR…

As we continue to read, we find that in our depravity, we followed Satan. Before we trusted in Jesus, we were following Satan.

Many people in this life pride themselves in being leaders, pioneers who go against the grain. But the reality of life is that we're all followers. We're all following someone.

As Christians, we now follow God, submitting to his will and word. But, before we surrendered to Christ, Paul is saying that we all once followed the course of this world that is being ruled by Satan— "following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience…"

Years ago, we visited some friends who live in North Carolina. While there, we went fishing at the bottom of the Hiwassee Dam. Every day, the dam would turn on or open up, causing the current of the water to move swiftly downriver. The power of the river's current hinged on the dam's power. The same is true of this world. Satan is the leader of this world. So, the current of this world is driven by the prince of the air. The world pursues, celebrates, and loves what Satan pursues, celebrates, and loves.

CARRYING OUT THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH…

The master plan of Satan is to lure and entice us into carrying out the desires of our flesh. Satan wants us to do what we want to do instead of what God wants us to do. He wants us to carry out our desires, not God's desires. So, before we trusted in Jesus, we served ourselves. We were carrying out the desires of the body and the mind. The lord of our life was ourselves. We did what we wanted, not what God wanted.

We live in a society that celebrates all desires/wants/cravings as a good gift from God. Satan and this world want us to view our desires as something worth giving into. But these verses teach us that not all of our inherent desires are good and godly. Not all things that come naturally to us are actually good for us. Not all things that our hearts race for should be pursued.

So, to rightly understand the power of God, we need to understand our depravity. Before we get to the good news of Christ, we have first to understand the bad news of ourselves. If you want to see a diamond's full beauty, it should be placed against a dark backdrop. In the same way, the beautiful diamond of Jesus' death and resurrection must be observed against the dark backdrop of our depravity.

The hope of the gospel is not simply that Christ came to save us from an outside oppressor. Yes, Christ did defeat sin, death, and Satan. But he also saved us from ourselves. The hope of the gospel is that God saved you from you. You were the offender of God. You were dead. You were the one following Satan and this world.

BUT GOD…

In verse 4, we find the biggest but in all of the Bible, the greatest but of all time. You were dead. But God... You were a transgressor. But God... You were a sinner. But God… You were running from God. But God…

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ…"

What we see being highlighted here is God's mercy, love, and grace toward sinners. God hasn't loved you at your best; he loved you at your worst. It was while we were dead that God made us alive with Christ. It was while we were mocking him that he blessed us. While we were running away from him, he chased us. While we had nothing to contribute to God, he offered us hope.

This tells us that salvation is from God and God alone. Our salvation rests on the shoulders of God's grace. By grace, you have been saved through faith.

Mercy is the act of someone not giving you something you deserve; grace is the act of giving someone something they don't deserve. Mercy is not punching someone in the face when they deserve to be punched; grace is buying that same person dinner. God is rich in mercy, meaning he's more than willing to not give us the judgment we rightfully deserve. But he's also rich in grace, meaning he's more than willing to offer us life and blessing. God loves you; he wants a relationship with you, and he's taken extreme measures to make that happen through the atoning death of his Son on the cross.

Your dead heart was fascinated with darkness. Your flesh yearned for wickedness. But God, being full of love, mercy, and grace, made you alive with Christ. When you heard the call of God on your life and decided to trust in Jesus for your salvation, you were joined together with Christ. You have been made alive together with him and seated with him in the heavenly places.

Where is Christ at this very moment? At the Father's right hand, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named. So, if we're seated with Christ right now, in the heavenly places, then that tells us we have a position of superiority and authority over the evil powers. In other words, Satan does not have control over us anymore! We don't have to submit to him. You can walk in life and godliness by the power of the Holy Spirit within you.

The power of God is so miraculous that it not only resurrected Christ from the dead it also resurrects the heart of every believing Christian. In the same way Christ was dead in the tomb, we were dead in our sins. But in the same way that Christ was resurrected, we were resurrected. In the same way Christ is seated in the heavenly places, we have been seated in the heavenly places. And God has done this so that in the coming ages, he might "show the immeasurable riches of his grace." God has called you to life so that the world can stand in awe of the riches of God's grace! As John Stott puts it, "For as living evidences of his kindness we shall point people away and beyond ourselves to him to whom we owe our salvation."

Ephesians 1:15-23

TEXT:

"[15] For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, [16] I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, [17] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, [18] having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, [19] and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might [20] that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, [21] far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. [22] And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, [23] which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all."

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. While suffering in prison, Paul celebrates how God is working through the churches in Ephesus. Do you find it difficult to celebrate the life of another believer whenever you’re suffering? Why? How can we combat this jealousy in our hearts?

2. How should Paul’s prayer here shape the way that we pray for one another?

3. In communicating God’s power, there are a multitude of things Paul could have pointed to. But he chose to point to the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. Why do you think he did this?

SERMON MANUSCRIPT:

If I had to go out on a limb today, I would assume that many of us understand the importance of prayer while feeling guilty over our lack of prayer. We know that we should pray, yet we don't pray.

If I were to take a poll asking why we don't pray, I would assume I would receive a wide variety of answers.

"I'm just too busy."

"It's boring."

"It's hard."

"I forget."

"I don't know how."

Many of us learn best by watching. We learn how to do math by watching the professor do math. We learn how to fix our cars by watching YouTube. We learn how to hit a baseball by watching Ken Griffey Jr.

So, could it be that, when it comes to prayer, we do not know how to pray because we haven't watched anyone do it well? Could it be that we simply don't know how to pray? And we need someone to teach and show us?

As we work through the book of Ephesians, we will encounter different moments of Paul showing us how to pray. He's going to show us how to pray by demonstrating to us how he prays. In Ephesians 1:15-23, Paul allows us to peek behind the curtain of his prayer life, which should hopefully teach us how to pray. We can learn best how to pray by watching those in the Bible pray.

Before we dive into these verses, let me be clear: although these verses can teach us how to pray, that is not their purpose. The purpose of these words is to encourage, prepare, and comfort our hearts regarding what we have in Christ. Paul is praying the church will grow to know God better.

So, let's dive in.

"[15] For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, [16] I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, [17] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, [18] having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, [19] and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might [20] that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, [21] far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. [22] And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, [23] which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all."

A POSITIVE REPORT

Paul first says, "For this reason…" So, what he's doing is linking what he's going to say with everything he's just said. In verses 3-14, we see God's sovereign and gracious work on our behalf in Christ, and now, in verses 15, we see the church's response to this work. They have placed their "faith in Jesus" and are "loving all the saints." Therefore, Paul is excited over what the Lord is doing in and through the lives of God's people!

The language Paul uses to describe the churches in Ephesus reminds us that faith and love go hand in hand. Faith is not a loveless action. The fruit of faith in Jesus is love for Jesus. Those who have placed their faith in Jesus love Jesus, and those who love Jesus will love His people.

So, the churches in Ephesus are seemingly doing well. They're not unraveling at the seams like the churches in Corinth (who are suing each other and sleeping with their dad's wife) or Galatia (who has forsaken the gospel). The talk of the town is that the churches in Ephesus are doing well. Their faith in Jesus is strong, and they are loving each other well.

Brothers and sisters, what would they say if someone were to report on the state of your life? Would they say they've heard of your faith in Jesus and your love for all of the saints?

If someone were to report on the state of Harbor Community Church, what would they say? Would they say they've heard of our faith in Jesus and our love for all of the saints?

If someone were to report on the state of the churches in Mobile, what would they say? Would they say they've heard of our faith in Jesus and our love for all of the saints?

What is our reputation? Are we known as faithful and loving people?

PRAYERFUL THANKFULNESS

Things seem to be going well in Ephesus. And in response to this positive report, Paul thanks God for them. I think this teaches us that prayerful thanksgiving is the proper response to hearing of God's work in another believer's life. A key element of prayer is thankfulness. When we see God save someone, we shout with prayerful thankfulness. When we see God working in and through other believers, we shout with prayerful thankfulness.

Brothers and sisters, as we pray, we should make a habit of thanking God for the work he's doing in the lives of other believers. We should never stop giving thanks for the work God is doing in and through the lives of other believers.

Now, a threat to thankfulness is jealousy and pride. When things aren't going well for ourselves, it's hard to thank God for his work in another believer's life. When we lose our job, it's hard to celebrate our friend who just got a promotion. When we're sick, it's hard to celebrate our friend's health. When our church doesn't seem to be growing, it's hard to celebrate another church's growth.

Do you know where Paul is writing this letter from? Prison. So, while in chains, Paul is writing to those who are free. While he suffers, he celebrates another person's blessing.

