11/9/25 – Chosen. Redeemed. Restored. Part 2 – Ephesians 1

Below is Part 2 of our 3 week series, ‘Chosen. Redeemed. Restored.’ From Ephesians 1. Ephesians 1 pulls back the curtain on God’s eternal plan for His people. We’ll discover how God chose us in love, redeemed us by grace, and secured us with an unshakable hope—all so that our lives would resound to the praise of His glory. This was preached on 11/9/25 at Refuge Church Byhalia. Refuge Church Byhalia exists to Share the Hope of Jesus, Love Neighbors, & Grow Together as we work to see heaven filled from Byhalia, Barton, & beyond!

Key Phrases

Introduction

• Good Morning!
• Welcome again
• We hope you have already enjoyed the goodness of God
• And been reminded of the hope we have in Jesus Christ.
• As I mentioned earlier, my name is Michael and I serve as the Planting Pastor here at Refuge Church Byhalia.
• We are in a special 3 part mini-series based upon Ephesians chapter 1 before we dive into some special weeks around thanksgiving and Christmas. 
• Today is part 2 of ‘Chosen. Redeemed. Restored.’ 
• This chapter, it’s a favorite of mine. Really the entire book of Ephesians is great.
• And here’s why – when I read this – I’m put in awe of God
• Of His kindness
• Of His plan
• Of HIs execution of His plan. 
• As I mentioned last week, this chapter, helps us to get our eyes on the right thing
• The Holy Amazing Perfect God of the Universe
• So often in life, we can find ourselves going through a hard season
• A difficult time
• Or we find ourself struggling with sin, again
• Or we find ourselves obsessing over and living for created things rather than the creator.
• You see in life we can find ourselves staring at our feet.
• And this chapter in Ephesians, I want you to joyfully hear, ‘stop looking at your feet and look up to the pierced feet and hands of Jesus Christ, our Lord & Savior.’
• My hope is, that this chapter, would be an anchor & firm foundation for your life in Christ.
•   Pastor & Theologian R.C. Sproul says it well, “This chapter displays the theological riches that undergird the believer’s assurance and devotion.’ -R.C. Sproul
• I hope you find theological riches in this chapter – that grow you – and keep your gaze on Christ.
• Now last week we looked at 2 main ideas.
• First we looked at the why behind everything.
• And saw Paul repeating an idea throughout Ephesians 1.
• Paul repeats ‘to the praise of His glory’ to emphasize everything exists & everything occurs, for the glory of God.
• We have to see this repetition and remember it’s importance and focus.
• To answer the proverbial question – in both the bad moments and the good ones
• Why did it get cold this morning? – to the praise of His glory.
• Why is their breath in my lungs? – the the praise of His glory.
• Why did I lose that job? – to the praise of His glory.
• Why did I get that report from the doctor? – to the praise of His glory.
• Why did God send His son Jesus? – to the praise of His glory.
• WHy did God choose me, before the foundation of the world? To the praise of His glory. 
• Everything exists, and everything occurs – for the glory of God. 
• And we said – this is the main point of this passage 
• And we now are going to look at various words & phrases – that are realities of salvation & life – for the glory of God. 
• Last weeks word – Chosen
• And I talked about how in middle school – I wasn’t built tall, or strong, or fast – and the picking order during after school football reflected that. 
• Similarly God’ choosing of you or me before the foundation of the world, to be saved someday, had nothing to do with you or I or our abilities or goodness.
• John MacArthur said this ‘Through God’s sovereign will before the foundation of the world and, therefore, obviously independent of human influence and apart from any human merit, those who are saved become eternally united with Christ Jesus.’ -John MacArthur
• And for many – this is hard to understand and hard to believe
• And that may be for a few reason
  • Maybe because we think we are kind of good and worthy of God’s choosing.
  • Nope – noone is good – no not one. 
  • Or maybe it feels like God is limiting things. 
  • But again – why did God choose?
    • To the praise of his glory
• And I want ot remind you of this quote form A.W. Pink
• “The sovereignty of God in election is presented here to comfort the believer, not to puzzle the disputant.”. -A.W. Pink
• Let God’s choosing bring comfort
• Not confusion
• SO as we continue in Ephesians – I hope you fall in love with this doctrine & theology
• And it pushes you to praise the Lord – as you go wherever you go
• I hope it pushes you to sing of the Lord for joy – every Sunday – and as you go wherever you go
• I hope it helps you keep right perspective and focus – in the best of times – that the good times happen – for the glory of God and praise of His name.
• And I hope it gives you some strong footers for your life in Christ – so you can stand strong on the bad days
• Now let’s read again – Ephesians chapter 1. Page ____.

