Ephesians 1-3-6 the Blessings of the Father Scripture Reading: Please

Ephesians 1-3-6

The blessings of the father

Scripture reading: please stand to honor the reading of God’s word…

Ephesians 1:3–6 (ESV) — 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.

Prayer for illumination:

Introduction:

Last Wednesday morning hundreds of senior citizens went grocery shopping in Atlanta from 7am to 8am, the time set aside for seniors to shop at the 44 Kroger grocery stores in Atlanta. They were all in for a big surprise. When they tried to pay for their groceries they were told, “you don’t owe us anything, someone else has paid for all of your groceries this morning.” Who was the mysterious someone? His name is Tyler Perry. He is an Atlanta based multi-millionaire media mogul. He paid for all the groceries, purchased by all the seniors, in all 44 Atlanta area Kroger grocery stores, from 7am until 8am last Wed morning.

He wanted to bless these folks anonymously, but the word got out.

Last week he also left at $21,000 tip on a take-out order to help the unemployed wait staff at one of his favorite Atlanta restaurants.

Tyler Perry is known for his generosity. As a result, the media is always praising him. And they should. He is worthy of praise.

When someone does something amazing, we praise them. We praise our kids when they learn how to read, get good grades, make the team, or land first chair in the orchestra.

This brings us to our passage this morning. God the father has done something amazing, as a result He is worthy of all praise.

Our passage, Ephesians 1:3-6, is bookended by praise statements.

Ephesians 1:3 (ESV) — 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,

Ephesians 1:6 (ESV) — 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Paul’s point is simple. Since the father has blessed us, He is worthy of all praise.

How exactly has he blessed us? We will look at several aspects of the Father’s blessings…

First, the source of blessings. Second, the nature of blessings. Third, the motives for blessings.

First, the sources of blessings!

Where do our blessings come from?

Our blessings come from the father!

Ephesians 1:3 (ESV) — 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,

Verse 3 is a summary of verses 3-14, which is one long sentence in the Greek.

Verses 3-14 are a beautifully crafted declaration of praise to the triune God for his incredible work of salvation.

Verses 3-6 praises the Father for being the source of our salvation. Verses 7-11 praises the Son for securing our salvation. Verses 12-14 praises the Spirit for applying our salvation.

Each member of the trinity is intimately involved in the salvation of every individual.

Let’s look at verse 3 again.

Ephesians 1:3 (ESV) — 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,

We praise God the father because he “has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.”

What are these spiritual blessings? They are described in verses 3-14.

The father chose us before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless. (v. 4) The father predestined us for adoption. (v. 5) The father sent Jesus to redeem us and forgive us (v. 6) The father chose to make know to us the mystery of his will (v. 7-10) The father has given us an inheritance (v. 11) The father sent the Spirit to seal us until Christ returns (v. 13-14)

Paul calls these blessings “spiritual blessings” in verse 3 since they are applied to us by the work of the Holy Spirit. More on this in a later sermon (see 1:12-14).

Why does he mean by the phrase “the heavenly places?” All of our spiritual blessings come from heaven, where every Christian is currently seated, according to Eph. 2:6. When God saves us, he allows us to partake of some of the blessings of the age to come (heaven) in the present. Like what? Forgiveness of sins, fellowship with God, and the indwelling HS.

All of these blessings come from the father. He is the source of all of our spiritual blessings.

Where do our spiritual blessings come from?

They come from the Father! but…

They come through the son!

Ephesians 1:3 (ESV) — 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,

Paul teaches us that God the father has given us these blessings in Christ. It is easy to miss the phrase “in Christ” but it is one of the most important phrases in the whole bible.

In fact, many scholars think that union with Christ, which comes from the phrase “in Christ,” is the center of Paul’s theology. It occurs over 200 times in Paul’s letters alone. It comes up 11 times in chapter 1 of Ephesians.

What does it mean?

Although Jesus lived 2000 years ago all believers are mystically, spiritually, and indissolubly united to Christ. This means that whatever he did in his earthly, life we did. When he lived, we lived in him. When he died, we died in him. When he rose, we rose from the dead in him. We are currently seated with him in the heavenly realms at the father’s right hand.

Illustration: Pregnant mother/ or carrying a child around in a backpack

Through this union, flows every blessing we receive from God the father. This union of believer to Christ was the father’s idea.

