Jan
20
Ephesians 1:7–10
7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. Focused Thinking: (Eph. 1:7–10) Where does our redemption come from? 7In Him we have redemption THROUGH His blood, What are the benefits and blessings of redemption? 7…the forgiveness of our trespasses. How? 7…according to the RICHES of His grace 8which He LAVISHED on us. He is extravagant with His grace. He is abundant with His grace. He is generous with His grace. What did He make known to us? 8In all wisdom and insight 9He made known to us the mystery of His will. Why was His will a mystery? It...
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19
Ephesians 1:3–6
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. 5He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Focused Thinking: (Eph. 1:3–4 ) Why should we bless and praise God? 3who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Every spiritual blessing — God never gives us less than His best. Every spiritual blessing — everything is available to us, we aren’t lacking anything. 4He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. He created us to be in relationship with Him. He created us to be loved by Him, to respond to His love with love and to...
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17
Ephesians 1:1–2
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: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Focused Thinking: Who is Paul? 1…an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God What is an apostle? An apostle is an ambassador of the Gospel. An apostle is a commissioner of Christ. An apostle is a messenger, a sent one, a delegate. What is the source of Paul’s identity? His identity is found in his relationship with Christ. His identity is found in his role and responsibility as an apostle of Christ Jesus. Did Paul earn this identity? Paul earned his identity as a leader of the Jewish people (Php 3:2–6). Paul didn’t earn his identity as a Christian; he was captured by God’s grace (Ac 9:1–51). God took an adversary to the gospel and made him an advocate for the gospel. Personal Application: What is the source of my identity? It...
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