Transformed in Christ: New Life and Community (Ephesians - Part 4)

Pastor Sam Merigala's sermon, "Transformed in Christ: New Life and Community," provides an in-depth analysis of the book of Ephesians, specifically focusing on the theme of a new humanity being formed through Christ by the Spirit. The sermon emphasizes that the core concept in Ephesians is the phrase "in Christ". Pastor Sam explains that Jesus Christ's death for sinners, His resurrection, and His exaltation above all, making Him the head of the cosmos and the church, are central to this transformation. Through believers' union with Christ, they participate in these events, being raised and seated with Him in the heavens. Pastor Sam stresses, this profound salvation is entirely due to God's grace.

The sermon describes those who are justified by grace through faith as receiving Christ, entering into union with Him, becoming new persons, and being incorporated into this new humanity. Pastor Sam highlights several verses from Ephesians that states 'formerly...but now' to illustrate this transformation. Here are some of the key ones

• Believers were once "dead in sin," but now they are "alive with the Messiah".
• They were "separated from Christ," but now, "in Christ Jesus," they "have been brought near".
• They were "foreigners," but now they are "fellow citizens".
• Their understanding was "darkened," but now they have "learned about the Messiah" and have put off the "old self" to put on the "new self".
• They were "darkness," but now they are "light in the Lord".

Pastor Sam divides the book of Ephesians into two natural parts: "who we are in Christ" (our position) and "how we are to live in Christ" (our practice). The first part, covering chapters 1:3–3:21, focuses on how God saves sinners through Jesus Christ in His glorious grace, granting them spiritual life, with the emphasis primarily on God's actions for us rather than our own.

New Life in Christ (Ephesians 1:3–2:10) 

Pastor Sam elaborates on the new life believers possess in Christ, explaining it with power and beauty in the first two chapters. He details several aspects of this new life:

• Believers have been "chosen and adopted by the Father". Pastor Sam provides a detailed explanation of being "chosen by God," comparing it to the profound joy of being chosen in a marriage proposal. He explains that the idea of God choosing a people to display His glory is a consistent theme throughout the Bible, citing examples like God choosing to create the world, choosing Abraham to bless nations, and choosing Israel. Pastor Sam notes that Paul himself never considered that he had chosen God, but rather that God had chosen him, a powerful and motivating truth. He adds that God chose the "insignificant and despised" of the world so that no one could boast. This election includes both a corporate dimension - God's intention to create a people conformed to His Son - and a personal, individual dimension, as God chose individuals for salvation.
• Believers have been "redeemed by the Son".
• Believers have been "sealed with the Spirit".
• They have been "given resurrection power".
• They have been "given eyes to see the lordship of Jesus".
• They have been "brought from death to life by grace through faith in Christ".
• They have been "raised and seated with Him in the heavens," so that in the coming ages God might show the immeasurable riches of His grace.
• Believers have been "created for good works".

Pastor Sam clarifies that Christianity is not about becoming religious, conforming to rules, adopting a philosophy, financial prosperity, or merely becoming a nice person. Instead, it is fundamentally about "becoming a new person," transitioning from death to life and from darkness to light. The missionary's mission, he states, is to call people to Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life.

New Community in Christ (Ephesians 2:11–3:21) 

Pastor Sam explains that when God saves sinners, He brings them into a new community called the church. This community is composed of various groups, signifying that both Jew and Gentile are now made one. Paul states that Christ "is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility ... so that He might create in Himself one new man from the two". Believers now belong to this new community, united in Jesus, and are "fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household".

Pastor Sam emphasizes that the church is not a divine afterthought or an accident of history; rather, it lies at the very center of God's eternal purpose. God's purpose is not merely to save individuals and perpetuate loneliness, but to "build up his church," calling a people out of the world for His own glory. He highlights the privilege of belonging to something that exists to display God's glory. Pastor Sam clarifies that one's belonging to God inherently means belonging to a community of brothers and sisters in Christ; it is not a decision to join a church after belonging to God, but rather that "being in Christ means being in Christ with others who are in Christ". Pastor Sam challenges the listener to consider if they are living out this corporate identity by belonging to a local, visible church and engaging in loving, serving, weeping, rejoicing, and celebrating with other believers, as they were "saved for community".

