Daily Scripture Reading Ephesians 1:1-23

We humans like to think we are in control of ourselves and our world. When we read history, we think in terms of what humans did to collect power and exalt themselves. We judge historical figures based on what we believe to be their motives and aspirations.

Today, we will start reading through the book of Ephesians. In the first chapter we will be reminded that God is in control. Every human who ever made choices in life did so according to how God created him. According to God’s foreknowledge, He preordained everything that has ever taken place.

Eph. 1:1 ¶ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, ¶ To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus:

Verse 1 tells us the author was Paul and the recipients were the saints at Ephesus. Paul visited Ephesus very briefly on his second missionary journey, near the end of that journey. Then he spent two years in Ephesus during his third missionary journey.

Eph. 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Eph. 1:3 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

Eph. 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him in love,

Look at the phrase “He chose us”. Those of us who serve God did not choose God, He chose us. Now notice the phrase “before the foundation of the world”. God chose us before He created the world.

Humans like to think that we are in control of our lives and decisions. We also act like we as humanity are in charge of the world and what happens in global politics.

This passage in Ephesians reminds us that God knew what would happen before He created the world.

Eph. 1:5 by predestining us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Ponder the phrase “according to the good pleasure of His will”. God created every person. Every person makes the decisions they make because of the way God made them. Therefore, every decision a human makes is a result of choices God made when He created us. Verse 5 tells us our actions are predestined, and they are predestined according to God’s pleasure.

Eph. 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He graciously bestowed on us in the Beloved.

The phrase “praise of the glory of His grace” indicates our adoption mentioned in verse 5 is intended to praise God’s grace.

The word “graciously” reminds us that we don’t deserve anything we have received from God. Instead, we receive it because God is gracious and forgiving.

Eph. 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our transgressions, according to the riches of His grace

The phrase “according to the riches of His grace” is another statement that our salvation is due to God’s grace and forbearance. God did not have to save us.

Eph. 1:8 which He caused to abound to us in all wisdom and insight,

Look at the words “He caused”. God caused us to have redemption and forgiveness.

Eph. 1:9 making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Him

In verse 9 we see the term “His good pleasure”, another indication that we are saved because God was willing to do it and took pleasure in doing it.

Eph. 1:10 for an administration of the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth in Him.

Notice the phrase “the summing up of all things in Christ”. All of world history is summed up in Christ. All of world history before Christ came was oriented towards producing Christ. Everything that has happened since Christ came is oriented towards His second coming.

Eph. 1:11 In Him, we also have been made an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

Once again we see the word “predestined”. In this verse we are told our predestination is according to God’s purpose. This verse also tells us everything that happens on earth is according to God’s will.

We humans like to think we are in charge. However, God is in charge. God is the one guiding everything that happens on earth. Humans cannot do other than what God has predetermined would happen. No human can act differently than how God created him to act.

Eph. 1:12 to the end that we who first have hoped in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

Once again we see in this verse that those of us who hope in Christ do so to praise God’s glory. Ultimately, the purpose of our salvation is not to help us. Instead, it is to praise God.

Eph. 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Eph. 1:14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, unto the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Verses 13 and 14 assure us we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. Our salvation cannot be taken away. However, the last phrase of verse 14 reminds us that our sealing is intended to glorify God, not to exalt us.

Eph. 1:15 ¶ For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,

Eph. 1:16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers:

Eph. 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the full knowledge of Him,

Eph. 1:18 so that you—the eyes of your heart having been enlightened—will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

Eph. 1:19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe according to the working of the might of His strength,

Eph. 1:20 which He worked in Christ, by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

Eph. 1:21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Verses 15-21 are one sentence. This sentence states the superior power of God. We humans are nothing compared to the Almighty.

Eph. 1:22 And HE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,

Eph. 1:23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

We humans like to think we control our lives and choices; however, each person’s decision-making process was created by God. Thus, ultimately, our choices were preordained by God.

How does your life praise God?

How does the history of your country bring glory to God?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”