THE GOSPEL SANDWICH

Ephesians 1:7---In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of

sins, according to the riches of his grace;

I don't know about you but I love a sandwich. It is fun to get out all the fixin's and start building that thing. Each person has their own idea of what constitutes a good sandwich. For me it has to include mustard (preferrable brown), mayonaisse (full fat), onion, pickle, hot peppers, lettuce, tomato. By the time you get all that stuff on the sandwich meat is strictly optional. Even if you put it on you can't taste it anyway.

Believe it or not I found a sandwich in the Word of God. I will call it a gospel sandwich and it is found in Ephesians 1:7. The basic ingredients are all there and we can find the rest of what we need elsewhere in the Bible. I even found a good deal of lettuce in the Word. Oh, you don't believe me. Well how about Genesis 1:26 where God said, "Lettuce make man in our own image." And surely you know Psalm 122:1---"I was glad when they said unto me, lettuce go into the house of the Lord."

OK. Enough of that. Let us build our sandwich.

I. JESUS CHRIST IS THE BREAD

At the beginning of the verse we see Him mentioned (in whom) referring back to verse five. We also see Him embodied in the last part of the verse (according to the riches of his grace-----Great Riches At Christ's Expense),

This should not surprise us. Jesus had a lot to say about the "bread of life"----John 6:33, 35, 48, 51).

You can't have a sandwich without bread and you can't have salvation without Jesus.

Now, it is not mentioned here but we certainly know that there is plenty of love to spread on the bread and the same is true for mercy.

II. REDEMPTION AND FORGIVENESS ARE IN THE CENTER

We can call this the meat if you wish.

A. Redemption---(apolytroµsin) denotes release or deliverance from a state of slavery (cf. Col. 1:14). The idea of release is seen in some of the other verses where this Greek word appears (Luke 21:28; Rom. 3:24; 8:23; 1 Cor. 1:30; Eph. 1:7, 14; 4:30; Col. 1:14; Heb. 9:15; 11:35).

This redemption is from sin (Heb. 9:15), and thus this work of Christ delivers believers from slavery to sin.

B. Forgiveness---aphesis (af'-es-is)---freedom; (figuratively) pardon: KJV-- deliverance, forgiveness, liberty, remission.

I looked up remission in the dictionary and discovered something really neat. The meaning that really struck me was "an abatement in the manifestations of a disease".

As you know, I am trying to get over a case of the shingles. The manifestations of the disease are just the tip of the iceberg. The real problem lies under the surface where the nerve endings are infected down in the muscles.

Sin is like that-----the manifestations of the disease are just the tip of the iceberg. The problem lies way below the surface in the heart. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can clear out all this corruption. When we come under the blood the Bible says, "Though our sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18).

By forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ the disease of sin goes into remission!

III. FOR THE SANDWICH TO DO YOU ANY GOOD YOU MUST PARTAKE OF IT

A. First of all you have to reach out a take it. God has put all the ingredients together and He holds it out to us----Jesus Christ, love, mercy, redemption, forgiveness, grace. It is the best thing you will ever sink your teeth into yet some of you here today keep pushing away from the table and going to the garbage heap of the world for youR next meal. The world may call what it has to offer a "happy meal" but it only leads to bondage and sickness and ultimately death.

B. Secondly, you have to eat a sandwich once you have picked it up before you receive any benefit from it. Many people have picked up Jesus Christ, turned Him all around in their hands, studied all about Him but have never partaken of Him. For Him to do you any good He has to be inside and not outside. In Colossians 1:27 we see these words ----To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

The way Jesus moves from the outside to the inside is by invitation. He says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hears my voice and opens the door I will come into him and sup with him and he with Me" (Revelation 3:20).

In closing today let us get back to the lettuce. I have already mentioned Isaiah 1:18--- Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Doesn't simple reason dictate that you would receive the gift that God has to give you---forgiveness and redemption through the blood of His precious Son. If you have not received the gift of salvation I invite you to do that today as God's Holy Spirit draws you unto Him.

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