Ephesians 1:3-6 (ESV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him (selected out of) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
“God’s judgment in the end will be so absolutely perfect the condemned will agree with the rightness of their condemnation.” – James Bryce
“It is not likely we will find a simple solution to a problem that has baffled the best minds of Christiandom for centuries.” – John Stott
Ephesians 1:7-14 (ESV) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
- Hear the gospel and the Holy Spirit convicts
- The Holy Spirit allows us to apply these truths to us
- The Holy Spirit then, in our conviction of these truths (sinner in need of a savior), makes us ready for Christ
- Because of this our faith is not on our human understanding but based in God’s power
- The effect of the Holy Spirit bringing us to saving knowledge is NOT of our own works!
Big Idea: God chose us, from the trash not the treasure for salvation, and worship is our only proper response to him