Paul’s focus in Ephesians is to explain God’s plan of salvation, for Jews and Gentiles alike. As such, I find this letter to be highly encouraging. The letter is full of phrases like “blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places”. We are very blessed to have been called to serve God, predestined to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ. We have redemption and forgiveness, through the blood of Christ. God has revealed “the mystery of his will… to unite all things in him”.
Paul gives thanks for the Ephesians upon hearing of their love toward all the saints. In typical over-the-top fashion, Paul does not cease “to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers”, especially because they were now enlightened to the hope to which they had been called.
Like the Ephesians, we were once “dead in trespasses and sins”, before we were baptised. But even before we committed our lives to God, He, “being rich in mercy… made us alive together with Christ”. We are “members of the household of God… built together into a dwelling place for God by the spirit”.
Paul writes these massive sentences as though he can’t contain the emotion and wonder at the things God has done for us. We have “been saved through faith … it is the gift of God”. What an incredible gift!