Ephesians is chock-full of good stuff. I mean, this is Paul, in his prime, while also under imprisonment-a rich soil for the seeds of encouraging letters-but that is another post, I'm getting distracted. Paul writes to the believers in Ephesus about the body of Christ as the church and the love which pours from that. He includes several encouraging prayers of peace and hope, each time praying for a deeper, richer knowledge of Christ for His brothers and sisters. Throughout his text, Paul provides statements of truth and he furthers this truth by emphasizing all things are from God.
For example, "For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will-to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have redemptions through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us will all wisdom and understanding" (1:4-8)
Again, "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" (1:11)
Later, "remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ" (2:12-13)
"And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit" (2:22)
And again, "From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work" (4:16)
I could keep going, and I might as well include the entire epistle, but here is the truth we cannot miss; in Him is the goodness of all things here and to eternity. In Christ, we are free. In God, we are chosen and given purpose. Moreover, in Him, we have a relationship with Him. It is only through the love of His heart and the goodness of who He is, we are able to know Him. Not of our own volition but through the grace of God. Paul is praying for the riches of God's glorious grace, the nearness of His presence, the depths of Christ's love while thanking God for these things which only come through Him. "Every good and perfect gift" (James 1:7) comes from God and apart from God "we can do nothing" (John 15:5)
We are "dearly loved children," because of our powerful Father.
For example, "For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will-to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have redemptions through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us will all wisdom and understanding" (1:4-8)
Again, "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" (1:11)
Later, "remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ" (2:12-13)
"And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit" (2:22)
And again, "From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work" (4:16)
I could keep going, and I might as well include the entire epistle, but here is the truth we cannot miss; in Him is the goodness of all things here and to eternity. In Christ, we are free. In God, we are chosen and given purpose. Moreover, in Him, we have a relationship with Him. It is only through the love of His heart and the goodness of who He is, we are able to know Him. Not of our own volition but through the grace of God. Paul is praying for the riches of God's glorious grace, the nearness of His presence, the depths of Christ's love while thanking God for these things which only come through Him. "Every good and perfect gift" (James 1:7) comes from God and apart from God "we can do nothing" (John 15:5)
We are "dearly loved children," because of our powerful Father.
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