Ephesians Part 02

Paul opens his letter to the Ephesians by identifying himself: 

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God” (Ephesians 1:1). 

The purposeful introduction informs readers that his apostleship was not self-appointed but given directly by Christ.  

From the moment of his dramatic encounter on the road to Damascus, Paul understood that his life would be completely redefined. When struck blind, he was told, 

“Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do” (Acts 9:6). 

Later, Christ Himself revealed Paul’s mission: 

“He is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15). 

Paul considered it an honor to carry the message of salvation to the world, and in the same way, we too should view our calling as a sacred honor from God. Every disciple has a role to fulfill, uniquely suited by God, just as Paul’s dramatic conversion prepared him for his task. Whether or not we have had a “Road to Damascus” moment, each of us has been called for a purpose, and God equips us for the work He has in mind.

Paul writes “to the saints” in Ephesus, reminding believers of their identity. Matthew Henry notes that the word saints refers to Christians—those who were members of the Ephesian church, but more importantly, those who were set apart by God. All Christians are called to be saints, not just in profession but in truth and reality. This status is granted to those who love God and “walk worthy” of His calling. If we do not live as saints on earth, we will never be saints in glory. Paul further describes them as “the faithful in Christ Jesus”—believers who hold firmly to Him and to His truth. Faithful saints derive their grace and strength from Christ, and through Him their lives are made acceptable before God. This message applies not only to the Ephesians but also to us today. We are called to be faithful disciples, steadfast in our devotion and firm in our adherence to the ways of Christ.  

In verse 2 Paul gives his familiar greeting: 

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Grace and peace form not only the standard apostolic benediction (greeting), but they also summarize the blessings of the gospel. Grace refers to God’s unearned, undeserved favor, which always precedes true peace. Without grace, there can be no peace with God or with one another. As believers, we can also pray for this blessing of grace and peace to rest upon each other, continually mindful of the great favor God has poured out on His people. This greeting is extended from God the Father and Jesus Christ and conveys divine favor to the church as it reminds us of the blessings that flow from obedience and faithfulness. It is noteworthy that the Holy Spirit is not listed as a sender in this greeting, affirming that the Spirit is the power of God rather than a separate person of the Godhead.  

Paul then points us to the One who makes all blessings possible: 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (verse 3). 

This opening doxology (praise) lifts our eyes to God, the source of all true blessing. We can notice the emphasis is on spiritual blessings, not material possessions. God does not promise to give us everything we may want physically, but He does promise to give us everything necessary for salvation and redemption.  

In Christ, we are given the opportunity to become children of God and heirs of His family—a gift that cannot be earned, only granted. Can we truly grasp the magnitude of that? This is why the Church gathers each week, why we change our lives, why we strive to “become like Him.” God’s invitation is to nothing less than eternal sonship in His family, a reality that binds our history and our future to His.

Finally, in verse 4 Paul reminds us that God’s plan for His people is not an afterthought:

“He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” 

Just as parents plan to have children, God purposed from the beginning to create a family in His image. He did not choose individuals by name, but He did determine that there would be a people, holy and blameless, shaped by His Spirit. This is our destiny—to be conformed to His image, set apart by His law of love, and brought into His family through Christ.

UYA Team | uya@ucg.org  

United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.