Ephesians 1: 3-6

Twenty-fifth Anniversary of Grace Protestant Reformed Church

PRAISING THE GLORY OF GOD’S GRACE

I. The Blessings 

A. We are blessed with all spiritual blessings “in Christ” (3,4,6,710).

1. Every blessing is exclusively in Christ (Acts 4:12); not a single blessing comes from anywhere else than the only Mediator.

2. The blessings are “spiritual” in nature, not earthly, physical, or material.

3. The blessings are “in heavenly places” (20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12).

B. We possess and enjoy these blessings already now, for He “hath blessed us.”

II. The blessings are God’s work of saving unto Himself a people in Jesus Christ.

A. God’s first work (logically, not temporally) is He has “chosen” and “predestinated” (synonyms) us.

B. The heart of election is that the elect are chosen into Christ.

C.The only basis for God’s choosing is “the good pleasure of His will.”

D.The exalted purpose of God’s choosing.

1. One, that we “should be holy and without blame before Him,” i.e., without blemish, fault, or blame.

2. And election puts us into the family of God: spiritual adoption realized in regeneration (conformed to the image of His Son

3. And we are made “accepted in the Beloved.”

III. The result is that we praise God.

A. We bless “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (3).

1. Specifically, He is to be praised as the “Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2. The praise of God is a distinguishing mark of the Christian in this world.

B. We praise “the glory of His grace,” for this is the ultimate goal of divine predestination.

C.God’s marvelous grace must receive all the attention – both now and in eternity.