Blessings from the Father - Eph. 1:1–6

The key thought in this chapter is the wealth of blessings we have as Christians, spiritual blessings that are ours because we are in Christ (1:3). Paul informs us that each Person of the Godhead has blessed us (vv. 1–14), and then he prays that we might understand these blessings and the power they can be in our lives (vv. 15–23).

Today’s text gives us a large word, from a man of small stature, who seems to really know and love the great God of heaven and earth, who is father of all that believe in Jesus Christ, and are led by the Holy Spirit. Paul does an excellent job of helping us to understand the great blessings that we have received from the God, the Father.

I.  He has chosen us (vv. 3–4).

This is the doctrine of election, a doctrine that we cannot fully explain but one we can fully enjoy. The doctrine of election is that God chose us in Christ, by grace, not in ourselves or of ourselves.  Note 1 Cor. 1:26–29; 2 Thes. 2:13–14; and John 6:37.

The doctrine of election says that God chooses for salvation, those who, by grace, persevere in faith and works.  Grace is the free and unmerited favor of God shown towards man; it is divine assistance and power given to man in spiritual rebirth and sanctification. Grace” expresses God’s steadfast love toward man and “peace” shows the relational state as a result of that grace. Paul opened his letter to the church at Ephesus with greetings to the believers there, expressing his wish that God’s grace and peace be with them.

Those who are elect do follow Christ:

John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

Those who perish do so because they did not receive the truth

II Thessalonians 2:10 “and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.”

God’s choice does not eliminate the need for man’s exercise of faith:

II Thessalonians 2:10 “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

II.     He has adopted us (v. 5).

“Election” refers to persons; predestination to purposes for those persons. God elects us to be saints (set-apart ones), then predestines that certain purposes in our lives shall come to pass (see Rom. 8:28ff). “Adoption” in the NT refers to the official act of a father who bestows the status of full adulthood on a son of minor status. It is not the taking in of an outsider; it is the placing of a family member into the privileges and blessings of adulthood. This means that even the youngest Christian has everything that Christ has and is rich in grace.

Peace Child - In a book entitled Peace Child, Don Richardson records the moving account of how the Sawi people of Irian Jaya came to understand salvation through Jesus Christ. For many months he and his family sought for some way to communicate the gospel to this tribe. Then they discovered the key for which they had been praying. All demonstrations of kindness expressed by the Sawi were regarded with suspicion except one act. If a father gave his own son to his enemy, his sacrificial deed showed that he could be trusted! Furthermore, everyone who touched that child was brought into a friendly relationship with the father. The Sawi were then taught that in a similar way God's beloved Son could bring them eternal peace.

III.     He has accepted us (v. 6).

In ourselves, we are not acceptable to God, but in Christ, we are “made accepted.” Though we have sinned, Christ says to the Father, “Receive this saint as you would receive Me.”

 Good Housekeeping magazine, in its September, 1991 issue, quoted a famous talk show hostess as saying, “I discovered I didn’t feel worth a damn, and certainly not worthy of love, unless I was accomplishing something. I suddenly realized I have never felt I could be loved just for being. - Oprah Winfrey.

You can feel worthy of being loved because God has done three things for you:

He has chosen you – predestined you to be his; He has adopted you –included you into a His loving family; He has accepted you – When you break the fellowship, He retains the relationship.

INVITATION: Rededication to grow toward spiritual maturity.

1.     Now Jesus wants to be Lord of your life.

2.     God wants your life to be useful and joyful.

3.     God wants you to live in fellowship with Him.

4.     God wants to fill you with His Spirit.

5.     God wants to equip you for ministry.

6.     When you fail in your in your walk with Him, God wants to forgive you and restore you to a useful life with Him.`