7-10 Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.

11-12 It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

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he[a] made known to us the mystery(A) of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed(B) in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment(C)—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.(D)

11 In him we were also chosen,[b] having been predestined(E) according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose(F) of his will,

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 1:9 Or us with all wisdom and understanding. And he
  2. Ephesians 1:11 Or were made heirs