Ephesians 1:1-23

Make no mistake. The apostle Paul is the writer of the epistle to the Ephesians. The date of this Epistle was A.D. 64 and it was written in Rome. It is Paul's first letter while in prison. Ephesians, along with Colossians and the letter to Philemon, was sent to the respective groups by Tychicus and is the most impersonal of all of Paul's letters. Bible scholars do not agree as to whether or not the words "to the Ephesians" appear in the original manuscripts. If we turn to the book of Acts chapters 19 and 20 we will find a historical background on "Ephesians."

Paul spent 3 years in Ephesus. The city and community was the capital of heathen worship and idolatry. It was Paul's preaching and teaching on the Gospel of the Grace of God that led many in the city and communities to burn their books on magic, religious rituals and curious arts. This was the city where the great "Diana" was worship by the people. Today's "Diana" in my opinion is the Evangelical legalistic church and all of their written books of religious performance. Just as Paul did at Ephesus, when he stirred all the people with the truth of the Gospel of Grace to burn their books, and told them that Christ had set them free from the law of sin and death, I believe should happen today.

If the Evangelical church and all their religious leaders, along with other religious organizations ever come to admit that it is "Christ, Minus Them, Plus Nothing," and the people get to hear the truth of the Gospel, the world will see a bigger book burning fire than the fire that scorched the "Rocky Mountains" in Colorado. Friends, in verse 7 Paul tells us that in Christ we have redemption. It did not say that we are going to be redeemed. The "WE" is everyone, and the redemption did not come through any of man's religious sacrifices nor self-righteous works. Redemption came when Jesus shed His own blood.

It did not come through the law nor the shed blood of animals. The Church today might as well sacrifice animals if they are still going to believe that they need to confess their sins before God. Since the forgiveness of sins is not complete without the shedding of blood. Thank God that Hebrews teaches us that Jesus blood was the final redemption for all men. The forgiveness of the sins of all men took place at the cross, and it was according to the riches of His grace, not of religious men nor religious doctrines of men.

The predestination doctrine that teaches that some have been adopted and others aren't ends right here at verse 7. If Jesus died for all sins, and if He shed His blood once and for all for all sinners, then how many are there left to be redeemed and forgiven? How many are there left to be predestinated. The Evangelical witch hunt of predestination is dead on arrival and departure because Jesus died for the sins of all, and He did it according to "God's Riches At Christ's Expense" - GRACE! In verse 8 it was His wisdom and prudence that He chose to abound towards us all. That includes everyone that has ever lived, is living and is yet to live.

Then in verse 9 Paul says that He has already made this known to everyone, and it became known when Jesus cried out "It is FINISHED." The mystery of His will was that God had already set the laws of redemption and forgiveness in motion by shedding His own blood for both Jews and Gentiles and leaving no one out. He did it all according to His good pleasure because there is nothing good about man's pleasure. Man has always made a mess out of everything that God has ever promised to do. The latter part of verse 9 says that "He had purposed all of this in Himself."

It was before the foundation of the world that God had already purposed it all in Himself. He did not need the opinion of man, nor the counsel of man, nor the permission of man to do what He and Him alone had in mind to do. Romans 11:32-36. Notice that in verse 10 it says "that in the fulness of times, He, not man, might gather together in one ALL THINGS, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth. even in Him." Friends, this is confirmed by what Paul said in chapter 2 verse 15. It was all the completed work of the cross that made it all happen for all. This Gospel message of the grace and unconditional love of God, and its full redemption was done for all. He chose to make One family out of two.

The "Diana" church books of today and all of their religious self-righteous legalistic heresy need to be put to the fire. All of these Christian book stores with all of their volumes and libraries of bias perverted gospel teachings need to be closed down. They are the heathen of modern day society. Walking and browsing through all of these stores with all sorts of religious books of legalism is like being in the very City of "Diana" where heathen practices were taking place. If you want to keep your sanity, stay out of Christian books stores. The mystery of His will has already been revealed at the cross. You don't need a book store full of witchcraft to explain the mystery.

Part 6 is up next...

Grace N Peace

Eddie Narvaez