In Ephesians 1, Paul reveals the divine blueprint of salvation, a plan devised before the foundation of the world, designed to assemble a holy and blameless body of believers. In the first half of Ephesians, Paul delves into the theological underpinnings of this body, while in the latter half, he turns to its practical outworking. At the core of this discussion, particularly in Ephesians 1:4-6a, lies the essence of why God created the church and, consequently, why you and I are a part of this marvelous construction.
Why You Were Saved
The Divine Blueprint and Our Place Within it
April 14, 2024 • Matthew Allen • Ephesians 1:4–6
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Predestined to be Adopted
Redeemed by Blood
April 28, 2024 • Matthew Allen • Ephesians 1:6–10
If you look for the best summary of God’s plan for redeeming mankind from sin, Ephesians 1:3-14 is where to look. Verses 4-6a show us what God did in the past in order to secure our redemption. Today we’re looking at the present aspect of this plan. What method would God use to move us toward holiness and blamelessness? The answer is redemption.
Your Ultimate Destiny
April 21, 2024 • Matthew Allen • Ephesians 1:3–6
Probably one of the most frustrating things in the world is the feeling that your life is going nowhere. Have you ever been there? It can be a deep rut to pull out of. You were not made to live without a destiny. God made you; he designed you to be sustained by a meaningful, purposeful future. We were made to be sustained by a purposeful future. We were made to live with the assurance of a significant destiny. I want us to think about our eternal destiny and connect it with the word “predestined” in Ephesians 1.5.
Before the Foundation of the World
April 7, 2024 • Matthew Allen • Ephesians 1:3–4
Ephesians is built around the church as the body of Christ. 1:22-23 says Jesus is the head of the body, manifesting His will through the body's function. The church is not an organization—it is people. In Ephesians 1, Paul goes back into eternity past to show that God master-planned the church before the world began.