Remember that I mentioned that verses 3-14 are a single sentence in Greek? The next two words in our text bring that into the forefront. They are “in love.”

He chose that all who would agree to be reconciled, would be forgiven of their sins and wickedness and placed into relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Kingdom of God is within us. We carry in our being the heavenly realm.

Ephesians 1:3-14 are all contained within a single very lengthy sentence in the Greek. Notably, there are three sections we might observe. Each section ends with praise for God and each highlights a different Person of the Trinity.

I find it difficult to read the word “saint” without commenting on the Greek behind it. (Okay, I find it hard not to comment on the Greek much of the time.) But “saint” translates a Greek word that I think we would all benefit from committing to memory.

As is Paul’s way, he presents us first with the doctrinal truth upon which his practical instructions rest. First he tells us what God has done for us and who He has made us. Only when this has been established does he instruct, admonish or command.

In our heart, we want to have godly attitudes and actions, but the flesh sometimes (maybe even often) results in our failure to do that. Ungodly attitudes and actions happen when the temptation of the worldly way of living by what seems best to our senses draws us away from the godly responses and behaviors we truly want.

Here’s one of the more useful things I’ve learned.

The mystery was hidden, or encrypted, in the Hebrew Scriptures. To decrypt it we will need the Key.

In other words, they will study the writing, the sentences, the words. They will look to the prophets, the teachers, for guidance. All the while, they will miss the rest and repose Father offers them because they are missing the main point. It is not about studying the words, learning the precepts, examining theological doctrines.