EPHESIANS 1:1-6
When was this written:60-62 Ad
Who was it written by: Paul, 1:1
Who was it written to: To the Church in Ephesus
Where was it written: Rome While a prisoner 3:1-4:1
What is the theme of the book: Love, from the heart, conscience and faith, look at the book of Revelation.
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:
By– he is an apostle because God choose him, nothing he did.
Saints– This term is misused and misunderstood today. Biblically it means those who believe in the messiah.
Faithful in Christ Jesus– This greeting points to two things, saints, those who are sanctified by Christ, by putting their faith in him. 2 Thess 2:13
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
-Common greeting in Paul’s letter
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
God and Father– 1st person of the trinity. He is the Father of Jesus, Jn 20:17 his is being praised by Paul, the reason is what he has done for us.
Blessed us- That is all believers, look at 1:1
Every Spiritual Blessing- every possible spiritual blessing not just some. This is not like spiritual gifts. This is not to be confused with physical blessings. We do not need to ask for them, we already have them.
Heavenly Places- This is where the blessings lay, think about where you belong
In Christ- this is where they come from. The blessings are from Jesus, given to his followers.
understanding verse our blessings
1. When: eternity past;
2. With what: every spiritual blessing
3. Where heavenly places
4. How Christ
Just as- this could be said “even as” his choosing and his blessings is all on God nothing to do with us, we just get the results. This points to the trinity, the way God blesses believers is threefold,
God bless us because the Father choose us, this was made possible because Jesus died for us, and that is confirmed by the spirits sealing.
Rom. 8:30; Eph. 1:11; 1 Thes. 1:4; 2 Thes. 2:13; Titus 1:1
Choose us– While we were yet sinners Christ died for us. He choose us to be his.
In Him- This Is referring to Christ, God choose us to be saved. This was done before time.
Should be- This points to the fact that this is not accomplished yet, but will be.
Holy- Set apart for special use. God has a special job for you, yes you.
Without blame- this is pointing to the sacrificial animals sacrifices to God. The high priest on the day of atonement would place the blame of Israel on the sacrificial lamb and let it loose in the wilderness.
In Love- God is love, and that love is manifest in his blessings and is manifested in the believers lives as holiness. While we were yet sinners Christ showed us love by dyeing for us.
Predestined- Marked out beforehand. This is not pointing to people but pointing to what people are predestined for. In context this is pointing to the fact that believers are marked out to be adopted as sons and daughters of God.
Adoption- putting in the position of a son. Roman adoption
By Christ Jesus- This is the agent of adoption.
To himself- To his family
Good Pleasure of his will- He wanted to do this, He was not forced into this
When it comes to predestination in context it follows election, God from the beginning of eternity looked into the future destination of his adopted children and choose believers.
the praise of the glory of His grace- Praising his undeserved favor. This is the first of three expressions, this is after the work of the father, the second is after the work of the son (12) the third is after the work of the spirit (14).
We praise God because all that he has done for us, he blessed us, he choose us, and adopted us, all made possible because of Jesus.
First Baptist Church Delmar 