‘Paul, ^aan apostle of Christ Jesus ^bby the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and ^care faithful¹ in Christ Jesus: ^{2 d}Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ^{3 e}Blessed be ^fthe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing ^gin the heavenly places, ^{4 h}even as he ⁱchose us in him ^jbefore the foundation of the world, that we should be ^kholy and blameless before him. In love ^{5 l}he predestined us² for ^madoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, ⁿaccording to the purpose of his will, ^{6 o}to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in ^pthe Beloved. ^{7 q}In him we have ^rredemption ^sthrough his blood, ^tthe forgiveness of our trespasses, ^uaccording to the riches of his grace, ⁸ which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight ^{9 v}making known³ to us the mystery of his will, ⁿaccording to his purpose, which he ^wset forth in Christ^{4 10} as a plan for ^xthe fullness of time, ^yto unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him. ¹¹ In him we have obtained ^zan inheritance, ^ahaving been predestined ^baccording to the purpose of him who works all things according to ^cthe counsel of his will, ¹² so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be ^dto the praise of his glory. ¹³ In him you also, when you heard ^ethe word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, ^fwere sealed with the ^gpromised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is ^hthe guarantee⁵ of our ⁱinheritance until ^jwe acquire ^kpossession of it,^{6 l}to the praise of his glory. ¹⁵ For this reason, ^mbecause I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love⁷ toward all the saints, ¹⁶ I predestinⁿdo not cease to give thanks for you, ^oremembering you in my prayers, ¹⁷ that ^pthe God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, ^qmay give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, ^{18 r}having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is ^sthe hope to which he has called you, what are ^tthe riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, ^uaccording to the working of ^vhis great might ²⁰ that he worked in Christ ^wwhen he raised him from the dead and ^xseated him at his right hand ^yin the heavenly places, ^{21 z}far above ^aall rule and authority and power and dominion, and above ^bevery name that is named, not only in ^cthis age but also in the one to come. ²² And ^dhe put all things under his feet and gave him as ^ehead over all things to the church, ^{23 f}which is his body, ^gthe fullness of him ^hwho fills ⁱall in all.’

Let’s pray.

He Predestined (v. 5)

• In verse 5 God says he predestined
• Meaning God destined before
• And this is quite similar or in some ways sumarizing of what we looked at last week
• That before the foundation of the World – God Chose us to be Holy & Blameless before Him.
• Verse 5 again says he predestined us for adoption.
• Now this word predestined – its used elsewhere in the Bible.
• Turn to Romans 8:29-30 Page ____ ‘²⁹ For those whom he ^jforeknew he also ^kpredestined ^lto be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be ^mthe firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also ⁿjustified, and those whom he justified he also ^oglorified.’ 
• Notice – all of those big words – predestined, called, justified, glorified
• Intentionally past tense
• To show their sure-ness.
• And again – it all starts with God
• Warren Wiersbe says – ‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you’ John 15:16. The lost sinner, left to his own ways, does not seek God (Romans 3:10-11); God in His love seeks the sinner (Luke 19:10).-Warren Wiersbe
• God’s predestiantion
• And then running after us
• Calling us
• To be justified by Christ’s work. 
• Is all of God, From God, & For God
• And without God’s working – it would not have happened.
• John MacArthur  says – ‘Before the earth was formed, God sovereignly determined that every elect sinner – however vile, useless, and deserving of death – by trusting in Christ would be made righteous.’ -John MacArthur
• God predestined us
• And it’s their to the praise of His Glory.
• But we have to see – he predestined us for something
• He predestined us unto something.

