IDENTITY SERIES (3)

Ephesians 1:4–12 CSB

4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ 10 as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. 11 In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, 12 so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory.

for he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him

The first blessing we have in Christ is that we were chosen by God. So we talked about last week That God has done everything that he's gonna do for believers. That blessings have already happen for us. And that Paul tells us in the first couple. Verses, the Christ has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. So that being said the very first spiritual blessing. That we have received. Is that Christ chose us before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless. God created us for himself for his happiness. He's chosen us to be holy and blameless. So that the church will bring him pleasure. When we pursue his pleasure, we position ourselves to experience the blessings of God which have already been pre. Ordained for us.

5.He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One

Paul inverse 5 introduces us to the mysterious doctrine of election. God has predestined to save a people who will be trophies of his grace. Those who believe the gospel are chosen in him. Paul uses the phrase in him in Christ. Or in the beloved, one throughout this passage. So God's election isn't abstract? It centered in the person and work of Jesus, the focus of the book of Ephesians is on the corporate church. An individual identity, but not on so much individual Christian salvation. Therefore, the choosing and election to which power refers is not for individuals. To eternal life but regards God's choice to establish a group of people that is the body of Christ in the beloved one whose purpose is to live. Godly lives and reflect his holy character in a sinful world. This election defines the corporate identity believers share because of their relationship to Christ. This is similar to family members sharing in the medical insurance benefits of the head of the household. Those no longer in atom, but now in Christ. Are predestined to be adopted by God to be adopted in the ancient world. Meant receiving the same rights, privileges and inheritance due to a natural born adult son. In Christ, God adopts sons and daughters for himself for a specific purpose. Once you're adopted because of your faith in Christ, you are defined by your new father. God gives all of his children access to every spiritual blessing, according to his good pleasure and to the praise of his glorious grace. So God predetermined to bring a group of people into his family, drafting them into his son for the go of receiving spiritual benefits and manifesting his heavenly rule in their lives and bringing him glory. Election is for service and spiritual benefit, not for individual personal salvation.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace

8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding

For this to happen, God redeemed us from sin. In the ancient world, slaves could be redeemed. A price could be paid for their freedom. Redemption from Sin comes through the price paid by Jesus Christ through his blood. Why?blood, because the judgment for sin is death And shedding blood means taking life. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23 CSB

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So the sinless Son of God had to die to pay for our sins, so we might have forgiveness. God's grace richly poured out on us. Remember, grace is god's riches at christ expense.

He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right timefn ​— ​to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.

In him we have also received an inheritance,fn because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,

12so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory.

I've said it over and over and over God. Doesn't just save people just so they can go to heaven when they die. He saves them so they can transfer kingdoms, leaving the Kingdom of darkness for the Kingdom of Christ, their new king through God's wisdom and understanding he has planned to bring everything together in Christ to bring all history under his rule. In Christ, things in heaven and things on earth are unified. So that we might be a line under God's Kingdom. Reign living transformed lives for his pleasure. God works out everything in agreement with his purpose and will to advance the Christ. Centered philosophy of history, nothing is left. To chance all is for The praise of his glory and exaltation of his son.