To illustrate the message and themes of Ephesians 1:3-14 , Jonathan showed 3 glasses of water
Firstly – a full cup of water
Secondly – an abundant and overflowing cup of water
Lastly – a cup of water excessively overflowing
These images were to be returned to …
God’s Sovereignty is an understood and familiar aspect of the character God – He can do anything , has the right to do anything, He cannot be thwarted
Understanding this statement that God is Sovereign can be very encouraging in the midst of a global pandemic ,or with rioting on our streets over racial tensions or against corruption in government..
However to just talk about His sovereignty alone is to miss out on the richness of understanding this aspect of His character better – in the way it is outlined in Ephesians 1
It would be better to say God is Sovereign, Wise and Good – have to consider all 3 otherwise these could be the scenarios ..
- God is Sovereign and Wise … but not Good = Can do anything , knows how to do it and how to accomplish His will but is not Good = Terrifying
- God is Sovereign and Good but not wise = Can do anything , desires good and best , but does not know how to accomplish that , and instead foolish , rash = terrifying
- God is Wise and Good but not Sovereign – he know what to do and desires good , but he can’t bring it about – because He is limited = terrifying. This 3 rd scenario is often the one that people , even Christians have mistakenly settled for – This version of God is not a comfort in our current time
Instead we can cling to the God who IS Sovereign, Wise and Good – this is the God outlined in Ephesians 1 by Paul
Ephesians 1:3-14 – laid out a little differently to reflect the fact that Paul wrote as a continuous sentence in his original writing – he was overflowing with elaborating on Gods character in his letter to the Ephesians .
Paul had to keep elaborating on how Sovereign and Wise and Good God is .
Do we talk about God in this way? Could we challenge each other to communicate the richness of Gods sovereignty in the way Paul does
Jonathan gave an example of a modern day Paul that he knows in India – who prior to being a Christian, would have persecuted and assassinated Christians as part of a radical group …. but now you can’t stop this man talking about the abundant Grace , Sovereignty , Wisdom and Goodness of God that turned his life around .He wants to communicate the truth he now understands , now matter the cost
We need this understanding of our God. We need to communicate it this way
"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves."
God not only blesses us with every spiritual blessing , but he selected us in Christ before the foundation of the world . Gods intention before he created anything was for us to be Holy and blameless in his presence in love .
He predestined is for adoption through Jesus Christ , to adopt us as family for himself
Examples from Minneapolis- where the Worthingtons and their Church family call home – of the racial tensions in the street and the emotions that run high .Over a hundred years of groups fearing , disliking, avoiding people who are different from them – refusing to acknowledge that they are all Gods creation
We need the understanding of God in Ephesians when we see God predestined people of all nations to adopt into his family
People need to hear about the God who wants to adopt people of all nations into His family when they chose Him and recognise his Sovereignty , Wisdom and Goodness
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21
