September 13, 2022 - Ephesians 1-3

Of course, all Scripture is God-breathed (i.e., Holy Spirit inspired), and we cannot pick and choose those texts that we wish to take or leave off. Having just written those words, now, let me pick some texts from the first three chapters of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, texts that will not be seen as “more important” than others; rather, texts that provide a sampling of all that the Ephesian believers, and we, have in Christ Jesus.

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:2).

“Blessed be God . . . who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing” (1:3).

“he chose us” (1:4)

“in love he predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ” (1:5)

“he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” (1:7)

“In him we have obtained an inheritance” (1:11)

And now, we “are no longer strangers and aliens, but [we] are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (2:19). Oh, the breadth and length and height and depth of God’s love for us in Christ! (3:18,19)

Come, thou Fount of every blessing,

tune my heart to sing thy grace;

streams of mercy, never ceasing,

call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet,

sung by flaming tongues above.

Praise the mount I'm fixed upon it

mount of God’s redeeming love. -- Robert Robinson (1758)