An Apostles Greeting: Ephesians 1:1-2

Introduction

When I was sixteen, I began attending a Wednesday Night Youth service at the First Southern Baptist Church of Mattoon, IL. I had met and been invited by the youth pastor Jeremy Bundren over an online video game and had been invited by several of my friends who attended regularly. Eventually, I went and never stopped going. One of the early books that Jeremy preached through during those services was the book of Ephesians. Through hearing that book read and preached, God drew me to Himself and has fashioned me into the man who now stands before you. Ephesians chapter 2:1-10 was the first passage I memorized and the text I have preached more than any other. So it would be an understatement to say that the book of Ephesians is important to me.

Vista Baptist Church and guests, today we begin our journey through that book. And I believe that God will bless you through it as He has blessed me. With that said, we will focus on the first two verses of the letter, which will help us jump off into the theme of the entire book. As a sneak peek, the key concept of this book is reconciliation. By the end of this series, you will have a good idea of what that means. For this sermon, however, we will answer the following question.

What do the saints who are believers in Christ Jesus need to know? Or put differently, what do Christians, and if you are a Christian, need to know?

To answer this question, I want you to acknowledge three aspects of the greeting we find in verses 1-2.

Body

To begin with, acknowledge the author of this letter (1:1a).

A. Exposition:

Look at the first part of verse 1: "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God."

The author of this letter is Paul. The man who Christ powerfully transformed from a persecutor of the church into a writer of New Testament Scriptures and church planter. The man, who was present at and approved of the murder of Stephen years later penned this letter. He describes himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus. The Greek word translated apostle has two common usages in Scripture.

On the one hand, it has a general usage that applies to all who are sent with a message by a superior. An apostle in this sense is one who legally represents the one who sent them. It is like a power of attorney or an attorney that speaks and operates on behalf of the person who designated them as such. This usage can refer to any Christian sent out by a church (Philippians 2:25; 2 Corinthians 8:22). It could be used of a missionary or church planter sent out by a local congregation. It could be used of the messengers that we would send to an associational meeting.

On the other hand, it has a more specific usage to refer to a special office during the founding period of the New Testament Church. This type of apostle is a legal representative of Christ. The message and word they declare are infused with the authority of Christ who sent them. What sets them apart from a more general apostle is the one who selected and sent them. Moreover, all apostles of this special sort are eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ, directly appointed by Jesus, and confirmed through miraculous signs.

Paul claims to be an apostle of Christ through the will of God. As Acts and Paul's letters confirm, he met all the requirements to be considered an apostle of Christ. Paul was an eyewitness of the resurrected Christ (1 Corinthians 9:1; Acts 9; 22; 23; 26). He was directly appointed to His task as an apostle by Christ (Acts 9:15-16; Galatians 1:1). His mission is confirmed through miraculous signs (Acts 13:11; 14:10; 19:11-12; 20:10-20; 28:5, 8; 2 Corinthians 12:12). Thus, Paul is no run-of-the-mill messenger from a church. He inhabits the apostolic office and, therefore, has delegated authority from Christ to proclaim and write the very Words of God. God has selected Him to be the primary way the gospel of our Lord Jesus would spread not only to the Jews but also to gentiles like you and me.

By describing himself as an apostle of Christ, Paul declares his authority and calls all readers of this letter to listen not merely as if Paul were speaking but as if Christ Himself was speaking through Paul.

It is also worth noting that Paul wrote this letter from prison sometime in the early 60s AD.

Applications: Two applications naturally flow from what we learn about the author of this letter.

First, the office of apostle, which Paul inhabited, has ceased with the death of the last apostle during the founding period of the New Testament Church. Those that claim to be in this office are either mistaken or lying. The work of apostles is carried on by the ordinary teaching and leading office we call pastor. The difference between a pastor and an apostle is that a pastor is under the authority not only of Christ but the New Testament as the words of Christ through the Apostles. The Bible as breathed out by God through the prophets and apostles is the only certain rule of faith and obedience.

