Epistles – Ephesians 1-3

Our reading programme brings us to Ephesians 1 – 3 today:

Let’s read….

Bible Passage:  Ephesians 1-3

In a quick summary, Ephesians can be read in two readings because of a simple two-way structure adopted by Paul. Once again, as with our previous reading of Galatians, we find here that chapters 1 – 3 make references to the doctrinal and necessary theoretical aspects of faith. Chapters 4 – 6 later on will broach the practical aspects of that faith.

Chapters 1 to 3 are important in the way that they remind us of essentials in our faith. These run the gamut from the basic recognition of how we were saved from our past sins, all the way to the deep theological teachings concerning predestination and the Holy Spirit’s sealing. We would not be going in that direction with this blog, but we’ll proceed to see how such essentials are what they are – essentials that keep us grounded in sensible faith.

Just as the Ephesus believers were, we are chosen ones of God because we believed the Word of God that was preached to us. Nevertheless, one important thing that should not be forgotten is that we were not chosen initially. Along with the Ephesus believers, we were the gentiles that received this grace only when Christ Himself reconciled us such that we can be “fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” (Eph 3:6)

This is essential because it reminds us that we have no right to boast in anything except to take glory in the deep, deep grace of God. I thought that the way Paul describes this teaching comes across as highly motivating. He calls it a “mystery of Christ” (Eph 3:4) and it is comforting to note that we have found such grace to understand it without even needing to pull out our hairs!

Thinking about it once again, we are so blessed when we are actually meant to be wretched and rejected. When I consider the gravity of this disjunction, I come to realize that these “unsearchable riches of Christ” are far too precious to be taken lightly.

At the same time, it is brought to our remembrance that we were “once dead in our sins and trespasses which we walked according to the world’s standard” (Eph 2:1-2). And each time we sing “Amazing Grace”, this portion of Eph 2 is stirred up in me.

Indeed!

By grace I have been saved;

By grace you have been saved;

By grace all of us who would believe in Him would be saved.

And that is the wonder of it all. To be able to be in the One True Church of God, to sing that same tune, to pray in the same Spirit and to be “fellow citizens of all the other saints”. And how far does that grace and love of Christ go? How wide is it? How long is it? How high is it? How deep is it?

I see the answer reverberating from some key verses in these 3 chapters. It goes so far as to “choose us before the foundations of the world” and to be “redeemed by his life-blood”, and to be “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” (Eph 1: 4, 7, 13).

Transpiring from all these foundational aspects of our Christian faith is a realisation that the work of Christ in us can be limitless. If we continue to walk on in faith, and be like the Ephesus believers mentioned here, then surely, the power of Christ in us would be exhibited in immeasurable greatness (Eph 1:19).

Power from God is no small matter. For when we consider the promise of Jesus that even mountains can be moved through the smallest of faith, imagine just how much more can be done when all of us allow the fullness of Christ to dwell in us!

And can it be? That such a wretch like me can attain such grace? I cannot pen down an answer. In some ways, you may feel the same. And perhaps, that is what all of us should always keep in our hearts. For we were all unworthy, yet He took great pains to call us to His grace. And in that way, I guess that’s what we mean when we say that it is: Amazing.

Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.