Ephesians 1:1-14
"He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will."
(EPHESIANS 1:5)
Think of an orphaned child welcomed into a caring family. The child may have survived alone for years. Now he is warm, fed, bathed, clothed, protected and loved. Before we receive Jesus as our Savior, spiritually we are orphaned. We're exposed to Satan's cruelty, buffeted by evil without defense. But after we've been adopted as sons of God through Jesus, Paul declares that we are redeemed, forgiven, blessed with every spiritual blessing, and guaranteed an inheritance.
Like the child whose life has been altered so drastically he can scarcely fathom his new circumstances, the one newly received into the family of God faces a huge learning curve. To realize he has the full rights of a child of God is mind-boggling. One day at a time the mercies and privileges that are now his unfold. And what an exciting revelation it is! There's no trial period to see whether he will measure up. He is embraced by the household and, like every other member, has access to unlimited resources to meet his every need.
INSIGHT
I'M SO GLAD I'M A PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD.
(WILLIAM J. AND GLORIA GAITHER, 1970)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Genesis 14-15
Psalm 7
Matthew 12
Ephesians 1:1-14
New International Version (NIV)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To God’s holy people in Ephesus,[a] the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ
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[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] 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 he[d] 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.
11 In him we were also chosen,[e] 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 put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 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, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Footnotes:
a. Ephesians 1:1 Some early manuscripts do not have in Ephesus.
b. Ephesians 1:5 Or sight in love. 5 He
c. Ephesians 1:5 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture.
d. Ephesians 1:9 Or us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he
e. Ephesians 1:11 Or were made heirs
ABRAHAM AND THE POWER OF PRAYER
with Ted Cooper
When Abraham prayed for the Lord to spare Sodom, was he haggling with God or was he growing in faith? Find out more as Charles explores Genesis 18.
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