The document discusses key themes and concepts in the book of Ephesians, including that all spiritual blessings are found only in Christ. It notes that the book of Ephesians emphasizes that Christ is the head of the church, and the church is Christ's beloved bride. Key points discussed include that believers are chosen in Christ, adopted as God's children, accepted in Christ, redeemed and forgiven through Christ's blood, and obtain an inheritance as heirs with Christ. All of this was part of God's divine plan fulfilled through Christ.

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2.  The book of Ephesians is Paul’s essay on
the church belonging to Jesus Christ, the
glorious bride of Christ, the most
precious institution on earth today.
 The word “church” occurs nine times in
the letter (1:22; 3:10,21; 5:23,24,25,27,
29,32). The term “body” (referring to
the church) occurs nine more times
(1:23; 2:16; 3:6; 4:4, 12, 16 (twice); 5:23,
30).
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3.  Christ - the head of the church, 1:22; 5:23.
 The fullness of Christ, 1:22, 23.
 God’s manifold wisdom - 3:10.
 God is glorified in it - 3:21.
 There is one body or church - 4:4.
 Christ loves her - 5:23.
 Christ is the savior of it - 5:23.
 Christ gave himself for it, 5:25.
 It is to be holy and without blemish, 5:27.
 It shall be presented to Christ - 5:27.
 Is the beloved bride of Christ, 5:31, 32.
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4.  To the saints & faithful IN
CHRIST – (1)
 Those in Christ are recipients
of grace & peace – (2)
 Blessed Father of our Lord,
[praise be to God] – (3)
 ALL spiritual blessings are in
Christ – (3)
 Heavenly places - where all
Christians have their
citizenship. Cf. Phil.3:20.
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5.  “That we should be holy and
without blemish before God,”
– (1:4; cf. 5:27).
 “That we should be to the
praise of the glory of his
grace,” – (1:6,12,14)
 “That…he might gather
together in one all things in
Christ, both which are in
heaven, and which are on
earth,” – (1:10)
The Purpose of the
Spiritual Blessings:
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6.  The “elect” are those “in
Christ” – The chosen one is
Jesus – (Isaiah 42:1) -
 Election in Christ must be
understood as the election of
God’s people, thus corporate in
nature. – (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9)
 All who choose by faith to be
baptized into Christ will be
counted among the chosen –
(Rom. 6:3-6; 16,17; Gal. 3:26,27; 1
Cor. 12:13)
“He chose us in him,” 1:4
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7.  Those to whom Paul spoke
were in the sphere chosen
“Before the foundation of the
world,” i.e. IN HIM – (cf. 1
Tim.1:9; 1 Pet. 1:18-21 ).
 God chose the character of
those chosen in Christ - (Cf. Mat
5:3-10; Rom 12:1, 2; 2 Cor
6:17,18; 7:1; 1 Thes 5:21-24; Tit
2:11,12; 1 Pet 1:15,16; 1 John 1:7;
Rev 2:10; 1 Cor 13:1-8; Gal 5:6; 1
Cor 16:14).
“He chose us in him,” 1:4
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8.  God predetermined the
“boundaries” of His spiritual
kingdom – (1:10; 3:11)
 “US” - Paul was writing to
those who had entered that
sphere by their own free will by
being born again – (1:1; Ac 19:1-
10; John 3:3-5; Gal 3:26-29; 1 Pet
1:22,23)
 The invitation is open to all -
(Mat 11:28-30; John 3:16; 6:44,
45; 1 Tim 2:3-6; Rev 22:17)
“Adoption as Sons” 1:5
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9.  All of God’s children in Christ,
i.e. the church, by virtue of
what Jesus accomplished –
(Acts 2:47; Gal 3:26-29)
 Those in Christ have been
reconciled to God – (Eph. 2:16;
Rom 5:10; 2 Cor 5:18; Col 1:21,22)
 All of this is accomplished
“according to the good
pleasure of His (God’s) will,” -
(cf. Eph 1:9; Phili 2:13; 2 Thes
1:11).
“Adoption as Sons” 1:5
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10.  God’s grace is worthy of
commendation and exaltation –
which was manifested in the
sacrifice of Jesus – (1:10; Tit 3:3-
5; Rom 5:6-8,11)
 It is by God’s grace that
“acceptance” in Christ is made
available – (2:1-9)
 This grace that brings salvation
has appeared to all men -
(Titus 2:11,12; John 3:16; 2 Pet
3:9; 1 Tim 2:4)
“Accepted In Christ” 1:6
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11.  Redemption, refers to
deliverance or a releasing from
bondage or setting one free by
paying a ransom. – (John 8:34 cf.
