Ephesians – Every Book for All of Life

Mark Pritchard   -   February 9, 2025

Ephesians: Adopted, Chosen, Loved

Speaker: Mark Pritchard, Senior Pastor

Summary of Message

In this Missoula sermon on Ephesians 1, Pastor Mark Pritchard teaches that God adopts, chooses, and loves His people before the foundation of the world. Salvation is not based on human achievement but on God’s sovereign grace and eternal purpose. Through Christ’s blood we are redeemed and forgiven, and through the Holy Spirit we are sealed for the day of redemption. This powerful reminder calls us to rest fully in God’s unchanging love and live as sons and daughters of the King.

Outline of the Sermon

Background of the Book of Ephesians

The book of Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul from prison in Rome around A.D. 60–61. Ephesus was a major center of pagan worship, yet God established a strong, multi-ethnic church there through the power of the gospel. Paul wrote to encourage believers to remember their salvation and live transformed lives. The book moves from the blessings of salvation to the practical outworking of new life in Christ.

Six Blessings from God in Christ

1. Chosen Before the Foundation of the World

God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, not because of anything we had done, but solely because of His love. This choosing reveals that salvation is God’s initiative, not ours, and that His love is not based on our worthiness. Knowing we were chosen should bring deep comfort and confidence in God’s eternal plan. It assures us that our relationship with Him is secure because it was His idea from the beginning (Ephesians 1:4).

2. Adopted into God’s Family

God not only chose us but predestined us for adoption into His family through Jesus Christ. Adoption means full acceptance, new identity, and personal relationship with the Father. It is rooted entirely in God’s love and grace, not our merit. Every believer has been deliberately brought into God’s household, sharing in the privileges and inheritance of sons and daughters (Ephesians 1:5).

3. Redeemed and Forgiven by His Blood

Through the blood of Christ, we have redemption from slavery to sin and full forgiveness for every wrong. Redemption means the payment for our sin has been made in full, never to be owed again. Forgiveness means we are released from guilt and shame forever. God’s grace is so abundant that no amount of sin can outmatch the riches of His mercy (Ephesians 1:7).

4. Given Eternal Perspective

Paul reveals that God’s plan is to unite all things in heaven and earth under Christ. Salvation is not just personal but part of a cosmic restoration that Christ is accomplishing. Knowing this gives believers a hope beyond today’s struggles and a vision that all brokenness will be healed. We live now with our eyes on the future fulfillment of God’s kingdom (Ephesians 1:8–10).

5. Promised an Inheritance

Believers have been promised an inheritance that is not merely a place, but a Person — Jesus Himself. Our hope is in the unending, overflowing life found in Christ, not merely in the blessings He gives. This inheritance can never fade, spoil, or be taken away. It is a sure and certain hope grounded in God’s unbreakable promise (Ephesians 1:11–12).

6. Sealed by the Holy Spirit

At the moment of true belief, God seals every Christian with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of their salvation. This seal marks us as belonging to God and assures us that He will finish the work He started. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live for Christ and protects us until the day of full redemption. Our future is secure because the Spirit is both the promise and the proof (Ephesians 1:13–14).

FAQ

• What does it mean to be adopted by God?
  Being adopted by God means He intentionally chose us to become His children, giving us full rights, identity, and inheritance as sons and daughters in His family.
• Is God’s love based on my performance?
  No, God’s love is based entirely on His eternal choice and sovereign grace, not on anything we could do to earn or lose it.
• How do I know my salvation is secure?
  Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit at the moment of belief, guaranteeing that God will complete the work of salvation He began.
• What is the believer’s inheritance in Christ?
  Our ultimate inheritance is Christ Himself — a perfect, eternal relationship with Him in His renewed kingdom, full of joy, peace, and glory.