Bible Truth #211 - Ephesians 1:1

Ephesians 1:1

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Paul, an apostle by the will of God. Did Paul become an apostle of Jesus by his will? Did Paul become an apostle of Jesus by his decision? Did Paul become an apostle of Jesus by his choice? No, NO and NO!

If you need to be reminded of Paul’s conversion, please read Acts 9:1-9. Do you think that Paul “fell” to the ground? Or do you think he was thrown (thrust) to the ground? Do you think that he had a choice about his conversion? Saul was converted by GOD’S WILL, as verse one above clearly says. Because He is sovereign, what God wants, He gets.

As another point, please also pay attention to the recipients of the letter. Was Paul writing to the lost? Was Paul writing to every resident of Ephesus? Of course not. He was writing to the “saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus.”

Bottom Line - It was God’s Will that Paul was converted and became an apostle of Jesus Christ, NOT his will. We become children of God NOT by the will of the flesh (John 1:13).