Epistles of Paul 92

Well, good evening, everyone. Paul is writing to the Church in Ephesus from prison, and in Chapter 1, in Verses 1 through 4, Paul, as an apostle of Jesus Christ by God's will, focuses on God's great spiritual blessings. In fact, in this chapter, he highlights how great the spiritual blessings is that God is giving us. And so, he mentions that God has chosen us from the very beginning so that we, all human beings, should ultimately be holy and without blame before him.

Well, when we look at mankind today, that's quite a task. I must admit that. But it just shows God is... he will do a wonderful work to achieve that over a period of time. And in Verse 5, we see that he predestined us. So, he predestined mankind, that for all of mankind, to become ultimately his children. Now, that does not mean, as many people think, that you and I are predestined to be saved or lost. Predestination, as it's explained and as we'll cover it, has to do with when.

When we'll be called and saved. In other words, when we come into God's Church and when we actually accept, make the commitment, become chosen, and therefore receive the Holy Spirit. In other words, when we receive or have the first fruits of the Spirit, as we read in Romans 8, 23. So, that's the act of being called now and chosen and receiving also the Spirit. But that does not mean that we are now born as Spirit beings. In other words, it does not mean that we are already the actual first fruits to God. Now, we have the first fruits of the Spirit, but we will be the first fruits to God at the resurrection, and that is described, for instance, in Romans 14 verse 4. Salvation is therefore a lifelong process.

We could call it a life-saving process, and that process is usually called, we term it, as conversion.

It is a miraculous. It's a process that changes our lives and begins with a calling. God opens our minds to understanding, but it is required that we respond to that calling, that as we learn and we become aware of that calling, for us to commit to do and change, and that our commitment, that is the covenant we make, which we call it the new covenant, which we make at baptism. So that is the first step of that new life as children of God, which has been initiated by the Father. But then we still, after receiving the Holy Spirit, it was after we are quote-unquote fathered from above, or born from above, as we see in John 3 verse 3. It says translated born again, but a better translation would be born from above or fathered from above. The word born in John 3 verse 3 is the Greek word ganau, which could also be translated as begotten, and the word again is from the Greek word anothan, which could be translated as from above. In fact, some Bible margins, some Bible margins, say from above. So we have been fathered from above, we have been gotten from above when we receive God's Holy Spirit upon the lay on our hands, after baptism. So note well that the usage of the term born again, quote-unquote born again, to exclusively apply to when we receive the Holy Spirit, can lead to an incomplete understanding of the conversion process. Therefore, we prefer not to use it because it can give an incorrect understanding. And so it is better to use terms like born from above or begotten again. I like the term begotten again, but it could be begotten from above or fathered from above.

Now, I want to emphasize a couple of key points. We mentioned this last week. I just want to re-emphasize these three simple key points. We receive God's Holy Spirit, which proceeds from the Father.

God's Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father. Then we read in John 15 verse 26.

Then we have that Jesus Christ is the one that baptizes us with the Holy Spirit. We read that in Matthew 3 verse 11. So the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father, and Jesus Christ is the one that then gives us or baptizes us with the Holy Spirit. In other words, he immerses us into the spiritual body of Christ through the power of God. And the third point is that the Holy Spirit itself is the power of God to sanctify us for obedience. And we read that in the previous study, in 2 Peter chapter 1 verses 2 through 4. That is, God's Holy Spirit is the spirit of sanctification for obedience. In other words, it's God's power that helps us to be separate, to be different, to be holy, to be saints with one intent that will become more obedient, will become more like Christ.

So in these three points that I mentioned, the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father. It's Jesus Christ that baptizes us, and the Holy Spirit is the power of God to help us sanctify. We can see the three working together. What I mean the three? The Father, the Son, and the power that proceeds from the Father that's given to us by the Son. The three work together. Now, that is not talking about a Trinity. That is talking about three important activities, let's call it, or part of the process to help us be converted so that ultimately we can be saved and be resurrected as spirit beings. So that's got nothing to do with Trinity. And often there are a number of times in the Bible that we see the Father, Christ, and the Holy Spirit being mentioned together because the three work together. But it does not mean that there are three people. The Father and the Son are two people, and the Holy Spirit is God's power. It's their power, is the essence that helps us to change and become better people.

