(Acts 19:8–12; Revelation 2:1–7)
1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, to the holy ones who are in Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Spiritual Blessings
(Romans 8:28–34)
3
Blessed [is] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who blessed us in every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ,
4
according as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, for our being holy and unblemished before Him, in love,
5
having foreordained us to the adoption of sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
6
to the praise of the glory of His grace, in which He made us accepted in the beloved,
7
in whom we have the redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of the trespasses, according to the riches of His grace,
8
in which He abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
9
having made known to us the secret of His will, according to His good pleasure, that He purposed in Himself,
10
in regard to the dispensation of the fullness of the times, to bring into one the whole in the Christ, both the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth—in Him;
11
in whom also we obtained an inheritance, being foreordained according to the purpose of Him who is working all things according to the counsel of His will,
12
for our being to the praise of His glory, [even] those who first hoped in the Christ,
13
in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth—the good news of your salvation—in whom also having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of the promise,
14
which is a deposit of our inheritance, to the redemption of the acquired possession, to the praise of His glory.
Spiritual Wisdom
(1 Corinthians 2:6–16)
15
Because of this I also, having heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and the love to all the holy ones,
16
do not cease giving thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers,
17
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of the glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the recognition of Him,
18
the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, for your knowing what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the holy ones,
19
and what the exceeding greatness of His power to us who are believing, according to the working of the power of His might,
20
which He worked in the Christ, having raised Him out of the dead, and sat [Him] at His right hand in the heavenly [places],
21
far above all principality, and authority, and might, and lordship, and every name named, not only in this age, but also in the coming one;
22
and He put all things under His feet, and gave Him—head over all things to the Assembly,
23
which is His body, the fullness of Him who is filling all in all.
Copyright © 2020 Covenant Press and the CCC - licensed under CC BY-SA