December 16

Ephesians 1-6 (biblegateway.com)

Chosen in Christ, Walking in Unity

Still imprisoned in Rome, Paul writes another letter, this time to the believers in Ephesus. Whereas Colossians confronts error, Ephesians celebrates the riches believers possess in Christ and calls them to live worthy of their calling. Ephesians 1–6 unfolds a majestic vision of God’s eternal plan, the believer’s identity in Christ, and the practical outworking of that calling in the church, home, and spiritual battle.

Ephesians 1 — God’s Eternal Purpose in Christ: Chosen, Redeemed, and Sealed

Paul begins his letter to the believers in Ephesus by identifying himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus “by the will of God” (v. 1). He writes to the saints who are faithful in Christ, reminding them that their identity is not rooted in their city, culture, or background, but in their union with the risen Lord. He greets them with grace and peace, blessings that flow from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 2).

Paul then launches into one of the most remarkable expressions of praise in all Scripture, blessing God for “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” given to believers in Christ (v. 3). These blessings are not material privileges but spiritual realities flowing from God’s eternal purpose. God “chose us in him before the foundation of the world,” not as an arbitrary decree, but as a loving intention that all who believe in Christ might be “holy and blameless before him” (v. 4). Election in this context is corporate and conditional. It describes God’s gracious plan to save those who are in Christ by faith, not an unconditional choosing of certain individuals apart from their response to grace. His choice reveals desire, not favoritism: God wills that every person be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4).

“In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will” (v. 5). Predestination here concerns not who will believe but what believers become—children of God conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29). This divine plan secures the destiny of those who continue in faith, ensuring that salvation, once entered, has a sure goal for those who abide in Christ. All of this results “to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved” (v. 6). Grace is the foundation, faith is the condition, and holiness is the purpose.

FWB Note: Free Will Baptists understand election as conditional and corporate—God’s gracious purpose established in Christ and applied to all who believe. Predestination concerns the believer’s destiny in Christ, not an unconditional selection to faith. Salvation is offered freely to all, maintained through continual trust in Christ, and always intended to result in holiness and praise to the glory of His grace.

In Christ, believers have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, granting freedom from guilt and the power of sin (v. 7). This redemption is not a vague spiritual idea but a costly reality secured by Christ’s sacrificial death. It is universal in provision but conditional in application, offered to all through the cross and received only through faith and repentance. God lavishes grace upon His people, revealing the mystery of His will and His plan to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth (v. 8–10). The universe is not spiraling by chance. God is bringing everything under the authority of His Son. This unfolding plan of redemption invites human cooperation with grace; it does not override the will but enables the response of faith. History has a direction, and Christ stands at its center.

Paul continues by explaining that believers have obtained an inheritance in Christ, predestined according to God’s purpose who works all things according to the counsel of His will (v. 11). God’s sovereignty directs His saving plan, but never in a way that bypasses human faith or responsibility. Predestination here again concerns the destiny of those who are in Christ, not a fixed decree determining who will believe. Their salvation was not accidental, nor was it a human initiative. God designed it so that those who first hoped in Christ would live to the praise of His glory (v. 12). Yet this inheritance is not reserved only for Jewish believers. The Gentiles in Ephesus heard the word of truth, believed the gospel, and were included in Christ as well (v. 13). This inclusion demonstrates the FWB conviction that saving faith is the condition for union with Christ. God’s promise extends to all who hear, believe, and continue in faith. Their faith brought them into the same family and under the same promise.

To assure believers of this hope, God seals them with the Holy Spirit, who serves as the guarantee of their inheritance until the final redemption of God’s possession (v. 13–14). The Spirit’s presence is not symbolic. He is the pledge of God’s faithfulness, assuring believers that what God began He will finish. This seal signifies both security and responsibility. God keeps His people as they continue trusting Him. The Spirit’s work confirms salvation but does not cancel perseverance. Believers must remain in Christ to enjoy the inheritance promised to them. The Spirit confirms that believers belong to God and will one day experience the fullness of their inheritance. Once again, Paul stresses that the purpose of all this is the praise of God’s glory (v. 14). Salvation begins with God, continues through His enabling grace, and concludes in His glory.

