TO GOD'S HOLY PEOPLE IN EPHESUS

Passage: Ephesians 1:1-6

Key verse: 1

NIV

1 Paul, an apostle(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,(B)

To God’s holy people(C) in Ephesus,[a](D) the faithful(E) in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.(F)

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,(G) who has blessed us in the heavenly realms(H) with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us(I) in him before the creation of the world(J) to be holy and blameless(K) in his sight. In love(L) 5 he[b] predestined(M) us for adoption to sonship[c](N) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure(O) and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace,(P) which he has freely given us in the One he loves.(Q)

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Footnotes
  1. Ephesians 1:1 Some early manuscripts do not have in Ephesus.
  2. Ephesians 1:5 Or sight in love. 5 He
  3. Ephesians 1:5 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.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Greeting

1 Paul, (A)an apostle of Christ Jesus (B)by the will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and (C)are faithful[a] in Christ Jesus:

2 (D)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

3 (E)Blessed be (F)the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing (G)in the heavenly places, 4 (H)even as he (I)chose us in him (J)before the foundation of the world, that we should be (K)holy and blameless before him. In love 5 (L)he predestined us[b] for (M)adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, (N)according to the purpose of his will, 6 (O)to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in (P)the Beloved.

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Footnotes
  1. Ephesians 1:1 Some manuscripts saints who are also faithful (omitting in Ephesus)
  2. Ephesians 1:5 Or before him in love, 5having predestined us
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

INTRODUCTION TO EPHESIANS

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter while in prison (3:1;4:1) in Rome, likely A.D. 6

or 61. He had visited this important trade center and leading city of Asia Minor to begin his third missionary journey, spending three years there (Ac 19). The Lord worked mightily among mainly Gentiles (2:11;3:1), and the church grew and matured, spreading to seven churches of Asia Minor. Paul saw a vision of the gospel reaching all the Gentile world through Rome (Ac 19:1

,21). On his final journey to Jerusalem, he entrusted the elders there, exhorting them, 'Be shepherds' (Ac 2

:28).

The major theme of the letter to the Ephesians has to do with the church, of which Christ is the head and all believers are the members of his body. The head governs the body, overseeing its functions, for the health of the whole. God's intent through the church is to reveal His manifold wisdom according to His eternal purpose (3:1

,11), making Gentiles and Israel together one body, sharers together in the promise of Christ Jesus (3:6). Paul wanted them, and us, to have a clear identity in Christ as members of his body and to see God's glorious purpose to live as members of the new humanity in Christ. Although diverse, we are members of one unit, one body: the church, prepared to carry out God's will in the world, growing to maturity and victory in the spiritual realms. May God help us understand His manifold wisdom and accept this glorious identity as His church.

1. Grace and peace to you (1,2)

Paul was probably in prison in Rome when he wrote this letter to the Ephesians. He had earlier visited there, sent as an apostle of Christ Jesus. Paul recognized the holiness of the people of Ephesus. What made them holy? They were made holy through the gospel of Jesus Christ. God made them holy because they were faithful in Christ Jesus. As Paul greeted them, he wished them grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Chosen to be holy and blameless (3-6)

Even though Paul was in prison at this time, he could give praise to the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul praised God for the blessings He had given the Ephesians (and that He gives to us!). We who belong to God have the blessings of being chosen even before the creation of the world. God chooses His people to be holy and blameless in His sight. We who are God's have the blessings of adoption as His children through Jesus Christ. And we have the blessing of His grace on us. We have all these because of the gospel. We can live gloriously as His children!

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you chose me long before I was born. I praise and thank you each day.

One Word: Chosen by God to be holy and blameless