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GOD'S BLESSINGS WE HAVE IN CHRIST

Ephesians chapter 1

Introduction.

This Epistle, along with Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon, was written when Paul was in Rome, waiting for his case before Caesar (Acts 28:30). Ephesus was an important city near the coast of Asia Minor (now Turkey); in it was the famous temple of Diana, a centre of idolatry and magic. The first visit of Paul was short (Acts 18:19-21); on the second, he remained there a long time (Acts 19); in the third, he stopped at the port of Miletus and called the elders of the church at Ephesus to give them important warnings and instructions (Acts 20).

The church at Ephesus was large and was the centre of the evangelization of a large part of Asia Minor. We see its spiritual history in Revelation 2:1-7.

In this Epistle, Paul shows:

1. Christians as the "spiritual body" of Christ and already "seated with Him" in heaven (chapters 1 to 3) and
2. The "walk worthy" of that position, while in the world (chapters 4 to 6).

Greeting – verses 1 and 2

As in other Epistles, Paul stresses the fact that his ministry as an apostle was from God. He writes to the "saints and faithful in Christ Jesus"- that is, the Christians, the believers who were in Ephesus. Spiritually, they were “in Christ Jesus"- a phrase very common in this epistle (see John 14:27). "Grace and peace" - the salutation of Paul in all his epistles. By the grace of God we have peace with Him and with the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1; John 14:27).

Every spiritual blessing – verses 3 to 14

This section is one sentence only, forming a report of a great many spiritual blessings, which the Christian enjoys, all of which come from God to those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

a) In the heavenly places (v. 3). This sentence is seen five times in Ephesians, to indicate the origin and nature of the blessings (although we have also earthly blessings, health, food etc.).

b) Chosen (v. 3). Believers were "elected" before the formation of the world, to have a certain character - holy and blameless - before God. Here is the motive for the "election" - not for salvation, but for the sanctification of character.

c) Predestined (v. 5-6) in divine love, to be his children (see Romans 8:29); this was the will of God, not according to our merits, but so that His grace is seen by all.

d) Redemption and remission (v. 7-8). The believer receives forgiveness of sins, being already redeemed (freed, purchased) through the abundant grace of God and the blood (sacrificial death) of the Lord Jesus (see Mark 2:7).

e) The Mystery revealed (v. 9-10). In the New Testament, this word means a subject treated vaguely in the Old Testament, but made clear in the New. Here it refers to the divine desire that, in the final period of human responsibility on the earth, all things, both heavenly and earthly, are made perfect and brought together in Christ (see Colossians 1:18-19).

f) Heirs in Christ (v. 11-13). The believers were predestined by God to be heirs. He could have left them living forever on earth, however, it was His will to make them His heirs, to the praise of His glory, that is, His spiritual glory, by saving sinners and making them His children, primarily from among the Jews, whose national hope was the Messiah. In addition, the Gentiles ("you"), through faith in Christ according to the Word of Truth - the Gospel of our salvation - were “sealed with the Holy Spirit," promised (John 14:26, Luke 24:49); this was accomplished in Acts 10.44-48.

g) The Holy Spirit is the "pledge" of our inheritance to guarantee that there is no doubt that we will receive it on the day of Christ (2 Corinthians 1:22).

The prayer of Paul – verses 15 to 23

a) The reason for his prayer: he had heard of the faith and love of the believers in Ephesus - faith in Christ as Lord and Saviour, love for all believers. Therefore, he gave thanks to God for them without ceasing (v. 15-16).

b) What Paul wished that God the "Father of Glory" and "God of our Lord Jesus Christ," would give to the believers:

1. Wisdom and full knowledge of God; i.e. spiritual growth through the Holy Spirit (v. 17).
2. Understanding ("eyes of the heart") to know the hope of divine call, the rich and glorious heritage that God has in His people, and the supreme greatness of His power in favour of believers, which was shown in the resurrection and exaltation (current and future) of Christ (v. 18-21).
3. He is made "Head over all things", even Head of the Church, which is His "body", the union of all believers with the only Lord of the Universe (v. 22-23).

Note: What a wonderful prayer of the apostle, in favour of believers! The intercession of Paul was primarily for the spiritual blessing of God's people, with definite requests. More than just “bless. . . "!

 

Richard Dawson Jones (1895 - 1987)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.
11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Ephesians chapter 1