Paul then transitions to prayer. Having heard of their faith in Christ and love for the saints, he gives thanks and prays that God would grant them wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (v. 15-17). He asks that the eyes of their hearts be enlightened so they may grasp three realities: the hope of their calling, the riches of God’s glorious inheritance in the saints, and the immeasurable greatness of His power toward those who believe (v. 18-19). These are not abstract concepts. They are present realities that God wants His people to understand and experience. In Free Will Baptist understanding, such enlightenment comes through the Spirit’s ongoing work in believers who continue walking in obedience. Spiritual growth is cooperative; God reveals truth as His people respond in faith and surrender.

Paul illustrates this power by pointing to the resurrection and exaltation of Christ. God raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him at His right hand “in the heavenly places,” far above all rule, authority, power, and dominion (v. 20-21). Christ reigns over every spiritual force, every earthly authority, and every age, both present and future. God placed all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church (v. 22). The church is not peripheral to God’s plan. It is central, for it is Christ’s body, “the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (v. 23). Christ’s headship over the church calls believers to submission and participation, not passive dependence. The Spirit empowers the body to carry out His will, showing that divine sovereignty and human responsibility work together in the mission of the church.

Ephesians 1 presents salvation as God’s work from beginning to end. Believers are chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and sealed by the Spirit. Their identity rests not in their performance but in God’s eternal plan. Yet this identity is maintained through continuing faith and obedience, the human response made possible by God’s enabling grace. Paul wants the church to understand who they are in Christ, what God has done for them, and the power available to them. With this foundation, they can live confidently in a world where kingdoms rise and fall, knowing that God’s purpose is unshakeable and His people are secure in His hands as they remain steadfast in faith.

Ephesians 2 — From Death to Life: Saved by Grace for Good Works

Paul now turns from God’s eternal purpose to the believers’ past condition. He reminds the Ephesians that they were once dead in their trespasses and sins, walking according to the course of this world and under the influence of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now at work in the sons of disobedience (v. 1–2). This death was not physical but spiritual. They lived apart from God, following sinful desires and carrying out the cravings of the flesh and the mind (v. 3). By nature, they stood under God’s wrath, just as the rest of humanity. Paul wants these believers to remember where they came from, so they can grasp the greatness of God’s mercy.

Into this hopeless reality comes the decisive intervention of God. “But God,” being rich in mercy, acts not because of anything worthy in them but because of His great love (v. 4). Even when they were dead in their sins, He made them alive together with Christ (v. 5). Salvation is not human achievement. It is entirely an act of God’s grace. This grace is prevenient; it awakens the sinner, convicts the heart, and enables the response of faith without forcing it. God raised believers with Christ and seated them with Him in the heavenly realms, giving them a status and standing they did not earn (v. 6). Their present position reflects Christ’s victory, not their own merit. God does this so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward those who are in Christ Jesus (v. 7).

Paul summarizes this truth with one of the most well-known statements in Scripture. Believers are saved by grace through faith, and this salvation is not from themselves. It is the gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one can boast (v. 8–9). The origin, means, and result of salvation all testify to God’s generosity and exclude human pride. Yet God’s grace does not make believers passive. They are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so they should walk in them (v. 10). Good works do not earn salvation, but they flow from it. Through the Spirit’s enabling, believers freely choose to walk in obedience, cooperating with grace rather than resisting it. These works form the ongoing path of faithfulness that marks those who remain in Christ.

Paul then applies this truth to the division between Jews and Gentiles. The Gentiles once stood far from God’s covenant promise. They were separated from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants of promise, and without hope or God in the world (v. 11–12). Their condition seemed permanent. Yet now, in Christ Jesus, those who were once far have been brought near by His blood (v. 13). Christ Himself is their peace. He does not merely give peace; He creates it by breaking down the dividing wall of hostility that stood between Jew and Gentile (v. 14). Through His death, He sets aside the law with its ordinances that separated the two groups and forms one new humanity in Himself, reconciling both to God in one body through the cross (v. 15–16). The hostility that once defined their relationship is put to death. Paul’s point is not that the moral call to holiness has disappeared, but that the ceremonial boundaries separating Jew and Gentile no longer stand.

