Welcome to Studies with Stearman.

Join us as we look deeper into the Bible.

Strengthen your faith with us, even as we see the day approaching.

And now, here's Gary.

I wanted to, as nearly as possible, not clarify difficult terms like choosing or election

or foreordination or predestination.

I don't want to clarify those terms because God knows we can't clarify them.

We don't have big enough minds to wrap around those. But what we can do is understand our

relationship with God in terms of those very difficult concepts. Starting with the second sentence

in verse three, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all

spiritual blessings in heavenly places Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual

blessings in heavenly places in Christ, according as He hath chosen us in Him before the

foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will,

to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved,

in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace,

wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.

There's an odd word, prudence.

We'll look at that today.

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure which he hath

purposed in himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather

together in one all things in Christ,

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