All Done

The substance of the letter starts at such a lofty height (1:3) that it is difficult to appreciate what it really means.  God has "blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places."  "Every" is certainly an all-encompassing word.  One note here is that the action of blessing occurred in the past. It is in the aorist tense which means that the action or event is seen without regard to its duration.  Moulton comments: "an event as a single whole, without regarding the time taken in its accomplishment."  The action is seen as a completed event.  Though it may take place over time, it is already a done deal in the divine mind.  We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.  In God's mind, all of this has taken place already.
It is good for us to also see in this passage that these blessings all flow to those "in Christ".  This cannot be overstated.  Someone may read this passage and tire of the repetition.  This cannot be for the seasoned Christian.  Every time we read this short phrase, "in Christ" or "in Him", we are settled and strengthened in our walks.  Those who are in Christ will be "holy and blameless before Him."  They also become adult sons in God's family.  They have redemption.  They have forgiveness of sins.  They know the mystery of His will.  They have an inheritance.  They were sealed by the Holy Spirit.  These are the things that God wanted to give to those who believe.  Notice how the choosing and predestining (1:4 and 1:5 and 1:11) are really not focusing on salvation at all.  These are statements that focus on the blessings that flow to those "in Christ".  Wuest comments: "the emphasis is on the choosing, not on the unchosen, and that the chosen of God were to attain the object stated."  These facts are true of the "in-Christ-ians".
One of the beauties of this passage is that the action words here are ALL in the aorist tense.  They are all done deals in the divine mind.  So, all of these blessings are ours in full, right now.  If they are completed actions in His mind, then they should be so in ours.  We who are in Christ.

Heaven on earth

We are starting in Ephesians in our home group.  This is truly a heavenly book.  Paul wrote this letter to the Ephesian church around AD60 while he was in prison.  Paul had visited Ephesus several years earlier (Acts 18:19).  That visit would mark the beginning of a deep and long relationship that Paul would have with the church.  Much of Acts 19 and 20 focus on Ephesus.  Timothy would also become the pastor of the church which in time gave us First and Second Timothy.  John wrote about Ephesus also in Revelation 3, being the church that he likely died among. It would do us well to study this group of people.  As is widely known, Ephesians is divided into two parts.  Chapters 1-3 reveal God's heavenly work.  Chapters 4-6 reveal our heavenly walk.
The letter introduces us to Paul "an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God."  Apostle means 'one sent forth with orders.'  Very important here to note 'with orders'.  Further, the sending was by God's will.  He wanted to send him.  God had something to say.  Can you imagine that?  God had something to say to people!  And, He has something to say to us.  God wants us to know something.  And it's a lot.
The letter was written to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus.  This greeting alone would give us good footing to see that this letter was written directly to us who are "faithful in Christ Jesus."
The classic greeting from Paul ensues - "Grace to you and peace from God . . "  Grace means unmerited favor, though her a better reading would be 'divine enablement'.  Paul saw the people who make up His church as living their day to day lives - working, providing for their families, talking, fearing, hurting, eating, sleeping etc.  All the hallmarks of the daily human experience.  It is here, in this down to earth living, that this comment is made.  You, you saint, right where you are in your day, be divinely enabled to walk through your moment with God's enablement - whatever enablement is needed.  Hope, courage, power, patience, peace, love etc.
Furthermore, have peace in that moment - your moment.  Peace means tranquility, having a heart that is exempt from the rage/havoc of war.  A state of untroubled or undisturbed well-being.  Right where you are.  So, Paul wants the believers to have God's enablement to live their daily lives, every day, and to have God's peace govern their hearts as they live them.
You see, we walk in the world immersed among the earthly masses.  God wrote this book to help us see that we are actually a heavenly outpost here on earth.  Our life is heavenly - bearing the marks of heaven.  Even, right where you are.