Christ came and proclaimed peace to those far off and to those near (v. 17). Through Him, both Jew and Gentile have access to the Father by one Spirit (v. 18). Access to God does not depend on ethnicity, heritage, or religious background. It is granted through Christ alone. The Ephesians are no longer strangers or outsiders but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household (v. 19). They belong to a new family that spans every background and culture.

This household is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone (v. 20). Everything in the church is aligned with Him. In Christ, the whole structure grows into a holy temple in the Lord (v. 21). The church is not merely an institution. It is the place where God dwells. Believers are living stones in this temple, being built together into a dwelling place for God by His Spirit (v. 22). God’s presence no longer resides in a building made with hands, but among His people whom He has redeemed.

Ephesians 2 reveals the movement of salvation from death to life, from alienation to belonging, and from hostility to peace. Believers are saved by grace, united to Christ, and joined to one another through the Spirit. What once defined them in sin, division, and hopelessness has been replaced by a new identity in Christ. They are God’s workmanship, God’s family, and God’s dwelling place. Their security rests not in an irreversible decree but in the continuing relationship of faith that abides in Christ. Their past does not determine their future; God’s grace does.

Ephesians 3 — The Mystery of Christ Revealed and the Power of His Love

Paul begins this section by identifying himself as “a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles” (v. 1). His imprisonment is not a setback but part of God’s plan to advance the gospel among the nations. Paul explains that God entrusted him with the stewardship of a mystery once hidden but now revealed: Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel (v. 2–6). What once appeared as two distinct peoples, Jew and Gentile, God has united into one new humanity through Christ. This truth is not a human discovery. It is a divine revelation given by the Spirit and received through faith. The inclusion of the Gentiles reveals the wideness of God’s mercy and the universality of His redemptive purpose.

Paul views himself as the least of all saints, yet God’s grace makes him a minister of this gospel (v. 7–8). His task is to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ and to reveal God’s plan hidden for ages, now made known through the church (v. 9–10). Through the church, God displays His manifold wisdom to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, showing that His redemptive work reaches beyond human history and into the spiritual realm. The church stands as visible proof that God keeps His promises and accomplishes His purposes in Christ. Believers do not approach God in fear. Through Christ, they have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him (v. 12). This access is sustained by faith that continues to trust and obey. Paul urges them not to lose heart over his sufferings, for even his imprisonment serves their glory (v. 13).

Paul then turns to prayer, bowing before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name (v. 14–15). He prays that God would strengthen believers with power through His Spirit in their inner being, so that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith (v. 16–17). This dwelling is not a one-time event but an ongoing relationship in which Christ continually shapes their hearts as they walk in obedience. Paul wants them to be rooted and grounded in love, able to grasp the vast dimensions of Christ’s love, including its breadth, length, height, and depth, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge (v. 17–19). This knowledge is not merely intellectual. It is the Spirit’s transforming work within willing hearts, producing maturity and filling them with all the fullness of God. In Free Will Baptist understanding, this reflects cooperative sanctification: the Spirit enables holiness as believers yield daily to His presence.

Paul concludes with a doxology that lifts the readers’ eyes to God’s limitless power. God “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,” according to the power at work within believers (v. 20). The Christian life is not sustained by human strength but by God’s active presence. To Him belongs glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever (v. 21). The church exists to display His glory, and every believer participates in this eternal purpose.

Ephesians 3 shows that the gospel is not an adjustment to God’s plan but the revelation of His eternal purpose: to unite Jews and Gentiles in Christ and to form a people through whom His wisdom is displayed. Believers are strengthened by the Spirit, rooted in Christ’s love, and invited to live confidently in God’s power. Grace initiates, faith responds, and love perfects. Salvation begins the lifelong work of transformation as believers cooperate with the Spirit and reflect the glory of the God who has made them one in Christ.

