Review of Ephesians 1

by Pastor Adekoya Akinbode

The book of Ephesians is so a unique one of all the Epistles of Paul. So enriched and loaded with the Revelations of the Divine Will and workability. It is generally been referred to as the only book written with no intention to resolve any issue in the church unlike the book of Corinthians, Galatians and others. Paul has the opportunity to package in a book, his knowledge and understanding of the Divine purpose of God, since before the world began and the place of the believers in Christ Jesus in God’s executed counsel. In terms of the revelation of God’s eternal counsel, the closest to this book of Ephesians (which is said to be the crown of Pauline Epistles) is the book of Colossians. I will advise that all believers in Christ should make it a favorite read, again and again to be enriched with the knowledge of His Will for them, in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God…

What we are, what we shall be and can be are all within the confine of God’s will for us. Otherwise, we will be found struggling to become without actually becoming, if what we want to become is not or contrary to the will and counsel of God. That is why religion always leads to frustration as it’s always a strive to become!  In Christianity, we are not trying to “become”. We are who God says we are. We are not planning to become; we are not struggling to become, we simply “become” (by acknowledging and believing) who God says we are.

We have this assurance and consolation in Christ that no matter the vicissitudes of our lives, we will surely eventually become what God has purposed for us in time!

… to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

It’s needful to emphasize this: we are not called into what God is planning on doing, or what He’s trying to do or still working on. We are called into what God has purposed within Himself before the world began and has executed, finished, done in/through Christ. That is why Christianity is not about what we need to do, it is all about what God (in the Person of JESUS) has done that we simply must believe and manifest. Understanding this will always make thanksgiving to redound from the innermost recess of our being to God…

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 

Hoping, wishing, even praying for God to do what He’s done only cut us off from the flow of grace and the provisions of redemption. For instance, asking God for forgiveness of sins (however pious and sanctimonious it appears) is outright neglect of the provisions of redemption which include “…the forgiveness of sins…”

Our conscience does police us when we do what is known to be morally wrong. Plainly put, when we sin! What we need from God is not forgiveness of sins but grace (with which we reign) to live above the influence that leads to the act. As it is written, sin shall not have dominion over you… And, they that receive the abundance of grace shall reign in life…

One paramount thing we all must get from this chapter is the understanding that God has not called us to contribute to His plan, or to counsel Him or to join Him in doing His will. He had it all figured out and accomplished long before we came to existence. We are simply called to admit to, accept and enjoy what He has done and made available to us, in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

I’ve often said among the believers in Christ that the day you came into Christ by confessed faith in the finished work of the cross, you fulfilled God’s plan for your life! God’s eternal plan is that all things be gathered into Christ. That is fulfilled concerning you the day you came to Christ. Thenceforth, it is for you to begin to learn and to understand what God had in mind for you in Christ and live to manifest same, to the praise of His glory!

In Christ:

–   You have redemption

–   You are forgiven (this happened long before you were born. Christ paid for our sins in advance and the price paid is far more than the sins of mankind from eternity past till eternity to come) 

–   You have been accepted in the beloved. Hence, you are beloved of God!

–   You are a member of the family of God. An heir with gracious eternal inheritance

–   You are sealed with the Holy Spirit, as a sign of God’s eternal ownership, amongst others. You’re God’s possession! Hence, you can’t ever be lost or abandoned when He comes for His own. Hallelujah!

Get it straight, right and now:

Our calling in Christ, (salvation) is not about what we have to do, what we need to do but what God has purposed in Himself and executed by Himself and handed to us as inheritance.