Ephesians 1 takes us from eternity to eternity; from before the creation of the world to after its end. The Apostle Paul gives us insight into the eternal plan of God. He is certainly not defeated by the fall. Before the disobedience of Adam and Eve, before they or anything even existed, God had already decided on a rescue operation called redemption through Jesus Christ. (from God’s Big Picture, by Vaughan Roberts)
Ephesians 1:1
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus:”
Paul begins by identifying himself as an apostle—a messenger personally appointed by Jesus Christ. His authority did not come from people but from God’s will. He writes to believers (“saints”), people whom God has set apart for Himself, encouraging those who are faithfully following Christ.
Ephesians 1:2
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.“
Paul greets them with two great blessings:
- Grace—God’s undeserved favor and kindness.
- Peace—reconciliation with God and the inner peace that comes from knowing Him.
Both come through God the Father and Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:3
“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,”
Believers already possess every spiritual blessing necessary for salvation and the Christian life. These blessings include forgiveness, adoption, eternal life, the Holy Spirit, and an eternal inheritance. Every one of them comes because we are united with Christ.
Ephesians 1:4
“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him in love,“
Before God created the world, He chose believers in Christ for salvation. His purpose was not merely to save us from judgment but to transform us into people who are holy, blameless, and reflect His character.
Ephesians 1:5
“By predestining us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,”
God lovingly planned beforehand that believers would become His adopted children through Jesus Christ. Adoption means we receive full rights as members of God’s family—not because we earned it, but because it pleased God to give us this privilege.
Ephesians 1:6
“To the praise of the glory of His grace, which He graciously bestowed on us in the Beloved.”
God’s saving grace exists ultimately to bring Him glory. Every believer is accepted by God because they are “in the Beloved”—Jesus Christ. Our salvation highlights God’s amazing grace rather than our own goodness.
Ephesians 1:7
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our transgressions, according to the riches of His grace,”
Jesus paid the price to set us free from slavery to sin through His sacrificial death on the cross. Because of His blood, our sins are completely forgiven. This forgiveness flows from God’s abundant grace.
Ephesians 1:8
“Which He caused to abound to us in all wisdom and insight,”
God has generously poured out His grace upon believers, giving them spiritual wisdom and understanding so they can know Him, understand His truth, and live according to His will.
Ephesians 1:9
“Making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Him.”
God has revealed His once-hidden plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. The “mystery” is no longer secret—it is God’s plan to save people through Christ and unite Jews and Gentiles into one body.
Ephesians 1:10
“For an administration of the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth in Him.”
God’s ultimate plan is that one day everything in heaven and on earth will come under the authority of Jesus Christ. Christ will reign over all creation forever.
Ephesians 1:11
“In Him, we also have been made an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,“
Believers have received an eternal inheritance in Christ. God accomplishes His purposes according to His perfect wisdom and sovereign will. Nothing happens outside His control.
Ephesians 1:12
“To the end that we who first have hoped in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.“
The purpose of our salvation is that our lives would bring praise and glory to God. Those who trust Christ become living testimonies of His grace.
Ephesians 1:13
“In Him, you also, after listening to the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,”
Paul describes the order of salvation:
- They heard the gospel.
- They believed in Christ.
- God sealed them with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit’s seal is God’s mark of ownership, security, and guarantee that believers belong to Him forever.
Ephesians 1:14
“Who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, unto the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.“
The Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee—or down payment—that believers will receive their full eternal inheritance one day. God’s work of salvation will be completed when Christ returns.
Paul’s Prayer
Ephesians 1:15
“For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,”
Paul thanks God because the Ephesian believers demonstrate genuine saving faith through their trust in Christ and their love for fellow Christians.
Ephesians 1:16
“Do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers:”
Paul continually thanks God for these believers and faithfully prays that they will continue growing spiritually.
Ephesians 1:17
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the full knowledge of Him,”
Paul prays that the Holy Spirit will continually give believers greater wisdom and spiritual understanding so they can know God more deeply and personally.
Ephesians 1:18
“So that you—the eyes of your heart having been enlightened—will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,”
Paul asks God to open their spiritual understanding so they can fully appreciate:
- the certainty of their future hope,
- the incredible riches of salvation,
- and the glorious inheritance awaiting God’s people.
Ephesians 1:19
“And what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe according to the working of the might of His strength,”
Believers have access to God’s immeasurable power. It is the same divine power that saves, transforms, strengthens, and preserves every Christian.
Ephesians 1:20
“Which He worked in Christ, by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,”
The power available to believers is the very power God used to raise Jesus from the dead and exalt Him to the highest position of honor and authority beside the Father.
Ephesians 1:21
“Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”
Jesus reigns supreme over every ruler, angelic power, government, kingdom, and authority. His authority is absolute, eternal, and unmatched.
Ephesians 1:22
“And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,”
God has placed everything under Christ’s authority. Jesus is the supreme Head of the Church, directing, protecting, sustaining, and ruling His people.
Ephesians 1:23
“Which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”
The Church is Christ’s body on earth. Every believer is united to Him and to one another. Christ fills His Church with His presence, power, and life, and He ultimately fills the entire universe with His sovereign rule.
- God planned salvation before creation.
- Salvation is entirely by God’s grace through Jesus Christ.
- Believers are chosen, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, and accepted in Christ.
- The Holy Spirit permanently seals every believer and guarantees their eternal inheritance.
- Christ is exalted above every authority.
- The Church is Christ’s body, united under His leadership.
- The entire chapter repeatedly emphasizes that God’s work of salvation is “to the praise of His glory” (vv. 6, 12, 14), showing that the ultimate purpose of redemption is to glorify God.
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