The Identity Project Ephesians 1 The Identity Project

The Identity Project Ephesians 1

The Identity Project Ephesians 1

Revolution Chaos after the “Jerusalem council” Lots-o-DIRTY “Gentiles” • Thessalonians • 1 & 2 Corinthians Ephesus Explodes! Paul gets jailed… e c Ma ia n do

Revolution Chaos after the “Jerusalem council” Lots-o-DIRTY “Gentiles” • Thessalonians • 1 & 2 Corinthians Ephesus Explodes! Paul gets jailed… How to “clean up” this mess? – Tougher membership requirements? – More rules? – Paul’s answer: Ephesians

Saints: Ephes. 1: 1 – All Christians are: 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’ • 1: 1, 15, 18; 2: 19; 3: 8, 18; 4: 12; 5: 3; 6: 18 – They were no “saints” • “Holy Ones” !? ‘Special Ops’ Insiders/ privileged

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 Status/ Christ Jesus Privilege Because of HIM

Ephes. 1: 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and who are faithful in Christhas Jesus She great privilege “In Christ” • Lit: “In the King” • Why?

Ephes. 1: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. You too have great privilege “In Christ” • Lit: “In the King” • Grace and Peace • Position in Christ

Ephes. 1: 3 (NLT) 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. “In Christ” • Lit: “In the King” • Grace and Peace • Every bountiful gift All that’s available from God’s Kingdom

Ephes. 1: 4 He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. ‘Every spiritual gift’ – “Elected” Elite Purpose To be like God !?

Ephes. 1: 4 He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. ‘Every spiritual gift’ – “Elected” – To be like Him Elite Purpose To be like God !?

Ephes. 1: 4 He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. ‘Every spiritual gift’ – “Elected” – To be like Him Elite Purpose He knew you and loved you before you were born

Ephes. 1: 4 He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. • Forced NOT • “Fated” ‘Every spiritual gift’ – “Elected” – To be like Him 1 Peter 1: 1 -2 chosen according to the foreknowledge of God Foreknowledge is not causal

Ephes. 1: 4 He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. Did the mathematicians cause this? ‘Every spiritual gift’ – “Elected” – To be like Him 1 Peter 1: 1 -2 chosen according to the foreknowledge of God Foreknowledge is not causal

Ephes. 1: 5 ‘Every spiritual gift’ – “Elected” In love He predestined us to – To be like Him adoption as sons – Adopted into His through Jesus Christ to Himself, household! according to the kind intention of John 14: 2 "In My Father's house are His will. 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 In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will. ‘Every spiritual gift’ – “Elected” – To be like Him – Adopted into His household! – You have a spot reserved for you. 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.

Outside my ‘Every spiritual gift’ Ephes. 1: 5 – “Elected” In love He window predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will. – To be like Him – Adopted into His household! – You have a spot reserved for you.

Ephes. 1: 5 In love He predestined us to adoption as sons “in Love” means through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will. FREE WILL ‘Every spiritual gift’ She was “predestined” – “Elected” – To be like Him – Adopted into His household! – You have a spot reserved for you. Romans 8: 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son…

Ephes. 1: 5 In love He predestined us to adoption as sons “in Love” means through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will. FREE WILL th Birthday Calvin’s 500 ‘Every spiritual gift’ • –“it's not about your “Elected” actions, your choosing, –your To be like Him determination…” • –you will never feel. His the Adopted into wonder of grace, until household! you finally SLAVERY! relinquish any –your Youclaim havetoahave spot part of your salvation reserved for you. Romans 8: 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son…

Ephes. 1: 5 -6 …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. His kind intentions! Amazing grace! No strings attached! Because he loves…

Ephes. 1: 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses… Apolutrosis • “released” His kind intentions! Set FREE! He paid forledit! Ephesians 4: 8 “. . . He captive a host of captives , And He gave gifts to men. " Forgiven!

Ephes. 1: 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses… His kind intentions! Set FREE! He paid for it! Forgiven!

Ephes. 1: 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses… His kind intentions! Set FREE! He paid for it! Forgiven!

Ephes. 1: 7 -8 …the riches of his grace, which He lavished on us. 1 Peter 1: 12 things into which angels long to look. We are spoiled! Loved Privileged! Wealthy!

Ephes. 1: 7 -8 …the riches of his grace, which He lavished on us. But God also changes & empowers us We are spoiled! Loved Privileged! Wealthy!

God’s Approach to Change 2 Cor. 5: 16 • Not rules… Our Way: “Therefore from now on we • Rather: recognize no man according to Romans 2: 4 (NASB) Or do you the flesh…” think lightly of the riches of His • Demands kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the • Judgment Love & Identity kindness of God leads you to • Write-Off Mercy Project repentance?

God’s Approach to Change • Not rules… • Rather: Love & Mercy “In Christ” Identity Project • NOT Vague • God invests • CHANGE!