1. READ: EPHESIANS 1:1-23
[Ephesians 1:1] "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by
the Will of God,
"To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful [or,
"believers who are"] in Christ Jesus:
[2] "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ.
[3] "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. [4] For He chose us in Him before the
creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In
love [5] He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus
Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and Will-- [6] to the
praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the
One He loves. [7] In Him we have redemption through His blood, the
forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's
grace [8] that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
[9] And He made known to us the mystery of His Will according to
His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, [10] to be put into
effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to
bring all things in heaven and on earth together under One head,
even Christ.
[11] "In Him we were also chosen, [or, "were made
heirs"] having been predestined according to the plan of Him
Who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His
Will, [12] in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ,
might be for the praise of His glory. [13] 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, [14] Who is a deposit guaranteeing
our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's
possession--to the praise of His glory.
[15] "For this reason, ever since I heard about your
faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, [16] I
have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my
prayers. [17] I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and
revelation, so that you may know Him better. [18] I pray also that
the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may
know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His
glorious inheritance in the saints, [19] and His incomparably great
power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His
mighty strength, [20] which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him
from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly
realms, [21] far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,
and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but
also in the one to come. [22] And God placed all things under His
feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church,
[23] which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills everything in
every way."
a. What did God place under Jesus' feet?
b. What did God appoint Jesus to be?
c. What is the church?
