Ephesians pt2 - Redeemed, United and Sealed!

You're very welcome to today's Triumph Church podcast.

We pray that you enjoy the message.

This past Sunday we begin a new message, a new series on the on

the book of Ephesians. Man, I had a lot of fun last

week. Sharing Ephesians is such an

amazing. Book of the Bible.

That's the things. That the apostle Paul.

Is sharing and declaring. Really is just.

Earth shattering stuff. It's absolutely amazing.

Last. Week we were.

Focusing on the first part in chapter 1 and verses.

Three through through 6. Took three, you know, a whole

whole service just on. 33 verses.

There's so much in there, isn't there?

And that portion of scripture it it it was talking about.

That he has blessed us. That he's chosen us, that he's

adopted us. I would even just say listen to

that message again because it's really important to your life.

The things that the. Apostle Paul is.

Sharing here in Ephesians really will completely change and alter

your life. If you'll catch a hold of it.

I mean all scripture is is important.

Right. Everything we we teach every

Sunday is is important to to your life, but the.

The the. Truths in the revelation that

the apostle Paul is sharing here in Ephesians is is just

absolutely amazing. It's amazing stuff.

This week we're going to be continuing in chapter 1.

We're going to be looking at verses 7 through 14, and really

Paul is reminding believers to. To look at what?

Heaven has already settled. Like he's.

Establishing and sharing with us things that have already been

done. It's not things that are going

to be done. It's things that have been done

and they have been settled. All right, so let's begin here.

In Ephesians chapter 1 verses 7 through 14, verse seven, he says

Ephesians 1:7–14

he is so rich in kindness and grace.

That he. Purchased our freedom.

With the. Blood of his Son and forgave our

sins. He has showered.

His kindness on us, along with His wisdom and understanding,

God has now. Revealed to us his mysterious

will. Regarding Christ.

Which is to fulfill. His good plan in verse 10 and

this is the plan that at the right time He will bring

everything together under the authority of Christ, everything

in heaven and on earth and furthermore, because we are

united with. Christ we have received.

An inheritance from God. For He.

Chose us in advance and he makes everything work out according to

his plan in verse. 12 God's purpose was that we Jews who

were first, were the first. To trust in Christ would bring

praise and. Glory to God.

And now you Gentiles. Have also heard the truth.

The good news that God saves you and when you believe in Christ,

he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit whom

he promised long ago then verse 14 the.

Spirit is God's. Guarantee that he will give us

the inheritance he promised in and that he.

Has purchased us to be his. Own people and he did this.

So that we would. Praise and glorify God or

glorify Him. Isn't that amazing?

This portion of scripture presents something that's really

completely contrary to worldly and religious.

Ideas of God? Now the world presents God.

As cruel. Restrictive and unloving right

Religion presents him often times as indifferent, distant

and demanding, but scripture presents him as completely

different, as patient. Thank God for.

His patience, right as. Kind and as a loving father,

Paul stated in Romans chapter 2 and verse four, he said this.

Romans 2 · chapter mention

Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant and patient?

God is with you. Does this mean nothing to you?

Can't you see that? His kindness is intended.

To turn you. From your sin.

That's a picture of God. And he's patient with us, isn't

he? He's tolerant with all of our.

Our. Shortcomings.

And He's kind with us. Isn't he so thankful for God's

kindness in my life in the first?

2 chapter of. Ephesians the the Apostle.

Paul reveals really the enormity of of what God established for

us through Christ. And really, it's staggering.

Like when you really take your time.

To work your way bit by bit. Through Ephesians chapter 1.

Ephesians 1 · chapter mention

Ephesians chapter 2 and you really begin to think about and

Ephesians 2 · chapter mention

meditate on each. Part of that.

And let's just just break it down.

Like everything, there's so much.

There like you realize what what God did for us is absolutely.

Staggering like he didn't just. Forgive us of our.

Sins like it's talking about in here that.

We that we just. Read that he has an inheritance.

For us. It's amazing.

It's really amazing. What?

What? What God did?

For us, becoming adopted into God's own family is is so much

more, I think, than we can even, like, comprehend, I guess.

If I were. To adopt someone in into my

family, you know, I would hope that that.

Would be be a. Blessing to them and I would

treat them as my own. My own.

Child they'd have access. To anything and everything that

my. Other children have right, but

God tells us that he's adopted us.

Into his family. Leiden doesn't really need to

ask to get into the refrigerator.

Like he just goes in and helps himself to.

Whatever is there. Sometimes it's like, oh, I meant

those leftovers for dinner. Oh well.

He just helps him, helps himself.

