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Eph 1 1-10

Ephesians 1:1-10 emphasizes God's grace in salvation, highlighting His eternal plan that predates creation and is fulfilled through Christ. The Apostle Paul, writing to the church in Ephesus, underscores themes of election, redemption, and the ultimate purpose of uniting all things in Christ. Believers are called to respond by living confidently in their identity, pursuing holiness, and proclaiming the gospel.

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17 views4 pages

Eph 1 1-10

Ephesians 1:1-10 emphasizes God's grace in salvation, highlighting His eternal plan that predates creation and is fulfilled through Christ. The Apostle Paul, writing to the church in Ephesus, underscores themes of election, redemption, and the ultimate purpose of uniting all things in Christ. Believers are called to respond by living confidently in their identity, pursuing holiness, and proclaiming the gospel.

Uploaded by

markdecastro26
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Text: Ephesians 1:1-10

Title:
Theme: Ephesians

Intro:
- Greetings
- Good day, brothers and sisters in Christ!
- It is a joy and privilege to open God’s Word with you today.
- Our passage, Ephesians 1:1-10, is a beautiful and profound section of Scripture that
reveals the greatness of God’s grace in our salvation.
- These verses take us to the very heart of God’s eternal plan—a plan that began before the
foundation of the world, was accomplished through the sacrifice of Christ, and will one
day culminate in the unity of all things under His lordship.
- This passage reminds us that our salvation is not an accident, nor is it something we
achieve by our own efforts.
- It is entirely God’s work, planned before time, executed in Christ, and sealed by the Holy
Spirit.
- When we understand this, it transforms our lives—giving us security in our identity,
freedom from guilt, and a mission to live for His glory.
- But before we dive into these powerful truths, let’s take a moment to understand the
background of the book of Ephesians so that we can fully appreciate the depth of Paul’s
message.
Background of the Book of Ephesians
o 1. The Author and Recipients
- The book of Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul while he was in prison
(Ephesians 3:1; 4:1; 6:20), most likely in Rome around AD 60-62.
- It is one of Paul’s prison epistles, along with Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.
- Paul was writing to the church in Ephesus, a major city in Asia Minor (modern-day
Turkey).
- Ephesus was an important commercial, political, and religious center in the Roman
Empire.
- It was home to the great Temple of Artemis (Diana)—one of the Seven Wonders of the
Ancient World.
- Because of this, Ephesus was filled with idol worship, magic, and false teachings.
- Paul had spent about three years in Ephesus (Acts 19), preaching the gospel, performing
miracles, and strengthening the church.
- The Ephesian believers came from both Jewish and Gentile backgrounds, and Paul
wanted to remind them of their new identity in Christ and their calling to live as God’s
people.
o 2. The Purpose of the Letter
- Unlike some of Paul’s other letters, Ephesians was not written to address a specific
problem in the church.
- Instead, it is a theological masterpiece that highlights:
- God’s eternal plan of salvation (Ephesians 1)
- The unity of Jews and Gentiles in Christ (Ephesians 2-3)
- How believers should live in response to God’s grace (Ephesians 4-6)
- In other words, Paul wanted the Ephesians (and us today) to see the big picture of what
God has done and how we should live because of it.
o 3. The Central Theme: "In Christ"
- One of the key themes in Ephesians is our union with Christ.
- Paul repeatedly uses the phrase "in Christ" or "in Him" (about 36 times in the book!) to
emphasize that our identity, blessings, and hope are all found in Jesus.
- For example, in our passage today (Ephesians 1:1-10), we will see that:
- We are chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.
- We are redeemed in Christ through His blood.
- We are united in Christ as part of God’s ultimate plan.
- This is the foundation of our faith: Everything we have—our salvation, purpose, and
future—is found in Christ alone.

- Now that we understand the background, let’s turn our attention to Ephesians 1:1-10.
- Let me read it to you just follow me with your eyes.
- This passage is often called "The Hymn of Redemption" because it is a song of praise
to God for His glorious grace.
- Paul begins this letter not with instructions or corrections but with worship.
- He wants believers to start by focusing on the majesty of God’s grace before discussing
how to live it out.
- As we go through this passage, we will look at three key truths:
- The title of God’s message this morning, “The Glory of God’s Grace.”
- May the Lord help us today as we delve into His words at this very moment.
- As we can see, Paul opens his letter with a short greeting.
- “Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Grace is a common greeting for the Jews and peace is a common greeting for the Greeks.
- As I have said earlier, did not give any instruction at the beginning but rather he begins
with a wonderful statement about God’s grace through our salvation.

