The author of this epistle is the Apostle Paul. Beginning the letter, Paul clearly reveals that he is the writer of this letter by saying, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 1:1). Also, in chapter 3 verse 1, he directly reveals his name once again, saying, “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—”

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The Book of Ephesians is a letter the Apostle Paul sent to the saints of the church in Ephesus. Beginning this letter, Paul first reveals how he became an apostle. He confesses that he became an apostle not by his own determination or effort, but “by the will of God.” He made it known that even the office of an apostle did not start from the human side, but was given by calling from God’s side.

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The word we read together today is the word from Ephesians chapter 1, verses 1 to 6. The Apostle Paul, while writing a letter to the saints of the Ephesian church, first reveals who he is. He said, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God” (Ephesians 1:1).

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Beloved saints, today through the words of Ephesians chapter 1, verses 1 to 14, we must clearly know who the source of our salvation is. Apostle Paul, while writing a letter to the saints of the Ephesian church, praises God the Father first of all.

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Today, through the words of Ephesians chapter 1, we will think together about what the greatest grace God has given us is. The Bible speaks to us like this. It says that God chose us in Jesus Christ, predestined us, gave us redemption, that is, the removal of sins, and made us become God’s inheritance.

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Beloved saints, have you been at peace this past week? The words from Ephesians chapter 1, verses 1 to 14, which we read together today, are words that show the great and amazing plan of salvation that God established to save you and me. In the very beginning of this short letter, the Apostle Paul has intactly contained the plan of salvation that God established before the foundation of the world, and how He accomplished that plan in Christ.

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In Ephesians 1:1-2, the Apostle Paul is not simply recording a greeting to start a letter, but he explains his apostleship and the identity of the saints upon the foundation of the gospel he believes and preaches. The core of the gospel Paul preached is not the way for humans to become righteous on their own, but the history of salvation God accomplished through Jesus Christ, and that gospel word of salvation is the gospel completed through the event of Jesus taking on the sins of the world by being baptized by John and receiving the judgment for those sins on the cross. As a person who believes in this gospel of salvation, Paul introduces himself as “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.”

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This text is the greeting that opens the door to the entire book of Ephesians, and within these short two verses, it contains who the writer of the letter is, who the recipients are, and what he wishes for them. Because the status and grace of those who have been saved by the gospel of the water and the Spirit are compressed in every single word, I will explain the meaning by examining them in order.

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