7 In union with him, through the shedding of his blood, we are set free — our sins are forgiven; this accords with the wealth of the grace 8 he has lavished on us. In all his wisdom and insight 9 he has made known to us his secret plan, which by his own will he designed beforehand in connection with the Messiah 10 and will put into effect when the time is ripe — his plan to place everything in heaven and on earth under the Messiah’s headship.
11 Also in union with him we were given an inheritance, we who were picked in advance according to the purpose of the One who effects everything in keeping with the decision of his will, 12 so that we who earlier had put our hope in the Messiah would bring him praise commensurate with his glory.
13 Furthermore, you who heard the message of the truth, the Good News offering you deliverance, and put your trust in the Messiah were sealed by him with the promised Ruach HaKodesh, 14 who guarantees our inheritance until we come into possession of it and thus bring him praise commensurate with his glory.[Compete Jewish Bible]
Blessed us in Christ ... chose us in Christ ... destined us for adoption through Jesus Christ—all according to the good pleasure of his will. What amazing words for us to hear! That it made God happy to bless us in Christ, to choose us in Christ and to destine us for adoption through Christ. That God wanted to bless us in Christ, choose us in Christ and destine us for adoption through Christ. That it was God's plan to bless us in Christ, choose us in Christ and destine us for adoption through Jesus Christ. In a world that condemns us, rejects us and isolates us in fear, what good news it is to hear that in Christ God is not taking part in such actions. Instead it is God's will that we know we are loved and wanted and made part of a family. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ!
What beauty there is, O Lord, in your glorious graciousness. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. So I humbly bow and give you thanks from the bottom of my heart. Amen.
Krista Vingelis
Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church of Porterville, Calif.
Master of Divinity , 2006
Ephesians 1:3 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,
4 just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love.
5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight
9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ,
10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will,
12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory.
13 In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit;
14 this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory.[New Revised Standard Version]
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