Ephesians, Week 1: Grace and Peace to You (Ephesians 1:1–2)

These notes are from the first session of our Fall 2025 Sunday School class in Ephesians. They are provided for the devotional use of class participants and for the benefit of any others who may find them helpful. They are not intended as an academic publication and have not been professionally edited.

Who's Writing, and Why It Matters

Every letter begins with a greeting. But not every greeting carries eternal weight.

The book of Ephesians opens with just two verses. They might appear as obligatory, throwaway lines at first glance. But they're more like the opening notes of Beethoven's Fifth: simple on the surface, weighty beneath. Skip them, and you miss the tone of everything that follows.

Paul's greeting tells us about identity. His, the Ephesians', and ours. It shows us the heart of a true apostle, a mission fueled by God's grace, and peace flowing from heaven to earth.

We labor a bit over these lines not because they're complex. They aren't. But they are rich. Before Paul tells us who we should be, he reminds us who we already are.

That order matters. In Paul's letters, gospel indicatives (who you are in Christ) always come before gospel imperatives (how you should live in Christ). He doesn't start with demands. He starts with declarations. Identity first, then instruction. Ephesians 1:1–2 sets that gospel rhythm: God acts, we respond. God blesses, we walk in it. Grace first, then transformation.

The Author and His Authority (v. 1a)

"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God..."

Paul opens like any first-century letter writer. But don't miss what he's really saying. This isn't small talk. "Paul"—the man whose life got flipped upside down on the Damascus road (Acts 9). Once he hunted Christians. Now he plants churches. That kind of change doesn't happen by accident.

He calls himself an "apostle" – i.e., "one who is sent." Not just any teacher or traveling preacher. Paul speaks with the authority of someone commissioned directly by Christ (Gal. 1:1). His words carry weight because he's not pushing his own agenda. He's delivering Jesus' message.

And that apostleship? It came "by the will of God." Paul didn't climb some ecclesiastical ladder or network his way into the position. God appointed him. The phrase reminds us that Christian calling flows from God's grace, not human ambition. Paul got grabbed by grace, and now he's writing so others can be grabbed too.

Paul's emphasis on God's will connects to the big theme of Ephesians: God's plan to bring everything together in Christ (1:10–11). Right from the start, Paul frames his letter as part of God's eternal purpose, not human brainstorming.

Discussion: Do we treat Scripture like optional advice or as God's revealed will? How do we respond when God's Word confronts our preferences? Are we living under divine authority or just picking the parts of God's Word that suit us?

The Audience and Their Identity (v. 1b)

"To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus..."

Paul addresses his readers as "saints." In Greek, that's hagios or "holy ones." People set apart for God. This isn't some title for spiritual superstars. It's the identity of every believer called by God and made holy through Christ's righteousness.

Think about how this would have sounded in Ephesus. Picture a booming port city, home to one of the seven wonders of the world. It featured the massive temple of Artemis. The place buzzed with occult practices, pagan festivals, and Roman politics. Right in the middle of all that cultural noise, Paul looks at a small band of seemingly insignificant Christians and calls them saints.

He also calls them "faithful in Christ Jesus." They are more than empty talkers. They evidence Spirit-born perseverance, loyalty, spiritual backbone. And notice where their identity is ultimately anchored: not in what they do (important as that is), but where they stand: in Christ. That phrase shows up nearly 40 times in Ephesians. It defines everything about the believer's existence. Every spiritual blessing, every bit of identity, every hope for change flows from being united to Christ.

Here's Paul's pattern again: he tells them who they are before he tells them what to do. Saints, not strivers. Faithful, not flawless. They're already secure in Christ, so now they can live like it (which chapters 4–6 will spell out).

Discussion: Where do you struggle to believe that your truest identity is "in Christ"? What voices—from inside your head or outside it—challenge your sense of worth, calling, or belonging? How would your life look different if you really believed you're God's "holy one"?

The Blessing and Its Source (v. 2)

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Paul's greeting sounds routine, but - again - this isn't obligatory fluff.

"Grace"—charis in Greek—was how Greeks said hello. "Peace"—shalom—was the Hebrew equivalent. Paul mixes them together and fills them with gospel. Grace isn't just being nice. It's God's unearned favor toward people who deserve his fierce and fiery judgment. Peace isn't the absence of noise. It's wholeness, restoration, being right with God through Christ.

Again, watch the order: grace, then peace. Always that sequence in Scripture. You can't have real peace until you receive God's grace. Try to make peace with God any other way—through good works, religious duty, positive thinking—and you'll fail every time. Grace is the root. Peace is what grows from it.

Where do these blessings come from? "God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Paul names both Father and Son as the source. That's not accidental. Jesus isn't some junior partner or helpful teacher. He's Lord—kyrios—equal with the Father. Paul's greeting declares Christ's divinity and the gospel in one breath.

Because these blessings come from God himself, they're rock solid. Paul is writing to believers in a hostile city during shaky times. But he can offer them unshakeable grace and peace because the source never changes.

Discussion: Where are you still trying to earn what God offers by grace? Are you settling for temporary calm instead of the lasting peace that comes through being reconciled to God? How does it change things to remember that God is both your Father and your Lord?

Conclusion: A Greeting That Grounds Us

In two verses, Paul tells us who we are (saints, faithful in Christ), where we stand (in grace, at peace), and whose story we belong to (God's, not our own).

This is more than a hello. It's an invitation to listen, receive, and live from the identity we've been given in Christ.

Let that greeting stick with you this week: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We’d love to have you join us as we continue this study together each Sunday this fall. The class meets at First Free Church, in the gymnasium, at 9:30 AM.

These Sunday School summaries are solely intended for the personal devotional use of church members and friends. They are not transcripts or academic works and should not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

Originally prepared by Kevin Labby during his vocational service at First Evangelical Free Church of McKeesport. Used with permission. Copyright remains with the church. Please do not reproduce or distribute without written consent from both the church and the author.