Ephesians 1:15 15On account of this, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love toward all the saints,16I do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
The letter opens with a broad and sweeping statement of the gospel and God’s plan in Jesus Christ. Now Paul personalizes what he has just written and connects it to his prayers for the Ephesians. Many of Paul’s letters start with mention of praying for the churches. He provides a good model for us of sincere faith in what God can do in people’s lives. The letter also ends with prayer as part of the armor of God. The phrase, on account of this, usually shows some type of transition. Here it links the work of the Holy Spirit in vv. 13-14 with what Paul hears about how the Ephesians are growing in their faith. This growth comes when believers listen to the Holy Spirit and respond with deeper and more inclusive faith in Jesus and obedience to the call of the Holy Spirit to live in holiness and love. Paul will take up both of these topics throughout this letter. These are at the heart of his theology and preaching.
Paul has a prayer he never stops giving in behalf of the Ephesians. This prayer is full of thanksgiving because he sees what God is doing in their lives. There are two reasons he mentions here for his thankful prayers, found in a causal participial phrase. First, their faith in the Lord Jesus is solid and growing. This letter serves to strengthen this faith by pointing these believers to the reason for our existence: to be found in Christ–in a new life of holiness and righteousness in the image of God. Second, their love towards all the saints is growing. Faith in Jesus will, by nature, grow into love for other people. The Holy Spirit will take the love of Jesus growing within us, because we are growing in our faith and truth in him, and expand this out to loving other people.
There is a direct link between faith and love. If our love is partial, conditional, or limited, we must examine our faith in Jesus. Are our hearts fully consecrated to him? Are we living in full obedience to what he commands? Have we truly died to the old life and are now living in dependence upon him? This is a great prayer we can make for others. In our praying this for others, we also look within ourselves and hear God speaking to us and calling us to the life of holiness and love.
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