Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for giving us through Christ every possible spiritual benefit as citizens of heaven! For consider what He has done - before the foundation of the world He chose us to become, in Christ, His holy and blameless children living within His constant care. He planned, in His purpose of love, that we should be adopted as His own children through Jesus Christ - that we might learn to praise that glorious generosity of His which has made us welcome in the everlasting love He bears toward the Beloved. It is through Him, at the cost of His own blood, that we are redeemed, freely forgiven through that full and generous grace which has overflowed into our lives and opened our eyes to the truth.
Eph 1 (Phillips translation)
Amazing - His purpose all along was to bring us into the family so that He could lavish on us the very love that is enjoyed among the Trinity! (To imagine that the Father loves us just as much as He loves Jesus is mind-bogggling!) He wanted us as His children, and He's put us forever under His constant love and care. What a beautiful life we have with Him!
