Ephesians: Seated with Christ
A 12-day study through Paul's letter to the Ephesians — the riches of our inheritance in Christ, the mystery of the Church, and the armor of a people dressed for war.
Select a Day
Day 1 · Chosen in Christ
Every Spiritual Blessing
Ephesians 1:1–14
Read the Scripture
Ephesians 1:1–14Ephesians 1:1-14
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ;
4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love;
5having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,
6to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely gave us favor in the Beloved,
7in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
8which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
9making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him
10to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, in him;
11in whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who does all things after the counsel of his will;
12to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ.
13In him you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
14who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.
Key Verse
"He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." — Ephesians 1:4
Today's Study
Ephesians opens not with commands but with a tidal wave of grace. Paul barely takes a breath as he sweeps from eternity past into eternity future, and every wave of that sweep is Christ.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Not some spiritual blessings. Every one. There is no blessing God withholds from those who are in Christ.
And then the layers: He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world — before a star was lit, before a breath was drawn, you were chosen. The purpose: to be holy and blameless in His sight.
In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship. Not as servants, not as guests — as sons and daughters. The most secure position in the universe.
Through Jesus we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of God's grace. Not out of His grace — according to the riches of it. Lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
And the mystery of His will: to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
And the seal: You also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth… Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance.
A down payment. God has staked His own Spirit on the certainty that He will finish what He began. The inheritance is yours. The Spirit is the earnest. The deposit cannot be refunded.
To the praise of His glory. Three times Paul says it — the whole sweep of salvation exists for the praise of His glory. It was never about you. And that is the best news you will ever hear.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What does it mean that God's choice of you predates the universe — and what does it free you from?
- 2.How does 'every spiritual blessing' contrast with the way we typically measure God's favor?
- 3.The Spirit is a 'deposit guaranteeing our inheritance.' What does that security mean for how you face your week?
👉 Take a Step
Pray
Take 2 minutes right now. Talk to God about what you just read.
Act
Choose one thing to do today based on what God showed you.
Share
Tell someone — a friend, family member, or the community — what God is showing you.