Church, listen to me closely. The mark of a mature believer is found in their willingness to celebrate God's blessing on another person's life, even while they suffer. When you see God's blessing on someone else, do you shake your fist at God because you're not the one being blessed? Or do you throw your hands up in prayerful thankfulness?

PRAY FOR THE HURT & HEALTHY

I believe Paul's words here also teach us that prayer isn't only for those who are struggling. Prayer is not only for those who are hurting.

Chances are, if someone asks you, "How can I pray for you?" you immediately start thinking about ways you might be struggling. You think, "Okay, works good, so I don't need prayer there. Our family's okay— everyone's healthy— so we don't need prayer there. Everything is fine." Therefore, you turn down the offer of prayer because everything seems to be okay. Yet, here, Paul prays for those who are seemingly doing well.

Yes, we pray for the sick. Yes, we pray for those who are brokenhearted. Yes, we pray for those who are hurt. But prayer isn't only for the ill but also the healthy. Prayer is for all people in all seasons.

TRANSPARENT PRAYER

Notice what Paul does here. He tells those that he's praying for that he's praying for them— "I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers…"

So, although prayer is often private, our prayers shouldn't be secret. Letting people know you're praying for them is a good practice. Paul picks up his cell phone and calls the church to say, "Hey, I just want you to know I hear what God is doing in your life. I'm thankful for you, and I'm praying for you."

The Bible tells us that "open rebuke is better than hidden love (Prov. 27:5)." So, a healthy practice for a believer is to voice your love and appreciation for others. Who are you thankful for? Do they know you're thankful for them? Who do you love? Do they know you love them? Who are you praying for? Do they know you're praying for them? Our prayers shouldn't be secret.

PRAY WE KNOW GOD

Look at what Paul prays. He prays that God will give them "the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him." In other words, he prays that they will grow in their knowledge of God. This is knowledge based on experience and understanding, the type of knowledge that seeps deep into the heart of a believer. I heard it once described as a knowledge of taste.

Up until college, I hated coffee. I had a sip of it at the age of 10, and I hated it. So I never drank it again.

But, when I graduated college, I accepted a job at a cafe. At this cafe, we sold coffee. So, to be a good employee, I needed to learn the menu. I needed to learn the ins and outs of each beverage so that whenever someone had a question, I could answer it.

But, at that time, I could only answer questions based on intellect alone.

Customer: "How's your vanilla latte?"

Me: "Many love it. It's two shots of espresso, steamed milk, and two pumps of vanilla?"

Customer: "Tell me about your house blend.

Me: "It's roasted locally. It's two parts Honduran and one part Nicaraguan, with notes of chocolate and nuts."

My knowledge of coffee was only intellectual. It was only based on what I had read and heard.

But here's the thing. Over time, I slowly began to drink coffee, and I began to realize coffee is good. So, my knowledge of coffee shifted from intellectual to experiential. My knowledge of flavors had transitioned from my mind to my heart. I had tasted and seen that coffee is good, and I had grown to know coffee in a way I never knew before. The words I read about coffee took on a new meaning because of my experience with the flavors.

This is what Paul is praying will be true of the church. He's praying that they will grow in their knowledge of the God they already know. He's praying that they taste and see that the Lord is good. He's praying that what they learn on paper will impact their hearts and shape the way they live. He's praying that they will know God better.

Church, this should be a prayer we pray often for one another. We should pray that others will know God better. We should pray that we will be a people who understand God, not just with our minds, but with our hearts. True knowledge should impact our hearts and minds. Paul prays that the eyes of their hearts will be enlightened. That the words of Christ will dwell in them richly and that they will know God more fully.

KNOW HOPE

But what does he want the eyes of their hearts to be enlightened to?

Well, first, "to the hope to which he has called them."

Often, in our day and age, hope has a question mark attached to it. I hope Florida State wins on Saturday. I hope I get this job. I hope this sickness goes away. It's a term closely attached to something we look forward to in uncertainty.

But hope in the Bible doesn't have a question mark attached to it. It's a term of certainty. God has called us to something we look forward to in confidence. The Christian life is a life of confident assurance.

As we survey the Scriptures, we see that everything God has said will happen in the past has happened. Therefore, we know that everything God says will happen in the future will happen.

We know how the story ends for us because God— who is faithful and true— has called us to Himself. God has called you. He has saved you. He has redeemed you. He has sealed you. Therefore, you have hope.

So, as we pray for one another, it would be helpful to pray that our hearts will be comforted by the reminder of the hope to which God has called us.

KNOW THE RICHES OF HIS INHERITANCE

The second thing we see Paul pray is that their hearts will be reminded of the "riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints."

There's a divide among commentators here. It's one of those divides where both interpretations are theologically true. So, I believe there's freedom to disagree. Perhaps it's a both/and situation?

Some believe this refers to an inheritance we will receive in heaven one day. The New Testament talks about this often. In chapter 1, for example, Paul says, "In him we have obtained an inheritance." So, an inheritance— something far more significant than anything in this life— is kept in heaven for us. It is an inheritance described as imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. So, some believe Paul is building off this point by praying that the church will remember their inheritance in Christ. He's praying that the church will remember that heaven is better.

Others, however, point to the language used here and say, "No, Paul isn't speaking of our glorious inheritance. He's speaking of God's glorious inheritance— "and what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints."

This would mean that Paul highlights that the saints— the church, you, and I— are of significant value to God. We are his glorious inheritance. The richness of God's glorious inheritance resides within his bride; the church is his prized possession. Therefore, you are numbered in God's glorious inheritance. You are of significant value to God. You are a part of God's people that he looks forward to being with for all eternity. Paul is praying that the church will understand that they are God's prized possession. He is praying they will know that God desires to be with his people for all eternity. He desires to be with you forever and has taken extreme measures to purchase you as his own.

While praying to the Father, Jesus, in John 17, says, "Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world." Jesus allows us to peek behind the curtain of his desires, allowing us to see that he wants us to be with him so that we can see his glory. So, God desires for us to be with him for all eternity so that we might declare his glory for all eternity. You and I are a part of God's glorious inheritance in the saints.

KNOW HIS POWER

He then prays that their hearts will be reminded of the "immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe."

If your faith resides in Christ, if you have believed upon Jesus, then you have access to the immeasurable power of God that resurrected Christ from the dead and seated him at the Father's right hand.

Friends, we are weak, but he is strong. And his strength now resides within us.

How strong is this strength? It is… "according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all."

Paul could have pointed to a multitude of things to signify God's power. He could have pointed to the creation of all things. He could have pointed to the parting of the sea. He could have pointed to the fact that he's holding all things together at this particular moment in time. But, he chose to point to the death and resurrection of Jesus. The death and resurrection is the ultimate display of God's power toward us who believe. It's not a moment of defeat; it's a moment of victory. It's not a moment of weakness; it's a moment of power. It's not a moment to scoff at; it's a moment to stand in awe of.

Christ did not simply die on the cross; he was resurrected from the grave. And Christ did not merely resurrect from the grave; he ascended back to the Father, where he sits and reigns over all things right now at this very moment in time.

Brothers and sisters, you and I have the opportunity to walk in power, not weakness. The one who possesses power over all things resides within our hearts today, and Paul is praying that we will know this power.

We have been given the power to proclaim the gospel with effectiveness, speaking life into lifelessness, and hope into hopelessness. We have been given the power to put sin to death. We have been given the power to endure pain, hardship, sickness, persecution, and death. We don't remain steadfast throughout our lives by our own strength but by the power of the Holy Spirit within us.

As we close today, I want to direct our attention to Revelation 2, where the Lord speaks to the church in Ephesus, "[2] I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. [3] I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. [4] But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. [5] Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. [6] Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. [7] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."

I think the life of the church of Ephesus and the prayer of Paul is an essential reminder for us today. It's easy to drift from our first love. Those who once loved well had developed calloused hearts and forsaken that love. They had abandoned the love they had at first. So, may we be intentional in praying for one another. May we pray that we know God deeply and intimately.

Holy Spirit, help our hearts to remain tender. Help us to know you and the hope to which you've called us. Help us to know the richness of your glorious inheritance in the saints. Help us to know what is the immeasurable greatness of your power toward us who believe.

Family Discipleship (Psalm 78:1-8)

PASSAGE:

“[1] Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;

incline your ears to the words of my mouth!

[2] I will open my mouth in a parable;

I will utter dark sayings from of old,

[3] things that we have heard and known,

that our fathers have told us.

[4] We will not hide them from their children,

but tell to the coming generation

the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might,

and the wonders that he has done.

