Paul tells us of the wealth of blessings Christians have because of the work of the Holy Trinity.
Paul wrote this letter while in Rome and sent it to Ephesus by Tychicus (Ephesians 6:21).
A. Ephesus was the mother church of the seven churches of Revelation (Revelation 2-3).
B. The Ephesian church circulated this letter among the other six churches of Asia Minor.
C. Paul had visited the Ephesian church three times and once spent three years in Ephesus, teaching them night and day (Acts 20:31).
Blessings from the Father, vv. 1-6
NOTE: “in heavenly places”: This phrase occurs 5 times in Ephesians (1:3; 1:20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12). The KJV has the word “places” in italics to indicate that this word is not in the manuscript, but was supplied by the KJV translators. Literally, the phrase is “the heavenlies.” The translators supplied the word “places” because the word was inferred from 1:20, where Christ is seated at God’s “right hand in the heavenly [places].”
A. He has chosen us, vv. 3-4.
1. God’s foreknowledge = “before the foundation of teh world.”
2. God’s election = “chosen us in him [Christ].”
3. God’s predestination = “having predestinated us unto the adoption . . . by Jesus Christ.”
“Election” refers to persons; predestination to purposes for those persons. God elects us to be saints (set-apart ones), then predestines that certain purposes in our lives shall come to pass (see Romans 8:28).
God chose us by His own will (Ephesians 1:11), not because He could foresee our choice of Him. Jesus made this compellingly clear: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you” (John 15:16). Nevertheless, from our human perspective, every believer has also made his own willing decision to receive Christ (John 1:12; John 3:16; Romans 10:13; etc.).
B. He has adopted us, v. 5.
C. He has accepted us, v. 6.
In ourselves, we are not acceptable to God, but in Christ, we are “made accepted.” Though we have sinned, Christ says to the Father, “Receive this saint as you would receive Me.” Trace that wonderful phrase “in Christ” throughout Paul’s letters — you will be thrilled!
Blessings from the Son, vv. 7-12
A. He has redeemed us, v. 7.
By giving His life on the cross, Christ purchased us from the slavery of sin. We have a present redemption in that He has delivered us from the penalty and power of sin; we shall have a future redemption (Ephesians 1:14) when Christ delivers us from the presence of sin at His return.
B. He has forgiven us, v. 7.
The word “forgive” literally means “to send away.” Sin is a terrible burden that is sent away when a sinner turns to Christ. Christ carried the burden on the cross (1Peter 2:24). It is pictured by the scapegoat on the Day of Atonement, taken into the wilderness (Leviticus 16:20-22).
C. He has revealed God’s will to us, vv. 8-10.
A “mystery” is a divine truth known only by God’s people through revelation. In Christ we are a part of God’s eternal purpose to gather together “all things in Christ” (Ephesians 1:10). This present world is falling apart with war, strife, and sin. But one day God will usher in a new creation, with all things united in Christ.
D. He has made us an inheritance, vv. 11-12.
God has not only given us an inheritance in Christ (1Peter 1:3-4), but He has made us an inheritance for Christ. The church is His body, temple, and bride; we shall some day share His glory.
Blessings from the Spirit, vv. 13-14.
A. He has sealed us, v. 13.
This important verse outlines the way of salvation. The sinner hears the Word of Truth, trusts in Christ, receives the Holy Spirit, and is sealed forever. “After that ye believed” ought to be “when ye believed,” for the Spirit enters the heart the instant the sinner trusts Christ. This sealing means God owns us and will keep us. Nobody can break God’s seal!
B. He has given us an earnest, v. 14.
“Earnest money” in business means money given as a down payment for a purchased possession. Christ has purchased our future for us, but we have not yet entered into all the blessings. God has given us His Spirit as the “down payment” to assure us that we will experience total redemption and receive God’s promised blessings in glory.
Prayer for Understanding, vv. 15-23
There are two prayers in Ephesians: (1) “that you might know,” Ephesian 1:15-23; and (2) “that you might be,” Ephesians 3:13-21. The first is for enlightenment, the second for enablement. Paul prays first that we might know what Christ has done for us; then he prays that we might live up to these wonderful blessings and put them to work in our daily lives.
A. That God may give you spiritual understanding, vv. 17-18.
Because God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, we have a blessed hope for all eternity that depends not on our goodness but on His grace.
B. That you might know the hope of His calling, v. 18.
We not only have an inheritance in Christ, but we are an inheritance to Christ.
C. That you might know His power, vv. 19-23.
The very power that raised Jesus from the dead is available for our daily lives! Christ has already won the victory over sin, death, the world, and Satan. God’s people do not fight for victory but from victory! We are seated with Him in the heavenlies, where there are power, peace, and victory.