IN CHRIST JESUS. Ephesians 1:1 First-century letters began with the writer identifying himself and offering a blessing or wish for good health. Paul, the apostle, by the will of God, emphasized his authority from the one true God, and His Son Jesus Christ was given to him to bless the readers. Those called saints (holy people) belong to God and, therefore, are to act as holy people in conduct because God is holy. Faithful people have committed themselves to Christ Jesus.
Greetings to the members of His Body, [1:1-2]: We are “in Christ Jesus” (as the body is joined to the head). This is the main phrase in the epistle. We have and are all in Him. Paul’s gift was given by God’s choice. As saints, we are set apart for God’s purpose. As the faithful in Christ Jesus, believers are identified by their position and Leader. The fact of being “in Christ” is mentioned 9 times in the first fourteen verses.
We start out dead spiritually and are unable to respond to the Lord on our own. Sin has left everyone helpless and separated from God, so we cannot come to Him unless He shows us mercy. It is not self-awareness that causes us to turn to God; rather, in His mercy, He awakens us to our need for Him. Whatever means He uses to make us aware of our lost condition and need of Him is a sovereign act of God.
We never know when we are truly committed to God's will or what the outcome of our work or testimony will be as we travel from place to place. Paul and his companions had been busy working for the Lord on their second missionary journey, and he was heading to Jerusalem, where he wanted to arrive at a specific time. As he passed through Ephesus, a busy cosmopolitan city that combined business, pleasure, and religion, Paul encountered some Jews who claimed to be disciples. Those people must have stood out among the worshippers of the Greek god Artemas, whom the Romans called Diana. Naturally, as any servant of the Lord, he asked a fundamental question related to personal faith in Christ as one's Savior and Lord. These men were dedicated to the future of Israel and the coming Messiah but had neither heard of nor placed their personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The free gift of salvation, which comes by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, leads to peace. Peace is achieved when the barrier of sin, which separates us from God, is removed by the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ on our behalf. “He made peace through the blood of His cross.” He gives us peace, and that peace is multiplied “by the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Not everyone who claims to be a Christian is a child of God. The new nature given by the Holy Spirit does not put us in Christ because of what we do or any experience we have, no matter how dramatic it might seem. When a sinner comes to God in repentance and personally trusts in Christ alone for salvation, that person is baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ. The Spirit who regenerates and baptizes us also lives within us and seals us as God's possession. We are "in Christ Jesus." All of this does not depend on how earnest or active we are. It is the work of divine Persons. We are called by God's will, set apart by the Spirit of God, and identified through our connection with the Son of God.
Paul understood who he was and what he was called to do in his service for God. We are saved because "God our Savior wants all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth." Those who submit themselves to the will of God revealed in the Gospel are the ones whom God saves and justifies. He also equips those He saves to carry out a work to which He calls them and empowers them by "His will" to perform that unique service for the benefit of others. Concerning apostles, they laid the foundation of the church, and we are built upon that foundation. Apostleship was for the early church. The gifts we receive today are for building up the church. First-generation believers laid the foundation. Our task is to "take heed how we build thereon" and to add our use of the gifts God gave us to the work of others around us today, so that we are building in "the unity of the Spirit."
Regarding God's will, there's no need for a complicated set of circumstances to understand His plan for us. If we are willing to do God's will, taking one step of obedience will often lead to the next revealed step. Key principles include seeking God's will first [Ps.16:7, 8]. Another lesson from Jesus in John 6:37, 38 is to have a genuine purpose in life—doing God's will. We want this for ourselves and our children, so we pray in accordance with God's will [Mat.21:22; Jn.14:14], trusting that guidance will come through the Holy Spirit within us [Jn.20:22]. Doing God's will does not guarantee a comfortable life; others before us have faced imprisonment [Acts 16:19-24], and some have even died while carrying out God's purpose.
Eternal life lived out today may lead us to travel to distant places with the Gospel and do what we once thought impossible or to stay right where we are and do our daily tasks with all our might, "as unto the Lord." But we know that it is "God who worketh in you, to will and to do of His good pleasure." Choosing to follow our own will may seem like the easiest path at first, but as those whom God has set apart as His saints, He may lead us through dark valleys and rough roads.
That is what I am responsible for: to be recognized as a faithful steward of Christ Jesus. A faithful person can be relied upon to obey God's will in His work and be regarded among God's people. Being one of "the faithful in Christ Jesus" is a very important privilege that also brings a great responsibility. God is depending on us to remain faithful to Him in every word and action involved. Many core truths of Bible teaching are found in the first chapter of Ephesians, starting with the definite article "the" to specify what that doctrine is. For example, in verse 1, "the will of God," "the saints," and "the faithful" are each specific biblical doctrines that need to be taught.
Being "in Christ Jesus" is no accidental act. It has been God's plan for a long time, even before the world was created, to have a people for Himself, a bride for God's Son, a body with Christ as the Head. Who would have thought that when that small group of believers first arrived in Ephesus, it would have such far-reaching effects on millions of people worldwide? Because of what happened, one man, "by the will of God," would bring people separated from God into the place where they would be united "in Christ." We are still being influenced and taught truths from the book of Ephesians.
There are many keywords and phrases that are repeated throughout. The idea of being “in Christ” appears frequently in the first two chapters. The word “walk” is repeated, especially in the later chapters. Other repeated words include “together,” “therefore,” “according to,” “heavenly places,” “riches,” and “love.” Additionally, the epistle presents three images of the Church: [1] Temple, 2:21-22; [2] Human body, 1:22-23; 4:15; and [3] Bride, 5:25-32. The main focus is on the Body. The key teaching is that the Church is the Body of Christ, and as believers, we are members of that sacred Body.
