Daily Bread
Daily Bread Ephesians 1
Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
11In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
Observation:
The book of Ephesians has been called the “manual for the church”. It is written to the saints (church) in Ephesus, but clearly has wider implications for the whole church on earth. It is the most theological of Paul’s letters, and is written very eloquently, almost like a poem. This first chapter and the verses above are some of Paul’s most stylish writing.
In this first chapter, Paul lays the foundation for our relationship with God and the purpose of the church. Importantly before the beginning of the world we (sons and daughters) have been chosen and adopted as God’s children to be recipients of all God’s riches and grace which have been lavished on us through His Son. That fact alone would be one we would do well to spend some time ruminating over. Think of it, you are a child of God and an inheritor of everything God has planned for in this life and the life to come (which by all accounts will be much better than the one we are currently engaged in).
Paul says that we were included in this grand plan when we heard the word of the truth, the gospel of our salvation. When someone shared the word of God’s grace that you are forgiven because of what Jesus has done for you and you believed, you became a child of God and an inheritor of all His precious promises. And as a deposit to all that we will inherit as God’s kids, He has given us the promised Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came on particular people, in particular places, for particular purposes in the Old Testament. (Remember the stories of the prophets who were filled with the Spirit, and Gideon and Samson who were filled with the Spirit to do specific acts of God’s redemption) But now the Holy Spirit has been poured out on each individual believer as a foretaste of the feast to come.
Application:
This first chapter is of great encouragement to all of us who struggle in this life. If we could see the grand scheme of things and God’s purposes and what role we will plan in His salvation plan, we would jump for joy. If we could see all of the riches of Christ that we will inherit because we are His sons and daughters, we would be filled with hope and excitement.
As we ponder the reality of these promises given to us by Paul, we are given an increased measure to overcome the trials in this life. Why? Because greater is He that is in You than he that is in the world. Because God always finishes what He starts. Phil 1:6 says, “He who began a good work will be faithful to complete it.” Because we have a power within us (Christ), which is the greatest power the world has ever seen and will ever see. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you.
Whatever challenge you face today, may these realities be a great source of courage for you. And let us all remember those who shared the word of truth with us, the good news of our salvation. May we likewise share it with someone else who has been purposed since the beginning of Creation to become a child of God an inheritor of eternal life.
Prayer: God we thank you for the plan you have had before the beginning of the world to make your glorious purposes known to all those you have chosen to inherit your eternal kingdom. We thank you for the Holy Spirit, who is a guarantee of that purpose in our hearts. God help us to live a life that is worthy of the calling you have given us, sharing the same grace and word of salvation that you made known to us through someone who had the faith to share it with us, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
11In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
Observation:
The book of Ephesians has been called the “manual for the church”. It is written to the saints (church) in Ephesus, but clearly has wider implications for the whole church on earth. It is the most theological of Paul’s letters, and is written very eloquently, almost like a poem. This first chapter and the verses above are some of Paul’s most stylish writing.
In this first chapter, Paul lays the foundation for our relationship with God and the purpose of the church. Importantly before the beginning of the world we (sons and daughters) have been chosen and adopted as God’s children to be recipients of all God’s riches and grace which have been lavished on us through His Son. That fact alone would be one we would do well to spend some time ruminating over. Think of it, you are a child of God and an inheritor of everything God has planned for in this life and the life to come (which by all accounts will be much better than the one we are currently engaged in).
Paul says that we were included in this grand plan when we heard the word of the truth, the gospel of our salvation. When someone shared the word of God’s grace that you are forgiven because of what Jesus has done for you and you believed, you became a child of God and an inheritor of all His precious promises. And as a deposit to all that we will inherit as God’s kids, He has given us the promised Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came on particular people, in particular places, for particular purposes in the Old Testament. (Remember the stories of the prophets who were filled with the Spirit, and Gideon and Samson who were filled with the Spirit to do specific acts of God’s redemption) But now the Holy Spirit has been poured out on each individual believer as a foretaste of the feast to come.
Application:
This first chapter is of great encouragement to all of us who struggle in this life. If we could see the grand scheme of things and God’s purposes and what role we will plan in His salvation plan, we would jump for joy. If we could see all of the riches of Christ that we will inherit because we are His sons and daughters, we would be filled with hope and excitement.
As we ponder the reality of these promises given to us by Paul, we are given an increased measure to overcome the trials in this life. Why? Because greater is He that is in You than he that is in the world. Because God always finishes what He starts. Phil 1:6 says, “He who began a good work will be faithful to complete it.” Because we have a power within us (Christ), which is the greatest power the world has ever seen and will ever see. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you.
Whatever challenge you face today, may these realities be a great source of courage for you. And let us all remember those who shared the word of truth with us, the good news of our salvation. May we likewise share it with someone else who has been purposed since the beginning of Creation to become a child of God an inheritor of eternal life.
Prayer: God we thank you for the plan you have had before the beginning of the world to make your glorious purposes known to all those you have chosen to inherit your eternal kingdom. We thank you for the Holy Spirit, who is a guarantee of that purpose in our hearts. God help us to live a life that is worthy of the calling you have given us, sharing the same grace and word of salvation that you made known to us through someone who had the faith to share it with us, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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