This Sunday we begin a series of sermons drawn from Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians. One of the study Bibles provides this introduction:
The apostle Paul wrote Ephesians to the churches around Ephesus (Acts 19) to display the scope of God’s eternal plan for all humanity—for Jews and Gentiles alike. This is the mystery of God, hidden for ages but now made known in Jesus Christ. The first three chapters focus on what Christians should believe, unfolding the glorious riches of God’s grace in Christ. Dead sinners are made alive and gain eternal salvation “by grace … through faith” (2:8). The last three chapters explain the implications of God’s grace for the church, for individuals, and for families. This second section comes to a climax with a command to stand with the armor of God against the devil. Paul wrote this letter while in prison, probably in Rome about a.d. 60.[1]
The overwhelming emphasis throughout the book is the reality of God’s grace. In today’s text His grace is equated with God’s glory, and His goodness toward us is revealed for the praise of His glorious grace.
Ephesians couldn’t be in stronger contrast to or conflict with the prevailing beliefs of our day. To those who believe everything is the product of mindless chance in a materialistic age, we see that in fact the universe is on a very definite course to bring the gospel to the elect, we who are chosen through no merit of our own to be called to faith in Christ and so to eternal life. To those who embrace some concept of karma, that people get what they deserve, God reveals in this book that He chooses us not because we are holy or blameless or good, but so that might become so, purely through His grace.
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Eph). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.