Ephesians 1:3-14: The 5 Blessings

God Predestined us

God Adopted Us

Hello, how are you doing.

Ephesians 1:3–4 NASB 2020

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love

1:3-14 Timeless principle

Christians everywhere should regularly bless “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” But why should we bless God?

Paul says we should bless God because God “has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” Paul goes beyond this general statement of blessing and lists 5 specific blessings God has bestowed on us that should motivate us to joyfully bless God back.

He predestined us (Eph 1:5-6)

He redeemed us (Eph 1:7)

He revealed to us the mystery of his will (Eph 1:8-10 NASB). This is something prophets from different generations longed to see, but didn’t have it. Chapter 3 reveals this mystery.

He gave us an inheritance (Eph 1:11-12). See how NIV has rendered this differently.

He sealed us with the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13-14)

Another talk, how do we bless God?

A) Words--One of the meanings of the Greek word for bless is to speak well of, eulogize… Explore that. Also, show how people blessed God in the Old Testament, Psalms etc.

B) Conduct (most important) --Walking holy and blameless before him.

**Paul responds to the fact that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessings… in two ways

1) Praise (the doxology from Eph 1:3-14) and

2) Prayer (Eph 1:15-23). Prayer for insight to understand what those blessings entails in the life of the believer!