Ephesians 4 — Unity in the Body and Growth into Christlikeness

Paul begins this chapter by urging believers to live in a manner worthy of the calling they have received (v. 1). This calling is not an abstract idea. It is a summons to reflect the character of Christ in daily life. Paul highlights the attitudes that preserve unity: humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love (v. 2). Unity is not created by believers. It is given by the Spirit. Their role is to actively maintain what God has given by choosing obedience and humility. They are to keep “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (v. 3). Paul reminds them that there is “one body and one Spirit,” one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all (v. 4–6). The church is united because God is one, and everything flows from His character.

This unity does not eliminate diversity. Christ gives grace to each believer through spiritual gifts that serve the whole body (v. 7). Paul quotes Psalm 68 to show that the risen Christ is the One who gives gifts to His people (v. 8). He ascended to heaven after descending to earth, demonstrating His authority over every realm (v. 9–10). To equip the church, Christ gives various roles: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, so that the saints may be prepared for ministry and the body of Christ may be built up (v. 11–12). These gifts do not function automatically but through faithful participation and cooperation with the Spirit. The goal is not individual accomplishment but corporate maturity, as believers come to unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God (v. 13). Christlike maturity means stability, discernment, and growth. Believers are no longer to be tossed by every wind of doctrine or deceived by false teaching, but to speak the truth in love and grow into Christ, the head of the church (v. 14–15). From Him, the whole body is joined and held together, with each part working properly so that the church builds itself up in love (v. 16). The church grows as each believer willingly fulfills their role, relying on grace but walking in obedience.

Paul then contrasts the new life believers have in Christ with their old way of living. He insists that they must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking and with hearts darkened by ignorance and hardened by sin (v. 17–19). That way of life leads to impurity and corruption. But believers did not learn Christ in that manner. They heard the truth in Him and were taught to put off the old self, which is corrupted by deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of their minds (v. 20–23). They are to put on the new self, created in the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (v. 24). This transformation is cooperative sanctification: the Spirit renews the heart, but believers must continually choose to yield to His work. Holiness is neither forced nor optional; it is the believer’s active response to enabling grace.

He applies this transformation in practical terms. Believers must put away falsehood and speak truth to one another, because they are members of the same body (v. 25). They may be angry, but they must not let anger lead them into sin or give the devil an opportunity (v. 26–27). Those who stole must stop and instead work honestly so they can share with others (v. 28). Speech must not tear down but give grace to those who hear (v. 29). Believers must not grieve the Holy Spirit, who sealed them for the day of redemption (v. 30). This sealing is God’s pledge of His faithfulness, yet believers are still called to walk in obedience and avoid the behaviors Paul warns against. Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice have no place among God’s people. Instead, they are to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving, just as God forgave them in Christ (v. 31–32). Forgiveness reflects God’s own character and is essential for the unity of His people.

Ephesians 4 shows that the church’s unity is grounded in God’s work, sustained by the Spirit, and expressed through Christlike conduct. Every believer has a part to play, and every gift contributes to the growth of the whole body. The Free Will Baptist understanding emphasizes that grace makes unity and holiness possible, yet believers must willingly walk in obedience to maintain them. Perseverance is not passive security but active faithfulness. The gospel not only reconciles people to God but also reshapes their relationships with one another. As the church lives out these truths, it becomes a visible testimony of Christ’s presence in the world.

Ephesians 5 — Walking in Love, Light, and Wisdom

Paul continues his instruction by calling believers to be imitators of God as dearly loved children (v. 1). Their lives are to reflect the love they have received in Christ, who “gave Himself up” as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (v. 2). The Christian life is not defined by rules alone but by relationship. Believers obey because grace has transformed their hearts and calls them to respond in willing love. Their imitation of God flows from fellowship with Him, not compulsion.

