Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP230027S
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00:01 Hello Friends, I'm Jill Morikone.
00:02 I just want to welcome you 00:04 to our study of the book of Ephesians. 00:06 That's right, we're just beginning Quarter Number 3 00:09 as we journey through the book of Ephesians. 00:11 This is Lesson Number 2: 00:12 God's Grand, Christ-Centered Plan. 00:16 So, grab your Bible and pens and notebooks 00:18 to get ready to study together with us. 00:21 If you want your own copy of the Adult Bible Study Guide, 00:24 you can go to 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 00:26 That's 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 00:29 Download a Quarterly to study with us 00:32 or better yet, we always encourage you 00:35 to visit your local Seventh-day Adventist Church 00:38 and they'll be happy to share a Quarterly with you. 00:42 Get ready as we dive deep into the book of Ephesians. 00:46 Music... 01:16 Jill: Hello Friends, I'm Jill Morikone, 01:17 just welcome you to another 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 01:21 We're on Lesson Number 2, 01:22 God's Grand, Christ-centered Plan 01:25 as we journey into the book of Ephesians. 01:29 I think Paul... 01:31 I referenced this the last Sabbath School Panel, 01:32 Paul and John are my two favorite authors in the New Testament. 01:35 So, I'm excited about this journey 01:37 through the book of Ephesians. 01:39 Last week, we kind of did an overview of the book 01:42 and this week we dive into Ephesians 1 verses 3 through 14. 01:47 I want to introduce my family here on this Set... 01:49 your family as well, 01:51 to my left, Brother Daniel Perrin, 01:52 so glad to have you here. 01:54 Perrin: Thank you, I'm glad to be here, 01:55 I have Monday's Lesson 01:57 which is: Costly Redemption; Lavish Forgiveness. 01:59 Jill: Hmmm... that sounds good. 02:01 In the middle... the lady with the beautiful blue jacket, 02:04 Ms. Shelley Quinn, glad you're here. 02:05 Shelley: Thank you, Sister, 02:07 I have Tuesday's... which is the same title as 02:11 the overall... over-arching thing: 02:14 God's Grand; Christ-Centered Plan. 02:17 Jill: Amen... Brother Ryan Day, 02:19 Evangelist and Singer in Israel, so glad you're here. 02:22 Ryan: Amen, always great to be here, 02:23 I have Wednesday's Lesson entitled: 02:25 Living in Praise of His Glory. 02:27 Jill: Amen... last but not least, my Pastor, Pastor John Lomacang. 02:31 Lomacang: And I have: The Holy Spirit: 02:33 Seal and Down Payment. 02:35 I enjoyed this Lesson, so that's Thursday, 02:37 I'll be waiting... I'll be gleaning. 02:40 Jill: I love it being on Thursday 02:42 because you get to hear everybody as they go down the table. 02:44 Pastor John, would you pray for us? 02:46 Lomacang: Sure, let's pray. 02:47 "Loving gracious Father in heaven, 02:49 You've opened this door for us to walk through, 02:50 we walk by faith not by sight. 02:52 We've done what we've pleased our hearts to do 02:55 by studying and preparing these notes, 02:57 but without Your power, Lord, 02:59 it's of no value. 03:00 Send Your Holy Spirit now to communicate through us 03:03 to those who are watching and listening 03:05 and may Jesus Christ be glorified, 03:07 we pray in Your precious name, amen. " 03:10 Panel: Amen... amen. 03:12 Jill: Dr. John McVay did a great job with this Quarter 03:15 in these lessons. 03:16 We look at the opening to Ephesians, 03:19 we're looking specifically at Ephesians 1 verses 3 through 14, 03:23 and the Lesson called it: A Majestic Thank You Note. 03:27 Other people say, this Section is praise and worship 03:31 to God and Christ 03:33 but you know what Jill calls this Section? 03:35 This Section, to me, is the reminder of who I am in Christ. 03:40 Panel: Hmmm... amen. 03:42 Jill: Any time I start to falter, 03:43 any time I start to question, 03:45 any time I doubt who I am in Christ, 03:49 I go back to Ephesians chapter 1 03:52 and I discover who God says, I am. 03:56 Many years ago, 03:57 I did a young woman's retreat... 04:00 it was a Teen Girls' Retreat 04:02 and at the start of the Retreat, I said to the girls, 04:06 I said, "Why don't you write down... " 04:07 this is anonymous, 04:09 people are much more honest when they're anonymous, 04:10 "Write down one thing that you wish you could change 04:13 about yourself. " 04:14 And I actually kept this... this is many years ago. 04:16 All these years later, this is just a couple that I brought, 04:18 this is one girl... Insecurity... 04:21 Selfishness... 04:22 Judging other people... 04:25 My inability to love and trust other people... 04:28 My low self-esteem... 04:31 Fear... 04:32 Hate... 04:34 Anger... 04:36 My heart... 04:39 this one just says, "I want to change my life. " 04:42 these were teen girls... 04:45 the issues they wrestled with... 04:47 the issues they struggled with... 04:49 and, you know, we're going to discover 04:51 as we walk through the book of Ephesians, 04:52 that all of us are dead in trespasses and sins. 04:55 All of us were there 04:57 but we don't have to stay there. 04:59 Panel: Amen. 05:00 Jill: In Christ, we discover who we are. 05:02 It changes how we view other people. 05:04 It changes how we view ourselves. 05:06 It changes how we think... it changes how we act. 05:09 It changes how we love other people, 05:12 it changes how we forgive 05:13 and those interpersonal relationships. 05:16 Any time you forget who you are in Christ, 05:20 go back to Ephesians chapter 1. 05:22 Our Memory Text is Ephesians 1 verse 3, 05:26 you can turn there with me, Ephesians 1 verse 3, 05:29 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 05:31 who has blessed us in Christ 05:34 with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. " 05:39 Sunday's Lesson... we look at Chosen and Accepted in Christ 05:44 and I have four of those verses, 05:45 we're looking at Ephesians 1 verses 3 through 6, 05:48 and in that Section, Daniel, 05:50 we're going to look at seven things we discover. 05:52 We are in Christ from those four verses. 05:56 Before we do that, 05:58 it's interesting to me that you really see God the Father, 06:00 God the Son 06:01 and God the Holy Spirit present in these verses. 06:05 We see God the Father in verses 3 through 6 specifically, 06:09 "Bestowing on us His grace through His Son 06:12 and adopting us as His children. " 06:14 We also see the Holy Spirit... 06:16 we see that present in verse 3. 06:17 We see that God the Son... 06:19 I think Daniel's going to cover this. 06:21 The redemption and forgiveness in verses 7 and onward. 06:24 We see God the Holy Spirit, 06:27 Pastor John's going to cover that. 06:29 The Holy Spirit seals those who believe 06:33 and provides the guarantee of our faith. 06:36 So, who am I in Christ? 06:38 Here's seven things that you are in Christ 06:41 from these first few verses of Ephesians chapter 1. 06:45 We pick it up in verse 3, 06:47 In Christ... thing number 1 06:49 or identity characteristic you could say... 06:52 Number 1 of who you are is: Blessed. 06:55 Ephesians 1 verse 3, 06:56 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 07:00 who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing... " 07:04 that word "spiritual" comes from the original Greek word: Pneuma 07:07 which is: Spirit 07:09 we use that to reference the Holy Spirit. 07:11 He's blessed us with every spiritual blessing 07:14 in the heavenly places in Christ. 07:18 Takeaway number 1: 07:21 Recognition of who we are in Christ 07:23 comes through the Spirit. 07:26 You know, we can read the word of God, 07:28 but you don't really understand what it's saying to you, 07:31 the Holy Spirit is the One who brings conviction, right, 07:34 of sin... righteousness... of judgment... 