Ephesians – New International Version
Ephesians is my favorite book. I’ve read it many times, watched John Piper study it only a few verses at a time and I could just focus on each phrase, but I will try to keep in mind that you don’t have all day to study. So let’s pray:
Lord Jesus, help me be concise and accurate and reveal anything You want me to see in this book because it’s so full of wonder and amazing things. All for Your glory. Amen.
Please read Ephesians 1:1-2
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To God’s holy people in Ephesus,[a] the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
It’s suspected that ‘in Ephesus’ was added later and that this letter circulated through all the at the time churches. It makes no difference to me, but I thought that was an interesting thought.
If you are faithful in Christ Jesus, then you are one of God’s holy people. Progressively getting closer to where He wants to bring you through your life, a term known as sanctification.
The Father and the Lord both send grace and peace. Every day, all the time, grace (undeserved favor) and peace (that passes understanding) are available.
Please read Ephesians 1:3
Firstly, you should know, in Greek verses 3-14 are all one sentence. But I can’t find a way to read all that without stopping.
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.
Every Spiritual Blessing. Can you think of one? It’s already yours. And yes, you can access them in life today.
Please read Ephesians 1:4-6
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[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] 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.
We were chosen before we were born to be holy and blameless in love. Yes, because it’s all one sentence, remember that, the ‘in love’ generally goes with the ‘in his sight’.
Because we were chosen before we were born, He also had planned to adopt us through our faith in Jesus Christ, which accords with His pleasure and agrees with His will. Isn’t that wonderful? So much wonder in these verses.
Freely granted us grace in Christ, all of this is blessings for those of us in Christ.
Please read Ephesians 1:7-10
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, 9 he[d] 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.
Lavished on us, redemption and forgiveness. In His complete wisdom and understanding of us, He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, see it’s all for His glory and to His pleasure and full of wonder and I just can’t see how anyone can read right through and not be stunned at some of this. Our God really is good to His people.
Please read Ephesians 1:11-14
11 In him we were also chosen,[e] 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. 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.
This chosen-ness of us was also planned ahead of time, and it conforms to His will. And anyone believes, they are marked with a seal, the Holy Spirit, who is the deposit guaranteeing our inheritance while God waits to fully do all this until His whole possession comes to faith. Meaning all the people He planned to bring to faith come to faith. Thus the Kingdom is an insurgent Kingdom. But it’s a real Kingdom.
Please read Ephesians 1:15-16
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.
How often do your prayers include the believers?
Please read Ephesians 1:17-22
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him 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.
You too can pray this way. And believe verse 22 will come to pass. I encourage you to write out verses 17-19, personalized for someone or even for yourself if you find you are low in what this prayer is requesting. In Christ we have more than we can even imagine coming. Blessed be His Name.
Footnotes
[a] Ephesians 1:1 -in Ephesus,[a] – Some early manuscripts do not have in Ephesus.
[b] Ephesians 1:5 -In love 5 he[b] predestined us – Or sight in love. 5He
[c] Ephesians 1:5 -for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, – The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture.
[d] Ephesians 1:9 -With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will – Or us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he
[e] Ephesians 1:11 -In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will- Or were made heirs
[f] Ephesians 1:17 -may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation- Or a spirit
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