Blessed In Christ Central Truth God adopts believers

Blessed In Christ †Central Truth: God adopts believers into His family and gives them an eternal inheritance. †Focus Review the believers acceptance by God in Christ and acknowledge His sovereignty over our lives. †Context: Paul’s letter to the Ephesians was probably written from Rome between AD 60 and 63. †Golden Text: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1: 3)

OUTLINE I. Church Established in Ephesus (Acts 19: 1 -10) II. Accepted in the Beloved (Eph. 1: 1 -10) III. Chosen and Sealed (Eph. 1: 11 -14)

I. CHURCH ESTABLISHED IN EPHESUS A. Finding Disciples in Ephesus And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples. (Acts 19: 1)

I. CHURCH ESTABLISHED IN EPHESUS B. Ministering to the Ephesian Believers He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whethere be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s Baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is , on Christ Jesus. (Acts 19: 2 -7)

I. CHURCH ESTABLISHED IN EPHESUS C. Public Ministry in Ephesus Begins And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. (Acts 19: 8 -10)

II. ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED A. Paul’s Greeting Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph. 1: 1 -2)

II. ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED B. A Powerful Benediction Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Eph. 1: 3 -10)

B. A Powerful Benediction In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according o the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom of prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him. (Eph. 1: 3 -10)

III. CHOSEN AND SEALED A. God’s Eternal Plan In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. (Eph. 1: 11 -14)

III. CHOSEN AND SEALED B. The Gift of the Spirit In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Heb. 1: 13 -14)