the identity project
DESCRIPTION
The Identity Project. Ephesians 1. The Identity Project. Ephesians 1. Revolution. Macedonia. Chaos after the “Jerusalem council” Lots-o-DIRTY “Gentiles” Thessalonians 1 & 2 Corinthians Ephesus Explodes! Paul gets jailed…. Revolution. How to “clean up” this mess? - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Identity Project
Ephesians 1
The Identity Project
Ephesians 1
RevolutionChaos after the “Jerusalem council”Lots-o-DIRTY “Gentiles”• Thessalonians• 1 & 2 CorinthiansEphesus Explodes!Paul gets jailed…
Macedonia
RevolutionChaos after the “Jerusalem council”Lots-o-DIRTY “Gentiles”• Thessalonians• 1 & 2 CorinthiansEphesus Explodes!Paul gets jailed…
How to “clean up” this mess?–Tougher membership requirements?–More rules?–Paul’s answer:Ephesians
Ephes. 1:1 Saints:–All Christians are: • 1:1,15,18; 2:19; 3:8,18;
4:12; 5:3; 6:18–They were no “saints”• “Holy Ones” !?
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and who are faithful in Christ Jesus
‘Set apart ones’
‘Special Ops’
Insiders/ privilege
d
Ephes. 1:1 “In Christ”• Lit: “In the King”Paul, an apostle of
Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and who are faithful in Christ Jesus Status/
Privilege
Because of HIM
Ephes. 1:1 “In Christ”• Lit: “In the King”Paul, an apostle of
Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and who are faithful in Christ Jesus•Why
?She has
great privileg
e
Ephes. 1:2 “In Christ”• Lit: “In the King”• Grace and Peace
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
•Position in ChristYou too
havegreat
privilege
Ephes. 1:3 (NLT)
“In Christ”• Lit: “In the King”• Grace and Peace• Every bountiful
gift
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has [filled] us with every spiritual [gift] [from] the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
All that’s available
from God’s Kingdom
Ephes. 1:4 ‘Every spiritual gift’–“Elected”
He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.
Elite Purpose
To be like God !?
Ephes. 1:4 ‘Every spiritual gift’–“Elected”–To be like Him
He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.
Elite Purpose
To be like God !?
Ephes. 1:4 ‘Every spiritual gift’–“Elected”–To be like Him
He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.
Elite PurposeHe knew you and loved
you before you were born
Ephes. 1:4 ‘Every spiritual gift’–“Elected”–To be like Him
He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.
•Forced•“Fated”
NOT
1 Peter 1:1-2 chosen according to the foreknowledge of God
Foreknowledge is not causal
Ephes. 1:4 ‘Every spiritual gift’–“Elected”–To be like Him
He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.
1 Peter 1:1-2 chosen according to the foreknowledge of God
Foreknowledge is not causal
Did the mathematicians cause this?
Ephes. 1:5 ‘Every spiritual gift’–“Elected”–To be like Him–Adopted into His
household!
In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.
John 14:2 "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
Ephes. 1:5 ‘Every spiritual gift’–“Elected”–To be like Him–Adopted into His
household!–You have a spot
reserved for you.
In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.
John 14:2 "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
Ephes. 1:5 ‘Every spiritual gift’–“Elected”–To be like Him–Adopted into His
household!–You have a spot
reserved for you.
In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.
Outside my
window
Romans 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son…
Ephes. 1:5 ‘Every spiritual gift’–“Elected”–To be like Him–Adopted into His
household!–You have a spot
reserved for you.
In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.
“in Love” means
FREE WILL
She was “predestined”
Romans 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son…
Ephes. 1:5 ‘Every spiritual gift’–“Elected”–To be like Him–Adopted into His
household!–You have a spot
reserved for you.
In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.
“in Love” means
FREE WILL
Calvin’s 500th Birthday• “it's not about your
actions, your choosing, your determination…”
• you will never feel the wonder of grace, until you finally relinquish your claim to have any part of your salvation
SLAVERY!
Ephes. 1:5-6 His kind intentions!
Amazing grace!No strings attached!
Because he loves…
…according to the kind intention of His will. to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Ephes. 1:7 His kind intentions!Set FREE!
He paid for it!
Forgiven!
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses…
• “released”
Apolutrosis Ephesians 4:8 “...He led captive a host of captives , And He gave gifts to men."
Ephes. 1:7 His kind intentions!Set FREE!
He paid for it!
Forgiven!
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses…
Ephes. 1:7 His kind intentions!Set FREE!
He paid for it!
Forgiven!
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses…
1 Peter 1:12 things into which angels long to look.
Ephes. 1:7-8 We are spoiled!
Loved
Privileged!
Wealthy!
…the riches of his grace, which He lavished on us.
Ephes. 1:7-8 We are spoiled!
Loved
Privileged!
Wealthy!
…the riches of his grace, which He lavished on us.
But God also changes & empowers us
God’s Approach to Change• Not rules…• Rather:
Love & Mercy
Identity
Project
Our Way:• Demands• Judgment• Write-Off
2 Cor. 5:16“Therefore from now on we recognize no man according to the flesh…”Romans 2:4 (NASB) Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
God’s Approach to Change• Not rules…• Rather:
“In Christ”• NOT Vague• God invests• CHANGE!Love &
MercyIdentit
y Project