Blessed Beyond Measure

Recap from Last Message

Scripture Reading -Eph. 1:1–6

“1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 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,

4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”

PAUL LISTS FIVE BLESSINGS OF SALVATION THAT STEM FROM GOD AND CHRIST IN (1:3-14)

BLESSING 1: PREDESTINATION (1:4–6)

BLESSING 2: REDEMPTION (1:7)

BLESSING 3: THE MYSTERY OF HIS WILL (1:8–10)

BLESSING 4: HIS DIVINE PLAN (1:11–12)

BLESSING 5: BEING SEALED WITH THE SPIRIT (1:13–14)

HOWEVER TODAY I WILL START BY LOOKING AT: SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN THE HEAVENLIES AS MENTIONED IN EPH. 1:3

Verses 3-14 is consider a Prologue (an Introductory) to this epistle.

Paul’s obvious intent in these opening verses, specifically v3-14 is that he want his readers from the ‘get go’ to understand and rejoice in all that the Triune Godhead has done for his Children, His Saints.

- Hard to miss the Trinity in these text

Paul presents his Prologue this introduction of this important book of Ephesians letter to us in the form of a benediction...

The Benediction What theJews called a berakah (which means blessing) or “praise cry.” (the utterance of a blessing)

He opens with... (“blessed be”/“praise”) to God!

“Blessed” eulogētos (gk); (where we get the English word ‘eulogy’) governs the whole 12 verses (v3–14).

V3 – 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

Intro. Spiritual Blessings in the Heavenlies

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,

Praise language occurs three times in this section:

Ephesians 1:3 “3 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,”

Ephesians 1:12 “12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.”

Ephesians 1:14 “14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” )

Note the Catchphrase “to the praise of his glory” which is at the end of (v12 & 14), this phrase frames the whole intro in praise.

(v3) God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

- God 's Sovereign Election of Saints

- Abundantly blessed in Christ by the Father

V3 the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

If you are a saint God is your Father - God is our Father…

There is a Unique relationship between Christ and the Father -

God the father being the father of Jesus here is speaking to his incarnation John 1:14

Philippians 4:20 ESV

20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

John 20:17 ESV

17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”

1. The distinction between the son and the Father (v2, v3)

It's God the father who has blessed us Saint in Christ with every Spiritual blessing.