Series: Ephesians
Title: After Hearing of Faith and Love
Text: Ephesians 1: 15-16
Date: May 12, 2013
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
Ephesians 1: 15: Wherefore I also, after I
heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making
mention of you in my prayers;
The
apostle Paul began by thanking God the Father for the blessings of his grace in
Christ, saying in verse 3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ,…” Here, Paul says to our Ephesian brethren, “Wherefore I also,…give
thanks for you…”
Divisions: I.
WHY PAUL THANKED GOD FOR THEM—V15:
Wherefore…; II. THE OCCASION—(two things) V15: after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all
the saints; III. LOOK AT A FEW THINGS PAUL ASKED GOD FOR—V16:..making mention of you in my prayers.
Proposition: The reason we thank only God and pray for our brethren is
because God did and does all the work to save them and grow them in faith and
love.
Jonah 2:9 But I
will SACRIFICE unto THEE with the VOICE of THANKSGIVING; I will pay that that I have vowed. SALVATION IS OF THE LORD.
Psalm 107: 20 He
SENT HIS WORD, and HEALED them, and DELIVERED them from THEIR
destructions. 21 Oh that men
would praise the LORD for HIS GOODNESS, and for HIS WONDERFUL
WORKS to the children of men! 22 And let
them SACRIFICE the SACRIFICES of
THANKSGIVING, and DECLARE [tally, enumerate, recount] HIS WORKS with REJOICING.
The
sacrifice the believer sacrifices to God is the voice of thanksgiving, counting
to God each of God’s works. And we do so—with rejoicing. We rejoice, that the
salvation of our brethren is by his wonderful works, alone! This is the sacrifice which God is pleased
with. Why? Because when believers thank the LORD we are praising God that salvation
is of the LORD.
Application: We have heard preachers and professing believers say
“salvation is of the LORD”—all do. But
very, very few believe what the verse really means, and that is that salvation
is ALL of the LORD. Most mean to say,
“Salvation is of the LORD, along with MY contribution.” But if a sinner contributes anything then
salvation is NOT of the LORD. That is not thanksgiving. God calls it glorying in the flesh,
boasting.
1 Corinthians 1: 29: no flesh should glory in his
presence…31:…He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Isaiah 42: 8: I am the LORD: that is my name: and my
glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Therefore,
Paul gladly would not give God’s glory to another. He said, “These same blessings for which I
bless God for saving me, wherefore I also, thank God for you.”
Now,
let’s look at these blessings again. The
Spirit of God declares, through Paul, exactly what it means when the scripture
says, “Salvation is of the Lord.”
I. WHY DID PAUL THANK GOD FOR THESE BELIEVERS
AT EPHESUS?—Ephesians 1: 15: Wherefore…; He
refers back to what he stated before.
Paul
thanked God the Father for choosing them in Christ and thereby blessing them
with all spiritual blessings.
Ephesians 1: 3: Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ: V4: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
If a
professing believer does not believe God chose his brethren in Christ before
the foundation of the world then he cannot thank God for his brethren—he would
have to thank them or himself or someone else.
That is not saying “Salvation is of the Lord”, they are glorying in
their will, in their choice. Or when
they say God chose them because God foresaw they would believe they are not saying
salvation is of the Lord; They have to pray, “God I thank thee that I am not
like other men, but you chose me because you saw I would believe—you chose me
because of me.”
God did
not foresee they would believe—they were dead in sins. The foreknowledge of God is not God
foreseeing, it is God foreordaining. Scriptures
says of those who believed, “as many as were ordained to eternal life
believed.” (Acts 13: 48) Besides that,
faith is the gift of God--Ephesians 2: 8: For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. So even if God by his omniscience did see that
some would believe, it was because God foreordained to give them faith and
eternal life. So we thank God that he chose them.
Paul
thanked God for his Ephesian for the same reason he thanked God for his brethren
in Thessalonica—
2 Thessalonians 2:13: But we are BOUND TO GIVE THANKS
ALWAYS TO GOD FOR YOU, BRETHREN, beloved of the Lord, BECAUSE GOD HATH from the
beginning chosen you TO salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief
of the truth: 14 WHEREUNTO HE called you
by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Secondly,
Paul thanked God for his brethren because God predestinated them unto the
adoption of children, and he did so by Jesus Christ. That is why, together with
Paul, they were brethren in God’s house, and we together with them.
