19 September. Paul writes to the Christians in Ephesus
"From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am an apostle because that is what God wanted.
To God's holy people living in Ephesus, believers in Christ Jesus:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world. That is, in Christ, he chose us before the world was made so that we would be his holy people - people without blame before him."
"Because of his love, God had already decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. That was what he wanted and what pleased him, and it brings praise to God because of his wonderful grace. God gave that grace to us freely, in Christ, the One he loves."
"In Christ we are set free by the blood of his death, and so we have forgiveness of sins. How rich is God's grace, which he has given to us so fully and freely. God, with full wisdom and understanding, let us know his secret purpose."
"This was what God wanted, and he planned to do it through Christ. His goal was to carry out his plan, when the right time came, that all things in heaven and on earth would be joined together in Christ as the head."
(Ephesians 1:1-10)
Paul's Letter to the Ephesians was written to the believers in Ephesus in c.60AD while Paul was under house arrest in Rome, awaiting trial before the emperor Nero. Paul was writing to the church he had nurtured for three years while staying at the home of Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus in 53-56AD during his third missionary journey (see Acts 19:1-10).
The letter was taken from Rome to Ephesus by Tychicus (see Ephesians 6:21-22 and 2 Timothy 4:12). It was probably taken at the same time as the Letter to the Colossians (see Colossians 4:7-8 & 16) and, like that letter, it may have been intended for circulation around daughter churches such as Laodicea and Hierapolis planted by Christians (like Epaphras) from Ephesus (see Ephesians 1:15, 3:2, Colossians 4:16).
In his letter, Paul looks forward to the time when all creation will be brought together in unity, with Christ as the head. He urges the believers to live out this unity in Jesus Christ in their daily lives.
He begins by greeting the believers in Ephesus. He thanks God that, through their union with Jesus Christ, the believers are blessed with “every spiritual blessing” (Ephesians 1:3).
He praises God for making all believers his children, for “In Christ we are set free by the blood of his death, and so we have forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7).
Paul then goes on to reveal God’s ‘secret plan’ – “that all things in heaven and on earth would be joined together in Christ as the head” (Ephesians 1:10).
The photo shows the Roman theatre and Arcadian Way at Ephesus.
You can read more about Paul's Letter to the Ephesians starting @ https://www.thebiblejourney.org/…/…/pauls-letter-to-ephesus/