Second, the red letters in your Bible are not the only words of Christ. All of the Scriptures are His Word given by messengers that He appointed. Thus, the words of Paul we find here are every bit as binding as the words of Christ in the great commission or the Lord's Prayer. Therefore, read all of the Bible as the Word of Christ.

Transition: We have acknowledged the author of this letter.

Now, acknowledge the audience of this letter (1:1b).

Exposition

Read the rest of verse 1: "To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:"

This letter is written to saints located in Ephesus who possess a living faith in Jesus Christ. Whether this was sent primarily to Ephesus or a circular letter, as some believe, matters little. Also, the principles within the letter itself are generally applicable to all Christians. In fact, the main thing to draw from the audience of this letter is that they were believers and saints united to Christ Jesus. This is one group of people. Not two. All saints are true believers , and all true believers are saints.

To be a saint is to be set a part by God’s grace to have fellowship with and serve Him (Ephesians 1:4).

The term translated faithful is better translated as believers in this context. The saving faith that makes one a believer is also a product of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8).

Finally, the audience includes those who are “in Christ.” They have living and vital union with Him. The sacrifice of Christ has paid their sin debt. The righteousness of Christ has secured their eternal life. The blessings earned by Christ are shared with them by grace alone.

In summary, This is a letter written by the apostle of Christ to the people of Christ. It is a letter not only written to those saints in Ephesus or Asia Minor but even to those saints gathered today in Vista, MO.

That said, Ephesus and the church there were important to Paul and the Roman Empire. Ephesus was a place known for trade, art, and education in Asia Minor. Paganism was rampant, as was immorality. Paul spent much time with the church there (Acts 19:1-41). He instructed their elders before he was martyred (Acts 20:17-38), and he sent his child of the faith, Timothy, there to minister to and assist them (1 Timothy 1:3).

This letter is to a church or churches surrounded by demonic powers, immorality, and a culture that hates them. The audience was those set apart by God who have trusted in Christ Jesus and, therefore, have union with Him. They are the recipients of salvation and heirs to God's promises through this union with Christ. This letter is for their education and encouragement.

Application: Two applications arise from what we have learned about the audience of this letter.

First, by God's intention, Vista Baptist Church, this letter was written for your benefit. You may already know many of the themes and truths within it, but you need to hear them repeatedly. Many of the problems addressed are problems that we experience. Our culture grows more and more pagan every day. Rulers balk at God and His law. We become more and more strange to those around us who do not follow Christ. How shall we live in such circumstances? What truths do we need for our encouragement? What is the gospel? All these questions are answered in the letter we have begun studying this week. Therefore, with all your might and with prayer, I encourage you to gather, listen, and apply the words you hear from this book. They are the very words of life. They are the spiritual food to quench your hunger. They are the spiritual drink to satisfy your thirst. Bare with me. Be watchful and pray.

One other point of application from this portion of our text is that there is no special class of Christian that is called a saint. The Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox Communions error on this point, among others. Every true Christian is a saint. Every Christian is set apart by God for His own possession. Every Christian is conformed by the power of God into the image of Christ. Some Christians will be more holy than others on this side of glory. Every Christian will progress in holiness throughout their lives. Still, all who have been united to Christ are rightly designated saints, even you Christian. One does not earn the title of saint. The title is gifted to all who are in Christ Jesus.

Transition: We have acknowledged the author and audience of this letter.

Lastly, Acknowledge the aim of this letter (1:2).

Exposition:

Follow along with me in verse 2: "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

This verse gives us Paul’s aim in writing this letter. He wants the saints who read this letter to know and experience God's unmerited favor. He wants God’s peace that He secured in the reconciliation He accomplished in Christ to be understood and applied not only in their lives before God but also in their lives with each other. He desires that God through His letter would bring his audience both holiness and happiness. Christian, you know you should desire such things for all people, especially those who are your siblings in Christ. Pray for and work toward these ends of holiness before God and happiness in God.

