“Ephesians focuses on the basic doctrine of the church – what it is and how believers function within it.” (John F. MacArthur Jr., Ephesians, MacArthur New Testament Commentary. Chicago: Moody Press, 1986, viii)
Paul’s introduction to the church at Ephesus, reminds us of 3 unchangeable parts of God’s plan upon which to build your lasting and stable identity
I. One Authoritative Foundation Upon Which to Build
A. An apostle – "sent one”
Matthew 28:18 - And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
2 Corinthians 10:8 - For even if I should boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up…
2 Corinthians 13:10 - For this reason I am writing these things… in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me, for building up and not for tearing down.
1 Thessalonians 2:5 - For we never came with flattering speech, as you know…nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.
2 Corinthians 12:12 - The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles. (cf. Rom 15:18)
B. “By the will of God”
Ephesians 2:19 - So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone.
II. One People of God that Is Being Built
A. “Saints,” “faithful,” or “believers” – those “set apart” referring to the church
Ephesians 5:27 - …that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
Exodus 19:5 - Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
B. “In Ephesus” – worldwide mission
III. One Way to God – Grace
Ephesians 1:2 - Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Would you agree with me that the language and significance of identity has taken a more prominent place in cultural discussions?
We want to prove to ourselves to be somebody. To build a name for ourselves and have others identify and recognize it.
When you say the phrase, I am “_______________________.”
How we identify explains the significance of who we are and what we want others to recognize and know about us.
What you say after the “I am ________________” reveals information about you that you believe is significant that you want others to recognize.
We can build our identity based on our work.
- o I am a CEO/Project Manager.
We can build our identity on relationships with other people.
- o I am the husband of Tirzah Birk.
- o You know Stefan Nitschke/Ross Reeder, he’s my friend.
We can seek to build our identity based on our sexual desires.
We can build our identity and think what is most significant is our suffering or sin.
- o I am a cancer patient or I am a drunkard.
This desire for building an identity and legacy that means something drives much of what we do and yet life reminds us that the identity we seek to build on our own doesn’t last.
Whatever identity I sought to build in my life…Great athlete, good student, well liked by others I experienced my inadequacy.
- - Like the now aging pop star Madonna when she said in Vanity Fair in 1991,
“I have an iron will, and all of my will has always been to conquer some horrible feeling of inadequacy.… I push past one spell of it and discover myself as a special human being and then I get to another stage and think I’m mediocre and uninteresting.… Again and again...My drive in life is from this horrible fear of being mediocre. And that’s always pushing me, pushing me. Because even though I’ve become somebody, I still have to prove that I’m somebody. My struggle has never ended and it probably never will.” – Madonna, “The Misfit”, Vanity Fair 1991.
Your identity that you build, your sense of who you are is built over time…seeking to be somebody.
But what happens when the identity we built upon is confronted by those who are better or more significant somebodies compared to you…or you can no longer do or be what you built because of changes.
- o We are discouraged or left pushing ourselves again on the performance treadmill.
Like Michael Phelps, one of the greatest Olympian Swimmers….who said, “Who was I outside of the swimming pool?”
We stive to prove ourselves to be somebody hoping that the significance of the identity we have built will not crumble.
But what identity, “who we are,” can be built, that cannot crumble eventually?
It’s not an identity that we have built, but one that Christ has made, and we need to remember our identity as one in Christ and build on the heritage that Jesus Christ, the Lord, and unifier of the universe has laid.
With those thoughts in mind turn with me to two places in Scripture this Morning
Acts 19 and Ephesians 1.
Acts 19 is on page 108 in the back section of the bible in the chair in front of you.
Ephesians 1 is on page 150 in the back section of the bible in the chair in front of you.
Today we are launching our new series called “Building Upon Our Heritage.”
This is in light of celebrating the 60th year anniversary of Faith Church as Pastor Viars mentioned last week.
We will be studying the book of Ephesians because it’s all about the church and the work that Jesus is building,
John MacArthur says,
Ephesians focuses on the basic doctrine of the church—what it is and how believers function within it. —John F. MacArthur Jr., Ephesians, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1986), viii.
So, our heritage, our identity, and building upon all of that must be focused on God’s plan—the church.
Now, I want to start with a bit of background on the city of Ephesus.
The city of Ephesus made a name for itself. It’s significance was known throughout the world.
When you think significance cities in our modern age that you might want to visit…that is what Ephesus was.
- · Center of Culture
- · Center of Finances
- · Center of Arts
- · Center of Entertainment
Think of Lafayette Indiana…no, it’s more like the New York City or Los Angeles.
People who go there go there to make a name for themselves and find an identity.
