READ: Ephesians 1:1-14
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:
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
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:
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:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
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;
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:
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.
KEY THOUGHT:
Paul wrote this letter to encourage the believers in the church at Ephesus to remain strong in their faith in Jesus Christ. In these first few verses, we read as Paul describes an inheritance that these believers have because they put their faith in Christ. Have you ever known anyone who inherited a something unexpected and precious from a relative? Think of the great blessing that that person received at someone else’s expense. What Paul describes is a great inheritance that we, as Christians, receive not because of our birthright; but because we receive adoption into the family of God. It is something we don’t deserve, but God gives as a gift. Later in Chapter 3 of the letter to the Ephesians, Paul calls defines the magnitude of this inheritance as “unsearchable riches of Christ.” One of the unsearchable riches we receive is the righteousness of Christ, which makes us blameless before God and gives us eternal life through Jesus. Now, that’s a great inheritance!
CONSIDER:
- When you read verses 4 and 5, what do you think Paul meant when he says that we would be “holy and without blame” before God in love?
- Do you ever feel blamed for things you feel you have no control over? What would be a good way to get rid of that blame?
- How does God’s grace make you rich?
APPLICATION:
Prize the unsearchable riches of God’s inheritance found in Jesus Christ!