[5] He established a testimony in Jacob

and appointed a law in Israel,

which he commanded our fathers

to teach to their children,

[6] that the next generation might know them,

the children yet unborn,

and arise and tell them to their children,

[7] so that they should set their hope in God

and not forget the works of God,

but keep his commandments;

[8] and that they should not be like their fathers,

a stubborn and rebellious generation,

a generation whose heart was not steadfast,

whose spirit was not faithful to God.”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What do these verses teach us about God?

2. What do these verses teach us about ourselves?

3. How should this impact the way we live?

Ephesians 1:15-18

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Why would Paul be thankful for hearing of their faith and love for the saints? John 13:34-35, 1John 4:20-21. How does thankfulness bring about joy?

2. What is a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God, and why should we want to have it?

3. Has God ever revealed an aspect of Himself to you that surprised you, or challenged your thinking of Him?

4. Since becoming a believer, has your faith, your love for the saints, your wisdom and knowledge of God grown? If so, how? If not, why not?

Ephesians 1:11-14

Let's pretend you moved to a distant city to pursue a new career. You went through the interview process and landed a promising job that should set you up to flourish financially for the rest of your life.

You move into your new home and quickly begin your new job.

For the first few months, you love your new career. But, one day, your employer calls you into his office, and things quickly change for the worse. Your boss unexpectedly fires you, leaving you in a difficult spot.

You quickly go home and start filling out applications. But this is the middle of a pandemic, and times are tough.

Months go by, and you still haven't found a new job. Your savings are quickly dwindling, and you're beginning to panic. Soon, you can't pay your car note, so you have to sell your car to pay for rent and groceries. Soon, you're unable to pay for utilities. Then you're no longer able to pay for rent.

Next thing you know, you're on the streets. You're bankrupt; the only thing you have to your name is a cardboard box, and you're living under a bridge.

One day, as you're sitting under the bridge, you see a car pull up to the bridge. The door opens, and a gentleman in a suit walks toward you with an envelope. He comes to you, sits on the ground, and hands you the envelope. In it is a letter explaining how a distant relative has passed away, and he's left you his entire inheritance.

Everything he owned will belong to you if you sign the letter. Next week, all of his money will be deposited into your bank account. His car will soon be yours. His house will soon be yours. His business will soon be yours. All you have to do is sign the papers in the envelope.

So, you do what any logical person would do. You joyfully sign the papers.

And, at that moment, staying under the bridge doesn't seem too bad because of the hope of your newfound inheritance. The despair of the cardboard box doesn't seem so bad when you know you will be in a mansion next week. A lofty inheritance inserts joy in the midst despair, hope in the midst of hopelessness.

Brothers and sisters, this is where we find ourselves today as believers. We were all sitting under the bridge, bankrupt in sin. But God, being rich in mercy, has sent His Son to redeem us from sin through his death on the cross. And those who sign on the dotted line by believing in Jesus have received an inheritance far greater than anything we've ever imagined.

Upon belief, the remaining life of a believer is that week in between, where we sign the dotted line and move into our inheritance. Although we're still under the bridge, sleeping on a cardboard box, we have an inheritance kept in heaven for us that we look ahead to in hope. Things will one day be much better than they are right now.

At the conclusion of this opening statement, Paul directs our attention to the future, showing us what we will one day experience because of God's faithfulness in Christ Jesus. And, as he's leading our attention ahead to our future inheritance, he's answering the question of how do we know this is true? How do we know that this inheritance is ours?

In the following verses, the flow of Paul's argument is as follows: if you have believed in Jesus, you have received the promised Holy Spirit, who will never leave you, and who is the guarantee of our inheritance in heaven.

Let's dive in.

"[11] In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, [12] so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. [13] In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

As we bring this section to a close, we see Paul point ahead to the future, telling us that "in Christ we have obtained an inheritance." An inheritance speaks of something of value that you will one day acquire. It's something we look forward to possessing.

But, notice the language used here by Paul— "In Christ we have obtained an inheritance." The language here assures us the inheritance we look ahead to is already ours. That which we look forward to already belongs to us. It's something we anticipate in confident assurance.

This brings us to our first point: Christians look forward to heaven because heaven is better. In Christ, we have obtained an inheritance, something of far greater value than anything we currently possess.

This life is good and worth living. It's a gift from the Lord that we should cherish and steward well for God's glory. But, make no mistake about it; heaven is better. It's something we should look forward to with great anticipation.

In Exodus 6, God promised his people deliverance from bondage. He said, "I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment."

But, right alongside that promise, God points ahead and says, "I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession."

So, right alongside the promise of redemption was the promise of an inheritance. They were brought out of one land with the hope of residing in a better land together with God. With an outstretched arm, God would set them free, take them as his people, and lead them into the land that already belonged to them because of the promise he gave their forefathers. Those whom God redeemed had something to look forward to.

Many of us are likely familiar with how the story plays out. Upon their deliverance, did they immediately make it to the promised land?

No. They wandered through the wilderness for forty years. Yet, as they wandered, God remained with them. Therefore, the basis for their hope never dwindled. If God makes a promise, we can trust that he will fulfill that promise. After 40 years of wandering, God's people made it into the land God promised them. God remained faithful to the promise he extended to his people.

Church, the life of a believer is a wilderness journey. It's a life of wandering through the wilderness with the hopeful anticipation of making it to the promised land.

And the beauty of the Christian faith is that God is with us in the wilderness journey. God will be with us in our pain and distress. Therefore, our hope will always remain steadfast. We have an inheritance that we look forward to in confidence because God is with us.

The hope of our inheritance doesn't rest in anything we've done for God; it rests in the sovereign election of God, the fact that we have been "predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will."

In Exodus 6, what does God tell Moses? He says, "I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession."

So, God was saying, "I will bring you into the promised land because I said I would do so long before you were ever born." God was simply carrying out the purpose of his will.

So, how do we know that we will make it to heaven and dwell with God forever? We know this because God is faithful to finish what he started. He will always be faithful to carry out the purpose of his will.

So, we can go all the way back to Abraham and see God promise to bless all of the nations through the seed of Abraham. We can go all the way back to Adam and see God promise to crush Satan on our behalf. We know we have an inheritance waiting for us in heaven because God is carrying out the plan he put in place before the world was created. We know we have an inheritance because God has chosen us in Christ Jesus. It's God's sovereignty that gives us hope as believers. You and I can rest tonight knowing that God is on a throne carrying out his divine will at all points throughout history.

Then, in verse 12, Paul does something interesting that has led to a division among commentators. He says, "So that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

Here, in a very inclusive passage, Paul carefully distinguishes himself and his readers. So, who are the "we's" and "you's" of verse twelve? Who is Paul making a distinction between?

There are two interpretations here.

The first interpretation is that Paul is making a distinction between the Jews and the Gentiles. In the book of Romans, we see Paul talk about salvation being offered first to the Jews and then to the Greeks. When Paul would go into a city, he would often go to the temples in the city and preach to the Jews first and then branch off and go to the Gentiles.

So, Paul is saying, "Hey, we (Jews) placed our hope in Christ first. But, you, too, heard the gospel and believed and were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. Our timing may differ, but the testimony is the same. We heard the gospel, believed in Christ, and were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, to the praise of God's glory."

The second interpretation is a bit more straightforward. This interpretation simply differentiates Paul (and those with him) and the church. So, the "we" would be Paul and those with him, and the "you" would be the church (Jews and Gentiles). Paul believed in Christ first, then he went to Ephesus and shared with them the gospel, and they, too, believed in Christ.

I lean toward the first interpretation here. I think Paul is alluding to the distinction between the Jews and Gentiles to show that there's, in fact, no distinction. In Chapter 2, Paul revisits the distinction between Jews and Gentiles to show that they are one in Christ.

But either way, the main point remains the same. Although the timing of our conversion may be different, the testimony of our conversion is the same. We are all in the same boat. We are all saved by grace through faith; we are all sealed by the promised Holy Spirit, and our salvation is ultimately for the glory of God.

This reminds us that there's no favoritism in the kingdom of God. There's no elitism in the church. We are all uniquely different. But we are all also the same. You may be older in the faith, and I may be younger in the faith. But, we are both in the faith. We're both in Christ, sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.

Now, look at verse 13. In verse 13, we see a progression of hearing leading to believing, which leads to sealing. Only those who have believed in Jesus will be sealed with the Holy Spirit. And to believe in Jesus, you need to have first heard the gospel of Jesus.

There are two things I want to draw our attention to here.