07:36 the Holy Spirit is the One who teaches and instructs. 07:39 The Holy Spirit is the One who... 07:41 who woos us, you could say 07:45 to Himself. 07:47 So, we are... 07:48 recognition of who we are in Christ... 07:50 it only comes through the Spirit. 07:52 In Christ, we are blessed. 07:56 Let's look at the next thing we are in Christ, 07:58 we are chosen... we're going to the next verse, 08:00 Ephesians 1 verse 4, 08:02 "just as He chose us in Him... " 08:05 when? 08:07 "before the foundation of the world. " 08:10 I love that, Shelley, it reminds me of your favorite verse, 08:13 Revelation 13 verse 8, right... 08:16 how the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world. 08:20 I don't know about you, 08:22 were you ever chosen last for anything in life? 08:25 Some people are very athletically coordinated 08:26 and maybe we're chosen last for a sport's team. 08:29 Maybe some people aren't very musically gifted 08:32 and they're chosen last for some sort of competition. 08:35 Maybe some people aren't as intellectual 08:38 and maybe chosen last on a debate team in school 08:41 but in Christ, we were all chosen... 08:43 oooh! I love that! 08:45 in Christ, we were all chosen 08:47 from before the foundation of the world. 08:49 What does that mean? Takeaway Number 2: 08:52 He didn't choose us because of how well we performed, 08:55 He chose us from before creation 08:58 because he wanted us... 09:00 because he loved us. 09:02 If that doesn't tell you your value in Christ, 09:05 I love that... 09:07 I don't know what does. 09:08 In Christ, we are chosen... 09:11 it doesn't matter what we've done, 09:13 it doesn't matter where we've been, 09:15 in Christ, 09:16 you can be chosen. 09:19 Let's look at... keep going... 09:21 He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world 09:23 why? 09:25 That we should be holy and without blame 09:30 before Him in love. 09:32 That word "Hagios" that word for holy is Hagios 09:35 meaning: Sacred, Holy or set apart. 09:39 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 09:40 Jill: Christ set you and I apart to be holy, 09:45 He chose us to be holy in Him. 09:48 Takeaway Number 3: 09:50 We don't try harder... we don't grit our teeth, 09:54 we don't try to pull ourselves up by our boot straps, 09:57 He sets us apart to be holy in Him. 10:01 He called us to be holy not by our own merits 10:05 or our own efforts, 10:07 but through the in-filling power of the Holy Spirit. 10:11 He called us to be sanctified in Him. 10:14 In case we forget, okay, in Christ, we're blessed, 10:18 in Christ, we're chosen, 10:19 in Christ, we're holy... 10:21 it's reiterated... in Christ... number 4, 10:23 we're blameless. 10:24 Not just holy... we're blameless. 10:26 We should be holy and without blame... 10:29 before Him in love. 10:30 That word "without blame" in Greek 10:32 is derived from two words meaning "not" and "blemish" 10:37 literally meaning: without spot... 10:39 no blight... 10:40 the Strong's Concordance says this, 10:43 without blame... 10:44 without blemish... 10:45 faultless... 10:47 it's the same Greek word used in Jude 1 verse 24, 10:51 "Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling, 10:55 and to present you... " what's the word? 10:57 "faultless... " the same Greek word, 11:00 "faultless before the presence of His glory 11:02 with exceeding joy. " 11:04 So, God calls us to be holy and faultless 11:09 before Him in love. 11:11 Takeaway Number 4: 11:12 Christ is able to perfect our sinless characters 11:17 and make you and I like Jesus. 11:20 "Oh hallelujah... " Shelley would say, 11:22 "praise the Lord for that. " 11:24 1st Thessalonians 5:24, 11:26 "Faithful is He who called you, 11:27 who also will do it. " Panel: That's right. 11:31 Jill: In Romans 4:17, 11:32 God calls those things that are not 11:34 as though they already were. 11:36 Oooh, I love that. 11:37 Let's look at the fifth characteristic, 11:39 "in Christ" we are predestined. 11:42 Now, this word we get hung up on... 11:44 sometimes Seventh-day Adventists, 11:46 we say, "wa... wait... wait a minute, 11:48 we don't like to use the word, "Predestined... " 11:50 because that means only certain people 11:52 are predestined to be saved 11:53 and certain to be lost... 11:54 no... that's not what it's talking about. 11:56 Ephesians 1 verse 5, 11:58 "having predestined us to adoption 12:01 as sons by Jesus Christ. " 12:04 Paul is not saying that only certain people can be saved. 12:08 He's very clear in 1st Timothy 2 verse 4, 12:10 "God desires all men to be saved 12:14 and to come to the knowledge of truth. " 12:16 not just certain people that He's predestined 12:18 ought to be saved. 12:19 No, He wants all to be saved. 12:21 2nd Peter 3:9, "God is not willing that any should perish, 12:24 but that all should come to repentance. " 12:27 So, if He wants all to be saved 12:29 and all to come to repentance, 12:30 what is this talking about? 12:32 Paul is saying that God made provision 12:35 before the world was even created 12:38 for all sinners... that's you and me 12:40 to be restored to divine favor... 12:43 to be adopted as His children. 12:46 Takeaway Number 5: 12:47 From before creation, 12:48 God made provision for you and I 12:51 to be predestined to be saved. 12:54 He wants everybody to be saved. 12:56 Not only that... Number 6: 12:58 We are adopted... 13:00 Having predestined us to adoption as sons 13:03 by Jesus Christ Himself 13:04 according to the good pleasure of His will. 13:07 You and I are not children of darkness... 13:10 we're light in the Lord. 13:11 We're not sold under sin, 13:13 we are set free by the power of God. 13:16 We are not enslaved, 13:18 we are redeemed by the blood of Christ. 13:21 Takeaway Number 6: 13:22 Adoption by Jesus Christ gives you and I freedom, 13:26 rights and an inheritance. 13:30 Finally, Number 7: 13:31 In Christ, we are accepted. 13:34 We're in Ephesians 1:6, 13:36 "To the praise of the glory of His grace, 13:39 by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. " 13:41 Remember sin brought separation from God 13:45 when Adam and Eve sinned in Genesis chapter 3, 13:47 sin brought that separation from God. 13:50 Jesus came to reconcile... 13:52 we see this in 2nd Corinthians 5:18, 13:55 "to reconcile the world to God. " 13:58 In other words, He bridged the gulf 14:01 so that you and I could be accepted in God. 14:04 Takeaway Number 7... our final takeaway, 14:08 Christ's substitutionary sacrifice 14:10 makes us accepted in the beloved, 14:13 so, in Christ, we are blessed, chosen, holy, blameless, 14:16 predestined, adopted and accepted. 14:19 Panel: Amen. 14:21 Perrin: It's a great list, thank you, Jill. 14:23 I'm Daniel Perrin and I have Monday's Lesson: 14:27 Costly Redemption; Lavish forgiveness. 14:30 This Quarterly is literally taking us verse by verse 14:33 through Ephesians and this brings us to verse 7 14:35 of chapter 1 of Ephesians. 14:38 A picture is worth a thousand words, they say, 14:41 if you see something, you can understand it. 14:44 1st Peter chapter 1 verse 12, 14:46 Peter talks about prophets who shared 14:48 the gospel message... they taught it 14:50 through the Holy Spirit 14:51 and then he adds this phrase about the gospel, 14:55 "things which angels desire to look into... 14:58 that there is something... a picture that they want to see. " 15:01 And so, with one word, Paul sometimes paints a picture 15:05 for us. 15:06 He does that with the word "gift" 15:08 and justification and sacrifice. 