Ephesians 1
Chapter indexThe Vision of the Father’s Will
This chapter unveils the eternal purpose of God, centered not on individual salvation but on the 'good pleasure' of the Father to head up all things in Christ. It establishes the believer's heavenly position, revealing that we were chosen and predestined unto sonship before the foundation of the world to be the praise of His glory. Paul concludes with a prayer for a spirit of wisdom and revelation, asking that the eyes of the Church be opened to see the hope of His calling, the riches of His inheritance in the saints, and the surpassing greatness of the resurrection power that has installed Christ as Head over all things to the Church.
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I. Introduction: The Apostolic Greeting (1:1-2)
- Paul identifies his authority as an apostle through the will of God, establishing the divine source of the message.
- The recipients are the faithful in Christ Jesus, emphasizing their organic union with Him.
- Grace and peace are imparted from the Father and the Son, signaling the source of all spiritual supply.
II. The Praise of the Father’s Eternal Purpose (1:3-6)
- The Father is blessed as the source of every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ.
- The Church was chosen in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blemish.
- Believers were predestinated unto sonship through Jesus Christ according to the good pleasure of His will.
- The ultimate goal is the praise of the glory of His grace, by which we are accepted in the Beloved.
III. The Redemption and Revelation of the Mystery (1:7-12)
- Redemption and forgiveness are secured through His blood according to the riches of His grace.
- God has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence to make known the mystery of His will.
- The central administration (dispensation) of God is to head up all things in Christ in the fullness of times.
- Believers have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to His purpose and counsel.
- The Church exists to be to the praise of His glory as those who first trusted in Christ.
IV. The Sealing of the Spirit for the Inheritance (1:13-14)
- Hearing the word of truth and believing the gospel results in being sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
- The Spirit serves as the earnest (guarantee) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession.
- This sealing and guarantee look forward to the ultimate praise of His glory.
V. The Prayer for a Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation (1:15-18)
- Paul gives thanks for the saints' faith in the Lord Jesus and love toward all the saints.
- The prayer addresses the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory.
- The specific petition is for a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of Him.
- The goal is for the eyes of the heart to be enlightened to see three specific realities.
VI. The Threefold Vision of God’s Purpose (1:18b-19)
- To know the hope of His calling: the destiny of sonship and glory.
- To know the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints: God's satisfaction in His multiplied Son.
- To know the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.
VII. The Operation of Resurrection Power (1:20-23)
- This power was wrought in Christ in raising Him from the dead and seating Him at God's right hand.
- Christ is exalted far above all principality, power, might, dominion, and every name in this age and the one to come.
- All things are put under His feet, and He is given as Head over all things to the Church.
- The Church is His Body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all.
I. Introduction: The Apostolic Greeting (1:1-2)
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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:
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Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
II. The Praise of the Father’s Eternal Purpose (1:3-6)
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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
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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:
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Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
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To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
III. The Redemption and Revelation of the Mystery (1:7-12)
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In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
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Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
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Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
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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:
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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:
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That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
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