On Monday 20 July, the UK got another new Prime Minister. One of the criticisms levelled at Keir Starmer was that there was no clearly defined end goal — that he struggled to answer the question, “Where are we trying to head?” And therefore, critics argued, it was difficult to answer the next question: “How are we going to get there?”
Whether or not that criticism was fair is not really the point. But there is a general truth here: if you want to get something done, you need a plan. And if you want your plan to be effective, you need to know where you are heading.
That is why Ephesians is such a wonderful book to begin with. It tells us about God’s plan for his world — and God’s ultimate goal for all things.
1. An Unshakeable Plan
Paul begins by addressing his letter to “the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 1:1). In other words, this letter is written to Christians — to encourage and reassure them about what God is doing.
And what a plan it is.
Unlike our plans, which so often go wrong because we cannot predict the future, God’s plan is certain and unshakeable. It was established before the foundation of the world and stretches forward into eternity.
At the heart of that plan is what Paul describes in verses 9–10:
“Making known to us the mystery of his will… as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him.”
Different people have different ideas about where the world is heading. But the Bible tells us clearly: God’s ultimate goal is to unite all things under Christ.
The world we know is characterised by division — between individuals, families, communities and nations. Yet God’s purpose is to bring everything together under the loving rule of Jesus Christ.
One day, people from every tribe, nation and language will be united around Christ as their supreme ruler and head.
And if we are trusting in Jesus, we are not spectators of this great plan. We are part of it. God has drawn us into what he is doing in his world.
2. An Amazing Blessing
Paul tells us about this plan through an extraordinary burst of praise. Ephesians 1:3–14 is essentially one long sentence in the original, as though Paul can hardly contain his excitement about everything God has done and planned for those who belong to Christ.
He begins:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.”
What are those blessings?
A) Selection
God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world and predestined us for adoption as his children.
This is the astonishing doctrine of election: if you are a Christian, you have been drawn into God’s plan not because you deserved it, but simply because God graciously chose you.
That should not lead to pride or uncertainty, but to humility and praise. God has chosen me!
B) Salvation
Paul says that “in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
Redemption was familiar language in the ancient world, particularly in the slave market. To redeem was to buy someone back.
Paul uses this powerful picture to describe what Jesus has done. We were enslaved to sin, but Christ paid the price to set us free. And the price was his own blood.
The result is forgiveness and adoption. We are not merely rescued from slavery; we are brought into God’s family as his children.
C) Security
Paul goes on to say that believers “were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance” (Ephesians 1:13–14).
The Holy Spirit marks us out as belonging to God. We are his. He is the guarantee that the blessings we begin to experience now will one day be ours in their fullness.
God’s plan for us began in eternity past when he chose us, was enacted in history when Christ paid the price for us, and stretches into an eternally secure future.
D) Strategy
Perhaps most amazingly, God has told us what he is doing. He has made known to us “the mystery of his will”(Ephesians 1:9).
We are not in the dark about where history is heading. God has revealed his great rescue plan and drawn us into it.
As Ephesians unfolds, we will see that the church sits right at the heart of that plan, and that being part of God’s new society changes the way we relate to God, one another and the world.
For now, there are two simple things to take away: be aware and be thankful.
Be aware of what God has drawn you into. The church is not irrelevant or past its usefulness. It is God’s new community, right at the heart of his plan for the universe.
And be thankful. Your spiritual account is abundantly full — and every blessing has been credited through Christ.
So, with Paul, we can say:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing.”
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