by Glen R. Jackman
The letter to the church at Ephesus was authored by the apostle Paul. This study looks at the first chapter of his letter.
“the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:14 NAS)
As Christians we find that our greatest blessings are more deeply appreciated when we comprehend that our Father – the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is glorified in the process of blessing his children (cf. Eph 1:14). Most fathers find great joy when their children are around them united in kindred spirit. I recall taking all my four children into a restaurant when they were young during a holiday trip. The restauranteur said to me with great admiration as he sat us around a special table, “you have a beautiful family”. In a way, I understand the Father’s joy when his redeemed children have returned to his realm and are spiritually close to Him. As a father looking at my children I was indeed delighted. The story of the prodigal son also illustrates the love of our heavenly Father as he yearns for his lost children to come home to Him.
I have no greater joy than to see my children walking in the truth (cf. 2 John 1:4, 3 John 1:3). In good family relationships children also are happy to be around their fathers: “the glory of children is their fathers” (Prov 17:6 ESV)
Moreover we are to reciprocally bless, meaning praise God the father for his blessings: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Eph 1:3 ESV)
It is also noteworthy that the Father has blessed us “in Christ”, which denotes a necessary vital union with Jesus Christ. The following explanation that the apostle Paul gives, emphasizes this vital union that “in Christ” means:
“He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will” (vss. 4-3).
Key points are revealed here:
1. We were predestined as chosen by the Father in Christ – “in him”.
2. We were chosen long before the world was created – “before the foundation of the world”.
3. Our predestined selection was a sovereign act of love for us with a view that we are his children adopted out of the world – “in love” by “his will”.
4. Our enablement to rejoin the Father’s family was achieved “through Jesus Christ” whose act of dying for our sins as an atoning sacrifice – dying in our stead – opened up the only way that we can be reconciled to the God the Father. This occurred when our sin was paid for by his ransom-death for us on the cross. When we accept his ransom offered to us we are freed from the condemnation of sin and resulting eternal death.
5. We are viewed as “holy and blameless” in Christ, firstly as we are covered by his redemptive act of atonement on the cross referred to as legally justified (cf. Romans 3: 24-26, ch 5) – holiness can only be our ongoing aim – and will always not yet be obtained (Phil 3:12) as we approach purity and a likeness of Christ via restoration by his indwelling Spirit
Our blessing came to us through Jesus Christ’s redemptive act of dying for our sins on the cross of Calvary as the entrance method God chose to bring us back home. He has blessed us “in Christ” also noted as “through Jesus” – reiterated for impact as “in the Beloved” and “in him” – “…he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace (Eph 1:5-6 ESV).
The blessings that we derive are primarily spiritual and cover the wide scope of life now and into eternity, things that only followers of Jesus can understand and appreciate by faith. Paul notes that the Father has blessed his chosen, preordained children who come to him via Jesus by faith with “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places…according to the riches of his grace” (vs 3, 7)
We know these are spiritual blessings because as the Father’s children we acknowledge that he gives us insight into the gospel of grace in the Word of God to the degree that he has “lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will” (vs 9)
The church is universally united via the Spirit of Christ “according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth” (vs 9-10).
Again I want to draw attention to the “the Father of glory” (v 17) who is at work to “give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe” (vs. 17-19)
Why would the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be so concerned that you have wisdom, a revelation of the knowledge of him, by having our hearts enlightened? Clearly it is so that you reader, can know “the hope to which he has called you” and that you understand all of God’s efforts via his Word set forth by reading, by pastoral ministry, preaching and by prayer to him, available as God the Father’s own possession.
King David, a man of great power and wealth and victory over his enemies could say prayerfully with praise to the father: “You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139: 13-14 NASV)
Have you ever thought about being a child of God? Let’s go one step further. Have you ever considered that you came to your father as the one who created you and gave you your life? Through Jesus Christ by faith, this life is renewed and restored to both you and your Father. You are not your own possession! The Father is actually taking back his rightful fatherly role over you as his child in the process of redeeming you from the corruption of this world (which continually disregards his Creatorship/Fatherhood).The New American Standard Bible puts it this way:
“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory”. (vs13, 14)
Summary: You were elected — predestined to be reunited to the Father by faith in his son Jesus Christ. The gospel is a message of truth bringing you salvation from eternal judgment. Now, by being in connection with Christ to the family of God, the Father is taking you back as his created, and now redeemed possession. This offers you unlimited spiritual blessings now and in eternity as you follow Jesus Christ. The Father “gave him as head over all things to the church” (v 22) and Jesus continues to lead and guide his true followers showered with eternal blessed insight.