Charles Spurgeon Commentary Ephesians 1

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

He was not made an apostle by man, neither did he take the office upon himself, but he was made an apostle by the will of God.

To the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 1:1)

The saints in Ephesus, the saints where they cried, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians," had to bear an earnest witness against idolatry. And, dear friends, today saints in London will not have a very easy time of it if they are faithful to their Lord, for there is much to protest against in this evil generation; but as there were holy ones in Ephesus, God grant that there may be many such in London.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father,

There must be grace first; peace comes afterwards. They seek heavenly blessings in the wrong order who try to gain peace first, and then grace.

There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked; and one who has a peace that does not acknowledge grace as its parent has a false peace—a peace where there is no peace.

But let us first have grace in our souls, then our peace shall be as a river, and our righteousness as the waves of the sea.

Note here, as Luther has said on a corresponding verse in the Epistle to the Galatians, the apostle says, Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father; and lest that awe-inspiring name should frighten us, he has also joined with it the name of God the Son, and sweetly put in

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

The apostle desires just the same blessing for us, who are the faithful in Christ Jesus, as he did for the saints at Ephesus. He longs that we also may be filled with grace and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. And the wish of the apostle is according to the will of God, who would have us abound in grace and in peace. Some of you Christian people are troubled in mind, yet your Lord said to his disciples and through them to you, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.... Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Jesus knew that, in the world, you should have tribulation; but he willed that, in him, you should have peace; and the way to get that peace is by getting grace.

Grace be to you, and peace. The more gracious you are, the more easily will you bear the trying circumstances which surround you.

Look not for peace apart from grace; but when you have grace, you have a right to peace.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

That is a sort of crossing of the Jordan to go into the land and get grace and peace. Grace changes us, peace quiets us, and then we are over Jordan.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Brethren and sisters in Christ, this is a benediction for you as well as for the saints at Ephesus; it is for all the faithful in Christ Jesus. May you all have grace without measure, and may you all have the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, to keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus! Grace and peace are both to be had by believing in Jesus.