Who is God?
This is a question that separates every faith group, and often even separates people within a faith group - Who is God?
God has been referred to in many ways that are not so kind. Christianity has been called:
just another religion about a fairy god in the sky.
It's easy to just make up what we think "feels" right about who God is and society usually will do that, either to poke fun or to make themselves feel better about what they do or don't believe.
Christians have the privilege of hearing the answer directly from God himself, through his Word. Paul's letter to the Ephesian church is one place we can go to answer this big question.
First, Paul introduces himself to his audience briefly:
Ephesians 1:1-2
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul, an apostle - one sent by God. To the Church of God in Ephesus. Enough introductions. Now, to the main person in this letter... God...
Ephesians 1:3-6
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
Here, Paul tells us three things about God:
1. He is the Father of Jesus.
2. He has blessed us with all we need.
3. He chose us by grace.
All three things are central to the identity of God: who he is, what he has done and how we fit in.
It is a big statement in these verses because just these three facts set apart Christianity as a faith involving a personal relationship with God through Jesus. God is not distant. He has come to us in Jesus and provided our needs.
He knows us and he chose us.
Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians by reminding them that God is personal. Our faith in him is personal. And as we read on we will hear how the results of our faith are personal.
And in this personal relationship, God calls us to be his children, to be holy and blameless in his sight. We are personally called to be devoted to him. That is a privilege and a challenge. The rest of the book, as we move through it over the next month, will challenge and encourage us in our faith to grasp hold of our own identity as we consider the identity of the God who personally calls us to follow him.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We praise you for who you are, for what you have done for us, and for calling us into a personal relationship with you. Help me to live for you today, to be devoted to you today, and to honour you today in all that I say and do.
Amen.