15:10 But here at Ephesians 1 verses 7 and 8, 15:12 it says, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, 15:17 the forgiveness of sins, 15:18 according to the riches of His grace 15:20 which He made to abound toward us 15:22 in all wisdom and prudence. " 15:24 Now everyone back then... 15:26 they knew exactly what redemption was all about. 15:29 We've got to go back in time a little bit 15:31 to get a picture of this word. 15:32 If you were in Paradise and you were enjoying it 15:36 and the weather was good 15:37 and the birds were singing 15:39 and someone came and ripped and dragged you out of there, 15:40 you might not be too pleased. 15:42 Panel: Laughter. 15:43 Perrin: But if someone dragged you out of slavery, 15:45 that would be different 15:46 and so, everybody in ancient Rome understood the life of a slave. 15:50 It was illegal to formally marry. 15:52 No control of your education if you could receive any. 15:55 No physical mobility... 15:57 no upward mobility... 15:59 no sideways mobility, 16:00 no plans for the future, 16:02 private ownership... 16:03 no privacy for that matter, 16:05 no right to object, 16:07 no freedom of conscience, 16:09 bodily autonomy, 16:10 no access to medical care, 16:12 and so, there are those who have estimated 16:15 that up to 20 percent of the Roman Empire, 16:17 even more so in the city of Rome, 16:19 were slaves. 16:20 And there were people who suggested, 16:22 "If we could have all the slaves wear an identifying garment" 16:26 well, that idea was nixed 16:27 because then they would realize how many other slaves there were 16:30 and perhaps, they would revolt. 16:32 In fact, archaeologists have discovered that 16:35 there are... they've dug up metal collars 16:37 with riveted tags on them to identify a slave... 16:41 to prevent them from escaping 16:43 and... and to give instructions to return them. 16:46 And so, this then becomes an illustration of sin, 16:49 slavery, 16:50 and you could be born into slavery 16:52 and we find that in sin as well, 16:55 born into a sinful nature and the consequences of sin. 16:58 We could also be conquered 17:00 and that happens to us too, an enemy intrudes 17:03 and a friend in Grade School they share a picture with you, 17:08 or a song with you, 17:09 or a relationship with you 17:11 and suddenly, you're conquered 17:14 and it's been downhill ever since. 17:16 Or something shows up on a device, 17:19 and all of a sudden, you are conquered. 17:21 Redemption is the experience of having your freedom 17:25 purchased from slavery 17:27 and that's what everybody then understood. 17:29 Paul talks about this in his book to Philemon 17:33 about the runaway slave, Onesimus 17:35 and listen to what he says in verses 15 to 18, 17:37 he says, "Receive him... 17:39 receive the former slave, 17:41 receive the runaway slave forever, 17:42 no longer as a slave but more than a slave... 17:45 a beloved brother... " 17:47 in other words, let his slavery go. 17:49 "Receive him as you would me. 17:51 But if he has wronged you or owes you anything, 17:53 put that on my account. " 17:55 In other words, let me pay and make him better than a slave. 18:00 We often use this word interchangeably, 18:03 "Redemption" with "salvation" 18:04 but it's a specific picture. 18:06 There are two New Testament words, 18:07 one of them is "agorazo" 18:09 which is the price that is paid to redeem a slave or a cost, 18:13 we find this in Revelation 5:9, 18:16 it says, "You are worthy to take the scroll, 18:18 and to open its seals; 18:19 for You were slain, and have redeemed" 18:21 or purchased us 18:22 "by Your blood. " 18:23 But the word Paul uses here 18:25 is "apolutrosis" 18:26 which focuses on being delivered from the old manner of life... 18:31 the change to a new life. 18:32 We read about it in Titus 2:13 and 14, 18:35 it says, "Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, 18:37 that He might redeem us 18:40 from every lawless deed. " 18:42 Redemption here is a before and after experience. 18:46 Your life goes through a change. 18:48 You're redeemed from sin 18:50 that literally, before you were in shackles of guilt and shame 18:55 and now you have forgiveness and peace 18:57 and something changes. 18:59 Redeemed from total darkness which is ignorance. 19:02 Maybe you didn't even know there was a better life, 19:05 you didn't know that there was another option 19:07 unaware that the patterns of your life 19:09 were following worldly customs and slavery to sin. 19:12 Redeemed from Servitude. 19:15 Controlling habits... deeply seated habits 19:18 from which you are helpless to extricate yourself 19:21 and somebody... something more powerful has to come 19:24 and pull you out. 19:26 Maybe you've been there 19:27 and maybe you're there right now saying, 19:29 "I'm stuck... I need somebody else to redeem me. " 19:33 Redeemed from worldly traditions... 19:35 worldly examples... 19:36 worldly comfortabilities, 19:38 we've been flowing along with what we call: 19:40 a normal life or a new normal 19:43 and it simply is... then the normal of slavery to sin, 19:47 the world slavery. 19:48 Well, how are we redeemed? 19:50 Because there is a price to redeem a slave 19:53 and a cost for us... it's... it's not money, 19:55 it is a substance... it's blood 19:57 and on the one hand, blood is biohazardous waste 20:02 that... that could be discarded 20:03 and some people do that with the blood of Christ. 20:05 On the other hand, blood is a valuable prized possession, 20:09 not a possession but you think about it, 20:12 if you have AB-positive blood type 20:14 you can receive blood from anyone, 20:17 but if you are O negative, 20:18 well, then you've got to receive blood 20:20 from somebody who has O negative blood 20:22 which is seven percent of the population 20:24 and so, that blood is precious... 20:26 it's valuable. 20:28 The price of redemption... 20:29 our blood takes us to the foot of the cross 20:32 to the blood of Christ 20:34 because He has good blood. 20:36 We have tainted blood... 20:38 polluted... diseased... 20:40 infected... contaminated dirty blood 20:42 and if I... if I were to go give blood, 20:45 at the end of that experience, I could... 20:48 take a... they give you a little sticker... two bar codes, 20:50 one of... they... they look identical, 20:52 one of them says, "Don't use this blood. " 20:55 You can put that on there saying, 20:56 "My blood is not good... " 20:58 all right, for whatever reason. 20:59 1st Peter 1:18 and 19, 21:02 says, "knowing that you were not redeemed 21:03 with corruptible things, like gold and silver... " 21:05 some people say, "Invest in gold, it's good... " 21:08 it's corruptible... we know it. 21:09 All right, "from your aimless conduct 21:11 received by tradition from your fathers... " 21:13 that's an inherited diseased blood, 21:15 "but redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, 21:17 as of a lamb without blemish or spot. " 21:20 Jesus Himself is the only true universal donor 21:25 when it comes to blood 21:27 because we need a very specific kind of blood. 21:30 Panel: That's right. 21:31 Perrin: It's got to be perfect in the likeness of sinful flesh, 21:34 but sinless. 21:36 Panel: Hmmm... 21:37 Perrin: We need blood that... that adds up to something 21:40 and Jesus... His life... and when you... 21:43 when you add up the value of every human life 21:46 lived throughout eternity, 21:48 the value of Jesus is still greater than that. 21:52 Panel: Yeah... hmmm... 21:53 Perrin: The life of Jesus is not just a document: 21:55 Jesus of Nazareth Identification Number... 21:58 no... 22:00 eternal unity with the Father and the Son, 22:02 that is worth something. 22:04 The One through whom the Father created all things, 22:06 that is really worth something. 22:08 The One who is the image of the invisible God 22:11 that is irreplaceable... 