Ephesians is one of the very best letters written by Paul. Like Romans, this letter is not addressing any particular problem that has developed in the church. Rather, it is a shining example of Paul’s greater dissertation on faith. In the first chapter, Paul lays out the doctrines of the gospel. In chapter 2 we move to the Christian experience. Following that, Paul explains the very precepts of the Christian faith.
Ephesians was mainly written for believers in Ephesus and most likely other Christian believers throughout the known world, particularly in western Asia Minor.
This is primarily a letter written for Christians to understand the depth and dimension of their faith, how it lives in one’s life, and how the spiritual ramifications of it cannot be ignored. If we are to live the life, then this is the letter that explains what a life lived for Christ is really about.
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
This introduction is a brief one. Paul normally introduces himself, then lays out his qualifications as a follower of Christ. This letter is addressed to the holy people of Ephesus.
Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. First, Paul calls for praise to be given to God the Father and for Jesus Christ. This is important to note. How often do we make the declaration that everything that we’ve been given is a gift from God? From these few opening words, Paul is already giving us a roadmap for how to stay connected to God: recognize where our gifts come from.
Our blessings, both temporal (temporary, in this world) and eternal (Spiritual, to be used for His kingdom), are all given by God. Often we don’t recognize what a plethora of blessing we have. God wants us to recognize the blessing and move forward in certainty and assurance. As Charles Spurgeon put it, “If you think little of what God has done for you, you will do very little for him; but if you have a great notion of his great mercy to you, you will be greatly grateful to your gracious God.”
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
If God has chosen us, before creation, then the spiritual blessings should be understood and gratefully received with certainty. God wants to take care of us, an he wants us to fulfill our purpose for Him. In that, our main function is to become a spearhead of light, holy and blameless.
This becomes a challenging question of faith. If becoming holy and blameless is the endgame, then we’ve obviously fallen short. None of us live in that capacity, not in this fallen world. And even so, God has blessed us with all of these spiritual blessings. God’s love is fathomless in many ways, and a quick evaluation of your life may make you feel unworthy. But you aren’t. Like a parent loving a child, God loves us despite our faults, actions and mistakes.
The second challenge comes in verse 5, when Paul says that In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus. Here we may be tempted to mull over free will. Does it really exist if God already has a plan for us? Yes, it does. Our free will choice in accepting God is still a choice. God may allow any number of calamities and trials in our life to accept His plan for us, but we still have the free will choice to reject Him.
We also may look at God’s adoption of us and think, ‘that doesn’t sound fun’. But that is terribly short-sighted. If God made us (Psalm 139) with a purpose in mind, then it stands to reason that if we were to live up to that purpose would bring ultimate fulfillment in our life and our destiny. Joining God on this fantastic journey would also guarantee us salvation, transformation, and a close and confident relationship with Him.
Once we accept the grace of God, we are adopted into a family of which we can have true relationship. this is an act of grace, for we obviously don’t deserve the love of the father. But he gives it anyway.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,
Jesus is the only way toward redemption. Through Jesus we have forgiveness (not just a covering of sins but a forgetting of sins). This is a gift from God. It isn’t something we can earn. Lavish is a good word for this. The dictionary terms lavish as sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious. This is God’s love for us. Something we don’t deserve yet is given to us in droves - if we are willing to accept it.
This understanding of God’s love was mysterious before Christ. Christ’s life, how he dealt with mankind, how he laid down his life, are all great examples of how God views us, loves us and wants relationship with us. The redemption of Christ’s sacrifice is akin to a price being paid for freedom. The blessing comes via the sacrifice, and God cannot bless what isn’t in accordance to His will.
9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
God’s will is revealed through Jesus. But what’s God’s ultimate plan? To reconcile everything under Jesus Christ’s saving grace or through his judgment. This unity is to bring all together under him. In Romans, Paul said that society anguishes over this unity under Christ (Romans 8:18-22). This unity, which we fight most of our life is exactly what we need and desire.
For those who follow, God’s plan is revealed in His Purpose through our work. In this work we praise God.
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
A seal, in Paul’s time, denoted ownership. In the same way, the seal (ownership) is given to those who believe in Christ. But there is a distinction to this: Paul says that we were included in Christ when we heard the message and marked with a seal when we believed.
When we hear the word, we are responsible for the word. In Romans, Paul makes this same distinction in chapter 2. He says that people are responsible for belief in Christ when they hear the word. In that moment, there is a choice to be made: either you follow or you do not. Even those who have never heard about Christ are responsible to follow the moral barometer inside them. In both cases, we are obligated to good, love and responsibility.
So in hearing the word, we have a responsibility to it. Belief is different. When we truly believe in the word, we are sealed then with the holy spirit. This is important, for there are many hearers of the word, but they aren’t all believers. This sealing, only given upon true and authentic belief, is, as Paul puts it, a deposit that guarantees our inheritance. The inheritance is this: our redemption. For all of the sins, the broken relationships, the bad choices- that is all wiped away in the redemptive love of God. All due to His glory, given freely by grace.
Thanksgiving and Prayer 15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
The faith and love that Paul sees from the Ephesians isn’t how we earn God’s grace; it is evidence of our participation in it. It is the fruit of our spirit (Galatians 5: 22-25).
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Paul prays for the spirit of wisdom, for the Ephesians to understand God better.
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Paul prays that this spirit of wisdom will give them an even deeper understanding of God, their purpose, what awaits them when their mission is over, all rooted in the everlasting power of God. This power rests in Christ, who’s name must be glorified and exalted.