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Thoughts on Ephesians 1

Published on 6 Comments on Thoughts on Ephesians 1
  • We have been blessed with ALL spiritual blessings in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)
  • We were chosen to be holy and blameless in His sight before the world was created.  (Ephesians 1:4)
  • God intended for us to be a part of His family through Christ.  We do not have to plead for this privilege; we only have to accept the invitation.  (Ephesians 1:5, Ephesians 1:11)
  • God's grace and forgiveness are given to us through Christ's sacrifice.  His grace does not depend on us or on anything that we may or may not do.  (Ephesians 1:7-8)
  • When we hear the truth of God's gift of salvation and accept it, we are given the Holy Spirit as a seal--a family crest.  The Holy Spirit should shine through us and be a sign of to whom we belong, but the Holy Spirit is also our assurance, a deposit to guarantee our inheritance from God. (Ephesians 1:13-14)
  • Spiritual wisdom and revelation are available from God. (Ephesians 1:17, James 1:5)
  • Believing comes first, and then the eyes of our hearts are enlightened. Faith is required. (Ephesians 1:18,Believing Is Seeing)
  • His power is made available to us.  The extent of His power was demonstrated when He raised Jesus from the dead.  (Ephesians 1:19-21)
  • God gave Jesus authority over the church (those who believe).  (Ephesians 1:22)
  • The church is Christ's body, His representation on earth.  (Ephesians 1:23)

Please share your thoughts on Ephesians 1 in the comment section.

6 thoughts on “Thoughts on Ephesians 1”

  1. Rowena

    What I liked from Ephesians 1 was the fact that God told us we are adopted as God's children through Christ. To me, adoption entails inheritance so it's comforting to know we will receive our heavenly inheritance one day.

    I also liked that God has promised us every spiritual blessing through Christ. I need to study more about what these blessings are but this verse, to me, shows how generous God is with gifts, even though we may not deserve them.

    I always struggle with the concept of predestination. Did God already know, before we were born, whether we would be saved or not?

    1. David

      “I believe in predestination. Long live John Calvin!” “I believe in free will. Long live Jacob Arminius!”

      I believe in both!

      Paul here is writing to Christians and in my understanding, Ephesians 1 does not say anything about being predestined to be lost or saved. Rather, the goal of predestination is holiness, to become the image of Christ. Predestination stresses the sovereignty of God, without limiting His love, grace, and mercy, and is not to exclude people from the message of the gospel. I believe it is clear in scripture that God wishes all to be saved. I see the chapters focus being on believers and God’s will for us, which is holiness and Christlikeness. God has selected beforehand the goal and He is moving all believers toward that goal.

      We do not live within a mechanical determinism; human freedom of choice and responsibility, free will if you like, exists. It is a predestined plan that Jesus was to be our saviour, not a predestined people who are saved. Predestination is for the comfort of believers; the gospel is for the entire world. Each choice you make is of free will but God has a plan to create in you a life of holiness, if you follow.

      God knew the outcome before the beginning of the world, but you made the choice of your own free will to follow Him.

      1. LC

        Hi Rowena and David. Thanks for your comments. This is my view. First let me define my terms. Predestination means that God has a plan for our lives, and His plan is full of good things for us. Omniscience means that God knows everything, and since He is eternal and His time is not like our time, He knows everything in all time periods. Free will means that we get to choose our own way in life--to accept or reject God, to obey or not. I think the problem comes in when we try to say that one of those things can't exist with any of the others. For example, just because God has a plan for us doesn't mean that He forces us to follow it. Just because we have free will doesn't mean that He doesn't know what choice we are going to make. So many people seem to think that if God knows what we are going to choose, it is not our choice. God chose us before the beginning of creation, and I believe He knows if and when we will choose Him. But it's still our choice.

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