1Ephesians - Christ and the

Church

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Ephesians - Christ and the Church

•Chapter One...

•Verses 3-14 - The Church: God’s Plan Fulfilled

- This entire passage of twelve verses appears most accurately as one long sentence, although some versions divide it into several sentences in an attempt to enhance understanding.

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Ephesians - Christ and the Church

•Chapter One...

•Verses 3-14 - The Church: God’s Plan Fulfilled

- Paul’s immediate goal is,

a. to generate in the hearts of the Ephesian brethren [Gentiles in particular] a deeper perception of how much God had really blessed them when He accepted them into a Father/child relationship in the church;

b. to elevate their appreciation for God’s beneficence to a higher level.

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Ephesians - Christ and the Church

•Chapter One...

•Verses 3-14 - The Church: God’s Plan Fulfilled

- Christians should regard God as “blessed” [eugelotes - adj.,“praised”] because God has first “blessed” [eulogeo - “bestowed blessings on”] them.

- Our relationship with our heavenly Father is possible because God is also the Father of Jesus Christ and maintains a special kinship with Jesus and with us.

- There are five references to “the heavenly [places]” in this letter: 1:3; 1:20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12.

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Ephesians - Christ and the Church

•Chapter One...

•Verses 3-14 - The Church: God’s Plan Fulfilled

- In verses 4-14, Paul lays out the marvelous plan by which “all spiritual blessings” had become available to the Ephesians [and others].

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Ephesians - Christ and the Church

•Chapter One...

•Verses 3-14 - The Church: God’s Plan Fulfilled

- The elements of the Lord’s scheme of redemption for sin-doomed men are cited:

a. God’s good will led Him [in eternity past] to purpose to save sinners (vs. 9);

b. God chose between the classes of obedient and disobedient persons (vs. 4);

1) Those willing to become “holy and without blemish” were chosen.

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Ephesians - Christ and the Church

•Chapter One...

•Verses 3-14 - The Church: God’s Plan Fulfilled

- The elements of the Lord’s scheme of redemption for sin-doomed men are cited:

c. God predestined [pre-planned] that the chosen would become His sons (vs. 5);

1) This would be accomplished through the work of Christ.

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Ephesians - Christ and the Church

•Chapter One...

•Verses 3-14 - The Church: God’s Plan Fulfilled

- The elements of the Lord’s scheme of redemption for sin-doomed men are cited:

d. God had made His will known by apostles and teachers (vs. 9a);

1) The mystery-- Jews and Gentiles to be gathered together in one [body] (vs. 10).

e. God had made the chosen accepted in Christ (vs. 6);

1) Redemption would come through Christ’s blood (vs. 7).

2) Sins would be forgiven through His grace (vs. 7).

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Ephesians - Christ and the Church

•Chapter One...

•Verses 3-14 - The Church: God’s Plan Fulfilled

- The elements of the Lord’s scheme of redemption for sin-doomed men are cited:

f. God had bestowed a rich inheritance on His church (vs. 11)

g. God is glorified by the trust of Jews and Gentiles in His wisdom (vs. 12,13a);

h. God sealed the saved as a guarantee of His inheritance (vs. 13b,14).

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Ephesians - Christ and the Church

•Chapter One...

•Verses 3-14 - The Church: God’s Plan Fulfilled

- Three factors were the driving forces underlying the plan of redemption preached by the apostles and accepted by the Ephesian Christians:

a. God’s good pleasure toward a lost world (vs. 5,9);

b. God’s grace that offered forgiveness in spite of man’s past disobedience (vs. 6,7);

c. God’s will which designed and implemented every detail of His plan (vs. 5,9,11).

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Ephesians - Christ and the Church

•Chapter One...

•Verses 3-14 - The Church: God’s Plan Fulfilled

- God’s eternal plan expounded:

a. He chose us in Christ that the chosen might be holy and without blame.

b. He predestined us to be adopted as His own sons and to enjoy the benefits of sonship (vs. 5).

c. He made us accepted in Christ.

d. He made known the mystery of His will (vs. 9).

e. He provided an inheritance to be received by the elect (vs. 11).

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Ephesians - Christ and the Church

•Chapter One...

•Verses 3-14 - The Church: God’s Plan Fulfilled

- God’s eternal plan expounded:

f. He sealed the elect with the Holy Spirit (vs. 12,13).

g. He guaranteed our eternal salvation by the “sealing” of the Spirit (vs. 14).