Ephesians 1: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of
children BY JESUS CHRIST to himself, according to the good pleasure of his
will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace,
wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
The
predestination unto the adoption includes all things necessary—but there are three
specific things. Paul deals with all three in the next several verses. And all
three of these are BY JESUS CHRIST. God appointed Christ Jesus, entrusting him
as the Head to do all three of these works—the Spirit of God has a part –but
overall it is BY JESUS CHRIST. Let me
just give them briefly:
1) Our
predestination unto the adoption included the predestinated hour when all the
legal requirements would be met so God could lawfully adopt the children he
chose. When Christ said, “the hour is
come”, it was the hour predestinated by God for Christ Jesus to redeem the
children God had chosen to adopt into his family.
Ephesians 1: 7: In whom we have redemption
through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his
grace;--
Galatians 4: 4 But
when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman,
made under the law, 5 To redeem them
that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
2) Our
predestination unto the adoption includes our being born of God the Holy Spirit
in Eze 16: 8 this predestinated time is called “thy time…the time of love.“—Christ
our Head rules all things to send his pastor and to cross our path with the
gospel at that appointed hour.
Ephesians 1: 8: Wherein HE hath abounded
toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good
pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Galatians 4: 6: And because ye are sons God hath sent
forth the Spirit of his Son whereby we cry Abba, Father.
3) Our
predestination unto the adoption of children includes the predestinated hour
when we shall leave this world and enter into the glorious liberty of the sons
of God, receiving our eternal inheritance, as heirs of God and joint-heirs with
Christ.
Ephesians 1: 11: In whom also
we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose
of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Christ
has and is doing all in perfect faithfulness to the Father.
Hebrews 3: 1: Wherefore, HOLY BRETHREN, partakers of the HEAVENLY
CALLING, consider the Apostle and High
Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 2
Who was FAITHFUL TO HIM that APPOINTED
HIM, as also Moses was faithful in all his house…5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his
house, AS A SERVANT, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken
after; 6 But Christ AS A SON OVER HIS OWN HOUSE; WHOSE HOUSE ARE WE, if we hold fast
the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
I love
God’s electing grace but how I love the adoption of children by Jesus Christ!
1 John 3:1 Behold,
what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called
the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Application: My brothers and sisters, I thank God for you, because this
house we are in is God OUR Father’s house, it is Christ’s Own House, whose
house are WE. Think of that! God is OUR Father and we HIS children Christ is OUR Elder Brother and we are HIS
brothers and sisters—HIS OWN HOUSE, WHOSE HOUSE WE ARE. He shall bring each son
and daughter, each brother and sister, home to God his Father—and none shall be
lost. We’ve seen throughout his days on this earth, how Christ meticulously
fulfilled every word that was written. So
then the hour is predestinated by God the Father for Christ to cross each
child’s path with the gospel—Christ will not fail to be faithful to the Father
who appointed him. Likewise, God has
appointed you to the inheritance—so then Christ shall faithfully keep you by
his faithfulness to God that appointed him.
This is what I thank God for when I think of you.
II. THE OCCASION—WHEN DID PAUL THANK GOD FOR
THEM?—(two things)--Ephesians 1: 15: after I heard of your faith in the Lord
Jesus, AND love unto all the saints;
This
was the cause Paul gave thanks: their faith in Christ, and their love to all
the saints. Faith in the Lord Jesus, and
love to all the saints, are the two great characteristics of divine life—all
the true saints of God, from the least to the greatest possess faith in Christ
and love for the saints. “Faith which worketh by love” is the believers rule of
life.
1 John 3: 23: This is his commandment. That we should
believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave
us commandment.'
Paul rejoiced at the conversion of new believers. Likewise, he rejoiced to hear that they were
growing in grace—in faith in Christ and he knew it because they showed a
growing love unto all the saints.
In 1 Thessalonians
3, we see how important being steadfast in faith and love is by how deeply Paul
was concerned for his brethren and how it affected him to hear a good report.
1 Thessalonians 3: 5
For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your
faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in
vain. 6: But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good
tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us
always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: [note this] 7: Therefore, brethren, we
were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in
the Lord. 9 For what thanks can we
render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes
before our God;
Brethren,
your faith in Christ and love to all the saints is beneficial not only for your
own souls good, but for the comfort and joy of your brethren. That is one great encouragement to remain
faithful to Christ and to love one another.
Application:
I can tell you, your faith in Christ and love for each other, is personally,
very beneficial for me. John said,
3 John 1: 4: I have no greater joy than to hear that my
children walk in truth.
Just
the reverse, it is greatly afflicting and distressing, when you see brethren
wavering. You begin to wonder: Has by some means the tempter tempted them. Has
our labor been in vain. Remember
brethren, Satan wants you to feel like the saints do not really care if you
are not here or that we will not miss you—but that is never the case. You are always missed and longed for—I can
assure you of that.