22:13 unmeasurable... 22:14 both Son of God and Son of man. 22:17 That is a treasure worth counting on. 22:20 Panel: Yeah... that's right. 22:21 Perrin: What parent... if they received a ransom note 22:24 would not literally liquidate their entire fortune 22:27 and pay what was required. 22:29 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... Perrin: That's what God does. 22:31 Matthew 20:28 says, 22:33 "The Son of man did not come to be served, 22:36 but to serve, 22:37 and to give His life as a ransom for many. " 22:41 That word "ransom" is "Lutron" it's related to it... 22:44 it's the same derivative of that word "apolutrosis" 22:48 because "lutron" is the price that was paid 22:51 to redeem the life of a slave. 22:53 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 22:54 Perrin: What did Jesus give when He gave Himself? 22:56 The redemption price. 22:57 Panel: Right... 22:59 Perrin: And He did not begrudge the price 23:00 and He did not resent the cost. 23:02 In fact, there's rejoicing in heaven 23:05 when that cost is paid over one sinner who repents. 23:10 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 23:11 Perrin: And repentance, then, brings us full circle 23:14 to the "before" and "after" experience 23:17 of what redemption is 23:19 because we live out... 23:20 we have to live out what God is purchasing in us. 23:24 He makes the payment but we have a choice. 23:28 God doesn't just want to improve our condition 23:31 in this life of slavery. 23:33 He starts there... He starts there, 23:35 but He goes somewhere different. 23:37 The goal for God is a total change of my loyalty 23:42 because I have a choice in my redemption. 23:46 Romans 1 verses 18 and 19, such a powerful verse here, 23:49 it says, "Having been set free, 23:51 you became slaves of righteousness. " 23:54 There's that word again, 23:56 you've been redeemed from slavery, 23:58 to become slaves of righteousness. 24:00 He says, "So now then, present your members 24:03 as slaves of righteousness for holiness. " 24:06 This is God's work in us and for us. 24:08 This takes us to that great song... 24:11 might be dangerous to break out in song so I won't do it 24:13 but redeemed by the blood of the Lamb... 24:16 what a great song! 24:17 And the ending words of that song, 24:19 "His child and forever I am. " 24:22 God's redemption lasts. 24:24 Jill: Amen, I love that, thank you so much, 24:27 we're going to take a short break 24:28 we'll be right back. 24:30 Music... 24:35 Ever wish you could watch a 3ABN Sabbath School Panel again 24:38 or share it on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter? 24:41 Well, you can by visiting 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 24:46 A clean design makes it easy 24:49 to find the Program you're looking for. 24:51 There are also links to the Adult Bible Study Guide 24:54 so you can follow along. 24:56 Sharing is easy. 24:57 Just click "Share" and choose your favorite Social Media. 25:01 Share a Link... 25:02 Save a Life... for Eternity. 25:04 Pause... 25:06 Jill: Welcome back to our study of Ephesians, 25:07 it's Ephesians chapter 1, 25:09 we're going to kick it over to Shelley Quinn 25:10 and Tuesday's Lesson. 25:12 Shelley: I'll tell you... you all laid a marvelous foundation 25:14 and it's just so inspiring 25:16 to get into the book of Ephesians 25:18 and as you said, any time that you feel a little downhearted, 25:23 just get in and start claiming all of these promises. 25:25 My name is Shelley Quinn, I have Tuesday: 25:29 God's Grand, Christ-centered Plan, 25:33 let's begin with Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 4, 25:37 and Paul wrote, "just as He chose us in Him... " 25:41 in Christ... 25:42 "before the foundation of the world, 25:45 that we should be holy and without blame 25:49 before Him in love. " 25:50 You know, Paul mentions in Second Timothy 1 verse 9 25:54 that God has saved us 25:56 and called us with a holy calling, 25:58 not according to our works, 26:00 but according to His own purpose and grace 26:04 which was given to us in Christ Jesus 26:09 before time began. 26:11 In Titus chapter 1 verse 2, 26:14 he talks about the hope of eternal life 26:17 which God, who cannot lie, 26:21 promised before time began. 26:24 When we talk about the gospel, 26:29 it's the good news. 26:30 Revelation 14:6 talks about the everlasting gospel. 26:35 It is the everlasting... 26:37 the everlasting good news 26:39 that God planned before he created us. 26:43 When God created a perfect universe... 26:48 a perfect world... 26:50 a perfect garden... perfect people, 26:53 He operates by a government of love 26:57 and choice. 26:59 Sin entered into his sphere of righteousness. 27:03 It fractured the relationship between God and man 27:07 and between man and man. 27:10 But, you know what? It didn't catch God by surprise. 27:14 Before he created the world, 27:16 God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit... 27:20 you say, "How can one God be three persons?" 27:23 God... the Father Son and Holy Spirit, 27:27 that's not one plus one plus one, 27:30 but one times one times one equals one. 27:33 The Godhead got together and they decided 27:37 one of them would come down 27:40 and take on our flesh 27:43 and pay the penalty for sin. 27:45 Now, this is interesting. 27:48 Philippians tells us 27:51 that when Jesus Christ came down, 27:55 He was God... He took on our flesh... 27:58 laid aside everything of His glory 28:02 but what the Bible tells us 28:04 is that... the... the goal of the everlasting gospel 28:09 2nd Corinthians 5:21, 28:11 that He made Him who knew no sin 28:14 to be sin for us, 28:16 that we can become the righteousness of God 28:18 in Christ Jesus. Panel: Right, that's right. 28:20 Shelley: Jesus Christ... my favorite verse, 28:22 Revelation 13:8... 28:24 is the Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world. 28:30 He introduced a substitutionary sacrificial system in the Garden, 28:35 He introduced the everlasting covenant in Genesis 3:15 28:39 and God has only ever had one plan 28:43 and that plan is that all would be saved 28:47 through righteousness by faith. 28:49 If righteousness by faith has two aspects, 28:52 He delivers us from the penalty of sin. 28:56 But God also through Christ delivers us 29:00 from the power of sin. 29:02 Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. 29:07 Now, I love what Paul is saying here. 29:11 He's introducing God's plan, 29:14 he labels it as: The mystery of His will... 29:18 His purpose and a plan for the fullness of all times. 29:21 What was God's plan? 29:23 He's going to unite everything everywhere in Jesus. 29:28 In Ephesians 1:9 through 10 he says, 29:32 "having made known to us the mystery of His will, 29:34 according to His good pleasure 29:36 which He purposed in Himself, 29:38 that in the dispensation 29:41 of the fullness of times" 29:44 notice... that's plural... 29:46 "in the fullness of times 29:48 He might gather in one all things in Christ, 29:54 both which are in heaven and on earth. " 29:57 So, Paul is announcing that unity in Christ 30:01 is the grand, divine goal for the universe. 30:06 And what we see is this... 30:10 when he says "mystery" it's not a secret, 30:14 it's just that it wasn't fully understood 30:19 in times past. 30:20 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm. 30:22 Shelley: What you see is the everlasting gospel is introduced 30:24 in Genesis 3:15, 30:26 and it progressively unfolds throughout the Old Testament 30:31 and each generation understood a bit... 30:34 understood this. 30:36 You know prophecy is never fully understood 30:38 until it is fulfilled. 