For God's Blessing and Praise

For God’s Blessing and Praise

Ephesians 1:1-23

1. THE CHURCH IS BLESSED WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING IN CHRIST.

Ephesians 1:3 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.

Ephesians 1:11 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…

Romans 9:16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

Romans 9:11-12 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: ¹² not by works but by him who calls—she [Rebecca] was told, “The older will serve the younger.”

Ephesians 1:4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

Ephesians 1:5 In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will…

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace…

Ephesians 1:13-14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession…

Ephesians 1:18-21 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion…

2. THE CHURCH IS BLESSED FOR THE PRAISE OF THE GLORY OF GOD AND HIS GRACE.

Ephesians 1:6a …to the praise of his glorious grace

Ephesians 1:12 …in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:14b …to the praise of his glory.

3. THE CHURCH IS FOR GOD’S BLESSING AND PRAISE IN CHRIST.

"The faithful in Christ Jesus" (verse 1)
"Every spiritual blessing in Christ" (verse 3)
"Chose us in him" (verse 4)
"Freely given us in the One he loves" (verse 6)
"In him we have redemption" (verse 7)
"Which he purposed in Christ" (verse 9)
"To unite all things in him" (verse 10, ESV)
"In him we were also chosen" (verse 11)
"The first to hope in Christ" (verse 12)
"Included in Christ" (verse 13a)
"Marked in him with a seal" (verse 13b)
“[God’s] great might that he worked in Christ (verse 20)

Ephesians 1:8b-10 With all wisdom and understanding, 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 reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

John 17:9-10 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.  All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.