Eph. 1:1-14, "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: {2} Grace <be> to you, and peace, from God our Father, and <from> the Lord Jesus Christ. {3} Blessed <be> the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly <places> in Christ: {4} 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: {5} Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, {6} To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. {7} In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; {8} Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; {9} Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: {10} 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: {11} 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: {12} That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. {13} 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, {14} Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."

Introduction:

A. Paul spent Three Years In Ephesus (Acts 19; 20:17-38) and as a result of his ministry A Church Was Established.

Ten Years Later, from his Prison In Rome, Paul wrote this Epistle and sent it by Tychicus.

B. Ephesians is a thrilling book because it tell us, not only How To Become A Christian but also, How God Wants Us To Live The Christian Life.

1. Chapters 1 - 3 tells us of our Wealth in Christ.

2. Chapters 4 - 6 tells us of our Walk in Christ.

C. Without Christ, and apart from Him, we Have Nothing, we Are Nothing and we Can Do Nothing --- (John 15:5)

1. However, as believers (sons), --- Luke 15:31, "And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine."

2. Our Lesson Text --- Eph. 1:3, "Blessed <be> the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly <places> in Christ:"

3. Yet, How Few of us Realize our True Wealth and "Possess Our Possessions".

Obadiah 1:17, "But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions." (More about this later)

D. God has made Jesus The Repository of all spiritual blessings.

1. The moment we receive Him as Saviour and Lord, All The Blessings Which Are In Christ Becomes Ours.

2. We need to Appropriate and Enjoy these blessings.

Now, What Are These Blessings?

I. We Have Been Chosen In Christ Before The Foundation of The World.

A. Eph. 1:4, "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:"

B. Notice When He chose us and Why He chose us.

1. John 15:16, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and <that> your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."

2. 1 Peter 1:15-16, "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; {16} Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."

C. John 6:37-39, "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. {38} For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. {39} And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day."

D. Our Salvation certainly was Not An After-Thought in the mind of God.

Rev. 13:8, "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

II. We Have Been Predestinated Unto The Adoption of Children.

A. Eph. 1:5, "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,"

B. The word "Predestinate" means "To Mark Out Beforehand".

1. In Eternity Past, God not only Chose Us but He Planned What He Would Do With Us.

2. "Election" looks Backward and tells us We Were chosen.

3. "Predestination" looks Forward and tells us Why We Were chosen.

C. God's Purpose in choosing us is that we should be brought into His family and given the Status and Privileges of Sonship.

1. Think of it --- we who were Lost and Enemies of God have been chosen to be Sons --- Members of His family.

2. 1 John 3:2, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

3. Rom. 8:18-19, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time <are> not worthy <to be compared> with the glory which shall be revealed in us. {19} For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God." --- V. 23, "And not only <they>, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, <to wit>, the redemption of our body."

III. We Have Been Accepted In The Beloved.

A. Eph. 1:6, "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."

B. God could Never Accept Us in our Sinful Unregenerated condition --- but He could accept us "In The Beloved."

1. When I look at my "Sinful Self" I doubt .....

Isa. 64:6, "But we are all as an unclean <thing>, and all our righteousnesses <are> as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

2. When I Look To Jesus, I am accepted, and all doubts vanish away.

Heb. 12:2, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of <our> faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

IV. We Have Been Redeemed And All Our Sins Have Been Forgiven.

A. Eph. 1:7, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"

B. To "Redeem" is to "Buy Back".

1. We were "Sold Under Sin".

Rom. 7:14, "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin."

2. We have been "Bought With A Price".

1 Cor. 6:20, "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

C. We have also been "Forgiven".

Psa. 103:12, "As far as the east is from the west, <so> far hath he removed our transgressions from us."

2 Cor. 5:21, "For he hath made him <to be> sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

V. We Have Been Initiated Into The Divine Mystery.

A. Eph. 1:8-9, "Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; {9} Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:"

B. The word "Mystery" refers to Truth which was Once Hidden but which God has Now Revealed."

Col. 1:27, "To whom God would make known what <is> the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:"

VI. We Have Obtained An Inheritance.

A. Eph. 1:11, "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:"

B. In Christ we have Everything We Need for Time and for Eternity.

1. For "Time" --- The Present ...

1 Cor. 3:21-23, "Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; {22} Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; {23} And ye are Christ's; and Christ <is> God's."

Obadiah 1:17, "But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions."

Rom. 8:32, "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"

2. For "Eternity" --- The Future ...

1 Peter 1:4, "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,"

Rom. 8:17, "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with <him>, that we may be also glorified together."

VII. We Have Been Sealed With The Holy Spirit of Promise.

A. Eph. 1:13-14, "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, {14} Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."

B. This divine sealing denotes Ownership and Security.

C. Eph. 4:30, "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."