Ephesians 1:15-23

Recap

Ephesians: Part 1

God’s Reconciliation in Christ, Chapters 1-3

Ephesians Part 2

Our Response to God’s work in Christ, Chapters 4-6

Ephesians 1:3–14 CSB

3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ 10 as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. 11 In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, 12 so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory. 13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians Original Meaning

A. Blessed and chosen by God to live blamelessly before him (thesis) (1:3–4)

B. Chosen by God for adoption and forgiven through grace (explanation) (1:5–8a)

C. God’s plan for eternity revealed and his Spirit given as a guarantee (explanation) (1:8b–14)

Now for some questions.

Who taught you how to pray? How have your prayers changed? Who influences the wording of your prayers today?

What do “faith”, “love”, and “hope” mean to a Christian?

Do the rulers and authorities give you hope? What do they give you?

Ephesians 1:15–19 CSB

15 This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.

Ephesians Original Meaning

A. The report Paul has of their faith and love (1:15)

B. Affirmation that he gives thanks and prays for them (1:16)

C. Intercession for the gift of revelation (1:17–23)

1. The primary request is that God will give his revealing Spirit (1:17)

2. The goal of the prayer is that the revelation will bring a three-part knowledge of God (1:18–19)

a. To know the hope of his calling (1:18a)

b. To know the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints (1:18b)

c. To know his incomparably great power (1:19)

Faith, Hope, Love

Ephesians 1:20–23 CSB

20 He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens—21 far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

Psalm 8:6 CSB

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:

Ephesians Original Meaning

Description of the working of God’s power in Christ (1:20–23)

a. Resurrection from the dead (1:20a)

b. Exaltation to God’s right hand and above every ruler or force (1:20b–21)

c. Scripture proof of the submission of all things to Christ (1:22a)

d. Christ as head of all things for the church, his body (1:22b–23a)

e. The fullness filling all things (1:23b)

Application Overview

A main point of emphasis in Eph 1 is that the believer’s salvation is part of God’s predestined plan for the world (Eph 1:4–5). Before God established the created order, in His love (Eph 1:4) and good pleasure (Eph 1:5b), He chose believers as His portion (Eph 1:5a). As God’s adopted children, believers have obtained an inheritance (Eph 1:11) that is guaranteed by the Spirit (Eph 1:14). Paul assures believers of their salvation by emphasizing the roles of each member of the Trinity: God chose believers for adoption according to His eternal purposes (Eph 1:3–10); Christ’s death and resurrection brought about salvation and victory over evil powers (Eph 1:11–12, 20–21); and the Spirit functions as the seal and promise of believers’ inheritance and redemption (Eph 1:13–14).