The Blessings of the Father
What is true wealth in Christ?
Paul begins Ephesians reminding the people of that Church that they were chosen by the Father, ransomed by the Son, and reborn by the Holy Spirit. Evidently they needed a reminder of how much they had been blessed so that they could focus on that rather than on what they didn’t have or had lost. Living with this focus is true wealth, how do we do that?
Scripture
Ephesians 1:1-6 ESV 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. 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 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 to himself 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.
Bible Study Questions
What is true wealth, true value?
We have already received every spiritual and heavenly blessing in Jesus Christ from God our Father. Why are these blessings so much more valuable than any amount of material wealth?
Ephesians 1:3 ESV 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,
Corinthians 4:17-18 ESV For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Matthew 6:19-21 ESV “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
1 Timothy 6:9-10 ESV But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Chosen by the Father for eternal life, not overlooked
The first spiritual blessing is knowing that God chose us. Why does this matter so much, why is it so much more wonderful than us having chosen Him?
Ephesians 1:4 even as he chose us in him
John 15:16 ESV You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
John 6:44 ESV No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
Romans 8:28-30 ESV And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Chosen right upfront, not an after-thought
Why is it important to remember that we were chosen by the Father before the world even existed? How is this knowledge a spiritual blessing?
Ephesians 1:4b before the foundation of the world,
2 Timothy 1:9 ESV who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,
Chosen and saved for something, not just from something
The third spiritual blessing is knowing that the Father chose us to make us holy and blameless for Him. What is the difference between “being saved from” and “being saved for”?
Ephesians 1:4c that we should be holy and blameless before him
Colossians 1:21-23 ESV And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Chosen for Adoption, not abandoned
Adoption differs from natural birth in that parents who adopt know something of the child before choosing to make them them their own. What does the knowledge of this adoption do to our understanding of the blessings given us by the Father?
Ephesians 1:4d-5a ESV In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ,
Galatians 4:4-7 ESV But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Given true and lasting purpose, not futility
God the Father chose to adopt us according to the purpose of His will. His purposes are always accomplished. Knowing that God will accomplish everything He has planned by choosing us is the fifth spiritual blessing. Why is knowing that we have a lasting purpose so important for us?
Ephesians 5:b ESV according to the purpose of his will,
Isaiah 46:9-10 ESV remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
The blessing of Praise
The purpose of God for us is that we would glorify Him. What happens when we praise God for His grace, who actually benefits from our praises, and how is praising God related to the use of the wealth He’s given us by His grace.
Ephesians 1:6 ESV to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
Isaiah 43:7 ESV everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
Isaiah 43:21 ESV the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.
Colossians 1:12-14 ESV giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.