Ephesians 1

1:3

Facts:

1.	Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

2.	who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places

3.	in Christ

1.	What three ways is God described? On whom does Paul proclaim a blessing? Whom does Paul say is or should be blessed?

2.	What has he done for us? How many sp bls? Does that mean all? (where?)

3.	in whom?

Comparison/context:

*List the spiritual blessings we have in Christ in chapter one (at least seven).

1. v.4 chosen

2. v.5 predestined to adoption

3. v.6 grace freely bestowed on us

4. v.7 redemption through blood

5. v.7 forgiveness

v.9 ?made known mystery of His will

6. v.11 inheritance

7. v.13 Holy Spirit guarantee

Context: Ch 2. How can God bless us (with spiritual blessings) in the heavenly places (are we in the heavenly places)?

Comparison: What is Paul trying to tell us about God by calling Him the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ?

Comparison: How many spiritual blessings come to us outside of Christ?

1:4

*Something repeated in this verse--also throughout, what theme?

Facts:

1.	just as He chose us in Him

2.	before the foundation of the world

3.	that we would be holy and blameless before Him (in love?)

1.	In whom were we chosen?

2.	when?

3.	What are we chosen to be? (Before whom? Not by human stds!) in what area? Who's hearing that? What do many people think holiness is about?

Context:

*Holiness and blamelessness is primarily a love issue. Most people think that holiness is about

What do many Christians believe we were chosen for? (If we believe that we were chosen at all; some think we chose God!) Chosen to receive eternal life, chosen to have "the truth", chosen to be "right", chosen to share the gospel. What does Paul say, however, about why we were chosen?

*God has chosen us to be holy and blameless, how are you feeling about that? Why does God want us to be holy and blameless? He's had it planned out since before the foundation of the world. Why? Restrict yourselves to chapter 1--you have 2 mins to demonstrate that you have not lost the art of communication with the person next to you.

what conditions stand in the way of our being holy and blameless? List them.

1.	2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,

2.	in which you formerly walked acc'ding to the course of this world and the spirit in the sons of disobedience

3.	we all lived in the lusts of our flesh indulging them

4.	by nature children of wrath

Given that we are to be holy and blameless, what steps has God taken to bring that about? --see above list

Why is each one necessary? (Ch2)--maybe just do 1-3/4?

1. v.4 chosen

2. v.5 predestined to adoption

3. v.6 grace freely bestowed on us

4. v.7 redemption through blood

5. v.7 forgiveness

6. v.9 ?made known mystery of His will

7. v.11 inheritance

8. v.13 Holy Spirit guarantee

Comparison:

What does it say about God's capabilities when Paul tells us that He chose us in Him (Christ) before the foundation of the world?

1:5,6

Facts:

1.	He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself,

2.	according to the kind intention of His will

3.	to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

1.	What have we been predestined to and by whom?

2.	What led Him to do such a thing?

3.	What will be the result? Grace which He freely bestowed on us in whom?

What characteristics of God keep coming out? freely, richly, giving, gracious, seeking, choosing, planning, loving, kindness

Here it says he predestined us to adoption, but where does it say we have actually been adopted, when did that happen?

*When did He freely bestow grace on us in the Beloved? All of NT is fair game.

Comparison:

How does our being predestined to adoption end in the praise of the glory of His grace?--ch1,2 are fair game--be prepared to pray and dig!--no fndtn laid yet--don't know about mystery or anything

Context:

What else has God freely bestowed on us in the Beloved?

What else will result in the praise of God's glory? What is God's glory?

1:7

Facts:

1.	In Him we have redemption through His blood,

2.	the forgiveness of our trespasses,

3.	according to the riches of His grace.

1.	What two things do we have in Him according to the riches of His grace?

Obviously no one heard what you just read. The response was so overwhelming. Read it again.

Context:

In this context who has trespasses that need forgiving, and what would happen if they were not forgiven?

Comparison:

*What is the relationship between the redemption through His blood and forgiveness? Forgiveness means what? No longer guilty. Redemption refers to what? Buying back, at what cost? blood. So has the cost of our redemption been paid? Do we have redemption then? What about forgiveness? So what has happened already to our guilt! Amen!!! You don't have to leave here tonight struggling under the weight of guilt. Just as surely as Jesus has redeemed you, you have forgiveness. Who's grasping onto that by faith?

1:9,10

Facts:

1.	He made known to us the mystery of His will,

2.	according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him, with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times,

3.	that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.

1.	What did He make known to us? What is the mystery? Are you hearing this verse?

2.	Why did He do it? 2 parts, What characteristic of God motivated Him to do it? His kind intention which He purposed or planned in Christ. What did He want to happen as a result? (the mystery) would be put into effect at the right time.

3.	When that mystery is put into effect what will be the result?

4.	Summarizing now, what is the mystery? Are you hearing the structure and grammar of this verse?

Comparison:

What is this mystery that is to be put into effect at the fullness of the times?--Someone is about to put this all together for us with 1cor12 and the principles we learned there.

Context:

List the (conditions) events that must be in place for the summing up of all things in Christ, (things in the heavens and things on the earth in Him.)

Verse 4 Chose us in Him before the foundation of the World that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love

Verse 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace which He bestowed on us in the Beloved

Verse 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.

Verse 8 In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times

1:11,12

Facts:

1.	(In Him) also we have obtained an inheritance,

2.	having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,

3.	to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

1.	What else is ours in Him?

2.	what characteristic of God led to our being made heirs?

3.	to what end have we been made heirs?

Context:

What is this inheritance? The redemption of God's own possession. What is God's own possession? What characteristics must it have if it is God's?

Comparison:

How does our inheritance lead to us being (existing) "to the praise of His glory"?

1:13 Facts:

1.	In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--

2.	Having also believed,

3.	you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise

1.	What did Paul's readers hear?

2.	What was their response?

3.	What happened to them after that?

a.	Sealed where?

b.	Sealed with whom?

Context:

1.	What does it mean to be sealed with the Holy Spirit?

a.	How permanent is it? Concordance–rest of Eph.

b.	What does it look like?

Comparison:

2.	How can one know if one has been sealed by H.S.? What is relationship between believing and being sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise?

3.	Why is He called the Holy Spirit of promise? What is the promise?

1:14 Facts:

1.	who is given as a pledge of our inheritance,

2.	with a view to the redemption of God's own possession

3.	to the praise of His glory

1.	List the three reasons why the Holy Spirit is given.

Context:

1.	How does the Holy Spirit 'pledge' or function as a down payment for our inheritance?

2.	What is implied by the statement that we are 'made heirs' (v. 11) yet we have a pledge/down payment until redemption?

3.	If we already have redemption, why does this verse suggest we are still looking forward to it? Redemption means what? bought back, but with God, what is included in redemption? We were slaves of sin before, but now through the purchase price, the blood of Jesus, what are we, bought back, what condition does that leave us in? What condition did it leave the children of Israel in? Redeemed, but not free. So redemption is only fully realized when we become free. We have been purchased, but we must learn how not to be slaves. So when is our redemption complete?

4.	What would have to happen for us to be God's own 'redeemed' possession? And why would it bring praise to His glory?

Bonus

Why are these blessings in the order in which they are given? Is anyone seeing something profound here?