First, I want us to see how the Bible balances the tension between God's sovereignty and man's responsibility. Throughout these verses, we've seen God's sovereignty highlighted. We have been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, predestined, and elected according to the purpose of God's will. But, here we see that those who have been predestined are those who have believed. Those who have believed are those who have been predestined. God's sovereignty and man's responsibility are not at odds with each other. God is both King and Judge.

So, God's sovereignty is never an excuse not to evangelize. Instead, it should be an excuse to evangelize. If God has elected to save sinners, we should preach the gospel so that sinners might believe and be saved. That brings me to the second thing I want to highlight here: the importance of gospel proclamation. You cannot believe in Jesus unless you have first heard the truth about Jesus. Those who have believed have heard. Therefore, we need to tell others about Jesus so that others can believe in Jesus.

Living out the gospel is important, but preaching the gospel is essential. If we want to see men and women come to know Christ personally, we must be willing to open our mouths and preach. If we want others to believe in Jesus, we must be willing to tell others about Jesus.

There are people all throughout this world who have never heard about Jesus. So, I think a healthy goal for us this upcoming year as a church would be to introduce people to Jesus who have never heard about Jesus, both in our city and to the ends of the earth. We must be willing to go and take the gospel to those who have never heard.

When was the last time you shared with someone the word of truth?

Next, I want to draw our attention to what it means to be sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. Paul says that those who have believed have been sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. If you've believed in Jesus, you've received the promised Holy Spirit.

For something to be promised, it needs to have been spoken of beforehand. In John 16, Jesus promised his disciples another helper would come whenever he left. He said that it would be to their advantage if he left them. The promised Holy Spirit will come and convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He will guide his people into all truth and glorify Christ.

We find Paul also telling us here that the Holy Spirit seals us. All who have believed have become sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. The word sealed can mean two things: closure and belonging.

In Matthew 27, for example, the soldiers seal Jesus' tomb with a stone, which implies closure and security from outside dangers. No one could get in and take the body from the tomb. So, your salvation is as secure as a sealed tomb. You're unable to lose it. The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it.

In Revelation 7, we see an angel ascending from the rising of the sun with the seal of the living God. With a loud voice, he says, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." This seal was a marking placed upon someone for the purpose of making a distinction. So, God has set us apart to belong exclusively to God.

Think of a king sealing a letter. We know the letter belongs to the king because of the seal placed on the envelope. Think of a married couple who wears a ring. We know someone is married because of the seal placed upon their finger. In the same way, we know that we are wholly and authentically God's because the Holy Spirit has sealed us. We have been marked with the Holy Spirit, signifying our exclusive belonging to God. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is how we know we have an inheritance in heaven.

Now, how do we know we have the Holy Spirit? What must we do to receive the Holy Spirit?

The answer is simple. We don't have to go through a three-month course to receive the Holy Spirit; we must simply believe upon Jesus. Those who are sealed are those who have believed and trusted in Jesus.

Those who have been sealed with the Holy Spirit will experience conviction of sin; they will experience comfort amid calamity; they will experience power whenever they share the gospel; they will begin to walk in freedom from sin; and they will begin to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit.

As these verses come to a close, we see that the ultimate purpose of our salvation is God's glory... to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:7-10

The verses we will be looking at today are wedged in the middle of one of the longest run-on sentences in the history of humanity. The grammar junkies would twitch at the structure of these verses. But, as I mentioned last week, the poor structure doesn't lend to poor theology. These verses are carefully precise and theologically flawless. They are precise words written with intentionally poor structure to convey the majestic beauty of the gospel.

Overwhelmed with excitement, Paul is doing two things in these verses: (1) describing the many blessings we have in Christ and (2) calling us to worship Christ.

When we read these verses closely, we will be reminded of the sovereign working of God on our behalf, which should lead us to throw our hands up in worship.

Gospel doctrine should lead to gospel worship. The truth about Jesus should lead us to worship Jesus. We worship what we love and sing about what has impacted our hearts the most. These verses show that God has invited us into his kingdom. Therefore, we bow in worship to our King and Lord. God has adopted us into his family. Therefore, we sing about our good and loving Father. We have been set free from the bondage of sin. Therefore, we throw our hands up in freedom.

As believers, the more we learn about God, the more we should worship God. Worship is the only appropriate response to grace. When we understand our extreme blessing in Christ, the only adequate response is exhortation and praise! If you have experienced God's love, you will worship God with a happy heart. A gospel-centered church is a singing church.

Another consistent theme that we will find in these verses is God's plan. Last week, we looked at words like "chosen," "predestined," and "purpose of his will." These words and phrases teach us that God's plan centered around the cross long before the earth was made. The cross was God's plan A, not his plan B.

In our verses today, that language continues. Here, we will learn that God's plan was always to forgive, redeem, and unite sinners through Jesus' death on the cross. The cross was God's mysterious will, his divine plan put in place before the foundation of the world.

Let's dive in.

"[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 him, things in heaven and things on earth."

A REDEEMED PEOPLE

As we enter verse 7, we see the snowball of Paul's theological argument in this long sentence growing larger. Not only are we chosen in Christ to stand before the Father, holy and blameless, but we are adopted sons through Christ. Not only do we have a loving Father as adopted sons in Christ, but we are redeemed through the blood of Christ.

To redeem something means to "pay the price to recover someone or something from the power of another." Surprisingly, it was often used in the context of the slave market, describing the purchase price of a slave. To set a slave free, one would have to pay the purchase price of that slave.

But, on a much deeper level, the language used here by Paul alludes to the language used by God when speaking to Moses in Exodus 6. As the LORD prepares to free his people from captivity, he tells Moses, "[5] Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. [6] Say therefore to the people of Israel, 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. [7] I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians."

So, Paul uses this redemption language to show us what Christ has done for us. In the same way the Egyptians were oppressive and cruel toward the Israelites, sin is oppressive and cruel toward you and me. In the same way that Pharaoh was vindictive and harsh toward Israel, Satan is oppressive and harsh toward those who reside in his kingdom. In the same way God— with an outstretched arm— redeemed Israel from the captive's hand, he has redeemed you and me. In the same way God brought them out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, he has brought you and me out from under the burdens of sin and death.

Here, Paul is teaching us that the cross was the crushing blow that dismembered the power of our oppressor. The cross is what sets us free from the bondage of sin and death. In Christ, we have been liberated, set free from the oppressive power of sin, Satan, and death.

The inescapable condemnation and guilt holding us down by sin no longer own us because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. He has paid our ransom. He has paid the steep price for our sins. With an outstretched arm, he has redeemed us. Death and damnation no longer own us. We have a new master, and he is good. We have a new home, and it is safe.

A FORGIVEN PEOPLE

Our redemption resides in Christ's willingness to lay his life down on the cross— the shedding of his blood. Because of this, our sins have been forgiven. God's plan was always to FORGIVE sinners through Jesus' death on the cross.

Redemption and forgiveness seem to be often tied together in the New Testament. In Colossians 1, for example, Paul says, "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." The language here ties redemption and forgiveness so closely together that they almost seem like the same thing, as if our redemption is the forgiveness of sins. In reality, they're two sides of the same coin. If you've been forgiven, you've been redeemed. If you've been redeemed, you've been forgiven. You can't have one without the other. In Christ, you're free from both the stains and chains of sin.

Feel the weight of that for a moment. Because of the cross, your greatest sins can and will be forgiven.

Have you ever had a difficult time forgiving someone who has wronged you? What makes extending forgiveness so difficult? 

It's the hurt and pain that comes from the offense. When someone has deeply wounded us, we have a hard time forgiving. The magnitude of the offense heightens the difficulty of extending forgiveness. For example, forgiving someone for stealing your candy bar would be easier than forgiving someone who stole thousands of dollars from you.

Church, our trespasses against God are no minor offenses. We have deliberately and intentionally mocked God with our words, thoughts, and actions. Yet, he has taken extreme measures to extend to us freedom and forgiveness through the death of His Son. God hasn't just set us free from sin; he has forgiven us of our sins. And the forgiveness he extends to us is a byproduct of God's grace. It's "according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us."

ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE…

"Riches of grace" and "lavished upon us" imply an abundant oversupply, meaning God will never lack in the department of grace because he is rich in grace.

The word lavished is the same word used in the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand in John 6. When the masses were hungry, Jesus miraculously fed them. After everyone ate and had their fill, the disciples gathered the leftover fragments, filling up their baskets. The disciples left with more food than they came with.

In the same way that there was an abundant supply of bread and fish that never ran out, there is an abundant supply of grace in Christ that will never run out. God will never run out of grace. The invitation of the cross is to come and have your fill of grace and know that God's grace will never run out. His basket will always be full, and he will never run out of grace and forgiveness to extend to sinners.

