Ephesians Chapter 1 Devotionals

Ephesians 1:1

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus. NIV

This verse is Paul's salutation to this letter, which he is sending to the saints. In Greek the word for saint means set apart from the secular. In Paul's day "saints" were set apart from the secular for worship and service to their god. Paul's choice of this word is very deliberate. As believers, we are not to be secular because we are set apart for the worship and service of the true God.

Paul goes on in this verse to describe saints as "faithful in Christ Jesus." From the Greek we learn that a faithful saint is one who is confident in their faith. There is a fidelity and trustworthiness included in the Greek word translated faithful.

As faithful saints of Christ Jesus we are set apart for worshiping and serving our dear Lord. Jesus is our example. He walked the earth, brought His Father glory and served man. We are to be like Jesus. We are to work and mingle with people but our primary focus is to bring our Father glory.

We are never to lose sight of the fact that we are set apart for the one true God. Just as Jesus brought the Father glory, we are to bring Christ and the Father glory and honor. We are to draw attention to them.

Like Christ, we are to serve others. We do this by being a caring and sharing family member, by being a diligent employee, and by being lights in our community.

Prayer: Dear Lord, what a privilege to be set apart to worship and serve You. Lord, guide me to be a confident believer who has fidelity and is trustworthy. I love You, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Ephesians 1:2

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

Grace in the Greek refers to a gift freely given with no expectation of anything in return. Grace focuses on the giver. God the Father gave His son Christ Jesus to die on the cross to forgive our sins. Before we acknowledged our sins and asked Christ Jesus to forgive us, we were His enemies. Yet God loved us so much that Jesus, His son, died for us. This is truly an unfathomable free gift. There is nothing we can give back to the Father that comes close in value to Christ's life. Still, our awesome God gave His Son for us while we were His enemies.

Paul goes on to ask God to give us His peace. Peace here comes from the Greek word meaning "to join." An example to illustrate this is when a husband and wife are not "joined" together in their goals and dreams. There is disunity and strife. Only when they agree on their goals and dreams can they work together in harmony and accomplish them.

When we have the Lord's peace, we are joined together with the Lord. Our goals and dreams are His goals and dreams. When we work in harmony with the Lord, we can accomplish them.

Prayer: Dear Lord, what a privilege it is to have Your peace so I can work in harmony with You. Forgive me when I lose sight of this and do not work with You. Lord, how can I thank You enough for Your gift of Christ Jesus? Thank you, Jesus, for forgiving my sins through Your death on the cross. You are so wonderful. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Ephesians 1:3-4 & 2:1

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. NIV

In verse three we read about our triune God. First, there is God the Father; second, Jesus Christ;and third, the Holy Spirit (the source of our spiritual blessings).

God the Father predestined before the earth was formed that He would send His Son to die for us. His will is for us to accept this free gift of forgiveness of our sins. We have free will to accept or refuse His gift of forgiveness of sins and transgressions. Sins are from a Greek word that means shooting at a target and missing. An example would be trying to live a good life and from time-to-time being aware that we've hurt someone we shouldn't. Other times we don't do what we should. This is missing the mark. Only by accepting Jesus as Savior can we hit the true target of life, that is, God's plan for us. There is no higher calling. If this is what you want, then pray the prayer below.

In the past, if you have prayed and have been forgiven, but are now away from the Lord, this is what Paul meant when he says transgressions or trespasses in Ephesians 2:1. The Greek word for trespasses means to slip (fall) or take the wrong road. Just as it's easy to get off onto the wrong road or to fall, it is easy to get back to the Lord's way or to get up from that fall. God deeply desires that you get all He has planned for you. Pray the prayer below.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I'm so sorry for my sins and trespasses. Please forgive me. Thank You for Your plan for me. What an exciting idea to live as You want and receive Your spiritual blessing. I love You, Lord. Amen.

Ephesians 1:5

In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will... NIV

Even before the earth was formed, it was the Lord's will that we would be adopted as His sons. At he same time, He gave us free will so that we can choose not to accept His adoption.

In Paul's day, an adopted son had all the legal rights of natural sons. After adoption, the new son was lost to his former family. He was a new person. All debts and obligations connected to his old identity were cancelled out as if they never existed. Often, sons were adopted to make sure there was a continuance of a family line. This is how complete adoption was in Paul's day.

For the Lord to adopt us means all our sins, debts, and obligations of life before Christ are wiped out as if they never existed. We are so totally part of the Lord's family that our former way of life no longer has any hold over us.

