Sermons on Ephesians 1:9-10
The various sermons below interpret Ephesians 1:9-10 by emphasizing the centrality of being "in Christ" and the overarching narrative of God's plan. They commonly highlight the unity and redemption that believers experience through Christ, using metaphors like a storehouse of spiritual blessings and a puzzle to illustrate the interconnectedness of God's plan. The sermons also stress the cosmic scope of God's plan, which includes not only human redemption but the restoration of all creation. The Greek terms used in the passage, such as "again" and "mystery," are explored to reveal the depth of God's plan, which was established before the foundation of the world and is now revealed through Christ. These interpretations underscore the present reality of redemption and the future fulfillment of God's plan to unite all things under Christ.
In contrast, the sermons diverge in their thematic emphases. One sermon focuses on the "already but not fully" reality of the Kingdom, highlighting the tension between current redemption and future fulfillment. Another frames the passage within the grand narrative of the Bible, emphasizing God's glory and the comprehensive worldview it provides. A different sermon presents God's sovereign plan as an act of grace, independent of human actions, while another highlights the cosmic unity in Christ, expanding redemption to include all creation. The theme of the absolute certainty and perfection of God's redemptive plan is also explored, emphasizing the Trinitarian nature of the plan and the assurance of salvation tied to the glorification of the Son.
Ephesians 1:9-10 Interpretation:
Embracing Redemption: Our Identity and Hope in Christ (First Baptist Sulphur Springs) interprets Ephesians 1:9-10 by emphasizing the concept of "in Christ" as a central theological theme. The sermon highlights the Greek phrase "in Christ" as a key to understanding the passage, noting its frequent use by Paul to signify the oneness believers share with Jesus. The sermon uses the metaphor of living in a storehouse, where believers constantly make withdrawals of spiritual blessings without the shelves ever emptying. This interpretation underscores the present reality of redemption and the future fulfillment of God's plan to unite all things under Christ.
Unashamed: Embracing God's Grand Narrative Together (FCC Moweaqua) interprets Ephesians 1:9-10 by framing it within the grand narrative of the Bible, emphasizing the four corner pieces of Scripture: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. The sermon uses the analogy of a puzzle to explain how Ephesians 1:9-10 fits into the larger story of God's glory and grace. This interpretation highlights the unity of all things in Christ as the culmination of God's plan for the fullness of time.
God's Cosmic Plan: Unity in Christ (MLJTrust) interprets Ephesians 1:9-10 as a revelation of God's ultimate plan to reunite all things in Christ. The sermon emphasizes the Greek word "again" in the original text, suggesting that God's plan is to restore the original harmony that existed before the fall of man and angels. This interpretation highlights the cosmic scope of God's plan, which includes not only humanity but also the entire creation, both in heaven and on earth. The sermon uses the analogy of a perfect state of harmony that existed originally, which was disrupted by the fall, and God's plan to restore this harmony through Christ.
God's Divine Plan: Redemption Through Christ (MLJTrust) interprets Ephesians 1:9-10 as a revelation of God's comprehensive and perfect plan of redemption, which was established before the foundation of the world. The sermon emphasizes that this plan is not only about individual salvation but encompasses all things in heaven and on earth, bringing them under the unity of Christ. The preacher uses the analogy of a "compact" or "covenant" between the Father and the Son, highlighting the necessity of the Incarnation and the role of Christ as the head of a new humanity. The sermon also delves into the Greek term for "mystery" (?????????), explaining it as something that was hidden but is now revealed through Christ, emphasizing the grace and pleasure of God in making this known.
Ephesians 1:9-10 Theological Themes:
Embracing Redemption: Our Identity and Hope in Christ (First Baptist Sulphur Springs) presents the theme of the "already but not fully" reality of the Kingdom. The sermon explains that while believers currently experience redemption, there is a future day of redemption when God's plan will be fully realized, bringing unity to all things under Christ.
Unashamed: Embracing God's Grand Narrative Together (FCC Moweaqua) introduces the theme of the Bible as a grand narrative centered on God's glory. The sermon emphasizes that the story of God is not about individuals but about God's overarching plan to unite all things in Christ, providing a comprehensive worldview that answers life's fundamental questions.
Embracing God's Sovereign Plan and Lavish Grace (Crazy Love) presents the theme of God's sovereign plan as an act of grace. The sermon emphasizes that God has a plan to unite all things in Christ, which was set before the foundation of the world. This theme highlights the idea that God's plan is not contingent on human actions or opinions but is a demonstration of His grace and love, as He reveals His plan to those He loves.
God's Cosmic Plan: Unity in Christ (MLJTrust) introduces the theme of cosmic unity in Christ, where God's plan involves not just human redemption but the restoration of the entire cosmos. This theme expands the understanding of redemption to include all of creation, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of God's plan to bring everything under Christ's headship.
God's Divine Plan: Redemption Through Christ (MLJTrust) presents the theme of the absolute certainty and perfection of God's redemptive plan. The sermon highlights that God's plan is definite and not contingent, with every event happening according to His divine timetable. This includes the timing of Christ's coming and the ultimate reconciliation of all things under Christ. The preacher also emphasizes the theme of God's sovereignty and the Trinitarian nature of the redemption plan, with the Father as the originator and the Son as the executor.
