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 fulfilment-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.
David Livingstone Story of exchanging gifts with native chief of Africa.
Ephesians 1:3-14 in Greek original text is one long sentence.
The Message version
1) Blessings of Election V 4-6
Theocratic election - Isrealites is theocratic nation. God is to use IsreL to bless nations.
Vocational election - God calls people into different tasks.
Salvational election - Salvation begins with God. Even when we were sinners, He died for us.
Motivation is from God
Result is we are elected and chosen
Reason is we are His.
2) Blessings of Redemption V 6-10
Deliverance by the payment of a price
Greek words :- two types of buying salves in those days.
Agorazo - agora is marketplace - buy out of the marketplace. And into the buyer's salvery.
Lutroo - to pay a price to free somebody from bondage. No more in salvery, from captivity. This is what the Lord did for us.
Redeemer - The Beloved refers to God's Son
The Redeemed -
The Redemptive Price - His life
The Redemptive Results - forgiveness
The Redemptive Reason - Salvation and free from bondage
3)Blessings of Inheritance
Romans 8:16
It is that very Spirit bearing witness with our Spirit that we are children of God.
Sign of Secutity
Sign of Authenticity - Authentic and genuine
Sign of completed transaction.
Doxology culminates to the chorus of "to the prIse of His glory" V 6, 12b, 14b
Questions :-
Scripture says we are rich in Christ. What are the experiences of your life in light of the above statement ?
Prayer is the progress of positioning oneself to engage in spiritual resources (riches in Christ). What does our prayer life look like ?
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