We continue in the letters of Paul, in particular his letter to the church in Ephesus. This letter appears to take many of the ideas of the letter to Colossians and expands on them.
Ephesians 1: 1-2, Greetings!
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
A standard greeting. Some ancient manuscripts do not include the destination, Ephesus. It is possible (indeed likely) that this letter was meant to be circulated to a number of churches in the region, including Ephesus. Some have argued that issues discussed here fit better with the church in Laodicea and it is possible that this letter circulated in western Asia Minor (now western Turkey, near the Aegean Sea) to cities such as Ephesus and Laodicea.
Ephesians 1: 3-6, Chosen by God
Praise 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. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
Apparently God has planned us out long before even creation began! All of this is part of a plan for which we are to praise Him. Contrary to secret societies where one gained more knowledge and power as one rose within the ranks, Christians are immediately "blessed" with "every spiritual blessing".
Ephesians 1: 7-14, Redeemed and sealed
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.
If our lives were planned out before God's creation, then apparently our spiritual development was also! This includes a "security deposit", the gift of the Holy Spirit, as promised by Old Testament prophets.
Predestination leads to lots of questions. For example, I have a number of good friends who, through sexual activity outside of marriage, suddenly discovered that a baby was on the way, even as the relationship began to break up. So, one might ask, was this sexual relationship "ordained" long ago? (Indeed, in Old Testament times, we see the lineage of David going through the child of Judah (after he visits the Tamar, who plays a prostitute) and the child Solomon after David's affair with Bathsheba.
Certainly both the Old and the New Testament show that God redeems (turns into good) bad situations but any question about predestination quickly becomes complicated.
Ephesians 1: 15-23, Paul's prayer
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
A strong prayer -- worth reviewing and praying through, for ourselves and others. It includes a request for wisdom and spiritual power and returns to describing the attributes of the Messiah.
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
A strong prayer -- worth reviewing and praying through, for ourselves and others. It includes a request for wisdom and spiritual power and returns to describing the attributes of the Messiah.
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