God's Unshakeable Purpose: Assurance of Salvation (MLJTrust) introduces the theme of the glorification of the Son as the ultimate purpose of salvation. The sermon explains that the preeminence of Christ as the "firstborn among many brethren" is central to God's plan, and our salvation is assured because it is tied to the glory of the Son. The preacher emphasizes that the entire scheme of salvation is designed to honor and glorify Christ, and this assurance is rooted in the eternal purpose of God.
Ephesians 1:9-10 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Embracing Redemption: Our Identity and Hope in Christ (First Baptist Sulphur Springs) provides historical context by explaining the use of the word "redemption" in the New Testament. The sermon notes that redemption was originally used to refer to release from bondage by payment, but in the New Testament, it takes on a deeper meaning through the sacrificial death of Jesus, providing forgiveness of sins.
God's Cosmic Plan: Unity in Christ (MLJTrust) provides historical context by explaining the original state of harmony in creation, which was disrupted by the fall of angels and humans. The sermon references the rebellion in heaven and the subsequent fall of man as historical events that led to the current state of discord in the world. This context helps to understand the need for God's plan to reunite all things in Christ.
God's Divine Plan: Redemption Through Christ (MLJTrust) provides historical insights into the cultural understanding of covenants during biblical times, explaining how God's covenant with humanity through Christ mirrors ancient practices of making binding agreements. The sermon also references the historical context of Roman and Greek philosophies and laws, suggesting that God's timing in sending Christ was to demonstrate the inadequacy of human systems to achieve redemption.
Ephesians 1:9-10 Cross-References in the Bible:
Embracing Redemption: Our Identity and Hope in Christ (First Baptist Sulphur Springs) references Galatians 4:4-5 and Romans 8:22-25 to support the interpretation of Ephesians 1:9-10. Galatians 4:4-5 is used to illustrate the timing of God's plan, while Romans 8:22-25 expands on the future hope of redemption and the groaning of creation for the fulfillment of God's plan.
Unashamed: Embracing God's Grand Narrative Together (FCC Moweaqua) references Acts 17 to illustrate how Paul addressed different worldviews by starting with the concept of God as Creator. This cross-reference supports the interpretation of Ephesians 1:9-10 as part of the grand narrative of Scripture, emphasizing the unity of all things in Christ.
Embracing God's Sovereign Plan and Lavish Grace (Crazy Love) references Amos 3:7 to illustrate that God reveals His plans to His prophets, drawing a parallel to how God reveals the mystery of His will to believers. The sermon also references Revelation 4 and 5 to describe the ongoing worship in heaven, which will be united with earthly worship in God's plan.
God's Cosmic Plan: Unity in Christ (MLJTrust) references several passages, including Colossians 1:15-20, to support the idea of Christ as the head of all creation. The sermon also references Romans 8:19-22 to explain the groaning of creation and its anticipation of redemption. Additionally, it cites Isaiah 11:6-9 to describe the future harmony in creation, where even animals will live in peace.
God's Divine Plan: Redemption Through Christ (MLJTrust) references several biblical passages to support the interpretation of Ephesians 1:9-10. Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15 are cited to illustrate the contrast between Adam and Christ as representatives of humanity. John 6 and 17 are used to explain the concept of the Father giving a people to the Son. Hebrews 2:13 and the 40th Psalm are mentioned to highlight the preparation and role of Christ in the redemption plan. The sermon also references Genesis 3, Romans 11, and the book of Revelation to discuss the certainty and consummation of God's plan.
God's Unshakeable Purpose: Assurance of Salvation (MLJTrust) uses Romans 8:28-30 to discuss the assurance of salvation and the purpose of God. The sermon also references Philippians 2 and Colossians 1:18 to emphasize the preeminence of Christ and the glorification of the Son. Ephesians 1:9-10 is used to highlight the gathering of all things in Christ, and the sermon draws on the high priestly prayer in John 17 to underscore the glory of the Son.
Ephesians 1:9-10 Christian References outside the Bible:
Unashamed: Embracing God's Grand Narrative Together (FCC Moweaqua) references Greg Kokel and Nancy Piercy to support the interpretation of Ephesians 1:9-10. Greg Kokel's book "The Story of Reality" is cited to explain the four major questions that a true worldview must answer, while Nancy Piercy's writings emphasize the Bible as a grand drama with a beginning, middle, and end, centered on God's glory.
God's Cosmic Plan: Unity in Christ (MLJTrust) does not explicitly reference non-biblical Christian authors in the analysis of Ephesians 1:9-10.
Ephesians 1:9-10 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Unashamed: Embracing God's Grand Narrative Together (FCC Moweaqua) uses the analogy of a puzzle to illustrate the interpretation of Ephesians 1:9-10. The sermon describes how putting together a puzzle requires understanding the big picture, similar to how understanding the Bible requires seeing the grand narrative of God's plan. The sermon also references the Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones, which presents the Bible as a story with Jesus at the center, likening Him to the missing piece that makes all other pieces fit together.
God's Cosmic Plan: Unity in Christ (MLJTrust) does not use secular sources to illustrate Ephesians 1:9-10.