Ephesians 1

Read Ephesians 1

RAMP: READ / ANALYZE / MEDITATE / PRAY

R: Read the Passage

• Read it completely without taking any notes

• Then… read it again! 

A: Analyze

Journal your responses to the following questions:

1. What does this say about God and/or Jesus Christ?

Are there characteristics of Him listed? Look for adjectives used about Him. Does He describe Himself? Does Paul (the writer) describe Him in any way?

2. What does this say about you?

How are you (the reader, the recipient of this “letter”) described? Does this passage talk about mankind in any way? Look for adjectives or statements regarding followers of Jesus.

3. Is there a command to follow?

Maybe or maybe not, but look closely. Do you see anything that appears to be how God intends for you to live? Ways He expects believers to interact with others? Sometimes this is very clear, and other times it may be implied. Look closely -- there's almost always an expectation from God for how we can live, love or serve.

4. Is there a sin to repent of?

Most of the time, this is where the Holy Spirit begins to convict you as you are reading Scripture. At this point, you have likely read this passage several times and the Holy Spirit has begun working in your heart. Even if the passage does not clearly state a sin to avoid, what is the Spirit convicting you of at this moment?

5. Is there a promise to hold onto?

Are there any statements that reinforce the truths of who God is and how He works? Some of the promises may actually be found in the characteristics of God and you. What truths in this passage can you hold onto as hope that God is who He says He is?

Nicole’s Notes:

One of my favorite parts of this passage is seeing how all of God’s perfect plan of redemption (redeeming us back to Him through the work of Jesus Chris on the cross) was orchestrated “in accordance” with His will — meaning, the plan for Jesus to be the perfect and only sacrifice was not Plan B, C or D. We can think that the perfect plan was for man to never sin and we screwed that up and never got ourselves back together, so God *had* to send Jesus. Nope. Actually, the mystery of God’s love that Paul talks about is that Jesus was the plan all along. It was hidden, unknown for generations until the perfect time. God was orchestrating the entire plan as a rescue mission — think about the most action-packed rescue movie you’ve ever seen. That’s how God schemed it up — knowing man was never going to get it right, instead He began implementing His perfect plan of rescue — a love mission. Sending Himself to rescue and redeem.

Paul says that God has made known to us the “mystery” of His will — now, keep in mind that for the original audience, they were on the brink of all of this making sense. For the people of God who lived before Christ came, and for those who experienced Christ’s life on Earth, Christ was the final piece of the mystery that made it all make sense. We are 2,000+ years after Christ came, and we have no idea why it would be a mystery — in fact, all we know is the end of the story that Christ came. But for thousands of years and for hundreds of generations, the will of God to rescue His people was actually a mystery. They had the scriptures (Old Testament) with promises and accounts of prophecies. They knew a Messiah was coming … one day. And they thought it would be in the form of an earthly king or ruler. But it was Jesus Christ — He fulfilled all the prophecies and promises. He was the final piece of the puzzle that put it all together — the perfect lamb that was the only acceptable sacrifice that could satisfy the holy wrath of God. And Paul is reminding us that in God’s kind grace, He made known to us His plan by giving us Jesus. He didn’t make people wonder forever, He gave mankind what we were longing for — what our souls required in order to be made right with Holy God. 

For many of us, we still can see God’s will for our life as a mystery! Be comforted by the truth that the mystery of God’s will is always found in Jesus. Jesus is the answer of God’s will for your life. You will find your future, your purpose, your value and your joy in Jesus. God’s perfect and holy will for you is Jesus. 

And you have been chosen as part of God’s perfect plan — chosen not as just someone to fill space or pack Heaven, but chosen as an heir to all God’s inheritance. There’s enough to go around, we aren’t competing for inheritance money, no, in fact this is what Paul is telling us about the riches of our inheritance. The measure of God’s love and the measure of His goodness is unlimited. We are His chosen people, heirs to the throne, partakers in the grace and recipients of the riches. We are daughters and sons with full access to the family tree and the royal riches.

What is His, is ours: His riches are your riches / His righteousness is your righteousness / Where He is, you are / What He has, you have.

Part of our inheritance is that we have full access to NOW is the power of the Holy Spirit. His power is now your power. The same power that raised Jesus from the grave is alive in you. Don’t be scared of it! Use it for the good work God has prepared in advance for you to do. Use it for sharing His truths with others. Tap into it when you are believing God for miracles in your life. As the Kingdom of God advances on this Earth, He is using US — His people — to do it, but we aren’t expected to do it in our own power. We have been given HIS power!

M: Meditate

Don’t rush this part — take a look at all God has revealed through this passage. Sit in it for a while and let it draw out feelings, thoughts, ideas. Journal down what all is running through your mind. 

• How does this change the way I live, worship or make decisions?

• How does knowing what is His is now yours impact your identity? 

• What would knowing God better look like for you?

• How can you live in the power of the Holy Spirit every day?

Is there a certain part of this passage you don’t want to forget? Consider selecting a scripture or two to memorize this week. 

P: Pray

Use your notes as a prayer to God. Thank Him for who He is, ask Him to help you trust these truths about His character. 

• Ask God to help you believe you are chosen.

• Thank God for accepting Jesus’ death on the cross as punishment for YOUR sin, and thank Him for crediting Jesus’ righteousness as yours.

• Thank God for revealing the mystery of His will to us through Jesus Christ, and for ultimately choosing His own son as the way for redemption.

• Ask God to help you know Him better in these ways:

  • His grace as the resurrected Savior

  • His authority as the enthroned Savior (on the throne of God)

  • His supremacy in all things

  • His headship/lordship over all things

• Ask God to help you know these blessings better:

  • hope

  • inheritance

  • power

• Ask God to help you embrace the power of the Holy Spirit in your life, to not be scared of it or resist it.

• Thank God for

  • the hope of Jesus Christ

  • the riches of His inheritance

  • His power that is alive in you!