Daily Bread 2011 - Ephesians 1
Daily Bread 2011 – Ephesians 1
Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 Praise 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. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to 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.11 In 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, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And 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, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
What Does This Mean?
Whereas in the books of Corinthians and Galatians, Paul focused on specific issues in order to correct the churches and keep them on track, the book of Ephesians is more of a theological treatise on what the church is and its role in the world. In this first chapter, Paul focuses on the foundation of any church, all the blessings we have in Christ. Count off the amount of times Paul says either “in Him”, or “in Christ” and you will see how dependent the church is on the person of Jesus Christ. It is in him that we have “redemption and the forgiveness of sins”. It is in him that “we have been chosen and predestined to be His sons and daughters”. And it is in him that “we receive the promise of the Holy Spirit which is a seal, or deposit, guaranteeing our future inheritance”, where we will receive one day to the praise of God’s glory!
Before Paul talks at all about how we will function as a church, or even what we will do, he lays out all of the blessings we have already received in His Son, Jesus. Then, in the second paragraph vv. 15-22, he prays that the “eyes of our hearts” will be enlightened, so that we might know the hope that we have been called to. Also he points out the riches of our inheritance with the saints, and incomparably great power for we who believe. This will be the basis for everything else he says to the Ephesians, and by application to we who form the Church in the 21st century!
What Does This Mean For Us?
It means before we try to do anything or be anything as the Church, we should stop to remember where our true strength comes from. As it says in the first chapter of Ephesians it comes from being, “in Him”. When we realize how much we have been given “in Him”, we wonder what we can do in response to all of these huge spiritual blessings.
Paul prays for the Church to have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that we may know Him better. So maybe the key is not much figuring out what we will do for Him, but more what He has already done for us. As we know Him better through the power of the Spirit, He will continue to reveal His power to and through us to the world. As Paul ends the chapter, he reminds them that Christ is the head of the Church, and his power and authority are far above any earthly power or authority. It is here where we learn that we are His body and He is the head.
As one commentator has said, “The fulfillment of the Father's purpose for the Son is his lordship over the church. Jesus, who fills the whole universe with his presence and governs the entire creation with his given authority, finds his completion as Head of the body, the church. A head without a body is incomplete. As the body renders the head complete, so the church fulfills God's purpose for Christ.” (Asbury Bible Commentary)
Jesus you are the head of the Church and we are Your body. Open the eyes of our heart so we might see the incomparable power and blessings we have by being connected to you the author and perfecter of all life. As you fill the Church with Your power and love may we operate in Your authority so the world might know you are Lord. Amen.
Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 Praise 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. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to 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.11 In 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, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And 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, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
What Does This Mean?
Whereas in the books of Corinthians and Galatians, Paul focused on specific issues in order to correct the churches and keep them on track, the book of Ephesians is more of a theological treatise on what the church is and its role in the world. In this first chapter, Paul focuses on the foundation of any church, all the blessings we have in Christ. Count off the amount of times Paul says either “in Him”, or “in Christ” and you will see how dependent the church is on the person of Jesus Christ. It is in him that we have “redemption and the forgiveness of sins”. It is in him that “we have been chosen and predestined to be His sons and daughters”. And it is in him that “we receive the promise of the Holy Spirit which is a seal, or deposit, guaranteeing our future inheritance”, where we will receive one day to the praise of God’s glory!
Before Paul talks at all about how we will function as a church, or even what we will do, he lays out all of the blessings we have already received in His Son, Jesus. Then, in the second paragraph vv. 15-22, he prays that the “eyes of our hearts” will be enlightened, so that we might know the hope that we have been called to. Also he points out the riches of our inheritance with the saints, and incomparably great power for we who believe. This will be the basis for everything else he says to the Ephesians, and by application to we who form the Church in the 21st century!
What Does This Mean For Us?
It means before we try to do anything or be anything as the Church, we should stop to remember where our true strength comes from. As it says in the first chapter of Ephesians it comes from being, “in Him”. When we realize how much we have been given “in Him”, we wonder what we can do in response to all of these huge spiritual blessings.
Paul prays for the Church to have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that we may know Him better. So maybe the key is not much figuring out what we will do for Him, but more what He has already done for us. As we know Him better through the power of the Spirit, He will continue to reveal His power to and through us to the world. As Paul ends the chapter, he reminds them that Christ is the head of the Church, and his power and authority are far above any earthly power or authority. It is here where we learn that we are His body and He is the head.
As one commentator has said, “The fulfillment of the Father's purpose for the Son is his lordship over the church. Jesus, who fills the whole universe with his presence and governs the entire creation with his given authority, finds his completion as Head of the body, the church. A head without a body is incomplete. As the body renders the head complete, so the church fulfills God's purpose for Christ.” (Asbury Bible Commentary)
Jesus you are the head of the Church and we are Your body. Open the eyes of our heart so we might see the incomparable power and blessings we have by being connected to you the author and perfecter of all life. As you fill the Church with Your power and love may we operate in Your authority so the world might know you are Lord. Amen.
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