When it
proves that brethren have not fallen away—when God graciously shows his faithfulness
in keeping his saints—then God comforts our heart in all affliction and
distress by the faith of our brethren--“Now we live, if ye stand fast in the
Lord.” You pour out your heart to God saying, “what thanks can we render to God
again for keeping these brethren, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your
sakes before our God.”
Application: I tell my family back home. And I say it to you. If you truly believe in Christ Jesus and
love his people be faithful to gather with his saints. I never knew before now, how burdensome it is
for a pastor when the brethren are absent.
I’m not speaking of now and then—I mean multiple times. But how comforting it is to have faithful
brethren—it is so comforting!
Also, when we see how faith working by love causes
thanksgiving to God from our brethren—that in itself is a great encouragement
to remain stedfast in Christ and to show our love to his dear saints. Anything that causes our Redeemer to be
praised and gloried in—is what a believer delights in. You might not realize
it, but when you do something for one of your brethren it cause them to thank
Christ Jesus for working that in you.
2 Corinthians 9: 11
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth
through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For
the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints,
but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration
they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and
for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; 14 And by their prayer for you, which long after
you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
Application: What greater reward could a child of God want than to
know Christ is being glorified by that brother to whom you gave a glass of cold
water!
III. A LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS PAUL PRAYED
FOR—Ephesians 1:16:..making mention of you in my prayers
This
will help us see more clearly what
spiritual gifts and graces we should ask God for—for our brethren and for
ourselves.
1. He
asked God to give them the spirit of
wisdom and revelation--Ephesians 1:
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and
revelation in the knowledge of him: 18
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what
is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance
in the saints, 19 And what is the
exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe,…
2. He
asked for strength in the inner man by
his Spirit—Ephesians 3: 14: For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the
whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be
strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That
Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that
ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and
length, and depth, and height; 19 And to
know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
3. Paul
asked God to grant his brethren “likemindedness”—Romans
16: 5: Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one
toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
4. Paul
asked God to fill his brethren with joy
and peace in believing—Romans 15: 13: Now the God of hope fill you with all
joy and peace in believing, that ye
may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
5. He
prayed that their love might about in
knowledge and judgment—Philippians 1: 9: And this I pray, that your love
may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are
excellent; that ye may be sincere
and without offence till the day of Christ;
6. He
asked God to fill them with knowledge of
God’s will—Colossians 1: 9: For this cause we also, since the day we heard it,
do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the
knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That
ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every
good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his
glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
7. Paul
prayed that God would count them worthy
of their calling—use them in the
work of spreading the gospel—2 Thessalonians 1: 11: Wherefore also we pray
always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and
fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with
power: 12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and
ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Think
of these seven things and why he asked for those things.
1. The spirit of wisdom and revelation. that
ye may know the hope of his calling, the riches of the glory of his inheritance
in the saints, And the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who
believe,…
2. Strength in the inner man by his Spirit— That Christ may dwell in your hearts
by faith; that you be rooted and
grounded in love, to comprehend the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the
fulness of God.
3. Likemindedness”—That ye may with one
mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
4. Joy and peace in believing—that ye may
abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
5. Abounding Love in knowledge and judgment—That ye may approve things that are
excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
6. Knowledge of God’s will—That ye might
walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, be fruitful in every good work, increase
in the knowledge of God and be strengthened in patience and longsuffering with
joy
7. Counted worthy of your calling—used in the
work of the gospel—That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified
Application:
Brethren, this is the Spirit of God using Paul to teach us what we should be asking
for. Paul was far more concerned with the inward growth that would result in
the edification of God’s saints and the glory of God than with temporal stuff.
I don’t think we can find a single prayer in this bible, by a believer, for
anything temporal.
What have
we seen from this passage:
1. Remember
to thank our gracious God for saving our brethren, for giving each one faith in
Christ and love for all saints—we are members of his house!
2.
Remember that your steadfastness in faith and love greatly encourages your
brethren and that wavering greatly troubles them.
3.
Remember that by your steadfastness in faith and by your love to brethren
Christ is being glorified by much thanksgiving.
4.
Remember the spiritual gifts which Paul asked for—that the inward man be grown
so that Christ be glorified more and more—these things are much more needful
than any temporal thing we can ask God to give.
I will
end with the way Paul ended that prayer in Ephesians 3.
Ephesians 3: 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh
in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the
church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.
Amen.