1-6 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
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.
*****
It is God who calls us to HIMSELF and sets us into the body of Christ and causes us to be accepted into the body of Christ as the body of Christ.
After I was born again, I went through a time where I felt inferior, ill equipped to be in the church group. God used this scripture in Ephesians 1 to show me my feeling was incorrect. HE hath made us accepted in the beloved.
During those weeks, I kept this scripture before me day and night, thinking on this truth which was from God.
Only God can make us accepted in the church and HE does.
*****
7-10 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:
*****
11-14 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.
*****
Having the Holy Spirit in us is the "earnest" guaranteeing to us God's purpose for us in the inheritance of the saints.
When you negotiate to purchase a house, you usually have to be willing to put a down payment, earnest money, showing your sincere intent toward going through to the end with buying that house.
The Holy Spirit given us is God's earnest toward us showing us HIS intention toward us.
The Holy Spirit is given to each member of the body of Christ.
The Holy Spirit:
- teaches us all things
- reminds us of all Jesus has said
- guides us into all truth
- shows us things to come
John 14:26 & John 16:13
Acts 1:5 Jesus said ... For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
We also today receive power after the Holy Spirit is come upon us. The Holy Spirit rises up in us at specific times to speak powerful words through us. The Holy Spirit also reminds us of a scripture, a dream, or gives us a word to show us the will of God in the issues of this present life. I Corinthians 2
*****
15-23 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of HIM:
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of HIS calling, and what the riches of the glory of HIS inheritance in the saints,
And what is the exceeding greatness of HIS power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of HIS mighty power,
Which HE wrought in Christ, when HE raised him from the dead, and set HIM at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
And hath put all things under HIS feet, and gave HIM to be the head over all things to the church,
Which is HIS body, the fulness of HIM that filleth all in all.
*****