On Father’s Day, in message titled, THE RICHES OF THE FATHER (Eph. 1:1-6), we continued our study in Ephesians. Apostle Paul wrote to the “saints… in Ephesus” (Eph. 1:1). Their “Father” is God because they were “born” into His family “by grace… through faith” (Acts 9:13, 32, 41; Eph. 1:2; John 1:12-13, Eph. 2:8; Rom. 5:1, etc.).
Then we started the longest sentence in the Bible (Eph. 1:3-14) discovering that God the Father “chose” Christ’s bride before the world even existed (Eph. 1:3-6). But it is important to note this is not apart from God the Son’s “redemption” (Eph. 1:7-12) which is accompanied by God the Holy Spirit’s permanent indwelling/seal (Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30 vs. Ps. 51:11, etc.).
We saw then it is the “Father” who is to be “blessed,” and only those who are “in Christ” have Him as their daddy (Eph. 1:3, 12; 3:14-15; John 3:7; 14:6, etc.). As His kids, Christians have also been “blessed… with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:3; 2 Pet. 1:3, etc.). The One who made all things is rich beyond imagination and will provide anything needed for His children who ask Him (Luke 11:2, 9-13; 12:32; Eph. 1:3, 20; 2:6; 3:10; Phil. 4:19; James 1:17; Gal. 5:22-23, etc.).
The Father choosing the church and predestinating us “to adoption… to Himself” before anything existed is stunning! (Eph. 1:4-5). Election, in the Bible, is used to encourage those who are Christ’s (John 15:16; Rom. 3:10-11; Luke 19:10, etc.), but should not be taught at the expense of free will which God has also given those made in His image (Gen. 4:7; Eph. 1:13; John 3:16, 18, 37; Acts 16:31; Rev. 22:17, etc.). This is all “to the praise of His glory” which is revealed through Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:6, 12, 14, etc.).