So in 1 John chapter 3 verse 1, it says that we are now, look at God's love, that we are now called the children of God. 1 John 3 verse 1, that we should now be called the children of God. But the world doesn't understand, doesn't see that, and we're not yet like the Father and the Son are. That we can see in verse 2 because it says, yes, we are now the children of God. In other words, we have been fathered from above, but it has not yet been revealed that the type of spirit beings we will be. In other words, it has not yet been revealed how we'll be a spirit beings. But when Christ comes, that's when He's revealed, as we see in verse 2 of 1 John 3, when Christ comes, we shall be like Him. We shall see Christ and the Father as they are, and will be like they are, spirit beings. You see, but that obviously is conditioned that we remain faithful till the end. You know, we read in Revelation 17 verse 14, it says, those that will be of Christ are called, chosen, and faithful. We have to remain faithful through these days after we receive God's early spirit. Now, this all growth process, growth in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, this growth process continues and provided we remain in this, on this way, on this road. And it says, it's a narrow road, it's a narrow gate, it's a difficult road. You at night know there are many trials, there are many difficulties, and we just have to keep going on. We can't give up, we just have to keep going on.

And we've got to remain faithful till the end. That is the great mystery that Paul explains, for instance, and talks about it in 1 Corinthians 15 verse 51 to 53. 1 Corinthians 15 verse 51 through 53 says, Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, you know, we shall not all die, but we shall all be changed. You know, some of us will be alive at Christ's coming, and we shall be changed, transformed to spirit beings. Verse 52, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, when at the last trumpet, that's that seventh trumpet of the seven trumpets of the book of Revelation, for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible. You know, those that are dead will be changed to spirit being incorruptible, and we that are alive shall be also changed. For this corruptible, our physical body that ages, that gets sick, that has pain, has difficulty, that challenges, this corruptible body must put on a brand new body, an incorruptible body, and this mortal must put on immortality. So we'll have a body which is immortal. So this is a great mystery. This the world does not understand. It's something people don't understand. And as we are going back now to continue in Ephesians chapter 1 verse 5, it says, having predestined us, this is our destiny. That's what God has planned for us to adoption as sons. You know this word adoption, which in Greek is eotheseia, is never used to refer to Christ.

You see, Christ is the only one that is the Son of God by nature. In other words, by our normal physical nature. The word that is used for Christ is monogenesis. You know, it's the only begotten in John 1 verse 14. Let's just look at it. John 1 verse 14 doesn't say he is eotheseia. In other words, eotheseia, or in other words, put in place as a son, which could be translated as adoption or could be translated as a sonship. But yeah, in 1 John, I beg your pardon, John 1, let me just turn to John 1 verse 14.

We've got it in John 1 verse 14. It says, and the word became flesh and wealth amongst us, and we beheld the glory of as of the only begotten of the Father.

Only begotten, the only begotten, monogenesis. He's the only one that as a physical human being, he was begotten of the Father. In other words, the seed that fertilized over in Mary's womb came directly from the Heavenly Father. He's the only begotten this way. So Christ is not talked about as eotheseia, but he's talking about as monogenesis. He's the only begotten. But we are, you know, as it says here in Ephesians chapter 1 verse 5, we have been predestined to eotheseia as sons. You know, being placed, being put in the place of as sons. Because by physical nature, our first begettle was not into the God family. We are begotten again a second time, or begotten from above. It was a second begettle to be then placed as sons. And this is through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his womb.

You see, brethren, let's look also at Romans chapter 5, I beg pardon, chapter 8. Romans chapter 8 First verse 15. Romans 8 verse 15. And he uses the same word. Romans 8 verse 15 says, For you do not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you receive the spirit of eotheseia.

In other words, that puts you in a place as a son. By whom or through or by which we cry about the Father. So now we are literally fathers from above, not by nature, but but spiritually speaking, as children of God. And then in verse 17 says, And if children, then is, is of God. As children, we inherit, we are heirs. But it says, yeah, we become heirs of God.

In other words, in God's eyes, he considers us, in God's eyes, he considers us as a child by natural birth, because we are begotten again, but now begotten from above. So we become a child of God with the same privileges as one by natural birth. Therefore, we now become also joint heirs with Jesus Christ. That's why there we read in Romans 8 verse 17, then is, is of God. So we, we inherit that to be of the actual God family, of that God kind of beings, but also joint heirs with Christ.

