United with Christ and the Church.
EPHESIANS 1:1-10, 15-17
“This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.
Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.”
We are
because we are
with Christ.
Be United with
and the
in that
.
We are (United with Christ)
into the family of God by
. Our primary
is (identification) with the family of God. (Verse 5)
is needed to be
with Christ and His people. (Verse 16-17)
To be United with Christ and the Church, we need spiritual
and
.
MYTH TODAY: Love =
TRUTH TODAY: Love ≠
hand doctrine =
doctrines. We make room for one another’s Biblically informed opinions.
hand doctrine =
essential doctrines. We expect unity in Biblical thought.
The will of God is for the church to be
.
John 17:21
I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent
When the church is in
, God pronounces a
on the church.
Psalm 133
A song of ascents. Of David.
How good and pleasant it is when God’s
people live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard
down on the collar of his robe.
It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life for evermore.