Ephesians Week 1

Day 1 

READ 

Ephesians 1:1-2 

This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus. 2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 

Paul was in a Roman prison as he authored Ephesians, one known as the “Prison Epistles” along with Philippians, Colossians and Philemon. He had spent three years ministering in Ephesus. This letter was intended to be circulated to other church groups. This is likely the reason the older manuscripts do not include “in Ephesus” in Paul’s introduction. He was addressing faithful Christ-followers in the area who might hear the letter read. He used his customary greeting and prayer for them as he wished them “grace and peace.” 

REFLECT 

Determine to gain all you can out of a study of Ephesians, even if you have read it previously. 

RESPOND 

Read Acts 19:8-10 for a brief background of Paul’s time in Ephesus. 

Day 2 

READ 

Ephesians 1:3-4 

3 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. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 

Paul praises God who has blessed believers with “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.” This refers to the position in Christ that every believer has. Paul praises God that even before the foundation of the world, He chose believers in Christ to be “holy and without fault in his eyes.” The first three chapters in Ephesians emphasize the believer’s position in Christ.  

REFLECT 

Think about all the spiritual riches you have because you have trusted in Christ as Savior. 

RESPOND 

It is important that you have someone to share with you in your study of Ephesians. If you do not have such a person, pray that God will provide one. You need to share what you learn. 

Day 3 

READ 

Ephesians 1:5-6 

5 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. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 

God knows all things. This is why he is called “omniscient.” It was His plan to adopt believers into His family by means of what His Son Jesus would do. This plan was not because people were good; it was because it was according to God’s great pleasure. Paul knew he had been saved by grace through faith in Jesus. This is why he praised God for the grace poured out on all who trust Jesus as Savior. 

REFLECT 

Do you often think about your forgiveness of sin and eternal life being all because of God’s grace? You did not earn it by your merits, but you can always live in a way that expresses gratitude to Him. 

RESPOND 

Read Psalm 139:1-6 where the psalmist expresses the omniscience of God. 

Day 4 

READ 

Ephesians 1:7-8 

7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. 

Romans 6:23 says the “wages of sin is death” referring to spiritual death. Paul thanks God that His Son Jesus paid the price for the sin of the world with His shed blood. Jesus provides a pardon for all who believe. A pardon, however, must be accepted to be effective. Only those who believe in Jesus by grace through faith will receive the pardon of forgiveness of sins. This is a message to take to the world. 

REFLECT 

Have you accepted the pardon Jesus gave His life to provide? If so, you have forgiveness of sins and eternal life. 

RESPOND 

Read John 3:16-18 to be reminded of the need to believe in Jesus for salvation.  

Day 5 

READ 

Ephesians 1:9-10 

9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 

God’s plan is a mystery only in the sense it was not revealed in the Old Testament as it is in the New Testament. God’s plan is that He will bring everything under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. This includes “everything that is in heaven and on earth.” His rule will be universal. During the thousand-year kingdom mentioned in Revelation 20 Jesus will be fully ruling everything.  

REFLECT 

Are you aware that Jesus will eventually have supreme authority over everything? 

RESPOND 

Read 1 Corinthians 15:26-28 that tells of everything being put under the authority of Jesus.