Paul assumes throughout the letter that there has been a disruption in the relationship of God with man and man with fellow man. It is God alone who can reconcile these broken relationships. He has done this in Christ. Paul proclaims and applies this reconciliation to his audience. He desires that it would be believed and lived among them. To read this passage in light of the rest of the letter, we can say Paul writes Ephesians to announce and apply the reconciliation arranged by God the Father, accomplished by God the Son, and applied by God the Holy Spirit to the believing saints. Grace and peace come from God the Father through God the Son by God the Holy Spirit to the praise of Triune glory.

The structure of the letter divides into two equal portions. In chapters 1-3, Paul announces how reconciliation is accomplished by God. In chapters 4-6, Paul announces how reconciliation is applied among the saints.

It is no small matter that Paul makes Jesus and God the Father equally the source of grace and peace in verse 2. For they are two coequal yet distinct persons of the Triune God. As we will see the Spirit is also the source of grace and peace, applying the reconciliation God the Father has accomplished through Christ.

Transition: We have acknowledged the author of this letter. We have acknowledge the audience of this letter. We have acknowledged the aim of this letter.

Conclusion:

We may now answer the question I posed at the beginning: What do the saints who are believers in Christ Jesus need to know? Or put differently, what do Christians need to know? Here is the answer: Christian, you need to know the reconciliation arranged by God the Father, accomplished by God the Son, and applied by God the Holy Spirit to all saints who are believers in Christ Jesus, including you.

This statement of truth should cause each of you to ask yourself a question: Am I a saint? Or am I a Christian? For a saint is a Christian and a Christian is a saint.

Believer

For some of you, this doesn’t need to be an excruciating question. If you trusts in the person and work of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life, the answer is yes! If this is you, you have reconciliation with God and one another. You have truths that help you understand your past, encourage you in your present, and will usher you into a future so fantastic that you cannot comprehend it. For what God began in Christ's first coming, He will complete at His second. All sin and misery will be no more, and the reconciled saints of God united to Christ shall live on the new earth in incorruptible communion with God and one another. Christian, the Triune God has reconciled you to Himself. Rejoice. Nothing this side of glory can strip that from you, not life or death, not powers or authorities, not cancer, not family, not poverty. Nothing can separate you from God in Christ. You belong to God, and He to you. Christian, you have every motivation to do what God requires of you in light of this marvelous reconciliation. You are a saint by God's gracious act. Therefore, act like one.

Unbeliever

For some of you, the question I asked should be excruciating. If you have not placed your faith in the person and work of Christ, then you are still a vile sinner and enemy of the God who made you and cares for you. You are condemned, spiritually dead, and a follower of the evil one. You are without God and hope in the world. To the Christian, death leads to life eternal. To you, death leads to damnation eternal. I say this not to scare you into heaven. I say it because it is true. If you are not a Christian, there is only one wise thing to do, become one. There is one way through which God reconciles sinners like you to Himself. It is God the Son incarnate Jesus Christ, the second member of the trinity who became man in the line of Eve, Abraham, and David. He alone can save you, and the only way to have Him as Savior is to receive Him by faith. Come to Him. Seek Him. You will find Him to be a gentle and lowly Savior. Leave your pride and sin and come to Jesus. For then, the glorious truths that we will examine in this letter will be yours!

Vista Baptist Church and guests, I love the book of Ephesians. It was the book of the Bible God used to awaken me from my spiritual slumber and bring me from death to life. It was the book that gave me instruction on how to live in the world but not of it. I commend this book to you as we study it together. Furthermore, I pray that God will show His grace and manifest His peace to us all.

In closing, Christian, you need to know the reconciliation arranged by God the Father, accomplished by God the Son, and applied by God  the Holy Spirit to all saints who are believers in Christ Jesus, including you. This statement was derived from our text in light of the whole book, when we acknowledged the author, audience, and aim of this letter. So I end with the words of the apostle, “grace to you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”