Christ is our Hope

The Father’s Plan

Christ our Hope

Read Ephesian 1:3-6

God does not play favorites (see Romans 2:11). He does not wish for anyone to perish, but for all to come to a saving knowledge of Christ Jesus (see 2 Peter 3:9).

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The Theology of Chosen vs. Predestined

 * The doctrine of election (God chooses His people)

 * The doctrine of predestination (God decides the purpose for His people)

 * The doctrine of free will (where God gives all people the choice to follow Him)

God’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are high than our thoughts. In Christ all things are possible, including both election and free will.

Diving Deeper

When did God choose us in Christ?

Why did God want to adopt us as His children?

In Paul’s day adopted children had the same legal rights as any other son or daughter, which included the rights to their father’s inheritance. Knowing you are a joint heir with Jesus, how might you live differently?

Have you ever wrestled with the notion of God’s “chosen ones”? how do you reconcile this paradoxical truth in your own words? (T read more about the scriptural truth of election see Romans 8:29-30 and John 6:44. To read more about the scriptural truth of free will, see John 3:16, 1 Timothy 2:1-4, and 2 Peter 3:9).

Write it out – Write out Ephesians 1:3-6, the portion that speaks of our inheritance from God the Father.

Read Ephesians 1:7-12

Jesus said He gave His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28), that word ransom would have gotten everyone’s attention! Perhaps we don[t think of ourselves as slaves, but Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (John 8:34 NLT).

In God’s economy, we owed, He paid. Jesus gave Ahis life as a ransom. For all slaves. For all sinners. For all of us. We are redeemed. We are forgiven we are freed from sin. And Christ’s righteousness is imparted to us. This is part of our inheritance through God the Son.

Diving Deeper

With what did Christ purchase our redemption?

Why is our hope in Christ?

In God’s economy, we owed, He paid.

Write it out – today when we out Ephesians 1:7-12, let’s pause and remember the sacrifice Jesus made to pay our ransom and set us free.

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for choosing me to live with You forever. Help me to remember that You chose me before the creation of the world, and Your desire is for every person to know You.

Thank You, Jesus, for paying my ransom with Your blood. I could never pay my debt of sin, but You paid my debt on my behalf. Words alone cannot fully express my gratitude, but I give You my life, and I devote the rest of my days to praising You, for You are worthy of all praise and glory. Amen.



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Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!

From Word Writers Ephesians by  Denise J. Hughes