You know, I don't mind, right? He's part of our family.

Right, we're part of. God's family.

Like, think of it like. That you're his child.

He has an inheritance. For you.

So in Ephesians chapter one, in verses 7 through 14, that really

anchors our faith where it belongs, not in our feelings,

right? We're not ruled by our feelings,

not in our performance, but in the finished.

Work of Christ the. Finished.

Work of Christ. So let's begin this morning in

this first. Part of this.

Redeemed by the blood. Of Christ.

Let's read. Ephesians chapter one verse 7

again and it says. He is so.

Rich in kindness and. Grace that he purchased our.

Freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

You know, in the new Living Translation, I I.

Like what it says it says purchased our our.

Freedom in the new King James Version.

It says that that uses the word. Redemption in him we have

redemption right purchased our freedom and redemption are the

same things that's what redemption means, that our

freedom has been purchased but the.

Language here that Paul is. Using is intentional and

everyone. Who heard that?

Would have understood. What it was that?

He was saying and using that kind of language.

That he. Purchased our freedom that in

him we. Have.

Redemption he's using language leaking linking our our sinful.

State to slavery. In Romans chapter 6.

Romans 6 · chapter mention

The Apostle Paul talks a lot about how we were.

Slaves to sin all right and back in that time slavery was a a

normal and common. Part of life.

And a lot of different cultures, unfortunately.

But what does that mean? Redemption.

Redemption means that a. Price was paid to secure

release. It describes someone who was

enslaved, OK, but then whose freedom has been?

Bought at a great. Cost.

That's redemption, the language that the.

Apostle Paul is. Using here in Ephesians is

intentional. Right, because without

bloodshed. There is no redemption.

Without the cross, we wouldn't have the gospel.

The gospel is how Jesus was crucified, how he how he died.

How he was buried and how he rose from the dead right when we

take communion. It's.

Done with great reverence and honor, isn't it?

Because the blood. Of Jesus represents.

His life. Poured out in our place in the

New Testament in the book of Hebrews Chapter 9 and verse 22,

Hebrews 9 · chapter mention

it says this Hebrews 922 says, in fact, according to the law of

Moses, nearly everything was. Purified with blood for without

the. Shedding of blood there is no

forgiveness and in the Old Testament book of Leviticus in

chapter 17 and verse 11. It says for the life of the

body. Is in its blood.

I have. Given you the blood on the.

Altar to purify you. Making you.

Right with the Lord, it is the blood.

Given in exchange. For a life.

That makes purification possible.

This isn't symbolic language. That the Bible.

'S using. It's very.

Literal. Right, God is telling us the

requirement for our forgiveness. That blood had to be shed.

All of humanity had become enslaved to sin.

There wasn't anyone who hadn't been.

We had all become trapped, born into slavery to sin.

But. God had already.

Had a plan at redemption, already had a plan for our

redemption, he said in Leviticus.

And we had just read that it is the blood.

Given in exchange. For a life it.

Was an exchange that happened. Jesus was exchanging his life.

For ours he took. Everything upon himself.

So that we could. Live.

Free. Isn't that amazing?

He himself, you have the. Father you.

Have the Son, you have the Holy. Spirit right, He himself, Jesus

would step. Down from heaven, leave behind

everything that made him God. So that he could.

Become a human. To be a sacrifice to.

Redeem you and I from what we could not.

Purchase for ourselves. Many people try, many people do

all these religious works try to live a a good.

Life and do all these things. To to try to.

Earn salvation, but it is impossible a slave.

Can't. Free themselves.

We've all were born into that. Only someone who was free.

Could purchase our freedom. Could purchase.

That redemption and Christ was the one who.

Did that for us. Such good news and this.

Is why Jesus said. That he's the only.

Way to the Father. There's no other religion, no

other philosophy, no other person, no matter what they

claim, who can lead you to God only.

Jesus. Revelation chapter 13 and verse.

Revelation 13 · chapter mention

8 says that Jesus. Was the Lamb slain before the

foundation of the? World, this was always.

God's plan Jesus knew full well when you.

Read the the 1st. Chapter in John it says in the

beginning was the word and the word.

Was with God, and the Word was God and it.

Goes on to say that all things were.

Created through him, right as Jesus is.

Creating the world. Right, he knew full well before

the. Foundation of the World.

He knew what? Was going to be.

Required of. Him as he's creating this world.

It was a plan. He was the Lamb slain before the

Foundation. Of this world.

This language is decisive and complete.

Forgiveness here is not presented as a.

Process but as a. As an.

Established fact. The debt wasn't reduced.

But it was cancelled. It was wiped out.

