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Oh, Sweet Mystery!
Doug Hibbard / General Adult
Ephesians 1:3–14
Context: Where does this fit in the Big Picture of God's Glory?
Ephesus: religions; cultures
Mystery religions; oppositions to the Gospel
There’s a mess.
Paul does not write a letter addressing those problems. He doesn’t talk about the religious chaos. The sexual chaos. The corruptible government.
He leads with Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.”
Overview: What's going on here?
Ephesians 1:3–14 NET 2nd ed.
Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.
For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him in love.
He did this by predestining us to adoption as his legal heirs through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will—
to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our offenses, according to the riches of his grace
that he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight.
He did this when he revealed to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ,
toward the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ—the things in heaven and the things on earth.
In Christ we too have been claimed as God’s own possession, since we were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will
so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, would be to the praise of his glory.
And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)—when you believed in Christ—you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit,
who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.
Overview: What's going on here?
Now, let’s shake that fear of the word “Predestining” you saw in verse 5. It’s a Bible word, shows up in Acts and 3 of Paul’s letters, always in reference to God’s power and grace together at work in the world. You don’t have to be afraid of predestination if you’re not afraid of God’s grace.
now....that does not mean people don’t misunderstand God’s work and word and explain ‘predestining’ wrongly.
Let’s not get distracted: the real emphasis here: the grandeur and majesty of God.
Note the opening in worship: “BLESSED IS THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!” this is the opening phrase of what is one really long sentence. There are three major parts of this sentence.
The blessing in worship of God the Father is the first part. Look at these verses again:
Ephesians 1:3–6 NET 2nd ed.
Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.
For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him in love.
He did this by predestining us to adoption as his legal heirs through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will—
to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son.
The Father has always intended to redeem us. Focus on that truth: He has done this, not because He had an obligation but He finds pleasure in it. God has feelings about you and they are good feelings. And His desire predates His creation of the world; before Genesis 1:1, The Father took pleasure in bringing salvation to you.
What the Son has done is the second part.
Ephesians 1:7–12 NET 2nd ed.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our offenses, according to the riches of his grace
that he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight.
He did this when he revealed to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ,
toward the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ—the things in heaven and the things on earth.
In Christ we too have been claimed as God’s own possession, since we were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will
so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, would be to the praise of his glory.
For many of the Ephesians, the Cross, Resurrection, and Ascension had taken place in their own lifetimes; at least in their parent’s lifetimes. Either way, Jesus, God the Son, bought the salvation that we needed. He made the Father’s plan actionable and completed.
The present presences of the Holy Spirit is the third part of the sentence.
Ephesians 1:13–14 NET 2nd ed.
And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)—when you believed in Christ—you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit,
who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.
Our present reality is that we are in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit. We have the grace of God in our life and guarantee going into eternity.
Reflection: Why does this matter?
The “mystery” of life is fully revealed: you were created to be God’s own possession.
Expectations: What do we do about it?
Salvation: come to faith
Believers: stop rejecting the grace of God
Church: Do what is involved in praising God; help people set their hope on Christ.
Exported from Logos Bible Study, 4:29 PM July 21, 2025.
