Our Identity in Christ

The Blessing of Belonging

Bible Study: God’s Good Pleasure

Ephesians 1:1–14

Introduction

From a Roman prison, Paul writes not with bitterness, but with overwhelming praise for the God whose purposes cannot be bound by chains. Ephesians 1:1–14 is a majestic outpouring of praise, structured as one long sentence in the original Greek, and it reveals the depths of God’s plan, the breadth of Christ’s redemption, and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. In these verses, Paul presents a sweeping vision of salvation—from eternity past to eternity future—rooted not in our effort but in God’s good pleasure.

As Eugene Peterson paraphrases, “Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind… He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son” (Eph. 1:4–6, MSG).

1.  The Will of God and the Unity of the Church (vv. 1–2)

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul addresses this epistle to “the faithful in Christ Jesus”—not just in Ephesus, but in all places. This was likely a circular letter, emphasizing truth for the entire Church. Paul, a prisoner, still sees himself as “an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God”—God’s purposes, not his circumstances, define his identity.

Alexander Maclaren notes, “The strength of the Church lies not in its numbers or resources, but in its union with Christ.” Paul begins by anchoring the Church in grace and peace—God’s undeserved kindness and Christ’s reconciling work.

2. Chosen in Love, Before Time (vv. 3–6)

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 

Paul blesses God for blessing us “with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.” These blessings are not earthly riches, but eternal treasures—election, adoption, forgiveness, insight, and inheritance.

God “chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world” (v. 4). This choice is not random or cold—it is personal and loving. Matthew Henry writes, “The great design of God in choosing us is that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.”

Eugene Peterson calls this “the original and intended shape of our lives.” We are adopted “according to the good pleasure of His will” (v. 5, NKJV). God delights to make us His children.

3. Redeemed by the Blood, Rich in Grace (vv. 7–10)

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

Paul now focuses on Christ. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (v. 7). In ancient times, redemption involved paying a price to free a slave. Jesus’ death pays our ransom.

William Barclay explains, “Paul sees the Cross as the place where sin’s grip is broken, and the door to sonship is flung open.” God not only forgives us but “lavishes” grace upon us (v. 8)—overflowing, not stingy.

This grace also brings insight: “He made known to us the mystery of His will”—namely, God’s plan to bring unity to all things in heaven and earth under Christ (vv. 9–10). This is God’s cosmic reconciliation.

4. Inheriting God’s Purpose (vv. 11–12)

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 

In Christ, we have an inheritance—not just of heaven, but of purpose. Paul says we were “predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.” Even when life seems disordered, God is sovereign.

Henry notes, “God sees the end from the beginning; His purposes are never thwarted.” We who hope in Christ are to “be to the praise of His glory.” That is our true calling.

5. Sealed by the Spirit (vv. 13–14)

13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Paul turns now to the Holy Spirit, who “seals” those who believe in Christ. The Spirit is God’s mark of ownership and the “guarantee of our inheritance” (v. 14). This down payment assures us that more is to come.

Maclaren writes, “The Spirit is both the earnest and the foretaste—the pledge and the beginning—of our full redemption.”

The sealing of the Spirit confirms that salvation is not just a past event or future hope—it is a present reality. As Peterson beautifully paraphrases: “It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth… found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit.”

Conclusion: God’s Good Pleasure

Ephesians 1:1–14 reveals a stunning truth: all of salvation—our election, redemption, adoption, and sealing—is rooted in “the good pleasure of God’s will” (v. 5). We did not earn it. We cannot repay it. We can only praise the One who gives it freely.

Barclay reflects, “The whole of salvation is designed to bring glory to God by showing what His love can do.”

This passage invites us to rest not in our performance, but in God’s eternal plan—and to live as people chosen, loved, and sealed for His glory.

Reflection Questions

1. What does it mean to you that God chose you before the foundation of the world?
   
   
2. How might your life change if you truly believed you are redeemed and sealed?
   
   
3. In what areas do you need to trust more deeply that God is working all things according to His will?
   
   

Prayer

Gracious Father, thank You for choosing us, redeeming us, adopting us, and sealing us with Your Spirit. Help us live each day in the light of Your lavish grace and for the praise of Your glory. Amen.

Here’s an elaboration on the reflection questions from the Bible study on Ephesians 1:1–14 – God’s Good Pleasure:

1. What does it mean to you that God chose you before the foundation of the world?

This truth is breathtaking. It means that long before we had the chance to prove ourselves—or fail—God had already set His love on us. Paul says in verse 4, “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.” God’s choice was not based on merit, performance, or future potential, but on His love and sovereign purpose.

