Being And Then Doing

This morning we will begin a series of sermons through the book of Ephesians.  And as we gather to worship, let me summarize the entire book of Ephesians for you – Chs 1-3:  What you have been freely given in Christ.  Chs 4-6:  What you are able to therefore do in Christ.  This is the Gospel – the gracious Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Being – and then Doing.

Now, Christian, you think that you know the Gospel.  But you also know that you often fall into various temptations and sins.  Why?  At the heart of all stumbling there is the fault of not believing this truth.  We refuse to fully believe all that we have been given in Christ.  We fail to believe that we are fundamentally different because of Jesus Christ.  You are something you never could be because of Jesus Christ.  You are on a life journey you could never be on if it were not for Jesus Christ.  You are in Christ and you must come to know more and more of what that means – and your faith must be strengthened, deepened, widened, to comprehend, apprehend, and trust these things to be true.

All other religious systems preach doing in order to become something.  The Good News is this – you have become something – holy, righteous, blameless, spiritually-minded, truth-filled, Spirit-empowered – not because you did anything but because Someone did something for you.  Receive this, believe this, and the rest becomes just filling out the details of the life that is yours in Jesus Christ.  That is why you have been summoned to worship.  Come and worship.  Come and receive.  Come and welcome to Jesus Christ.