Scripture Reference: Ephesians 1:3-3:21
Paul had a rather long history in relation to Ephesus. On his second missionary journey he, together with Aquila and Priscilla, left Greece and went to Ephesus. While Paul went on to Antioch, Aquila and Priscilla remained there to continue the work (Acts 18:18–21). Paul returned on his third missionary tour (Acts 19:1), staying this time for three years (Acts 20:31). Ephesus became a center for Christian work in the area and was later associated with the apostle John and the Johannine writings.
Christ in His Church and the church in Christ may serve as the overall message of the letter. Some of the greatest thoughts in the New Testament on Christ in relationship to His people is found here. Christ is unequivocally the exalted head of all things as well as head of the church (Ephesians 1:22). This reality issues in the reality of oneness with God and oneness with each other, a major emphasis throughout Ephesians. The letter has a salutation, two major sections, and a conclusion. A doxology (Ephesians 3:20–21) denotes the division between the two major sections, although both sections have some common themes. However, for this teaching, I will emphasize the oneness with Christ as expressed in the first major section.
After a brief salutation, Paul praised God for what He had done in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3–14). He wrote of the security that believers have because God chose them (Ephesians 1:4, 11). Through Christ they experienced grace, forgiveness, redemption, and knowledge of the “mystery of his will” (Ephesians 1:7–9). Mystery, is a word related to the mystery religions where only those initiated knew the secrets of the religion, and it’s a word Paul adapted to special use. The mystery is really an open secret. God made plain His purposes for all to see if they will see. The mystery made known is God’s purpose to “gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth” (Ephesians 1:10). This mystery has much meaning and many applications as the letter affirms, because involved in this open secret is the total revelation of God in Jesus.
Expressions of thanksgiving and prayer follow. The prayers in the readers’ behalf include petitions that they will understand the blessings they have in Christ. Christ is head (Ephesians 1:22) of the church, His body. Ancient physiology viewed both life and the thinking processes as residing in the head. Christ, therefore, as head of His body, the church, gives life and direction to the church.
Since Christ acted to give life to the church, Paul reminded his Gentile readers that they were made alive to become one with God’s people, both Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 2:1–22). Out of diverse people, divided and hostile to one another much of the time, God made in Christ Jesus “one new man” (Ephesians 2:15). The expression “one new man” means “one new humanity.” God has made, therefore, a new people in this world, which is the church, composed of Jews and Gentiles.
To Be Continued
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 
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