Ephesians Chapter One

This letter begins by announcing the eternal plan of God as the Trinity adopting humanity into their family before we were even created. Then came the creation of the Universe, then the creation of us, now with the gift of a Universe for us to enjoy. All of this out of their desire to share with us the perfect love they had between themselves - and all of this through Jesus, the meeting point between the Trinity and their creation.This is announced in verse 4. ‘This was the way God planned it before he even created the world, choosing the destiny of us as humanity being joined to divinity in Jesus, complete and innocent and unashamed of who we are in our close love and intimacy with him’. This makes the act of God’s adoption of humanity one that eclipses and comes before the redemption of humanity. Redemption is mentioned in verse 7. ‘We have a life worth living again because of the lifeblood that he spilled for our new life to happen, graciously freeing us from the problem and penalty of human self obsession, called sin.’

Paul then tells us that when Jesus as God, was joined to his own creation by being born into this world, he brought everything that had ever been created and was ever to be created, into the field of being of himself, Jesus, Lord of the Universe. He goes on to say that we as humanity can now share in this domain that belongs to Jesus, and that the wonder of this will display the goodness and greatness of God for all to see, simply because we trust in what Jesus has gained for us (vs.12). He tells us that The Holy Spirit has been sent to us to live within us and to open our eyes to this great fact of life and to understand fully in our minds what we should actually expect to happen in our lives because of this unbelievable invitation - to share in all the spiritual reserves and resources that belong to Jesus.

He finishes the chapter by telling us that the Church is the corporate extension and expression of Jesus, who is the center of all consequence and meaning in the universe.

1. From Paul, commissioned by God to bring his message (of our new life with Jesus), to the Christians at Ephesus and to any other faithful Christians who read this.

2. Be blessed by the goodness and peace that comes from sharing life with God our Father and The Lord Jesus Christ.

3. We honour God the Father of Jesus Christ who has given us every good thing that could enrich our inner lives, as we now share with Jesus the relationship that he has with his Father in heaven.

4. This was the way God planned it before he even created the world, choosing the destiny of us as humanity being joined to divinity in Jesus, complete and innocent and unashamed of who we are in our close love and intimacy with him.

5. He decided before time began, with the deepest desire of his heart to make us his sons and daughters by joining humanity to his son Jesus.

6. This highlights the magnificent wonder and virtue of his goodness, making us feel accepted and to know we belong because of his beloved son.

7. We have a life worth living again because of the lifeblood that he spilled for our new life to happen, graciously freeing us from the problem and penalty of human self obsession, called sin.

8. In doing this he displayed the limitless capacity of his wisdom and strategic brilliance.

9. He has now let us in on the hidden mystery of this eternal plan which came from the passionate and determined desire of his heart

10 That at his appointed time he might bring everything together that had ever been created in heaven or on earth into the domain of his Creator Son, Jesus, to belong to him and be subject to him.

11. Everything in this domain is now yours and mine as well, because we share in it fully with Jesus. This was God’s thought out and determined plan for all of us from the beginning.

12. That the wonder of this will display the goodness and greatness of God for all to see, simply because we trust in what Jesus has gained for us.

13. You trusted in Jesus for all of this to be yours when you first heard about this wonderful plan, and after you believed it The Holy Spirit signed sealed and delivered it in an unforgettable way into your spirit. It is God’s promise to you for now and for your eternal future.

14. That work of the Spirit in you was like the security bond until you get to live and enjoy the full and final expression in eternity of this mighty domain of Jesus that you now share with him.

15 And so when I heard of your faith in Jesus and in the love that broke out among you all

16. I could not stop just thanking God for you and with you, and asking God in my prayers for you

17. That this wonderful father of our Lord Jesus would give you the spiritual wisdom and revelation to fully know who Jesus is and what he has done for you.

18. So that you would have your spiritual eyes opened and understand fully in your minds what you should actually expect to happen in your lives because of this unbelievable invitation to share in the spiritual reserves and resources that belong to Jesus.

19. how vibrant and powerful is that divine energy that comes from God to us when we simply believe that he is the creator and generator of this supernatural power

20. Which exploded into reality when he raised Jesus from the dead and took him into heaven to sit next to him at his right hand.

21. This heavenly place and position took Jesus as God and man way above any other force or realm of authority that can be named in the universe, whether on earth or in the heavens.

22. He takes all of this supreme majesty over all things and makes the church the command center of it all, with him as the commander in chief.

23. The church is the extension and expression of Jesus, who is the center of all consequence and meaning in the universe.