Seventh Day Baptist
Christian Education Council
PO BOX 1678
Janesville, WI 53547
—Ephesians 1:3-14
by: Jerry Johnson.
These twelve verses are actually one extended sentence in the Greek—an expansion of Romans 8:28-30. Each person in the Trinity is praised; the Father has chosen us (vs. 4-6); the Son has redeemed us (vs. 7-12); and the Spirit has sealed us (vs. 13-14). Paul used a great deal of care in showing us that salvation is not something that we initiate. There are several phrases here that have been the subject heavy scrutiny for centuries. Wherever you stand on the extent of God’s sovereignty in salvation, also notice salvation’s purpose that those who trust Christ should be “to the praise of His glory.”