To God's Holy People in Ephesus

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

To God's Holy People in Ephesus

Date: Aug. 17, 2016

Passage

Ephesians 1:1-6 (ESV)

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.

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.

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Daily Bread

Introduction to Ephesians

Key Verse: 1:1

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:

First, grace and peace to you from God our Father (1-2). Paul, as an apostle of Jesus Christ, had been sent to Ephesus to share the gospel. Through this gospel they became God's holy people. He had served them, but they belong to God, who makes them holy. He serves them, blessing them with grace and peace from God.

Second, every spiritual blessing in Christ (3-6). Paul was in prison, but he was not somber. He praises God who blesses us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. He chose us before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. We were lost and slaves to sin, but God predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ. Now, knowing his deep grace, pleasure and will, we are free to live by his glorious grace, as God's own children.

Prayer: Father, thank you for choosing me to be your holy people. Let me praise you for your blessings every day

One Word: chosen to be holy

God’s Wrath and Justice

Revelation 6:1-17

Key Verse: 6:17

for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Today's Question

What does God require from us to escape His anger and curse, which we deserve for our sin?

See answer and references