As if it never even existed. Scripture is clear.

Right before Jesus died, what were the words that he said He

said? It is finished.

Finished. That means completed.

It's done. It's a done deal.

It's been written right. It's now complete.

It is. Finished.

This was God's covenant. With those who.

Repent and believe in him in Romans chapter 8 and verse one.

Romans 8 · chapter mention

It says. There is no longer any

condemnation for those who are in.

Christ the devil has. Nothing to hold.

Over you. Any longer your.

Past is the past. Jesus paid for those.

Sins he paid for those things, they're done.

They're wiped out. Listen to what Psalms one O 3

and verse 12. Says.

Says he has removed our sins as far from us as the.

East is. From the West, meaning they're

not going to touch. They're not even.

Associated with each. Other anymore the devil cannot

condemn you and try to bring up your past and drudge up all

those things that. Used to do because.

That person was crucified with. Christ, Christ.

Paid for those sins, those things have been.

Blotted out right the devil. Can't hold those against you any

longer and anytime he tries. To what you need to do is just

say sorry devil. You have me mistaken with

someone else. That person's dead.

Christ already. Purchased my redemption.

I'm free. I'm no longer bound by those

sins. I'm no longer bound by any of

those things. I am a new creation in Christ.

Isn't that good news? You are a new creation in

Christ. Old things.

The Bible. Says have passed away.

And all things have become new. You're a new person.

Isn't this good news? Man, there's so much to the book

of Ephesians. I love it.

This means that. What God has.

Done. Is completely.

Is completely. Separated us.

From our sin as believers, when we stand before God, we're not

going to be standing there as the old person that we.

Used to be we're. Actually going to be standing in

Christ's righteousness. We're as white as snow.

There's no stain there. There's no blemish there, right?

That doesn't mean we're not going to make mistakes in this

life from from time to not time. Right, but Christ paid.

For that sin, 1 John 19 says that when we confess our sins

before God. He's just to forgive.

Us of those things, those that scripture wasn't written to

unbelievers, it was written to Christians it was written to.

Believers, right? We're all.

Going to make another mistake. I may make another mistake on on

the way. Out of this hotel.

I don't know, but if I repent, man.

As far as the. East is from the West and that

good news. Let's move on to Ephesians

chapter one. In verses 10 through 11 it says

and this and this is the plan that at the right time he will

bring everything together under the.

Authority of Christ. Everything in heaven and on

earth. Now verse 11 it says therefore,

because we are united with Christ, we have received an

inheritance from God. For He.

Chose us in advanced and he makes everything work out

according to his plan. Reading in in verse 11 we can

understand that everything from creation onward.

Is moving forward towards. Redemption, right, And when

Christ fulfilled, when he, when he completed.

That work of. Redemption on the cross and he

said it is finished. Everything then from that moment

on then begin to move towards the restoration of everything

you know one day. Scripture says that.

God's going to create a new heaven and a a new earth.

I'm not too concerned about global warming, right?

Because one day. Bible.

Says scripture says that he's going to create a new heaven and

a new. Earth.

This Earth. Is going to pass.

Away. This earth is tainted by by sin.

The Lord's going to destroy. This Earth.

And create a new one. Right, that's what Scripture

says. So am I too concerned about

global warming? I'm not.

I recycle responsible, but I'm not concerned about global

warming. Everything in heaven and on

earth is moving towards unity. Under Christ's authority.

And the devil has tried to interfere in every way possible

that he can. But this chaos caused by.

Sin is only temporary. This life is is but a vapor, but

a flash. It's here and then it's gone.

I can't believe this past summer I celebrated my 52nd birthday.

Where is time gone? Most of the time I still feel

like I'm in my 20s. Some of the Gray hair coming in

tells me a little differently, right?

But. Life goes fast, really fast.

This life is is but a. Vapor and everything though is

working. Towards towards that that.

End thing where everything comes under.

Christ Authority. It's kind of cool to read the

book of. Revelation.

Because that's like the the. End of everything on on this

life, and then we have eternity. With the Lord.

And it's amazing. I, I love knowing how this all

ends. It ends good for those who trust

in the Lord. Right, that's all of our story

here. You trust in the Lord.

Have you repented of your sin and confessed?

Jesus Christ as your. Lord and Savior, well, the end.

Of your story. Is amazing.

That's what you have to look forward to.

Man, it's so good. Paul writes this in Colossians

Colossians 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2 in verse 10. He said.

So you. Also are complete through your

union with Christ. Who is the head over every

ruler? And authority the governments.

Of this world. Do not hold a candle to Jesus.

He is the head over every ruler. And every authority the devil

does not hold a candle. To the authority of Jesus.