30:40 So, there's all... this... this universal unity 30:44 there were stages of development, 30:46 it's all adding up to the big reveal of Christ Jesus 30:50 when He came. 30:51 So, Paul is just one of these excited voices 30:56 that gets to announce this 30:57 and he says in Ephesians 1:18, 31:00 he says, "O, that the eyes of your understanding 31:04 would be enlightened; 31:05 that you may know the hope of His calling. " 31:07 The hope of His calling as you so perfectly told us, Jill, 31:11 is that in Christ we are a new creation. 31:16 The old is gone... the new is come. 31:19 We have all these blessings in Christ. 31:21 We have all the glorious riches of His inheritance in the saints. 31:27 He says in Ephesians 2:13, 31:30 2:12 and 13, 31:32 he's speaking to them, he says, "You know, 31:35 once at that time you were without Christ, 31:38 being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel 31:42 and strangers from the covenants of promise... " 31:46 that everlasting covenant 31:49 that God put in motion before He created the world. 31:53 He said, "You had no hope 31:55 you were without God in the world. 31:57 But now in Christ... " 32:00 he's speaking specifically to the Gentiles... 32:03 "you who were once far off 32:06 have been brought near by the blood of Christ. " 32:10 You've been reconciled with God. 32:12 Jesus is our peace 32:14 and He wants us to be reconciled with one another. 32:17 He tells us in Ephesians chapter 4 32:20 verses 4 through 6, 32:22 "There is one body... one Spirit, 32:27 just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 32:32 there's one Lord, 32:34 one faith, 32:36 one baptism; 32:37 one God and Father of all, 32:41 who is above all, and through all, 32:45 and in you all. " 32:48 Jesus is the center and circumference of our faith. 32:53 Panel: That's right. 32:54 Shelley: He is the center and circumference... 32:56 the supreme hope of the church. 33:00 When Paul says, 33:02 "This great plan is the unity of all things... 33:07 all believers... " 33:08 we need to look around and say, 33:10 "How unified are we? 33:12 Are we fulfilling God's great plan in the world?" 33:15 He tells us that God is going to win the great controversy 33:21 by overcoming the evil of earth's time, 33:25 he says in Ephesians 1:9, "Making known to us 33:28 the mystery of His will... " 33:30 His plan... His purpose... 33:32 "that is in accordance with His good pleasure... " 33:36 His merciful attention, 33:37 "which He previously purposed set forth in Him, 33:42 He planned for the maturity of the times 33:45 and the climax of the ages, 33:46 to unify all things and head them up 33:50 and consummate them in Christ 33:52 both things in heaven and on earth. " 33:55 I have to read what Pastor John McVay wrote 34:00 because this is beautiful. 34:02 He says, "In this way, 34:04 the church signals to the evil powers 34:07 that God's plan is underway 34:10 and their divisive rule will end. " 34:14 Division is sown by Satan. 34:17 Panel: Hmmm... 34:19 Shelley: He says, "As the Bible says, 34:20 'the devil has come down to you, 34:21 having great wrath, 34:23 because he knows that he has a short time. '" 34:26 But he says, "The last half of Paul's letter 34:28 opens with this passionate call to unity, 34:32 he continues with a lengthy exhortation 34:35 to avoid behavior 34:36 that damages unity... " please listen to God's heart, 34:41 God doesn't want us to be divided. 34:44 He said, "instead, it is to build solidarity 34:48 with fellow believers. " 34:51 and he concludes this rousing image of the church 34:55 as a unified army. 34:57 We cannot beat Satan at his game 35:00 until we become a unified army 35:03 participating with vigor 35:05 in waging peace in the name of Christ. 35:10 Panel: Hmmm... amen. 35:11 Ryan: Thank you so much Shelley 35:13 for that beautiful lesson, 35:14 I have Wednesday's lesson, my name is Ryan Day 35:15 and the Lesson is entitled: Living... 35:17 I'm going to say this a little slower 35:19 because it just helps to really comprehend 35:22 what it is we're studying... 35:24 Living in Praise of His Glory. 35:26 I think it... sometimes... we need to slow things down, 35:28 just comprehend what it is we're studying 35:30 because in this case, 35:31 we need to learn to live in praise 35:34 of His glory... not our own 35:36 and, you know, the lesson brings out 35:38 and I'm not... there's a large chunk of this 35:40 that I feel we've already somewhat covered, 35:42 there's a lot of repetition and that's great 35:43 because repetition is a great teacher 35:45 but having been through these particular verses here 35:48 in Ephesians chapter 1, 35:49 the Lesson brings out that you know, Paul reached a point 35:52 where he recognized that the Ephesians 35:54 had basically lost a clear sense of who they were as Christians, 35:58 in fact, in Ephesians chapter 3 verse 13 36:01 talks about how they had lost heart 36:03 and so, he's trying to awaken them back to this concept 36:06 of who they are in Christ. 36:08 He's trying to help them understand 36:10 their spiritual identity in Christ. 36:12 We see that word... that phrase coming up many, many times, 36:15 "in Christ... in Christ... in Christ... " 36:16 so that could be kind of the... the theme of this whole book, 36:19 as Paul saying, "You're in Christ... 36:20 in Christ... in Christ. " 36:22 All of this is in Christ and so... 36:23 and, of course, he reminds us in here that 36:26 their lives as well as our own should shout the message 36:28 of Ephesians chapter 1 verses 3 through 14, 36:30 we're going to read a couple of these verses 36:32 but they've been covered very clearly up to this point, 36:35 but, you know, Paul really... in this particular lesson... 36:38 we're going to hone in on what he teaches 36:40 and what he brings out in terms of our inheritance 36:44 or God's inheritance, 36:46 so, this "inheritance" concept 36:47 so, not once... not twice... but three times 36:50 in this particular passage of Ephesians chapter 1 36:53 much like the "in Christ" passage, 36:56 this comes up three times 36:57 inheritance... inheritance... inheritance. 36:59 So, he... he wants us to focus in on that 37:01 and so, what I would like to do is 37:03 start with Ephesians chapter 1 verse 11, 37:05 and then we're going to go read Ephesians chapter 1 37:07 verses 13 and 14, 37:09 and specifically verse 14 there 37:11 and then we're going to read verses... 37:13 Ephesians chapter 1 verses 15 through 18 37:15 and we're going to hone in on verse 18 37:18 so, verses 11, 14, and 18 is what we're focusing on 37:21 and I'm going to read verse 11 here, 37:23 this is Ephesians 1:11, we read it already 37:24 but it says here, 37:26 "In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, 37:29 being predestined according to the purpose of Him 37:32 who works all things according to the counsel of His will. " 37:36 So, in Him also we have obtained an inheritance, 37:40 all right, what does that actually mean? 37:41 We're going to talk about that in just a moment. 37:43 Now, we'll skip down to Ephesians chapter 1 verse 13 and 14, 37:47 14 is what we are focusing on 37:49 but we're going to read it in context of verse 13. 37:51 It says in verse 13, 37:52 "In Him you also trusted, 37:54 after you heard the word of truth, 37:56 the gospel of your salvation; 37:58 in whom also, having believed, 38:00 you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. " 38:03 And then he goes on to say in verse 14, 38:06 "who is the guarantee of our inheritance 38:09 until the redemption of the purchased possession, 38:12 to the praise of His glory. " 38:15 I love that... we're going to come back to that. 38:16 Now going to Ephesians chapter 1 we're going to read verses 15 38:19 and we're going to set up verse 18. 