[:en]Our Daily Verse (1/7/20)[:]

[:en]SCRIPTURE:  EPHESIANS  1

“For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.  In love, He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ in accordance with His pleasure and will” (Ephesians 1:4-5)

“In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding” (Ephesians 1: 7-8)

There are five major cities in the Roman Empire, namely:  Ephesus, Rome, Corinth, Antioch and Alexandria.  Ephesus was an important commercial, political and religous center with the temple of Greek goddess  Artemis located there.  Paul called the Ephesian believers “faithful followers of Christ Jesus” because they had hold fast to their faith.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ:

  1. Redemption through His blood the forgiveness of sins (v. 7)
  2. Riches of God’s grace with all wisdom and understanding (v. 8)
  3. Made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Christ (v. 9)
  4. Bring all things in heaven and on earth together under our head, even Christ (v. 10)
  5. Chosen to predestined according to His plan and purpose of His will (v. 11)
  6. Be the first to hope in Christ (v. 12)
  7. Marked in Him with a seal the promise of the Holy Spirit (v. 13)
  8. A guaranteed inheritance  to those who believe in Him (v. 14)

Paul’s Prayer:

  1. That the glorious Father may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation that you may know Him better (v. 17)
  2. That the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (v. 18)
  3. Tthat you may receive incomparable great power of His mighty strength for us who believe (v. 19)

Lesson:  God chose us and adopted us as His own children because of His infinite love and mercy.  He predestined us to be His children through Christ according to His plan and will.  His sacrifice had brought us into His family and guaranteed us witht the promise of the Holy Spirit.  The presence of the Holy Spirit demonstrates the genuineness of our faith and secures eternal life for us.  Are you willing to receive His gift of salvation?

 

 

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