No demon holds a candle. To the authority of Jesus.

No power outrinks Jesus. No system threatens his throne.

No person can. Overthrow the authority of

Christ, right? That's why we don't need to live

in fear, no matter. What the devil tries to throw

our way? The stealing, the killing, the

destruction. We don't.

Need to be in fear. Of that because Scripture says

Jesus. Promised us that He has come to

give us life and life more abundantly.

He's promised us that even though.

We walk through the shadow of death that we.

Don't need to. Fear evil because he's with us,

right? He's promised us that.

Though we walk through the through the.

Fire, though it seems like we may may drown, we're walking

through. The floods that he's right there

with us. Isn't that great news?

And Philippians chapter 2 and verse 10 and 11 says this and I

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

love this scripture. Philippians 210 and 11.

It says that at the name of Jesus every knee.

Should bow. In heaven and on earth and under

the earth and every tongue. Declare that Jesus Christ is

Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Everything. All power, all authority.

Everyone, there's no one above Christ, right?

Everyone, everything at one point in, in eternity.

They're coming soon where everything is coming to that

point of restoration, Every knee.

Will bow to. Jesus and declare that.

He is the Lord, whatever's going.

On in your life. Whatever the devil tries to

throw your way it. Is not bigger than the authority

of. Christ I.

Was kind of surprised. By.

Yesterday after Andre's surgery sent me a voice note.

I'm like oh wow, getting a voice note from from Andre.

OK, so I listened to that and he's.

Like Pastor Brad. I just wanted to let you know

the presence of God. Like I just.

Felt his presence through everything.

Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I

will fear no evil, because the Lord is there with you.

Isn't that amazing? Listen when we're going through.

What? Feels sometimes like literal

hell. You're not alone.

You are not alone. You may have friends abandoned

you. You may have family members

abandoned you, but your Heavenly Father scripture says that He

will never leave you, and He will.

Never forsake you. He's right there with.

You, holding your hand, walking you.

Through that fire, right? Now, what's so cool about those

those. Scriptures is that he sees you.

Through those things, we may walk through some things in our

life at different times, but. The Lord will walk us through.

Those things. Right.

So faithful. Isn't he in Ephesians chapter 1

Ephesians 1 · chapter mention

and verse 13? Let's.

Talk about being sealed. With the the Holy Spirit here,

the apostle Paul says. And now you Gentiles.

Have also heard the truth, the good news.

That God saves you, and when you believed in Christ, He

identified you as His own by giving you the Holy Spirit whom

He promised long ago. You know this.

Verse really reveals. Something important.

That when you make Jesus. Christ, the Lord and Savior of

your life, He sends. The Holy Spirit.

To you. What does the Holy Spirit?

Do like he marks you, he marks you.

As God's. Own, he marks.

You as a child of God where? Everything in the spiritual

realm knows you belong. To God he has.

Purchased your freedom? He's adopted you.

Into his family, and the devil knows, the demons know.

Because the Holy Spirit. Has marked you identified.

You as a child of God. And when the devil picks on you,

who's he picking on? He's.

Picking on God, well, that's just a losing battle.

Right. That's just a losing.

Battle the Devil will lose. Every time, all you have to do,

you know, you ever seen those little kids when they're when

they're scared, you know what do?

What do they do? When when they're small, they'll

go and run behind their their daddy, right, or run behind

their their mom, right, because they know their dad are in mom.

Like you pick on me. Like you're not really picking

on me. You're going to have to go

through my my dad. You're going to have to go

through my mom to get to me. Right.

Go ahead. I dare you.

Right. Well, in order.

For the devil to get to you, he has to go through God.

Our Heavenly Father He. Has to go go through through

Jesus, right? And that's a losing.

Battle. This is why it's so easy to

have. Faith in God to have faith in

his, his goodness and how we can proclaim that, you know, we, we,

we don't say different things and proclaim God's, God's

blessings, just throwing those, those things out there.

We proclaim these things. Because.

We have a faith and trust in our Heavenly Father, and I've seen

His goodness in my life time and time again.

I've seen His goodness in other. People's life.

Time and time again. And it's so.

Great to hear. Like these testimonies, things

that. We've had we've.

Heard at the beginning of. Of this year because if God.

Is going to do something for another member of our family,

our church family, then he's going to do that for us as well.

He's well able. Sometimes we we think that.

We're a special case. Well, it's going to be really

hard for God to do that in my life.

Like he may be able to do that in someone else's life, but

mine, No. This is so difficult.

Listen, don't think. You're so special.

In a good way I guess. You are special, but you're not

a special case. Jesus Blood.

