June 9, 2025

Chosen by God: Ephesians 1:1-2

Welcome to Timeless Truth with Pastor Jim Thomas, a weekly Bible study from The Village Chapel in Nashville, Tennessee. In this first episode of our Ephesians series, Pastor Jim sets the foundation for our journey through this powerful letter from the Apostle Paul.

In This Episode:
Learn what it means to be “an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God”, how being “in Christ” shapes your identity and purpose, why grace precedes peace, and how both are gifts, not achievements, the cultural and historical background of Ephesus, and its relevance today.

Structure of Ephesians

Chapters 1–3

• Belief
• Doctrine
• Gospel indicatives
• What Christ has done

Chapters 4–6

• Behavior

• Practice

• Gospel imperatives

• How we respond

Key Themes and Theological Insights:

• “In Christ” appears 13 times in Ephesians—10 of them in chapter 1 alone.

• “In Him” occurs 8 times throughout the letter.

  Together, these highlight the centrality of the believer’s union with Christ.

• The Trinitarian nature of salvation is on display:

  • God the Father: plans, chooses, and calls

  • God the Son: redeems and accomplishes salvation

  • God the Holy Spirit: seals and sanctifies

• Paul (also called Saul) uses both his Hebrew and Latin names, reflecting his Jewish heritage and Roman citizenship.

Historical Contexts of the New Testament:

• Political: Roman

• Cultural: Greek

• Religious: Jewish

Living with Two Addresses:

Paul writes to believers who are both:

1. At Ephesus – in a specific cultural and physical location

2. In Christ Jesus – spiritually united to the risen Christ

Reflective Questions:

• What does it mean for you to be “at” your city?

• What does it mean for your city that you are “in” Christ?