This is part 2 of TBD on Ephesians. I’ll be quickly going through the first three (and last two) chapters of Ephesians to set the context, because we live in age of declining Biblical literacy, and I’ll slow down more when I reach Ephesians 4, because I think we always need more unity and purity.

As we walk through Ephesians 1, we’ll cover our identity in Christ, our blessings in Christ, and our growing knowledge of Christ. This week, I want to explore an aspect of our identity in Christ or … the Greetings that the Apostle gives us from Christ, which are found in Ephesians 1:1-2.

In Paul’s introduction, it’s important to notice how Paul greets us (the church in Ephesus and all the saints thereafter) and from whom he sends greetings.

First, from whom does Paul send greetings? Paul is an apostle or an envoy, a messenger, a “sent one.” Who sent Paul? Verse 1 tells us he’s an apostle “of Christ Jesus by the will of God.” This introduction might seem like a few brief words, but they are the words of God – His greetings, His regards.

Second, how does Paul greet the Ephesians and us? He greets us as saints, and he extends grace and peace to us. Saints are those who are holy in Christ.[1] Saints are not holy on our own, because no one is. Saints are holy in Christ, because of Christ’s work on our behalf – taking our sin upon Himself and suffering for it; living the life we could not live and giving us the credit, when we trust in Him. This is who God’s people are – saints in Christ Jesus, those made holy in Christ, because of Christ’s work.

That’s who God’s people are, and that’s who you can be even now through faith in Christ. You may be reading this and not yet be a believer in Jesus Christ. You may know about Him and even be inspired by Him. But you may not realize how much you need Him, and how much He meets all of your needs.

Today is not too late to trust in Him. Today may be the day of salvation for you. Now may be the favorable time. (See 2 Corinthians 6:1-2.)[2]

The favorable time for what? To embrace these blessings with which Paul greets us:

Paul extends to us, “grace and peace,” which he’ll explain more after verse 2.

So far, Paul is saying: 1) God’s people are holy in Christ through faith in Christ in spite of our sin, and 2) We have received grace (or God’s unmerited favor) that we don’t deserve, and 3) We have also received a peace that we couldn’t find except in Christ.

St. Augustine[3] was born in the 4th century and lived a wild life before Christ found him. His spiritual autobiography, the Confessions, says, “You made us for yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee.”

If your life is messier than you want, then you may think the first thing you should do is change any one of 100 things. What if you followed Paul’s advice? His original audience had much to learn, but first Paul told them the following: Remember your identity and your status in Christ.
You are:

- Holy in God’s sight despite your sin.

- Favored in God’s sight, though you didn’t earn it.

- Peaceful in God’s protection, which you didn’t find. It found you.

God’s grace, favor, and peace search for us. They hunt us down in a good way. In Psalm 23 terms, surely His goodness and mercy will follow (even pursue) us all the days of our lives.

That’s the opening Greeting that the apostle Paul gives us, which emphasizes our identity in Christ. The next time we look at Ephesians, we’ll cover our Blessings in Christ.

[1] This is the New Testament’s definition, not the Church of Rome’s definition.

[2] And it is always time, even if you have already believed, to renew that faith, to deepen that trust, and to remember all the blessings you have. I’ll talk about some of those blessings today and in future weeks.

[3] As the Church of Rome dubbed him.