William Barclay observes, “The great foundation of Christian confidence is that God has chosen us, not we Him.” This kind of election is not meant to stir pride, but humility and awe. It means your existence is no accident. Your life is not random. You are not trying to earn God’s approval—you are living in response to the fact that you already have it in Christ.

To believe you are chosen is to root your identity in God’s eternal plan. It answers the deep human longing for belonging. As Eugene Peterson puts it, “Long before we first heard of Christ… he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living.”

2. How might your life change if you truly believed you are redeemed and sealed?

Redemption means freedom. Sealing means security. When you fully embrace these truths, it transforms the way you live. Verse 7 says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” You are no longer defined by shame, regret, or guilt. Christ paid the full price for your sins—past, present, and future.

Then Paul adds in verse 13 that we were “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” This seal is God’s mark of ownership and a guarantee of the full inheritance to come. It means you are secure in God’s family. You can stop striving to prove yourself. You can rest in God’s grace.

Matthew Henry writes, “The work of the Spirit is to assure believers of their adoption and final salvation.” This assurance does not lead to complacency but to confidence, joy, and obedience born out of love, not fear.

Imagine how different our decisions, relationships, and reactions would be if we lived every day knowing we are redeemed, forgiven, and sealed for eternity.

3. In what areas do you need to trust more deeply that God is working all things according to His will?

Paul says in verse 11, “In Him we have obtained an inheritance… according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.” This is one of the most powerful declarations of God’s sovereignty in all of Scripture. It means that even in confusion, suffering, or delay, God is not absent. He is at work behind the scenes.

Yet trusting this can be difficult. In times of illness, loss, unanswered prayer, or unfulfilled longing, we are tempted to think God’s plan is off-course. But Ephesians invites us to anchor our faith not in what we see but in what God has said.

Maclaren reflects, “The mystery of providence is not that it hides God’s purposes, but that it unveils His grace through the unexpected.”

Where do you feel like things aren’t working? Where is the timeline not matching your expectations? This question calls us to surrender and deepen our trust. God is never hurried and never late. His plan, though often hidden, is always good.

Soli Deo Gloria

Darkness and Light

Darkness and Light

God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭NCV‬

Moses asked to see God’s glory, the Lord answered that no one can look upon His face and live (Exodus 33:18-20). Paul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, he was blinded by a light from heaven that flashed all around him (Acts 9:1-18).  Have you ever tried gazing at the sun directly for any duration of time? Our eyes are very sensitive organs, and prolonged exposure to sunlight can lead to cataract or even blindness. The brightest light we have ever seen is sunlight. Yet just as we need the sun to live productive lives, we need to bask in God’s goodness and mercy, to grow in faith and live fruitful lives. Light brings out the beauty of people and all things bright and beautiful we see around us. Paul says in Ephesians 5:14, “For it is light that makes everything visible.” So also God’s light brings growth and fruit in our spiritual lives.

The darkest place I have ever been to are the underground limestone caves, where you get to see beautiful formations of stalagmites and stalactites. As we descend into these caves, sunlight gets cut off, complete darkness plummets the caves, our minds start to play frightening tricks on us. We stick as close as possible to the guide who is taking us to see the beauty of these caves, because we fear one step in the wrong direction could lead us into a maze that could disorient us in the soggy and pitch dark corridors of the cave. Most normal humans fear the underground and getting lost in absolute darkness, cut off from the guidance of the sun, moon and stars. So it is in our walk of faith when we descend into the darkness of doubts, distrust, suspicion, and lack of confidence in God, there is no way for God's light to come into our lives.  

What do we do when our doubts overshadow our faith in God? Where do we turn when the dimness of our imperfections or our understanding of God is eclipsed in darkness? In the Gospel of  Mark 9:14-29, Jesus heals a demon possessed child. His disciples tried hard to heal the child. But were fruitless and failed. 

Eventually the Father begs Jesus to heal the child if he can. To which he said, “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark‬ ‭9:23-24‬). In the father's eyes he saw his child who had lived in the clutches of darkness mentally, emotionally and physically, mangled by demonic forces tearing his life apart. Yet when Jesus asked him if he believed, all he could say was, yes I do believe, but Lord forgive my unbelief that has blinded me all these years.

This prayer of the father stands even today as a prayer when we are overwhelmed with doubts to say and meditate on. “Lord I believe, help me overcome my unbelief.” It is amazing how, later Jesus told his disciples the reason why they couldn’t heal the child was, “This kind can come out only by prayer” (Mark‬ ‭9:29‬). Jesus is the light of the world, the very image of God in human form, in whom there is no darkness at all. Yet Jesus lived in daily prayer and fellowship with God the Father. 

