:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1996 (electronic ed.) (Eph 1:1–14). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
The will of god- God's plan has been from the beginning and I have been chosen to be a part of it. while chosen we have to hear and believe (Vs 13)
The desire to lavish on us good
What we are given
• Grace
• Peace
• blessed with every spiritual blessing
• planned for from beginning
• holiness
• blameless
• adopted as His children
• redemption through blood
• forgiveness of sins
• know the mystery
• chosen
• given word of truth
• salvation
• marked with a seal, Holy Spirit- a deposit
• inheritance
God's will and work (we now know vs 9)
• He chose us through Christ before creation
• In Love He adopted us
• brings praise to His name
• Freely gave Jesus
• His lavish grace brings forgiveness, wisdom, understanding
• Plan from beginning was Christ
• Works all things to the conformity of His purpose (Rom 8:28)
• Goal to bring all things to the feet of Jesus (thy will be done on earth as in heaven)
• We are God's possession (family) to praise of His glory
The balance of Faith- We are predestined very clearly from this passage- 4, 5, 11. Yet we also have choice vs 13- respond to what we hear, and we believe.
vs 1- Paul chosen to be apostle by God, given the job of proclaiming Jesus to Gentiles (3:8)
vs 3 There is nothing lacking in Christ. All we need is in Him He blesses us spiritually (note necessarily in world view, but in what really matters) with everything we need or desire. This inculdes or exudes from the Holy Spirit in our lives
vs 4, 7,8,9- God's desire is to love us. it is what He wants to do (see word pleasure)
We see the work of the Trinty in this passage.
Father is the force behind the plan, Jesus is the carrying out of the plan, Holy Spirit is the guaranteur of what God promised until the plan is completely fullfilled. All to the Glory of God
vs 11- Rom 8:28-30- God's plan is coming together, everything leads to it. Even evil points people in direction of God.
vs 13-14 marked with a seal. We are His, To prove it He gives the Holy Spirit. Our adoption will be completed
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