Friend, may this be water to your soul. Perhaps you feel downtrodden and weary. Maybe you believe the lie that you've exhausted God's supply of grace for you. May these verses comfort your weary soul and draw you to feast from God's rich supply of grace that he's willing to lavish upon you.

IN ALL WISDOM AND INSIGHT…

As we continue to read, we see that his lavishing of grace upon sinners was not foolish or irrational. It was an action rooted in wisdom and insight. Our redemption, adoption, and forgiveness of sins are all a part of God's predetermined plan, which he outlined in Christ. It was all a part of the purpose of his will.

So, as we study the Bible, we now see how it all points to the cross, how Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and prophets. In all wisdom and insight, God has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, "which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."

A UNITED PEOPLE

What does it mean that "all things are united in him, things in heaven and things on earth?" We will begin to see this phrase more clearly as we journey through the book of Ephesians. But I want us to understand this: God's plan was always to unite sinners through Jesus' death on the cross. The cross brings unity amongst his people, not division amongst his people. In Christ, God is creating for himself a diverse and united family. We walk in unity now as a church and look ahead to a future day of union, where all things in heaven and earth will be united in Christ. There is coming a day when all of the redeemed, those in heaven and on earth, will be united forever. There is coming a day when the entire universe that is groaning for its redemption will be united with the redeemed church under the good rule of Christ for all eternity.

Ephesians 1:3-6

Today, we will dive into the start of the body of his message. As we do, I think it would be helpful to point out a detail hidden in the shadows of these verses, something we will miss in our English translations.

In the original Greek, verses 3-14 are one run-on sentence. There's no punctuation here, leaving no room for the reader to take a breath. Overwhelmed with excitement over the words he's writing, Paul cannot pause for even a simple breath.

In my theological brilliance, I would call these verses a poetic ramble. When I say "ramble," I don't mean erratic jargon. These words are carefully precise and theologically flawless. They are precise words written with intentionally poor structure to convey the majestic beauty of the gospel. Like a snowball rolling down a mountain, each word is carefully constructed to build on the other, composing a hefty argument surrounding the beauty of the gospel and the worthiness of God's praise.

As we begin unpacking these verses, we will come across words like "chosen," "predestined," and "purpose of his will." Therefore, we will see firsthand God's sovereign hand in our redemption, his loving pursuit of sinners, and his flawless plan of salvation executed.

Now, these verses can be controversial and difficult to comprehend. Our finite minds have a difficult time fathoming God's divine choosing. But, the difficulty of these verses does not reside in their unclearness. These verses are abundantly clear. Paul could not write any clearer. The difficulty of these words stems from the complexity of the truths found in these words. Sometimes, I've found, it's the truths that are the most clear that are the most confusing.

Today we will come across the profoundly beautiful and complex truth that our salvation is a work of God, not a work of our own. We did not first choose God; God first chose us. The cross did not happen by chance; it was a part of his predetermined plan. Before the foundation of the world, God knew sin would happen. He knew he would send His Son to the cross. And he knew you would be a part of his family.

The main point we will learn today is this: before the earth was made, God had a plan to save sinners by sending his Son to die on the cross.

Let's dive in.

"[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, [4] even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love [5] he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved."

Right from the jump, we see Paul worshipping God because of His role in our salvation.

As he begins to unpack the central doctrines of the Christian faith, he does so with a heart full of praise— "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ..."

One thing we often talk about as a church is being a gospel-centered church. We want to be a church that embraces the gospel in everything we do. We want to be a church that understands the gospel, believes the gospel, preaches the gospel, and lives out the gospel. And what we see here is the truth that gospel doctrine leads to gospel praise. If you have experienced God's love, you will worship God with a happy heart. Worship is the only proper response to grace. A gospel-centered church is a singing church.

Church, listen. Our willingness to sing hinges on our understanding of what God has done for us in Christ. If you have your arms crossed every Sunday morning, unwilling to sing, then the question has to be asked, "Have you experienced the blessedness described here in these verses?" Those whom God has blessed will bless God with praise. Singing is a practical expression of gratitude for the believer.

What does it mean to be "blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places?"

Well, heavenly places imply a location not here on this earth. So, that tells us that it's possible to be immensely blessed by God without physical prosperity.

While fishing with my family the other day, we drove past a large boat. As she admired the boat, my daughter asked, "Dad, what if we were rich?"

I chuckled and responded, "Baby girl, we are rich. We just don't have a lot of money."

I'm unsure if she could wrap her six-year-old mind around what I was trying to teach her at that moment. But I want us to understand that supreme blessedness doesn't reside in material wealth. God has blessed those in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. If you are in Christ, you are blessed. If you are in Christ, God has blessed you with the gift of redemption and adoption. If you are in Christ, God has blessed you with the gift of salvation. If you are in Christ, God has blessed you with the gift of a relationship with Himself. You have God with you and God in you. And God will comfort you in moments of despair, empower you in moments of weakness, and remind you of the inheritance being kept for you in heaven. If you are in Christ, you are immensely blessed.

In verse 4, Paul says, "Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him." Here we find the truth that we are blessed because God has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world.

The word "chosen" is where some of us begin to squirm in our seats. But, in reality, it's a very biblical term, a word all over the Bible. It means to pick or select someone or something for your own possession.

Tony Merida, in his commentary on Ephesians, highlights several of the uses of this term throughout the Bible. He says, “God chose Abraham for the purpose of bringing blessing to the nations (Gen. 12:1-3). God chose to make Israel into a nation that they might be a light to the nations (Deut. 7:6-8; 14:2; Is. 42:6-8). Jesus chose his twelve disciples to follow him, bear fruit, and multiply (Jn. 15:6).” And, now, in writing to the Gentile believers in Ephesus, he's saying that God chose them, before the foundation of the world, that they should be holy and blameless before him.

Wrap your mind around that for a moment. Before there were stars to gaze at and an earth to walk on, God knew you. Before there were birds to admire, trees to climb, and water to swim in, God had a purpose for you. Before the foundation of the world, God chose you to belong to Himself.

This teaches us that God knew that we were going to sin and fall short of the glory of God. Sin did not catch God off guard. Jesus' death on the cross was not a scrambled attempt of God to make things right. It was God's predetermined plan A, not his backup plan B. Before the foundation of the world, God chose us in Christ "that we should be holy and blameless before him."

Now, who is Paul writing to? The churches in Ephesus. The saints in Ephesus. The faithful in Christ Jesus.

So, who does this apply to? The church, the saints, the faithful in Christ.

But, what is true corporately is also true personally. He is saying to the corporate church in Ephesus (a primary Gentile group of people) that God's predetermined plan was to create a redeemed people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. He chose to create for himself a diverse and united people in Christ. However, for there to be an "us," there has to be a "you" and "me." The corporate church is full of individual people. So, these verses must also be true personally for them to ring true corporately. For God to have chosen us, he has to have chosen you. God has called you to himself so that your sins can be forgiven, allowing you to stand before Him "holy and blameless."

2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

This is what many call the great exchange. Our sin was placed on Jesus so that his righteousness could be placed on us. Therefore, if we have (in Christ) become the righteousness of God, then we will one day stand holy and blameless before the Father.

Feel the weight of that for a moment. If you are "in Christ," you will one day stand before God blameless. You, a natural sinner at heart tainted by sin and guilt, can stand before God without blame, guilt, or shame.

Those who are in Christ will one day stand before God, in his sight, holy and without fault because of God's predestined plan of election. Your cleanliness is not a result of your strength; it is a result of God's gracious work on your behalf.

Verse 5 goes on to add color to this truth by saying, "In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will..."

Not only do we stand before God holy and blameless, but through Christ, we also stand before the Father as beloved sons. We are not distant strangers who will stand holy and blameless before the Father; we are dearly loved children!

If you are "in Christ," you are a part of God's family. You have a good father who loves and cares for you dearly. You have siblings that you didn't have before. You have a home and an inheritance that wasn't yours before but is wholly yours now. You are secure and safe in God's family.

In our culture today, adoption can be viewed as a backup plan. But that's not the case with God. Adoption was never God's plan B; it was always his predetermined plan from the beginning. Our adoption into God's family was birthed from a loving desire calculated and thought out beforehand. He knew what would happen, and he looked upon sinners like us and said, "I love them, and I want them to be in my family. I want them to inherit what is rightfully mine. I want them to become holy and blameless, and I want them to inherit every spiritual blessing found in the heavenly places."

