Ephesians 1:3-6 ( ESV )
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has
blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
As
Paul starts out the book of Ephesians it is like he can’t contain the joy that
he has about the spiritual blessings in our lives. He wants to parade these
blessings before all men to see the glory of God. If you are like me we get our
eyes focused way too much on just our physical blessings. We miss out on the
spiritual blessings that the Lord pours out on us every day. Here are just some
of the things that stand out to me in the next few verses.
1.
1:4-5 He has chosen us and predestined us. He did this even before the foundation of the
world. I know as soon as these types of words are brought up some will question
them. Listen brothers and sisters, I do not plan to know or to be able to
explain the free will of man and God’s sovereign moves. This I do know, that
while we have choice, we still love God because He first chose to love us. He
knows what we do and what we will do or He could not be God. He would simply be
a being who has no control and is led about by the whims of men.
This
is a beautiful thing to know that the God who created this universe and all
that is in it chose me. Note what Paul says at the end of verse 4 he did this
in love. He could have given us no choice. He could have sent all of us to
Hell. No mercy is what we deserve, but He loved us as His special treasures.
He
did this according to the purpose of His will. We whose father was that of the
evil one have been adopted into the family of God through what Jesus Christ
alone could do. We are now a part of the beloved.
Why
would God do this? Well for two purposes and the first purpose fulfills the
second one which is the greater of the two. One, He chose us so that we would
be holy and blameless. He did not save us just so that we could live anyway
that we wanted too. He wants us to walk as those who are separated to Him and
to Him alone. Secondly, He chose us so that His glorious grace would be
praised. We as trophies of His grace can proclaim to our world that He is the
lover of our souls. He alone deserves all praise and glory.
Ephesians 1:7-10 ( ESV )
7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
9making known£ to us
the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
10as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him,
things in heaven and things on earth.
2.
1:7 We have redemption. We
have been bought out of bondage and sin. We have been bought out of the very
flames of Hell itself. He did this not because of our goodness but because of
the shedding of blood. The Lamb that was without blemish or spot shed His blood
for us.
3.
1:7-8 We are forgiven of
our trespasses. We were the violators of His law. We missed the mark and
instead aimed our lives at those things that only brought Him shame. How has He
forgiven me? There can be no other word than what Paul says, “Lavishly.” Through
the abundance of all the riches of His grace. A treasure of grace that no human
being could ever match. His grace has been and is still being poured out upon
us daily.
4.
1:8-9 We can have wisdom
and insight from Him. We who at one time were filled with darkness can now
understand the things of God. We will never know them fully till we are home
but He wants to open our eyes so that we can understand Him better now. He
wants to be known by His creation and at the new birth eyes that once were
darkened can now see.
5.
1:10 He will unite all
things. One day our Father will gather us all as believers in the fullness of
His time. At the end of this world’s history He will usher us into His presence
for all of eternity. Once again we will be united with those who are our
brothers and sisters who have gone on before us. Those who have fallen asleep
in Him will arise and so shall we and we will forever be with the Lord.
Ephesians 1:11-14 ( ESV )
11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined
according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel
of his will,
13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of
your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
14who is the guarantee£ of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,£ to the praise of his glory.
6.
1:11-12 We will obtain an
inheritance. What are the riches of this world? What good is it if a man gains
the whole world and yet loses his own soul? As believers, this world offers us
nothing in comparison to the inheritance that we will receive, that is
incorruptible and not defiled. Our hope is not like the hope of this world. Our
hope as believers is fixed and settled on the very foundation of Christ
Himself. We can bring Him praise and glory.
7.
1:13-14 We have been sealed
with the promised Holy Spirit. Here is an astonishing thought. He who began the
good work will finish it. It is not up to our abilities but rather He has sealed
our salvation. In words that could never be truer, our salvation is a Done
Deal. The Spirit of God has sealed the letters of our lives. He has put His
stamp upon us and no man will be able to tear that stamp off our heart. He is
the one who will guarantee our delivery before the very throne room of God. The
Father will take possession of us and claim us as His own.
He has done all of these things for the praise
of His glory. May we be those who bring glory to His name.
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