Whom Do You Worship? Ephesians 1:3-14 How many of you’ve seen the movie “Secretariat.” It’s a true story about the amazing thoroughbred who won the Triple Crown in 1973. He set records that still stand today. One of my favorite scenes is at the end, with the story of Secretariat at The Belmont Stakes. Secretariat set a fast early pace, which no one thought he could maintain. But he did. Chic Anderson, the announcer said, “Secretariat is widening now! He is moving like a tremendous machine!" He won by 31 lengths, the fastest 1½ miles on dirt in history. Paul was a theological Secretariat, a theological thoroughbred. And Ephesians 1:3-14 is sort of like his Belmont Stakes! He writes like a tremendous machine as he exalts the Triune God. He starts off in verse 3 with a general, topic sentence, and then widens out with phrase after phrase, to touch on various redemptive themes, without stopping for a period! This is a long (202 words), complex, and glorious sentence (one sentence in Greek) that oozes with God-centered worship. One writer quipped that this is the “most monstrous sentence conglomeration that I have ever found in the Greek language” (E. Norden, in Obrien). This is relevant for a variety of reason. Here's one reason it is important: you were made for praise. And we must have the right object of worship. Look around and you will find expressions of praise: young teenage girls screaming at boy band concerts; sports fans exalting the virtues of their team, paying big money for tickets, and adjusting their schedules for the games; dads getting fired up about going to Home Depot to work on a new project; adulterers praising their mistresses; consumers praising their favorite stores, television watchers praising their favorite new series, and coffee drinkers commending their favorite coffee shop. Humanity has never had a problem praising something or someone. In regard to functional idols (money, sex, work, etc), we like to take good things in creation (food, work, relationships, sex) and substitute them for Creator, turning those good things into god things, thereby committing idolatry (Rom 1). This is no small matter. Romans 1 says that this failure to worship God is at the heart of sin. Your sin problem is fundamentally a worship problem. On top of these expressions, there are millions praising false gods of other world religions. Idolatry can also happen as people have the wrong view of God. God has revealed himself in his word, and worship is a response to that revelation. We are not to worship the God of our imagination, but the God of the Bible. We are required to believe what the Bible says is true, not what we want the Bible to say is true. In Ephesus, they had numerous objects of worship, from Diana to the Emperor. The question then (and today) is not, “Do I worship?” The question is, “Whom do I worship? Whom do we worship?” We should praise the Triune God. We should praise Him for who he is, and what he has done. Consider: (1) The Language of Praise, and (2) The Reasons for Praise #1: THE LANGUAGE PRAISE (3-14) Unfortunately this passage generated a lot of debate because it mentions the concepts of election and predestination. While this discussion in itself isn’t a bad thing, I think we can miss the spirit of this text. The spirit is one of worship. Let’s look at the big picture of the passage for a moment, as we consider this theme of praise. Look at the note of praise struck in verse 3, and how it ends of verse 14 with praise. Paul begins with an outburst of praise to God in a typical Old Testament/Jewish style of an extended eulogy (berakah). Why bless God? He says because God “has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” (1:3). The phrase “every spiritual blessing” shows the wide-ranging scope of God’s blessing to his people. In the following verses Paul mentions blessing after blessing. Verse 14 rounds out the sentence appropriately, “to the praise of his glory.” Observe the Trinitarian nature of the passage. The opening verses are Trinitarian, as Paul mentions God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, and speaks of “every spiritual blessing” (alluding to the work of the Spirit). Further, though the structure shouldn’t be forced too woodenly, there is an emphasis on the work of the Father in verses 3-6, then the work of the Son in verses 7-12, and then the work of the Spirit in verses 13-14. Paul is calling us to praise the Triune God from whom all blessings flow. Notice also how our spiritual blessings are “in Christ.” It appears eleven times in these verses. The great salvation that God has provided is centered in the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is only through our union with Christ that we have these spiritual blessings. He is to be exalted by believers. Paul also points out that our salvation is ultimately for God’s glory. Look at the phrase, “to the praise of his glorious grace” in verse 6, and the phrase “to the praise of his glory” in verses 12 and 14. Why did God choose to bless us with this great salvation? That he may be glorified. God saves people for his glory. The passage also highlights the grace of God in salvation. We don’t deserve these blessings of salvation; we didn’t earn it. Paul speaks of “glorious grace” (6), and “the “riches of his grace which he lavished on us” (7-8). Those who have received these riches should praise the Giver of them. Incredibly, these verses highlight the eternal scope of salvation. This passage goes from “before the foundation of the world” (4), to “as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and on earth” (10). It goes from eternity to eternity. We join in with Moses in praise, “From everlasting to everlasting, you are God” (Ps. 90:2b) Paul also speaks of being blessed in “the heavenly places,” a phrase only used in Ephesians. I think this gets at the “already not yet” aspect of our salvation. Now, we are linked with the heavenly realms because of our relationship with God. We have the benefits of salvation now, but also anticipate them in the future, in which we will praise him with all nations. Finally, note who should share in this praise: both Jew and Gentile. Following these words of praise, Paul stresses that these blessings already described in verses 3-10 are for both Jew and Gentile believers (11-14). In verses 4-14 the same people are in view (O’brien). In almost every verse, Paul speaks of “us or “we” to refer to the people of God. “They are for you, if you are in Christ! App: So, this passage is about praising the Trinitarian God. All of it, from prison! His body was in prison, but his heart was in heaven. Regardless of your circumstances, God is worthy of praise. Now, let's look at the reasons he's worthy. #2: THE REASONS FOR PRAISE Paul reminds his readers (and us) that we should bless God for the spiritual blessings we have received. He reminds us that we have been: (1) Chosen by the Father, (2) Redeemed by the Son, and (3) Assured by the Spirit. Each section is summarized with the phrase, “to the praise of his glorious grace,” or “to the praise of his glory” (vs. 6, 12, 14) #1: CHOSEN BY THE FATHER (3-6) This amazing passage highlights God’s gracious election of sinners for salvation. Paul says that God “chose us” (4) and that he “predestined us” (5). For some people these words scare them and make them tense up. But they shouldn’t. These are Bible words. We shouldn’t fear these words. They should inspire awe and worship. The idea of God choosing a people to display his glory isn’t new. The Bible is a book of election. • God chose to create the world for his glory. • God chose Abraham to bring blessing to the nations (Gen. 12:1- 13). • God chose the nation of Israel that they may be a light to the nations (Deut 7:6-8, 14:2; Isa 42:6-8). • Further, Jesus chose his twelve disciples to bear fruit and multiply (John 15:16). • Paul adds that God chose what is “low and despised in the world … so that no human being might boast in his presence” (1 Cor 1:28a, 29). • In Ephesians, as in other NT texts (cf., Rom. 9-11; Acts 13:48; Titus 1:1; 1Pet 1:1; 2 Pet 1:10) we read that God chose individuals for salvation. The believers make up the church – both Jew and Gentile. Our statement of faith states this doctrine well under “God’s Purpose of Grace”: Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility. Some argue that election here is primarily corporate rather than individual. While I do want to emphasis the corporate purpose of our salvation, as Ephesians makes clear, I don’t accept this argument.