Adoption was God's loving plan from the beginning. It was according to his will, and it was for his glory. Adoption is a work of grace and should always result in praising the Father.

Look at verse 6, "In love [5] he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved."

God has adopted us into his family so that we might praise his glorious grace. The purpose of our salvation is God's glory. God's sovereign plan is, was, and always will be designed for the praise of His glorious grace.

Imagine an adopted child's newfound joys, walking into his/her home for the first time. "This is my home? This is my room? These are my clothes? I can eat whatever I want from our kitchen? You are my dad? You are my mom? You are my brothers and sisters? You're going to take me to school? You're going to take care of me when I'm sick? You're going to teach me to ride a bike?"

The doctrine of election shouldn't make us squirm; it should lead up to should to throw our hands up in worship. It shouldn't lead to pride; it should lead to humility and joy!

The only right response to grace is praise! A gospel encounter leads to gospel praise! We are a people who sing of grace because we are a people who have experienced grace!

Ephesians 1:1-2

Ephesians is, without a doubt, my favorite book in the Bible. As a young Christian in high school, the book of Ephesians gripped my heart for the Lord, causing me to abandon my love for the world and pursue Jesus wholeheartedly. As a Christian in college, I remember walking to class memorizing Ephesians 2:1-10, writing the gospel on my heart. As a young man pursuing ministry, the book of Ephesians was the first book I preached through on Tuesday nights in downtown Mobile. As I've sought to disciple people over the years, it is often the book of Ephesians that we first go through together. No book in the Bible has single-handedly impacted my life more than this one. It has been pivotal in shaping my life as a young Christian.

PRACTICAL THEOLOGY

In the book of Ephesians, God clearly lays out his mysterious plan of redemption. Here in Ephesians, God pulls back the curtain and allows us to see that the purpose of his will was set forth in Christ to unite all things in him. 

The book of Ephesians certainly isn't the longest in the New Testament nor the most complex. But, in my humble opinion, it's certainly the most clear. From the verbiage used to how Paul builds his arguments, there is no book in the Bible that more clearly describes the gospel and how it relates to the life of a believer. 

During this study, we will likely dive deeper into theology than we ever have as a church. Over the next few months, we will wrestle with the deep topics of the trinity, predestination/election, the assurance of salvation, identity, heaven, and much much more. 

But, in addressing these topics, what Paul does is beautiful. He simply doesn't allow us to discuss these topics while sitting in an ivory tower. Instead, he unpacks these complex topics in the streets of everyday life so we can practically apply them to our lives. The book of Ephesians teaches us that theology should impact our hearts as much as it does our minds, and a theology that affects the heart of a believer will soon affect the hands and feet of a believer. 

You will see this demonstrated in the way Ephesians is structured. For the first three chapters, Paul unpacks the vertical aspects of the gospel, how God relates to man through the death and resurrection of Jesus. But in the final three chapters, Paul will begin to unpack the horizontal aspects of the gospel, how God's people should relate to one another in light of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The outline of this letter teaches us that the vertical impacts the horizontal. What we believe about God should impact how we live amongst men. Gospel doctrine should lead to a gospel culture. The gospel story should impact our story.

We will spend most of our time today looking at the first two verses. In doing so, we will see three things: who wrote this letter, who received this letter, and God's purpose for this letter.

So, let's dive in. 

"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, 

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: 

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Right from the jump, we see that the original author of this book is the apostle Paul— "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God..."

Later in church history, some began challenging the idea of Pauline authorship. In doing so, some point to the writing style, saying Ephesians differs from some of Paul's other writings. Others point to the generality of this letter, saying it's too impersonal for someone who lived in Ephesus for three years. Neither argument seems to hold much weight since (1) the early church widely accepted Paul as the author, and (2) Paul identifies himself as the author more than once in the letter (Eph. 1:1, 3:1). 

APOSTLE OF CHRIST JESUS BY THE WILL OF GOD

At the start of the letter, Paul identifies himself as "an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God…"

The word "apostle" means "one who is sent." An apostle is a specific messenger with a specific title taking a specific message to a specific people. So, Paul is saying that the one who sent him is God, and the message he proclaims is Jesus' message. Simply put, the message of Ephesians is God's message. It's not man's message; it's God's message. It was God's will to use Paul as a messenger of Christ.

The word apostle is often used throughout the New Testament about the twelve disciples of Jesus. Where Jesus had many disciples who followed him, he chose twelve apostles responsible for preaching his message.

We see this in Luke 6:13 and Mark 3:14.

• "And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles…" — Luke 6:13

• "And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach…" — Mark 3:14

So, the apostles were men who personally walked with Jesus, who were personally called by Jesus, who were personally taught by Jesus, and who were personally sent out by Jesus to preach the message he had taught them.

Due to Judas' betrayal, we see Mathias become one of the twelve apostles in Acts 1, and in Acts 2:42, we see the early church devoted themselves "to the apostles teaching…." 

So, this small group of men received the authority to teach God's people God's message, leading to the church embracing their teaching. These would be what I would call [A]postles. 

In this context, the title "apostle" was given to a few specific men for the purpose of distinguishing them as God's appointed messenger. And here Paul is saying he's a part of that unique group. He was not commissioned and sent by man; he was commissioned and sent by God. He's not bringing his message; he's bringing God's message. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul is a [A]postle who was taught, commissioned, and sent by Jesus, the one who possesses power over life and death.

The title apostle isn't one of arrogance and pride; it's one of humility and lowliness. In calling himself an apostle, Paul is not beating his chest so that the church will stand in awe of him. He's calling himself an apostle so the church will embrace the message he's proclaiming. Because Paul is an apostle, the church could embrace his words confidently.

The same is true for you and me. The message of Ephesians is God's message. Therefore, we should read it and obey it. As we read this letter, we should listen to it with humble attentiveness. And, like the early church, we should devote ourselves to the apostle's teaching. The words of this book should impact our minds, transform our hearts, and mobilize our hands and feet.

***Most believe Paul wrote this letter during his first Roman imprisonment (3:1; 4:1), around AD 60-62. This reminds us that obedience to God is not always easy. Sometimes serving God may lead to freedom and wealth. Sometimes it may lead to chains and poverty.

SAINTS IN EPHESUS

The next thing I want us to see is who Paul's writing is to— "To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus…"

Ephesus was a Greek city found in the province of Asia, a place in modern-day Turkey. It was a capital city located near a harbor at the mouth of the Cayster River in Western Asia Minor. It was a popular city known for its significant trade center and the world's largest amphitheater that would hold up to 50,000 spectators. As we read the Bible, we see many things happen in Ephesus. 

• During Paul's time in Ephesus, all the residents of Asia heard the gospel preached (Acts 19:10). 

• While in Ephesus, God did many miracles through Paul (Acts 19:11) and a great revival took place through the new believers (Acts 19:19). 

• While in Ephesus, Paul and his disciples were brought in the amphitheater by a mob that rejected the gospel. 

• While in Ephesus, Paul wrote the book of 1 Corinthians. 

• While in Ephesus, Priscilla and Aquila discipled Apollos (Acts 18:24-26). 

• While in Ephesus, Timothy served as a pastor for the first time. 

Ephesus was an important city during the early church, a place where God did some incredible things. May the same be said of our city. May all the residents of Mobile have heard the gospel. May a great revival take place among the believers of Mobile. May we understand that with revival comes opposition. May we be home to gospel writers, faithful disciples, and humble pastors. May Mobile be a modern day Ephesus.

Now, in three of the earliest manuscripts of this letter, the name Ephesus is not found. This has led to some believing that this letter was intended to be read and passed along by different churches near Ephesus. To me, this seems most likely the case. And, if that's the case, that would explain the generality of the letter. This message was never intended to be hoarded but to be shared.

We could spend quite a bit of time here, but I don't want us to get bogged down on the location of his recipients and miss how Paul describes his recipients. Paul describes the recipients of this letter as "saints who are in Ephesus." 

The term "saint" doesn't refer to football players in New Orleans; it refers to those who are holy or set apart. It's an expression that was first applied to Israel as the 'holy nation.' But it later extended to the Christian community, the Israel of God. 

So, saints is an exclusive and inclusive term. It's exclusive because it only describes those who belong to God through Christ. But, it's inclusive in representing all who belong to God through Christ. It's not a term reserved only for the religious elite within the church; it's a term used to describe all of the church. If you have trusted in Jesus for your salvation, this title is bestowed upon you. You don't earn the title of a saint; you are given the title of saint. If your faith resides in Jesus, you have been set apart as holy, belonging to God as a prized possession. 

