Ephesians 1:1-23 CEB

[1] From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will. To the holy and faithful people in Christ Jesus in Ephesus. [2] Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. [3] Bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing that comes from heaven. [4] God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless in God’s presence before the creation of the world. [5] God destined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ because of his love. This was according to his goodwill and plan [6] and to honor his glorious grace that he has given to us freely through the Son whom he loves. [7] We have been ransomed through his Son’s blood, and we have forgiveness for our failures based on his overflowing grace, [8] which he poured over us with wisdom and understanding. [9] God revealed his hidden design to us, which is according to his goodwill and the plan that he intended to accomplish through his Son. [10] This is what God planned for the climax of all times: to bring all things together in Christ, the things in heaven along with the things on earth. [11] We have also received an inheritance in Christ. We were destined by the plan of God, who accomplishes everything according to his design. [12] We are called to be an honor to God’s glory because we were the first to hope in Christ. [13] You too heard the word of truth in Christ, which is the good news of your salvation. You were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit because you believed in Christ. [14] The Holy Spirit is the down payment on our inheritance, which is applied toward our redemption as God’s own people, resulting in the honor of God’s glory. [15] Since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, this is the reason that [16] I don’t stop giving thanks to God for you when I remember you in my prayers. [17] I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation that makes God known to you. [18] I pray that the eyes of your heart will have enough light to see what is the hope of God’s call, what is the richness of God’s glorious inheritance among believers, [19] and what is the overwhelming greatness of God’s power that is working among us believers. This power is conferred by the energy of God’s powerful strength. [20] God’s power was at work in Christ when God raised him from the dead and sat him at God’s right side in the heavens, [21] far above every ruler and authority and power and angelic power, any power that might be named not only now but in the future. [22] God put everything under Christ’s feet and made him head of everything in the church, [23] which is his body. His body, the church, is the fullness of Christ, who fills everything in every way.