THE WEEKS OF JAN. 25 - MAR. 8, 2026
A STUDY
IN THE
BOOK OF EPHESIANS
Ephesians is a letter written by Paul to a church he started. He spent a total of three years there. We read in Acts 19 about the extraordinary things God did there through his apostolic ministry. The people in the city of Ephesus were worshipers of the goddess Diana (Artemis). When the people repented, they brought their witchcraft items and burned them. God performed extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick and oppressed, and their diseases left them and evil spirits came out of them (Acts 19:11–12).
Chapter 2 begins with a description of our condition before we came to Christ. It starts with the words “dead in trespasses and sins.”
By using the word “dead,” Paul leaves us in a completely hopeless state—because, without divine intervention, you don’t come back from being dead.
Verses 1–3 and verses 11–12 provide further description of the utter hopelessness of our spiritual condition.
But in verse 4, Paul starts with two powerful words: “But God…” God, who is rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us—even when we were dead in our sins—made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).
One of the major truths of the first three chapters of this letter is that we are “in Christ” —— a phrase (or its equivalent, like “in Him”) used about 36–40 times in Ephesians alone and 136 times in Paul’s writings. We are not just forgiven sinners; because of God’s grace, we now have a new identity and a new position: in Christ.
Verse 6 says we were raised up together with Him and seated with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Verse 7 tells us that in the ages to come, throughout eternity, He will continue to show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Verses 8–9 are some of the most well-known verses on how we are saved:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
It’s important to see the words “gift of God.” Redemption is a gift from God received by faith—not the result of works, but of grace. Grace and works are opposites. If salvation is of grace, it cannot be of works. If it’s of works, it cannot be of grace (see Romans 11:6).
Verse 10 says we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. In other words, we are new creatures (or a new creation), created for good works—not by good works.
In verses 14–22, Paul says that God made believing Jews and believing Gentiles one new man in Christ. We are no longer strangers or foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. We are being built together as a dwelling place for God in the Spirit.
Some important background information about Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.
Paul started the church in Ephesus and spent three year more than in any other city on his missionary journeys. (Acts 20:31) Which means the letter contains some deeper truths along with some of the basics of the faith.
The first section of the book, (chapters 1-3) is characterized by the word “Sit”, and describes who we are in Christ, our identity.
The second section of the book (chapters 4-6) is characterized by the word “walk” and describes how we should walk out the Christian life.
The third section is the shortest and covers 6:10-20 and is characterized by the word “stand” and describes our warfare with demonic powers.
Here’s an important truth; we are three parts: spirit, soul, body.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
If asked to describe your body you’d be able to do it
If asked to describe your soul you could do that also?
But if asked to describe your spirit you couldn’t do it, because it takes a revelation from scripture to know who you are spiritually.
This is why toward the end of chapter one, Paul prays, asking God to give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.
Most knowledge comes to us through the five physical senses, so that what is true is based upon what you feel, taste, see, hear, smell.
Spiritual knowledge is perceived by the spirit and comes to us by revelation, so that what is true is based upon Scripture.
In verse 3 Paul says we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. This is true of us in Christ NOW even if it doesn’t seem true.
Then he goes on to describe some of the spiritual blessings we have already been blessed with.
Verse 4 says we were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world.
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
Verse 5 predestined to the adoption as son
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.
Verse 6 made us accepted in the beloved, or highly favored.
So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.
The Greek word accepted is used twice in the New Testament, here and when the angel told Mary she was highly favored or accepted.
Verse 7 says we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
Verse 8-9 tells about His grace abounding toward us in all wisdom and prudence, revealing to us the mystery of His will.
Verse 10-11 we have obtained an inheritance
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. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.
Verse 13 says we were sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise.
And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.
Verse 14 tells us that the Holy Spirit was given as the earnest of our inheritance to bring us into all of the purchased redemption.
The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.
Verses 16-20 is a prayer that the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to pray for the church. This prayer is that the church would grasp what’s been made available to them and that they would come to understand the demonstration of power toward them and their authority over the enemy because they are in Christ and He is head of the church over all things.
I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.
Pray this prayer, Ephesians 1:16-20, for yourself every day this week.