What joy! I am a member of the Lord's family!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for adopting me. My old way of life no longer is my walk. Teach me Your way. I want to start this thrilling journey. I love you, Lord. Amen.

Ephesians 1:6-7a

...to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins... NIV

Paul starts verse 6 with the words "...to the praise of His glorious grace..." Truly together with Paul we can sing praises of our dear Lord's grace. As in verse 2, grace means a gift freely given because the giver desires to give the gift. The recipient does nothing to merit or earn the gift.

Our only choice is to accept or reject the gift.

God's glorious gift of grace is given in Christ and through Christ's blood. The Greek word translated redemption means to pay a ransom. The verb have in Greek means past, present and future. Christ shed His blood to ransom us from our bondage of sin. This redemption or ransom is for all generations, for Jesus' apostles, for our grandparents, for us, for our children, for all of us, past, present, and future.

In verse 7 we read, "...forgiveness of sins..." Forgiveness in Greek means to send away or depart. Our sins have departed from us when we ask Christ Jesus to forgive our sins. They are no longer a part of us or the Lord's memory.

There is nothing we can do to receive God's gift of grace. It is free. If you have not asked the Lord to forgive your sins, pray the following prayer:

Prayer: Dear Lord, I'm so sorry for my sins. I'm sorry for all the things and thoughts I've had that are wrong. Please forgive me. Thank you. You are so awesome. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, please start reading Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John in your Bible. Also, join a church that believes and teaches the Bible.

Ephesians 1:7b-8

...in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. NIV

Verses 3-14 in Ephesians chapter 1 is a long lyrical sentence where Paul's mind flits from one magnificent thought about the Lord to another, and then back to some previous idea. In verse 8 we see this for Paul goes back to discuss God's grace (i.e., His free unmerited gift). God's grace is lavished on us. In Greek the word translated lavish means to exceed any measure we might use. How can we even comprehend the depth of our dear Lord's love in extending His grace to each of us in an abundance we can't even measure?

This grace is lavished on us–you and me. The Greek word translated with is profound. It means not only to us but into our very being. What a treasure. So often we try to do the right thing but fall short. Our hope is that God's grace goes into every fiber of who we are. We can relax in Him and know that we can have His wisdom and understanding.

Again a single phrase–wisdom and understanding–is a thrilling concept. The more we study the Bible, the more wisdom He gives us. The Greek word translated as wisdom refers to eternal topics such as life and death, God and man, time and eternity. The more we study the Bible, the more of His wisdom we gain into these weighty topics. But this is not all He gives us. He also gives us understanding.

Prayer: Dear Lord, please give me Your insights into Your wisdom and deeper thoughts. I desire to know more about You and Your thoughts. Also, Lord, I do not want to wander through my life in this world trying to figure out the best route. I need Your understanding of the right and best way to travel. Thank You for Your gifts of wisdom and understanding. Amen.

Ephesians 1:9-10

And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. NIV

We need God's wisdom spoken of in verse 8 for understanding verses 9-10. Throughout time man has wondered what the future holds. In verse 9 we learn that our loving God has a plan which springs forth from His good pleasure. This awesome plan will be completed in Christ at a future time.

Times in verse 10 in Greek refers to periods in human history. We are now in the Church Age. Paul tells us that the Lord's plan will take effect at the completion of this age. When this era ends, God will fulfill His plan to bring all creation under Christ. This includes the universe as well as the earth. This new age will be the Millenium or thousand year reign of Christ on earth.

What an overwhelming idea! Our Savior will govern all creation. We just have to read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John to discover who Jesus is. What a contrast to all the conflict and tension we experience in the world now. Imagine doing something well and Christ looking over your shoulder and saying, "Well done!"

Verse 9 states directly that God accomplishes His plan through Christ. Those who accept Christ as their personal Savior will participate in the fulfillment of God's plan and be with Him in the age to come.

Prayer: Lord, forgive my sins. I want to participate in Your kingdom. What a thrilling idea to live in a world under Your love and justice. Guide me as I walk through this life now. May others see You in me. In Your precious name I pray. Amen.

Ephesians 1:11-12

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. NIV

In these verses Paul is telling his fellow Jewish Christians that God had and has a plan for them. God has predestined them in accordance with that plan. In Greek the word translated predestined means to mark boundaries or set limits ahead of time. God's plan for the Jews had definite guidelines.

