Ephesians 1:1-6
1 “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are at Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 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 would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved.”
Verse 1: Paul introduces himself as an apostle, chosen by God, to deliver this letter to the believers in Ephesus. He addresses them as God’s holy people, emphasizing their identity in Christ. This identity in Christ is revealed to be directly tied to God’s election.
Verse 2: Paul extends his greeting of grace and peace to the believers, reminding them that these blessings come from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. It is through their relationship with Christ that they receive these gifts.
Verse 3: Paul begins with a praise to God, acknowledging that He is the source of all blessings. He emphasizes that believers have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms through their union with Christ. This highlights the completeness and abundance of the blessings we have received.
Verse 4: Paul reveals a profound truth: God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. This choice was not based on anything we have done, but solely on God’s grace and love. He chose us to be holy and blameless in His sight, setting us apart for himself.
Verse 5: God’s predestination is not about selecting certain individuals for salvation, but rather His plan to offer salvation to all who believe in Jesus Christ. Through His love, God predestined us for adoption as His children. This adoption is based on our faith in Christ and is in accordance with His pleasure and will.
Verse 6: The purpose of our adoption and the blessings we have received is to bring praise to God’s glorious grace. It is important to note that these blessings are freely given to us through our union with the One whom God loves, Jesus Christ.
