Message Notes

DIVINE IDEA OF THE CHURCH

1. The Church is a Divine Idea

a) It is not a human idea

b) The Divine Idea must therefore be fully understood

c) The Church must seek to follow through with what is revealed in the Scriptures

2. The Church was meant to be “the body of Christ” (Ephesians 1:22-23)

DESIGN FOR THE CHURCH

1. Fullness was in mind (Ephesians 1:22-23)

2. Fullness of Christ Himself (Ephesians 1:22-23)

DESIGNED TO BRING GLORY TO GOD

1. To the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14)

2. Repeated three times for emphasis

DESIGNATED BLESSINGS

1. He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3)

a) God is the One who has determined to bless

b) These blessings come only through Christ Jesus the Lord

c) These are appropriated only through enlightenment (Ephesians 1:15-21)

2. A short list of the designated blessings: –

a) Chosen before the foundations of the world (Ephesians 1:4)

b) Predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:5)

c) In Him we have redemption through His blood (Ephesians 1:7a)

d) The forgiveness of sins according

i) To the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7b)

ii) Which He made to abound toward us (Ephesians 1:8a)

iii) In all wisdom and prudence (Ephesians 1:8b)

e) Having made known to us the mystery of His will (Ephesians 1:9)

f) In the dispensation of the fullness of the times
He might gather us together in one in all things
In Christ (Ephesians 1:10)

g) In Him we also we have obtained an inheritance (Ephesians 1:11)