The core values of Christ the Redeemer Church, A sermon series by Nate Wilson, Sept. 2008
·
Central theme, the
most important thing
Central theme, the tie that binds together
Central theme, every line is breathing
Central theme, another heart receiving
Shining in the center, my Lord in the center
Jesus in the center, revolving around Him
Always revolving around Him
~Terry Scott Taylor ©1981
· Relation to Christ: – note prepositions:
o v.1 to the faithful in Christ Jesus
§ The church exists “in” Christ – no church w/o Him
o v.2 Grace and peace from Father and LJC
o v.3 blessed us in Christ
o v.4 chose us in Him to be holy and blameless
o v.5 adoption as sons through JC
o v.6 grace bestowed on us [who are] in the Beloved
o v.7 in Him we have redemption
o v.12 In Christ we hope
o v.13 in Him you heard, believed and were sealed
o v.23 church is body of Christ – fullness of the One who is filling all in all (omnipresent).
· The works of Christ:
o Blessing: v.3 “blessed with every spiritual blessing” What are some of these blessings?
o Election: v.4-6 – He chose us… predestined us according to the intention of His will… having predestined us according to His purpose (v.11)
§ WSC#20 God, having out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a Redeemer.
o Justification: v.4 “that we should be blameless and holy before Him” … “redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace” (v.6)
§ WSC#33 Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.
§ Not our work but Christ’s. Rom. 4:5 “to the one who DOES NOT WORK but trusts Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted unto righteousness.”
o Adoption: v.5 God adopts us as sons through Jesus Christ…and we will receive an inheritance v.11
§ WSC#34 Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges, of the sons of God.
§ Illustration from Shetter family. We become family through Christ.
o The purpose of it all: that Christ be glorified
§ v.6 to the praise of His glorious grace…
§ v11 to the end that we… would be to the praise of His glory
§ to the praise of His glory v.14
§ Piper quotes from p. 5 & 11 of Brothers we are not professionals. (The chief end of God… His glory is displayed most by working for us…)
· The pre-eminence of Christ:
o Resurrection and Session v.20-22
§ over every ruler (law-maker), authority (executive power), over every individual name.
o The church as Jesus’ inheritance (v. 14)
§ Two ways to take v.14:
1. H.S. given to us as a downpayment of more blessings we will receive in heaven
2. H.S. receives fellowship with us as a foretaste of Christ’s possession of us in heaven
§ “Redemption” (v.6) also implies new ownership
o Christ as head of the church (v. 22)
§ function of head – thinking, informing, commanding, interpreting feelings, source, top
§ everything subordinated under His feet, but first and foremost the church, and everything in the church
§ Read parallel passage in Colossians 1:13-18
· Practical ramifications for worship:
o Enter worship reverently
o Organize worship around Christ, not people: Christocentric instead of seeker-sensitive
o If you have not recognized how central Jesus is and have just gone to church for social reasons, repent and believe.
o Wear clothing that shows honor to Jesus and does not attract attention to yourself
o Audience of One – quotes from The Call by Os Guinness (p73 & 71) – How many in audience?
o Philosophy of hymns – to remember and praise Christ and His word; it’s not about me and how I feel.
o Worship as communication rather than existentialism - Intellectual and emotional engagement rather than trance-like disengagement
o Covenant Renewal paradigm: Call, Confession, Consecration, Communion, Commissioning
o Enter into worship to give Jesus what He wants rather than being preoccupied with what you need. (Seek ye first… )
· Benediction: Ephesians 1:17-19