Blessing in Christ
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Have you have heard someone express that they need to find themselves. I remember hearing this more in the 80s and 90s. But I still hear it today, just phrased differently. Why does one need to find themselves? They are going and changing mentally, emotionally, and physically. They are not sure what to do with their lives. They have always accepted and lived the way others want them to live and behave. There could be a variety of reasons.
I am thankful that I do not have to answer this questions, because I know that no matter how I answer this question, in and of myself, it would be insufficient. Because my knowledge is insufficient.
Since the beginning of time mankind has tried to answer questions like this they were insufficient to answer.
True is, we would all save ourselves a lot of time if we simply accept God’s Established Order.
God’s Established Order
God’s Established Order
God Established His Order in the beginning when he made everything “good” even “very good”
He gave us the answers to all the big questions of life from the beginning. These questions include...
Origin - Where did I come from?
++Purpose - Why am I here?
++Identity - Who am I?
++Morality - How should I live?
++Destiny - Where am I going?
Made perfect in the image of God. (God established Order)
Origin - Where did I come from?
Created by God (Genesis 1 and 2)
Purpose - Why am I here?
Created and Directed by God. God established purpose.
Be Fruitful and multiply, subdue the earth, rule of it. (Gen. 1:28)
Naming the animals, keeping the garden (2:15)
Created by Him that we might bring him glory.
Identity - Who am I?
Made in the image of God, Male and Female (Gen .1:26-27)
Morality - How Should I live?
According to God’s standards.
This is seen in the command given to man as what they were to do and what they were not to do.
Don’t eat of the tree (2:16-17)
Destiny - Where am I going?
Life with God
Death - Separation (2:17)
Purpose of man is to be glory of the creator . This is closely connected to his Identity - Made in his image. Morality - to behave is a way that is consistent with how one is made and in keeping with ones purpose and identity which is to glorify his creator. (Stupid computer)
Sadly the reason we struggle with God’s established Order to the world is because of what happened in Genesis and it’s continuing results. When Adam and Eve sinned it brought a Distortion of God’s Order
Distortion of God’s Order
Distortion of God’s Order
Began with Satan Deceptive Lie
++Continues with Man’s Acceptance of the Lie
Began with Satan Deceptive Lie
Satan’s lie is that we can be like God. We can make choices outside of God’s Order. We are created for ourselves. God is not a good God. Therefore, we can create our own God.
Continues with Man’s Acceptance of the Lie
The marred image of God (Man’s distortion of God’s Order)
Fall of humanity (Gen 3) brought a distorted reality. Mankind has sought to redefine life without God. It is for this very reason that mankind has struggle with the answers to these questions.
The Struggle became real as humanity sought to answer these questions apart from God.
Origin - Where did I come from?
Purpose - Why am I here?
Identity - Who am I?
Morality - How Should I live?
Destiny - Where am I going?
Once a person accepts the idea that their origin did not start with God, then everything is up for debate.
From that point on, humanity has created a false purpose, identity, and morality.
We may believe...
We create our on god. We determine our own purpose. We decide our own Identity. We choose our own morality. I am the god of my own destiny.
In doing this they really have accepted a new identity and destination. (Ephesians 2:1-3)
Ephesians 2:1-3 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Eph 2:1–3). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
Is this what it means to be created in the image of God? Though all mankind is created in the image of God, sin has marred that image. It is as if sin spray painted a red “X” on the canvas of our lives. Born into this state and man’s acceptance of it, in a sense, humanity took on a new identity, one that would result in God’s judgement.
God was not content that this should be the final fate for all humanity. So, from the beginning, God prepared a means of restoration of his order through Christ when he in Genesis 3:15 provided a coming deliverer who would deliver all humanity from the the curse sin had brought on creation. Thus God’s restoration of order through Christ.
God’s Restoration of Order Through Christ
God’s Restoration of Order Through Christ
Christ the hope of humanity - Genesis 3:15 (God’s restoration of Order through Christ)
God in His love, mercy, and grace made alive. He took that which was dead and destined for destruction and gave it life.
