October 10, 2024 - Ephesians 1-3

In epistle after epistle, the apostle Paul addresses his readers as “saints,” as he does here in Ephesians:  “To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus” (1:1).  That is an amazing thought, i.e., that we can be called saints.  No, even more than that, we ARE saints.  Holy ones.  Set apart ones.  Sanctified ones.  Of course it is all because of what God has done for us in Christ.  And that’s Paul's emphasis in these opening chapters.  The God and Father of Jesus Christ has “blessed us in Christ in every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (1:3).  He chose us (1:4).  He predestined us for adoption (1:5).  He has blessed us with his glorious grace (1:6).  In him we have redemption (1:7).

He, he, he, he, in him . . . and it continues.  “In him we have obtained an inheritance” (1:11).  In him we have been “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” (1:13).  And so, Paul prays that God will continue and give the Ephesians “a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him” (1:17).  And Paul just goes on.  Once dead, walking in the ways of the world, “but God, being rich in mercy . . .” (2:4).  All this is not of our own doing, but is the gift of God to us (2:8).  We are his workmanship (2:9).

Once without hope, but now in Christ Jesus (2:12).  Once far off, but now brought near by the blood of Christ (2:13).  Reconciled to God through the cross (2:16).  Now, “citizens and saints of the household of God” (2:19).  Indeed, how great is “the breadth and length and height and depth" of God's love to us through Jesus Christ” (3:18,19)!

Gracious Spirit, dove divine,

let thy light within me shine;

all my guilty fears remove,

fill me full of heav’n and love.

Speak thy pard’ning grace to me,

set the burdened sinner free;

lead me to the Lamb of God,

wash me in his precious blood.   -- John Stocker (1777)