So whatever Christ is going to inherit, we will inherit with him. So we have been predestined, as we see in Ephesians chapter 1 verse 5, to be made as sons and we'll inherit all things with Christ. So note well, number one, we will ultimately be his real sons through the regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. Then we also looked in Titus chapter 3 verse 5. Titus chapter 3 verse 5, we see in verse 5 says, Not by works of righteousness which we've done, but according to his mercy he saved us through the washing of regeneration.

We are regenerated by God's Holy Spirit and we renewed, our mind is renewed by God's Holy Spirit because it's this is the sanctification of the Spirit, as I mentioned a little while ago. So everyone will get their opportunity. I beg your pardon. So it is a matter of when.

Now this is a fundamental truth that God has given to his church and this is what Paul is saying in verse 3 of Ephesians chapter 1. Spiritual blessings in heavenly places. Being made children of God in a family of God, in the kingdom of God, is an amazing spiritual blessing in heavenly places through Christ. But also there are other blessings. And so as we read in Ephesians chapter 1, now verse 6, it says here, "...to the praise of the glory of his grace by which he made us accepted in the beloved." You see, through what Jesus Christ did for us and that he died for us, he made us accepted in the beloved through Christ.

Verse 7, "...in him we have redemption through his blood." So Christ's sacrifice, Christ's blood, paid for us, brought our lives back from death so that we can have our lives again and we'll have again at the resurrection. So we've been redeemed from death because he paid our lives back from death. We have redemption through his blood. And that is the forgiveness of sins because his grace is the forgiveness. He's got his part and he forgives us. And it says, "...according to the riches of his grace." You see, grace, loving kindness, mercy, gentleness, that all-kind graciousness is part of God's nature.

He's willing to forgive. He's willing to overlook our faults. Verse 8, "...in which he made to abound towards us in all wisdom and prudence." In other words, he has in his great wisdom, as he says, yeah, in all his wisdom and prudence. In my margin, yeah, in verse 8 says, understanding some Bible versions translated as understanding. Other Bible versions translated as insight. So in God's wisdom and understanding, that's what we read here in verse 8, "...he made this grace, God made his grace to abound towards us in his great wisdom." You see, God's got a great plan for you and I. He's got this great plan, which is a mystery of God, for us to be in his kingdom.

And he has this worked out in a very wise way for us to be able to make it. And I know it's painful. We all go through great pain, great pain, great difficulties, great challenges, but the outcome will be wonderful, wonderful. There is the spiritual blessings in every, every places, as we read in verse 3, that God has for us. The outcome will be wonderful, will be unmanageable, unbelievable. It will be beyond what we today can fully comprehend.

It will be just wonderful. And so in verse 9 he says, "...which he made to abound towards us in all wisdom and prudence." That's verse 8, verse 9, "...having made known to us the mystery of his will." God has revealed this mystery to us in God's church. The world doesn't understand this.

This is a special mystery that God has given to us in the church. And it continues, "...according to his good pleasure which he purposed in himself." That is God's good pleasure to give us his kingdom. It's God's loving desire and grace that he wants to forgive you and I, and give us his kingdom. He gives, he wants to share eternity within and in his family.

You see, this is the mystery of God. This is what it's all about, that he says he made known to us the mystery of his will. It's this great plan of salvation.

In other words, it's a plan of how you and I can become spirit beings in the God family as his sons. That is amazing. We know it. I don't think we fully grasp it, what that is.

We really don't fully grasp it, what it is. And it continues now in verse 10, "...that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times, it was at the right time in his way of his time management, he says, he might gather together in one all things in Christ. He's going to bring us all together to be united, to be one with one purpose for one plan and in one kind of beings, spirit beings. And he says, in the fullness of the times, in the dispensation of the fullness of times." Now, some people can get a bit caught up with what do you mean different dispensations, but you can look at it different ways. For instance, there was the Melchizedek priesthood.

