Ephesians & ColossiansSpring Quarter 2012

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• Salutation (1-2)– Paul, an apostle– Saints (at Ephesus)– Grace & Peace

• Blessings in Christ (3-14)– Blessings related to the Father (4-6)• Chose us in Christ• Predestined us to adoption as sons to Himself• Made us accepted in the Beloved

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• Blessings in Christ (3-14)– Blessings related to the Father (4-6)• Chose us in Christ• Predestined us to adoption as sons to Himself• Made us accepted in the Beloved

– Blessings related to the Son (7-12)• Redemption through His blood• Forgiveness of sins• The revelation of His will regarding Christ• The inheritance we have obtained having been

predestined according to His will

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• Blessings in Christ (3-14)– Blessings related to the Father (4-6)– Blessings related to the Son (7-12)– Blessings related to the Holy Spirit (13-14)• Sealed with the Spirit of promise• He is our guarantee (earnest, down payment, deposit)

of our inheritance

– Key phrase: “in Him” or “in Whom”• All spiritual blessings come through Jesus Christ• And enjoyed by those who are “in Him”

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• Spiritual blessings in Christ– Chose us in Him before the foundation of the world– Predestined us to adoption as sons by Christ to

Himself– Made us “accepted in the Beloved”– Redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of

sins– Made known the mystery of His will– Gave us a part in the inheritance– Sealed us with the Holy Spirit of promise

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• Object of Praise: God (1:3)• The Nature of the Blessings: Spiritual (1:3)• The Source & Present Location of Spiritual

Blessings: The Heavenly Places in Christ (1:3)– 1:3, 20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12

• Location of the Election: In Christ (1:4)• Time of the Election: Before the Foundation of the

World (1:4)• Object of the Election: That we should be holy

and without blemish before Him in Love (1:4)– Ephesians 5:27; Colossians 1:22-23

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• Spiritual Adoption (1:5)– Predestined…through Jesus Christ– According to the good pleasure of His will– To the praise of the the glory of His grace• “wherein He hath made us accepted”

• Redemption: forgiveness of sins– Through His blood– The forgiveness of sins– According to the riches of His grace

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• Redemption: The Display of Divine Wisdom– He lavished His grace on us– He made known the mystery of His will– According to His good pleasure– Which He purposed in Christ

• The Fullness of the times– All things summed up in Christ– A special relationship• Col. 1:15-20; cf., Eph. 1:22-23; Matt. 28:18; Phil. 2:9-10;

Rev. 5:13

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• God’s Heritage– We receive an inheritance– We are God’s heritage—His private possession– According to His purpose and the counsel of His

will– That we should be to the praise of His glory– Israelites– Gentiles

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• Sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise– Completion– Authentication– Ownership – Security– Confirmation– 2 Timothy 2:19– Ephesians 4:30-32– Verification that God is true—John 3:33-32– 2 Corinthians 1:20-22

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• The Holy Spirit is God’s Pledge of Our Heritage– Earnest, pledge, guarantee– 2 Corinthians 1:22– 2 Corinthians 5:5– Romans 8:16-17

• We are His possession– He has redeemed us

• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

– Preserved for Himself• 1 Peter 2:9• Hebrews 10:39