For Adoption (v. 5)

• Ephesians 1:5 says ‘^lhe predestined us² for ^madoption’
• Meaning – God destined us to be adopted in
• To be grafted in
• To be brought into – God’s family! 
• Amazing
• And its totally on purpose
• God didn’t want to leave us where He found us
• Warren Wiersbe says ‘In the Bible, election is always unto something. It is a privilege that carries a great responsibility.’ -Warren Wiersbe
• He wanted to bring us into something better than where we were. Our adoption is freeing.
• Romans 8:15 Page ___. ‘¹⁵ For ^gyou did not receive ^hthe spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of ⁱadoption as sons, by whom we cry, ^j“Abba! Father!”
• Look – I don’t knwo what your relationship is like with your father.
• It may be great, it may be horrific or non existent
• Or it may be somewhere in the middle.
• I don’t know what it may be like for you dad’s in the room. I know I can find it hard to be a loving, merciful, & intentional father.
• *Commercial Break* – Dad – Kids clearly want & need time with me. Not always easy.
• So our idea of ‘Father’ may be foggy or broken
• But God – is a perfect father
• Perfectly loving an caring & intentional. 
• But the important thing we need to see – is God adopted us out of our sin, out of our despair and unto something better. 
• Peace, joy, hope love 
• That’s where he brings us.
• John MacArthur says this – ’‘He makes them (adopted sons & daughters) his children in the image of his divine Son, giving them not just Christ’s riches and blessings but also his very nature.’ -John MacArthur
• WHen God saved you
• He started making you new
• Changing you
• And sanctifying you
• He gave you a new identity 
• He put you in a new family
• You, believer, are an adopted coheir with Christ
• And now CHrist’s righteousness
• Is your righteousness
• Oh how beautiful our adoption is.
• John Owen says “The doctrine of adoption set forth in Ephesians inflames the soul’s gratitude to God.” -John Owen
• Oh may it be so for you.
• Now how did God accomplish our adoption that He destined us for before the foundation of the world?
• Verse 7 details that. 
• ‘^{7 q}In him we have ^rredemption ^sthrough his blood, ^tthe forgiveness of our trespasses, ^uaccording to the riches of his grace,’

Redemption – Through His Blood – The Forgiveness of our trespasses (v 7.)

• Redemption – the paying of our bill.
• John MacArthur states it like this.
• ‘The term (redemption) used here relates to paying the required ransom to God for the release of a person from bondage. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross paid that price for every elect person enslaved by sin, buying them out of the slave market of iniquity. ’ -John MacArthur
• Here’s the reality
• All of us have sinned.
• And that sin –  must be paid for – if God is going to be HOly, perfect, & a righteous judge. 
• Every sin has to be paid for. 
• And every sin – big, small, in the middle
• Must be paid, with blood.
• Leviticus 17:11 Page ____ ‘“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.”’
• This isn’t just an idea on the cross
• It’s been God’s payment plan from the beginning
• Blood must pay for sin. 
• And here’s our reality
• Either way pay for our sin
• Or Jesus paid for our sin. – and that’s the beauty of redemption. 
• Jesus paid it all.
• Through His perfect Life – Substitutionary death – and victorious resurreciton.
• Romans 3:24-25 Page ___ ‘“and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.”’
• *Gospel Moment.*
• Now can we exhaust our redemption
• Nope
• You see just as God predestined us
• God also, for His elect
• Has a bottomless bank account of Grace.
• That’s why verse 7 says our forgiveness is ‘according to the riches of His grace.’

According to the Riches of His Grace (v 7.)