Rom. 7:14; 3:23)
 We have redemption ONLY
through his (Christ’s) blood -
(Mat 20:28; 26:28; Acts 20:28;
Rom 3:23-26; 1 Cor 6:20; Gals
3:13; 4:5; Col 1:13,14; 1 Timothy
2:5,6; 1 Pet 1:18-20; 2 Peter 2:1)
“Redemption &
Forgiveness” 1:7,8
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12.  We are Redeemed by virtue of
being forgiven - (Col. 1:14; 3:23)
 Our sins are forgiven, washed
away, cut away when we are
by faith baptized into Christ -
(Acts 2:38; 22:16; Col. 2:11-13)
 Is “according to the riches of
his grace,” so freely granted to
us that it abounds – (3:20,21;
Rom 5:15-21; 2 Cor 9:8; Phili
4:13; Col 1:9-12; 2:2-10)
“Redemption &
Forgiveness” 1:7,8
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13.  A key point of the epistle -
(1:18,19; 3:1-6,10)
 What had been a mystery is
now made known in its
completeness through His
apostles and prophets in
accordance with God’s good
pleasure - (John 16:13; Rom
16:25-27; Col. 1:26-28; 1 Cor
2:10-12)
 As He had purposed – (3:11)
“Having Made Known To
Us The Mystery” 1:9,10
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14.  “That,” as v.10 affirms, “in the
dispensation of the fullness of
times” (this dispensation when
God sent forth his Son, made of
woman, made under the law,
etc., Galatians 4:4,5; 1 Pet 1:20),
 “He might gather together in
one all things in Christ…”
under the headship of Christ
(1:22,23; cf. 2:15; 3:15; Col.
1:19,20; 2:9,10).
“Having Made Known To
Us The Mystery” 1:9,10
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15.  “In whom also we were made a
heritage, (ASV) – (cf. v. 12,18) -
“We (both Jews and Gentiles) are
made the heritage of God
Himself in Christ.”
 We are thus heirs with Christ
having obtained “an
inheritance“ in Him– (Acts
26:18; Gal 4:7; Mark 10:30; Titus
1:2; Rom 8:24, 25; 1 Peter 1:3-5, 9;
1 John 2:25)
“Obtained An Inheritance”
1:11-14
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16.  This was no after-thought, but
was according to God’s plan
and purpose “in Christ before
the foundation of the world,” -
(1:4; Isa. 46:10; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1
Peter 1:18-20).
 “That we (Jewish Christians, or
apostles in contrast with the “you”
of 13), should be a people
devoted to the praise of his
glory.” – (Acts 3:26; Rom 1:16)
“Obtained An Inheritance”
1:11-14
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17.  “In whom you also” (you also
were included in Christ - [NIV]
Gentile or every other believer) –
(2:11,12; Col. 1:21-23; 1 Pet. 2:10)
 “Having heard [ASV]” - It’s
through the gospel that we receive
the inheritance – (Mark 16:15,16;
Jam 1:18-25; 2 Thes 2:13,14; Rom.
1:16,17; Acts 8:30-39)
 “Having believed” = Bapt. B. -
(Acts 16:34; Gal 3:26,27)
“Obtained An Inheritance”
1:11-14
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18.  In whom . . . “You were sealed
with the Holy Spirit of
promise” - Identified as
belonging to God -(4:30; 2 Cor.
1:22 ASV; cf. Rom. 8:14-17)
 Denotes “ownership and security,
together with destination . . .
[occurred] at the time of their
regeneration”—Vine‘s –
 When does one become
identified as a child of God?
“Obtained An Inheritance”
1:11-14
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19.  “Who is the guarantee ” (ASV
says “which is . . .”) – Gal. 4:4-7
 A “pledge,” “an assurance,
pledge or guarantee of
something that would be
forthcoming, not “a down
payment” or “partial payment”
for something - (Gen.38:15-20 )
 This guarantee is given BY the
Spirit –2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5 –ASV -
“the earnest of the Spirit”
“Obtained An Inheritance”
1:11-14
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20.  While all material blessings also
come from God - James 1:17;
Matthew 5:45; Genesis 8:22.
 All spiritual blessings are found only
in Christ, given only to those who
are in Christ, and are of much
greater value to us than the
material - Matthew 16:24-26.
 In view of that, the spiritual should
be appreciated more highly and
sought after more diligently than
the material.
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21. 1. NO spiritual blessings –
2. NOT chosen –
3. NOT children of God –
4. NOT accepted -
5. NO redemption –
6. NO forgiveness –
7. NO heavenly Inheritance
Inside Christ
Saved / Hope
1. ALL spiritual blessings
2. Chosen –
3. A child of God –
4. Accepted –
5. Redeemed –
6. Forgiven –
7. A Heavenly Inheritance
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