A sermon preached by Rev Carole Darling 14th July 2024 (Photo is of Carole sprinkling some holy water at a Christening in St Luke’s
Good morning!
Today we begin a new series looking at the apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Paul had spent nearly three years in Ephesus, proclaiming the Gospel and teaching the new believers.
Here he is writing from a roman prison. This letter was probably intended as a circular letter, to be shared with the other churches in the area surrounding Ephesus.
Ephesians has been described today as the “Queen of the epistles” because of the rich theological teaching.
Tom Wright likens Ephesians to the London eye which stands 450 feet above the river Thames. It’s 32 capsules take 30 minutes to rotate the full circle and in that time the viewer gets a bird’s eye view of the capital, with plenty of time to spot famous landmarks and get a picture of where each landmark is situated in relation to others.
In a similar way to the London eye, the letter to the Ephesians gives a breathtaking view of the entire landscape. Familiar themes such as forgiveness, redemption, salvation, sacrifice, and worship are seen in a new way. Situated together, connected and linked up.
The key thought in Ephesians is the gathering together of all things in Christ. The impact of sin, the chaos, brokenness, and pain are worked out and dealt with in Christ. Jesus really is the answer.
Ephesians can be divided into two parts. Chapters 1 to 3 are all about being Church and the blessings that we have in Christ.
Chapters 4-6 are all about doing Church, how we live and act in the world whilst operating in the spiritual realm.
Chapter 1:3-14
This morning, we begin in chapter One.
Paul launches into praise in verses 3-14. Paul is overflowing with praise for what God the Father has done for us in Christ his son and through the power of the Holy Spirit.
In the Greek, it is one sentence. Can you imagine that! You would need to take a deep breath before reading it out loud!
The phrase “to the praise of his glory!” occurs three times, as if it is a long poem of praise in three stanzas. I want you to remember the phrase: “to the praise of His glory!” Because this phrase speaks of who we are and how we are to act.
If ever you are finding it hard to pray, start with praise and use scripture to help you. This doxology in chapter one of Ephesians is a great passage to use to start praying.
We are loved, chosen from the beginning, adopted, part of God’s all-embracing purpose, redeemed, forgiven, blessed.
Adoption
I want to take a look at adoption because the analogy of adoption is a brilliant way of framing God’s loving action towards humanity.
‘One Life’ is a film that tells the story of Sir Nicholas Winton. He heard about the plight of children in Nazi-occuppied Czechoslovakia in 1939, during the 9 months before war broke out. Although he was a banker working in London, he went to Czechoslovakia to see for himself. Such was his compassion for the children that he took action, trying to arrange their adoption and transport to England.
These children faced almost certain death had they remained in Czechoslovakia. They were powerless to escape. It was an impossible task, too many children, too many obstacles, too little time.
The actions of Winton and his team saved 669 Czech children and gave them a future. These children and their many relatives were reunited with Sir Nicholas Winton, in later years and they remain incredibly grateful for the life changing actions that he took.
My observations: Over the years I have observed friends who have adopted children and there are recurring themes:
Compassion: They have such compassion. They are committed to love even though there are many ups and downs. They open their hearts, their homes and their resources to the child.
Planning and process: All of them displayed resilience in a long and demanding process involving huge amounts of paperwork, time and scrutiny. Enough to put anyone who was half-hearted off adopting. It cost them so much!
Powerlessness of the child: In each case, the child was at risk of either neglect or harm and adoption was necessary. It also seemed that the child, due to age, medical condition or circumstances, was powerless.
The legality: Tension and anxiety reached fever pitch until the outcome was decided and adoption confirmed in court. The legal decision was final, giving the new parents legal rights for the child.
The blessing: In all cases they had an abundance of material blessings like good food, lovely clean homes, toys, activities, and holidays. Most of all they had love, family, and belonging.
The roman reality of adoption was quite different. Fathers in roman society had absolute power over their children for their lifetime – even when their children, had important jobs and were wealthy and powerful. The father could sell their children as slaves or even have them killed. Property belonged to the household of the father. It was a way of ordering society and keeping control.
Adoption in roman society ensured that the family name continued.
The child was powerless and the legal transaction was final. The old family had no rights to the child anymore. The adopted child was a new person, with a new identity and a new household. In fact, all debts, obligations connected with the previous family were cancelled and abolished.
God’s grace
The analogy of adoption is a great way of framing what God has done for us.
Compassion: Almighty God who created galaxies has compassion and love for us! Such love that sent Christ to this messed up world to save us. Such love that authorised the death of his one and only son so that we might live to the praise of his glory!
Planning and process: God’s planning is far beyond our understanding – he chose us in him before the creation of the world! God chose us not just before we were born, but before creation was born! In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship! Why? 12 in order that we might be for the praise of his glory.
Powerlessness: In all of these adoption stories, the children were powerless to save themselves, mostly oblivious to the danger that they were in, and unaware of the future that lay ahead of them through adoption.
Likewise, we cannot save ourselves. Such is our sinfulness – we are powerless to change. However, God who is powerful, offers a rescue through Christ. Unlike the roman system of adoption, we can choose to accept or decline the offer of adoption.
Blessing: God has opened his heart, his home and his resources to us, his children. We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ. So much to praise God for!
The legality: Paul describes how Christians, the moment they believe, are marked in Christ 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.
Let’s just go a little deeper here. As in a roman adoption, debts are written off and the benefits of the new household come to the adopted person.
However, I think as Christians it is all too easy to focus on the freedom and benefits that we have in Christ and to pay less attention to the rules of the household.
In the roman system, the adopted person belongs to the father, all their property, their talents, their skills, their rights, come under the household and belong to the father.
Our response
As Christians, our lives are not our own, we belong to the household of God. God our father gave up everything for us, we are called as his beloved children to give our allegiance to our father and acknowledge that everything we have belongs to God.
Jesus said in Matthew 16:25 “If you try to hang onto your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”
Are we keeping a tight hold of some things, not wanting to let go, hoping that God won’t notice.
Having been adopted into the household of God, we are called to live to the praise of his glory? His glory is what God has revealed to us, how God has acted towards us, what Paul talks about in this first chapter of Ephesians.
How do we live for the praise of his glory?
- Before we speak, ask yourself, is what I am about to chat about, to the praise of God’s glory?
- Is what I am about to watch on TV or whatever your preferred streaming service, to the praise of God’s glory?
- Is what I am about to spend my money on to the praise of God’s glory?
- Is what I am thinking, to the praise of God’s glory?
- Is my conduct at work and when I rest to the praise of his glory?
May I suggest that this week, before we think, speak, watch, act, spend we ask is it to the praise of God’s glory?
Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. This is our purpose, to live to the praise of God’s glory. This should be our response.