• John MacArthur clarifies with this statement. ‘Redemption brings the limitless grace of God and forgiveness of sin.’ -John MacArthur
• You see – God isn’t going to get to a point and be like
• Ope Michael – he crossed the line
• That’s 1 too many times – i’m removing my gracious redemption from him.
• No – christian – God will not run out of grace for you.
• Romans 5:20 ‘²⁰ Now ⁱthe law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, ^jgrace abounded all the more,’
• When Jesus said it was finished – he meant it. It was finished.
• And the finished work of Christ – unmerited
• And planned before the foundation of the World
• Why? – to the praise of His glory. 
• MacArthur again – ‘This passage describes God’s master plan for salvation in terms of past (election 3-6a), the present (redemption 6b-11), & future (inheritance 12-14). -John MacArthur

Conclusion

• *Commercial Break – Full Time Job – Truck & Jude’s Reaction*
• My hope is as we keep looking at Ephesians 1 next week.
• You’ll find more reasons to sing, to have hope, to have peace, to have joy. 
• “Ephesians 1 rehearses God’s eternal plan so that Christians might worship and pray with bold confidence.” -John Piper
• So friends – because of God’s predestined redemption & unending grace. 
• Let’s stop looking at our feet – and look up at the pierced feet & hands of Jesus and know, we are adopted coheirs with Christ.
• Let’s pray.

• Warren Wiersbe
  • About the year 53, Paul first ministered in Ephesis but did nto remain there. Two years later, while on his 3rd journey, Paul stayed in Ephesus fro at least 2 years and saw that whole vast area evangelized. 
  • It was nearly ten years later (~62-65 AD) when Paul wrote to his beloved friends in Ephesus. Paul was a prisoner in Rome and he wanted to share with these believers the great truths the Lord had taught him about CHrist and the church. 
  • Ephesians 1:3 states the theme: the Christian’s riches in Christ. 
  • Today, He promises to supply all our needs ‘according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus’ (Phil 4:19), but He does not promise to shield us from either poverty or pain. The Father has given us every blessing of the Spirit, everything we need for a successful, satisfying Christian life. The spiritual is far more important than the material. 
  • The Christian’s life is centered in heaven. His citizenship is in heaven (Phil 3:20); his name is written in heaven (Luke 10:20); his Father is in heaven; and his attention and affection ought to be centered on the things of heaven (Colossians 3:1).
  • ‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you’ John 15:16. The lost sinner, left to his own ways, does not seek God (Romans 3:10-11); God in His love seeks the sinner (Luke 19:10).
  • In the Bible, election is always unto something. It is a privilege that carries a great responsibility.
  • You will note that all three persons in the Godhead are involved in our salvation. As far as God the Father is concerned, you were saved when He chose you in Christ in eternity past. But that alone did not save you. As far as God the Son is concerned, you were saved when He died for you on the cross. As far as God the Spirit is concerned, you were saved when you yielded to His conviction and received Christ as your Savior. What began in eternity past was fulfilled in time present, and will continue for all eternity!
  • Because of God’s grace in Christ, we are accepted before Him.
• John MacArthur
  • This passage describes God’s master plan for salvation in terms of past (election 3-6a), the present (redemption 6b-11), & future (inheritance 12-14). It can also be viewed as emphasizing the Father (3-6), the Son (7-12), & the Sipirit (13-16).
  • Doctrine of election:
    • Deuteronomy 7:6
    • Isaiah 45:4
    • John 6:44
    • Acts 13:48
    • Romans 8:29
    • Romans 9:11
    • 1 Thessalonians 1:3-4
    • 2 Thessalonians 2:13
    • 2 Timothy 2:10
  • God’s election or predestination does not operate apart from or nullify man’s responsibility to believe in Jesus as Lord & Savior.
    • Matthew 3:1-2
    • Matthew 4:17
    • John 5:40
  • Through God’s sovereign will before the foundation of the world and, therefore, obviously independent of human influence and apart from any human merit, those who are saved become eternally united with Christ Jesus.
  • The ultimate purpose of election to salvation is the glory of God.
    • Ephesians 1:12
    • Ephesians 1:14
    • Philippians 2:13
    • 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
    • Philippians 1:11
  • He makes them (adopted sons & daughters) his children in the image of his divine Son, giving them not just Christ’s riches and blessings but also his very nature.
    • Romans 8:15
    • John 15:15
  • ‘Redemption’ – The term (redemption) used here relates to paying the required ransom to God for the release of a person from bondage. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross paid that price for every elect person enslaved by sin, buying them out of the slave market of iniquity.
    • 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 ‘“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”’
    • The price of redemption was death
      • Leviticus 17:11 ‘“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.”’
      • Romans 3:24-25 ‘“and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.”’
      • Hebrews 9:22 ‘“Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”’
      • 1 Peter 1:18-19 ‘“knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”’
      • Revelation 5:8-10 ‘“And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.””’
  • Redemption brings the limitless grace of God and forgiveness of sin. It brings divinely bestowed spiritual understanding.
    • Romans 5:20 ‘²⁰ Now ⁱthe law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, ^jgrace abounded all the more,’
    • Matthew 26:28 ‘²⁸ for ^xthis is my ^zblood of the³ covenant, which is poured out for ^amany ^bfor the forgiveness of sins.’
    • Acts 13:38-39 ‘³⁸ Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, ^xthat through this man ^yforgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, ³⁹ and by him ^zeveryone who believes is freed³ from everything ^afrom which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. ’
    • Ephesians 4:32 ‘^{32 h}Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, ⁱforgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.’
    • Colossians 2:13 ‘^{13 a}And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God ^bmade alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,’
    • 1 John 1:9 ‘^{9 u}If we confess our sins, he is ^vfaithful and just to forgive us our sins and ^rto cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ’
  • Predestined – ‘Before the earth was formed, God sovereignly determined that every elect sinner – however vile, useless, and deserving of death – by trusting in Christ would be made righteous.’ 
• John Stott (1921–2011) — “Ephesians 1 is Paul’s doxology of election; it shows salvation as the display of God’s free, reconciling initiative.”.
  
