“
Blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly
places in Christ:
According
as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before him in love:
Having
predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,
according to the good pleasure of his will,
To
the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the
beloved.
In
whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according
to the riches of his grace;
Wherein
he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Having
made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure
which he hath purposed in himself:
That
in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all
things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in
him:
In
whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the
purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
That
we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
In
whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy
Spirit of promise,
Which
is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased
possession, unto the praise of his glory.” ~ Ephesians 1:3-14
“Ephesians 1:3-14 recounts in exalted language the saving
work of God in Christ from his electing purpose and the forgiveness of sins to
the gift of the Spirit. God’s salvation,
is not, however, his ultimate work.
Three times Paul explains that the redemptive benefits are for the
praise of the glories of God’s grace (Ephesians 1:6,12,14). God chooses,
redeems, and sanctifies so that he will be honored for his grace.” ~ Thomas
Schreiner
Schreiner, Thomas. New Testament Theology: Magnifying God
in Christ. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2008. 146. Print.
