What If? God's Plan...

Review

Part 1: - Redemption of the Gift (The gift of salvation, are we ready to receive it?)

Part 2: - Redemption of the sinner (Our redemption is only made possible by Christ Jesus)

Part 3: - Redemption of the Church (The Church only begins to reusable what it was intended for when we experience God Horizontally through the congregation.)We often focus to much on the vertical when we are also called to focus in on the horizontal as the Gospel is expressed throughout our lives.

Intro

What if…? This was different in my life / I could accomplish this or that / I had “this” in my life.God’s blessings as seen in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians: What if being a Christian is less about what I can do for God, and more about what God has done for me? What if my purpose and identity weren’t built around the things I can produce but the things I have received? What if God’s promise is true and I already have every spiritual blessing? Maybe then… I could re-discover joy.

Opening Prayer

There has been a natural flow of events over the past two chapters...

Chapter one has highlighted the wealth of blessings that come from knowing God.

Chapter two develops a theme from there highlighting His purposes: To extend Grace to the dead in sin and to bring about reconciliation. Ultimately bringing about the possibility for all to be in relationship with the living God, Jew, Gentile , ALL!

V2-4

Ephesians 3:2–4 NIV

Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

Eph 3:2-

Ephesians 3:6 NIV

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

Eph

V10-11

Ephesians 3:10–11 NIV

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Eph 3:10-11

Ephesians 3:12–13 NIV

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

Ephesians 3:14–17 NIV

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,

Eph 3:

Ephesians 3:18–19 NIV

may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

:18-

Ephesians 3:20–21 NIV

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Eph 3:20-

The Lexham Textual Notes on the Bible Ephesians 3:9

Ephesians 3:9

φωτίσαι πάντας

and to enlighten everyone as to what is the administration of the mystery hidden from the ages by God, who created all things,

Instead of “to enlighten everyone,” some manuscripts do not include “everyone,” resulting in the general statement “to bring to light.”