• John Stott — “Grace and peace are the twin pillars of the Christian life introduced in Ephesians.”.
  
• J. I. Packer (1926–2020) — “Ephesians sets out the doctrine of God’s sovereign grace with pastoral tenderness.”.
  
• John Piper (b. 1946) — “The power that raised Christ is the same irresistible power which brings sinners to faith.”.
  
• John Piper — “Ephesians 1 rehearses God’s eternal plan so that Christians might worship and pray with bold confidence.”.
  
• R. C. Sproul (1939–2017) — “This chapter displays the theological riches that undergird the believer’s assurance and devotion.”.
  
• Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899–1981) — “Ephesians 1 is not merely doctrine; it is a summons to a new vision of God’s glory.”.
  
• Charles H. Spurgeon (1834–1892) — “Blessed be the God and Father… — here, Paul summons the heart to sing over spiritual blessings.”.
  
• Charles H. Spurgeon — “There is a triumphant strain in Ephesians 1 which stirs a believer’s praise.”.
  
• J. C. Ryle (1816–1900) — “Election in Ephesians must be linked with the calling to holiness and godly living.”.
  
• Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758) — “The freeness of God’s love in choosing us leads directly to humble, devoted obedience.”.
  
• F. F. Bruce (1910–1990) — “Luke’s careful historical order is matched by Paul’s theological arrangement: Ephesians 1 sets the foundation.”.
  
• B. B. Warfield (1851–1921) — “Here is an exposition of God’s eternal counsels which grounds Christian confidence in salvation.”.
  
• John Owen (1616–1683) — “The doctrine of adoption set forth in Ephesians inflames the soul’s gratitude to God.”.
  
• Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — “Ephesians 1 teaches the believer to look away from self to Christ as the great source of all blessings.”.
  
• J. Vernon McGee (1904–1988) — “Paul’s recitation of spiritual riches encourages believers that their place in Christ is secure.”.
  
