Ephesians 1:3-14

Outline:

Unity in Christ (ch.1-3) (theology)

Positions in Christ (Eph 1:3-14)

Prayer (Eph 1:15-23)

Possessions in Christ (Eph 2:1-22)

Prayer (Eph 3:1-21)

Unity in the Church (4-6) (Application)

Walk in unity (Eph 4:1-16)

Walk in purity (Eph 4:17-5:17)

Walk in harmony (Eph 5:18-6:9)

Walk in victory (Eph 6:10-24)

Positions in Christ (Eph 1:3-14)

In this section it says In Jesus/in Christ/In Him - 10 times

tells me that Jesus has done a lot for us

Remember this as we read all of what He has done for us that the one thing we can do is praise Him.

Ephesians 1:3 NKJV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

One fun fact: verse 3 is like a blessing pyramid

v. 3 starts at bottom with: “blessed be God,”

then "blessed us” “

then “every Spiritual blessing in Heavenly places” “

then “in Christ”

What a great way to start this.

He has blessed you, and me.

I think the proper response and only response for this is a

“thank you God”

“you have given me more than I can understand”

What I love about this section is that it kinda prepares to know that you cant know

all that God has for us.

It shows me Heaven is where I should invest

for simply believing in Jesus my return is every Spiritual blessing?

I think I know why Jesus said in Matt 6:19-21

Matthew 6:19–21 NKJV

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Ephesians 1:4–14 NKJV

4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

In this section there are 3 keywords & 9 positions here:

1. predestined *predestined (proorizo”) - means to decide before hand*

(3 times);

v. 4 “ he chose us before the foundation”

v.5 “ Predestined to adoption”

v.11 “predestined according to the purpose of Him”

now there is a group of people called Calvinists

that would say that this section means that us being Saved is not based on our belief or trust

but that God chose who would be saved and that is why we are saved.

however the second keyword in this section is:

2. trusted/believe (2 1/2 times) - v. 13 “trusted” is italicized.

shows me that our Salvation is based both on the predestination and our belief in Jesus

3. “To the praise of His Glory” (v. 6, 12, 14)

*in this section each paragraph ends with “to the praise of His glory”

(also only 4 sentences in this entire section)

because He predestined to adopted us as sons (v.6)

because He predestined to give us an inheritance (v.12)

because you believed and He redeemed (v.14)

Well lets look at all the possessions we have here:

There are 9 Positions we read about in this section.

POSITIONS:

So After listing these things I will end by asking the question:

Do you live like God sees & calls you?

1. Holy & Blameless in love (v.4)

Colossians 1:22 NLT

22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

2. Adopted sons (v.5)

3. Accepted in Jesus (v.6)

What I love about this is that many people try to be accepted and so do and say things to be accepted.

But Jesus did and said everything for us to be accepted.

there is nothing we can do or say to be accepted by Him

4. Redeemed (v.7)

we were bought out of the slavery and trap of sin

so we can live free!

5. Forgiven (v.7)

6. One in Christ (v.10)

no one is greater than another.

7. Inheritors (v.11)

we get more than what we deserve

8. Praisers (v.12)

this really is one of the positions we have...

and one of the positions we can truly begin to live today!

9. Sealed with the Holy Spirit (v.13)

Do you live like God sees & calls you?