There was then later just Levitical priesthood. Then we had time of Christ being himself here on and then we got now the New Testament Church or the New Covenant Church, the churches it is today, the dispensation, the time, our time when we are. Also, we could call it the Present Day ministry. Then we'll have the Millennium. Then we'll have the White Throne Judgment. And so there's different dispensations of time. That's maybe one way of looking at it. You could look at it another way, the whole world, the dispensation of the whole world before the flood. We could look at the dispensation of the present evil world, the one we're living now from the flood until Christ's coming and the world to come after Christ's coming. So that's just maybe another way of looking at several dispensations. But through these dispensations of time, through these different stages of time that we've gone through, God will bring all into his family.

And some will be at the Second Resurrection. Others maybe will never make it because they reject it. And they then will have to die a second death, which we all dearly work for, for us to remain fightful till the end. So continue to read here in verse 11. Let me read it from the beginning. I need him. Also, we have obtained an inheritance. You see, we have obtained an inheritance. So here is the second point. The first point I mentioned earlier is that we're going to inherit and going to be heirs of God. We're going to be God's children. We will ultimately be his sons. But yeah, he says in verse 11, in him also, also, we have obtained an inheritance.

An inheritance that God has predetermined beforehand. God planned out ahead of time different positions, different responsibilities, different things that people will inherit. Some became, some will be preached, some will rule over 10, others rule over five cities, etc. So we have obtained an inheritance being predetermined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will. This is the wisdom, the counsel of God's will, that there'll be an inheritance for all of us, some bigger, some small, according to the different works that we do.

And that's why it says in Romans 8 verse 17 that we are to be joined heirs with Christ, not only to inherit divinity, to be the God family, but also to inherit with Christ. Look at Hebrews chapter 2. Hebrews chapter 2 verse 6 through 8. Hebrews chapter 2 verse 6 through 8. And he says, But one testified in a sinner place, saying, What is man that you are mindful of him? Or the son or man that you take care of him? You made him a little lower than angels. You've crowned him with glory and honor, and have set him over the works of your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet. So obviously that applies to Christ, but also applies to us, because we'll be co-heirs with Christ. And continue the rest of verse 8. 4, In that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. And again, there's a duality. Not everything is now yet under Christ, but not everything is now yet under us, because we still flesh and blood.

But when we become spirit beings, we'll inherit all things with Jesus Christ. Look at Revelation 21 verse 7. Revelation 21 verse 7. Revelation 21 verse 7. He says, And he overcomes shall inherit all things. You see, there's an inheritance. There are things that are going to inherit. And I'll be his God, and he shall be my son. You see, we'll inherit all things with Jesus Christ. So continuing our reading where we're in Ephesians chapter 1 verse 11. The latter part, he says, having obtained an illness, being pretty destined to receive that inheritance according to the purpose of him. That's God's purpose, who works all things according to the counsel of his will. That is, God will work it out.

That's what's going to happen, and no one's going to stop it. It's going to happen.

We don't need to doubt. It is going to happen. The important thing is that you and I need to be faithful till the end. Now verse 12. That we who first trusted in Christ, who's we, that's the apostles. We, the apostles, were the first ones to trust Jesus Christ, to trust in him, should be to the praise of his glory. So he has apostles, the first ones to trust in him. And now verse 13, in him you also trusted. It was you, now members of God's church, and in this case those in Ephesus, the Ephesians, you also trusted. You also trusted in Jesus Christ. And he says, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. You know, after you heard this good news, this understanding of what Christ has done for us, and how God's opened, and called you, and gave you this understanding, and now you have received God's Holy Spirit, you now are hard or have the first fruits of the Spirit, and that God's Holy Spirit will also be in others in due time, in dispensation of time. So he says, you know also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. It was you receive God's Holy Spirit. That's what it is, with the Holy Spirit of promise. And so we believed the word of truth. We see in verse 13, after you heard the word of truth, and thy word is truth, John 1717. So we believe in what Christ said. His word is truth. And it says we are now being sealed with God's Holy Spirit, which is of promise. Why is it of promise? Because God promised that we would be His children. And to be His children, we would have to be begotten again, fathered from above, through God's Holy Spirit. And when you read in the beginning of Acts, Christ said, wait for the promise of the Father. And the promise of the Father is receiving His Holy Spirit so that we can be the sons of God. And so it's the Holy Spirit of promise, of that promise. So and it says, yeah, that you are sealed. You know, set a seal is like set a mark or a stamp. And now He knows, and He knows that we are His sons, we are His sons. We are fathered from above, we are His children. And in this process of growth, as children of God, God's character is being developed in us.

