What does "by the will of God" reveal about God's sovereignty in Ephesians? Setting the Scene Ephesians opens: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God…”. That single phrase orients the whole letter around God’s sovereign decision-making. Paul did not self-appoint; heaven appointed him. The rest of the epistle echoes that theme, showing how every aspect of salvation and Christian living flows from the same decisive will. God’s Sovereign Initiative in Paul’s Life • Acts 9:1-6 – Saul’s conversion is dramatic proof that God interrupts human plans and redirects them. • Acts 13:2 – “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” God’s voice, God’s choice. • Galatians 1:15-16 – Paul says he was “set apart from my mother’s womb and called by His grace.” Long before Paul could choose, God chose. Takeaway: If Paul’s apostleship rests on God’s will, then the message Paul carries rests on that same unassailable authority. The Phrase Echoed Across Ephesians 1:4 – “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.” 1:5 – “He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will.” 1:11 – “In Him we were also chosen… according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will.” 3:11 – “This was according to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The letter repeatedly ties every blessing in the believer’s life to God’s prior, purposeful will. What “By the Will of God” Reveals • God is the First Mover – Every spiritual blessing (1:3) traces back to Him, not us. • His will is purposeful, not reactive – “Before the foundation of the world” (1:4) shows pre-creation intent. • His will is effective – He “works out everything” (1:11), ensuring that His decrees reach completion. • His will is gracious – It brings “adoption” (1:5) and “redemption” (1:7), not mere fate or cold determinism. • His will is unchanging – Isaiah 46:10: “My purpose will stand, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.” Paul’s phrase aligns with the unbreakable resolve seen throughout Scripture. • His will grants authority to the messenger and the message – Accepting Paul’s apostleship means accepting the gospel he preaches; both rest on the same will. Implications for Believers • Assurance: Our salvation rests on God’s will, not fluctuating human effort (John 10:28-29). • Humility: Boasting is excluded; every credit returns to God’s initiative (1 Corinthians 1:31). • Purpose: We walk in “good works, which God prepared in advance” (Ephesians 2:10), participating in His unfolding plan. • Confidence in Prayer and Mission: The God whose will appointed Paul still directs and empowers today (Philippians 2:13). Closing Reflection “By the will of God” is more than an apostolic credential; it is the cornerstone of Ephesians. From calling Paul to choosing believers, orchestrating history, and sealing our eternal future, God’s sovereign will stands behind every verb in the gospel story. |
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