What is the point of verse 3? God the father has lavished spiritual blessings on us in Christ.

Application:

The father is the source of salvation.

In the past few decades Christians have minimized or ignored the Father’s work. This is chronicled in a book titled “The Forgotten Father” by Thomas Smail. He is rightly concerned that the recent emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit in Pentecostal circles and the emphasis on Christ centered preaching in other circles has led to a practical neglect of the Father. While I’m thankful for a renewed emphasis on the active presence of the Holy Spirit and Christ centered preaching, I share some of Thomas Smail’s concern.

For many, the father, at best, is ignored. At worst, he is viewed as the angry, scowling, and distant member of the trinity that sweet, meek, and mild Jesus came to save us from.

But according to Paul, we are called to Bless “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.”

God the father is the source of our salvation. Salvation was His idea. He planned it. The father sent the son to earth to carry out his plan.

We must bless him with our lips and bless him with our lives. We must tell the world of his glory, splendor, and love.

To bless the father literally means to speak well of him. (Psalm 103:1-5)

We must heartily sing his praises, speak of his glory throughout the week, and live lives that point others to his manifold splendor.

Are we thinking rightly about the father? Are we speaking well of the father? Taking his name in vain is the exact opposite of praising him.

The father is the source of all spiritual blessings. Therefore, He must be praised.

Let’s look at those blessings in more detail. This brings us to the second point.

First, the source of blessings.

Second, the nature of blessings!

How has God the father blessed us? In several ways…

The father has blessed us with election!

Ephesians 1:4–5 (ESV) — 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…

Verses 4-5 bring up the topic of election/predestination. This topic is so rich and beautiful, that it needs its own sermon. I will come back to Ephesians 1:4-5 next week to deal specifically with this topic.

The father has blessed us with election!

The father has blessed us with holiness!

Ephesians 1:4 (ESV) — 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him….

This verse raises an important question. Is Paul talking about positional holiness or practical holiness? In other words, is Paul saying that God the father chose to declare us holy and blameless through our mystical union with Jesus Christ?

In other words, is he saying that through that union Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us making us holy, and our sin is imputed to Christ making us blameless? Possibly…

Or is Paul saying that God the father chose us to actually live holy and blameless lives? We see this emphasis clearly stated in Ephesians chapters 4-6.

Which is it? Positional holiness or practical holiness??? The answer is yes!!! In other words, it is probably both.

One scholar argues that after God declares that we are blameless through the work of his son Jesus Christ, we want to live holy lives! (Baugh)

Our positional holiness motivates our practical holiness.

Application:

Here is the key, the father has blessed us with holiness. The father did not bless us because we were holy. He chose to bless us when there was nothing in us worthy of blessing.

This is grace. We don’t live holy lives to get God to accept us and declare us righteous. We live holy lives because he has already declared us righteous… but we must live holy lives.

The father has blessed us with election. The father has blessed us with holiness.

The father has blessed us with adoption!

Ephesians 1:4–5 (ESV) — 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,

Paul says that God the father predestined us for adoption to himself. In other words, in eternity past, before the creation of the world, God chose to adopt sinners into his family.

At this point, we need to understand that 1st century Roman adoptions are not like 21st century American adoptions.

In Paul’s day, under Roman law, an adopted son received all the legal rights of a natural-born son, which included inheriting the family estate. Sadly, girls were rarely adopted, and when they were, they did not inherit the estate. (Baugh, 84)

Typically, an older wealthy couple adopted a worthy young man when they could not produce a male heir (Ben Hur). When the young man was adopted, he became the legal heir. As a result, he carried on the family name, ran the family business, and inherited the family estate.

Paul says, “he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons…”

Sons is the key word. God did not simply adopt us, he adopts us as sons. Which means we will inherit all that belongs to God. Our inheritance is such a big deal, that Paul mentions it three times in chapter 1.

Ephesians 1:11 (ESV) — 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,

Ephesians 1:14 (ESV) — 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:18 (ESV) — 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,

Application:

Whether you are male or female. If you are a Christian, you have the status as an adopted son. Therefore, you have a spectacular inheritance.

Ladies, don’t be offended that you are referred to as sons in this passage. Men are referred to as the Bride of Christ later on in Eph. 5.

Since we have been adopted as sons, we will receive an inheritance.