38:21 So it says "Therefore... " in verse 15, 38:23 "I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus 38:27 and your love for all the saints, 38:29 do not cease to give thanks for you, 38:31 making mention of you in many... " 38:33 excuse me, "Do not cease to give thanks for you 38:36 making mention of you in prayers: 38:37 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, 38:39 the Father of glory, 38:40 may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation 38:43 in the knowledge of Him... " 38:45 and now verse 18, 38:46 "the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; 38:49 that you may know what is the hope of His calling, 38:54 what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance 38:58 in the saints. " 38:59 Did you catch that? 39:00 So, the lesson actually is bringing out 39:02 and it asks the question here, 39:03 "Compare the uses of the idea of 'inheritance' 39:05 in... in these three verses 39:06 and what is it that Paul... 39:08 what's the big idea that Paul is trying to communicate here?" 39:11 Well, the lesson actually brings this out 39:12 and I love this because 39:14 when you read further down in the lesson, 39:15 this is what Brother McVay brings out very clearly, 39:17 he says, "Have you ever received an inheritance 39:19 as a result of someone's death?" 39:23 This is the reality in life, right, this happens. 39:25 "Perhaps a relative left you a valuable treasure 39:28 or a considerable sum of money. 39:30 In Paul's view by virtue of the death of Jesus, 39:35 Christians have received an inheritance from God... " 39:39 we see that in verse 14 very clearly 39:42 but notice this, 39:43 it also says, "And become an 'inheritance' to God. " 39:47 And we see that clearly in verse 18 39:49 but even he goes on to suggest that even verse 11 39:53 suggests this as well because it says, 39:55 "In the Old Testament, 39:56 God's people are sometimes 39:57 thought of as being His 'heritage'" 40:00 and we see this, you know, in terms of an inheritance 40:03 in Deuteronomy 9... 40:05 in Deuteronomy 32 40:06 as well as Zechariah chapter 2. 40:07 It says, "This sense of being or becoming God's inheritance 40:10 is clear in Ephesians 1:18... " 40:13 we just read that, 40:14 it seems as... it makes it very clear 40:15 that we are God's inheritance 40:17 and that's like "what? What does that even mean?" 40:19 "And it is likely the meaning of the term 40:21 in Ephesians 1:11 as well 40:23 which would then be translated... " 40:26 Okay, little bit different than what we read earlier, 40:29 it says, "In Him, we have become an inheritance. 40:32 So, as a central element in their Christian identity, 40:36 Paul wishes believers to know their value to God. " 40:39 Like, this is the... this is the main point here, 40:41 "Who are you in the Lord?" 40:43 Be reminded that you're just not some... 40:45 some random speck in the universe, 40:47 you are God's... 40:49 you are not... He has not only given you an inheritance, 40:51 but you are His inheritance. 40:54 "Therefore, the final message brings about 40:56 that they not only possess an inheritance from God, 40:58 but they are God's inheritance. " 41:01 And so, you know, the message also... 41:03 the... the... the lesson brings out 41:04 that I thought was a great question, 41:06 You know, "What is the difference between 41:07 working to get something and inheriting it instead?" 41:09 Panel: Hmmm... 41:11 Ryan: You know, you think of a... 41:12 of inheritance, you know, I'm... 41:13 you know, my father has discussed this with... 41:15 with... with me and my siblings many times, 41:17 he's still a young man 41:18 and I believe he's going to be with us... 41:19 I believe he's going to be a 100 before he dies, I don't know, 41:22 but I have faith in that, 41:24 he's still a healthy young man and... but he has 41:26 had that talk with us... we've... conversed with us 41:28 and he says, "You know, I'm going to leave you something, 41:30 I've... I've already, made it clear in my will 41:31 and, you know, what... what I'm leaving behind. " 41:35 But it's interesting when you think of that inheritance, 41:37 I don't deserve it. 41:38 It's... it's all the works of his life, 41:40 what he earned... what he worked for... 41:42 what he established 41:43 but when that's left to me, I didn't earn it, 41:45 it's not something that I worked hard to get 41:48 I... I inherit it 41:50 and so the lesson brings out, 41:53 "How does the idea help us understand 41:54 what we have been given in Christ?" 41:56 And it brings back the idea that we are His inheritance, 41:59 we have received this inheritance, 42:01 we're unworthy, we have not worked... 42:03 we have not earned it, 42:04 how are you going to earn an inheritance 42:05 that Jesus Christ has accomplished, right, 42:07 Jesus Christ has completed. 42:09 And so, Romans chapter 9 verse 16, 42:11 as I was studying this through... 42:12 there were few texts that popped in my mind 42:14 that really helped to communicate this idea 42:17 of the importance of understanding... 42:19 the difference between working for something 42:21 and inheriting something. 42:23 Romans chapter 9 verse 16, 42:25 what does it say? We've read it many times, 42:26 it says, "So then it is not of him who wills, 42:29 nor of him who runs, 42:31 but of God who shows mercy. " 42:33 The very concept of this is the foundation of the gospel 42:36 and that is that Jesus Christ has... has... 42:39 has bestowed upon us His goodness. 42:41 We receive it freely... 42:43 His grace freely 42:44 not something that we earn, 42:45 not something that we will 42:47 or that we run to accomplish, 42:48 but because he has bestowed that mercy upon us freely. 42:52 Also, 2nd Timothy chapter 1 verses 8 and 9, 42:55 2nd Timothy chapter 1 verses 8 and 9, 42:58 it says, "Therefore do not be ashamed 42:59 of the testimony of our Lord, 43:01 nor of me His prisoner, 43:04 but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel 43:07 according to the power of God, 43:09 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, 43:13 not according to our works, 43:16 but according to His own purpose and grace 43:19 which was given to us in Christ Jesus 43:21 before time began. " 43:23 We've already established that from the foundation of the world 43:26 we were on His mind because of His love, 43:29 because of His compassion, 43:30 because of His mercy, 43:31 He bestows this upon us, 43:33 if we simply just receive Him, 43:35 if we surrender our will to Him, 43:37 it's not something that we earn. 43:39 Jesus stretches out His hands on the cross, 43:42 He says, "I love you this much... " 43:43 and I know you can't see all my hands and arms 43:46 in the camera here, 43:47 but I'm literally touching Shelley and Pastor Lomacang 43:49 I love you this much 43:51 and it's like, "How are you going to add to that?" 43:52 What can you do to that? 43:54 And that's the purpose here. 43:55 God loves you so much 43:56 that you are His inheritance 43:59 and He has bestowed an inheritance upon you, 44:01 you didn't earn it... 44:03 you didn't work for it, 44:04 you did nothing because you can't add anything to it. 44:06 it's because of His love. 44:08 Galatians chapter 2 verse 20 and 21, 44:11 I love this text, "I have been crucified with Christ; 44:14 it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; 44:18 and the life which I now live in the flesh 44:20 I live by faith in the Son of God, 44:22 who loved me and gave Himself for me. " 44:24 But... then verse 21, okay, 44:25 what does it say? 44:27 "I do not set aside the grace of God; 44:29 for if righteousness comes through the law, 44:31 then Christ died in vain. " 44:33 Is the law important? 