Ephesians 1:11-23. All Saints!! 7/11/10
{11) In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, {12} in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. {13} And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him 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--to the praise of his glory. {15} For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, {16} I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. {17} I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. {18} I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, {19} and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, {20} which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, {21} far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. {22} And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, {23} which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
This week has been set aside as All Saints Remembrance Day: A time when we can reflect back and give thanks to God for all the saints who have gone before us and who have passed on to us the essence of what it is to be a Christian and therefore a saint. Then also to be reassured and comforted by the fact that they are now enjoying the riches of his glorious inheritance which he has promised to all those who die trusting in the fact that Jesus’ life, death and resurrection has accomplished this for them. Then through this wondrous message to be strengthened and encouraged in our own faith; that in connection with Jesus we too are saints assured of the same glorious inheritance.
Now to begin with, in light of the recent Mary MacKillop canonisation, let us be assured that the Bible makes it very clear that everyone who believes in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and is baptised, they are saints already. This is not the pronouncement of some church body, but is what is clearly stated by God’s Word. All who trust in Jesus and what he has achieved for us through his death on the cross, are saints. They have the sure hope of the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.
Remember he said here in this reading that, he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. He chose us for perfection. That is you and me that he is talking about. God himself had his eyes set on us, to be his special people; saints.
But I can hear you saying to yourselves; something has obviously gone horribly wrong. That is not the way we are. We are anything but perfect and holy and blameless. We are not and cannot be these special people that he has in mind. Is that so? Are we really that far off being what God has in mind? Well yes, and no. When we look here [at ourselves] we don’t even come close to it. We in fact have missed the mark completely. But no, let us here take note of what God himself tells us. He chose us IN CHRIST ……
In our connection with the Lord Jesus Christ it is a whole new ballgame. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. Through Jesus’ death on the cross, we have been bought back: the price has been paid for our forgiveness. We are now accepted by God; as his perfect people. We have been adopted now back into his family, through baptism. So the whole situation has been reversed for us. In Christ; through Christ; by Christ; in his grace, we are holy and blameless. We are his perfect people: saints; his very own sons and daughters. So now, despite what we see when we look here, we know that we are new people; holy people. In Christ we are what he is.
Now that surely turns the tables on everything. Now then, we look to him, wanting to be close to him: in him. With him, being what is all important for us. All of our praise: our focus: our lives are centred in him: Not in ourselves and our thinking. Not in our world and what it sees as important: No, in Jesus Christ and him alone; remembering he himself has chosen us, and cleansed us; and adopted us; and blessed us with every spiritual blessing. So that side of life is secure. It is all together taken care of: thanks be to Christ and to the praise of his glorious grace.
With that then, we can now go forward with all boldness and hope. We can, and now surely want to, live in him. We want to uphold his word and his truth. We want others to know and be a part of all of this that our great God has done for us. We will want others to hear the word of truth, the gospel of their salvation. We will want them too to be adopted into God’s family through baptism. We want to do and say what God wants us to do and say.
When God commands us to live and act differently to the rest of society, we will do so, as best we possibly can. When he calls us to look away from ourselves and what we want to do, and instead focus on what he has in mind, we will seek to do so as much as we can. When he calls us to remain faithful to the teachings of his Church, which have been passed down through the ages, we will listen and humbly seek to do so. When he calls us to warn one another of the dangers that are before us, we will gently, and yet boldly do so. When we need to stand up against the lies and deceptions of our society around about us, we will now try our very best.
But all the while, we can go forward with the confidence that now God accepts us as saints: his own dearly loved people who he wants to share eternity with. Because of what Jesus did for us through his death and resurrection, we know that our loved ones who have died in Jesus are with him now; awaiting those of us who have faith in him to join them when God takes us from this life.
This has been the confidence and hope of the saints who have gone before us; who have stood firm on this wondrous message and have ensured that it has been passed on to us. We thank God that he enabled them to know and trust this Good News; and to be a part of those who have ensured that we also can know and trust this same message. In and through Jesus we are his saints, with a glorious inheritance.
Paul, Peter, Luther, Kavel, Traeger, Roehrs, Schutz, Dahlitz and countless thousands of other saints have all held to this wondrous Good News that God has given to us through Jesus Christ. They are saints in the highest order, because of what Jesus has done for us all. Thanks be to God, now they share in his glory for all eternity. They now stand ready and waiting for us too to join them.
