1 Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints and faithful in Christ Jesus who are in Ephesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ.
4 For God chose us in him before the creation of the world, to be holy and blameless in his presence.
5 In love He predestined us to be adopted as children through Jesus Christ, according to the good purpose of His will, 6.to the praise of His glorious grace, which He freely gave us in the Beloved.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of the grace of God, 8 which he has shed upon us with all wisdom and understanding.
9. And he revealed unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good purpose which he hath set in Christ, 10 that is, to make all things heavenly or earthly converge in Christ, in the dispensation of the fulness of times. we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him that doeth all things according to the purpose of his will, 12 that we who first hope in Christ may be to the praise of his glory.
13 In him, when you heard and believed the word of truth, the gospel that saved you, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 which is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of those who belong to God, to the praise of God. your glory.
OUTLINE OF THE MESSAGE – Ministered on June 19, 2016 (Ephesians 1: 1-14 NIV)
Verses 1,2 – As in other letters Paul reaffirms his ministry by the will of God, before discussing the subject of the letter.
Verse 3 – Here we are sure that we are already blessed. Already in Deut 28: 1-3, in that dispensation of promise (Abrahamic covenant) the blessing was material, but here the text speaks of spiritual blessings referring to the dispensation of grace we live. One might ask: What should I do to be blessed materially as well? There is currently no better tip than: Studying hard to get a job and earn a living. There are a lot of people who are not even Christians and yet are very successful doing these things. See what Paul says to believers who did not want to work in Thessalonica! 1Th 3: 1-10
So what then are these spiritual blessings let’s see:
Verse 4 – 1.Has Chosen by God – Do you have a greater blessing than being chosen by God? What does it feel like to be chosen? Have you been holy and blameless? These are common qualities that accompany a chosen one.
Verses 5-6 – 2. Was adopted with son – God’s criteria in choosing: purpose of his will. Why? To praise your grace. In who? In the beloved. As we know, adoption guarantees all legitimate child rights.
Verses 7-8–3. Received Redemption in the Blood and Forgiveness of Sins – Redemption is purchase. He bought us by repaying the debt we would never be able to repay. He did it with wisdom and understanding because he cannot go against his own laws. Because the wages of sin is death. If death was the criterion was death, Christ did it in our place. Rom 6: 23
Verse 9-12–4. We Receive Revelation of the Mystery of His Will — What Mystery Is This? Converge in Christ all things. Here explains Rev 22:13 I am the alpha and omega.Vs 11 – once again he reaffirms the criterion. The plan is God’s as well as his choice. Vs. 12 – Paul stands with his contemporaries as the first to understand God’s perfect plan that was unfolding from Adam to the fullness of time, where Christ has revealed Himself to the church. since his death until today.
Verses 13-14. 5. Has been sealed – What is the seal for: Transaction Completion; 2. Right of ownership; 3. Security, protection and inviolability; 4. Authenticity and legitimacy. This explains why the evil one does not touch him, 1 John 5:18; It also explains that the sealed Christian himself still sins when he gives way to the enemy by being enveloped in the works of the flesh, Eph 4:27. Vs. 14 – shows that the holy spirit is the guarantee we have until the return of Christ. He is the one who keeps us on the path. So whoever is saved already has the spirit, regardless of having tongues gifts, as some claim.
Conclusion: Understanding that we are already blessed makes us have a life of gratitude, because whatever comes the most is bonus.
Marcelo Ribeiro