Ephesians 2:4-10 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Eph 2:4–10). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
God’s redemptive plan was to restore the marred image of God that mankind has not only ignored in their ignorance, but is without power to restore due to his total depravity.
In Christ, God has then revived our purpose, established our identity, corrected our morality and given us a new destiny. For this reason I give thanks and praise God which is the proper response according to Ephesians 1:3
Read Ephesians 1:3-14
Story of Mother’s testimony.
Our Spiritual Blessings
We are Chosen (v.4)
Chosen first on a football team.
When: Before the world was created
Not based on merit.
Why: So that we live lives that are Holy and w/o blame - Our purpose (we live lives that are a reflection of the nature Creator)
(As difficult as this may be, this was an act of love that I should live in this manner. As a human loving parent I am concerned about my children's behavior.)
The Father
++We are Adopted (v.5)
++We are Redeemed (v.7)
++The Son
++We are Mystery Recipients (v.9)
++We are Heirs
++The Holy Spirit
++We are Sealed
We are Adopted (v.5)
Adopted Girl at school. “I was adopted” she says proudly. My parent chose me and than paid a great price to get me. This girl says it proudly because she recognizes the sacrifice of love (resources) that was made for her and she feels valued and wanted.
She feel this love and value and acceptance because of the adopter. (Love and sacrifice) No doubt they spent some time communicating these things to her as well.
Why: It was God’s desire, it pleased Him, to demonstrate kindness toward us.
For praise of the glory of His grace. This was a demonstration of God’s glory expressed through His grace.
We are Redeemed (v. 7)
How: Christ Blood made forgiveness possible. God’s rich Grace, wisdom and prudence
We are Mystery Recipients (v.9)
In his wisdom and prudence/insight and a desire to show us his kindness once again, God revealed the mystery of his Son, Jesus Christ to us who have received him.
We are heirs (v.11)
Why: God purposed in advance that I might receive an inheritance because of the union I have with Christ. This was done according to his perfect plan.
Ultimately, my having hope Christ which is made possible by God’s grace was for God’s Glory (v.12)
We are Sealed (v.13)
When: The Moment you believed.
We were seal with the Holy Spirit, who himself is a promise that we will one day receive our full inheritance
The Holy Spirit being the Guarantee or Pledge of our future Inheritance when we are fully redeem out of this world and in the presence of our God. (v.14)
Why: God’s Glory
A few other considerations
The source of our blessing - God and the Lord Jesus Christ
++The Scope - Before the foundation of the world
++The determining factor - God’s will
++The Union- Blessed in Christ
++The Goal - The Glory of God
The source of our blessing - God and the Lord Jesus Christ
The Scope - before the foundation of the world
The determining factor - God’s will
The Union- Blessed in Christ: We are blessed because of our union with Christ. (Not because of us)
The Goal - The Glory of God: When it is for God’s glory it is for my good. These two are never in opposition. The are always in complete harmony.
God’s sovereignty is exercised primarily for His glory. But because you and I are in Christ Jesus, His glory and our good are linked together. Because we are united with Christ, whatever is for His glory is also for our good. And whatever is for our good is for His glory. Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God (p. 294). The Navigators. Kindle Edition.
As we seek God’s glory, we may be sure that He has purposed our good and that He will not be frustrated in fulfilling that purpose. Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God (p. 44). The Navigators. Kindle Edition.
Worldview questions
Origin - Where did I come from?
++God
++Purpose - Why am I here?
++God’s Glory
++Identity - Who am I?
++A Child of God
++Morality - How Should I live?
++Holy and blameless according to His glory.
++Destiny - Where am I going?
++I go to receive an inheritance that is mine in Christ Jesus.
Indeed we are blessed because of our union in Christ. Let’s continue in that thought as we prepare for communion.
Communion - Men come forward. A moment of quiet reflection and prayer as we prepare our hearts for communion.