Praise for God's Blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3–14) 

Pastor Sam then turns to Ephesians 1:3-14, describing it as an "outburst of praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ". He notes that humanity is "made for praise" and consistently expresses it, whether at concerts, sports events, or in response to entertainment. The critical question, therefore, is not "Do I worship?" but "Whom do I worship?". Pastor Sam warns against idolatry, which occurs when good things in creation are substituted for the Creator, turning them into "God things". This "failure to worship God is at the heart of sin" and is fundamentally a worship problem. Pastor Sam asserts that, true worship must be directed to the God revealed in the Bible, not an imagined deity.

Despite the doctrinal discussions this passage can generate regarding election and predestination, Pastor Sam urges his listeners not to miss the passage's primary spirit, which is one of worship. The passage begins with praise in verse 3 and concludes with praise in verse 14, indicating its eulogistic (berakah) nature. The phrase "every spiritual blessing" highlights the vast scope of God's blessings. Pastor Sam also draws attention to the passage's Trinitarian nature, mentioning God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and alluding to the Holy Spirit's work, with specific emphasis on the work of the Father (vs. 3-6), the Son (vs. 7-12), and the Spirit (vs. 13-14). He reiterates that believers are called to praise the triune God, from whom all blessings flow.

Pastor Sam points out that the phrase "in Christ" appears 11 times in these verses, emphasizing that God's great salvation is centered in the person and work of Jesus Christ, and only through union with Him do believers receive these spiritual blessings. He also highlights that salvation is ultimately for God's glory, evidenced by phrases like "to the praise of His glorious grace" and "to the praise of His glory". This means God saves people for His own glorification. The sermon stresses that these blessings are undeserved and unearned, underscoring God's "glorious grace" and the "riches of His grace that He lavished on us". Furthermore, Pastor Sam notes the eternal scope of salvation, extending from "before the foundation of the world" to the "consummation of all things," spanning from eternity to eternity. The unique Ephesians phrase "blessed in the heavens" speaks to the "already-not yet" aspect of salvation, where benefits are experienced now but fully anticipated in the future. Finally, Pastor Sam explains that both Jewish and Gentile believers are included in this praise, as Paul consistently uses "us" or "we" to refer to God's people. Even though Paul was in prison, his heart was in heaven, demonstrating that God is worthy of praise regardless of circumstances.

Chosen by God (Ephesians 1:3–6) 

Delving deeper into election and predestination, Pastor Sam makes several observations about its nature:

• Mystery: He acknowledges the "great mystery" within the doctrine of election, noting God's eternal, secret purposes and His working all things according to "the decision of His will." He reminds listeners that "the secret things belong to...God".
• Attributes of God: Despite the mystery, Pastor Sam affirms that the text clearly reveals God as perfectly loving ("in love He predestined us"), eternally sovereign (demonstrated through terms like predestination, favor, will, administration, and purpose), gloriously gracious (as God did not choose us based on anything good in us), and infinitely wise.
• Necessity of Personal Belief: Pastor Sam emphasizes that the passage also clearly shows the necessity of personal belief in the gospel. Verse 13 states that one must "hear the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him" to be sealed with the Holy Spirit. He describes election and faith as mysteriously woven together, a truth that should be embraced even if not fully understood, much like the dual nature of Christ or the divine-human authorship of Scripture.
• Election and Evangelism: Pastor Sam strongly asserts that election does not diminish the need for evangelism; instead, it provides hope for it. He cites Jesus' words to Paul in Acts 18:9-10, "Don’t be afraid, but keep on speaking and don’t be silent. ... because I have many people in this city," as evidence that some people will believe. Pastor Sam explains, evangelism depends on God's power, not human presentation. Believers are called to assume God has placed them where they are to see others come to Christ through faithful evangelism. He notes that Paul, who wrote extensively on election in Romans 9-11, dedicated Romans 10 to the necessity of evangelism due to his burden for lost people and his love for them.
• Election in Christ: Pastor Sam underscores that election is always and only "in Christ". Christ is the "Chosen One par excellence," and everything involved in election and its results depends on Him. God accepts believers not because of any good in them, but because He chose to unite them with Christ.
• Proper Response to Election: Finally, Pastor Sam states that the appropriate response to God's choice of us for salvation is awe, worship, and obedience, leading to humility rather than pride or anger. He warns against arrogance when discussing this doctrine, reminding believers that they are "pots" and should not "talk back to the Potter". Embracing this doctrine, he concludes, should lead believers to humble worship of the sovereign, wise, loving, gracious, and mysterious God who chose them in Christ.