Ephesians 1:1-14: The Riches of His Grace

The letter opens on a magnificent note of jubilation with much praise.

The writer's name is given first and then his official authority assured by the office he holds, "an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God". The greeting extends "grace" and "peace" which Paul uses consistently in his writing (1st Thess 1/1st Cor 1/Gal I/Phil 1) with "grace" being the saving action of God to redeem and restore His creation which has moved in error from His purpose, with the effect coming in "peace" which is harmony and wholeness as a new order reflected in Jesus.

GOD'S PURPOSE IN ETERNITY AND TIME

There are several approaches, to these initial verses.

One is historical, looking at the Father's purpose proceeding through human time, worked out, through the ministry of His Son. By this one act in time (verse 7), the forgiveness of sins was secured for all believers (verse 13) who were brought to faith by their hearing the Gospel and responding to it.

Second, there is the praise of God approach. It is the Father who chooses His people in love (verses 3-5). The one in whom the church is elected is Christ the Son, who is also the redeemer at the cost of His sacrificial death (verse 7). It is the Holy Spirit who applies the work of Christ to His people and so makes real the eternal purpose of the Trinity.

Third, there is an approach to remove the claim by Jewish believers that they were in some way superior to Gentile believers. Gentiles are assured in verses 13& 14 that they too are included in Christ, even though they were not first to hope in His coming. God's final goal in history is to sum up all things in Christ.

The church now lives "in Christ" (verse 3) because of God's previous choosing. This is a mystery and to some a stumbling block. Yet it is absolutely the teaching of the New Testament. The negative aspects of election (sometimes said to be the "doom of the damned") are not found at all in this writing. Here we are taught that God's electing mercy is a call to our praise and a lesson that our lives always have been, are now, and always will be in God's hands.

This choosing is not an excuse for carelessness in spiritual matters but is coupled with a strong reminder that we Christians have a moral responsibility to accept the highest moral standards. We are chosen to be holy (set aside) and blameless in the sight of the Lord.

THE FATHER'S CHOICE

Election is closely connected to adoption (verse 5), and both are expressions of His love. His intention is that there should be many sons and daughters in His family, all of whom share the likeness of their elder brother.

CHRIST'S ACHIEVEMENT

Becoming and being a Christian depends on what Christ has accomplished. Romans 3:22: " ... the righteousness of God, which is by the faith of Jesus

Christ…”.

The immediate benefit is the forgiveness of sins, with the promise that, since the burden of the past is removed, a new start to life is begun. Redemption and pardon are a part of the entire work of Christ.

The nature of the plan is now stated. It has its grand objective as the summing up of all things in Christ (verse 10). The secret of the divine purpose is in Christ and it is an "open secret" accessible to all believers.

It remains a mystery in that no person could have guessed what God would choose to do but it is now revealed by Paul, as given him by the Holy Spirit. Its content is that Gentiles as well as Jews are united in a common hope and blessing with all barriers broken down.

God made the earth and man to reflect His image. In doing so He bound heaven and earth together into a unify. There is no aspect of human life residing outside of this unity and no hostile force can frustrate His eternal purpose. (Ephesians 6: 11-18).

GOD AT WORK IN HUMAN LIFE

Paul now turns his mind and writing to the process by which His saving design touches lives. He joins himself to the Jewish people who had long been sustained by the hope of the coming of the Messiah. In verse 13 Paul expands his teaching toward the Gentiles by the words "you also". Now he teaches that both Jews and Gentiles are "members together of one body", to form a worldwide church, even if they came into the body from far different cultures.

The Jewish people had an inheritance and were a special possession of God. The Gentiles had no such privilege or place, but in Christ both groups gain together a new destiny. The way into the church is the same for both groups. Verses 13-14 outline the steps, hearing the Word of truth and responding in faith.

The prospect Paul teaches is one of final redemption, already begun in the offer of forgiveness and a new life which places us in a unique position of "already but not yet".

God's saving purposes in Christ have already appeared in the life of the church, but the final end to all things under God is "not yet".

Christ has been exalted and the church has been raised to be with Him but there is still conflict to be faced, because the days are evil. Yet the end i_s not in doubt, since the Spirit lives in the church through each believer as a guarantee that the final inheritance is assured.

Deut 32:9:

"For the Lord's portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance".

Jacob, of course, is the original name of the man whom God decided to rename Israel. Just as Paul teaches here, he reminds us in Romans 9:6-7 that" ... they are not all Israel which are of Israel. .. " meaning that the Gentiles are considered Israel as well as the Jews who believe on Jesus, all in one body, the body of Christ.