The redemption, the purchase freedom, what he did for you,

that inheritance is the same for you as it is for anyone else.

All you have to do is. Realize it and accept it and

start speaking that over your life and start living.

Like it live like you're a child.

Of the King live. Like God's your.

Heavenly Father, Amen. Remember in Ephesians chapter 1

Ephesians 1 · chapter mention

five from last week. It said that God.

Decided it advance. To adopt us.

Into his own family. We've been marked as God's own

children and the new King James Version.

It says that you've been sealed. With the Holy Spirit.

Of promise I kind of like. I kind of like.

That we've been sealed like long time ago.

If you were writing a, a letter for, you know, if it was an

official type letter, you know, you'd melt some, some wax,

right? You'd have like some kind of

stamp or insignant and you'd and you'd press on that on that wax

and have like an official seal on it, right.

And if you weren't the person that's supposed to unseal?

That like you could get. Into into.

Trouble, right? Well.

We've been sealed with the promise.

Of the Holy Spirit. It's amazing.

In verse 14 Ephesians one verse 14 it says this.

That the Spirit is God's. Guarantee.

That's a pretty solid word there, right?

Like. Guarantee.

If you. Purchase a car.

A vehicle. Right and a lot of times they'll

give you a a guarantee you know something happens, you know like

we'll. Fix it or or repair it.

You know, within a certain time frame, anything happens after

that, well, you're on your own, right?

But we'll guarantee it for this little short time.

Well, we have God's guarantee. The Spirit.

Is God's guarantee. That he will give us.

The inheritance that he promised and that.

He has purchased us to be his own people.

And he did this so. That we would praise.

And glorify him. What kind of inheritance do we

have from God? You know, sometimes someone

passes away. They they leave a.

Will they leave an inheritance? And everybody's wondering Then,

you know, they go to the reading of the will, you know, like I

wonder what was left for me. Right.

Well, what God has left for us through Christ we.

Can't even fathom like really our our finite brains.

Have a difficult. Time understanding.

What the Apostle Paul? Is expressing.

Here by the Holy. Spirit in the 1st chapter of

Ephesians going on to the second chapter of Ephesians.

What that inheritance? Is it's really hard.

To fathom that, to comprehend that it's.

So big it's. So massive.

It's so staggering. Like if we even understand just

a. Little bit of that, just a.

Centimeter of what? It is that the.

Apostle Paul is saying. To us we will.

Become an amazing force for God in this.

Earth Just. Understanding a little bit.

I can't wait. To get into this next part of

Ephesians, it's the. It's the.

Prayer that the apostle Paul was.

Praying over the Ephesian church, and it's a prayer that

we can pray. Over ourselves.

And our family members, there's so much in there.

I can't wait till next week to wrap things up here.

I want to remind you what Scripture is declaring to you in

verses 7 through 14. And it's these simple truths,

all right, that you're redeemed. By Christ's blood, He paid for

your. Freedom with his own.

Blood live like live. Like you're thankful.

For that live. Like that means something.

To you, your life, right The way you live is either.

Going to honor him or dishonor him.

So live like. This is as amazing.

As it is that. You have been redeemed.

By Christ's blood. You've been forgiven.

Second thing is you're anchored in.

Christ's authority. Over all things.

Christ has authority over you, right the devil.

Does not. Demons do not.

This world does not. You are under.

Christ's authority. Amen.

The third thing is that you've been sealed.

By the Holy Spirit as gods. God sent the holy.

Spirit to live. Within you.

As. A guarantee as the down payment

for the purchased inheritance that he.

Has for you whoo Hallelujah, praise you Jesus.

Thank you, Lord ha. Hallelujah.

Let's. Pray, dear heavenly Father,

Lord, I thank you, Father, thank you for everything that you've

done. For us through Christ.

Lord, I pray and that and I hope, Lord, that as we continue

in this in the series on the book.

Of Ephesians, just as the apostle Paul says that the eyes.

Of our understanding will be enlightened, Lord, that we may.

Know what is the hope of? Your calling.

Through us, through Christ. Jesus, Lord, I thank you.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your goodness, for your

kindness, for your mercy. For your sacrifice, for.

Everything that you're doing in our lives, Lord, and I thank

you. Lord, that's your word.

Will not return to you void, but it will accomplish.

What you have? Sent it out.

To do Lord. Father and if.

We will just have. Faith in it.

You're going to do amazing things.

Thank you for listening to the Triumph Church podcast this

week. If it was a blessing to you,

share it with someone you know. For more information on Triumph

Church, you can visit us at www.triumphchurch.ie.