Through the epistles, the church is continually reminded of its mission and identity in Christ. This October, we want to journey through the book of Ephesians together. This letter speaks deeply to who we are as the body of Christ, and how we are called to live in the light of that identity.
In just six chapters, Paul lays out rich theological truths about God’s grace, our salvation, and the mystery of the Gospel, followed by practical guidance on relationships, unity, spiritual maturity, and spiritual warfare.
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.”
– Ephesians 1:3-5
Before God said, “Let there be light”, the Church was already part of God’s eternal plan. Church did not start in the New Testament as a reaction to sin – it existed in God’s heart even before the foundations of the earth were laid. God desired a Bride, holy and spotless, to be united with Him in the image of His son, Jesus.
Our adoption into His family is not by chance, but by God’s design. It was there from the beginning. His perfect love for us existed even before we were created. By His amazing grace we were granted the privilege of becoming a part of His family. May we continue to grow in this month “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
“This letter isn’t just for the Ephesian church. It is for every believer, for the church across all ages. It is a divine blueprint, a revelation of God’s eternal purpose for the church.”
– John MacArthur
