Ephesians Explained | Grace SwaggerSample

Day 2 | Ephesians 1 | Eyes Opened 

Hello friends and welcome back to Ephesians. Today, we dive into chapter one with a question: Have you ever had your eyes suddenly opened to something you hadn’t seen before? You know like when you sit down at a picnic table and there’s an ant, then another ant, then five, ten, fifty-thousand! “How did I not see this table is covered in ants?!!” 

Sometimes we’re blind to what’s right in front of us. In Ephesians 1, Paul prays for us that “the eyes of (our) hearts would be enlightened” so that we can see. 

What does he want us to see? 

First a little context. We left off as Paul opened the letter in verse 3 with praise for God who blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. And Paul lays out blessing after blessing; what God has done for us in Jesus, and he lifts our eyes to see Heaven’s perspective. From there, we see in verse 4 that God chose us before the creation of the world and marked out a path for us to be adopted to be His kids. 

Now something important to catch here. Paul is going to stay on this path praising God, explaining all of his extraordinary blessings for us in Christ, and praying that our eyes would be opened to see it for the first three chapters. That’s half the letter! There’s not a single directive about how to live until chapters 4 to 6, where it’s suddenly all about your walk. So, why the split?

A little analogy will help. Imagine we live in a medieval kingdom. And you and I are bums. Dirty, drunk, no good drain on society bums. But the King, the King is awesome. Old and wise, just and fair, humble, generous, and powerful. Just a great king. And the King sends out two knights to find us. 

Now the first knight comes to me, “You disgusting bum. You smell like old fish. I demand that you clean yourself up and get your life in order then follow me because the King has a plan for you.”

Hey I don’t smell like old fish… I think he smells you… 

But no time for that. The second knight arrives and finds you. He opens a carriage, “Come with me. I have something to show you.” You get in. You arrive at the castle! The King’s own home! The knight shows you around. It’s amazing. And he tells you the king has adopted you! You are an heir to all this. You don’t deserve it but the King has a lot of grace. And he loves you like his own child. 

Now based on our treatment, which one of us do you think is gonna jump in the shower first? Which one will really change how we live?

Well if the King in that story is God, then it’s the second knight who got it right. And Ephesians is our tour of the castle. Because we are adopted, and this is our inheritance. 

Later in chapter 4, we’ll get showered and start cleaning up our lives. But first, we need to know who we are. First, learn who you are then learn how to walk it out. Identity then integrity. Know who you were meant to be then be true to it. 

Now back in chapter 1. Paul’s praise continues in verse 6: praise God for his glorious grace. And he keeps praising God for redemption: Jesus paid the price in his blood, to forgive our sins and set us free. 

And in verse 8:

“With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ” (Ephesians 1:8-9).

Here, Paul turns. God didn’t just do great things for us, He did them with wisdom, understanding, and a purpose. And God made that purpose known to us. Pay attention here. God saved you for a purpose that is bigger than just you. 

Verse 10 tells us that God’s will and His purpose will:

“...be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment” (Ephesians 1:10).

In other words, it’s still coming together. What is it? Back in verse 10:

“…to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ” (Ephesians 1:10).

Unity under Christ. This is God’s big plan, and it’s a major theme here in Ephesians. So we’ll come back to it several times. In verse 11:

“In him we were also chosen…” (Ephesians 1:11).

A literal translation reads that we were “made an inheritance,” as in we are God’s inheritance. He chose us to be His. And He predestined; marked out a path and a plan as He... 

“...works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:11).

Again, I don’t think that this negates our free will. But it sure is good to know that the One who has a plan for your life is the One who works out everything. So in verse 13, Paul says that...

“...you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth…” (Ephesians 1:13).

You are not left out. But as you tour the castle, you might begin to question. This is too good. It can’t include me. And when you go back to town and life resumes and everyone still smells like fish, maybe it was just a dream. 

So to make sure you know that you’re His, He marks you with a seal. No fish jokes please. Different kind of seal. In Bible times, a seal was placed to mark a finished transaction, to show ownership, and ensure security. And the King’s seal says, “Don’t mess with the King’s stuff.” Back in verse 13:

“When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13).

The seal on us is the Holy Spirit. Like an invisible tattoo. In verse 14, the Spirit is.... 

“...a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance…” (Ephesians 1:14).

In other words, God hasn’t finished His work in us. We don’t live in the castle just yet. We haven’t reached unity, and we’re not done being saved. But the Holy Spirit is upon us, and He is the down payment; the deposit guaranteeing that God will make the full payment. Praise God.

And in verse 15, Paul turns from praise to prayer. He prays for the Ephesian believers. And this is also my prayer for you. First, I thank God for you. Second I ask God our glorious Father, that He

“…may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened” (Ephesians 1:17-18).

Aha! Here’s the eye opening. We’ve left the castle the heavenly home but back on earth Paul wants our eyes opened to see and to know three things:

One: “...the hope to which he has called you...” (Ephesians 1:18).

You have a calling and you are called to hope. Good things are coming, and God will come through.

Two: “...the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people...” (Ephesians 1:18).

This doesn’t mean how rich you’re going to be in Heaven. That’s a very selfish vision of Heaven. No the wording in Greek refers to God’s inheritance which is us His people set apart for Him. And Paul wants us to know and to see that God treasures us. In God’s eyes, His true riches are us. 

And three: “...his incomparably great power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:19).

And here, Paul digs in. He wants our eyes open to see God’s power that surpasses everything. No matter what power comes against you, God is greater. That power is “for us who believe.” The same power that raised Jesus from the dead all the way to Heaven is for us. And here Paul raises our eyes to see Jesus, seated at God’s right hand... 

“...far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked” (Ephesians 1:21).

Jesus rules. Whatever power be it ruler or demon or master Jesus is greater. His rule is higher. Twenty-two:

“And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way” (Ephesians 1:22-23).

Join us next time as we continue the journey one chapter at a time. And remember, faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the Word.