Ephesians 1
Use this to learn a point or a few, then build your lesson on that. You may not have to use everything in here. Take what is helpful (:
May the Lord of all grace give you wisdom and revelation to reveal the Scriptures to you, in the knowledge and understanding of Him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,
There is alignment with the will of God here, and it is clear that Paul knows and understands his place and role in the kingdom of God. Do you?
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
See here the unity of believers in that 1) God is our Father, and Jesus Christ is our Lord, and 2) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing, and Paul continues to use this collective pronoun (us, our, we), also showing us that, in this subject matter of the saints being “blessed with every spiritual blessing”, what is true for one believer, is true for every other.
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
The ultimate purpose and result of His choosing us in Christ, is that we be holy, and be able to stand before the Holy God of heaven Himself and be found blameless. (cf 2 Peter 1:2-4 “…that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature”.) Amazingly, He desires for us to be holy because He loves us.
5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself,
Only having been adopted as sons and given the right to be called children of God (John 1:12) that we may call and address God as our Father (v2) because we are in Christ who is the only begotten Son of God (v3) and are called co-heirs with Him.
according to the good pleasure of His will,
It pleased God to choose us and adopt us. See where the Father’s heart and soul lies – in love with us! This phrase is the first of several repetitions of the same type.
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
This is the first of several repetitions of the phrase “to the praise of the (God’s) glory”. We shall see and understand more with each word. For this particular instance, it is the grace of God in Jesus Christ in making us “accepted in the Beloved” (see Matthew 3:17) that is revealed, seen and praised.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
It might be interesting to note that the sufficiency of His grace toward us is directly linked to the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice, and because His sacrifice is perfect, His grace is always sufficient. Truly, how rich we are in Christ!
8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
He made His grace abound to us. See Hebrews 2:16
9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.
Compare Ephesians 1 with Colossians 1, particularly verses 19-22.
See the fullness and vastness of the redemption of Christ. He reconciles “all things to Himself, whether things on earth, or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” The redemption plan of God seems to be much bigger than ourselves, than the individual’s salvation. Are we asking, “What is God’s will for my life,” or, “Which part of God’s will do I fit in?”
11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
Note, only children – legitimate children – have an inheritance. Compare v5.
We see how the Lord moves and works and reveals, predestines, redeems and makes known, in accordance to His good pleasure, His counsel, His will, in love (v3), in grace (v7), in power (v19). See that we can trust in the Lord, for He is utterly consistent with Himself; He always acts according to every one of His attributes, and therefore always acts in goodness, in righteousness, in justice, in mercy, in love, in kindness, in wisdom, in sovereignty. In short, He is holy. He is also immutable, and in this Rock we may put our faith and not be proven foolish.
12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
Not only that we should be found singing His praises, but that we ourselves are a testimony to His glory, such that others are caused to praise Him too.
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Faith comes by hearing, and having put your faith in Christ, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit.
4972 sphragízō (from 4973 /sphragís, "a seal") – properly, to seal (affix) with a signet ring or other instrument to stamp (a roller or seal), i.e. to attest ownership, authorizing (validating) what is sealed.
4972 /sphragízō ("to seal") signifies ownership and the full security carried by the backing (full authority) of the owner. "Sealing" in the ancient world served as a "legal signature" which guaranteed the promise (contents) of what was sealed.
URL: http://biblehub.com/greek/4972.htm
The presence of the Holy Spirit indicates those that are His.
The Spirit is called the Spirit of promise, presumably because Jesus promised the coming of the Spirit (John 14). It is therefore interesting that the Spirit, coming on the believer and therefore being the promise fulfilled, is then called “the guarantee of our inheritance.” It seems like a promise within a promise! It would certainly not be outside of God’s character and desire to reassure His people in this manner (compare Hebrews 6:13-18). Therefore, believer, do not doubt, but believe, for not a word of God will fall to the ground.
What is our inheritance? I think, at least in part, it is the “redemption of the purchased possession.”
Compare with Romans 8.
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren
30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Colossians 1
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Galatians 5
5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
We live not for what is temporary, but what is eternal. Knowing that there will come the day that we must all stand before God and give account for every word, thought and deed, we who are in the Spirit and who live according to the Spirit have the hope – the blessed assurance in the fulfilment of every one of God’s promises – that we shall be found righteous in Christ, glorified together with Him, our bodies redeemed, and the children of God revealed. This is the inheritance of the saints.
“And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. … Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6: 14, 19-20)
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this word, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Are you living your life with your eyes fixed on what is unseen and eternal, or are you still in your carnal mind? (2 Corinthians 4:13-18)
When Christ is revealed in us, God is glorified, both now and in that final day.
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
Your faith in Jesus should be practically worked out and seen in your love for the saints – the first and second commandments. “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.” (Galatians 5:6)
16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
Compare with v3. See whence all blessings flow, even the throne room of God Most High, Jesus Christ in the heavenly places.
21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
Compare Romans 8:38-39. There is no stopping God, nor His love, nor His power, nor His blessings, for they come directly from heaven above, and because Christ lives evermore and intercedes for us with the wounds upon His hands and feet.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
The negative expression of the previous verse; Christ is above, and all things are under. Heaven is His throne, and the earth is His footstool (Matthew 5:34-35). Compare Psalm 8 and Genesis 3:15.
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Compare Ephesians 3:19, 4:8-10.
“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” (Colossians 2:8-10)
Done by: Elvira Tan
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