The Mystery Unveiled Text: Ephesians 1: 1-14
The letter is addressed to the church in the city of Ephesus; capital of the Roman province of Asia. The author is Paul, and was written between A.D. 60-62.
This was the exact time Paul was in prison in Rome, so this letter is sometimes referred to as the prison epistle.
A key theme of the letter is the mystery (meaning a heretofore unrevealed truth) of the church, which is “that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promises in Christ through the gospel.”
Ephesians 1:1-14NKJ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 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, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
These first three chapters are very theological, emphasizing NT doctrine, whereas the last three chapters are practical and focus on Christian behavior.
Eph. 1:1NLT This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.
…Chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus… What a responsibility- can you imagine?
An apostle: This means messenger, and served as an official title for Paul, and the other 12 disciples.
These were eyewitnesses of the resurrected Jesus and were chosen by God to lay a foundation for the Church by preaching, teaching and writing Scripture, accompanied by miracles.
Are there apostles presently? Fire-starters, church builders.
Eph.1: 2NLT May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Paul is granting all who read and believe- grace and peace. (May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.)
Eph.1: 3NLT All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
Blessed: All praise to God… This passage describes God’s ways- this is the supreme duty of all creatures.
Bless His name in all things!
Listen to 1 Thess. 5:16-18NLT Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Every believer has been given Spiritual blessings.
Listen to Romans 8:28NLT And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Col. 2:10NLT So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
Eph.1: 4NLT Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
Many people use this scripture to support the doctrine of ‘Election’ which is fine as long as those who follow ‘Election’ understand that God (Chose) everyone.
Verse 4 …God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
Only because of the blood! Hebrews 10:11-14NLT 11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. 12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.
Eph. 1:5NLT God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
Think about newly adopted parents! (Excitement)
Verse 5 …and it gave him great pleasure.
John 15:15NLT I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.
Eph. 1:6-8NLT So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
A few reasons to praise Him:
1. His glorious grace.
2. He’s rich in kindness.
3. Rich in grace.
4. He purchased us through His Sons blood.
5. We are forgiven.
6. He gave us His wisdom and understanding.
Eph. 1:9-11NLT God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.
The mysterious plan is Christ unveiled making a way where there was no way- bringing reconciliation- for all mankind to receive an inheritance from God.
Eph. 1: 12-13NLT God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. 13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.
The Holy Spirit isn’t just given to a believer randomly. No, you are marked by God through Christ; His Spirit will sustain until He comes again.
Eph. 1:14NLT The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.
The mystery was unveiled to bring praise and glory unto Jesus Christ- King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
Prayer.
