Question 1

What does it mean that God chose and predestined believers in this passage?

Accepted Answer

Here Paul says God chose believers in Christ before the world began and predestined them to be adopted as his children. This means salvation starts with God’s decision, not our effort. His purpose is that those he chooses become holy and without blame, and that all of this leads to praise of his grace. Predestination here is not meant to crush hope but to show that our place in God’s family rests on his steady will and kindness, not on changing human works or feelings.

Question 2

What does redeemed through his blood and forgiven of sins mean here?

Accepted Answer

When Paul says, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,” he is talking about Jesus’ death as the price that sets people free. Redemption is like being bought out of slavery, but here the slavery is to sin and guilt. Jesus’ blood means his life given on the cross. Because he died, God truly forgives the sins of those who are in Christ. This shows both God’s justice, because sin is punished, and God’s mercy, because sinners are set free and welcomed.

Question 3

What does saved by grace through faith, not of works, teach about salvation?

Accepted Answer

This passage explains that salvation is by grace, through faith, and “not of yourselves.” Grace means God’s free favor to people who do not earn it. Faith is trusting in Christ, not trusting in what we do. Works cannot earn salvation, so no one can boast. Yet Paul also says we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ for good works that God prepared beforehand. So good works are the result and fruit of being saved by grace, not the cause or price of it.

Question 4

How are Jews and Gentiles united in Christ according to this passage?

Accepted Answer

Paul reminds Gentile readers that they were once far from God, without hope and without God in the world. But now, through the blood of Christ, those who were far off have been brought near. Jesus is called “our peace.” He has broken down the wall that divided Jew and Gentile and made one new man out of the two. By the cross he killed the hostility and brought both to God in one body. So both groups now share one access to the Father by one Spirit and are fellow citizens and members of God’s household.

Question 5

What is meant by putting off the old man and putting on the new man?

Accepted Answer

Putting off the old man means turning away from the former way of life that was shaped by deceitful desires, lies, impurity, greed, anger, and hurtful speech. Putting on the new man means living out the new life God has given in Christ, which is created in righteousness and true holiness. Paul gives very concrete examples: stop lying and speak truth, stop stealing and work so you can give, stop corrupt talk and speak words that build others up. This shows that real faith changes daily behavior.

Question 6

How does this passage describe Christian marriage and its link to Christ and the church?

Accepted Answer

Paul speaks to wives and husbands and ties their roles to Christ and the church. Wives are called to submit to their own husbands as to the Lord, as the church submits to Christ. Husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. That love is self‑giving and aims at her good and holiness. He says a man should love his wife as his own body. Then he calls this union a “great mystery” and says he is speaking about Christ and the church, using marriage as a picture of that deep union.

Question 7

What is the armor of God and why do believers need it?

Accepted Answer

The armor of God is a word picture for the spiritual protection God provides. Paul says believers do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of darkness. So he tells them to stand firm, wearing the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word. Prayer is to go with all of this. Believers need this armor so they can resist temptation, not be deceived, and remain standing in an evil day.

Question 8

What does this passage teach about the unity and growth of the church as Christ’s body?

Accepted Answer

Paul says there is one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. Christ gives different gifts, such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, to equip the saints for ministry and to build up the body. The goal is that believers reach unity in the faith and in knowing the Son of God, growing to maturity, no longer tossed around by every strange teaching. Joined to Christ the head, the whole body grows as each part does its work in love, building itself up.

Question 9

How should believers live differently from their old life and from the world here?

Accepted Answer

Paul contrasts the old way of walking with the new. The old way follows empty thinking, darkened understanding, and hard hearts that give themselves to impurity and greed. Believers, however, have learned Christ. They are to walk worthy of their calling, in humility, gentleness, patience, and love. They must walk as children of light, showing goodness, righteousness, and truth, exposing works of darkness, using time wisely, giving thanks, avoiding drunkenness, and being filled with the Spirit. This new walk flows from what God has already done in Christ.

Question 10

What does this passage show about God’s character and purpose in salvation?

Accepted Answer

Throughout the passage, God is shown as rich in mercy and great in love, choosing and adopting people in Christ before the world, redeeming them through the blood of his Son, and saving them by grace. His purpose is to sum up all things in Christ and to display the riches of his grace and the greatness of his power. He is described as wise, acting according to the counsel of his own will, and making known the mystery of his will in Christ. All of this leads to praise of the glory of his grace and glory to him in the church forever.

Ephesians 1:1

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Paul’s Greeting to the Ephesians

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Ephesians 1:1

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

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Paul’s Greeting to the Ephesians

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