What is faith and how do we build trust and confidence in God? Faith is the substance of things we hope for, and the evidence of things not seen. It is impossible to see the goodness and mercy of God unless we believe that he exists (Hebrews 11:1-6). What do we do when our doubts overshadow our faith in God? We turn our eyes from the darkness of our doubts and gaze into the light of God’s glory. Just like the sun rises every day, so should we faithfully pray everyday, turning our eyes from the darkness of our slumber and opening our eyes of faith to see the glory of God. Let the rays of Faith shine into our hearts and minds lighting them up and bringing healing to all our doubts and fears. God will guide us through the ever winding roads of our lives, drawing us closer and closer to his very presence. The Darkness of Doubt make way for the Rays of Faith to build powerful trust in God. We say to ourselves with confidence and meditate on the words of Jesus to the struggling Father, “Everything is possible for one who believes.”and in response we also say, “Lord I believe, help my unbelief.”

Let us walk in the light of the LORD. Isaiah 2:5

Why worry when you can pray?

Why worry when you can Pray?

We live in times that are filled with stress, worry and anxiety. In the world there has been an alarming increase in the number of suicides. According to WHO one person dies from suicide every 40 seconds or 800,000 people die from suicide every year. In fact, suicide is now the second leading cause of death for American teenagers and the tenth leading cause of death for Americans, overall. Death by despair is driving the youth down the path of self-destruction. Broken homes, and broken lives lead us to no longer want to pursue meaningful relationships of trust at home, church or community. Suicide is a mental health problem. Seek treatment if you are depressed for extended periods of time, it is not your fault, maybe chemical imbalances in the body. Some of the warning signs of suicide are increased drug and alcohol use, aggressive behavior, withdrawal from friends, family and community, dramatic mood swings or impulsive or reckless behavior. You can be at the height of your career or profession but still have no inner peace. This sense of emptiness and frustration fills the hearts of even very successful pop stars and movie magnets. Loneliness has been identified as a leading cause for suicidal death.

As Christians we have to find ways to keep our hearts and minds open to the warning signs that present themselves in the thoughts and feelings of our own lives, and the lives of our family and friends. We live in a world that is full of temptations that over time if left unchecked can cause anyone to slip into the use or abuse of alcohol, prescription drugs, or illicit drugs.

Some worries in our hearts and minds can make us sad or mad, and others can stimulate or spark us on to higher endeavors. All of us carry with us in our hearts a bag of worries, some, which are chronic, and others that come and go at the speed of thought. There are some of us whose minds are constantly bogged down with financial burdens. There are many whose hearts feel that they have not achieved all that they hoped they could in their life. There are others whose minds are stressed about their children or parents or work or business. There some broken hearted people who feel “I just don't understand why you don't love me the way I do!”. There are others who get stuck in a rut Crying, hoping and waiting that someday they can have a meaningful relationship with the one they love.

  

When our fears overwhelm our hearts we have to find ways to deal with them. If they become a chronic problem, that settles on the mind like a cloud what do we do? How do we as followers of Christ find ways to keep our hearts and minds to stay calm and focused? There are so many situations we find ourselves in, which are difficult that causes our hearts and minds to start to worry. The cure to fear, worry, and loneliness is faith, hope and love. Jesus says in John14:1, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled, trust in God and trust also in me.” How do we learn to trust and build loving relationships in times of trials and troubles?

Jesus asks, Are you not valuable to God the Father ? 

Jesus said could we add a single moment to our lives if we were to worry (Matthew 6:25-31)? He further says do the lilies of the field worry about what they wear (Matthew 6:28)? Has not God provided for them? It is the faith to know that God loves us and cares for us that gives us the confidence that we have no need to worry. God will provide for all our needs.Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of the things we do not see (Hebrews 11:1).

Jeremiah the prophet says God knew us way before we were born or conceived in our mother's womb. (Jeremiah 1:5). God is the all knowing God. God has a plan for our lives. When we are overwhelmed or discouraged we remember God knows us and loves us intimately, God can give our lives purpose and meaning if we turn to him. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul and mind (Matthew 22:36-38). We have to work hard to build a strong relationship of trust with God.

How many of you see God as a friend? God refers to Abraham as his friend (Isaiah 41:8). Abraham’s faith in God endured him to be his friend. Jesus calls us his friends, if we do what he has taught us in the scriptures (John 15:14). Isn’t it comforting and heartening to listen to Jesus saying you are my friends. If we love him wont we do what he has asked us to do? The hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus” has been a source of comfort and strength for Christians down through the ages. The hymn was originally written by a preacher Joseph Scriven as a poem to comfort his mother in 1855. She was living in Ireland and he had moved to Canada. Scriven himself had met with personal tragedies of his own and in his brokenness he wrote these heartfelt words that comfort us at times when we feel broken, empty or lonely. The hymn has been translated into multiple languages and is an old favorite even today.

