Ephesians 1:1-14

In ancient Israel, God chose a nation not because of their size or strength, but for His glory. God chose a people who were small, weak, , unimpressive, and insignificant. In His infinite wisdom, He chose to use such a people to bless the world by bringing the world back to Him. God’s chosen people now are those who trust in Him and His Messiah. We are to be a blessing to the world by bringing the world back to God. We aren’t chosen to be big, strong, impressive, or significant. We are chosen to be faithful, and to let God’s glory shine through us.

Info On Ephesus

Population estimated at 300,000.

Capital city of the Roman province of Asia, in modern Turkey.

A leading trade center in Roman Empire.

Center of the worship of pagan goddess Diana. The temple of Diana was one of the wonders of the ancient world.

A beautiful city, very sophisticated, wealthy, and pagan.

Great Outline

1:1–2 Paul greets the recipients of his letter

1:3–14 We owe God praise for his great blessings in the heavenly realms in Christ

1:3 We have been brought into the heavenly realms

1:4–11 Our destiny is part of God’s grand plan to sum up all things in Christ

1:11–14 God will work out everything to fulfill his purpose for those who belong to him

1:15–23 Paul thanks God for all this and prays accordingly for the Christians

1:15–16 Paul is grateful for the faith and love Christians have

1:17–23 Paul asks God to help believers understand the power of God and the present, exalted position of Christ

2:1–10 The first step in the fulfillment of God’s plan is to raise people spiritually from death to life

2:1–3 We were in a state of spiritual death

2:4–10 We now have the gift of spiritual life

2:11–22 The second step in the fulfillment of God’s plan is to reconcile Jew and Gentile through the cross

2:11–12 We were extremely separated from each other

2:13–18 Christ reconciled us to himself and to each other

2:19–22 As a result of this reconciliation, together we form a great temple for the Lord to dwell in

3:1–21 The third step is the formation of the church as one body

3:1–6 God’s intention is a mystery that is now unfolding

3:7–13 God chose to fulfill his intention through Paul and then through the church

3:14–21 Paul offers a prayer that continues to reveal God’s intention in the church

4:1–6 The fourth step is to maintain unity in the church

4:1 We should live a life worthy of our calling

4:2–3 There are certain personal qualities necessary for our unity

4:4–6 There are certain doctrines that are basic to our unity

4:7–16 The fifth step is to foster corporate maturity through God’s gifts to the church

4:7 Individuality is important

4:8–10 A passage in the Psalms looks forward to the bestowal of God’s gifts

4:11 There are special gifts—the leaders themselves whom God has given to the church

4:12–16 These gifts foster both continuing unity and maturity

4:17–6:9 The sixth step is the attainment of Christian morality, accomplished through radical change

4:17–19 Radical change is needed

4:20–24 Radical change has a firm basis in the Christian’s life

4:25–5:2 Paul cites specific examples of this radical change

5:3–14 There is a need for still further moral change

5:15–21 We need to be filled with the Spirit

5:21–6:9 A radical change in human relationships should ensue

6:10–20 There is a major spiritual battle being waged in the heavenly realms

6:10–12 The spiritual battle is immensely important

6:13–17 We need special armor for the spiritual battle

6:18–20 Continual prayer in the Spirit on all occasions for all believers is essential

6:21–24 Paul concludes with words of encouragement

Synopsis of Ephesians 1:1-14

Ephesians 1:1-14 offers several key points that could be emphasized in a sermon. The passage begins with praise to God for the spiritual blessings bestowed upon believers in Christ. These blessings are described as being "in the heavenly places," indicating their spiritual and eternal nature. The text emphasizes God's sovereign choice of believers before the world's foundation, with the purpose that they should be holy and blameless. This election is linked to God's love and His plan for adoption into His family through Jesus Christ. The passage also highlights the theme of redemption through Christ's blood, which brings forgiveness of sins according to God's grace. Paul mentions God's revelation of His will to unite all things in Christ, both in heaven and on earth. The text concludes by describing the sealing of believers with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of their inheritance. Throughout the passage, there is a recurring emphasis on these blessings being "to the praise of his glory," underscoring the ultimate purpose of God's redemptive work. Additionally, the passage outlines the process of salvation: hearing the gospel, believing in Christ, and being sealed with the Holy Spirit.

Application

Ephesians 1:1-14 offers several key points of application for believers. One of the articles indicates that this passage focuses on praising God and understanding redemption in Christ. The text emphasizes the importance of knowing one's identity before God through Christ, which serves as a foundation for living out that identity. Paul begins by greeting the saints and then praises God for His preplanned spiritual blessings. This suggests that believers should recognize and appreciate the blessings God has prepared for them in advance. The passage also introduces the concept of the "mystery" of God's will, which is further explained in later chapters as the gospel of salvation. This implies that believers should seek to understand and embrace the profound nature of their salvation. Additionally, the text highlights that salvation comes only by grace through faith, not by human merit, resulting in God's creation of a new family of redeemed individuals. This underscores the importance of humility and gratitude in the believer's life, recognizing that salvation is entirely a gift from God.