We now enter the last month of our Bible study. I hope you have grown from what I have shared. The research I put into each of these devotionals has been a blessing to me. For every thought I share, there are five others I didn’t have space for. Thank you for the opportunity to dig deep into God’s Word.
Today, we embark on the tenth book of the New Testament—Ephesians, focusing on the first three chapters. This letter, though rich in theology and practical truth, also sparks a lot of controversy.
Paul wrote it around 60 AD during his imprisonment in Rome (Ephesians 3:1). Some scholars argue Paul wrote it himself, while others suggest he dictated it to a scribe. Still others point to nuanced inconsistencies, proposing a disciple of Paul penned it as late as 100 AD. (1) Church Fathers like Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, and Polycarp quote Ephesians as Pauline without dispute. Polycarp even calls it “Scripture.” (2) The letter repeatedly identifies Paul as the author (Ephesians 1:1; 3:1; 4:1; 6:20) and references his imprisonment, aligning with Acts 28. (3) If Scripture claims Pauline authorship, rejecting that undermines biblical authority. Believing the complete text affirms the unity and reliability of God’s Word. (4)
The audience? Believers in Ephesus—a city steeped in pagan worship and commerce, home to the great Temple of Artemis (Acts 19:23–41). The church was a mix of Jews and Gentiles, struggling with unity and identity in Christ.
Predestination and Grace
Ephesians introduces the concept of predestination (Ephesians 1:4–5). Some interpret this to mean we have no choice but to follow Jesus. Others argue that if choice were absent, evangelism would be pointless. This debate has persisted for centuries. It wasn’t until the third century that some began reading this as God eliminating human choice. (2) Yet Scripture is clear: salvation is not by works but by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9).
I can attest to leaning toward predestination. I was an enemy of Christ (Romans 5:10). Not only was I not seeking Him, I argued against His existence. But He had other plans. I now believe He knew before creating the world that I would serve Him (Ephesians 1:4). Does this mean I had no choice?
If grace is a gift, then choice matters. I could have made countless decisions that never led me to Jesus. Praise God that the path He set before me led to the Cross. It could have ended differently—on the side of the road in Monument Valley, Utah, when I rolled my vehicle. I believe God saw that day and this morning in one eternal view. He sees time as a complete picture, while we see it frame by frame (Isaiah 55:8–9).
Idolatry of Self
The Jews believed circumcision guaranteed their place with God (Ephesians 2:11). Yet circumcision is an act of human hands. Like an idol, it places faith in human effort rather than God. Christians fall into similar traps. We begin with faith, but because grace is hard to grasp, we substitute service. Soon, service becomes our identity. This is what I call idolatry of self—serving our own need for significance rather than God’s glory.
Can We Add to the Cross?
What could I add to what Jesus did on the cross? God became man and watched His only Son die the most horrific death (John 3:16). Was that not enough? To think my words or deeds complete His work is arrogance. Salvation is entirely His doing.
One of the best illustrations I’ve heard comes from Greg Boyd (5). He tells of showing a movie clip during a seminar. A student asked when he decided to show it. Boyd replied, “Six months ago.” The student said, “So you predestined me to see it.” Boyd corrected him: “I predestined to show the clip to whoever attended. Your choice to attend sealed the deal.” This analogy captures the tension between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility.
Three Unshakable Truths
In the end, God’s ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). As my pastor says, “I don’t want a God I can completely understand.” If I could, I’d make myself God—and that is idolatry.
Instead, focus on three truths:
- We need salvation because everyone has sinned (Romans 3:23).
- Jesus is the only way to salvation (John 14:6).
- Salvation is by grace through faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8–10). We contribute nothing but the sin that made grace necessary. Yet God saves us so we can do the good works He prepared in advance.
Tomorrow, we will read Ephesians 4-6.
Footnotes:
- Joshua Schachterle, “Who Wrote Ephesians?” Bart Ehrman Blog, March 16, 2025, https://www.bartehrman.com/ephesians/.
- “Evidence for Pauline Authorship of Ephesians,” Evidence Unseen, accessed November 30, 2025, https://www.evidenceunseen.com/bible-difficulties-2/nt-difficulties/ephesians/evidence-for-pauline-authorship-of-ephesians/.
- “Who Wrote the Book of Ephesians?” GotQuestions, accessed November 30, 2025, https://www.gotquestions.org/who-wrote-Ephesians.html.
- Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 1994), 73–78.
- Greg Boyd illustration adapted from:
Greg Boyd, ReKnew Blog, accessed November 29, 2025, https://reknew.org/about/greg-boyd/.