Ephesus was all of that plus being…
- a center of athletics.
- a center of learning.
- and religion.
As for its importance in the Roman Empire, Ephesus, some scholars suggest it second only to Rome in its prominence.
Ceasar Augustus made Ephesus the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire.
It was located on west coast of modern Turkey it was the perfect bridge between the Western Roman Empire with its Greek and Roman cultures) and the Eastern Roman Empire with its various Semitic, Arab, and Persian cultures.
And the apostle Paul goes there….to this significant city not to make a name for himself.
But spread the news about the name of Jesus and share about Jesus’s identity and why Jesus and his kingdom is good news….
Let’s look at some Acts 19 excerpts together….Verse 1
1 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples… verse7 There were in all about twelve men. 8 And he entered the synagogue (Paul always started with the Jews) and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus (Paul withdrew from the Jews and went to the Gentiles, and you will notice the learning center). 10 This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks….(How was it that all heard?—Only if Ephesus was a hub…things that happen there spread to the rest of the country—like NYC/LA) VERSE18 Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. 19 And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. (Notice the book emphasis (learning) center and the finances and notice the identity changes) 20 So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing….VERSE 23 About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen; 25 these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. 26 “You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all. 27 (Let me just say, if you have to make your god with your hands…your god is not a god) “Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.” (Ephesus was known for one of the seven wonders of the world—the Temple of Artemis).
An ancient Greek poet, Antipater of Sidon, said of the temple of Artemis
I have set eyes on the wall of lofty Babylon …and the statue of Zeus … and the hanging gardens, and the Colossus of the Sun, and the … the high pyramids, …; but when I saw the house of Artemis …, those other marvels lost their brilliancy, ….
"Antipater [9] of Thessalonica". Brill's New Pauly.
Talk about a significant place…Ephesus was a big deal….
28 When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, (The mob rushed Paul into the theater…notice what happens you’re your identity is bound up in something that is threatened..your god…your identity wrapped up in your livelihood is dethroned)……VERSE .35 After quieting the crowd, the town clerk said, “Men of Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the image which fell down from heaven? 36 “So, since these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash….VERSE38 “So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against any man, the courts are in session and proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another. 39 … VERSE41 After saying this he dismissed the assembly.
Now…let’s take a look at a recreation of Ephesus…. based upon current ruins to get an idea of how significant this city was….
Video Link [CLICK Slide]
Zooming in | I love Google Earth |
Ephesus was the gateway city between the West (Greece and Rome) and the East (all the semitic/Asiatic lands) | |
As you watch the panorama of the city you can gain a glimpse of its majesty—it was a wealthy city. | |
Going up main street Ephesus it leads right to the theater…which seemed to be the center of the city where Paul was dragged. | |
The theater held 25,000 people. Historians estimate that the population of a city was about 10x’s it’s theater capacity, so Ephesus was likely to be a city of 250k people | |
Here we have Ross-Ade Stadium 😊 You can see the emphasis on sports and entertainment | |
And then down the street to one of the seven wonders of the world that also supported the local economy and religious structure was the Great Temple of Artemis. |
Turn with me now to the book of Ephesians chapter 1.
Read with me just versus 1 and 2 today.
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul’s two verse introduction has significant identity statements.
These two verses reveal God’s plan of this age.
God has one master plan in this age that he is building. He is not constructing a theater or an educational system or a great city like NYC where you can make a name for yourself…..but He is calling and setting apart a people from every nation to himself for his purposes through the message of the Gospel, and uniting them into the church and summing up all things under Jesus Christ.
The church planted at Ephesus represents an outworking of that plan as God moves through the nations as demonstrated in Eph 1:1-2.
As the good news about Jesus advances, Paul can write to the Jew and Gentile (non-Jewish) church and he will start the exhortation to the Ephesians with who they are—their identity and the Spiritual blessings from their identity in Christ.
Probably more than any other of Paul’s epistles, Ephesians, chapter 1 has more exhortation about who believers are in Christ and such a tightly packed reminder of their spiritual blessings.
Because in a city like Ephesus known for its buildings like the Temple of Artemis where everybody goes to make an identity for themselves…Paul wants to remind them where a lasting identity is found that will not be crushed.
From that city of Ephesus, the knowledge of the one true God— after rocking the Ephesian’s identity and world view spread to all of Asian Minor.
By the 2nd and 3rd century AD. all of Asia minor was majority Christian and no longer pagan. Today, there is no longer any Ephesus….but the church of Jesus Christ is being built by God.
So today we launch our
Building on Our Heritage annual series with
the first part of our study: Remembering our Identity as One in Christ
And specifically today….You Are Saints.