44:34 Yes. 44:36 Are the commandments important? 44:37 Yes, it has a functional foundational aspect 44:38 in the gospel plan of salvation 44:40 but we do not work or earn our way. 44:42 My Friends, when are we going to get this? 44:44 And then, when are you going to get this? 44:45 We got to get this through our head. 44:47 It's not... it's not about what you do, 44:49 it's who you know 44:50 and who you know changes what you do. 44:53 It's all about what He's done and our acceptance of that 44:56 and our surrendering of that, 44:58 it's not about what we do to earn that, 45:00 it's His inheritance... we are His inheritance. 45:02 He bestows it upon us because of His compassion, 45:05 His love and His mercy, 45:07 I'm getting excited as you can see, 45:08 it's a passion of mine... 45:09 it's the gospel... 45:11 it's the foundation of the gospel 45:12 and we should... as the Lesson is entitled: 45:15 Live in praise of not our glory... but His. 45:18 Panel: Amen... 45:19 Lomacang: Wow! wow... 45:20 I get all of this... sum total of all of this inspiration. 45:24 Thank you for delivering Thursday to me 45:27 which is... The Holy Spirit: Sealed and Down Payment. 45:31 We're going to begin with Ephesians 1, let's start here 45:34 and thank you Ryan for reminding us 45:38 and every one of you. 45:39 I still can't just get that "in Christ" out of my brain 45:42 from that last Lesson Study, thank you so much 45:45 and all that methodical walking through 45:47 and Shelley, your passion is always there 45:49 but this continues because what this lesson is about, 45:53 is not what we've studied 45:54 but what the Holy Spirit has done through each one of us. 45:57 Panel: Amen. Hmmm... 45:58 Lomacang: That's why I like this Lesson Study on Thursday. 46:00 Ephesians 1 verse 13, 46:02 "In Him you also trusted... " 46:05 notice whom we trust... not us... we trust Christ. 46:09 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 46:10 Lomacang: And how did that trust get activated? 46:12 "after you heard the word of truth. " 46:14 Panel: Yes. 46:16 Lomacang: Do not discount truth. 46:17 Panel: Yes. 46:19 Lomacang: So many people don't pay attention to the word "truth" 46:20 and I... I'm working on a sermon, Ryan, 46:23 what ever happened to the truth? 46:25 It has become a word that has been downplayed 46:28 and become a byword. 46:30 It seems like if you mention, "Come our church teaches truth" 46:34 people feel uncomfortable 46:35 and so, they're selling experiences now a days 46:39 instead of realizing that 46:41 our salvation has already been purchased. 46:43 You don't have to buy something that has already been purchased. 46:46 Jesus Christ has purchased our salvation 46:49 but it doesn't omit the truth and it continues, 46:52 "the gospel of your salvation; 46:54 in whom also, having believed... " 46:57 not only having the truth, 46:58 but believe it. 47:00 Then it says, "You were sealed 47:02 with the Holy Spirit of promise... " 47:05 and I love verse 14, 47:06 "who is the guarantee... " 47:08 you know, when you get a guarantee, 47:09 you hold that. 47:10 When you buy something they say now, 47:12 "to your warranty... this is to your guarantee... 47:13 hold that... do you want to buy an extended warranty?" 47:16 I love the way you said it, Daniel, 47:17 "In Christ, we have an extended warranty, 47:19 the blood never loses its power. " 47:21 Thank you for that. 47:23 It's the purchased blood... the precious blood... 47:25 the spotless blood... 47:27 the non-tainted blood. 47:28 The guarantee of our inheritance, 47:31 "until the redemption of the purchased possession... " 47:35 until the day we walk through the gates of that New Jerusalem, 47:38 and then, we are covered by the perfect righteousness of Christ, 47:41 "to the praise of His glory. " 47:44 All of that in verses 13 and 14, 47:47 and Paul brings out three very high important points 47:49 that I want to bring out to you, 47:51 notice the first one: 47:52 The Holy Spirit works on us. 47:54 He does what? 47:56 Works on us... 47:57 What's the purpose? 47:59 To make us a believer. 48:00 That's called: He delivers me. 48:03 Then the Holy Spirit works in me 48:05 after I become a believer 48:09 and that is... after delivering me, 48:11 He develops me. 48:13 Panel: Yes. 48:14 Lomacang: Thirdly, the Holy Spirit works 48:15 through me to attract others to become believers 48:18 and what is that third "d"? To display me. 48:21 First, He delivers me... 48:23 develops me... 48:24 and then, displays me. 48:26 And that display is in Matthew 7, 48:27 "Let your light so shine... " 48:29 that display is not to attract others to us, 48:31 but to attract others to Christ... 48:33 "Let your light so shine before men, 48:35 that they may see your good works 48:36 and glorify your Father... " 48:38 the praise and glory is His alone, not ours. 48:41 If you are gifted in any capacity, 48:44 and you've been side-tracked 48:45 by allowing the praise to come to you, 48:47 I think today is a good day to recalibrate 48:49 the purpose for that gift. 48:51 God does not give you a gift and I love this statement, 48:54 I say it wherever I go, 48:55 "I will never use God's gift to rob God of His glory. " 48:58 Because the glory is not yours, 49:00 it's the praise of His glory that makes the difference. 49:04 So, those three things: Deliverance... 49:06 Development and Display 49:08 that's what the Lord wants to do. 49:09 But then also, the other parts of the Holy Spirit is: 49:12 first authentication... 49:13 let's go to Luke Chapter 1 verse 35, 49:14 and you'll see this authentication in a way 49:16 that you probably not understood it before. 49:18 I'm going to take a passage 49:20 that applies to a specific character in history, 49:23 it shows how it's not an exclusive passage 49:26 but an inclusive passage. 49:29 The Holy Spirit authenticates us listen to this, 49:32 Luke 1:35, 49:34 "And the angel answered and said to her, 49:36 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, 49:39 and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; 49:42 therefore, also, the Holy One who is to be born 49:46 will be called the Son of God. " 49:48 Okay, now, didn't Paul say, 49:50 "Christ in you, the hope of glory. " 49:52 Panel: That's right. 49:53 Lomacang: This was a passage we know applies to Mary 49:55 in exclusivity 49:56 but applies to every one of us in inclusivity 50:00 because we cannot have Christ in us 50:03 unless the Holy Spirit overshadows us. 50:06 Panel: Agreeing. 50:07 Lomacang: And the power of the highest is developed in us. 50:10 So, the Christ that has been born in us... 50:12 is another aspect... He's placed there. 50:15 That seed... that that seed remains in us, 50:17 we are not just delivered, we're developed 50:20 and then finally displayed. 50:21 The seed is planted there by the Holy Spirit... 50:24 developed by the Holy Spirit, 50:26 so we are safe to be put on display. 50:29 A person that is not developed by the Holy Spirit, 50:32 is not safe to be put on display 50:35 because they think the glory is theirs 50:37 like the sons of Sceva, 50:38 they think the glory belongs to them. 50:39 No... but the glory belongs to God. 50:41 Panel: Right. 50:42 Lomacang: That's the authentication. 50:44 Luke 1 verse 35 validated by Colossians 1:27, 50:46 Christ in you, the hope of glory. 50:48 That cannot happen without the work of the Holy Spirit. 50:51 Next thing... the validation: 50:53 The Holy Spirit validates the excellence and veracity 50:57 of the gospel. 50:58 Look at 1st Thessalonians 1 and verse 5, 51:00 The Holy Spirit validates the veracity... 51:03 the excellence of the gospel. 