Let's get into the Word of God. On Sunday mornings, we're now going through Ephesians,

having completed Galatians chapter by chapter and verse by verse. And our text today is going to be

chapter 1 verses 3 through 14. So I'll have you turn there if you're not there already. And

if you're able, I'll ask you to stand. You can follow along as I read.

If not, that's all right. Beginning in verse three, the Apostle Paul by the Holy Spirit is writing to

the church in Ephesus and says, praise be to the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with

every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in Him before the creation of the world

to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ,

in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us

in the one he loves. In him, verse seven, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he

lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will

according to his good pleasure which he purposed in Christ to be put into

effect when the times reach their fulfillment to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth

under Christ. In him, verse 11, we were also chosen, having been, and here it is again,

predestined, according to the plan of him, who works out everything in conformity with the purpose

of his will in order that we we who were the first to put our hope in

Christ might be for the praise of His glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the

message of the truth, the gospel of your salvation when you believed.

You were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who, verse 14, is a deposit,

an earnest money, a deposit, if you will, guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those

who are God's possession to the praise of His glory. Wow. Wow. Let's close in prayer. Just wow. Let's pray. We won't close, but we'll pray.

Father in heaven. How grand and glorious is your word, O God.

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