In Christ (1): The Umbrella of Salvation

BOTTOM LINE: The greatest lesson you can learn this year is who you are in Christ.

INTRO

Story – Picking up dates with umbrellas

TENSION

What will protect you from spiritual storms this year?

Series Intro: God made a way for us to be blessed and protected. Tonight we’re calling it the “umbrella of salvation.”

The greatest lesson you can learn this year is who you are in Christ.

TRUTH

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-14

  • Background
    • Paul was an apostle. These aren’t just his words.
    • Ephesus was a big, bad city (350,000+)
      • Positioned on Roman Road where East met West.
      • Combination of Greek Stoics, Eastern pagans, and Jewish legalists
      • Most famous for temple of Artimas/Diana and immoral, licentious worship
    • The Church – Paul found a small group of disciples in Ephesus, got kicked out of the synagogue, and taught in the hall of Tyrannus for 2+ years (Acts 19).
      • Even Paul’s handkerchiefs healed people!
        Cast out demons and put idol makers out of business.
      • Was run out of town by angry idol-makers.
    • The Letter – Probably a circular letter.
      • Many manuscripts don’t specify Ephesus, likely so other churches could substitute their own name.
      • Substitute us: ________
    • The Theme: Growing into our new identity in Christ
      • “In Christ” appears 33x in the book. How many can you find?
      • Ch. 1-3: Knowing Who You Are in Christ
      • Ch. 4-6: Living Who You Are in Christ
  • Context: Verses 3-11 are one long run-on sentence in the Greek.
    • “Probably the longest single sentence of unbroken discourse in ancient literature.” – John Phillips
    • We should read it carefully, but not lose the forest for the trees.

The Umbrella of Salvation: verses 3-4

Three truths about the umbrella of salvation:

1. The will of the Father designed it (v.3-6).

  • Key words: Chose, predestined (2x); his will (3x); according to his purpose
  • He designed it big enough to cover everyone (corporate election).
  • “Us” – who is “us?”
  • He designed it strong enough to keep us holy and blameless.
  • He designed it thoughtfully enough to be an expression of love and protection for his children (adoption)
  • Why did he plan it? Love.
  • He designed it cozy enough for us to stay dry together.
    • “Beloved”
  • “In Christ” – Jesus was always the plan.

2. The work of the Son built it (v.7-12).

  • He bought what we couldn’t afford (Redemption).
    • Redeem – “Payment of a price to recover from the power of another” (not an uncommon practice in 1st century)
    • The materials: His blood – Jesus is the only way!
      • Divine Blood: Only God can overpower sin, death, and hell.
      • Human Blood: Only a human can substitute for another human.
      • Righteous Blood – “Fullness of time” (v.10): Jesus was born under the law if you have sin yourself, you can’t die for someone else’s.
    • Forgiveness of sin.
  • Inheritance of hope and glory.
  • He did what we couldn’t do.
  • He revealed what we couldn’t know.
    • The nature of God
    • A way back to him
  • A hope and future (v.11-12).

3. The witness of the Spirit secures it (v.13-14).

  • The picture: We’re not holding up our salvation, the Spirit is.
  • The indwelling of the Holy Spirit follows belief.
    • Who can get under the umbrella of salvation? ANYONE who believes (note Cf. 1:19)
    • The order of salvation (v.13)
      • 1- Heard
      • 2- Believed
      • 3- Sealed
  • The sealing of the Holy Spirit authenticates us as God’s children (think about Face ID).
    • Contrast to the filling of the Spirit in chapter 5. The indwelling confirms we’re in Christ, the fillingenables us to live in Christ.
  • The guarantee of the Holy Spirit is our “down payment” on life with Jesus that starts now and lasts forever. (Example: Mission trip)

APPLICATION

Responding to God’s umbrella of salvation…

#1 – Get under it.

Look at verse 13. You’ve heard the word of truth. The question is, will you believe it? You can leave tonight being IN CHRIST. You can begin a new school year with new life IN CHRIST.

#2 – Embrace it. 

Are you afraid you’ll look stupid if you embrace your identity in Christ? The people who look stupid are the ones stuck in the rain, dripping wet, sprinting across the parking lot. Embrace the warm, dry security of being IN CHRIST, and invite others to the party.

#3 – Thank God for it. 

What’s the independent clause of this legendarily long sentence? “Blessed be the God and Father of your Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” When you know who you are IN CHRIST, and the lengths to which God went to adopt you as his child, you can’t help but thank him.