The Journey Ahead

The Journey Ahead

Our roadmap for this study is simple. Between now and Lent (approximately six weeks), we will cover the first three chapters, tackling about a chapter every two weeks. We will pause for Lent and Easter, and then pick up the second half—the practices—leading us all the way to Pentecost.

The Background: From Prison to Praise

To truly appreciate this letter, we have to look at where Paul was when he wrote it. Paul wasn’t sitting in a comfortable office; he was in a Roman prison. Yet, despite his chains, his spirit was overflowing with praise.

If you read Acts chapters 18 and 19, you get a glimpse into Paul’s history with the Ephesian church. It was not an easy place to minister. Paul encountered incomplete teaching about Jesus, spiritual warfare, and fierce cultural opposition. Fast forward about 10 years later: Paul is in Rome, reflecting on the believers in Ephesus, and he sits down to write this profound letter.

Who is this Letter For? (Ephesians 1:1-2)

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul begins by establishing his authority—not by his own ambition, but by the will of God. But notice who he addresses: The saints.

What is a Saint?

In many traditions, a "saint" is someone canonized long after death based on a life of extraordinary holiness or recorded miracles. But biblically, a saint is simply a person who has been set apart by God.

If you have confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believed in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you are a saint.

This letter isn’t written for casual church attenders or those relying on a ritual they did years ago without a living faith today. It is written for the faithful in Christ Jesus. Interestingly, you will find the phrase "in Christ" (or in Him) about 27 times in this letter!

As the Apostle John beautifully put it:

“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:12)

5 Incredible Privileges of the Believer (Ephesians 1:3-14)

Paul kicks off his praise by reminding us that God has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing. These aren't temporal, material things that moth and rust can destroy (Matthew 6:19). These are eternal.

Here are the staggering privileges Paul lists in the opening verses:

1. You Are Chosen and Adopted

“In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ...”

God didn’t just accept you; He chose to adopt you into His divine family. Think of Jesus as the "adoption agency." Through Him, you are given full rights as a son or daughter of the Most High God.

2. You Are Redeemed

“In him we have redemption through his blood...”

To redeem means to "buy back" something that originally belonged to you.

The Sailboat Story: Think of a young boy who loses his homemade toy sailboat on a lake. Days later, he sees it sitting in a resale shop window. To get his own boat back, he has to pay for it. He has to redeem it.

We lost our place in God's family when humanity fell in the Garden of Eden. But God paid the ultimate price—the blood of His Son—to buy you back.

3. You Are Forgiven

Along with redemption comes the forgiveness of sins. This is arguably one of our greatest privileges. It shouldn't make us casual about sin; rather, experiencing God's lavish grace should motivate us to live lives that honor Him.

4. You Know the Mystery of His Will

God doesn’t keep His children in the dark. He reveals His master plan to bring all things in heaven and earth together under Christ. Just as Jesus arrived at the exact perfect moment in history (Galatians 4:4), God’s will is being worked out in your life at just the right time.

5. You Are Sealed with the Holy Spirit

“...you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance...”

When you believed, God stamped you with His seal: the Holy Spirit. In the ancient world, a seal denoted ownership and security. The Spirit is God's "down payment" or guarantee that He will finish what He started in you. Your body is now His temple (1 Corinthians 6:19).

Moving Forward in Wonder

As we reflect on these incredible privileges—chosen, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, and sealed—let us take a moment to step back in absolute wonder.

The next time you take Communion, remember what you are celebrating. You are celebrating a Savior who obeyed the Father to pay the price for your adoption. You are accepting a free, priceless gift.

Are you ready to walk in the fullness of your privileges "in Christ" this year?

Let us pray...

Father, open the eyes of our hearts to truly understand the riches of the inheritance we have in You. May we live today fully aware of our identity as Your chosen, redeemed, and beloved children. Amen.

What privilege from Ephesians 1 resonates with you the most today? Let me know in the comments below! 

Originally delivered 2024.01.07