Sermon  Dec. 14, 1997  Text:  Ephesians 1:3,18-20 2:6   "Realms of Glory"

Ephesians 1:3  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in
Christ.

Ephesians 1:18  I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened
in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches
of his glorious inheritance in the saints,  19  and his incomparably great
power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty
strength,  20  which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead
and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

Ephesians 2:6  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in
the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

This morning we have the opportunity to be blessed by music.  The music we
hear will share with us the good news of the coming of our Savior Jesus
Christ, who came from the Realms of Glory.  The wonder of Christmas is that
our God came from His realm or kingdom where His full glory was present and
humbled Himself to be born as a baby.  From the realms of glory to a
manger.  But this was no ordinary baby for He was at the same time true
God.

Our Savior came to show us just how much He loves us.  He didn't send a
messenger, but rather came to take on human form, becoming one of us and
even dying to prove His great love.  The mighty strength of this God did
not stop there, but the Father restored His Son to life, raising from the
dead and and seating Him back in the heavenly realms from which He began
His journey.

The Savior showed us His love through this.  In His love, He came to us so
that all could reach Him.  In our sinful, fallen state, none of us could
reach out to Him.  In His great mercy, our loving God came to us.

In our music today, we will consider the mystery: why God would come to us?
See, God knew glory in the heavenly realms, and yet He was willing to come
to our lowly station.  And He came not to be served, but to serve us!  He
came from the realms of glory to humble Himself for our benefit.  The only
possible explanation for this mystery is the great love our God has for us.

Again this great love is demonstrated by what our Savior does for us.  As
the text from Ephesians said, He has "blessed us in the heavenly realms
with every spiritual blessing in Christ," and "raised us up with Christ and
seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus."  This great
change is only possible through the forgiveness Christ brings.  Only by
taking us from sinners to forgiven saints can it be possible for us to be
given every spiritual blessing.  Only by removing our guilt may we be
seated with Him in the heavenly realms.

At this time, we wait for our King to come again.  We know that then we
will experience the fullness of what is now secured in heaven for us.
Though we are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms now, we must wait
for the King to make this state apparent and visible for us.  Our hope is


                                     1






sure, however.  Our confidence is that Christ has really done all that was
needed to remove our sins and therefore we are now righteous.  We are now
forgiven.  And as we shall hear, "for those who are righteous, hope will be
restored."  And our righteousness is now certain, through this forgiveness
of Christ.  Indeed our hope is a confidence in what the future holds for
us.

Paul's prayer for us, from the Ephesians text was "that you may know the
hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in
the saints,  and his incomparably great power for us who believe."  He has
indeed called us to faith through the Holy Spirit.  All who seek Him, that
is, all who believe and do not refuse the faith they have been given, are
those who will share in His glory.  He calls us in faith, and those who are
ready to leave their burdens behind, that is have their burdens of sins
lifted, will share in the glory that will be fully realized in the life to
come.

From the Realms of Glory came our redemption.  This redeemer who began His
earthly life as a child, reaches out to all people, so that they might
reach Him.  From the realms of glory He has come, for you.  From the Realms
of Glory comes Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and
minds in Christ Jesus.
































                                     2