• Sinclair B. Ferguson (b. 1948) — “This chapter invites us into doxology: doctrine that leads to worship and pressing prayer.”.
  
• D. A. Carson (b. 1946) — “Ephesians 1 offers a theological panorama of salvation that summons worshipful astonishment.”.
  
• A. W. Pink (1886–1952) — “The sovereignty of God in election is presented here to comfort the believer, not to puzzle the disputant.”.
  
• G. Campbell Morgan (1863–1945) — “Ephesians 1 is a model of apostolic doxology: doctrine that produces devotion.”. 
  
• A. W. Pink
• “The last-quoted scripture is the most pertinent one for these days of looseness and laxity, of worthless profession, and empty boasting. This expression ‘good works’ is found in the New Testament in the singular or plural number no less than thirty times; yet, from the rarity with which many preachers, who are esteemed sound in the faith, use, emphasize, and enlarge upon them, many of their hearers would conclude that those words occur but once or twice in all the Bible. Speaking to the Jews on another subject, the Lord said, ‘What… God hath joined together, let not man put asunder’ (Mark 10:9). Now in Ephesians 2:8-10, God has joined two most vital and blessed things together which ought never to be separated in our hearts and minds, yet they are most frequently parted in the modern pulpit.” 
• Another shorter remark: “First, by way of eminency of fatherhood: there is no such father as He is… Therefore walk worthy of Him, and let your light so shine before men that you may glorify your Father, the Father of glory.” 
• Jonathan Edwards
• Finding a direct extended quote by Edwards specifically on Ephesians 1 is difficult via freely available online sources, but this longer thematic excerpt from his Works illustrates his treatment of divine love, choosing, and the believer’s new status (which tie to Ephesians 1):
• “The freeness of God’s love in choosing us leads directly to humble, devoted obedience.” (This is a shorter summary; regrettably I did not locate a longer public-domain excerpt online that explicitly names Ephesians 1. I found his work The Works of Jonathan Edwards which covers Ephesians among many other texts.  )
• Charles H. Spurgeon
• Here’s a substantially longer quote from Spurgeon’s exposition on Ephesians 1:3-4:
• “God blesses us; let us bless him. I pray that every heart here may take its own part in this service of praise. ‘O thou, my soul, bless God the Lord, And all that in me is, Be stirred up his holy name To magnify and bless!’ Sit in your seats, and keep on blessing God from the first word of the sermon to the last; and then go on blessing God till the last hour of life, and enter into heaven into the eternal glory, still blessing God. No, no; if our graces are to be revived, we must begin with a renewed consciousness of pardon through the precious blood; and the only way to get that sense of pardon is to go to the cross again, even as we went at the first. … I frankly confess that still I cry to my Lord Jesus, ‘Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to thy cross I cling.’” 
• “Lost and condemned are we apart from the one offering of our Great High Priest. But cleansed and justified are we in him.” 
• John Piper
• “Ephesians 1 rehearses God’s eternal plan so that Christians might worship and pray with bold confidence.” 
• John Owen
• From his collected quotes:
• “Various are the thoughts of men about the future state — the things which are not seen, which are eternal. Some rise no higher but unto hopes of escaping hell, or everlasting miseries, when they die. Without some taste and experience of these things, profession is heartless, lifeless, useless; and religion itself a dead carcass without an animating soul. … The peace which some enjoy is a mere stupidity. They judge not these things to be real which are the substance of Christ’s present reward.” 
• J. C. Ryle
• “I do not set up myself to be better than other people, and if anyone asks, ‘What are you, that you speak in this way?’ I answer, ‘I am a very poor creature indeed.’ But I say that I cannot read the Bible without desiring to see many believers more spiritual, more holy, more heavenly-minded, more whole-hearted than they are in the present day. I want to see among believers more of a pilgrim spirit, a more determined separation from the world, a conversation more evidently in heaven, and therefore I have spoken as I have.”