Paul’s introduction to the church at Ephesus, reminds us of three unchangeable parts of God’s plan upon which to build your lasting and stable identity.
The first unchangeable part of God’s plan is that there is:
I. One authoritative foundation upon which to build.
What foundation was I attempting to build my life on through college? My academic credentials
What foundation was/is Madonna building her life on….provocative performances
What foundation was Michael Phelps building his life on….swimming….
Paul is indicating here in his brief introduction the only authoritative foundation on which to build one’s life and identity.
There are two statements by Paul that show us he is speaking of authoritative foundation for life….
An Apostle—"Sent one”
God sent human messengers like Paul, to give his authoritative message and they had authority given to them by God and God showed that they were from Him by powerful signs and wonders.
I am simplifying the role of the messengers of God greatly, but the apostles were endowed with the authority of God Himself and were eyewitness to the resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus Christ selected men to accompany him and witness all that He said and did.
Then after Jesus was finished with his work on earth, Jesus sent His disciples to carry forth that authoritative work as sent ones to the world
Matt 28:18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
The apostles were not quite the same as you and me today.
In fact at Faith Church we believe that after the death of the original apostles and the work that they accomplish was finished there are no more apostles today.
They carried unique authority. Notice these verses…
2 Cor 10:8For even if I should boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up….
2 Cor 13: 10 For this reason I am writing these things, … in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me, for building up and not for tearing down.
1 Thess 2:5 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, … 6 nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.
2 Cor 12 :12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles. (cf. Rom 15:18)
And the sent ones, including Paul were chosen…
B. “By the will of God”
This is a work that is done by the authoritative will of God.
There is no other work of God that has the authority and foundation behind it than what God has spoken and done through the His unique prophets and apostles.
And if you want a stable and lasting identity, a foundation for life, this is the only foundation on which to build.
Superseding building your resume, your career, your family, your name…all of that is secondary to what God is doing….
Later in Ephesians we will study this verse…Notice the identity…who you are statements.
Eph 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone.
Let’s get really practical here…what is the foundation laid by the prophets and the apostles?!!
Now for just a moment everybody hold up your bible….or if you reading the Word of God on your smart phone hold that up….
The prophets and the apostles recorded the very Words of God.
Divine authority from God and his word.
This is the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets.
God’s Word that you are holding up is the foundation upon which God is building there is no other reliable and authoritative foundation.
So, if we are going to have stability in our identity, I need to remember my identity in Christ, and in 2024 anchor what I believe about myself and what I believer about others to what God’s Word says. It’s authoritative so when what I feel or what someone else says is different than what God says I will choose to live by faith in God’s Word.
While the mighty big deal of a city, Ephesus, is in ruins, God’s word continues to stand and will stand.
That is what Faith Church was founded upon and that is what we must build upon if we are to “build upon our heritage.”
At our recent church family night we took time to honor some of our long time members, and one example from our church family of a person who I believe characterizes building their identity and foundation on God’s Word, is:
One of the guiding words mentioned this year is celebration. I want to encourage you to celebrate or encourage a sister or brother in Christ who you have seen grounding their identity to Christ through various changes in their life.
There is one foundation upon which to build your life and identity, and that leads us to the second unchangeable part of God’s plan which is
II. One People of God that is being built
Each one of us are trying to find a place to fit in and build our identity—our sense of meaning and purpose to our life is tied to our community.
The group that I sought to build my identity was often shifting it was sometimes the academics, other times the athletes… other times the wealthy/influential.
As you think about the groups you gravitate to what does it look like to make a name in that group? What does the friendship group around me value and say this is what we should build our lives on?
Paul is writing to the group that God built that will last….
There are two descriptions of God’s group and community that give us great insight into what group of people God is building.
The first description:
A. “Saints,” “faithful” or “believers” —those “set apart” referring to the church
The term “Saints” could be translated “holy ones” and it does not refer to primarily their outward moral actions but refers to their status as those who have been “set apart” by God to become what He has designed them to be.
And when Paul says those who are “faithful in Christ” he most likely refers to them having believed in Christ…we are talking about believers….not folks who have attained some form of righteous and moral perfection.
In this letter, later Paul will say,
Eph 5:27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
God will be making His people, His church, blameless and morally pure over time.
Folks, I know when you hear the word “saints” we think of moral perfection or righteous….and while that is part of the concept there is so much more.
“Holy,” “set apart” goes back to something much more precious.
In our identity struggles…isn’t the bottom line in our distorted pride that
- we want to matter,
- we want to be recognized as a big deal by those that matter to us…
The term “Holy ones” goes back to Exodus 19:5-6 where God through the prophet Moses at that time says..
