Paul is writing to the church of Ephesus about A.D. 60. Most believe he was imprisoned in Rome when he wrote this letter. It wanted to inform God’s people in Ephesus of God’s plan. The first three chapters focus on salvation, grace, and redemption through faith in Christ! The last three chapters focus on the implications of salvation in Christ! These chapters answer how salvation affects the church, the individual, and the family!
Blessed by Adoption vv.3-6 ***
What happens when we are adopted?
1) His Purpose for us- Growth (2 Peter 3:18) “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
2) His Process for us- Guidelines (Galatians 4:2-7) “2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles[a] of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”
3) The Price He gave for us- Grace (Ephesians 1:6-7) “to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,”
4) The Praise we give Him- His Glory (Ephesians 1:12) “so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.”
Blessed by Adoption vv.3-6 ***
What happens when we are adopted?
1) His Purpose for us- Growth (2 Peter 3:18) “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
2) His Process for us- Guidelines (Galatians 4:2-7) “2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles[a] of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”
3) The Price He gave for us- Grace (Ephesians 1:6-7) “to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,”
4) The Praise we give Him- His Glory (Ephesians 1:12) “so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.”
***
Blessed by His Abundant Grace vv.7-10
G- God’s
R- Riches
A- At
C- Christ
E- Expense
“If any man be saved, he is saved by Divine grace, and by Divine grace alone; and the reason of his salvation is not to be found in him, but in God. We are not saved as the result of anything that we do or that we will; but we will and do as the result of God’s good pleasure, and the work of his grace in our hearts. No sinner can prevent God; that is, he cannot go before him, cannot anticipate him; God is always first in the matter of salvation. He is before our convictions, before our desires, before our fears, before our hopes. All that is good or ever will be good in us, is preceded by the grace of God, and is the effect of a Divine cause within.” C.H. Spurgeon
Grace moves us from guilt to gratitude for the glory of God!
Blessed by His Abundant Grace vv.7-10
G- God’s
R- Riches
A- At
C- Christ
E- Expense
“If any man be saved, he is saved by Divine grace, and by Divine grace alone; and the reason of his salvation is not to be found in him, but in God. We are not saved as the result of anything that we do or that we will; but we will and do as the result of God’s good pleasure, and the work of his grace in our hearts. No sinner can prevent God; that is, he cannot go before him, cannot anticipate him; God is always first in the matter of salvation. He is before our convictions, before our desires, before our fears, before our hopes. All that is good or ever will be good in us, is preceded by the grace of God, and is the effect of a Divine cause within.” C.H. Spurgeon
Grace moves us from guilt to gratitude for the glory of God!
***
Blessed by an Acquired Inheritance vv.11-14
What do we acquire by grace?
The Father who adopts us 1:3-6 (John 6:44) “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”
The Son who redeems us 1:7-12 (Colossians 1:13-14) “13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
The Holy Spirit protects us 1:13-14 (2 Corinthians 1:21-22) “21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
Blessed by an Acquired Inheritance vv.11-14
What do we acquire by grace?
The Father who adopts us 1:3-6 (John 6:44) “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”
The Son who redeems us 1:7-12 (Colossians 1:13-14) “13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
The Holy Spirit protects us 1:13-14 (2 Corinthians 1:21-22) “21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”