Change of Address

Ephesians 1:3–14 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Each summer around mid or late July, my family and I have had enough of the Texas heat. So we always book a one week vacation with only two thoughts in mind, the place we visit has to be up north and it has to be a place that promotes wonder and awe. And by that, I mean it needs to be a place that displays God’s glory in creation, so that we might be reminded of who we are in response to who he is. By changing our location each summer, we change our feelings and circumstances, if only for a week at a time. Well, here the apostle Paul is sharing with us a radical new way of viewing our location, without changing our setting or circumstance. While we typically see the world through the lenses of self and circumstance, Paul urges us to look deeper.

Ephesians 1:3 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

Paul is writing from jail (Eph 3:1; 4:1; 6:20). Probably chained to some prison guard, yet his location is not determining his mood. Why? Because where we just see self and circumstance, Paul tells us that we are “in Christ” and “in the heavenly places.” Our true location can only be considered when we are properly aware of Christ’s authority. Paul in jail. You in whatever location you are in, going through whatever it is you are going through, are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ, in the heavenly places.

What does that entail?

Ephesians 1:4 ESV

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

You are chosen, like Abraham and Israel before you. Not because you are holy and blameless, but so you could be holy and blameless before him, and a blessing to the world.

Ephesians 1:5 ESV

he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

Adoption … is the highest privilege that the gospel offers: higher even than justification.

J. I. Packer

 2   If I am adopted, I have become a child; God is no longer my judge, but my Father.

D. L. Moody

“The Eighth Chapter of Romans” sermon (19th century)

Dwight L. Moody

We see in these two quotes the power of the blessing that is adoption. We have not only been pardoned by God the judge, but we have been adopted by God the Father.

Ephesians 1:6–7 ESV

to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

In Christ, we have been blessed with his grace, redeemed through his blood and forgiven of our trespasses. The word for redeemed means to be loosed from bondage, and the word for forgiveness means to be restored to right relationship. In our true location we are set free from the law that held us in bondage, and we are restored to a right relationship with our Father, through grace. This goes back to the idea of being freed by God the judge, but adopted and given a right relationship by God the father.

Ephesians 1:8–10 ESV

which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

In our true location Paul tells us we are let in on the mystery of all of history, which was summed up in Christ, uniting all things in him. Some translations say recapitualation.