The exegetical idea (Paul gave accolades to God for having blessed Jews and Gentiles thoroughly in Christ by choosing and adopting them, redeeming them, and giving them his Spirit, as he prepared to restore all things in Christ) leads to this theological focus: God deserves our applause for his works in Christ and by the Spirit to bless believers and restore the world. God deserves believers’ praise, as the passage makes clear near its beginning when it proclaims, “Blessed be God!” (v.