Find other Bible Study series
Previous Bible Study Devotions by Keeley

Audio

I. Ephesians 1

Overview

The goal, as we study Ephesians, is to gain a better understanding of grace: God’s love for us as the motivator for living a Christian life. It’s God’s love, which he lavishes freely on us, and his Holy Spirit that give us the power to do good works and live a Christian life.

Open to Ephesians 1.

Ephesians 1 can be seen in 3 parts: verses 1-2, the greeting; verses 3-14, praise to God for what he’s done for believers; and verses 15-23, a prayer for believers.

A. Part 1: Ephesians 1:1-2: Greeting

Verse 1-2 say, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

These verses are the standard greeting that is used to tell us that what follows is a letter. Paul has written this letter to believers in the church. It says it is addressed to the church in Ephesus, but it was probably a circular letter that was read in many churches, encouraging them to understand God better and to live out their faith.

B. Part 2: Ephesians 1:3-14: Praise to God

Let’s look now at the second section in Ephesians 1, verses 3-14.

As we read this, be looking for where Paul uses the words praise and blessing.

Read Ephesians 1:3-14.

QUESTION: How does Paul use the words praise and blessing?

• What verses?—3, 6, 12, 14
• What does it refer to?
• v. 3- “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing”
• v. 6- “to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”
• v. 12- “in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.”
• v. 14- the Holy Spirit “is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”

We look at repeated key words because they help us see the main ideas in these passages.

QUESTION: What are some other key words you see repeated in these verses?

• (praise, blessing, glory)
• grace- he lavishes his grace on believers- v. 6, 8
• will- his good pleasure- v. 5, 9, 11
• chosen, predestined (adopted)- v. 4, 5, 11
• redemption- v. 7, 14

Yes, all of these things speak to what God has done for believers and they are cause for his praise.

This summer we talked about Identity and what it means to have our identity in Christ. Our world wants us to think that our identity comes from who we are: what we look like, what our jobs are, who are friends are, how much money we make, the list can go on and on. The Bible is the only place that tells us our identity isn’t found in those things, but in who Jesus is. Our identity is not based on what we do or who we are, but it’s based on what Jesus has done for us and who he is. This section tells us what it means to have our identity in Christ. This is the foundation of who we are as believers. It’s not based in our own doings, but in Christ.

So, in summary of this section, Paul gives praise to God. He explains our identity, our place in God’s kingdom as his chosen people, redeemed by Christ, because we believed and were sealed with the Holy Spirit at the moment we believed. All of this is because it was God’s good pleasure, his will, to love us and bring us into relationship with him.

C. Part 3: Ephesians 1:15-23: Prayer for Believers

Let’s look at the third and last section in Ephesians 1:15-23.

Be looking for where Paul uses the words prayer, pray, or anything related to prayer.

Read Ephesians 1:15-23.

QUESTION: What are some of the things Paul asks for in prayer or gives thanks for?

• v. 15- for believers to know God and their calling better—he’s referring back to what he’s just said in the previous section about our calling
• v. 16- giving thanks for you, remembering you in his prayers
• v. 17- asking God to give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation (of knowledge about God) to know God better
• v. 18- that the eyes of your heart would be enlightened—that you would know they hope that he’s already called you to

So, the second half of this chapter is, really, Paul’s prayer for believers. His prayer is that we would know better the wonderful things he talks about in the first section. He wants us to know our calling, to know God, to grow in wisdom and knowledge. He wants believers, including you, to know these things to be true about yourself and that God would further reveal it to you. And all of this is done through God’s power.

II. Conclusion

In conclusion, this passage, this praise of God and prayer for believers is the basis of our Bible study this fall. We want to learn more about God so that we can praise him, understand him better as we study his Word together, and have the eyes of our hearts opened to better see him and understand these things and how they change the way we live.

Questions for Application and Discussion:

• Read verses 17-18. What are some ways you have already seen God opening the “eyes” of your heart?

Find other Bible Study series