We Are A Family of Supers – Part 2 with you

Speak Up For Pastors 

Review 

The principle of Faith and Action 

• The first three chapters address what we believe. 
• The last three chapters address how we behave. 

The Principle of Identity and Action 

• The first three chapters focus on who we are. 
• The second three chapters focus on what we do. 

The Principle of Power and Decision-Making 

• The first three chapters focus on God’s power. 
• The second three chapters focus on our choices. 

Geography 

• The first three chapters focus on our status in heaven. 
• The second three chapters focus on our status on earth. 

Our Super and Secret Identities. 

• The first three chapters focus on who we in Christ (Our Super Identity). 
• The second three chapters focus on who are in the world (Our Secret Identity). 

EPHESIANS CHAPTER 1 

Ephesians 1:1 (ESV): 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:  

• Why did God choose Paul? 
• Paul’s past made him someone most of us would never choose to be an apostle. 
• I Timothy 1:15– 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 
• I Corinthians 15:9-10– 9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.   

Ephesians 1:2 (ESV): 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

• The Father is the source of grace and peace, which He shares with us through His Son, Jesus 
• Jesus is the ambassador of the Father 
• We see the Father through Jesus 
• Cultural, Legal, and Historical Significance of centering the Father
• In Rome, the father was the legal and cultural center of the family. 
• He was called in Latin the paterfamilias (pa·ter·fa·mil·i·as[pādərfəˈmilēəs, pädərfəˈmilēəs]) 
• A paterfamiliasis the male head of a family or household. 

Ephesians 1:3 (ESV): 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,  

• Paul Continues to draw parallels between earthly godfathers the heavenly God-Father 
• The God Father must be honored 
• In movies, we see the kissing of the ring 
• When in the presence of the God Father, you give Him honor 
• That’s the role we have been assigned to as priests 
• Let’s be reminded that this is how God sees us, as priests, people whose lives are dedicated exclusively for God’s service 

• 1 Peter 2:5 (ESV):5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 
• Deuteronomy 10:8 (ESV):8 At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord to stand before the Lord to minister to him and to bless in his name, to this day. 
• Our blessings do not originate from this world.

Ephesians 1:4 (ESV): 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 

• We are chosen: 
• 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV):9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. . . 

Ephesians 1:5 (ESV): 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,  

• The reference to adoption helps to makes sense of the fact that we are chosen 
• It also connects back to Roman culture and the priorities of the paterfamilias 
• Paterfamilias were always looking for an heir because they wanted their legacy to continue 
• And sometimes your birth children did not give you confidence that your legacy would continue 
• Or you might not have biological children. 
• So what would you do? 
• You would adopt 
• In Roman society, the adopted child was in higher regard than the birth child  
• In ancient Rome, adoption was not a sign of second-class citizenship, but of first-class family privileges. 
• In ancient Rome, adoption generally meant you were elevating your status.
• This is because the biological relationship was far less important than the legal one.
• “When the adoption was complete it was complete indeed. The person who had been adopted had all the rights of a legitimate son in his new familyand completely lost all rights in his old family. In the eyes of the law he was a new person. So new was he that even all debts and obligations connected with his previous family were abolished as if they had never existed.” (William Barclay, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/dsb/ephesians-1.html) 

• Through Jesus, we receive favored Son status
• The Lord looks at us through the identity of His Son 

Ephesians 1:6 (ESV): 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 

Ephesians 1:7-8 (ESV): 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight  

Ephesians 1:9-10 (ESV): 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.  

• James 3:13–18 (ESV):13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 

Ephesians 1:11-12 (ESV): 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.  

Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV): 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.  

Ephesians 1:15-16 (ESV): 15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,  

Ephesians 1:17 (ESV): 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,  

Ephesians 1:18 (ESV): 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,  

Ephesians 1:19 (ESV): 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might  

Ephesians 1:20 (ESV): 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,  

Ephesians 1:21 (ESV): 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.  

Ephesians 1:22 (ESV): 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.  

In Sum, 

• The first chapter of Ephesians introduces us to our heavenly 
• We are adopted into the family and are now legal co-heirs with the favored Son, Jesus. 
• We share the status of the favored Son. 
• Not only have we received an inheritance, but we are the inheritance of our heavenly paterfamilias and big brother Jesus. 
• Our Heavenly Father is an example of fatherhood for all earthly 
• Our Heavenly Father is an alternative father for all who are abused by earthly