God's character is being reflected back to Him through our lives. Now, our reflection is pretty bad sometimes, but we need to improve. We need to work better. And when our reflection is not that good, we get back on our knees and ask God for forgiveness. And He forgives us. Why? Because He wants you and I there. He loves you as children. You know, the love of a father and of a mother for the child is, in a sense, a wonderful, incomprehensible thing because you always love your children, always love them. It's unconditional. You want to love them, and you want them to come right, even if they do things wrong, you want them to get right. And that is, with God's Holy Spirit, you and I have been, let's call it, authenticated as the children of God by His Spirit in us, which He promised to send us. Now, verse 14, who or which is the guarantee of our inheritance? It's a guarantee. It's the down payment of our inheritance. Inheritance, number one, to be as God, and number two, to be coheirs with Jesus Christ. And it says, the guarantee of our until the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of His glory. What is the purchased possession? The purchased possession is our lives that have been bought back from death. That is the purchased possession that He is redeeming, is buying us back, all right, in other words, until the resurrection. Because that's what it is, until the redemption of the purchased possession. In other words, until the resurrection, when that purchased possession that Christ bought us back, when we're going to be redeemed, that is a resurrection. And that's when we will have a spirit body as He is, the mind of God, the essence of God, and we're going to have His power. Obviously, much lower than He is, but we'll have of His power. Right, obviously, to the praise of His glory. Now, verse 15 and 16, therefore I, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, therefore I, after I heard of your commitment, of your trust, He says, I do not cease to give thanks for you. In other words, give God thanks that you are called to this inheritance, and I'm so grateful that you are in the church and you're striving to overcome. So He's basically praying for the brethren, and for our practical example, it's good for us to have a prayer list and go through some of the people every day.

And some of them will go through more frequently than others, but every day, every week, we go through this prayer list and try and pray for every body. So that's what He says, I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. Verse 17, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. He prayed that the brethren might have the understanding, the wisdom of this great mystery of God, that they would have the understanding of this great, as it says in verse 3 of Ephesians 1, spiritual blessing in heavenly places that God is giving us of all these spiritual blessings. To be heirs of God and to be inherent all things with Christ, it's just spiritual blessings that God's giving us. And so Paul is here saying in verse 18, he's saying that, he prays that the eyes of your understanding being enlightened. In other words, that their understanding becomes clearer. Their spiritual understanding must increase, grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. That's what it is. That you may, God may give you the spirit of wisdom, as we see in verse 17, and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus Christ of Him, because Jesus Christ is the image of the Father, praying also, verse 18, that the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope. That you may understand and grasp and comprehend this great hope, which is so critical for us, so critical for us to have hope. And it's continuing up. What is the hope of His calling? What are the reaches of the glory of His inheritance in all saints? What is the righteousness of the glory of what we're going to inherit? The hope of this glory of the seniorities, we need to ask God to help us see it, because if we don't see the soap, we can just get more and more discouraged when we just look at all the problems that are happening, and all the difficulties, and all the health issues, and all the difficulties that Brethren and others are going through. So we need to look at this hope, because it's an anchor for the soul. It helps us to stay firm.

Verse 19, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power towards us?

Verse 19, so we may know the greatness of God's power towards us. You know, think about just in a physical context, the greatness of the power radiated from the sun, millions and millions and millions of power of energy coming to us, and we can only absorb that.

And not only that, the power of God is in millions and billions of galaxies and stars.

So He's got so much power. Spiritually, He's got enormous power towards us to help us overcome.

And we need to have that hope, and we need to use that power, so we know the greatness of that power, and we use it. And that's it. There is His power towards us who believe according to the working of His mighty power. There is a mighty power that He places in us through God's Holy Spirit.

That power which gives you and me strength and willpower to overcome. God has the power.