Paul contrasts this way of life with the immorality and impurity that marked their former behavior. Sexual immorality, greed, and filthiness are not to be named among God’s people, because such conduct contradicts their new identity (v. 3–4). Instead of crude speech and foolish talk, believers are to give thanks. Gratitude redirects the heart from self-centered desires to God’s goodness. Paul warns that those who persist in these sins without repentance show that they are not part of Christ’s kingdom (v. 5). This warning reinforces that belonging to Christ is evidenced by a transformed life, not merely by a claim of faith. This does not mean that one failure removes salvation, but that a life marked by continual disobedience reveals unbelief and separation from Christ. Persevering faith is necessary to remain in the grace that saves. Empty words must not deceive them. God’s wrath comes upon the disobedient, so believers must not join in practices that belong to darkness (v. 6–7).

They once lived in darkness, but now they are light in the Lord (v. 8). Because God has changed them, they are to walk as children of light. The fruit of light is seen in what is good, right, and true (v. 9). They test what pleases the Lord and avoid the unfruitful works of darkness by exposing them (v. 10–11). Light reveals what sin tries to hide. Paul shows that when the light of Christ shines on what is hidden, it awakens the sinner to life (v. 12–14). The call is urgent: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

These truths demand wisdom. Believers must walk carefully, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil (v. 15–16). They must not live thoughtlessly but understand the Lord’s will. Rather than being controlled by wine, they are to be filled with the Spirit (v. 17–18). The Spirit’s filling results in joyful worship, heartfelt praise, and mutual encouragement through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (v. 19). Gratitude becomes the posture of the believer, who gives thanks “always and for everything” to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 20). Spirit-filled believers submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (v. 21). This mutual submission frames the instructions that follow, ensuring they are understood through the character of Christlike humility rather than cultural domination.

Paul then applies this Spirit-shaped submission to marriage. Wives are to submit to their husbands as to the Lord, recognizing the God-given structure of the home (v. 22–24). This submission is not servitude but willing respect, modeled after the church’s relationship to Christ. Husbands are commanded to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her (v. 25). The husband’s role is defined not by dominance but by sacrificial love.

Christ sanctifies the church, cleansing her by His word, so that she be holy and without blemish (v. 26–27). In the same way, husbands are to care for their wives as they care for their own bodies, honoring and nurturing them (v. 28–29). Marriage is rooted in God’s original design: a man leaves his parents, is joined to his wife, and the two become one flesh (v. 31). Paul says this union ultimately points to a greater mystery, the relationship between Christ and His church (v. 32). The Christian home is meant to reflect this divine pattern: husbands love, wives respect, and both honor Christ (v. 33).

Ephesians 5 calls believers to live out their identity in Christ through active obedience and Spirit-enabled love. They are to walk in love, reflecting the sacrifice of Christ; walk in light, revealing what honors God; and walk in wisdom, guided by the Spirit. In Free Will Baptist understanding, the believer’s security rests in an abiding, obedient faith that continues in grace. The gospel transforms not only personal conduct but also family life, producing relationships that display the humility, purity, and devotion of Christ Himself.

Ephesians 6 — Spirit-Empowered Relationships and the Armor of God

Paul concludes his letter by applying the gospel to everyday relationships and spiritual warfare. He begins with the household. Children are told to obey their parents in the Lord, for this is right (v. 1). Paul connects obedience to the fifth commandment, reminding them that honoring father and mother carries a promise of well-being and a long life in the land (v. 2–3). This obedience reflects God’s order within the family. Fathers are then instructed not to provoke their children to anger, but to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (v. 4). Parental discipline must model God’s own character, firm but compassionate, shaping not only behavior but the heart toward obedience to God. Godly parenting leads children not by harshness, but by teaching that shapes the heart.

