Saints Foreordained to Receive the Gospel

Ephesians 1:1-8; What blessings are the saints of God foreordained to receive in this life? Paul here lists the following: 1. All spiritual blessings, which of necessity includes the companionship of the Holy Ghost and the gifts of the Spirit in this life, to say nothing of eternal life in the realms ahead; 2. The everlasting gospel; 3. Baptism; 4. Membership in the Church; 5. The gift of the Holy Ghost; 6. Redemption from the spiritual fall, including the remission of sins; and 7. Adoption into the family of God the Father, as sons of God and therefore as joint-heirs with Christ his natural Son. Foreordination] See Romans 8:28-34a.

Ephesians 1:1; 1. Apostle] See Acts 13:50-52; Acts 14:1-7; 1 Corinthians 4:1-21. Saints] See Philipians 1:1-26.

Ephesians 1:2-3; 2-3. Two Gods, not one! Since true religion centers in a knowledge of the true God, Paul, wisely, begins each of his epistles by talking about the Father and the Son. Only when men know the true and living God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent, who also is God, can their worship lead them to eternal life. (John 17:3.)

Ephesians 1:3; 3. All spiritual blessings] Everything which God, in his infinite wisdom and by his grace and goodness, has, through the gospel, showered upon the saints, and more particularly that blessing, eternal life, which shall be enjoyed in heavenly places.

Ephesians 1:3-4; 3-4. Thus, the saints came into this world with the promise of eternal life, a promise given them in pre-existence, before the foundation of the world.

Ephesians 1:4; 4. He] God the Father. Hath chosen us] Hath chosen, elected, and foreordained us, his saints. Before the foundation of the world] While we were yet in pre-existence. That we should be holy and without blame before him in love] That we should receive his gospel and gain membership in his Church and, through baptism of water and the Spirit, have our sins remitted and thus become clean and spotless before him. (3 Nephi 27:19-21.)

Ephesians 1:5; 5. Having predestinated us] Having foreordained us. Unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself] To be adopted into the family of God the Father, as the sons of God, thus inheriting, receiving, and possessing the fulness of his kingdom, along with his natural born Son Jesus—all of which comes to pass because of Christ's atonement. Sons of God] See Galatians 4:1-7. Joint-heirs with Christ] See Romans 8:14-19.

Ephesians 1:6; 6. He . . . us accepted in the beloved] God hath accepted us as his sons along with his Beloved Son.

Ephesians 1:7; 7. In whom] In Christ. We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins] We are redeemed from the "spiritual fall" and become alive in Christ through repentance and baptism. (D&C 29:43-44.)