This would have shocked the original audience. In Paul’s day a father without a son adopted a worthy man from his network of relationships, but in the case of believers God adopts his enemies to be his children (Eph. 2:3, 1 Cor. 1:26-30, Rom. 5:7, Eph. 5:6,8; 4:17-24).

That God would adopt any human being is shocking. We have so little to offer.

Illustration:

Simone Biles is currently the most decorated American gymnast. She has earned a combined 30 Olympic and World Championship medals.

But no one, literally no one, could have predicted all of this when she was born. She was born without a father and her mother was a drug addict.

After being taken away from her mother at an early age, she went from foster home to foster home. Sadly, no one wanted her. Finally, her grandfather and his wife decided to legally adopt her.

A few years ago, during the Olympics, one of the television commentators got in big trouble for saying, “you know, those people in the stands cheering for Simone are not her parents.” But later Simone said, “oh no, no, no. They are my parents, they ADOPTED me.”

When Simone Bile moved from foster home to foster home, she seemed like an unlikely candidate for adoption. No one seemed to want her. But then her grandfather adopted her, providing for her every need, giving her the resources and support to be a world class gymnast.

We were unlikely candidates for adoption. Yet, God adopted us, provided for us, and someday we will do far better than win Gold metals. We will inherit the universe as joint heirs with Christ.

Maybe you are wondering, why does the Father bless us with election, holiness, and adoption? This brings us to the last point.

First, the source of blessings Second, the nature of blessings

Third, the motives for blessings

What motivates God the father to bless us?

The father loves us!

According to the end of verse 4 and the beginning of verse 5 in eternity past, God the father chose to adopt us because he loves us. It is really that simple.

He loves us so much, forgiving our sins was not enough. He loves us so much, justifying us was not enough. He loves us so much, that redeeming us from slavery to sin and Satan was not enough. He loves us so much, that securing our spot in heaven was not enough.

He loves us so much that he adopted us to himself. Notice that last phrase. He adopts us to himself. He wants relationship with us. He is our father and we are his children.

All of this was motivated by love. He adopted us because he loves us.

Application:

The Bible says that God is love. Not God is loving or lovely, but God is love. He is the very definition of love.

Yes, I get it, but does God love me??? I think I got in on the group plan…

Some of us are concerned about our portfolios these days. Others are concerned about the security of their jobs. Maybe you are concerned about your health.

This text reminds us that our future is not controlled by blind chance or fate, it is controlled by our good and loving father. He loved us so much that he adopted us and made us coheirs with Christ.

If the father loves you that much, he will take care of you. (what kind of father does not take care of his children???)

What motivated God to bless us?

The father loves us! What else…

The father loves his glory!

Ephesians 1:5–6 (ESV) — 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.

The phrase, “To the praise of his glorious grace” appears three times in chapter one (1:6, 12, 14).

God blessed us to display his glorious grace. All that God does he does to display aspects of his glory. Grace is an aspect of God’s glory. The father blesses us to display his glorious grace.

God is very God centered. Isn’t this selfish or vain? No. For God to remain God he must esteem the things in the universe that are most worthy of praise. What is most worthy of praise in the universe? God himself. Therefore, all that God does he does to display his glory.

God has lavished us with blessings. As a result, we are compelled to praise him.

Conclusion:

In the book titled, “The Book that Made your world,” author Vishal Mangalwadi argues that music plays a very minimal role in other world religions.

He writes,

“Mosques do not have keyboards, organs, pianos, orchestras, or worship bands…” (page 10)

“Buddhism left no discernible musical tradition or instrument in India. No Buddhist monk started a band…, because in Buddhism salvation is not a heaven filled with music. As a pessimistic philosophy of silence, it could not produce music of hope and joy.” (page 11)

Music plays a minimal role in Hinduism as well.

Christianity is quite different. Why? God the father, the one true God, the God of the Bible, the God who chose to make us holy and blameless and adopt us into his family, is worthy of song.

God is so good we must sing. This is captured well in the last few lines of an old hymn written to God.

A thousand men could not compose A worthy song to bring Yet Your love is a melody Our hearts can’t help but sing!

When we understand the extravagant blessings of God the father, our hearts can’t help but sing. Let’s pray…

We are going to end by singing a song we have song many times. It is taken directly from Ephesians chapter 1:3-14.