The background of these people is similar to ours in many ways. They valued religion and pleasure as their main goals in life. Eventually, these two elements came together in Ephesus as the goddess Diana became the focus of their worship. Most people seek a kind of worship that makes them feel good. Today, just as in those days, people say things like, “I feel comfortable there,” or “I love the music because it helps me forget my problems.” This is all talked about in the context of religion. Some get caught in substance abuse because of how it makes them feel. Alcohol makes people feel less inhibited, so they drink to “drown their sorrows,” “feel less pressured to watch what I say or do,” and “find it easier to laugh.” Drugs of any kind are used to make us feel good. That’s why we buy aspirin, Demerol, Tylenol, and many other medicines to relieve pain and feel better. People are encouraged to try hashish, cocaine, marijuana, and other dangerous drugs because they can make them feel good, at least for a little while.
Religious activities often focus on making us feel good, so sin or other doctrines that may upset people are rarely mentioned. Buildings are constructed to evoke awe, with doors large enough for an 18-wheeler to pass through. The interiors are designed so that people feel almost forced to whisper, even if no one else is around. People have a deep need for their feelings to be satisfied. We are built that way. However, feelings are temporary and can easily deceive us. This was true in Ephesus, where their man-made idol worship led to sexual orgies disguised as worship because they appealed to the senses.
What is it in my life that I truly want? What are the things I can do that will be truly meaningful? What could I commit myself to that will bring me happiness? What would truly bring God pleasure and make Him glad? Doing the will of God! What would bless others and help them through both the difficulties and joys of life? What would not shame me or waste the hours of this day? What would have the effect of providing some real benefit to others? What would help me live this day in the way I truly should? Doing the will of God!
When I join others in sweet fellowship as we gather in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, especially when I return home from a distant trip and give God His due in prayer and praise, what brings me peace? It is knowing that I am doing the will of God! My duty in this life is to be faithful to my Lord, His word, and His people. In that way, my work can be fruitful for God. When my speech and actions reflect my Lord's holy grace, and I do God's will with enthusiasm and steady faith, then I am truly doing the will of God!
Having a reputation for being a faithful person is certainly a very good recommendation for anyone. To be "faithful in Christ Jesus" elevates one's reputation far beyond just being trustworthy. This doesn't mean that these saints were simply set apart for God's use, but that God trusted them to carry out His divine purposes. What makes this high calling possible for frail, mortal men? There are at least two things, and probably more: grace and peace. Grace is God's free favor that provides and sustains what we need without demanding what we cannot achieve.
God made an interesting comment on grace to His servant, Paul, who had been suffering for quite some time with a "thorn in the flesh." That thorn was in danger of becoming the focal point of his daily life and could have affected his service to the Lord. Just as a thorn prickling into our body makes everything else seem second to the pain, our bodies are all directed by our nerve endings toward the source of discomfort rather than the responsibilities we've been given.
Everything in a person's life is put on hold until the troublesome thorn is removed. But for His own sovereign reason, God did not allow this cause of discomfort to be taken away from Paul. Why not? Because God's grace had to be shown as enough for the task ahead of him, regardless of the discomfort it brought. No matter what we think needs to be done for us, we must submit to God's will and honestly say, "Thy grace is sufficient for me."
There is something special about God's grace that connects it to peace. Grace takes our fears and, through faith, brings peace to our souls. God knows what we need and, by His grace, provides an abundant supply and makes provision for what we ask Him for in faith. Peace comes to me when my conscience is clear, and my heart is filled with gratitude and praise, an appreciation for grace. Grace and peace make a beautiful greeting that both Jews and Gentiles can personally say; those words are mine in my own language.
In Paul's experience, God's strength was what was needed, not his own. God's strength was best shown through the servant's weakness, not his strength. God wanted His grace to be clear in the Ephesian believers so there would be ongoing proof of God as Father and Jesus as Lord, both to the saints in Ephesus and those they would witness to about God's grace.
We often think strength is needed for effective service. However, that's not always true. This goes against what we usually expect. There's a graciousness seen when God's people appreciate the grace shown to us. A merciful, compassionate attitude and acts of kindness are highly valuable when we represent our God where we live and work.
Peace is another valuable trait of God's people that leaves a lasting impression on those who observe the lives of individual Christians and the gatherings of God's people who meet in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. A calm spirit encourages words and conversations that are free from conflict. Being peaceful shows we are free from the strife that causes unrest and can lead to bitterness, especially when there is harmony in one's soul, spirit, and body, which in turn fosters harmony in our interactions with others.
The Greeks used to say "Charis" when meeting or leaving. It was even a suitable word when a person was grieving over the loss of a loved one. "Shalom" to the Jews was the word they used, both coming and going, to avoid losing hope. When these words come from God, not just from a man, they offer insight into God's overall plan to meet our needs. Grace has provided all that we need, and peace has been made through the price Jesus paid when He redeemed us with His precious blood.
The Lord Jesus was at peace within Himself and with His Father, even though everywhere He went, there was chaos and opposition from others. He has left us His peace so we can show God's power to those around us, living in a turbulent world where there is "no peace saith my God to the wicked."
God, our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ are the sources of grace and peace. These divine Persons, who have said they will be with us, and the Spirit of God, who is within us, make it possible for us to rise above and live above the effects of conflicts and antagonism that surround us. When we practice the presence of God and obey what He instructs us to do, we will experimentally learn that "great peace have they who love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them (be a stumbling block to them)." More than that, grace and peace are multiplied to us through the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is good to know that our standing is secure in both the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit is working on our behalf to keep our state what it should be.