“Rising Above the Smoke”

Ephesians 1

Ephes. 1:1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and who are faithful in Christ Jesus

Ephesians 1:1,15,18; 2:19; 3:8,18; 4:12; 5:3; 6:18

}agio" – “Set Apart Ones”

Two Worlds

Ephes. 1:3 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 en Cristo^"

[4] just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world[5] He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ [6] which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.[7] In Him we have redemption…[9] according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him[10] the summing up of all things in Christ,In Him [11] also we have obtained an inheritance[12] we who were the first to hope in Christ[13] In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth[13] having also believed, you were sealed in Him

Philip. 3:9 That I may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,

New Identity: Hard to UnderstandEphes. 1:16-19 I do not cease giving thanks for you,

while making mention of you in my prayers; [17] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. [18] I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, [19] and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might

me;ga" - Greatness

du;nami" - Power

ejnevrgeia - Working

kra;to" - Strength

ijscuv" - Might

“Every Spiritual Blessing”Chosen before the foundation of the world.

Ephes. 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.

1 Peter 1:1-2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens [pilgrims]… who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father…

e;klektoi'" kata; pro;gnwsin

“Every Spiritual Blessing”Chosen before the foundation of the world.

Predestined in love: adoption.

Ephes. 1:5 In love, He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

“Every Spiritual Blessing”Chosen before the foundation of the world.

Predestined in love: adoption.

For a purpose!

Ephes. 1:4 “…that we should be holy and blameless before Him.”

Ephes. 1:6 “…to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”

Ephes. 1:12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

Ephes. 1:14 “…to the praise of His glory.”

1 Peter 1:10-12 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful search and inquiry… these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel…things into which angels long to look.

“Every Spiritual Blessing”Chosen before the foundation of the world.

Predestined in love: adoption.

For a purpose!The mystery of His Will

Ephes. 1:9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him

“Every Spiritual Blessing”Chosen before the foundation of the world.

Predestined in love: adoption.

For a purpose!The mystery of His WillThe great “Summing Up of All Things”

Ephes. 1:10 …that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth.”

Romans 8:22-23 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now…waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

Philip. 2:10-11 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, [11] and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Acts 2:23-24 “This Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.”

“And God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.”

“Every Spiritual Blessing”Chosen before the foundation of the world.

Predestined in love: adoption.

For a purpose!The mystery of His WillThe great “Summing Up of All Things”Through His Household.

Ephes. 1:10 …with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times…

oijkonomiva.Ephes. 3:9 “to bring to light what is the

administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things…”

“Every Spiritual Blessing”Chosen before the foundation of the world.

Predestined in love: adoption.

For a purpose!

Set Free!

Ephes. 1:7

In Him we have redemption through His blood

ajpolutrwvsi"

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.

“Every Spiritual Blessing”Chosen before the foundation of the world.

Predestined in love: adoption.

For a purpose!

Set Free!

Forgiven!

Ephes. 1:7 In Him we have … the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.

a[fesi"

“Every Spiritual Blessing”Chosen before the foundation of the world.

Predestined in love: adoption.

For a purpose!

Set Free!

Forgiven!

A Sealed Inheritance!Ephes. 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance…

Romans 8:38-39

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, [39] nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So What?

A Change of Personal Values“I pray that the eyes of

your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints”Ephes. 1:18

Changes our View of Each Other! Chosen Predestined Has Purpose Set Free Forgiven Sealed Shared Inheritance

2 Cor. 5:16“Therefore from now on we recognize no man according to the flesh…”

Our Position of Authority:

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 - Ephes. 1:3

Col. 3:1-3 If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. [3] For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.