Ephesians Chapter 1

• Ephesians 1:1 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:

This was written to the Ephesians by Paul but it is also meant for all who are faithful in Christ Jesus. So we see here the purpose for this letter is to instruct Christian people in the ways of God after coming to the faith in Jesus. This is part of the calling of any pastor, teacher or those older in the Lord....to make disciples.

• Ephesians 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus our Christ.

Paul greets them with words of wishing them grace and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ.

Notice that Paul emphasizes that there is a Father and there is a Son, Jesus. He calls Jesus Lord. From other scriptures we see that the Father and Jesus are the same God and are united as one, yet we see here that they also are two different beings but so close in operation and purpose that they are considered to be only one God.

• Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Here it is emphasized that God is the Father of Jesus Christ who is our Lord. Through faith and receiving Jesus in our lives, we are blessed with spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. If this is not happening in your life, then start seeking God until this starts happening. A daily walk with God is a great thing that we all can have if we desire to have. We can do this by prayer and constantly studying His word. We shall never get tired of this. The more to seek God, the more to want to seek God. 

A lot of modern day people think of God's blessings as being blessed materially. If that were true however, we see that God also blesses unsaved people and even those who are committing sin. Both good and evil fall on all. 

Spiritual blessings are only for those who believe. Spiritual blessings are the things we are to seek. When one is born again, something happens on the inside. The soul is saved, the spirit is quickened and made alive in Christ Jesus. We receive the Holy Spirit which abides with us as individuals. Our bodies are affected also but the outward body is only temporary. When one receives Jesus as savior, there is a promise of a new body that will never die. Our present bodies will perish one day but the soul and spirit live until the time when God gives us our new bodies. 

We don't have to wait, however, for spiritual blessings. They are ours now though the Holy Spirit. Receiving the Holy Spirit is not just a one time thing. We can get ongoing being refreshed anew with the Holy Spirit every day if we need to. We are as close to God as we want to be. There are always spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. That is the true blessings of God. When someone says, "God bless you," to me, I never think of material things, although He does bless in that way also according to our need and according to His will. Sometimes we need to just ask if we have a need.

• Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

All these verses here are great and important but they must be taken in context and with other verses in other books of the bible to get a clear picture of what is true. If we don't, we can over emphasis one passage and actually teach falsely.

God planned from the foundation of the world that we are to be holy and without blame before him in love. Holiness has always been God's will for all mankind. He does give us the freewill to choose this or refuse. Through Jesus Christ is forgiveness of sins and the power to live a holy life. We have our ups and downs and we fail but we must get right back up and keep seeking God, trusting in His grace for strength to endure until He returns again.

He is coming after a glorious church without spot or wrinkle. We become this after we receive Jesus, however, we never lose our freewill to choose. We can go back and stop serving God at any time. We would be stupid to do that but God doesn't want puppets in heaven, He wants those who love Him because we chose to receive Him and follow Him. 

The doctrine that God predestinates some to be saved and others to be lost is false. If you take other scriptures along with these as you study the bible you will be rightly studying the word of God. There would be no need to go into all the world and preach the gospel like Jesus instructed us to do if predestination was true according to the way some teach.

• Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

This is the predestination that God speaks of. All who believe are predestined to be adopted children of Jesus Christ. It is still up to us to choose. That God has from the creation determined some to be saved and others to be lost would make God and unfair God. Salvation is offered to all and it is up to us to choose or refuse.

Even after receiving Jesus as savior, one still has the power of choice. There are many scriptures to back up this. The predestination doctrine taught in Calvinism is false. You can't just take these verses here without taking the words of Jesus, the warnings of the churches in Revelation, and other many other warnings in the scriptures which show us that we can lose what we receive if we do not abide in Christ. 

• John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 
• 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 
• 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 
• 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 

If we move out of our house, we no longer live there, we are not abiding in our former residence.  If we move away from Christ willingly, we no longer are abiding in Christ.

• 2Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 

God does not want any to perish and lose their souls. Never accept any doctrine unless you can prove it by other scriptures. Too many other scriptures contradict the Calvinist's interpretation of predestination. There are also other scriptures that contradict eternal security. I really wish that one were true but there are too many scriptures that prove otherwise. 

• 2Peter 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 

Being a person of faith is being faithful to the Lord that brought us so great a salvation.

• 1Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 

See the great need for studying all scripture, not just favorite verses we take out of context.

• Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 
• 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 
• 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 

There are too many scriptures that warn of departing and losing out with God. Yet, we don't have to do that. We can daily trust in God.

• 2Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 
• 13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 
• 14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. 

Although the doctrine of eternal security is not true according to how I understand God's word, still we can make it by being steadfast and unmovable in the Lord. 

• Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
• 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

The shed blood of Jesus Christ was necessary in order for our sins to be forgiven. Because of the grace of God He allowed the suffering of Jesus to save all who would believe in Him, trusting in Him and forsaking their sins. 

We are now accepted by Him through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Before Jesus Christ, we are separated from God and walking in our sin. After Christ we are reconciled back to God, the place that it was meant to be from the beginning that we were to walk. From the beginning mankind was created to walk with God and walk in holiness. Sin entered the world through Adam and Eve's disobedience and from then on, we needed a savior to bring us back to God. Jesus was that savior. 

• Ephesians 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
• 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
• 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
• 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

This is the mystery revealed that all who are in Christ Jesus will be gathered together according to the original purpose God had for mankind. Through Jesus Christ the eternal purpose of mankind will come to be. It is not God's will for any to miss out on this. 

• Ephesians 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
• 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
• 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

The Holy Spirit was given to those who believe as a seal for the promise given to us. When we receive the Holy Spirit it is like an official stamp of the Lord. The seal of the king is given to those who believe. When the king seals a document with His seal it was considered official. This would seem to give credence to the doctrine of eternal security if there were not other scriptures warning against departing from the living God. 

• Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 

What a prize the Holy Spirit is. It is just the beginning, but what a beginning. The rest of our inheritance awaits the coming of the Lord. 

• Ephesians 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
• 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

This should also be our reaction when we hear of someone who has been saved even if it's in another church. Never should we be envious of the success of other congregations. The angels rejoice when one is born again and we should rejoice with them. 

• Ephesians 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

This happens when we begin to seek God after becoming a born again believer. We should never stop seeking the Lord who will grant us wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. God is exciting and our lives should be full of His presence. There are times of testing and trials but we can walk continually in His presence. Even when we don't feel His presence, He is still there. 

• Ephesians 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

This will happen more and more as we daily walk with God. It is for all who seek Him. We don't have to be a big successful popular person. This is for all who believe. We can know what He has called us to do and what His will is for us. He has a purpose for all who believe. 

• Ephesians 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
• 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
• 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
• 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
• 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and is now at the Father's right hand. Jesus was exalted far above all names both present and in the future. All these are placed under the authority of Jesus. He fills all and by Him is all things to be fulfilled. There is no salvation outside of Jesus Christ. -DC