The Church Is His Body

Who are saints? Who are these “holy and faithful people” (CEB), also called “God's people” (CEV), and “God’s holy people” (NIV, NLT) that Paul is writing to? Are saints the church?

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:1-2 ESV)

Did God decide beforehand how He was going to choose His saints?

Bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing that comes from heaven. God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless in God’s presence before the creation of the world. God destined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ because of his love. This was according to his goodwill and plan and to honor his glorious grace that he has given to us freely through the Son whom he loves. (Ephesians 1:3-6 CEB)

What do saints have? Redemption is a release effected by payment of a ransom, deliverance.

We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. (Ephesians 1:7-8 HCSB)

What has God made known to His saints?

He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him, regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. (Ephesians 1:9-10 NASB)

When will God do all He has planned?

Then when the time is right, God will do all he has planned, and Christ will bring together everything in heaven and on earth. God always does what he plans, and this is why he appointed Christ to choose us. He did this so we Jews would bring honor to him and be the first ones to have hope because of him. (Ephesians 1:11-13 CEV)

What is God’s guarantee?

The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him. (Ephesians 1:14 NLT)

For what did Paul give thanks?

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. (Ephesians 1:15-16 NIV)

Why did Paul pray for the church in Ephesus?

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints (Ephesians 1:17-18 WEB)

For what else did Paul pray?

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 1:19-20 NKJV)

What does Christ do while seated in the heavenly realms?

There Christ rules over all forces, authorities, powers, and rulers. He rules over all beings in this world and will rule in the future world as well. God has put all things under the power of Christ, and for the good of the church he has made him the head of everything. (Ephesians 1:21-22 CEV)

What is the church?

And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. (Ephesians 1:23 NLT)

Ordinary Christians are saints who have received redemption, deliverance, are set free from our sins in Christ through His blood. God has put all things under the power of Christ, and we are His Body. Are you also set free from your sins? You decide!