Hello!
How are you? I hope you’re well and enjoying the summer.
The children are on holiday from school and I – after over a year of applying for jobs and being rejected repeatedly – I am now employed!
Please, join me in a little praise break – God is goooood!!
It’s so timely and so what I need – a position where I can learn and grow with flexible hours. Unbelievably grateful to God and a reminder that He is never late – always right on time.
I’ve been studying the book of Ephesians and I thought it would be good to share what I’ve learnt with you. I’d love to hear your thoughts and insights too, so comment below and let’s make this a virtual bible study 😊
EPHESIANS CHAPTER 1
The first chapter begins with Paul’s greeting to the church at Ephesus before he expounds on the spiritual blessings in Christ:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
EPHESIANS CH 1:3
Blessed here means ‘worthy of praise’. When God blesses man, He gives benefits to him, but when man blesses God, he is offering praise.
The second blessed is the Greek word eulogeo. It means: of God – to prosper, to make happy, to bestow blessing on; favoured of God.
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
EPHESIANS CH 1:4
I love this verse – before God even created the earth, He knew me and He chose me – and the same goes for you. What an amazing thing! And He chose us because of His great love for us.
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.
EPHESIANS CH 1:5-6
To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved (v.5-6).
‘Predestinated’ means ‘marked out in advance’; ‘determined or appointed beforehand.’
As children of God, we were marked out to be His, not because of any good that we have done but because of ‘the good pleasure of His will’ – God’s love and kindness. The reason He predestinated us to be His children is to magnify the brilliance of His goodness towards us. Through Christ we are the recipients of God’s unmerited favour.
In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.
EPHESIANS CH 1:7
By the blood of Jesus Christ, we are saved from being slaves to sin and the resulting wrath of God. I love that it’s because of God’s grace towards us – unmerited favour. We are so undeserving but God loves us that much that He sent His Son to die for us.
Next time we’ll pick this up again from verse 8.
What are some of your insights on Ephesians chapter 1? Share in the comments below 😊
Love and blessings xx
Steadfast Love 