Ephesians 1:1-14

Wow... how much is packed into these few verses? The author goes on an all-out blitz to not only pour praise out to God, but to sum up the believer's past and place in the world. Let's count them, shall we?

1. We are tremendously blessed by God (v.3)
2. God chose us to follow Him before the world was even made (v.4)
3. God called us to become holy and blameless (v.4)
4. We are predestined to be saved (v.5)
5. Our purpose is to praise God (v.6)
6. Grace is given to us freely out of God's love (vv.5-6)
7. We are redeemed through the sacrifice of Jesus (v.7)
8. Our sins are forgiven through Christ (v.7)
9. We are invited to know God's will (v.9)
10. All things will eventually be brought together in Christ as King (v.10)
11. We are part of God's plan and have purpose through it (vv.11-12)
12. Our salvation is sealed by the Holy Spirit (vv.13-14)

Overwhelmingly, the case is made for the purpose of our lives: that we are not random accidents, beyond God's control, but instead we are cherished, loved creations who God has chosen to use -- not because we are essential, but because He wills it -- for a receptacle of His love, grace and work.

The passage has a nice flow to it, in terms of a timeline. The "Past" mentions how we were chosen and predestined before the creation of the world. The "Present" looks at the process of our salvation, forgiveness, redemption and justification, as well as the work God has laid out for us. The "Future" is the promise of Christ's kingship and our final redemption through the promise of the Holy spirit.