(Eph 1:8) “Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;” The thought here is not the giving of wisdom and prudence unto us, but the manifestation of God’s wisdom and prudence, based on His foreknowledge that predestined Christ to carry out what seemed the impossible – the salvation of sinful men and women! Glory to His Name!

(Eph 1:3) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”  There are two ways of looking at this passage – both doctrinally correct.  First, the source of all spiritual blessings are through Jesus Who sits in the heavens at this very moment. The second is that these blessings are all ours now awaiting us, as in the mind of God that we are already there, (Eph 2:6) “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” Either way they are ours!

(Eph 1:7) “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”  One might overlook the means by which the Lord can bestow grace, unmerited favor, upon an individual. It is because of the merit of another, God’s Son, whose blood paid for our sins. So, that means came at a great cost!

(Eph 1:7) “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”  I don’t hear much today about “asking the Lord to forgive us”. If I offend someone, I do not expect them to automatically forgive me. I ask their forgiveness. This is the idea behind repentance. It is a change of attitude toward sin (I don’t wish to do this again) that leads me to ask the Lord’s forgiveness, thus not punishing me for that sin. He can rightly and justly do so because His Son paid for that sin on Calvary’s cross.

(Eph 1:7) “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”  Redemption – to be bought back. It is so easy to blame Adam and Eve for our predicament. But the truth is, I sold my soul to Satan through my willful act of sin. The Lord Jesus loves me so much, He was willing to purchase me back by paying the ultimate price – shedding His blood in my place!

(Eph 1:6) “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”  I have been saved now for 45 years. When I first came to the Lord Jesus I had nothing to offer but a sinful heart and mind. I was accepted in the beloved. Today I still have nothing to merit this great salvation. I stand still today accepted in the Beloved!

(Eph 1:6) “ To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”  Let the sin forgiven, born again Child of God give the Lord glory for His grace upon you! Grace – favor bestowed but not deserved. That is true of me and my life! Praise Him for His grace upon my life!

(Eph 1:5) “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”   We have each heard it said, “We (meaning every person in the world) are all God’s children.” Not so! The Lord Jesus said of the Jews, “Ye are your father the devil”. We are adopted into God’s family at the point of our salvation experience. The word, “adopted”, states by implication: “I was once not of His family, but He has brought me into it”! Praise His Name!

(Eph 1:5) “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”  The predestination here is not referring to the individual, but to the means “by Jesus Christ” as verses 3 & 4 attest. The Lord desires each of us to respond to His act of sacrifice and love to the suffering and death of His Son. He never makes a person love Him. Do you? Will you?

(1Ti 1:2)  “Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.”  “Grace” – favor bestowed but not deserved; “Mercy” instead of what is deserved which is judgment; and “peace” with the One that was offended – God.