Ephesians 1 … Consider the Riches of His Grace… in Him

Originally posted: 9/18/2020

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, (1:7).

After forty days with Job, I was chomping at the bit to get into Ephesians. It’s only six chapters, only six days; but I was certain it would be an easier task to consider Him in this book I love. Boy, was I wrong! But, it’s not that it’s difficult to see Him in this chapter, quite the contrary! The challenge was, how to choose just one aspect to consider.

This chapter speaks of His spiritual blessings, His grace, His forgiveness and redemption, His peace and wisdom, and our eternally secure inheritance. But I came away thinking, this chapter is not just about the amazing blessings we have been given; it’s really all about Him.

Twenty times, Paul refers to Jesus by Name or with the pronoun, Him. And we know, when God repeats Himself…

But as I thought about the task of trying to consider the Lord Jesus Christ, I was overwhelmed. How on earth would that even be possible? I was reminded what John wrote at the close of his gospel.

And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written, (John 21:25).

There are not enough books in the world or blogs on the web to possibly contain Him, His words, His works and His ways. So today, I invite you to consider what Paul wrote to the Ephesians about the Riches of His Grace… in Him. For truly, there is simply not enough knowledge, not enough words to adequately express all that He is and has done.

Consider the Riches of His Grace… in Him

From Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance:
Riches: “4149. πλοῦτος ploútos; masc. noun, gen. ploútou. Riches, wealth, goods… abundance.”
Grace: “5485. χάρις cháris; gen. cháritos, fem. noun from chaírō (5463), to rejoice. Grace, particularly that which causes joy, pleasure, gratification, favor, acceptance, for a kindness granted or desired, a benefit, thanks, gratitude. A favor done without expectation of return; the absolutely free expression of the loving kindness of God to men finding its only motive in the bounty and benevolence of the Giver; unearned and unmerited favor,” (emphasis added).

Every blessing, every gift, every kindness bestowed is out of His abundantly Rich Grace, and every blessing, every gift, every kindness bestowed, is in Him.

• Every spiritual blessing is in Him (1:3).
• We were chosen in Him (1:4).
• We were chosen to be holy and blameless in Him (1:4).
• We were predestined to adoption in Him (1:5).
• We became His children by the kind intention of His will in Him (1:5).
• We are the recipients of His freely bestowed grace in Him (1:6).
• Through His blood, we have redemption in Him (1:7).
• We have the forgiveness of our trespasses by His abundant grace in Him (1:7).
• He has lavished His redemption and forgiveness upon us in Him (1:8).
• He has made known to us the mystery of His will and purpose in Him (1:9).
• All of God’s perfect plan, in His perfect time, is summed up in Him (1:10).
• We have obtained our inheritance in Him (1:11).
• We have been predestined, according to His purpose in Him (1:11).
• He sovereignly works everything out according to His will in Him (1:11).
• By faith, He seals us with the Holy Spirit of promise in Him (1:12).
• We have the pledge of His promise in Him (1:14).
• He has made us His own possession in Him (1:14).

How do we respond to the Riches of His Grace… in Him?

Can you even catch your breath?

This Jesus…

…Who is seated at the right hand of the Father (1:20);

…Who is far above all rule, authority, power, dominion, and every known name, now and forever (1:21);

…Who has been given all things in subjection under His feet (1:22);

…Who has been given as the head over all things to the church (1:22);

…Who completely and perfectly fills His church body (1:23);

This Jesus has lavished the Riches of His Grace on us! And He wants us to know, to believe and to partake of the Riches of His Grace… in Him.

But sometimes we doubt, sometimes we feel unworthy. The apostle Paul penned five prayers for the believers that they would know beyond a shadow of a doubt all they have through the Riches of His Grace… in Him.

We can also pray those prayers (for ourselves or for others in need).

• When we need wisdom and spiritual revelation, to clearly see and know the Riches of His Grace through the hope and power we have in Him, we can pray Ephesians 1:16-19.
  • …while making mention of you in my prayers; ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.

• When we need our faith strengthened to know the Riches of His Grace through the incomprehensible love we have in Him, we can pray Ephesians 3:16-19.
  • …that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

• When we need the Riches of His Grace through His power, wisdom and strength to live our life to please Him and to grow in Him, we can pray Colossians 1:9-12.
  • … ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; ¹¹ strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously ¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

• When we desire the Riches of His Grace to grow us in sincere love, holiness and truth that bears fruit in Him, we can pray Philippians 1:9-11.
  • • And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; ¹¹ having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God; ¹¹ having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

• When we desire to effectively share the Riches of His Grace and the blessings of our faith in Him, we can pray Philemon 1:6.
  • and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ, (ESV).
    

Oh, let us never stop asking, but let us continue to draw near to Him in confidence, for He has so much to give us through the Riches of His Grace… in Him!

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need, (Hebrews 4:16).

Let’s Grow Together!