Building The Body Study 6 - Blessings in the Body

Ephesians 1:1-14 NIV 

[1] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: [2] Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [3] 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. [4] For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love [5] he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. [7] In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace [8] that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, [9] he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, [10] to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. [11] In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, [12] in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. [13] And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/eph.1.1-14.NIV)

When I was a missionary in Romania, parcels sent from overseas could not be sent directly to your door. Instead, the sender had to tell you when they had been sent. Then you would try to estimate how long it would take for then to arrive. On the allotted day, you would head down to the Customs office and ask about your parcel. If they had it, you would stand there, in full view of everyone in the office, while Customs checked the contents in detail to ensure that you were not doing anything illegal. 

One of my female team-mates received a parcel from home. A few days later, she headed to the Customs office bright and early to pick up her package. 

The male Customs officer read the custons declaration with a measure of incredulity. He checked the my colleague’s identity details. He then proceeded to open the package with due care and attention. 

‘Are you sure you want to do that?’ my colleague asked him. ‘I know what’s inside.’ 

But he insisted. 

Seconds later, the package was opened and, in full view of everyone gathered in the office, women's underwear was lifted out of the package. 

I don’t know who was more embarrassed: my colleague or the Customs officer. 

Right now it might feel like we, like that Customs officer, are opening someone else’s mail. Certainly if we read some of the epistles that directly addressed some seriously unsavoury goings on in their receiving church (like 1 and 2 Corinthians and, to a lesser extent, Philippians), we might have that uncomfortable feeling that we were reading someone else’s mail. 

But not Romans. And not Ephesians.

In both of these letters, we find some really fine and very helpful, practical theology, designed to strengthen us and build us up. These are splendid books – the very pinnacle of Paul’s writings.  

They may have been originally addressed to someone else, but it’s completely okay for us to read them too. In fact, some manuscripts of the letter to the Ephesians were found that had a blank in the space where Ephesus was mentioned in Ephesians 1:1, which led many scholars to believe that this letter was also generally applicable and distributed among all the churches. 

I get a sense of that too. 

What we have here, then, is a beautiful letter written by Paul from a Roman prison or from house arrest, from which his only release was death. This is a letter from a senior church leader imparting wisdom that would one day be foundational to the church. 

It is therefore very important that we listen to what he had to say. 

My brother-in-law is an architect. He, more than anyone, knows that when you build any construction, you have to start with the foundation. You have to make sure that the ground can support it. You have to dig deep enough to ensure the building will be able to stand strong. 

Foundations are very important. 

That could well be why Paul starts this letter, and several others, with strong, unequivocal statements on the Gospel and who Jesus is. 

Any church has to be built on strong foundations. As Paul wrote elsewhere: 

1 Corinthians 3:11 NIV 

[11] For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/1co.3.11.NIV)

The church was not founded as a social construct or a mutual support centre or a hospital for the lame and broken or a civil rights movement, however laudable these may be. 

No, the church was built on Christ: on what He achieved for us and how this changes our lives.  

In these remarkable verses, many of which (verses 4 to 10) are made up of a single, unpunctuated sentence in the original Greek, we see four blessings of the Gospel that change everything. 

The first of these is that of Selection. 

Selection 

Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 NIV 

[3] 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. [4] For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love [5] he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  

[11] In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, [12] in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.  

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/eph.1.3-12.NIV)

Many of us are well used to having to make a choice. Maybe we choose food during a visit to a cafeteria. Or in a salad bar or juice bar. Maybe we choose a film or a TV show to watch. Maybe we choose what to buy in a supermarket. 

We are well used to choosing. 

Some of us are well used to not being chosen: either in gym class or as a dance partner or as a boyfriend or girlfriend. We have experienced that painful feeling of being neglected or left behind. 

It hurts. 

Then we come to these somewhat controversial verses. 

Now, I am not going to get into an abstract theological debate here. I am not interested in systemised theological discussions of Calvinism versus Arminianism. Both systems only work on carefully selected Scriptures: they choose some and ignore the rest. 

That is not what Christians should do. 

They are both human creations and therefore flawed. 

I am not going to study their writings. I am going instead to study the Word of God and look at what it says. 

And that Word of God, in this widely recognised theological masterpiece of the Epistle to the Ephesians, says that we were chosen. 

So we were chosen. That is simply the fact of the matter. 

The Bible does not go into the whys or wherefores of how God’s predestination or selection works. We do not need to know. It would be beyond us if we did, because we do not have the mind of God. 

But what we see here are three simple aspects. The first of these is how we were chosen.

That is, what criteria God used. 

