It’s hot today, so we skip the meet the host segment, The Retrobots help out, as we wait for Nathan to phone in to comment on our main topic. Ambient noise from being out in the breeze causes some background noise, but my noise gate managed to filter some of it. You know how we roll… low tech, and when we can achieve pristine, studio sound we like it. This is one show where we threw that caution to the wind… literally.

Main Topic

Once Nathan’s phone call comes in, we get right into looking at Ephesians 1:1-14.

There’s a lot of heavy hitting topics in such a short span of verses, and it’s important to understand who the audience this message is intended. Blessings, promises, assurances, but these are not blanket promises for all humanity, only those who are the faithful ones.

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

* Written to the saints at Ephesus.

* Saints/Ephesians who are faithful.

* Faithful in Christ. (faithful to the gospel)

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

* God blesses us. (God the father of our lord, our lord Jesus,)

* God the authority to bless, and blessings that can’t be taken by lower authority.

* Blessings to us who are faithful in Christ.

* Blessings from the best heaven has to offer.

* We return those blessings to God in the form of gratitude and praise.

4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

* He (God) chose us. Does this apply to all humanity? No, this is specifically for the elect, the believers.

* God made his choice before creation.

* Restoring people to him,

* Who? He predestined us for adoption.

* How? He predestined adoption through Christ

* According to his will. His will, not ours, or anybody else’.

* What’s his will? To be in him, (Christ). To be holy, blameless, in love.

* Also to praise his (God’s) grace.

* Why? Due to grace, blessings come.

* Blessings to us, who are in him (the beloved, Christ).

* Also grace that is extended to the people groups who have yet to connect, believe, and become the elect. Opportunity to connect to the power, and promise is available, even if not chosen (free will).

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight

9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ

* Christ. in him is redemption (salvation, adoption).

* The price, his blood.

* What it buys. Forgiveness for all sin (transgression). An irrevocable blessing from grace.

* Grace that is lavished on us.

* Grace that unlocks the mystery of God’s purpose.

* Grace that gives wisdom and insight.

* A purpose established with Christ (before creation, for redemption, adoption, to understand how to live well, and love our creator)

10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

A statement that some consider a difficult saying. If only the elect get to claim the kingdom,