Chapter 1 of Ephesians sets the tone with an exuberant declaration of the Christian’s spiritual riches in Christ. Paul emphasizes God’s eternal purpose, revealing how believers are chosen before the foundation of the world and predestined for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ. This adoption, he asserts, is purposed for the praise of God’s glorious grace. Paul unfolds the redemptive work of Christ, highlighting how, through His blood, we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Moreover, Paul elaborates on the concept of the ‘mystery’ of God’s will, a plan set forth in Christ to unite all things in Him, things in heaven, and things on earth. This chapter concludes with Paul’s prayer that the Ephesians might have a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of their hearts enlightened to understand the hope to which they are called.

In Chapter 2, Paul delves into the transformative power of God’s grace, detailing how believers are made alive in Christ even when they were dead in trespasses and sins. He illustrates the past condition of Gentiles as being separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise. However, through Christ’s sacrificial death, both Jews and Gentiles are brought near by the blood of Christ, forging peace between the two groups and reconciling them both to God in one body through the cross. This is a profound depiction of reconciliation, symbolizing the breaking down of the dividing wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles and their unity in the body of Christ. Paul underlines that it is by grace through faith that we are saved, not as a result of works, and that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.