Read Ephesians 1:1-14. Pray that God will show you how special you are to him.
Ephesus was located at the mouth of the Cayster River in what is now modern day Turkey. It was situated just across the Aegean Sea from Athens Greece. Filled with beautiful Greek structures, it was a beautiful seaport city and the seat of the province of Asia. It had a population of about 250,000 at the time of the writing of Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus. This beautiful port city was the worship center of the goddess Diana.
According to Acts 18:18 Paul came through Ephesus on his second missionary journey. He met Priscilla and Aquila there. In Acts 19:9-10 we see Paul later returns to Ephesus and stays for more than two years in the school of Tyrannus. He met with the elders of this early church as seen in Acts 20:16-17.
This letter to the Ephesians was later written by Paul from his prison cell. It was hand delivered to the people there by Tychichus. The letter has two divisions; the doctrinal section of Eph. 1-4:16 and the practical section of Eph. 4:17-6.
Themes covered in the letter include the grace of God, the church of God as seen as the building, a body and a bride and the armor of God. These themes are layered to show the development of the overall Christian, saved by grace, maturing in grace and continuing on with grace.
In Ephesians 1:1 we see a greeting to all Christians.
"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."
Though this letter was written thousands of years ago, it contains practical truths that will mature us in Christ today. Spiritual peace can be obtained by reading and studying it's verses.
Ephesians 1:2- "Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."
A reminder of God's divine favor is given in verses 3 and 4 of chapter 1.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. 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:"
This favor is unmerited, only conditional upon our acceptance, and eternal, no matter how we might "feel" about it.
God delivers this favor through the process of adoption. He chose to adopt us into his family. He sets us apart as his own children through Jesus Christ in accordance with the purpose of his will because it pleases him and is his kind intent, so that we might show his unmerited favor and grace to each other. (Eph. 1:5-7)
He has lavished upon mankind every kind of wisdom and understanding and brought about the climax of time in which Jesus was given for the fulfillment of his divine and loving plan. Then he allowed the Bible to be written so that this generation of believers could continue in the adoption process. (Eph. 1:6-12)
As we finish today, read Ephesians 1:13-14 and take a deep breath.
"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. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
You trusted, just as that early church of believers trusted, after you heard the word of truth, which was the gospel of your salvation. You believed and were sealed with that same holy Spirit of promise.
YOU are stamped with that same SEAL OF PROMISE! Praise his wonderful name!