I. The Plan of God in Election (vv.3-4)


"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the
foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him."

Theological Truth: God’s Sovereign Choice


The first thing Paul highlights is God’s sovereign plan—He chose us in Christ before the
foundation of the world. This means:
1. Our salvation is not an accident.
o Before God created the universe, He already planned to redeem us through Christ.
o We are not saved because of our own efforts, but because of His grace.
2. We are chosen for holiness.
o God did not just choose us to go to heaven; He chose us to be holy and
blameless.
o Holiness is both a position (we are declared holy in Christ) and a process (we are
called to live in holiness).
Practical Application: How Should We Respond?
 Live with confidence in God’s plan. If God chose you before time, nothing can separate
you from His love (Romans 8:38-39).
 Pursue holiness. Since we are chosen to be holy, we should strive to live a life that
pleases God. (1 Peter 1:15-16
 Rest in God’s grace. Our salvation is not based on our works but on God’s grace. We
do not have to earn His love—it is already ours in Christ.

II. The Provision of God in Redemption (vv.5-7)


"In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according
to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in
the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our
trespasses, according to the riches of his grace."

Theological Truth: Redemption Through Christ’s Blood


- The next great truth Paul presents is redemption—the act of buying someone back.
- In biblical times, a ransom was paid to free slaves. Paul tells us that we were
enslaved to sin, but Jesus paid the price for our freedom through His blood.
1. We have been adopted into God's family.
o God not only forgives us—He makes us His children! (John 1:12)
o Adoption means we have a new identity and a new inheritance in Christ.
2. We have forgiveness of sins.
o Our sins are not just covered but completely removed (Psalm 103:12).
o No sin is too great for God’s grace—He forgives fully and freely.
3. It is all because of God’s grace.
o Redemption is not something we earn. It is a gift of grace.
o God’s grace is not limited—it is rich, abundant, and overflowing. (Eph. 1:6)
Practical Application: How Should We Respond?
 Walk in freedom from sin. You are no longer a slave—Christ has set you free!
 Forgive as you have been forgiven. If God has shown us such grace, we must extend
grace to others.
 Live in gratitude and worship. Redemption is costly—it cost Jesus His life. Our
response should be a life of praise.

III. The Purpose of God in Christ (vv.8-10)


"...to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."
Theological Truth: Christ’s Ultimate Purpose
Paul now shifts from personal redemption to God’s grand purpose—uniting everything under
Christ’s authority.
This means:
1. God’s plan is universal.
o The effects of sin broke the world, but through Christ, God is restoring all
things.
o One day, everything—heaven and earth—will be brought into perfect unity
under Christ.
2. Christ is Lord over all.
o This passage reminds us that history is not random—God is in control.
o Every event is leading toward the fulfillment of His ultimate plan.
3. We are part of this mission.
o The church is called to live as God’s representatives, proclaiming Christ’s
rule. (Matt. 28:19-20).
o Our lives should reflect God’s kingdom values as we wait for His full restoration.
Practical Application: How Should We Respond?
 Live with an eternal perspective. No matter how dark the world seems, God is working
out His plan.
 Submit to Christ’s lordship. Every area of our lives should reflect His rule.
 Proclaim the gospel. Since God’s purpose is to unite all things in Christ, we should share
the good news with those who are still lost.

Conclusion: Responding to the Glory of God’s Grace


Ephesians 1:1-10 reveals the glory of God’s grace:
1. We are chosen – Our salvation is secure in Christ.
2. We are redeemed – We are set free by His blood.
3. We are part of His plan – Christ is restoring all things.
- These truths are not just meant to be studied—they are meant to be lived.
- As we leave today, let us:

- Praise God for His grace.


- Live holy lives in response to our calling.
- Proclaim the gospel until Christ returns.
- Let us Pray.

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