Ephesians 1:3

 

Ephesians 1:3

Praise God from Whom all Blessing Flow

 

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: 

 

         1.      Praise God the Father

a.       How can Jesus who is God Himself have a God?

                                                              i.      Christ has a God experientially in order to identify with you and me

1.      Philippians 4:20 

2.      John 20:17 

                                                            ii.      Just like you and me Christ calls out to His God in time of suffering

1.      Matthew 27:46 

                                                          iii.      Christ must submit His will to the Father just like you and me

1.      Luke 22:42 

                                                          iv.      Christ is the perfect representation of His God

1.      John 1:14 

                                                            v.      Christ is the most precious gift God the Father can give us

1.      Romans 8:32 

                                                          vi.      Christ is the path by which we are reconciled back to God

1.      Ephesians 2:16 

        2.      Who through Jesus has blessed us with all spiritual blessings

a.       What kind of blessings do I receive in Christ?

                                                              i.      You are no more a stranger to God

1.      Ephesians 2:19 

                                                            ii.      You have been given immortality

1.      1 Corinthians 15:42-44

                                                          iii.      Nothing has been held back from you

1.      2 Peter 1:3 

         3.      In the heavenly places

a.       Christianity is inherently spiritual, while we may receive physical blessing from God, it is so much more than mere temporal gifts

                                                              i.      Colossians 1:13-14 

Lions & Lambs | John Lovell

Ephesians 1:2

 

Ephesians 1:2

Unlikely Gifts

 

Eph 1:2  Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 

          1.      The Believer has Been Given Grace

a.       When we were born, we were not God’s friend but His enemy

                                                              i.      There is no peace with others when we are at enmity with God

1.      James 4:1-4 

                                                            ii.      Christ died for us when we were His enemy

1.      Romans 5:6-8 

                                                          iii.      The grace given to us in Christ changes who we are

1.      Ephesians 2:1-6 

        2.      The Believer has Been given Peace

a.       Christ’s death and resurrection for us gives us peace with God

                                                              i.      Romans 5:1 

b.      Christ’s death and resurrection brings us back to a unity with God

                                                              i.      Ephesians 2:14-17 

        3.      These Gifts Come from God the Father

a.       We often imagine that God is the one that is angry, and Jesus is the one that is forgiving, but Paul is insistent that the Father and Son are united in the work of our salvation

                                                              i.      John 3:16 

        4.      These Gifts Come from the Lord Jesus Christ

a.       One must recognize the divinity and Lordship of Christ as Savior before one can receive the gifts that the Holy Spirit longs to give us.

                                                              i.      Romans 10:9 

                                                            ii.      1 Corinthians 12:3