1. From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am an apostle because that is what God wanted.To God’s holy people living in Ephesus, believers in Christ Jesus.
2. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in heaven.
4. In Christ, he chose us before the world was made. In his love he chose us to be his holy people—people without blame before him.
5. And before the world was made, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. That was what he wanted and what pleased him.
6. This brings praise to God because of his wonderful grace. God gave that grace to us freely, in Christ, the One he loves.
7. In Christ we are set free by the blood of his death. And so we have forgiveness of sins because of God’s rich grace.
8. God gave us that grace fully and freely. God, with full wisdom and understanding,
9. let us know his secret purpose. This was what God wanted, and he planned to do it through Christ.