So, although this book was written to the saints who lived during a specific time in a specific place, it still applies to all saints today. The words of Ephesians still apply to us. 

FAITHFUL IN CHRIST JESUS

The saints here are described as "faithful in Christ Jesus." To be 'in Christ' is to be personally united to Jesus. As you read throughout the New Testament, you will find example after example of the believer being joined closely to Jesus. Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. Jesus is the head, and we are the body. Jesus is the cornerstone, and we are the structure of the holy temple. 

Jesus is fundamentally central to the Christian faith, the lifeblood of the church. If you were to remove the vine, the branches would soon wither away. If you were to remove the head, the body would soon become lifeless. If you were to remove the cornerstone, the structure would soon crumble. You do not have the church without Jesus.

So, Christian faithfulness resides in our union with Jesus. It's not about what you can do to get Christ to you; it's being united to Jesus through faith. To be a Christian is to be "in Christ," meaning you have laid down your old life and now taken on Christ's life. You have a new Savior, a new identity, a new family, and a new home. Ephesus might have been where they lived, but Christ is where they resided. Mobile may be where you live, but Christ is where you reside. 

GRACE AND PEACE FROM GOD

Paul closes his greeting by saying, "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

It is God's grace and peace that we all desperately need. God's grace and peace are the pillars that hold up the church. They are what breathe life into our dry bones. If you were to remove grace and peace from the Christian faith, you no longer have good news. If you take away grace and peace, the church comes crashing down. To understand God's mysterious will, you must start with grace and peace.

Grace is God giving you a good gift that you do not deserve. Where you deserve wrath, condemnation, and shame because of your sin, God (through Jesus) extends kindness, forgiveness, and mercy. Where you deserve to be cast out and ostracized because of your rejection of Him, God (through Jesus) extends to you peace and reconciliation.

Peace is harmony, tranquility, the state of well-being, and unity. The Christian message is a message of peace. Looking at the Bible, you will see that this peace is multifaceted. It is trifold. You will find the Bible talks about peace with God, peace with one another, and internal peace.

So, because of Jesus' death, we, most importantly, have peace with God. Once we have peace with God, we then have peace with God's bride, his church. Peace with God leads to relational peace with God's Church. Biblical community is a byproduct of having peace with God through faith in Jesus.

And once we have peace with God, we have peace within (inner peace). Amid the storms of life, we find inner rest and tranquility through a reconciled relationship with God. God's peace leads to peace with our neighbor and peace within ourselves.

I don't know who you are or where you are today. Perhaps you're struggling with sin and need to be reminded that God is a gracious God who is willing and desires to extend grace to sinners. Maybe your heart is hard toward someone today, and you must be reminded that God has pursued peace with you. Therefore, you should seek peace with your neighbor. Perhaps you're walking through a difficult season, and peace is far from you, and you need to be reminded that God is on the throne, working all things together for our good and his glory.

The Beatitudes: “Blessed are the persecuted, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”

The Beatitudes: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God”

The Beatitudes: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

The Beatitudes: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

The Beatitudes: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

The Beatitudes: “Blessed are the meek”

The Beatitudes: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

The Beatitudes: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Zechariah 14

As we read the Bible, we see different prophets pointing to a final battle that will take place at the end of time. They all make it abundantly clear that the LORD will return and defeat his enemies once and for all. Yet, despite their unity regarding how the story ends, they all communicate this story with unique imagery to highlight various aspects of the same story.

In Zechariah 14, the LORD, through Zechariah, tells us what will happen when Christ returns again at the end of time. Before he returns, things will get really bad. Things will seem bleak for God's people. But, at the right time, the LORD will come down, save his people, and destroy their enemies once and for all. A second exodus is coming. And depending upon which camp you find yourself in, this passage can be incredibly terrifying or unbelievably comforting.

In these verses, we see that, in the end, the whole world will wage war against God's people. And, at that moment, they will profit from their oppression of Jerusalem. But, soon after, the LORD will come down and deliver his people. And when he comes to save his people, he's also coming to destroy the nations.

So, as we wrestle through this very complex chapter, I want you to consistently ask yourself, "Which camp are you in?"

To those who reject Christ, to those who are an enemy of God, these words should be incredibly terrifying. But, to those who have pleaded for mercy and experienced the cleansing work of Christ, these verses should be unbelievably hopeful.

There's no middle ground in Zechariah 14. You are either God's enemy or God's friend. You are either a recipient of God’s wrath or a recipient of God’s mercy. If your allegiance resides in your own kingdom, death is on your horizon. Things may go well for you now, but that prosperity is fleeting. But, if your allegiance resides in Christ's kingdom, life is on your horizon. Things may be difficult now, but an eternal blessing is on your horizon.

So, “Which camp am I in?” is the question we will ask ourselves today.

Let's dive in.

"[1] Behold, a day is coming for the LORD, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. [2] For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. [3] Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. [4] On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. [5] And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

[6] On that day there shall be no light, cold, or frost. [7] And there shall be a unique day, which is known to the LORD, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light.

[8] On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. It shall continue in summer as in winter.

[9] And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one.

[10] The whole land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. But Jerusalem shall remain aloft on its site from the Gate of Benjamin to the place of the former gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king's winepresses. [11] And it shall be inhabited, for there shall never again be a decree of utter destruction. Jerusalem shall dwell in security.

[12] And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.

[13] And on that day a great panic from the LORD shall fall on them, so that each will seize the hand of another, and the hand of the one will be raised against the hand of the other. [14] Even Judah will fight at Jerusalem. And the wealth of all the surrounding nations shall be collected, gold, silver, and garments in great abundance. [15] And a plague like this plague shall fall on the horses, the mules, the camels, the donkeys, and whatever beasts may be in those camps.

[16] Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths. [17] And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them. [18] And if the family of Egypt does not go up and present themselves, then on them there shall be no rain; there shall be the plague with which the LORD afflicts the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths. [19] This shall be the punishment to Egypt and the punishment to all the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths.

[20] And on that day there shall be inscribed on the bells of the horses, "Holy to the LORD." And the pots in the house of the LORD shall be as the bowls before the altar. [21] And every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holy to the LORD of hosts, so that all who sacrifice may come and take of them and boil the meat of the sacrifice in them. And there shall no longer be a trader in the house of the LORD of hosts on that day."

WORSE BEFORE BETTER

There are two things I want us to take note of here at the start of this final chapter.

First, I want us to see and understand that God is saying things will get worse before they get better. Before the LORD goes out and fights in battle on behalf of his people, he will "gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle." The language used to describe how the nations will treat Jerusalem here is dreadfully horrendous. Houses plundered. Women raped. People going out in exile. Nothing about this is good. Things will get worse before they get better. Difficulty is on the horizon for God’s people. God will first draw in their enemies to later destroy their enemies. Things will become more difficult the closer we get to the end of time. So, those who the blood of Jesus has cleansed should expect trials. Allegiance to Jesus will undoubtedly lead to difficulties in this life.

MINORITY OVER MAJORITY

The second thing I want us to see here is that siding with the majority is not always best because the majority is not always right. Here we have the entire world— all nations— surrounding Jerusalem for battle. You have the majority oppressing the minority.

If acceptance from the masses is the lord of your life, you will undoubtedly find yourself on the wrong side of history. When we let the opinions of the mob shape our worldview, we will wade into some dangerous waters.

LITERALLY OR SPIRITUALLY?

Now, let's take a quick detour here for a moment.

There are differing opinions over who Jerusalem is here, and I think we need to unpack that for a moment.

Some believe it to be literal Jerusalem. They would interpret the majority of Zechariah's words literally, meaning that you have all the nations surrounding one city, Jerusalem, with their swords drawn for battle. The entire world is oppressing the single city of Jerusalem.

Others, however, interpret Jerusalem to symbolically reference the church. Their primary argument is that it's strange to imagine the entire world surrounding just one city. Therefore, they would interpret these words to symbolically represent the world's oppression of the church, the spiritual people of God. Before Christ returns, the whole world will be oppressing and abusing the Church.

There are valid arguments on either side, and we simply don't know which interpretation is true because it hasn't happened yet. To say that you know for certain what this passage is saying is unbelievably arrogant. It's completely fair and warranted to call someone a heretic for denying the deity of Christ. But it is neither fair nor warranted to call someone a heretic for interpreting these verses symbolically or literally. Brothers and sisters, we must wade through the muddy waters of apocalyptic literature with tremendous grace and compassion.