So I ask, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
With this in mind, may we now go forward with humble confidence and hope; with our eyes lifted and focussed on our Lord, knowing that we are saints: Not because of who we are and what we have done; but because of Jesus Christ our Lord and saviour. With this amazing knowledge, let us strive to live in accord with who we are and with the sure hope they we also have a glorious inheritance in the saints awaiting us: But all along giving thanks and praise to our great and gracious God for making this possible for us. So to him again, be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish
{11) In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, {12} in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. {13} And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him 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--to the praise of his glory. {15} For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, {16} I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. {17} I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. {18} I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, {19} and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, {20} which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, {21} far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. {22} And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, {23} which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
This week has been set aside as All Saints Remembrance Day: A time when we can reflect back and give thanks to God for all the saints who have gone before us and who have passed on to us the essence of what it is to be a Christian and therefore a saint. Then also to be reassured and comforted by the fact that they are now enjoying the riches of his glorious inheritance which he has promised to all those who die trusting in the fact that Jesus’ life, death and resurrection has accomplished this for them. Then through this wondrous message to be strengthened and encouraged in our own faith; that in connection with Jesus we too are saints assured of the same glorious inheritance.
Now to begin with, in light of the recent Mary MacKillop canonisation, let us be assured that the Bible makes it very clear that everyone who believes in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and is baptised, they are saints already. This is not the pronouncement of some church body, but is what is clearly stated by God’s Word. All who trust in Jesus and what he has achieved for us through his death on the cross, are saints. They have the sure hope of the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.
Remember he said here in this reading that, he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. He chose us for perfection. That is you and me that he is talking about. God himself had his eyes set on us, to be his special people; saints.
But I can hear you saying to yourselves; something has obviously gone horribly wrong. That is not the way we are. We are anything but perfect and holy and blameless. We are not and cannot be these special people that he has in mind. Is that so? Are we really that far off being what God has in mind? Well yes, and no. When we look here [at ourselves] we don’t even come close to it. We in fact have missed the mark completely. But no, let us here take note of what God himself tells us. He chose us IN CHRIST ……
In our connection with the Lord Jesus Christ it is a whole new ballgame. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. Through Jesus’ death on the cross, we have been bought back: the price has been paid for our forgiveness. We are now accepted by God; as his perfect people. We have been adopted now back into his family, through baptism. So the whole situation has been reversed for us. In Christ; through Christ; by Christ; in his grace, we are holy and blameless. We are his perfect people: saints; his very own sons and daughters. So now, despite what we see when we look here, we know that we are new people; holy people. In Christ we are what he is.
Now that surely turns the tables on everything. Now then, we look to him, wanting to be close to him: in him. With him, being what is all important for us. All of our praise: our focus: our lives are centred in him: Not in ourselves and our thinking. Not in our world and what it sees as important: No, in Jesus Christ and him alone; remembering he himself has chosen us, and cleansed us; and adopted us; and blessed us with every spiritual blessing. So that side of life is secure. It is all together taken care of: thanks be to Christ and to the praise of his glorious grace.
With that then, we can now go forward with all boldness and hope. We can, and now surely want to, live in him. We want to uphold his word and his truth. We want others to know and be a part of all of this that our great God has done for us. We will want others to hear the word of truth, the gospel of their salvation. We will want them too to be adopted into God’s family through baptism. We want to do and say what God wants us to do and say.
When God commands us to live and act differently to the rest of society, we will do so, as best we possibly can. When he calls us to look away from ourselves and what we want to do, and instead focus on what he has in mind, we will seek to do so as much as we can. When he calls us to remain faithful to the teachings of his Church, which have been passed down through the ages, we will listen and humbly seek to do so. When he calls us to warn one another of the dangers that are before us, we will gently, and yet boldly do so. When we need to stand up against the lies and deceptions of our society around about us, we will now try our very best.
But all the while, we can go forward with the confidence that now God accepts us as saints: his own dearly loved people who he wants to share eternity with. Because of what Jesus did for us through his death and resurrection, we know that our loved ones who have died in Jesus are with him now; awaiting those of us who have faith in him to join them when God takes us from this life.
This has been the confidence and hope of the saints who have gone before us; who have stood firm on this wondrous message and have ensured that it has been passed on to us. We thank God that he enabled them to know and trust this Good News; and to be a part of those who have ensured that we also can know and trust this same message. In and through Jesus we are his saints, with a glorious inheritance.
Paul, Peter, Luther, Kavel, Traeger, Roehrs, Schutz, Dahlitz and countless thousands of other saints have all held to this wondrous Good News that God has given to us through Jesus Christ. They are saints in the highest order, because of what Jesus has done for us all. Thanks be to God, now they share in his glory for all eternity. They now stand ready and waiting for us too to join them.
So I ask, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
With this in mind, may we now go forward with humble confidence and hope; with our eyes lifted and focussed on our Lord, knowing that we are saints: Not because of who we are and what we have done; but because of Jesus Christ our Lord and saviour. With this amazing knowledge, let us strive to live in accord with who we are and with the sure hope they we also have a glorious inheritance in the saints awaiting us: But all along giving thanks and praise to our great and gracious God for making this possible for us. So to him again, be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish
posted by Roger at
1:28 pm
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home