IN JESUS

Last week we discussed vs 1-2 of Ephesians and what it means to be a faithful Christ follower. Today we are going through Ephesians 1:3-11.

(Being satisfied with mud pies because you have never had a holiday at sea.)

Salvation is like that. We settle for slavery because we never knew freedom. We thought we were free, but we were bound, controlled, by sin. The Good News is that Jesus made a way for us to have a relationship with God and freedom from sin. This portion of scripture lays it out for us.

Ephesians 1:3–11 NLT

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

This passage sums up the Gospel of Jesus so well. What is the Gospel? Let’s break this down into bite size pieces so we can get a better understanding of it.

Ephesians 1:3–5 NLT

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

God predestined our adoption through Jesus.

God’s plan was always for the path to Him to run through Jesus.

John 14:6 NLT

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

We are adopted when we come into relationship with Jesus.

God not only wanted to have this, but it brought Him great pleasure.

Blessings in the heavenly realm are only achieved once we come into relationship with Jesus.

Ephesians 1:6–8 NLT

So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

2. God purchased our freedom through Jesus

a. Evil cannot have relationship with God.

b. Each of us is evil (10 Commandments)

c. OT- transfer those sins to animal

d. NT- transfer to Jesus who beat death

e. No longer a need for different animal

f. God’s character is alway more important that His gifts.

Ephesians 1:9–11 NLT

God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

3. God’s plan had always been to bring everything together in Jesus

a. Mysterious does not mean God is hiding or being secretive.

b. It is available to anyone who comes to God in Jesus.

c. Bring together also carries the meaning of a correct sum of numbers.

d. Jesus will make all things come together and make sense.

SO what is the Gospel of Jesus? Rom 5:8

Romans 5:8 NLT

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

When Jesus was asked why He didn’t plead for His own life, He revealed that His life was His own to lay down and pick up. He willfully sacrificed His sinless life for our sinful one. Sin is missing the mark, and we do it all the time. You know it when you do. Jesus comes and offers something so much better. Life without condemnation. Life free from the power sin has in your life and mine.