Ephesians (1:1-2)

Ephesians 1:1–2 KJV 1900

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Introduction

We are going to begin a study of the book of Ephesians. There are so many great themes that we will see throughout this book.

Throughout the letter, we will see Christ at the center of it all.

We often say that Jesus’ gospel is about more than just keeping us out of hell.

Jesus’ has authorized a new life for His followers, and Ephesians deals with this at length.

Hetty Green died with a reputation as “America’s greatest miser.” Though her wealth was estimated to have been between 2.5 - 5 billion dollars, her status as the richest woman in the world was not apparent. She ate cold oatmeal because she didn’t want to pay to heat it. She wore the same black dress every day and only changed certain garments when they wore out. Her son lost his leg to amputation because she wasted too much time insisting on finding a free clinic to treat him. She even hasted her own death when suffered an attack of apoplexy while arguing with a worker about the value of drinking skimmed milk. Hetty had all of the riches she could ever want at her disposal, yet she refused to access them in her life.

Too many believers are living this same miserly style.

We are on our way to heaven, but we are missing out on the riches that Jesus has for us right now.

God has given us so much, and yet we access it so rarely.

In this study, we are going to see God’s children, in their new life...,

Seated with...

Walking with...

Standing for...

CHRIST!

We are going to see the authority that Jesus wields.

This gives us victory now in Him.

His authority details His vision for His church.

His authority equips us and gives us a plan for spiritual warfare.

We will break the book into two sections that are widely agreed upon.

The first 3 chapters deal with instruction.

The final 3 chapters deal with the application of that instruction.

For this morning, though, we will begin by looking solely at the introduction to the book.

Though this is simply the intro to the book, there are some powerful truths that we should consider.

No part of God’s word is superfluous,

Who wrote the letter?

Clearly, Paul.

Attempts to cast doubt on Paul’s authorship flow only from poisoned streams of biblical criticism and liberality.

Paul has for generations been accepted as the author.

The arguments against this are ridiculous and unworthy of our time.

Through this greeting we catch a glimpse of Paul’s understanding of his own identity.

There were many identifying marks that shaped the way that Paul saw himself.

Chiefest of sinners. 1 Timothy 1:15

Hebrew of the Hebrews. Philippians 3:5

Tentmaker. Acts 18:3

Pharisee.

None of these were used in his introductory statement.

Instead, he identifies himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ.

This is both in the general and formal usage of the word.

Generally speaking, all believers are to be ambassadors or sent ones that represent Jesus.

Formally, the apostles were eyewitnesses of the resurrection who were personally commissioned by Jesus, Himself.

Paul qualified for both senses of the word.

Isn’t it interesting that, when given the opportunity to describe himself, Paul chose this as the main descriptor that he wanted people to recognize him for?

Do you know why Paul chose this identity to promote?

It’s the identity he received from God.

It wasn’t an identity that was impressed upon him by other fallen humans.

It wasn’t an identity that he shaped and cultivated for himself.

This morning we have a lot of “identities” that we could claim.

Texan

Parent

Spouse

Teacher

Business owner

Mechanic

Contractor.

We should all be sure that our main identity is found in the way that God views us.

Whatever you are, be that...by the will of God.

To whom was it written?

Paul writes to the saints.

The word “saints,” according to one author has suffered the most damage of any word in the Bible.

When we think of saints and the common use of the word, we have to realize that the Bible has an entirely different idea for this word.

If you were to ask most people, they would tell you that a saint is someone who has displayed extraordinary holiness and is thus deserving of this title.

The Bible does not agree.

The word “saint” in the Bible refers to a person who is holy not by performance but by position.

We do not become saints by saintliness, but we should be characterized by saintliness because we are saints.

Paul writes to the faithful in Christ Jesus.

In Christ Jesus is used 27x in this letter alone.

Though the word for baptize is not in this verse the idea is in this phrase.

When we are in Christ, we are baptized into Him.

That means we are completely submerged or immersed in Him.

We will see later in this letter that it is by grace that we are saved, through…faith!

The faithful, the ones that are saved, are in Christ.

They are immersed in His forgiveness.

They are immersed in His righteousness.

They are immersed in His victory.

Paul writes to the citizens of Ephesus.

Some have suggested that the letter to the Ephesians was actually a circular letter that was intended to be distributed and shared among the churches of Asia.

This may actually be true.

I don’t believe it does anything to cast doubt upon the letter.

A couple of things about this.

It is a very general letter in regards to Paul’s personal references that he normally used.

It is possible that the address line was left blank and filled in for each church that received the letter.

What is certain, is that the earliest surviving manuscripts of Ephesians are all titled Ephesians.

So, though other churches may have received the letter it very quickly became unquestionably associated with the church at Ephesus.

What was the motivation for this letter?

There is no sign of major conflict in Ephesus.

Ephesus must have been a pretty special church.

They existed in an extremely difficult context.

Ephesus was a large city with lots of tourist traffic.

This tourist traffic was due to the enormous temple that was in Ephesus for the goddess Diana.

Diana was gross in the worship that accompanied her.

Diana was also very demanding.

You may remember that Ephesus is where the silversmith’s build miniature temples of Diana.

Ephesus was also the place that was know for the Ephesian books; which were books of spells and incantations.

Despite the strong influence of paganism and mysticism, the church in Ephesus stayed strong in the witness and faithfulness.

Paul writes to advance the Ephesians in their understanding and reception of the grace and peace that comes God and from Jesus.

I’ve said this before, I think, but Paul engages his greek and Hebrew readers simultaneously with this greeting.

Grace = charis, a form of the common gentile greeting.

Peace = shalom the common Jewish greeting.

We were saved by grace, we began with grace, but we need grace every step of the way.

This is not a reference to peace with God; that was secured at the moment of our salvation.

This is a reference to the peace of God.

This is a peace that comes from living in the victory that God has already granted to us.

In this opening to the letter, we start to see a pattern already developing.

Paul introduces himself based on his identity in Christ.

His connection with Christ changed his life’s purpose.

He addresses his audience by calling out their position in Christ.

Their connection with Christ changed their standing before God.

He points out 2 of the blessings that come from being connected in Christ.

A connection to Christ brings present day blessings.

It seems like Paul knows there are some really great truths in store for believers.

As he begins to wade into these benefits, he vigorously emphasizes the importance of having a relationship with Jesus.

Without that settled, first, none of the benefits and blessings and victories that are detailed in this study will apply to that reader.

Application

You’re here this morning and you too are a reader of Ephesians.

You too are about to work through the beautiful contents of this letter.

You too are in need of a relationship with Jesus if you hope to benefit from the new life that is available in Christ.

Maybe you are a believer here today.

Are you living like Hetty Green?

Insurmountable riches at your disposal, and yet you live like a pauper.

A relationship with Jesus gives you a well-founded identity.

Paul had that purpose and direction in his life that so many are searching for.

He had that because he found identity in what God willed for his life.

Is your life governed by God’s will for you?

Are you driven by the expectations of others?

Is your life governed by your efforts to throw off the expectations of others?

The opinions and expectations of others are constantly changing.

Living according to God’s will is a much more stable alternative.

A relationship with Jesus will also place you in a right standing before God.

Perhaps no one would ever accuse you of having a saintly background.

If you have placed you faith in Jesus, and you’ve been placed in Jesus, then you are a saint.

You are made holy by the blood of Christ.

His righteousness has been imputed or applied to you.

This makes you safe and secure before your Creator.

This lines you up to receive all the wonderful things we will see in this study.

As an example, this means you have God’s grace and peace at your disposal.