Ephesians 1:6-7

This shows that what He is doing had nothing to do with the way we are. It had everything to do with His initiating and choosing us because He wanted us, not because of anything that we have done.

The word 'forgiveness' means, "to be loosened from some bondage." It is actually taken from the picture of somebody who is tied up by cords or ropes. Have we been loosened from a political unit called Egypt? No. From another human being? No. From sin. That is what has held us in bondage—sin. It is interesting that the word that is translated 'sins' is paraptoma and it indicates deviations from the right path. We have been held by bondage from deviations from the right path.

All this was done according to His grace. . .

Ephesians 1:5-9

The predestination here does not apply to us as individuals. It applies in general to the fact that God planned that there would be a church, that there would be a group that would have characteristics that were similar to His Son.

Ephesians 1:3-6

You know, from Adam, to Noah, to Abraham, to Moses, to us today, God was preparing all this before the foundations of the world. He was working. God chose you long before you were even born.

Ephesians 1:3-12

That is what He is working toward, making us all one in Christ and that we could all be glorified in Him, as part of Him.