<p>Ephesians 1:1-2</p><p><span> </span></p><p>Verse 1: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus and the faithful in Christ Jesus:”</p><p><span> </span></p><p>Ephesians 1:1-2</p><p>Verse 1: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus and the faithful in Christ Jesus:”</p><p>Paul's name comes first. This is a characteristic of Greek, where important words come first. Paul comes out as an apostle (apostolos).</p><p>It's a great pride.</p><p>It's a great blessing to be able to proclaim, "I am the servant of the Lord."</p><p>God's will is eternal life, and through him, he became an apostle of Jesus Christ.</p><p>Paul is an apostle of Jesus Christ and belongs to Christ.</p><p>This is like his identification.</p><p>He is an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, possessing a completely different identity from the reality of what seminary he graduated from or where he was ordained.</p><p>An apostle of Christ is a person who carries Jesus Christ and is like a messenger who preaches the gospel of eternal life and gives eternal life.</p><p>This is God's will.</p><p><span> </span></p><p>And the definition of the church must be clearly defined in Ephesians.</p><p>The current saints (hagiois) in Ephesus (en), that is, the holy ones, and the faithful in Christ Jesus (pistois), that is, those with faith in Jesus Christ, are the members of the church.</p><p>Church attendance has nothing to do with it.</p><p>The church belongs to the holy ones (hagiois), regardless of where it is located.</p><p>In Ephesus, there are both worldly people and those who have become saints through faith.</p><p>The book of Ephesians is a letter addressed to the church in Ephesus, to those who have become saints through faith.</p><p>Therefore, you must verify that you are the correct addressee and recipient of this letter.</p><p>Jesus Christ said that He is the gate for the sheep, meaning that those who should enter will enter, and those who should not enter will not.</p><p>The gate means that only those who should enter can enter, and those who should not enter will not.</p><p><span> </span></p><p>Verse 2: “Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”</p><p>Verse 2: “Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”</p><p>Grace is given as a gift from God. Receiving grace now is a completely different thing.</p><p>Some even say we worship to receive grace.</p><p>If you are a pastor, you cannot help but mercilessly declare yourself ignorant of God's grace.</p><p>God gives us His only Son, Christ.</p><p>All the spiritual graces we desire are included in eternal life.</p><p>Peace is given when we are joined (eirene) with God through Jesus Christ.</p><p>Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).</p><p>Just as happiness cannot be defined, peace is a feeling experienced in a specific state. Peace is the blessing we receive when we become one with God in Christ.</p><p>When Christ dwells in us, we obtain righteousness and are reconciled to God through that righteousness, and peace comes to us. Therefore, Christ is the King of righteousness and peace.</p><p>Therefore, we say we have peace through the grace God has given us.</p><p>When the Holy Spirit of truth comes, a new covenant is established, and only then can we have the peace that the world cannot obtain.</p><p><span> </span></p><p>Romans 8:32 says, "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"</p><p>When we receive the Son and make him Lord, peace comes (Romans 14:17).</p><p>When righteousness is revealed, the Holy Spirit works, and peace comes as we abide in the Son and the Father in the anointing of the Holy Spirit.</p><p>Grace is the beginning of blessing, and peace is its result.</p><p>In fact, grace is not received through worship, but rather, those who have received grace serve God through truth  in the Holy Spirit.</p><p>That's why Westerners call Sunday worship "Sunday Service."</p><p>Just as peace comes to our hearts when we complete a task, when we resolve our sins and become one with God through truth, peace and rest will come.</p><p>The peace called "Shalom" is the same as the word "Solomon."</p><p>Under Solomon, the territory of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, as God had promised to Abraham, was completed.</p><p>So, the name Solomon means peace, signifying the end.</p><p>Israel is the name of the nation, the people are Jews, and the capital is Jerusalem.</p><p>It means the city prepared for peace. However, because they still do not receive Christ, the King of peace, it remains only a name, and it continues to grieve the Lord, both then and now.</p><p><span> </span></p><p>In Matthew 10, the Lord said, "When you enter a house, pray for peace."</p><p>This means we are to pray for peace to those worthy of grace.</p><p>We are to pray for the blessing of Jesus Christ, whether they will accept him or not.</p><p>This is because he is God's blessing.</p><p>He is the source of blessing and the pipe of that blessing.</p><p>Many do not directly aim at Christ, the blessing, but rather teach that we should embrace His things as blessings and live well by receiving those blessings.</p><p>This is no longer a church that holds the mystery of Christ, but a synagogue where people gather.</p><p>Paul, who belonged to Jesus Christ, testified of Jesus Christ wherever he went.</p><p>Paul always preached grace and peace.</p><p>This is God's will.</p><p>Everywhere, sanctified saints and those of faith in Christ receive this blessing.</p><p><span> </span></p><p>Written by Ptr. Yohan Kim.</p><p>Translated by  Nancy Chung</p><p><span> </span></p><p>COME AND SEE WORLD MISSION</p><p><span> </span></p><p>TO GOD BE THE GLORY</p>
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