Ephesians: Introduction
“The gateway once closed to us is now opened wide in Christ—step into the household of God.”
The introduction to Ephesians lays a deep and rich foundation for understanding our identity in Christ, the unity of believers, and the call to holiness that flows from who we are, not what we do. Paul writes this letter from prison, not as a man discouraged by chains but as one enthralled by the freedom found in Christ. From this place of confinement, he speaks about union, unity, and upright living with more clarity and authority than many from the heights of their freedom.
Rather than glossing over the past, Paul reminds believers who they once were—not to condemn or shame—but to stir gratitude for the incomparable mercy of God. “You were dead… but God made you alive in Christ.” Ephesians never leaves us in the graveyard of guilt but takes us straight to the throne room of grace, showing us what it means to be alive in Christ and seated with Him in heavenly places.
Paul’s letter, likely meant for several churches, is both lofty in its theology and practical in its exhortation. He covers divine mysteries like God’s eternal purpose and the cosmic role of Christ while also detailing the day-to-day responsibilities of walking in holiness. The structure is beautifully balanced: doctrine (chapters 1–3) gives way to duty (chapters 4–6), all flowing from the fountainhead of union with Christ.
Three central themes emerge:
Union with Christ – This is the foundation. Everything flows from our position “in Him.”
Unity in the Body – Jew and Gentile alike are made into one new humanity.
Holiness of Life – Our conduct must match our calling—not through effort, but by putting off the old and putting on the new.
The letter concludes with the powerful reminder that we are in a spiritual battle, yet fully equipped in Christ to stand. Every section of Ephesians sings the same song: “You are in Christ. Therefore, walk in Him.”
Personalized Journal Entry in the Holy Spirit’s Voice Through Scripture
You were once far away—dead in your sins, following the cravings of the flesh and the patterns of this world, but I brought you near through the blood of Christ. I made you alive with Him, raised you up with Him, and seated you with Him in the heavenly realms. Every spiritual blessing in heaven is now yours in Him. You were chosen before the foundation of the world, adopted in love, redeemed by grace, and sealed with My promise.
In Christ, you have peace. The dividing wall of hostility is gone. I have made one new humanity out of many, uniting those once separated by culture, law, and pride. You are no longer a foreigner—you are a citizen of My kingdom and a member of My household. You are part of My temple, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone.
I have not only made you new—I dwell in you. I have given you gifts, not just to survive, but to build up the Body. I am the Spirit of unity, binding believers together in peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all.
Now walk in a manner worthy of this calling. Put off the old self, corrupted by deceitful desires, and put on the new—created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Be careful how you live, not unwise but wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. Live by Me, be filled with Me, submit to one another in reverence for Christ, and stand firm when the day of evil comes.
For your struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, authorities, and powers of this dark world. I have clothed you in armor—not of your making but Mine. So stand—stand in truth, in righteousness, in peace, in faith, in salvation, and with the sword of the Spirit, which is My Word.
(Ephesians 1:3–14, 2:1–22, 3:16–21, 4:1–6, 4:17–5:21, 6:10–18)
Prayer of Confident Trust
Father, thank You that I don’t have to revisit the past in shame, but I can revisit it in wonder—because I see what You’ve rescued me from and what You’ve now made me in Christ. I am alive, raised, and seated with You. I am no longer an outsider but Your own, brought into Your household, fitted into Your temple, filled with Your Spirit. Your grace is not a concept to study—it’s a dwelling place. So tonight, I rest in what You have already accomplished. I will walk worthy, not by effort, but by the life of Christ within me. I trust that Your Spirit in me is all-sufficient for the unity, holiness, and victory that mark my life as Yours. And I rejoice—because You are in me, and I am in Christ.
Amen.
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Devotional Credit: Grace and Truth Study Bible (Zondervan, 2022)