And this is where we are truly humbled. When I was in gym class and captains were picked for games, their first desire was to win the game. Their chosen players were picked with that aim in mind. They didn’t pick the nerdy or the skinny or the sickly or the slow. These people were not winners. They picked the athletic and the skilful, because these people were worthy and would bring them the win they wanted. 

But God does not think like that: 

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NIV 

[26] Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. [27] But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. [28] God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, [29] so that no one may boast before him.  

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/1co.1.26-29.NIV)

And again, in the Old Testament: 

Deuteronomy 7:7-8 NIV 

[7] The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. [8] But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.  

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/deu.7.7-8.NIV)

The Lord does not choose based on human criteria. Praise God for that! If He did, many of us know that we would not get anywhere near Him. 

The Lord chooses as an act of love and an act of grace. It is because we do not deserve it that we are chosen. 

So any idea that we could use the fact of Divine selection as something to boast about or be proud of is just nonsense. We were chosen because we were not good enough. 

Secondly, we see why we were chosen. Paul is very clear: 

Ephesians 1:4-6, 11-12 NIV 

[4] For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love [5] he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  

[11] In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, [12] in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.  

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/eph.1.4-12.NIV)

We were not chosen so we could boast about how we were hand-picked out of all creation as something special. No, we were chosen to be holy and blameless, to bring glory and praise to Him because of His grace towards us unworthy souls. 

We were chosen as unrighteous (Romans 3:23) so that we could be made righteous in Him, and so that our transformation into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) would bring glory to the One who transformed us: Jesus Christ. 

We were chosen to bring glory to God. 

We also see what His intentions were when He chose us, and this is beyond glorious: 

Ephesians 1:4-6 NIV 

[4] For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love [5] he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/eph.1.4-6.NIV)

Adoption occurs in one of two situations: one is when a child becomes an orphan through the death of their parents, the other is when a child becomes abandoned due to the incapacity of their parents to care for them. 

There can be no doubt that the world has abandoned us. Ezekiel tells us as much (Ezekiel 16:1-6). There are whole subcultures that feel this abandonment and express it. 

But here in these verses, it says that God did exactly the opposite. He did not abandon us. He chose us to become His adopted children. 

I have been to orphanages. They can be among the single most wretched places on the planet. Being adopted into a loving family makes all the difference for children like that. 

Being adopted by God ought to mean so much more to us. 

What we see here, then, are three extraordinary aspects of God choosing us. Perhaps instead of focusing on the minor theological consequences these verses cause us, we should instead focus on their glorious, life-changing nature and be grateful to God for them. 

So we seen the first incredible blessing – that of selection. 

The second blessing is equally as astonishing: that of Redemption. 

Redemption 

Ephesians 1:7 NIV 

[7] In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace  

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/eph.1.7.NIV)

The concept of redemption is one that has slipped out of modern vocabulary, or has became so banal that it’s almost meaningless. We talk about redeeming a coupon when we take it to a store and exchange it for a discount on something. The coupon we take to the store has no face value or cash value. It’s simply a promise of a slightly cheaper price. 

The Biblical perspective on redemption is something way more dramatic. 

It talks of slavery to sin: 

Romans 6:15-18 NIV 

[15] What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! [16] Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? [17] But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. [18] You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/rom.6.15-18.NIV)

Nowadays, while there is such a thing as modern slavery and it is nothing short of utterly heinous, we are far less likely to encounter it than in Paul’s day, when an astonishing one fifth of all people in the Roman Empire, and almost a third of the people in Rome, were believed to be slaves. 

What we do come across nowadays is addiction. It’s so accepted nowadays that I even came across a perfectly legal vape shop with the slogan ‘Taste the freedom’, while each of their packs of vape oils carried warnings about the presence of an addictive substance... 

And that’s just it. What this world classifies as freedom is actually slavery. While a slave in ancient Rome was something of a non-entity, with no choice, no freedom, no agency, those who find themselves in thrall to addictive substances also find themselves with no choice, no freedom, no agency. They find themselves compelled to spend money to feed their addiction, whether or not they or their families can afford it. 

And here’s the thing: while slaves in ancient Rome could be making a nice living and occupying the higher echelons of society, it’s exactly the same with addicts. They can be ‘high functioning’: on the outside, they have things under control; on the inside, their substance controls them. 

This utterly wretched picture is true of all sinners. Even Paul was once there. Romans 7:7-24, with its relating of a compulsive sinner, could be true of an addict as it is of any sinner. 

But then we see these words: 

Romans 7:24-25 NIV 

[24] What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? [25] Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/rom.7.24-25.NIV)

Jesus Christ came to pay the price to redeem us from our sin. 

