Who, why and where – Ephesians 1:1-2

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

Note here how Paul understands some key points in life that enable him to communicate the grace and peace of God to people.

He starts by using his own name to open the letter.
He’s happy with who he is…  He’s not shy to introduce himself… Hi! Im Paul.

Knowing who you are is the beginning of being able to communicate God to others. Jesus always values the individual, and uses our own uniqueness to show His wholeness.

But Paul also knows his own words come with authority that is gained by his position in Christ.

An apostle of Christ Jesus… So it’s not just Paul speaking, but its Paul in Christ, sent by Christ, speaking from a position that God Himself has set.

Knowing who we are through Christ is important. From that understanding we gain confidence. We can’t really understand to whom we’re called to speak until we understand in what capacity we’re speaking (as a leader, or friend, or colleague, or believer). Different relationships will empower us to speak at different levels, so knowing what authority we have to speak will help us communicate God’s message in the appropriate way.

To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus… The authority we have opens doors into certain areas and groups or individuals. Paul addresses two groups… the Ephesian church, a church he has nurtured and all people found in Christ.  He earned the right to address the Ephesians through his work with them, and to address all in Christ through his calling.

It’s always a good idea for us to think through what we might say to those in our lives. Thinking about how we communicate God in an appropriate way will help us be wise in life. What is our authority to speak to our peers, or boss, or family? Get that right and the message will become easier for those people to hear because they will understand where we’re coming from.

He finishes his opening by delivering a message that opens the hearts of his readers.  Grace to you and peace from God… Who we are, our authority, who we speak to is meaningless unless we bring hope. The message is hope, good news, life.