Grace Presbyterian Church, Montclair, New Jersey

By The Rev. Dr. Paul A. Leggett
Sunday, May 30, 2010 · Trinity Sunday

Sermon Text: Ephesians 1:3-14

Sermon Theme

This passage is one long statement of praise to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Paul uses the word “blessing” three times in one verse (v. 3).  This blessing assures of God’s care in the past, present and future.  First, God has chosen us in Christ “before the foundation of the world.”  This is not determinism but the joyful affirmation that God has included us with Jesus Christ to be his children (John 1:12-13).  Second, God has a plan that is unfolding before us in which all things in heaven and earth will be brought together in Christ.  Finally, the goal of all this is “the praise of his glory.”  In God’s ultimate praise the purpose and goal of our lives becomes complete.

Sermon Outline

1. People. We have become God’s people solely through God’s grace (Ephesians 2:5). We have been chosen as God’s adopted children before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).   Paul here is blessing God for the truth of divine election.  Unfortunately this teaching, also known as predestination, has frequently been misunderstood.  Election can only be understood in Christ.  This doctrine cannot be read as saying that God has arbitrarily determined the outcome of everyone’s life and everything that happens in each person’s life before the world was created.  Election is about Jesus Christ.  He is the one who was chosen before creation to be Savior and Lord (John 1:1-5; I Peter 1:20).   Jesus is in charge of everything and he is the one who chooses us (John 15:16).  Everything depends on our relationship to him.
2. Plan. God however does have a plan.  This plan is an expression of God’s “good pleasure that he set forth in Christ” (Ephesians 1:9).  It involves all three members of the trinity.   The mystery of God’s will has now been revealed in Christ (I Corinthians 2:1-2).  God’s plan is “for the fullness of time,” that is, the future.  We see aspects of this now but we don’t yet see its “fullness” (I Corinthians 13:12).  God is bringing everything together in Christ, “things in heaven and things on earth” (Ephesians 1:10).  This is an astonishing statement but one that is full of hope.  Everything in our world, all the good and even the evil, will ultimately be gathered up in Christ.  For Paul, the word “all” invariably admits of no exceptions.  The Triune God is accomplishing “all things according to his counsel and will” (Ephesians 1:11).  We don’t see now how that is happening but we know it is taking place because God’s plan cannot be frustrated.  This is neither fate nor determinism.  It is the promise of God’s ultimate plan, not only for us but for all creation (Romans 8:19-21).
3. Praise. Paul says that we are to “live for the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:12).  What does this mean?  It means first that we live in dependence on the Holy Spirit whose seal we bear (Ephesians 1:13).  To “seal” in this sense means to supply or help (Galatians 3:5; Philippians 1:19).  We have literally been empowered with the Holy Spirit who dwells within us (Acts 1:8).  The tragedy is that too many Christians do not depend on this power.  This is not a magic formula but a radical dependence on faith (this theme is demonstrated emphatically in Carl Dreyer’s film, <em>Ordet</em> (Word)).  Jesus’ critique of “you of little faith” expresses a failure of dependence on the Spirit (Matthew 14:31).  The more we rely on the Holy Spirit the more we praise God.  Secondly, we praise God through the knowledge that in the Spirit we have been given a pledge of our inheritance in Christ (Ephesians 1:14).   The Christian life is sustained by hope.  Paul reminds us that in hope we were saved but hope that is seen is not hope (Romans 8:24). We are assured that God’s promises in Christ will be fulfilled whatever our present experiences.  The more we hope in Christ the more effectively we witness to the truth of the gospel.  The more we hope in Christ the more we praise God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Questions for Us

1. The purpose of the Biblical doctrine of election is to provide us comfort and assurance in life's uncertainties. How do you think it does that?
2. Paul states that God the Father is gathering up "all things" in Christ, "things in heaven and things on earth" (Ephesians 1:10). How does this affect the outlook of our daily lives?
3. What are some of the ways we see God's power at work in us leading us to praise him? How does this help us testify to our hope in Christ?