Ephesians 1:2 (my notes from a message by Ricky Kurth)

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace — The Galatians (Galatians 1:3) were legalistic (too hard) — grace is the cure. The Corinthians (1 Corinthians 1:3) were too carnal (too easy) — grace is the cure.

Grace = giving what you don’t deserve

Mercy = not giving what you do deserve

Peace — Romans 5:1

Abram = father of many — Abraham = father of a multitude. Father by faith — he believed God.

We have peace by faith.

Grace and peace, because of Calvary

Grace has to come first

By grace, through faith (Romans 4) — that the promise might be sure. If it depended on us, we could never be sure, never have peace.

Peace is the other half of God’s panacea.

Grace is the opposite of judgment (Revelation 19:11). Peace is the opposite of war.

from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ

Our issue isn’t with God now. It’s with the Son. God spent His wrath on the cross. The Son has no issue (Ephesians 1:2).

So … blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul was in prison when he wrote Ephesians.

Paul was caught up into heaven (2 Corinthians 12). He saw, but that was 20 years earlier. As with us, Paul’s secret was being in the Word.

God is the most blessed Person — Acts 20 — more blessed to give (John 3:16) than to receive.

How do we bless God?

  • Hebrews 7:7 — the better blesses the lesser

  • Psalm 50:12 — bless God by blessing His people

  • Proverbs 19:17 — giving to poor is giving to God

  • Romans 15:26 — ministering to Israel — poor saints

If Ephesians 1:3 is true (that God blesses us spiritually), it is our duty to minister to Him in physical things, speak well of Him before others, in personal devotions.

God — He is the Father of the Son, and also the God. He was Judge on the cross. My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? (Mark 15:34)

John 20:17 — the only other place Jesus calls His Father “God”

He accepted the sacrifice — God and Father

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