Ads on the internet. The book of Ephesians begins like many letters of the first century — an identification of the author, the recipients, and a greeting. Just enough blessings for us to get by? But I think there is enough evidence to believe it’s Ephesus, and, besides, it doesn’t really matter to our study of the letter. The first two verses are the “salutation” or greeting. We don’t feel that God is lavishing his blessing on us, as Paul will go on to say. Ephesians 1:1-10 Letter Introduction (1:1-2) We’ll mainly focus on verses 3-4. And your health might be failing. 2 Corinthians 1:1). Why? Paul was personally called by the Lord Jesus Christ to and appointed as an apostle (see Acts 9:3-9). (See Gill on 2 Corinthians 1:1). Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God (See Gill on Romans 1:1). He mentions his name in 1:1 and 3:1. You'll receive every new post in your inbox, so you never have to worry about missing a post. TV ads. The last two weeks have been busy at work (for my readers who are unaware, I am a campus minister). He didn’t want to share. Eulogia, BDAG 408. Some early copies of the letter leaves “in Ephesus” out, as your Bibles might mention. Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Many of you have retired from your careers. Reading Ephesians by way of the lectionary is necessarily selective. Paul follows the normal way of writing a letter, except his faith invades his introduction. According as he hath chosen us in him This choice cannot be understood of a national one, as Israel of old were chosen by the Lord; for the persons the apostle writes to were not a nation; nor does he address all the inhabitants of Ephesus, only the saints and faithful in Christ that resided there; nor are they all intended here, if any of them. Because your individual role doesn’t make sense unless you know the bigger project. 1 Corinthians 1:1). King James 2000 Bible. If you were awake for three hours before you came here, that’s roughly 50 to 500 ads that you saw this morning. And so on. and to whom he himself was made sanctification; and who were And once we understand that, it’s easier to understand our individual roles. (See Gill on 1 Corinthians 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. Click here to subscribe. What’s happening in it? But at the beginning of this letter, Paul wants your attention to be on the overwhelming riches of God’s blessings to us. So he begrudgingly tilts the iPad just enough for Owen to see and sighs loudly to let me know he wasn’t happy. . " 1:1). Ephesians 1:1-10 Letter Introduction (1:1-2) We’ll mainly focus on verses 3-4. Ephesians 1:1 Some early manuscripts do not have in Ephesus. And it works, partly because many of us already feel like we are missing something. The Second Lesson for this Sunday is the first in a series of readings from the Letter to the Ephesians extending over seven Sundays. To God's holy and faithful people who are united with Christ in the city of Ephesus. Spiritual dryness isn’t because God has kept back spiritual blessings from you. Ephesians 1:2 "Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ." Radio ads. Now, for Jude, this was on the level of another Pearl Harbor. I think the world would be more impressed with the Christian churches in the U.S. if we showed a greater concern for love and holiness than a concern for success, excitement, novelty, or business-like efficiency. The meaning of the whole seems to be, that whereas the order and harmony of God’s principal workmanship, intellectual creatures, angels and men, had been disturbed and broken by the entering of sin into the world; all mankind, and many of the angels, having apostatized from him, and the remnant of them being in their own nature labile and mutable; God would, in his appointed time, give Christ (the … The Creator has planned for you to be holy as He is holy. As verse 4 will show us, God has a purpose for giving us these blessings. He’s writing to a congregation –– a church just like ours. But, since this is a letter, its beginning starts like a normal letter during Paul’s time. Paul wrote this letter while he was in prison. 2 Peter 1:3 says something similar: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life….” The picture isn’t one of stinginess, but one of God lavishing blessings on his people. In Ephesians 2:6 the believer is conceived as already seated with Christ. Salem Media Group. But we often try to determine our individual roles without having a grasp of God’s larger plan and purpose with His people. That the next program or event or speaker or conference will revolutionize your spiritual life. Holy and blameless? These blessings are realities of our life now in Christ. Whether you are healthy or not. internally sanctified by the Spirit of God, and lived holy lives But we don’t stop and think about how these advertisements train us to view the world. I have more than full-time work as a campus minister, so when I preach, I have to find the time to do so in whatever “free” time I have left. Paul will tell us later in Ephesians: “Don’t let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building one another up.” No matter our concerns or plans, it is never okay to put our plans for our church ahead of God’s purpose for our church to be holy and blameless in how we love one another, how we talk about one another, how we forgive one another seventy-times-seven, how we love the outcasts and serve the poor. God has given us, as a church, all the spiritual blessings we need to live out His purpose for our church. Encouraged me. Just as grace was the key word in Galatians, it is prominent in all of Paul's letters. In all these areas, if you are a Christian, God has given you every spiritual blessing so that you can be holy and blameless with your money, your family, and how you deal with being mistreated. Imagine someone that gets a new job. I’m excited about preaching through Ephesians. Paul encountered Jesus, and his life was completely changed by him. But the Bible is clear that this is because we don’t fully rely on God and draw upon the powers and blessings that He has given us. It wouldn’t be a letdown. But notice the wording of verse 3. sincere in the profession of their faith in Christ, and love to 20:17). Please note this was written to be read. Do you want to live out your purpose? We spend so much time worrying about God’s will for our life. 1 1-2 I, Paul, am under God’s plan as an apostle, a special agent of Christ Jesus, writing to you faithful believers in Ephesus. Ephesians 1:4. (See Gill on But this is no ordinary letter. She is assigned to work on a larger project that has been ongoing for years. We walk around wishing we had more from God. As Ephesians 1:9-10 describe the restitution, Ephesians 1:11 says we have an inheritance therein, being predestinated; Ephesians 1:12 now tells us to what we are predestinated, namely, to being fore-hopers in Christ for attaining the inheritance in the restitution. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The other day my five-year-old son, Jude, was watching a video on the iPad. Blessed Be the Father. This precise phrase (with εν — en) occurs nowhere else in the N.T. In fact, many times, just from hearing about the larger project, we often get an intuitive grasp of our job. (See Gill on Galatians 1:1). To the saints which are at Ephesus; officers of the church, or private members, whether rich or poor, is written, are described by their character, as "saints"; being So let’s look at Ephesians. Convicted me. So I can pursue the kind of life I want. Eulogeō, BDAG 408. (Ephesians 1:5-6 RSV) These Bible study questions are designed to challenge a person or group to understand the meaning of the text as well as applying it to their lives. As we read this letter, though, remember this: Paul writes about are the realities that define his life. He says: 3Praise 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. No! God is generous is is offering your all the spiritual blessings and power in Christ. But when Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians, he starts out with a different assumption. To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. In the epistle to the Ephesians we are still working together today with the great statement in Chapter 1 in which Paul is setting forth for us the great, fundamental facts of our faith in Jesus Christ. abilities. of Christ, and to his Gospel and ordinances; and were hearty and This letter to the Ephesians is really nothing more than a description of the riches that we have in Jesus Christ. Each decision is a decision about whether you will live out your God-given purpose. Footnotes. Submitted by admin on Sat, 2009-12-26 23:02. (See Gill on Galatians These studies are free to … Ads on your phone apps. God’s purpose for you has more to do with your character than your calling. Before her supervisors explain her role, they first explain to her the larger project. Article Images Copyright © 2021 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. (Ephesians 1:4 RSV) That is Number 1: It goes back before the beginning of time, before the foundation of the universe. 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