“Where are God’s promises? Where does God work? Where are you?” and the answer is ever in Christ.
The longest sentence in the New Testament is the epistle pericope for Christmas 2. A good old fashioned sentence diagram in English (or Greek if you can dust the tools off in your exegetical toolbox) will yield some good results as you study this pericope, as you will (re-)discover the intricate periods, phrases, and clauses the Apostle interlocks to deliver the savior. This selection from the epistle is a full-on, 92-octane blast of gospel. Paul’s audience, which includes you and your hearers, has been blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (1:3), chosen before the foundation of the world (1:4), predestined for adoption as sons (1:5), blessed with grace (1:6), possesses redemption and forgiveness (1:7), and are apprised of God’s plan for the fullness of time (1:8-10). They – and we – have an inheritance predestined for us (1:11-12), and have been sealed with the Holy Spirit, the guarantee of that inheritance (1:13-14).
English translations break this curious sentence into several manageable chunks, sometimes splitting it into several sentences in order to render the meaning faithfully. One thing to notice is how in Paul’s Greek, and often in the English translations, the bits that connect one thought to another are often the prepositional phrase “in Christ” or variations thereof; some examples are in Christ 1:3, in Him 1:4, in Him 1:7, in Christ 1:9, in Him 1:11, in Christ 1:12, in Him 1:13 (x2). The proliferation of this phrase is not solely due to the challenge of stringing together all of Paul’s clauses with structural bits of grammar. There is a profound bit of theological capital in the in Christ, which permeates this reading in such a way as to guide the reader and hearer to trust that this is what it is all about. Here, preacher, is where you ought to focus your sermon attention and preparation. Where the Gospel for Christmas 2 asks, “Where is Jesus?” as Mary and Joseph look for the lad and find Him teaching the teachers at the Temple, the epistle for Christmas 2 asks, rather, “Where are God’s promises? Where does God work? Where are you?” and the answer is ever in Christ. This Christmas 2 Sunday is about the first rule of real estate: Location, location, location. A message which hits the point home that salvation is found in Christ will confess this lesson well.
The major pitfall in preaching Ephesians 1 is to get hung up on predestination (Ephesians 1:5, 11) and burn your pulpit time teaching where the confession of your church body stands in relation to other (particularly sixteenth century protestant) church disagreements over the matter. Think about this theoretically for a moment. Convincing a body of hearers after a discussion that “this is why Calvinists are right, and others are wrong,” might feel good for a teaching theologian who has mastered some of the basics of Reformed systematic theology. Persuading an audience that they can thank their lucky stars they were born Lutheran instead might, indeed, be satisfying for a few folks who want to win a point against their spouse or uncle or some other adversarial interlocutor. But either option, and a million in between, fail to do what preaching is for. Doctrine lessons are not the point of the pulpit, and justifying denominational allegiance is not even the best use of a Bible class (in spite of this very goal seeming to be the most popular aim of most Bible classes and studies I have ever been a participant in). No, the pulpit is meant to deliver the Christ and Him crucified. Do that delivery. This is what justifies your hearer, not their self-justification or their justification of denominational loyalty.
No, the pulpit is meant to deliver the Christ and Him crucified. Do that delivery.
The foregoing advice in no way discounts the truth of what the Word of God in Christ says plainly here in Ephesians 1:5 and 1:11. In Christ we have been adopted and are inheritors, and this is what He determined ahead of time Himself, for His own purpose, His own will. What great good news to share! The focus of proclaiming it as good news is best directed by remarking on the way in which this is unmerited kindness, and in that way, synonymous with grace, God’s divine favor in light of Christ’s person and work. Once again, Christ becomes the focus. Anytime the spotlight moves away from Christ, the message you preach is at risk of being meaningless or harmful. The spotlight should neither be humans and their works and efforts, nor should it be on the hidden will of God, the inner workings and machinations of deus absconditus (the hidden God). It should only be on what has been revealed in Christ.
In Christ keeps on coming up. Let us consider an “In Christ” outline for Ephesians 1, Christmas 2 preaching. And God bless your sermon craft this week!
- Location, Location, Incarnation (Ephesians 1:3-14, Christmas 2)
1. Where is Jesus? Luke 2 asks this Christmas question.
a. Not in a palace, not in an inn.
b. Laid in a manger – located where God keeps His promises.
c. In the Temple with Simeon and Anna; at His Father’s house teaching the teachers.
Christmas is not first about sentiment, but about divine placement – God puts Himself somewhere for you.
2. Ephesians asks the next Christmas question: Where are the promises?
a. Ephesians 1 answers this with the (liturgical?!) refrain: In Christ.
b. Every promise of God has an address. It is not abstract, not hidden.
c. Blessing, choosing, redemption, forgiveness, inheritance: All of it happens somewhere.
“In Christ” is not a slogan – it is a location!
3. Location, location, location: The first rule of real estate, because where you are determines what you have.
a. Paul is preaching geography. Blessed? In Christ. Redeemed? In Christ. Forgiven? In Christ.
Sealed? In Christ.
b. This is why “in Christ” is the most important prepositional phrase in the New Testament – it tells
you where God has put you.
4. Where has God placed His mercy?
a. Not in abstract philosophical questions about why some and not others.
b. This Word of God does not invite speculation. It is a proclamation.
c. If you want God’s, “Yes,” you go where Christ is; the real, the location, the address.
1. Golgotha, a cross where He suffers and dies for you and for the world.
2. An empty tomb: He is not here, He is risen.
3. He has blessed you in the heavenlies: In His divine ascension, He is where you are, you are
where He is, not in thought and sentiment, but in reality.
5. Where are you?
a. This is not the question, “How do you feel?” or “How are you doing?”
b. It is the question, “Where are you located?”
c. Outside of Christ - no promise.
d. In Christ - the promises are yours.
6. So, where is Christ for you?
a. This is Christmas: Jesus has revealed Himself in the flesh.
b. Jesus reveals Himself in His Word: My words, they are spirit, and they are life.
c. Jesus washes you with His name, washes you in Himself (Titus 3:5-6, Galatians 3:26-27).
d. Christ locates Himself for you in His body and His blood. When He is in you, you are in Him.
God does not simply shout promises across a distance. He places them in Christ, and He places you in Christ as well.
7. God has placed you in Christ.
a. You are not somehow climbing toward God or guessing at where He might be (refer to Romans
10:6-11).
b. God has already placed you in Christ, the one who was born and crucified, the one who is risen
and whom He has given to you.
c. This is the meaning of Christmas: The promises of God are not “out there” but located where
Christ is. You have them when you are in Christ.
If you want to know where Jesus is, look to Christmas. If you want to know where God’s mercy is, where God’s promises are, look to Christ. If you want to know where you are, you are IN HIM.
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Additional Resources:
Craft of Preaching-Check out 1517’s resources on Ephesians 1:3–14.
Concordia Theology-Various helps from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO to assist you preaching Ephesians 1:3–14.
Lectionary Kick-Start-Check out this fantastic podcast from Craft of Preaching authors Peter Nafzger and David Schmitt as they dig into the texts for this Sunday!
The Pastor’s Workshop-Check out all the great preaching resources from our friends at the Pastor’s Workshop!
