blessings

Ephesians 1

 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms 

because we are united with Christ. 

4 Even before he made the world, 

God loved us 

and chose us 

in Christ 

to be holy 

and without fault in his eyes. 

5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family 

by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. 

This is what he wanted to do, 

and it gave him great pleasure. 

6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us 

who belong to his dear Son. 

7 He is so rich in kindness 

and grace 

that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son 

and forgave our sins. 

8 He has showered his kindness on us, 

along with all wisdom and understanding.

9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ;

which is to fulfill his own good plan. 

10 And this is the plan: 

At the right time 

he will bring everything together 

under the authority of Christ;

everything in heaven 

and on earth. 

11 Furthermore, 

because we are united with Christ, 

we have received an inheritance from God, 

for he chose us in advance, 

and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

12 God’s purpose was that we Jews 

who were the first to trust in Christ 

would bring praise and glory to God. 

13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, 

the Good News that God saves you. 

And when you believed in Christ, 

he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, 

whom he promised long ago. 

14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised 

and that he has purchased us to be his own people. 

He did this so we would praise and glorify him.