51:04 "For our gospel did not come to you in word only, 51:09 but also in... " what else? 51:11 Panel: Power. Lomacang: "in power, 51:12 and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, 51:17 as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. " 51:21 I love the way that Paul that Apostle says, 51:24 "You know about me... 51:25 so, this gospel couldn't be just about me... " 51:27 so, don't let the gospel be about you. 51:29 If you present yourself... show your frailty 51:33 but never present Jesus Christ as the reason why... 51:36 well, let me just re-phrase that, 51:38 when you present Jesus Christ, don't present His frailty... 51:40 present His glory. 51:42 Always your frailty I would say, 51:44 if you hear something messed up in the sermon... it's me. 51:46 Any glory... always belongs to God 51:48 because the Holy Spirit validates 51:51 the excellence and veracity of the gospel 51:53 which in fact is Christ 51:55 and we are only included by the power of the Holy Spirit 51:59 which is the third part, 52:01 the empowering authentication, let's go to Acts 1 verse 8, 52:04 first the authentication about the Spirit being planted in us, 52:09 the validation of the power in the gospel, 52:11 and then the empowering transaction 52:13 that is done by the Holy Spirit. 52:15 Acts 1 verse 8, 52:17 "But you shall receive power 52:18 when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; 52:20 and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, 52:22 and in all Judea and Samaria, 52:24 and to the ends of the earth. " 52:26 You know, we can't be witnesses of Christ in a validating way 52:30 until the Holy Spirit comes upon us. 52:33 Now, what does that mean? 52:34 That's where the power lies. 52:36 The gospel... the Bible is a book of power, 52:38 it's a book that breathes. 52:39 I believe that. 52:41 But you can take the book that breathes 52:42 and make it a book that you present 52:45 but when you allow the book to be presented by the Holy Spirit, 52:48 the power is far greater than you can ever imagine. 52:50 Panel: That's right. 52:51 Lomacang: It doesn't come in the ecclesiastical communication 52:55 of your... of your... of your... you... your vocabulary, 52:58 but it comes to the transmission of a life 53:01 that is being radiated through you. 53:03 Panel: Thank you. 53:05 Lomacang: I want you to understand 53:06 that when the Lord lights you on fire, 53:07 nobody will miss it. 53:09 So, don't try to light your own fire, 53:10 be the bush that seems to be insignificant 53:13 but you're not being consumed, 53:15 you're being ignited for the glory of God. 53:18 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 53:19 Lomacang: I want to be an insignificant bush. 53:21 I will burn not to be consumed 53:23 but to simply display the glory of God 53:25 and that can only happen through the power of the Holy Spirit. 53:27 Panel: Amen... amen. 53:29 Lomacang: So Paul... Paul brings out two points that 53:31 Dr. John McVay identifies. 53:34 He also points out these are the aspects, 53:38 the ownership that the Holy Spirit aligns us of, 53:40 look at Ezekiel 28 and verse 12, 53:42 and I read this in the interest of time, 53:45 "Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, 53:48 and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: 53:51 "You were the seal of perfection, 53:53 full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. "'" 53:55 Anything God touches, 53:56 anything God builds, 53:58 anything Jesus Christ is connected to, 54:00 is moving in the seal of perfection... direction... 54:04 and the wisdom we get is the wisdom of God. 54:06 When we stand before God in perfect beauty, 54:09 it's the work that the Spirit of God has done through us 54:11 and notice the Seal of Perfection, 54:13 that Seal is not only ownership 54:14 but that Seal is also a transaction. 54:16 It's transactionary. 54:18 What transaction? 54:20 Let's go to Jeremiah 32 verses 10 to 14 54:22 and let's see if I can get this in there, 54:23 verse 10... and he speaks about the transaction that takes place 54:27 when God is involved in the process of developing, 54:29 delivering and displaying us. 54:31 "And I signed the deed and sealed it, 54:34 took witnesses, 54:35 and weighed the money on the scales. 54:37 So I took the purchase deed, 54:38 both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, 54:42 and that which was open... " 54:43 and it goes down all the way then to verse... verse 12, 54:48 and I'll read simply the latter part. 54:49 "In the presence of the witnesses 54:51 who signed the purchase deed. " 54:53 and lastly, verse 14, 54:55 "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: 54:57 'Take these deeds, both this purchase deed 55:00 which is sealed and this deed which is open, 55:03 and put them in an earthen vessel, 55:05 that they may last many days. '" 55:07 Now, I don't know if you caught that, 55:09 We're the earthen vessel. 55:10 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 55:11 Lomacang: We're the cracked earthen vessel. 55:13 Panel: That's right. 55:14 When the Lord seals us and signs us, 55:16 He puts that deed in an earthen vessel 55:18 "and it lasts there for many days. " 55:20 Panel: Yes. 55:22 Lomacang: How many days? 55:23 Only the Lord can determine 55:24 but all the work that is done, 55:26 is being done by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. 55:29 Jill: Amen... oh that was incredible, Pastor John, 55:32 thank you. 55:33 Deliver... Develop and then Display... I love that. 55:36 Thank you so much, you and Ryan, Shelley, and Daniel, 55:39 what an incredible study! 55:41 Want to give you a few moments to share a final thought. 55:43 Perrin: Well, we don't have slavery as they did 55:46 in ancient Roman times 55:47 but some of you are struggling and suffering 55:50 in slavery to sin... things you can't overcome, 55:53 I just want to encourage you 55:54 that there is an incredible price that was paid for you. 55:58 You are valuable. 55:59 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 56:01 Shelley: God's grand Christ-centered plan 56:04 was developed before He created our world. 56:07 Old Testament saints were saved by righteousness through faith 56:12 looking forward to the coming Messiah, 56:14 we are saved also looking back at what He accomplished 56:19 and up to our High Priest in heaven. 56:22 Ryan: Hmmm... it seems this lesson has brought those words 56:24 that great Andraé Crouch song... 56:26 "The blood that Jesus shed for me... " 56:31 you know it... 56:33 "Way back on Calvary 56:38 The blood that gives me strength 56:42 from day to day 56:47 It will never lose 56:51 its power. " 56:53 That's the gospel right there. 56:55 Lomacang: Wow! wow, praise the Lord. 56:57 Ryan, since you included that to me, 56:59 I will just turn the time over to Jill. 57:01 Praise God for that. 57:03 It will never lose its power. 57:04 Jill: It will never lose its power. 57:05 Isn't that incredible? 57:07 Thank you all so much. 57:08 I always love it when you sing on the Set 57:09 and I'm glad to have a duet today. 57:11 Join us next week... 57:13 we're still in Ephesians chapter 1, 57:15 finishing out Ephesians 1 next week 57:17 which is this incredible prayer. 57:20 Ephesians 1 and Ephesians 3, 57:22 Paul prays for the believers. 57:25 We'll be studying this in detail next week. 57:28 The Power of the Exalted Jesus. 57:31 What a gift is ours in the gift of Jesus Christ 57:36 and the gift of the Holy Spirit. 57:38 I just want to appeal to you right now... make a choice, 57:41 open up your heart to Jesus. 57:44 Today, if you hear His voice, 57:46 do not harden your heart. 57:48 Do not push that invitation aside for another day. 57:51 Today is the day of salvation. |
Revised 2023-10-10