Our small group met to discuss Ephesians 1:3-14.  The question was asked, if you had just heard this passage read for the first time in a house-church's weekly meeting what would be your impressions of its meaning?  What effect in the hearts of his hearers do you think Paul wanted to produce?  I think he wanted to produce a sense of awe for the many spiritual blessings we have received through Jesus Christ from God the Father.  The following is an example of how those blessings (see post titled A List of Blessings) work out in the lives of faithful in Jesus Christ. 

As so often happens in a small group of Christians that have come together to seek God’s wisdom, our discussion of this passage produced some wonderful insights.  One of the members of the group shared that in studying this passage they realized that they had neglected praising God for his spiritual blessings in their prayer time.  Much of their prayer time was asking for answers to the many concerns and issues that was on their heart (for others as well as personal) and little or no praising.  Another member shared how they thought that in asking God for answers is a form of praise because we are actively relying on Him and not depending on ourselves.  Praise be to God, what a wonderful picture of prayer, asking and praising!  Through studying the Word together and discussing together what God had revealed to us individually, we gain helpful insight and wisdom.  We participate in the wonderful body of Christ, the church; helping one another grow in knowledge and understanding. 

If you are not a believer in Jesus Christ, yet you feel a tug on your heart that maybe God is calling you to seek Him, I encourage you to find a small group of Christians to meet with on a regular basis.  There you will find genuine searching for the truth of God and you will witness the joy in finding it.

Our small group meet this week to share our study of Ephesians. We were looking at the book from a general overview, giving our first impressions of what we thought the apostle Paul's intent was in writing this letter to the faithful in Ephesus. One way to determine the ideas most important to an author is to look for repetition in his message.  What words or ideas occur over and over in Paul's letter to the Ephesians.  I found in chapter 1 that the phrases "in Christ" and "in him" were used 7 times.  Previously in a post titled A List of Blessings, we had found a list of spiritual blessings that we have received from God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Each of those blessings are related to us either "in Christ" or "in him."  So, what exactly does this idea of "in Christ" mean?  How does this repeated idea help us in our understanding of the spiritual blessings we have received?

Our group discussed two thoughts that brought significant insight to us all.  The first idea is that in Christ means that it is through our personal relationship with Jesus Christ that we have these blessings and that they are exclusive to that relationship.  "In Christ" represents the one-on-one intimacy that the believer has with his or her Lord and Savior.  The second idea we discussed was that "in Christ" describes being in community with other believers.  I like this idea, especially as it relates to our small group.  We can look at the blessings we receive from God as personal and as a body working together to help one another and the world around us.  What is most exciting to me is that God revealed His word to us through one another sharing the impressions we received "in Him."

I stated in my last entry that I believe Paul wanted to remind his readers of the blessings that they received through their relationship to Jesus the Son and God the Father.  Paul described several blessings in the first 14 verses of Ephesians chapter 1.  I find it beneficial to create a list of my own words describing what the author wrote in their passage.  It helps me to more clearly identify the author’s intent.  Here is my list of blessings that I found in Paul’s opening chapter.

1.       God has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (verse 3)

2.       God chose us in Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. (verse 4)

3.       In love, God predestined us to be adopted as his sons and daughters through Jesus Christ. (verse 5)

4.       In Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. (verses 7,8)

5.       God made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ. (verses 9)

6.       In Christ we were chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. (verses 11,12)

7.       We also were included in Christ when we heard the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation. (verse 13)

8.       Having believed, we were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory. (verse 13,14)

When I see Paul’s passage represented as this list of blessings I get a sense of magnitude that I didn’t get when I first read the passage.  Maybe it is my professional training that makes it this way for me, but whatever the reason, my response is “I am truly blessed through my relationship with Christ!  Thank you Lord for reminding me of the magnitude of your care for me.” 

 

 

 

  

If you look at the date of my last post, you will notice a significant time lapse.  I was obviously not prepared to maintain a successful blog on my first start.  After much thought as to what I would like to blog about, I think I am ready to start again, so here goes my current attempt to contend for the faith I have in Jesus Christ and His church here on Earth.

I have been studying the book of Ephesians for several months and I will start my blogging on what I have learned.  My most effective Scripture study comes when I use the Life Change Series from Navpress.  I would encourage anyone to check this approach out for either personal or group study of God’s Word.

Through his letter to the Ephesians, I think Paul wanted to produce a sense of awe for the many blessings we have received through Jesus Christ.  I say “we” because I believe that Paul’s writings nearly 2000 years ago were meant to transcend time and place to inspire and instruct us today.  His desire for the church is my desire as well.  As I let the words of Ephesians permeate my mind, I feel a sense of responsibility to fellow believers to remind them and show them  that their faith is in Christ first and anything else must be subservient to that relationship. 

I need to be reminded often of the spiritual blessings I have received in Christ (accepting Christ as my Lord and Savior).  The worldly environment that I live in tends to cloud my memory of those blessings, but in the first Chapter of Ephesians we are emphatically reminded of what God has done for those who believe in Christ.

Take a few minutes to read verses 1-14 of the first chapter of Ephesians and note all of the times that Paul uses the key phrases “in him” or “in Christ”  and the blessing that is associated to each reference.

If you are not a believer in Christ, I urge you to contemplate how these blessings might change your life if you were to accept Christ as Lord and Savior of your life.  Please contact me or a believer you know and trust if your heart is yearning these blessings from God.