As part of our Lord's plan, He chose the Jews as we see in the early part of the Old Testament. The word chose means they were set aside as an inheritance. The Jews hold a very special place in God's plan. Christ was a Jew as were the earliest believers (Christians). When you read The Revelation in the Bible, you'll get a glimpse of His future plans for the Jews. They are God's beloved people, therefore they are special and dear to us.

Paul and his fellow Jews "...were the first to hope in Christ." Jesus Christ was the Messiah promised in the Old Testament. The Old Testament is filled with prophecies telling of Christ and His death on the cross. Christ lived among them, taught them, and healed them. It would be a grave error to curse the Jews for Christ's death for two reasons. The first is because it was part of God's plan for Christ to die. His blood flowed from His wounds because the Father is just. There are consequences for our sins that we cannot rectify. Christ's blood and death pay the consequences for our sins if we ask Him to forgive us. If you have not asked the Lord to forgive your sins, go to the prayer at the end of Ephesians chapter 1:6-7a. Go to prayer

The second reason it would be wrong to curse the Jews for Jesus' death is the character of the Father. The Lord forgives anyone who comes to Him and asks for forgiveness in Christ's name, and this includes the Jews. This forgiveness is our only hope.

The final phrase in verse 12 is important. Paul relates that all of God's plan fulfilled so far in history through the Jews is "...for the praise of His glory." This phrase also applies to us (see I Peter 4:11, II Thess. 1:12). In all that we do, we are to bring praise and glory to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I stand in awe as I begin to understand your plan for the earth and universe. From the beginning of time You have controlled our history. The Old Testament tells of Your plan including the coming of our Savior. Your thoroughness amazes me. May I bring You praise and glory in all I do and say. In Jesus' dear name I pray. Amen.

Ephesians 1:13-14

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession to the praise of his glory. NIV

In Ephesians 1:3-4 we talked about our triune God. In verses 13 and 14, Paul reveals more about the Holy Spirit who with the Father and Christ form the trinity. Paul in these verses is addressing both the Gentile and Jewish believer in Christ. Two vital facts are revealed here about the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the believer.

The first fact is that as soon as we confess our sins they are forgiven and we are sealed in the Holy Spirit. In Paul's day, a package to be sent was closed with a seal which had written on it the package's source and destination. The seal identified who owned the package. It also guaranteed that the contents had not been tampered with if the seal arrived intact. We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit and belong to the Lord. This is reassuring as we go through this life as the Lord's sons. This is not a haphazard or whimsical relationship with the Lord. Every moment of the day the Holy Spirit is with us and guarding us. How reassuring!

The second fact about the Holy Spirit and believer relationship is that the Holy Spirit is "...a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possessions." The Greek word translated guarantee is a business term. The guarantee was part of the purchase price and was paid in advance to guarantee that the full price would be paid. How amazing! How deep is our Father's love. He sent His Son to die to pay the price for our sins. Then when we ask for forgiveness, He forgives us and seals us.

At no time are we ever alone. The Holy Spirit is here with us. What's more, the Holy Spirit is a guarantee of future payment from the Lord. We can rest assured that we will spend eternity with the Lord because the Holy Spirit is our guarantee. We've done nothing to deserve what we have in Christ and the Holy Spirit. With the total assurance that comes from the Lord, I know the Lord keeps His word and I can rely on these promises. He is our comfort in this lifetime and He is our delight in eternity.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for Your Holy Spirit and for the hope I have in You. You have been so thorough in all your plans and dealings with me. I love You so much. Thank You. In Jesus' dear name I pray. Amen.

Ephesians 1:15-16

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. NIV

Paul never stops thanking the Lord for two characteristics of the believers he's writing to. First, they have faith in the Lord Jesus. These believers have not only believed in Christ to have their sins forgiven but they live their life in faith. It is not a one-time transaction but a way of life.

The second characteristic of these believers is that they love all believers (saints). What an admirable trait.

Paul never stops thanking the Lord for these qualities in these believers. How refreshing to hear positive things about a group of believers. Not only were individual believers known for their faith and love, but as a group they collectively exhibited these characteristics..

Prayer: Dear Lord, may I believe in You in all my thoughts, words and deeds. Forgive any doubts that I may have. Forgive me for allowing others to turn my head so that I don't stand firmly on Your Scriptures. May I love others like the believers Paul is writing to. Thank you for the believers I know who love You and other believers. You call me to a high standard that is love. You're so amazing. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Ephesians Chapter 1 Devotionals