Ephesians 1:3-14
Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted
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· 52 viewsSteps Class Sunday School Study in Ephesians
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Ephesians: Part 1
God’s Reconciliation in Christ, Chapters 1-3
Ephesians Part 2
Our Response to God’s work in Christ, Chapters 4-6
Do you control the destiny of your children?
Did you choose to be an American?
Does your citizenship carry benefits? Treasure? Responsibility?
Have you ever borrowed money knowing that you would not pay it back?
Have you ever lent money that you knew you would never see again?
Review last week
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will: To the faithful saints in Christ Jesus at Ephesus. 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Review key points
Paul’s life
what is an apostle
Messiah Jesus
God’s will
Faithful saints in Christ Jesus
Grace (undeserved favor) and peace (calm, content, restful)
God our Father (we are family)
Lord (Yahweh) Jesus (Ya-saves) Christ (Messiah)
New this week: v. 3-14
3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ 10 as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. 11 In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, 12 so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory. 13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.
A note about predestination . . .
Did Abraham choose to be called by God out of his land?
Did Abraham choose to be the father of many nations?
Did Israel choose to leave Egypt? Or to be God’s “treasured possession”?
Did David choose to be king (he was shepherding when Samuel showed up)?
A note about predestination . . .
If God willed us for redemption, is there anything we can do to lose it?
Do we praise the scanner at Fry’s for the items we bought? Why not?
3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
The first application here is to be like Paul: He is overflowing with praise for God!
God the Father is good (blessed!)
As Father of the Lord Jesus Christ
blessing us with every spiritual blessing in Christ
Choosing us before the foundation of the world to be holy in love with Him
adopting us as sons
he is happy about it (“according to the good pleasure of his will)
worthy of praise because of the grace (undeserved favor) in the Beloved One
What kind of picture is Paul painting here?
3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ 10 as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. 11 In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, 12 so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory. 13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.
How does it all work together?
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.
With all wisdom and understanding (God doesn’t make mistakes, as much as saving me might seem like one sometimes), the gospel is that in Jesus’ blood, by grace, I am forgiven of my sins.
This is necessary for us to be blameless in love before him. Forgiveness is the means, but not the end....
9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ 10 as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.
What was all the prophesy about in the Old Testament? Well, now we know his will. Eden restored as everything is brought together in Christ.
11 In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, 12 so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory. 13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.
God’s covenant family
God the Father always planned to create a covenant family of restored humans who are unified in the Messiah Jesus and energized by the Holy Spirit.
We receive an inheritance (more on that in later verses).
God chose us in his will to praise his glory.
We are sealed with the Holy Spirit when we heard the gospel and believed.
The Holy Spirits (giving fruits and other benefits) is down payment until we possess the new world.
To praise his glory.
What is the chief end of man?
To glorify God and enjoy him forever.
Lexham Research Commentary: Ephesians Application Overview
Application Overview
A main point of emphasis in Eph 1 is that the believer’s salvation is part of God’s predestined plan for the world (Eph 1:4–5). Before God established the created order, in His love (Eph 1:4) and good pleasure (Eph 1:5b), He chose believers as His portion (Eph 1:5a). As God’s adopted children, believers have obtained an inheritance (Eph 1:11) that is guaranteed by the Spirit (Eph 1:14). Paul assures believers of their salvation by emphasizing the roles of each member of the Trinity: God chose believers for adoption according to His eternal purposes (Eph 1:3–10); Christ’s death and resurrection brought about salvation and victory over evil powers (Eph 1:11–12, 20–21); and the Spirit functions as the seal and promise of believers’ inheritance and redemption (Eph 1:13–14).