In ancient Rome, slaves could be bought and sold in a slave market like cattle or any other commodity – because that’s just what they were: property, a belonging, a commodity. Their purchaser, if they so wished, could set the slave free. 

What the Bible teaches is that Jesus Christ redeemed us from our slavery and addiction to sin by dying for us on the cross and rising from the dead: 

As Peter taught: 

1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV 

[18] For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, [19] but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.  

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/1pe.1.18-19.NIV)

What a blessing this is! We were enslaved by sin and addicted to it, but because of Jesus Christ we can walk free! And every misdeed and sin we committed while enslaved is wiped out and forgiven! 

Hallelujah! 

So we have seen, then, these glorious blessings of selection and redemption – neither of which we deserve at all. 

The third blessing, which we also do not deserve, is that of Revelation. 

Revelation 

Ephesians 1:7-10, 13-14 NIV 

[7] In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace [8] that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, [9] he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, [10] to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 

[13] And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/eph.1.7-14.NIV)

There are some things in life that it is truly a glorious privilege to see. For example: an Alpine view, an incredible sunset, stunning rock formations such as those in Cappadocia or El Nido, huge natural waterfalls, a stunning white beach, or perhaps an interaction with a rare animal or tribe. These are moments that live with us forever. 

There are also things we can know that can change our lives: such as, for example, a cure for some deadly disease. 

These are things we would revel in, delight in, recall to our children and grandchildren with ever increasing enthusiasm. 

Yet what Paul says here about the Gospel far eclipses them all. 

But, you know, it’s very easy for those of us who have grown up around the Gospel to take it for granted. It’s a bit like people who live in the Scottish Capital, Edinburgh. They work and move among some of the most treasured historical buildings in all the world. Yet it’s easy to ignore them if you see them every day, and even to find those who appreciate them to be a bit of a nuisance or an irritation. 

What Paul wrote here was clearly aimed at a particular group who were popular in the Greek-speaking world: the Gnostics. They believed that salvation could be obtained by having certain knowledge which only they possessed – by knowing their mysteries. 

Paul used their language by stating that there is a divine mystery: the will of God. However, through Jesus Christ that mystery has been revealed to all: 

Colossians 1:24-27 NIV 

[24] Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. [25] I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— [26] the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. [27] To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/col.1.24-27.NIV)

Ephesians 3:2-6 NIV 

[2] Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, [3] that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. [4] In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, [5] which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. [6] This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/eph.3.2-6.NIV)

To know this great mystery is a profound privilege. 

But here’s the twist: it doesn’t make you any better than any other human being. Because this mystery is that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, but from the beginning of time God has been working out His plan to save us by His grace (Romans 3:23-24). The mystery is the greatest leveller mankind has ever known. To know it is not to be superior. To know it is to know that you need a Saviour. 

And to know that it is actually God’s good pleasure to save you. 

Is your mind blown yet? 

As well as the divine mystery, we also see divine unity.  

This, again is extraordinary. 

We see a reflection of this in what Jesus prayed about us as He approached the cross:

John 17:20-23 NIV 

[20]  “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, [21] that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. [22] I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— [23] I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.17.20-23.NIV)

But even that is just a reflection. God has something much greater and much grander in view: 

Colossians 1:15-20 NIV 

[15] The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. [16] For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. [17] He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. [18] And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. [19] For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, [20] and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/col.1.15-20.NIV)

That is truly astonishing. 

We live in a divided world. People seem to love taking up polar extremes, turning off decency, unplugging their  reason, disengaging their compassion and yelling at each other for no good reason. Some might say that I’ve just described how human beings use social media. 

But here we see that God’s eventual purpose is to not just reconcile us with Himself, but also with each other, and, indeed, with all creation. 

And to do that through the Gospel. 

Which all begs the question: if God’s eventual aim is unity, why don’t we work towards it now? After all, if we are divisive and opinionated, does that not put us at cross-purposes with God? 

Thirdly, we also see a revelation of divine security. 

Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV 

[13] And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/eph.1.13-14.NIV)

Or, as it says elsewhere: 

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV 

[21] Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, [22] set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/2co.1.21-22.NIV)

This is no small thing. 

God, who knows us better than we know ourselves realise we have a tendency to feel insecure. He realises that the world we live in is ultimate hostile. And so, although He should not need to do it – because, after all, He is God and there is no-one whose word we should trust more than Him – He leaves us a cast-iron guarantee that we will be saved. 

And what is that guarantee? 

Himself! 

