{ A look at the Blessings that Make up our Spiritual Wealth Scripture Reading: Eph 1:4-14

 He chose us (vs 4)  The sinner, left to his own ways, does not seek God  Rom 3:10-11 “ 10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.”  It is God through His love who seeks the sinner  Mt 18:11 “ 11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. ”  Lk 19:10 “ 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”  Does the sinner respond To God’s grace against his free will?  No it is the recognition of God’s love and grace that makes man willing to respond  Gal 2:20 “ 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. “ Blessings from God the Father

 He has adopted us (vs 5)  Adoption is the legal declaration that one is God’s child with all it’s rights, privileges, and duties  This verse contains the often misused term predestined  This word is primarily used for what God does for those who are saved  Nowhere do we see the statement that people are predestined to Hell, this is because the term is used only when referring to God’s people  Predestined simply means: to ordain beforehand, or predetermine and really deals with the idea of “purposes” rather than “people”  The events connected with Christ’s crucifixion were predestined (Acts 4:25-28)  God predestined our adoption (Eph 1:5) and our conformity to Christ (Rom 8:29-30) as well as our future inheritance (Eph 1:11)  Important note: one does not get into God’s family by adoption, but through the new birth acquired through baptism, then we are adopted (Jn 3:1-18) Blessings from God the Father

 He has redeemed us (vs 7a)  To redeem means: to purchase and set free by paying a price  The price paid was His blood  1 Pet 1:18-19 “ 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”  This redemptions means:  We are free from slavery to sin (Rom 6)  We are free from the power of Satan and the world  Rom 8:38-39 “ 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  If we were slaves we would be poor, but because we are children, we are rich! Blessings from God the Son

 He has forgiven us (vs 7b)  The word forgive means: to carry away  Christ died to carry away our sins so they may be remembered no more  Ps 103:12 “ 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”  Is 43:25 “ 25 “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.  Jn 1:29 “ 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”  No written accusation stands against the Christian because his sins have been washed away  Sin made man poor, but grace and forgiveness made him rich Blessings from God the Son

 He revealed God’s will to us (vs 8-10)  This letter has much to say about God’s plan for His people  The word “mystery” does not have to do with anything “eerie” but rather a sacred secret, once hidden, but now revealed to God’s people  Ever since man was created, things have started falling apart  Man was separated from God (Gen 3)  Man was separated from man as Cain killed Abel (Gen 4)  People tried to maintain unity by building the Tower of Babel but God judged and scattered them across the world  Sin has been tearing everything apart, but in Christ, God will gather everything together in the culmination of time  God’s revealed will shows us what we must do to be saved and the riches we will receive in Heaven Blessings from God the Son

 He has prepared us an inheritance (vs 11-12)  In Christ we have a wonderful inheritance  1 Pet 1:1-4 “1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,” Blessings from God the Son

 He has sealed us (vs 13)  The entire process of salvation is given in this verse  First a sinner hears the Gospel message (1 Cor 15:1-5)  After hearing the Word, the Ephesians believed and responded  Upon this believe and response, they were sealed with the Holy Spirit  The idea of sealing represents a finished transaction  Today when important legal documents are processed, they are stamped with a seal to signify the completion of the transaction  This sealing implies ownership  God placed His seal upon us because He purchased us to be His own (1 Cor 6:19-20)  A seal is also used as a mark of authenticity  Just as a signature on a letter asserts the genuineness of the document, so the presence of the Spirit proves the believer is genuine (Rom 8:9) Blessings from God the Holy Spirit

 He is the guarantee of our inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased possession (vs 14)  The term: “the redemption of the purchased possession” refers to the redemption of the body at the return of Christ  Rom 8:18-23 “ 18 For I consider 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 creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.”  Redemption is experienced in three stages  We have been redeemed through faith in Christ Jesus (Eph 1:7)  We are being redeemed as the Spirit works within our lives to make us more Christ like (Rom 8:1-4)  We shall be redeemed when Christ returns and we become like Him Blessings from God the Holy Spirit

 True riches come from God  All of the riches come by God’s grace and are for God’s glory  These riches are only the beginning  The Bible is our guide book  The Holy Spirit is our Teacher  As we search the Word of God we discover more and more of the riches we have in Christ  These riches were planned by the Father, purchased by the Son, and presented by the Spirit  There is no need for us to live in Spiritual poverty when all of God’s riches are at our disposal Conclusion