Ephesians 1:1-10 1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (NRSV)
As we start a new year, I would like to reflect during this year on Paul's Letter to the Ephesians. It is one of the most important letters for understanding what it means to be "church." Sometimes church is our building ("I'm going up to church"). Sometimes it is our community ("I belong to Emmaus Lutheran Church"). Sometimes it refers to a larger group of congregations gathered together ("I am a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod"). In the widest sense it refers to all believers ("We are the Body of Christ - the Church"). In that widest or deepest sense, everyone who has been made alive by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is a member of the one, true, invisible church. A name on a membership list does not mean one is a Christian. The Holy Spirit guiding the heart will lead to Christian living - in that body - that is to be a Christian.
Many people today talk about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ ("me and Jesus"). But the Holy Spirit gathers us into communities - churches. We are to proclaim good news, to counteract the news about self-centered living that just needs Jesus "by my side" and not "guiding my heart in my new life." We are in danger if we make up Christianity according to our own rules and not by being led to praise and honor and worship and serve the God who made us and redeemed us to be His children once again.
Paul notes that he is called by God's will. We all are. He writes to those who are faithful. I pray all of us can say that as well. He reminds them that grace and peace come from God the Father and our Lord. He lets us know that we are "IN" Christ, bound for eternity. Spend time reading the monthly selection often. Meditate on what Christ Jesus says to us about being in an eternal relationship. Worship, praise, love and serve our gracious God!
In Christ our Lord and Savior,
Pastor Thomas Trapp
back to newsletter articles