Sermon – Ephesians 1:1-14 The Word of God

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

First Presbyterian Church of Ocean City

Sermon – Ephesians 1:1-14 The Word of God

January 3, 2016

This is the second Sunday in the season of Christmas. The twelve days Christmas will end this Tuesday. On Wednesday we begin the season of Epiphany. Epiphany means a sudden awareness of something. For Christians we became suddenly aware of the presence of God with us as Jesus Christ. and so the season of Epiphany is a time for celebrating the revelation our savior, the Light of the World. We will begin our worship during Epiphany next Sunday. But today, it's still Christmas. And so we return to our Christmas gifts. We will get to these, but first let's pray.

“Almighty God, you have filled us with the light of the Word who became flesh and lived among us. Let the light of faith shine in all that we do; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.” (Book of Common Worship p. 189)

Let's listen to the good news from the Apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus.

Ephesians 1:3-14

1 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he[d]made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Paul has listed for the Ephesians the most important gifts we receive from God at Christmas. These are election, predestination, redemption and forgiveness. Let's look at each of these wonderful gifts.

Election means that we have been chosen. God chose us, before our births for a very special task. We have been chosen to live holy and blameless lives. As Christians this is our purpose in life. God chose us to live in a certain way. And that way is to be free from sin. You have been given the ability by God to do this. And so now live your lives in a way that is pleasing to your God be holy and blameless. This is the meaning of the gift of election.

The second gift is predestination. This gift means that God decided, before you were born, to adopt you. You are now a child of God. This was sealed upon you in your baptism. As an adopted child of God you are now enabled to sing his praises. And why do we praise God? We praise him because he graciously gave us Jesus Christ. So we have been elected to lead holy and blameless lives and predestined to be adopted as the children of God to praise his holy name. But there are even more gifts.

The third gift is redemption. Redemption is paying the price to release someone from slavery. Since the fall of Adam and Eve we have been slaves to the devil and compelled to sin. But the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross paid that price. Through Jesus we have been redeemed and are no longer slaves to the devil. We are no longer compelled to sin. We are free to live holy and blameless lives as the adopted children of God. But there is still one more gift.

The fourth gift from God is forgiveness. Forgiveness means that everything you have done and 

everything you have left undone, all that displeases God, is now forgiven. God holds none of it against you. You are free from guilt. And this is truly a gift. There is nothing you have done or could do to cause God to forgive you. God forgives you solely because of his grace. God graciously forgives you and has released you from slavery to sin so that you may now live holy and blameless lives as his adopted children continually offering up praises to your heavenly father.

These gifts, election, predestination, redemption and forgiveness form the basis of our faith and our new lives in Jesus Christ. This is truly good news, but how do we know it to be true? How do we know that God has elected us for holy lives, predestined us to be his children, redeemed us from Satan's power, and forgiven our sins?

We know all this to be true because God reveals to us his will with wisdom and understanding. And that is why we worship. We come to church each week to offer up our praises and prayers to God and to listen for God's response to our praises and prayers in the reading and preaching of God's holy word. God speaks to us in the reading of scripture and in the pastor's preaching. The protestant reformers were very clear about what happen during worship. The reformer, Heinrich Bullinger writing the the 2^nd Helvetic Confession said,

“Wherefore when this Word of God is now preached in the church by preachers lawfully called, we believe that the very Word of God is proclaimed, and received by the faithful; and that neither any other Word of God is to be invented nor is to be expected from heaven: and that now the Word itself which is preached is to be regarded, not the minister that preaches; for even if he be evil and a sinner, nevertheless the Word of God remains still true and good.” (5.005 Book of Confessions, Constitution of the PCUSA)

And so in worship we hear God's word for us in the reading of scripture and preaching of the pastor. I believe that I was called by God to proclaim his holy word. This call of God's was confirmed by my church and the National Capital Presbytery. And eight years ago I was ordained as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament. Since then I have tried to live a life centered on daily meditation on scripture and prayer. This has enabled me to expound upon scripture each Sunday in a way that allows God to speak to the congregation. I assure you that my writing ability is not good enough to entertain you each Sunday. But I am confident that God is using me to say something to you each week. And what God has to say to you is vitally important. That's why we come to church. We have to hear from our creator each week.

Every Sunday I stand here and speak the words I truly think God wants you to hear. I pray for this to be the case. My words leave my mouth as sound waves. They are amplified by the sound system and they enter your ears. When the word of God enters your ears what happens? If you believe them to be true, truly the word of God, then all the promises of God, elected to lead holy and blameless lives, predestined to praise God as his adopted children, redeemed from the power of evil, and forgiven by God's grace, all of these gifts are sealed upon you by the Holy Spirit. As you listen to the preaching of God's word by a pastor called by God for this ministry the Holy Spirit comes upon you and the blessings of God are sealed upon you forever. That's why we come to worship.

Although God is present whenever people assemble to praise him, worship is far more than coming 

together in a way that is pleasing to God. Worship is far more that listening to music and throwing your hands in the air and speaking in tongues. Worship is far more than reading prayers and lighting candles. Worship is about talking to God in our prayers and receiving instructions from our creator in the reading and preaching of his word. Because true worship seals upon us all the promises of God as the Holy Spirit enters our lives.

If God desires to speak to you each Sunday how could you miss worship? Would you really rather spend Sunday morning in a coffee shop or on a golf course or sleeping in when your God wants to have a word with you? If Judge Mumford wanted you in his courtroom Monday morning you would go, wouldn't you? You wouldn’t tell the judge that coming today is not convenient. Well God wants to speak to you, and listen to your prayers every Sunday. Shouldn't you be here to hear what he has to say? I think so. I can't imagine not worshiping on Sunday mornings.

So get the word out that God desires to speak to his people every Sunday at 11am and 1pm right here at First Presbyterian Church. God will be right here to listen to prayers and proclaim his will for your lives. All those chosen to lead holy and blameless lives, predestined to praise God as his children, redeemed from slavery to evil, and forgiven by God's grace should be in worship every Sunday. Let's pray.

“Eternal God, a thousand years in your sight are like a watch in the night. As you have led us in days past, so guide us now and always, that our hearts may learn to choose your will, and new resolves be strengthened; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Book of Common Worship, p.190)