Ex 19:5‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’
You see the term “holy nation” but also the term “special possession” an idea that will come up in Ephesians 1:1 “God’s own possession.”
The term “special possession” is an understatement… “special possession” means the crown jewel of God’s treasures”[1]
If you go over to England the crown jewels are guarded and kept carefully under lock and key in the tower of London.
The crown jewels are the most treasured and secure possession of the King or Queen.
And when the King wants to show the world his glory and reputation he puts on all His glorious splendor and He reaches for the crown jewels to adorn Himself.
Your brother or sister in Christ sitting next to you is part of the crown jewels of God. The handiwork of the mighty God who saves sinners and fashions them into Godly servants of Jesus.
- · We are a precious possession that will be kept safe to the end
- · Under lock and key of God’s mighty hand and no one will snatch them from his hand.
You want to be part of something permanent that will last and want to be a big deal?
How about being a part of God’s community, the crown Jewel of His son Jesus Christ’s possession and to be part of his masterpiece to put on display his glory through our lives.
- · Any identity that is not rooted in Christ will not remain.
- · Your academic accomplishment you build will not last
- · Your financial portfolio you manage will not last
- · If your life and identity is build upon your entertainment online video game playing (fortnight, Minecraft). That is not the glory that will be put on display.
Being a saint and believer in Christ and my identity being secured by the incomparable Creator God is the glorious identity we long for and what I need to build on.
But God’s group is not just in a special location where only a few have access.
What is amazing is that we find a group in the most unlikely of places….and everyone is invited…
B. “In Ephesus”—worldwide mission.
“In Ephesus??!!” 2nd only to Rome!!???….God’s power is calling out His special possession from everywhere in the world including the most unlikely places. The nature of these letters were often circulated throughout the area.
This was always His plan to call out a people for Himself.
If you want to build an identity that matters to the only one who matters…you and your life have to be built around God’s plan—the Church
And while the crown jewels may not have all of their brilliance right now…(i.e. the church with me and you in it is not finally sanctified) this is the only group with an identity that will be permanent for eternity and that will never crumble.
[Examples of worldwide mission and significance through those who are faithful to God’s building plan the local church]
[Faith Biblical Counseling Ministries – Founding Group]
[Vision of Hope Founding – Group Picture]
[FCS Founding Picture]
[FBS Founding Picture]
Not only is there only one authoritative foundation on which to build a lasting identity.
Not only is there one group God is building.
Finally,
There is the great equalizer in the group…
The invitation goes out worldwide to join this community, but only:
III. One Way to God—Grace
Paul reminds the Ephesians how they were brought into this group to become saints and how they will continue.
Eph 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Tell me this…why is it that God is making His people into His crown jewels…?
Why is it that He is making His people into a treasured possession?
Why is it that He is making His people’s name great?
Is it because we were all so beautifully, polished and brilliant?
What’s the answer to that? No.
In fact it is the opposite—while we were unpolished, sinners God loved us
And in that love He sent His Son Jesus Christ, the righteous One, to bring us those who are not righteous to God. We who were once far off from God’s group and alienated, through faith in Jesus are included and brought near.
Jesus the Son of God, made Himself and His identity of no account for us…Isaiah 53:2 said that Jesus Christ had no form or majesty that we should look upon Him or appearance that we should be attracted to Him, in fact…he was despised and forsaken of men…a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Like one ;from whom men hide their face…and we did not esteem Him
You know what this means don’t you…on earth Jesus was not the one building a name for Himself…. he made himself the opposite…one of no reputation or even more….one who had a reputation of associating with sinners and he died between two men as a criminal….
He was numbered and named with the transgressors to die in our place identifying with his people.
And God the Father looked down at the one who made Himself of no reputation out of love for us to the point of death on a cross…
”For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Jesus is now crowned with glory and honor because of the Resurrection from the dead.
And all believers in Christ, will be God’s crown jewels…his possession displaying God’s glorious grace forever.
So, my friends, Christ by the grace of God died and was reckoned with sinners on our behalf that He might taste death for everyone so that we could be brought to glory and have the identity to be called Saint Holy One. Jesus is not ashamed to call us that!
Gospel appeal -
Believer appeal - grace causes us to not exalt ourselves above others and just love them…
- - Opportunities in the church family.
Pray. In 2024 may we remember our identity as one in Christ and build upon our heritage that has been laid for us by God work.
- One authoritative foundation upon which to build.
- One People of God that is being built
- One Way to God—Grace
[1] See NIDOTTE--סְגֻלָּה (segullâ), nom. personal possession, treasure; crown jewel (#6035)[1] (In NT cf. Titus 2:1, 1 Peter 2:9)
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