THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BEING IN CHRIST

Ephesians 1:1-14

1. Ephesians 1:1-14.

I. All spiritual blessings are in Christ (1:3).

A. All of us have been blessed in numerous ways. We are able to enjoy the blessings of our housing, food, and clothing. Beside the "necessities of life," we are able to afford many comforts of life (houses with air conditioning, comfortable cars, appliances that make many of our chores easier, telephones that allow us to talk to relatives hundreds of miles away, internet services that make it possible for us to communicate to people on the other side of the earth, and refrigerators with automatic ice makers). We are able to entertain ourselves with television, movies, and a number of recreational activities.

B. But these are not the blessings Paul is speaking of in Ephesians 1:3. These physical blessings are temporary and will not last. Our automobiles, appliances and other "gadgets" will wear out. One day the earth and all that is therein will be destroyed (II Peter 3:10-12). Paul, in Ephesians 1:3, is making reference to our spiritual blessings. While physical blessings are temporary, spiritual blessings are those things which have to do with the eternal welfare of our souls.

C. These spiritual blessings are in heavenly places. The NIV translates this "in heavenly realms". Notes in the margins of some Bibles indicate "heavenly things." Because these blessings are spiritual and not physical in nature, they cannot be found in physical places. These blessings originate "in the heavenlies," the place where Christ now sits at the right hand of God (Ephesians 1:12) and the place where all Christians have their citizenship (Philippians 3:20). A person can enjoy these spiritual blessings only if he is in Christ.

II. Redemption is for those who are in Christ (1:7).

A. Redeem means "to buy back" and involves deliverance from the guilt of sins (Romans 6:17-18). This deliverance was accomplished through Christ’s blood (I Peter 1:18-19). Because redemption is a spiritual blessing, it can not obtained by physical things such as silver or gold.

B. Those Christians at Ephesus were familiar with the practice of redemption. Slaves were sometimes freed by the payment of a ransom.

C. Our country is recently rejoicing in the return of several prisoners of war. Several of these prisoners were captured when they were ambushed after taking a wrong turn during the early part of the war with Iraq. Their deliverance parallels another grand rescue in which you and I are the captives. We have made some wrong turns in life, lost our focus, and fallen into enemy hands. Yet, God sent his Son to our rescue, to free us from the bondage of sin. This deliverance is experienced only by those who are in Christ.

D. Imagine if someone had saved your life. How would you feel toward that person? How would you respond? If you felt appreciative, you would want to do something to show your appreciation. If you felt indebted, you would want to return their good deed by doing something for them. What are we doing to show our appreciation to Christ? What are we doing to acknowledge our indebtedness to God?

III. An inheritance awaits those who are in Christ (1:11).

A. Paul taught that we are "predestinated" to receive this inheritance. The Calvinists teach that our salvation is unconditional, that it was decided before we were born whether we would be saved or not. In verses 3 through 14 of Ephesians, it is stressed no less than ten times that the wonders of salvation are given to those who are in Christ. Paul, in verse 11, is simply saying that God foreordained that the inheritance would be given to all those who are "in Christ." These were foreordained, not on an individual basis, but as a class of people – those who are "in Christ."

B. This inheritance, spiritual in nature, is different than any physical inheritance we receive. We receive a physical inheritance, such as money or land, when someone else dies. In order to receive our inheritance in heaven, someone had to die. That someone was Christ, of course. But in order to receive our inheritance in heaven we too must die. Not only do we die to self while on earth, we must one day die physically and leave this earth (unless Christ comes first, of course).

C. An inheritance awaits those who will surrender their lives to God and continually live a life of faithful service to him (I Peter 1:3-5).

1. Are you enjoying all spiritual blessings that are in Christ?