He is able to bring you and He's able to bring me, He's able to bring us all the way into His kingdom. And He says, yeah, we've got to believe His power towards us who believe. We've got to trust in Him that He's going to help us, but we've got to do our part, of course. We've got to do our part. Now, verse 20, which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead. That power of God is the same power, that power of God, which is the power of God's Holy Spirit, is the one that brought Christ from death to life. So whatever illness, whatever problem you have, God can heal. And if it doesn't heal, now you'll heal it at a resurrection. And that is the power of God, the power that God used to raise Christ from the dead and seated Him at the Father's right hand in the heavenly places. You see these blessings that God has for us, these spiritual blessings that God has for us in the heavenly places in Christ. He has them for us. Verse 21 says, which He worked in Christ, when He raised Him, a bigger part of us, for above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this age, but also in that age which is to come. Not only in this dispensation, but in the dispensation to come. If you look at it that way, the dispensation that was, that is, and that is to come. So, and this power, this power that God used and that is given to Christ, and it is above the power of all other heavenly powers. It's the power of God, and now and forever in the future in age to come. And then verse 22, and He, that's God, put all things under His feet. God the Father put all things under Jesus Christ's feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church. God delegated Christ to be over all things to the church, but He says He put all things under His feet. That's Hebrews chapter 2 verse 8, which I referred to a little while ago. All the universe is put under Him. Let's just, for instance, read that again just for us to Hebrews chapter 2 verse 8. It says, you have put all things in subjection under His feet. All universe is put under Him, and God wants Christ to share that with us. Look at also 1 Corinthians 15. 1 Corinthians 15 verse 27 and 28.

1 Corinthians 15 verse 27 and 28 says, for He has put all things under His feet. But when He says, all things are put under Him, it is evident that He put all things under Him, that He will put all things under Him is accepted. So obviously put all things under Christ except the Father Himself. Right now, obviously. Verse 28. Now, when all things are made subject to Him, that's to Christ, then the Son Himself will also be subject to the Father, who put all things under Christ, under Him, that God may be all in all. You see, so everything, everything will all in the end will be submissive to Christ and to the Father. And while we're in Corinthians, let's read, let's turn to chapter 12. 1 Corinthians chapter 12, starting in verse 12. For as the body is one, and as many members, but all members of that one body be many, or one body, so is Christ. You see, we're baptized into the body of Christ. For by one Spirit, we're all baptized into one body. We're baptized into the spiritual body of Christ, where the Jews or Greeks, where the slaves are free, and have all been made to drink into one Spirit, into that one body, and will receive of the same Spirit. Verse 14, for in fact, the body is not one member, but many. You see, the body's got many members, got a hand, a finger, a nose, eyes, etc. It's got many members. And then look at verse 18, but now God has set the members, that's you and I, each one of them, you, myself, we all, as members of God's church, He set each one of us in the body. That means in the spiritual body of Christ, which is the Church of God, just as He pleased. God puts you and I in the body, in the position that He chooses. In other words, the finger doesn't say, well, why am I not a foot?

And the foot does not say, why am I not a nose? God makes that as He pleases. And likewise, He, God, puts you and I in His Church, doing or fulfilling the responsibilities that He wants you to fulfill. And that is what's pleasing to God. And says, and God gives us all the power, that's the Holy Spirit, to grow, to change, to grow in whatever position He's put us into the body. And now back to first chapter of Ephesians, verse 22, He says, Christ is the head of all things of the church, to the church, which is His body. So, and then He says, to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who falls all in all. Christ is the head of all things. He is the head over all things to the church. Look at Colossians chapter 1, verse 18. Colossians chapter 1, verse 18. And He is the head of the body, that's Christ, the church. Who is the beginning? The first born from the dead. Christ is the first one that came from the dead and became a spirit being. It was the first of mankind, of humankind, that came from the dead. That in all things, He, Christ, may have the preeminence. Christ is above all and is the head of the church. In Colossians 2, verse 9, we read, For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. In Christ dwells all the fullness of the divinity in that spiritual body. And so it's just so amazing what we read here. And therefore, as we read a moment ago, it says in verse 23 of Ephesians chapter 1 of the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all the fullness of the body. Which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. The church is the body of Christ, but Christ is the head. Christ is the head, and we are the body. We are the members in that body.

And this understanding, this understanding of what Paul is explaining in the first chapter of Ephesians about how we are predestined to be in the God family, how we are to inherit all things of Christ, this and how everything will be under Christ and will be within. This is such spiritual blessing awaiting for us in heavenly places. And so Paul here in Ephesians chapter 1 is showing us how meaningful these spiritual blessings in heavenly places is there for us. And next week, we'll then continue with a deeper understanding now that we have these promises, you know, what is our responsibility.