I’m sure if we were asked to list the many ways God has blessed us, we would say health or wealth or people. The blessings Paul lists here are way more important, because they are eternal: the mystery of salvation, unity with all creation, security that we will be saved forever. 

If you don’t yet have these blessings, isn’t it time you sought them? 

But there is still one more, other than selection, redemption and revelation. There is also Possession. 

Possession 

Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV 

[13] And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/eph.1.13-14.NIV)

I'm sure we are well aware of security warnings telling us to take care of our possessions.

There is good reason for this. Apart from a few isolated rural areas, you can have no expectation that other people will take care of them for you.  

In fact, you can have every expectation that they will ‘take care’ of them for themselves. 

But not God. 

There are two facets of belonging to God of which we must be fully aware. 

Firstly, God takes care of us. 

1 Peter 5:7 NIV 

[7] Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/1pe.5.7.NIV)

When you are God’s possession, you can be guaranteed that He will not seek your harm. Even in the most testing of times, He will still take care of you: 

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV 

[13] No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/1co.10.13.NIV)

As I write these words, we really are putting this concept to the test as a family. My mother-in-law has passed away. We are flying to the Philippines into an airport affected by volcanic ash fall. A huge supertyphoon off the coast of Taiwan has triggered rough seas that caused ferries to my wife’s home port to be cancelled. Yet, believing in God that He who has so engineered our situation that we already had flights booked months before she was even ill, we push onwards. 

Friends, I don’t doubt for a single second that this is a hard concept to hold onto when life is tough. I know it because it’s happening to us right now. 

But I believe it. I entrust myself to it. 

As should every believer. 

Secondly, God redeems us. 

This is an important concept. 

Under Jewish law, land outside of walled cities could never be permanently sold. Instead, in effect it was rented on the basis of the harvest it produced. At the end of seventy years, it would revert back to its original owner, who could redeem it at any time while it had berm alienated from him (Leviticus 25). 

When God redeems us from our sin, He is not purchasing something He does not own. No, He is redeeming someone He already owned who had sold themselves into slavery to sin (Romans 7:14).  

That concept is so important to our understanding of the Gospel. God redeems us because we are by rights His. We belong to Him. He is simply reclaiming that which is His. 

Thirdly, God guarantees our future. 

And this is such a critical concept. 

Allow me to explain. 

In any sporting competition there are winners and losers. We might be the very best there is. There might be none who can touch our ability and our prowess. We might be undefeated since we came into existence. 

But nothing can guarantee our victory until the competition is over. 

Except Jesus.  

This is something we cannot forget which is worth repeating: 

Except Jesus. 

With Jesus the victory is already guaranteed because He secured it on the cross: 

Romans 8:37 NIV 

[37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/rom.8.37.NIV)

Belief in the Gospel guarantees our victory one hundred percent. We sometimes seem like losers in this life (1 Corinthians 1:26-31), but in the end, we win, and nothing can take that victory away from us. 

There is no-one else in this world that can bless us this way. There is no other God who is able to bless us this way. There is no other message that can lewd us to be blessed in this way. 

Only the Gospel. 

Only our God. 

It’s time to believe it. 

Conclusion 

Ephesians 1:3 NIV 

[3] 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.  

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/eph.1.3.NIV)

Everyone likes to get a good deal. People often boast about the deals they receive online – some are nothing but advertising noise; others are genuine. There are whole websites based on getting us a good deal from different types of companies. 

There is no better deal than the Gospel. That is just a fact. There is nowhere else that we can receive eternal security from someone who loves us and gave His life to save us, yet is living and reigning still. There is no other promise of salvation more reliable and more dependable. 

The Gospel really is all there is. 

Sometimes, when it seems much easier to disown Christ than follow Him, we need to be reminded of this. 

The Ephesians were ministering in a powder keg. There is little doubt about that. The context we studied in Acts 19 and 20 proves this conclusively.  

That is why they needed to be reminded of the core truths of the Gospel and the astonishing blessings they bring: of selection, redemption, revelation and possession – of the sense of belonging to an eternally victorious movement to which every human being longs to belong. 

This is the foundation of any true church. This is the Gospel we have come to believe. Everything Paul will teach about the church stems from these core truths and their application in our lives, both individually and corporately. 

The question is: do we really believe them? 

Prayer 

Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your Gospel and all the blessings it brings. I believe it. Please show me how it can change my life and transform my fellowship and relationships. Amen. 

Questions for Contemplation  

• What blessings does the Gospel bring? Which of these do you experience the most and why? 

• Why does Paul remind the Ephesians of these blessings? What difference should they make to them? Do they have the same effect on you? 

• How does the Gospel compare to other religions and belief systems ? Why is it important that we know this?