EPHESIANS CHAPTER ONE

Published March 5, 2008

What I call the Church Epistles some call the Pauline Epistles because they were written by the Apostle Paul. I call them the Church Epistles because they are written to The Church of God. As I have mentioned in a previous article a “church” is any group coming together for a purpose. Christians are the called out from among both the Jew and the Gentile. We have a purpose for being here on Earth and we have the promise of a life much better than this. The Church Epistles ( Romans, I&II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and I&II Thessalonians) tell us what we have in Christ Jesus now and in the future. There is no other place in the Bible that so eloquently tells us what we have as the first two chapters of Ephesians.
Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
A lot of Christians, think that God doesn’t love them or that they are outside of God’s love. That just isn’t correct. God sends His grace (unmerited divine favor) to us just as He sent it to those Christians in Ephesus way back then. Not only that but we have peace with our Father God and with His Son Jesus Christ. How many many people would like to know that God is not angry with them? He can’t be if He is at peace with us!
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
How many churches teach that today? Yet, it is as true today as it was two thousand years ago! God HAS blessed us with all spiritual blessings.
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Wow! I don’t have to explain every verse, do I? These verses are so power packed and yet who has believed this. You should because it is the truth! All you have to do is read and re-read and re-read these two chapters until it sinks in that these aren’t just words but this is the truth. God loves you and He has blessed you. Why don’t you see it in your life? One simple reason. You don’t believe it.
Hebrews 4: 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
You can’t do it on your own. He made you accepted.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Umm, Sealed, Hello! We were sealed. That means no one can take it away and no one can separate us from God and His love. (Romans 8:35-37)
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
What is the purchased possession? We are! We were purchased with the blood of Christ.
15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
16 Cease not 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 unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own 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 world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Do you think that the miracles that were wrought by the hands of the Apostles has gone away? If the Bible is what it says it is, the Word of Truth, then the power is still available.
2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:
Quickened means made alive.
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
As far as God is concerned we are already there. It is just a matter of time.
7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
In the Old Testament times no one was allowed into the inner most room in the Temple except the priests. But when Christ died the Veil that separated man from that inner room was rent from the top to the bottom (by God) signifying that the way into God’s presence was made available to all mankind.
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Both is both Jew and Gentile.
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
This was the great Mystery that was hid in God. That God would take out of both Jews and Gentiles a new people – Christians.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
What a great privilege to be God’s sons and daughters. We are blessed, We have peace with God, we are sealed and as far as God is concerned we are already seated heaven!

Posted in General