Paul turns next to servants and masters. Servants are to obey their earthly masters with sincerity, not merely to appear obedient, but “as servants of Christ,” doing the will of God from the heart (v. 5–6). Their work becomes a form of worship when done for the Lord rather than for human approval. They are to render service with goodwill, knowing that whatever good they do, they will receive back from the Lord (v. 7–8). Masters are commanded to treat their servants in the same manner, without threats, recognizing that both master and servant share the same Master in heaven, who shows no favoritism (v. 9). The gospel reshapes authority by placing every person under Christ, and calls both laborer and leader to serve faithfully, knowing that every act will be measured by God’s righteous standard. Paul’s instructions preserve dignity on both sides, reminding believers that their ultimate accountability is to God, not human structures.

Having addressed life in the home and workplace, Paul now prepares believers for a greater reality. The Christian life unfolds on a battlefield. They must be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might (v. 10). Their struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces, including rulers, authorities, powers, and cosmic forces of darkness (v. 12). The unseen conflict is real, and human ability is insufficient. Therefore, believers must put on the whole armor of God so they may stand firm against the schemes of the devil (v. 11). The call to “stand” implies perseverance through faith. God supplies the armor, but believers must choose to wear it and walk in obedience for His strength to be realized.

Paul describes this armor piece by piece. The belt of truth secures the believer, the breastplate of righteousness protects the heart, and the shoes of readiness from the gospel of peace enable firm footing (v. 14–15). The shield of faith extinguishes the flaming darts of the evil one (v. 16), the helmet of salvation guards the mind, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, provides the only offensive weapon (v. 17). Every part is essential, not for display, but for endurance. Victory in spiritual warfare is not automatic; it depends on continual reliance on God’s grace and steadfast resistance to sin. Believers stand their ground by depending on what God provides, not what they produce. Paul’s imagery emphasizes that victory is not won by force but by steadfastness in truth, righteousness, and faith.

Paul underscores that the armor is activated through prayer. They are to pray at all times in the Spirit, alert and persevering, making supplication for all the saints (v. 18). Prayer is not a ritual but the lifeline of faith. It keeps the believer dependent on God’s strength and sensitive to His leading. Paul himself requests prayer, asking that he may speak boldly as he proclaims the mystery of the gospel, even while in chains (v. 19–20). The gospel may bind its messengers, but it is never bound.

Paul concludes his letter by sending Tychicus to inform the Ephesians of his situation and to encourage their hearts (v. 21–22). He ends with a blessing of peace, love, and grace for all who love the Lord Jesus Christ with an incorruptible love (v. 23–24). The letter that began by unveiling God’s eternal plan ends with an invitation to live faithfully in that plan, standing firm in truth, strengthened by grace, and equipped for spiritual conflict.

Ephesians 6 shows that the Christian life is lived both in ordinary relationships and in ongoing spiritual struggle. Believers stand not in their own strength but in God’s enabling grace. Yet that grace must be received and applied daily through faith, obedience, and prayer. As they walk faithfully in Christ, clothed in His armor and sustained by His Spirit, they display His victory and glorify the One who called them into His service.

Conclusion

Ephesians 1–6 reveal the breathtaking scope of God’s plan in Christ, from eternity past to the believer’s present walk and future glory. The gospel creates a new identity, a new community, and a new way of living. Believers are not saved by works, but they are saved for works that display God’s grace. This grace enables but does not override the believer’s will; it calls for a continual, willing response of faith and obedience.

For believers today, Ephesians reminds us that we are chosen, redeemed, and sealed by the Spirit. These blessings are secure as we continue in faith, walking in the Spirit, and remaining in fellowship with Christ. We are united with other believers in one body and called to walk in love, purity, and wisdom. Our homes become places where Christlike relationships flourish, and our daily choices reflect His lordship. Though the Christian life involves spiritual warfare, God equips us with everything needed to stand firm. Victory belongs to those who persevere in grace, relying on the Spirit’s strength and the armor of truth, righteousness, and faith.

Ephesians lifts our eyes to the glory of Christ and leads our hearts to worship as we live out the calling He has given us. The book closes not only with assurance but with invitation—to remain steadfast in the faith that works through love until we stand complete in Christ.