Ephesians 1:3-14

“For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world”

Ephesians 1:4

We all long to be connected.

But we all know what it’s like to lose touch.

We all long for relationship.

But we all know what it’s like to be alone.

We all long to be KNOWN.

But we all know what it’s like to be just another face in the crowd.

This Sunday we begin a brand-new sermon series here at St. Mark called KNOWN. This series will take us through the book of Ephesians and show us that the longings that we have for connection and relationship are all fulfilled in Jesus. God who created us and redeemed us in not distant or disconnected from us. He does not ignore us, He does not leave us hanging to figure this life out. No, God is intimately close to us. He longs to be in relationship with us. So much so that He went to great lengths to make it happen! Just take a look at what Paul has to say in Ephesians 1:4:

For [God] chose us in [Christ] before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his light. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons and daughters through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.

Does that sound like a God who has lost touch? Does that sound like a God who has left us alone to fend for ourselves? Does that sound like a God who sees us as just one more nameless, faceless person on this planet? No way.

Despite our sin and rebellion, God has not lost touch with his creation. Indeed, God has known His creation (that means you!) even before He created it (and you!). God has not left us alone to try to pull ourselves out of our sinful condition. He had in mind all along to make us holy, to forgive us, through the death and resurrection of Jesus. This was God’s good will and plan all along; to love us, to save us, to redeem us, to know us!

As a parent knows her child, God knows us. We’ve been adopted into His family, given the family name of the Triune God in our baptism, and we are KNOWN and loved more than we can ever imagine.

Be sure to join us in Bible Study this week at 8:45am as we take a look at Ephesians 1:1-23 (get the Bible study ahead of time HERE) and in Worship at 10am as we begin our series KNOWN!