I personally lean towards interpreting Jerusalem as a symbolic reference to the church. But I don't land here because I have difficulty imagining the world surrounding one city. In fact, I think we would be terrible students of the Bible if we deny specific interpretations simply because we can't fathom them being true. God is on the throne, and he sets the earth in motion. He does not have to submit his actions to our reason and logic. Instead, our reasoning and logic must submit to his will and actions. So, I would argue that we should always interpret the text literally unless the author has given us a reason to interpret the text symbolically. And I believe Zechariah has given us reason to interpret Jerusalem in a symbolic sense.

If you remember, in chapter 2, Zechariah had a vision of a young man seeking to measure Jerusalem with a measuring line. As he's getting ready to do this, the angel of the LORD stops him and tells him that Jerusalem will become a city without walls. Jerusalem will become a city full of people and livestock, where many nations will come and join themselves to the LORD. It will become a place where God will dwell with his people, and it will be a place that God will protect with holy fire.

I believe Zechariah 2 speaks of the church, the spiritual city of God. And this has been the framework through which I've interpreted most of Zechariah. Here in chapter 14, I think Jerusalem is a symbolic reference to the people of God, the church.

But, here's the thing. None of this has happened yet. So I could be wrong. It's quite possible that Zechariah is laying out verbatim what will happen at the return of Christ. We don't know for sure now, but we will know for sure someday. One day the fog on the mirror will be removed, and we will see clearly what was once murky.

So, either way you interpret these words, I think we can both agree that Zechariah is highlighting how the majority will rise up against the minority. All of the nations, all of the world, will be gathered against the city of Jerusalem. No matter how powerful, one city cannot stand against all nations. So, at the end of time, It will appear that God's people are surrounded by inescapable doom. On their own, they stand no chance. Yet, at the right time, God will intervene on their behalf. When half of the city will go out into exile, and the rest of the people will be cut off from the city, the LORD will "go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle." And when the LORD arrives, the mountains split and the nations fall.

A SECOND EXODUS

The imagery given to us here is the LORD appearing on the Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives was a large mountain that sat before Jerusalem on the East. It’s a mountain that would be visible throughout all of Jerusalem. And when the LORD appears on the mountain, it will split in two, creating a valley of escape for God's people.

Does that language sound familiar to you? This is exodus language.

On the one hand, the Mount of Olives provides protection. But, on the other hand, it also offers prevention. Like the Red Sea, the Mount of Olives prevented God's people from escaping. Yet, similar to the Red Sea, the LORD will split the mountain to save his people, allowing them to flee to Azal.

What is Azal? No one is certain because this is the only reference to Azal in the Old Testament. There is a lot of speculation over what this could be. Some have attempted to change the text to a more widely recognizable name, like Beth Ezell, a place we find referenced in the book of Micah. But all we know is that Azal is a place of escape for God's people in Jerusalem. Some translate it to mean "the way of escape shall be made easy." So Azal will be a place of refuge for God's people. When Christ comes and stands on the Mount of Olives, the mountain will split in two, allowing God's people to flee to safety. Simply put, the return of Christ will usher in safety for God's people. Jesus will provide an avenue for them to escape from disaster, and they will dwell with their LORD in safety forever.

VICTORY IS COMING

As we continue to read in verses 6-11, we see the natural order of creation beginning to be thwarted because of God's presence with his people. There will be no light, cold, or frost. There will no longer be day or night; it will always be light. This imagery is used throughout Scripture to communicate what life will be like in God's everlasting kingdom. In Isaiah 60:19-20, we see the sun and the moon will “be no more,” and the LORD, himself, will be their “light.”

Similarly, we see the book of Revelation describe the New Jerusalem as a place where the gates will never be shut by day— and “there will be no night there (Rev. 21:25).” "They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever (Rev. 22:5)."

So, here Zechariah is standing next to Isaiah and John and pointing ahead to the future, describing what life will be like for his people once the final battle is won. There is coming a day when God will be with his people forever in perfect harmony. He will be their God, and they will be his people. "The LORD will be king over all the earth," and "on that day he will be one and his name one." The one who promised difficulty is also promising victory. On this day there will never again be a decree of utter destruction. Jerusalem will dwell in security forever. The sovereign LORD is saying that there will be nothing for his people to fear. Christ will reign in peace forever. Living water will never dry up.

Church, we look forward to a day when we will dwell with God in all his glory for all eternity. Though we may be tried by fire now, we look ahead to a day when the embers cool. We look ahead to a day when we will be completely safe and secure with our Lord forever. We look ahead to a day when people from every tribe, tongue, and nation will safely worship and serve their King forever.

DESTRUCTION IS COMING

What a hopeful message this is for the sheep who belong to the good shepherd. The return of Christ will usher in safety for God's people. But the return of Christ will also lead to the destruction of their enemies.

If you skip down to verses 12-15, you see that when God comes, he "will strike all who wage war against Jerusalem. Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets and their tongues will rot in their mouths." This is dreadful language. The ones who once plundered God’s people will be plundered by God. Justice will fall upon the shoulders of the wicked.

Richard Philips, while commenting on these verses, says, “The point of these verses is not merely the reality of God’s final judgment, but the terror of it for those who are condemned and sentenced to eternity in hell.” This is a fate that no one wants. There’s an inescapable plague that will fall upon the wicked. Their flesh will rot while they’re standing. At the start of the chapter, the nations are the ones plundering the houses in Jerusalem, taking their riches. But here we see a significant reversal. The wealth of the nations will be collected in great abundance. Everything they gathered will come to ruin. Philips goes on to say “They will be bereft of all the worldly comforts and joys with which they dulled their spiritual awareness in this life. The terrible irony for them is that it is the church, which has not even sought such treasure, that receives the riches they have loved.”

Folks listen. It's possible to flourish in this life through oppression and wickedness. It's possible to ride the train of sin throughout your life and enjoy the benefits of the ride. But please know where that train will lead. The train of sin will only lead to eternal pain, misery, and destruction. A day will come when a plague will fall on the wicked, and destruction will be their doom. The mighty nations who stood against Jerusalem will fall when Christ returns.

FEAST OF BOOTHS

Verses 16-19 paint this picture of the redeemed coming to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Booths. From the nations that come against Jerusalem will be a remnant that looks upon Christ and are saved.

The Feast of Booths would have been one of three pilgrimage feasts (Passover, Pentecost, and Feast of Booths). A pilgrimage feast meant that all Jewish men would be required to travel to Jerusalem with their families. It was an exciting week-long celebration held after the harvest around September or October. It was a time to celebrate God's complete harvest provision, pray for a good rainy season, and remember God's faithfulness to provide for his people in the wilderness after they left Egypt.

Each family was to celebrate this feast by building booths (tents) in the open fields, on streets, or on their rooftops. In layman's terms, this would be a nationwide campout. My wife would be miserable. This was to remember that God's people had to dwell in booths whenever they were brought out of slavery in Egypt. They were to live in these tents for seven days, observing the stars and remembering God's faithfulness to his people.

In alluding to this feast, Zechariah is pointing to a time when God's people will celebrate God's provision and deliverance for all eternity. There will be no reasons to mourn; there will only be reasons to celebrate. Upon his return, Christ will usher his people into an everlasting place of joy and celebration. For all eternity, we will rejoice and celebrate the deliverance we experienced in Christ.

HOLY TO THE LORD

Then, in verses 20-21, we see the beautiful reality that one day, there will no longer be a distinction between the common and the holy. All will be made holy.

"Holy to the LORD" was a phrase/term used to describe the attire of the priest. In Exodus 28:36, we see the priests of the LORD commanded to wear a headpiece with a plate on it that said, "Holy to the LORD." The rare phrase of “holy to the LORD” will become so common that it’s on the bells of horses. Not only that, but every pot in the land will be holy to the LORD. There will no longer be a trader in the house of the LORD of hosts on that day. Thomas McComskey says, “So pervasive will be the rule of righteousness in the new order that even the most common objects will be holy to God. Nothing will belong to the sphere of the common or profane.”

One of the many beauties of the gospel resides in how the gospel humbles those in high positions and exalts those in low positions. In God's kingdom, all are holy through the cleansing blood of Christ. We cling to the hope that we will one day stand holy and blameless and above reproach before the LORD. Christ died so that he might “present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkly or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish (Eph 5:27).” So, if your faith resides in Jesus, you look forward to a day when we will all be declared holy and blameless before the LORD because of the work of Christ on the cross. And together, we look ahead to the hope that one day, we will dwell securely in a purified city.

Zechariah was writing to a people who were still in great despair. But, he’s been telling them that God has not forgot them. In fact, God will remain faithful to them all throughout history, even in the midst of fire. And for those who cling to the good shepherd who was pierced for his sheep has great reason for hope.

Zechariah 13:7-9