Christian Super “Privilege”
Ephesians 1:1-6
1. Apostles are Sent with Authority and Responsibility. (Vs. 1a, Acts 26:16-28)
a. Acts 26:16-18 [Jesus speaking to Paul] For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’”
2. The Saints of God are Blessed with Privilege and Responsibility. (Vs. 1b-3, James 4:7-8, 1 Cor 10:31-11:1, 2 Cor 5:20-21)
a. James 4:7-8, “Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
b. 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or Greeks or the church of God, just as I also try to please everyone in everything, not seeking my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved. Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.”
c. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
3. The God of gods Has Made it Possible in Jesus Christ! (Vs. 4-6, Deut 14:1-2, Titus 3:6-7, 1 Cor 15:9-11)
a. Deuteronomy 14:1-2, “You are sons of the LORD your God; do not cut yourselves or make a bald spot on your head on behalf of the dead, for you are a holy people belonging to the LORD your God. The LORD has chosen you to be his own possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth.”
b. Titus 3:6-7, “He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.”
c. 1 Corinthians 15:9-11, “For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it is I or they, so we proclaim and so you have believed.”