Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful...
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Transcript of Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful...
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the
will of God, to the saints who are in
Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: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 every spiritual blessing in the
heavenly places in Christ,
LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS
VOLUME I (1-3):OUR RICHES IN CHRIST
• Our spiritual possessions in Christ
• Our spiritual position in Christ
Our God is in the heavens;
He does all that He pleases.Psalm 115:3
Has the potter no right over the clay,
to make out of the same lump one
vessel for honourable use and another
for dishonourable use?Romans 9:21
God has the right, the authority, and the power
to govern all that happens and what has, is, or
will happen being in accordance to His divine
will. He has the right to achieve His purposes
and has the power to bring about
circumstances that dictate whatever He wills
to come to pass. He has complete control of
everything and there is nothing that is done
that is not done by
or allowed through His will.M.J. Erickson
For I proclaim the name of the LORD:
Ascribe greatness to our God.4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect;
For all His ways are justice,
A God of truth and without injustice;
Righteous and upright is He.Deuteronomy 32:3-4
“…We fail to give God due honour unless
we recognize a constant tenor of
righteousness in the whole progress of His
operation. Nothing is more difficult
in time of trouble, when God has
apparently forsaken us, or afflicts us
without cause,
than to restrain our corrupt feelings
from breaking out against His judgments.”
John Calvin
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.Isaiah 55:8-9
6 Seek the LORD while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.7 Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the LORD,And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,For He will abundantly pardon.
8For my thoughts…Isaiah 55:6-7
4 just as He chose us in Him before the
foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before Him
in love…
eklegomi• to pick out, choose, to pick or
choose out for one's self• choosing one out of many, i.e.
Jesus choosing his disciples• choosing one for an office
4 just as He chose us in Him before the
foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before Him
in love…
6 “…the LORD your God has chosen you
to be a people for Himself, a special
treasure above all the peoples on the
face of the earth. 7 The LORD did not set
His love on you nor choose you because
you were more in number than any
other people, for you were the least of
all peoples;
8 but because the Lord loves you,
and because He would keep the oath
which
He swore to your fathers, the LORD
has brought you out with a mighty
hand,
and redeemed you from the house of
bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh
king of Egypt. 9 “Therefore know
that the LORD your God, He is God…Deuteronomy 7:6-9
I'm so glad that God
chose me before the
foundation of the world,
because he never would
have chosen me after
I was born!"
C.H. Spurgeon
4 just as He chose us in Him before the
foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before Him
in love, 5 having predestined us to
adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to
Himself, according to the good pleasure
of His will,
proorizo• to predetermine, decide
beforehand• in the NT of God decreeing from
eternity• to foreordain, appoint
beforehand
5 having predestined us to adoption
as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself,
according to the good pleasure of His
will…
Huiothesia• adoption, adoption as sons• that relationship which God was pleased
to establish between himself and the
Israelites in preference to all other
nations• the nature and condition of the true
disciples in Christ, who by receiving the
Spirit of God into their souls become
sons of God
5 having predestined us to adoption
as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself,
according to the good pleasure of
His will…
Man’s FreewillSituationsForeknowledge
(God’s Will)Predestination
Predestination is a product ofForeknowledge and Freewill
…according to the good pleasure of His
will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His
grace, by which He made us
accepted in the Beloved.
Ephesians 1:1-6
Charitoō• to make graceful
charming, lovely, agreeable• to persue with grace, compass
with favour• to honour with blessings
Certainly, among Evangelicals there are various ways of understanding how this
electing purpose of God plays out in human history, and various views…are acceptable
within the parameters of our EFCC Statement of Faith.
While affirming God’s sovereignty, we believe that that sovereignty never minimizes human
responsibility. And while we are morally responsible creatures, making significant
choices to obey, rebel, believe, etc. and are rightly held responsible for our actions, we can never make God absolutely contingent upon
our wills.Gospel Truths pp.45-46
Only as we are “in Christ” are we chosen, called, regenerated,
justified, sanctified, redeemed, assured of the resurrection and given every spiritual blessing.
Gospel Truths p.143
4 just as He chose us in Him before the
foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before Him
in love, 5 having predestined us to
adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to
Himself, according to the good pleasure
of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of
His grace, by which He made us
accepted in the Beloved.
Ephesians 1:1-6