The centrality of Christ

Someone once said to me that I preached too much about Jesus Christ and not enough about God. And it stricks me that a lot of people are happy to talk about God in the abstract - as a theory or as a friendly uncle-in-the-sky figure - but mention the name of Jesus, and it all becomes too personal, too close, and they shy away.

But Ephesians 1:1-14 shows that we have to talk abut Jesus because God's plan for his creation begins with Jesus, centres on Jesus and will reach its fulfilment in Jesus. 

So, v4, God chose his people in Christ before the foundation of the world. Then in Christ God blesses & transforms his chosen people (v3, 5, 7). And finally, the goal and fulfilment of God's plans in creation will come about when he 'unites all things in [Christ], things in heaven and things on earth' (v10).

And the wonderful thing about God's great plan is that he does it by graciously and lovingly renewing rebellious, sinful people through and in Jesus Christ.

So:

he has 'blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing' (v3),

and, 'he chose us in [Christ]... that we should be holy and blameless before him. ' (v4),

and, 'in love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ' (v5),

and, 'he has blessed us in the Beloved [Jesus Christ]' (v6).

But still there's more that God has done for us in and through Jesus:

'In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses...' (v7)

'In him we have obtained an inheritance' (v11)

'In him you also... were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit' (v13).

Every blessing we have is in and through Jesus. How can we not talk about him and so glorify God in him and through him (v3, 6, 12, 14)?

And so, at the centre of this astonishing passage, is that truth that the purpose of the whole of creation is to be fulfilled as it is united under Jesus Christ. And the only way this can happen is if we sinners are blessed, chosen, adopted, redeemed and sealed with the Spirit. Only then will we be fit to obtain the fullness of the inheritance which is unity under Christ.

Eph 1:1-14  (ESV)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, ​​​​​​​​​​​To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: ​​​

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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,

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace,

with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

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, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

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, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.