Ephesians 1:1

Ephesians 1:1 says, Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:  As usual, Paul identified himself and those he was writing to.  He identified himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.  Paul did not feel that this was a title that he had somehow earned but was a position that God had called him to.  Paul said he was writing to the saints at Ephesus.  As we should already know, this did not mean some group of super Christians, but to all who were believers in Christ.  Paul also identified them as the faithful in Christ.  If we are to be identified as saints of God, those who are set aside from the world, then we must be faithful to Christ.  Verse two adds, Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul asked that the grace of God would be with the church at Ephesus.  The grace of God would lead to peace in their lives and should in ours as well.  The church was not a place, but a fellowship of believers.  When Paul said from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, he was not speaking about two Gods, but one God that we see manifested in two ways.  Though Paul did not mention the Holy Spirit, we know that He is the other Person of the Trinity.  We cannot divide God into three separate gods.  The Bible is consistent throughout that there is but one God.  Verse three Paul continues, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:  As just stated, Paul was not dividing God, but was simply acknowledging that God as our heavenly father should be blessed for sending the Son to redeem us.  Paul said that God is the source of all spiritual blessings.  We cannot just decide what blessings we want from God and expect Him to have to give them to us .  Paul was persecuted and imprisoned for much of his ministry, but he said that God should still be blessed.  We cannot allow material things to come between us and God.  Verse four states, According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:  There are those who read this and claim that certain people were ordained before creation to be saved and that they are the only ones who will be saved.  I do not believe that this is what Paul was saying, but instead was saying that even before the foundation of the world that God had His redemption plan in place.  This plan of salvation is available to everyone and not just a select few.  Verse five adds, Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,  As just stated, I believe this adoption is what was predestined, and not just a particular person or group of people who could receive it.  We can never be any more than the adopted children of God through faith in Christ.  Verse six continues, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  Paul praised God for His grace, from which He had made us acceptable through Christ.  It is only by the grace of God that we are saved.  For this alone, with no earthly or material reward, we should praise God.  If everything on earth is lost, our salvation is still secure by our faith in Christ.