Ephesians Chapter 1 Chapter 1. The first thing that you notice about this letter is the length of the sentences! And then that there are two groups of people described. It is Pauls desire [and Gods will] that there should be just one group. Then there are the implications of being part of this group. Tackle the long sentences phrase by phrase and they become quite simple! In Vs. 3 he begins to describe the first group, ‘us’. We find that: We are blessed, that means ‘celebrated with praise’. Who is praising us and why? Vs. 4. We are chosen with the objective of being ‘holy and blameless’. Is it possible to be holy and blameless without being chosen by God? Vs. 5. We are destined. The other important words in this verse are ‘love’, ‘sons’ and ‘his will’. Why are these important? Vs. 6. This all happens so that his grace [his undeserved gift to us] will be praised. Vs. 7. We are redeemed and forgiven. His grace can cover the worst case. Vs. 8. This grace is given freely, not reluctantly, but ‘lavished’ on us! Vs. 9. A mystery is something that is ‘made known to the initiated’. For example, what goes on in the Freemasons may be a mystery. But when one is initiated into that organisation it all becomes clear. When we experience Gods grace in salvation his will, which previously was a mystery, now becomes clear. Vs. 10. God desires unity [not uniformity!]. What is that? Read on! Vs. 11, 12. Now that we are forgiven we discover his will for us, that we should live ‘for the praise of his glory’. Glory is an increasing good opinion of someone. As we live life ‘in him’ our opinion of him improves daily and we praise, worship and thank him accordingly. This is giving him glory! Vs. 13. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit seals those who hear and believe. Vs. 14. His presence is our guarantee that it is all true! Then we come to the longest sentence of all, Vs. 15-23. Paul never ceases to give thanks for them. He prays that they will have wisdom. That the knowledge of God will be revealed to them. That they will have understanding, [the eyes of your hearts enlightened]. That they will know what they can look forward to. That they will know the great riches that are available to them. That they will know the ‘immeasurable greatness of his power’. You can measure all other forms of power, electricity, heat, earthquakes, radiation, etc. but Gods power can never be measured, and it is available to us! All of these are available to those who believe because of the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ to a position of everlasting authority. Because of this position of authority he is the ‘head of all things’. The church is his body and he is its head!