“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.” (Eph 1:3)

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints in

Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Eph 1:1-2)

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, [they’re His

leaders] second prophets, [i.e., O.T. kind …] third teachers [i.e., pastors – so

we’re under them], then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of

healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and

those speaking in different kinds of tongues.” (1 Cor 12:27-28)

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 to be adopted as his

sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the

praise of his glorious grace, which he has given us in the One he loves.”

(Eph 1:3-6)

“What good will it be for a man if he gains the

whole world, but forfeits his soul?” (Matt 16:26)

“If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be

pitied more than all men.” (1 Cor 15:19)

“he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through

Jesus Christ” (v.5); “In him we have redemption” (v.7); “his glorious grace which

he has freely given us in the One he loves” (v.6); “in him we were also chosen”

(v.11); “you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit” (v.13b) …

“when* you heard the word of truth, the gospel

of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked … “ (Eph 1:13a)

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the

forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” (Eph 1:7)

“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in

his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his

heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” (Lk 6:45)

“ … that he lavished on us

with all wisdom and understanding.” (Eph 1:8)

And 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 will have reached their fulfillment, to bring all

things in heaven and earth together under one head, even Christ. (Eph 1:9-10)

In him [there it is again] we were also chosen, [not apart from

Him, but in Him] having been predestined according to the plan of him who

works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we,

who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And

you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of

your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the

promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the

redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.” (Eph

1:11-14)

“Each one should use whatever gift he has

received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various

forms.” (1 Pet 4:10)

“You received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry ‘Abba, Father’. The

Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Rom

8:15-16)

“If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation;

the old has gone, the new has come.” (2 Cor 5:17)