EPHESIANS 1:3-14 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him. In 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, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In 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, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”
THEME OF THE DAY: AN ENCOURAGING WORD STUDY. Today’s scripture is the poorest of grammar and rightly so. In the original, Ephesians 1:3-14 is one continual sentence. It just keeps going on and on and on. The Apostle Paul seemed to be so overwhelmed with what unfolds he didn’t know when or where to put a period! And what truths unfold causing such excitement in Paul? The riches of the gospel in a believer’s life.
This passage of scripture gives us the most detailed and amazing description of what God the Father has done for us in Christ. And the best way to open these truths is to do a deep dive word study of this work in us by God. So, what I suggest is to take each word I am about to share, set aside time, ample time, unhurried time, undistracted time, and do a word study through the Bible of what this means in the work of Christ for us. If we do this diligently, we will soar in our hearts with assurance of salvation, praise and worship to such a God, and a renewed love for the Lord that propels us to a life lived pleasing Him. Here are the words . . .
- Predestined – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us” (Ephesians 1:3-5a)
- Adoption – “He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:5).
- Redemption – “In Him we have redemption through His blood” (Ephesians 1:7a).
- Forgiveness – “In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7b).
- Inheritance – “In Him, we have obtained an inheritance” (Ephesians 1:11)
- Sealed – “In 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” (Ephesians 1:13).
Please enjoy your study. It will be such a blessing and when you are done, share what you learned with someone else and encourage them to do such a study also!
PRAYER: Father, enlighten my mind and heart to see all You have done for me in Your Son, the Lord Jesus.
REFLECTION: Only as we see the gravity of our depravity will we know the unfathomable depth of God’s love.