All things bright and beautiful!

Do we find time to enjoy God’s creation, the skies, seas, trees, rivers and creatures? Do we see in them the loving hand of God shaping something of beauty and grandeur? Do we have a friend or spouse we can confide in? Do we have a support group we can voice our fears and joys?

God has created us to love and be loved. How can we be good stewards of love in our lives? How can we find ways to let the sunshine of God’s love stream into our lives to make it beautiful in his sight? We must build bonds of love that bring joy and light into our hearts and empower us to live lives that are beautiful in the sight of God. Find Joy in listening to the soothing sounds of nature, the calming music of instruments, or the hymns of praise and thanksgiving. These will bring comfort and strength in our moments of worry strain or anxiety. We have learn to build and maintain strong relationships in our homes and church community at large.

Praise & Thank God from whom all blessings flow!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When we feel anxious or overwhelmed Paul says, we should pray and surrender with thanksgiving, all our requests to God. We kneel before God in praise and worship (Psalm 95:1-11). In Psalm 95 the psalmist invites us to shout and sing before the Lord with songs of thanks and praise  

We give thanks for the lives of family, and friends who love and cherish us. Thanks for the gift of love and peace that brings us together. Thanks for kindness of people, caring thoughts, and cheerful smiles. Thanks for music and books that bring joy into our lives. Praising God for the blessings we can’t see in our life, our life of faith in Him and for his hand that guides us through this life and the life after. When we start focusing on God and thanking him, our anxieties begin to fade away. We let the rays of hope stream into our lives. We begin to see a God who blesses us with peace that transcends understanding.

The Psalmist also cautions us to beware of the hardening of our hearts (Psalm 95:8). A hardened heart is a darkened heart that becomes hopeless. When the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, they grumbled and complained and lost faith in God. When we become headstrong and hard-nosed in our ways, our hearts harden and we find it unthinkable to turn to God. This does not happen overnight, but overtime we go our own way and exclude God in all our decisions on how we live our lives.

Prayer for Serenity

The serenity prayer has been down through the ages a healing prayer that has touched many of our lives and brought peace in times of conflict and tragedy. It is a prayer to God to give us the peace or serenity; and wisdom and courage to make wise choices. It goes like this -

God grant me the serenity

To accept the things I cannot change

The courage to change the things I can 

And the wisdom to know the difference.

Amen

This is a beautiful prayer, while saying the prayer repeatedly we can substitute “God” for “Jesus” and ”Holy Spirit”. In so doing we make our request to the Holy Trinity to act and work in our lives. It is a prayer of faith and trust that God will help us change and gives our hearts and minds the courage to change the things we can. We come to God‘s presence in the stillness and silence of the peaceful moments. We wait on God to come and fill our hearts and minds with His presence. We don’t have to always use words. We allow the Spirit of God to search our deepest doubts, wounds, scars, thoughts and longings, recreate our inner being to be more and more into the likeness of God. We become more aware of the Omnipresence of God within and around us. Drawing us closer and closer with the passing of each year to His living presence.

When tragedy or a natural disaster comes upon us unawares, what do we do? Sometimes there is nothing we can do but have the courage to pick up the pieces and the peace with the grace of God to find understanding through it all. The second part of the prayer is for strength for our hearts and minds to overcome that, which can be overcome. It is asking God to give us courage to make changes in our life that will make a difference from our present situation.

If we learn to find time to pray, praise and thank God, we will find peace. Prayer and praise brings healing to our our hearts and minds when we realize that God knows all our needs even before we ask. We have to declare to God and ourselves that we will take a step of faith to trust that God will provide for our needs. This act becomes a healing prayer. We surrender all our anxieties to God and the Spirit of Christ starts to work, and streams of love and joy begin to flow through our lives.

Lenten Reflection
During this time of lent let us stop worrying. Give it Up !! The Lenten journey is a time when we reflect and begin to shut doors on our past life of worrying. Let us open new doors of peace, joy and love into our lives with Jesus as our friend and companion on our way. Our hearts and minds must learn to trust in God and God's goodness. To realize that God is watching over us. In so doing we will find that our worries slowly subside through our prayers and praise. We ask God to ease our hearts from fears and anxieties and fill our minds with the gift of peace, love and joy. We pray for wisdom and strength for our minds to change the things we can. In so doing our hearts have the understanding to know the difference between the things we can change and those we cannot. In times of worry, tragedy or conflict; take time off from our busy lives for a meaningful meditation on the living reality of omnipresent God, and say our prayers with thanksgiving. Let the Holy Spirit mold, melt, guide and heal our heart, mind and spirit.