Study in Ephesians

Tuesday, 17 May 2011

Examining the book of Ephesians part 4

Examining the book of Ephesians part 4

Introduction

a. Title

b. Recapitulate: so for we have learned from this Epistle

· That all believers are saints, not a selected few

· All our blessing are in Christ

· Those who are to be saved was decided by God from before the foundation of the world verse 3

· We learned a little of predestination and election which is always God doing it

· We discussed the role of the Trinity in our salvation

· Chosen by the Father. 1:3-6.

· Redeemed by the Son. 1:7-12.

· Sealed by the Holy Spirit. 1:13,14. .

· We learned that Salvation, redemption Justification is not based on what we do but what Jesus did. Verses 7

c. We shall now continue where we left off by reading Eph 1:7-15

I. Abounded Wisdom and prudence, Verse 8.

Dictionary Definitions
Abounded

1. be plentiful: to be present in large numbers or quantities

2. be well supplied: to contain something in large numbers or amounts[1]

Wisdom

1. good sense: the knowledge and experience needed to make sensible decisions and judgments, or the good sense shown by the decisions and judgments made

2. accumulated learning: accumulated knowledge of life or of a particular sphere of activity that has been gained through experience

3. opinion widely held: an opinion that almost everyone seems to share or express

4. sayings: ancient teachings or sayings[2]

a. What does it mean Abounded Wisdom and prudence?

b. In order to understand a verse properly we must look at the context

c. So we see that this verse as to do with salvation

d. Quote from James Fausset, and brown Commentary

Eph 1:8

Rather, “which He made to abound towards us.”

all wisdom and prudence — “wisdom” in devising the plan of redeeming mankind; “prudence” in executing it by the means, and in making all the necessary arrangements of Providence for that purpose. Paul attributes to the Gospel of God’s grace “all” possible “wisdom and prudence,” in opposition to the boasts of wisdom and prudence which the unbelieving Jews and heathen philosophers and false apostles arrogated for their teachings. Christ crucified, though esteemed “foolishness” by the world, is “the wisdom of God” (1Co_1:18-30). Compare Eph_3:10, “the manifold wisdom of God.”

II. Mystery of his will

Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:.

Gain to understand what is meant by the mystery of His will we have to examine the context and not go one some Charismatic fantasy trip.
The mystery that his now revealed has to do with the plan of salvation
Read Calvin
Adam Clark in hi Commentary says.

Eph 1:9

Having made known unto us the mystery - That the Gentiles should ever be received into the Church of God, and have all the privileges of the Jews, without being obliged to submit to circumcision, and perform the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish law was a mystery - a hidden thing which had never been published before; and now revealed only to the apostles. It was God’s will that it should be so, but that will he kept hidden to the present time. A mystery signifies something hidden, but it ceases to be a mystery as soon as it is revealed. See the note on Mat_13:11; and particularly that on Rom_11:25 (note).

Good pleasure - Την ευδοκιαν· That benevolent design which he had purposed in himself, not being induced by any consideration from without.

Compare 1 Eph 1:10 with Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven
This is not teaching Universalism
Verse 11-12 makes it clear what the mystery is

Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

We shall se as we examine the book of Ephesians that the mystery that was made known was the Jews and Gentiles included.
Before Christ went on the Cross the gentile had no hope of salvation

Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

This was not known before

Eph 3:4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,

Eph 3:5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

Eph 3:6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

III. Sealed With The Holy Spirit

a. What does it mean to be sealed with the Holy Spirit

were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. After they were converted, the Holy Spirit was bestowed upon them. It was a "promise" (Act_1:4). The seal was attached to a letter or legal document to authenticate it to the world. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of adoption, was God's authentication to the world that the converts to Christ were accepted as his children. The presence of the new Spirit was shown by a new life exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit (Gal_5:22).

b. This sealing give us Eternal security God has declared us Righteous, declared us to be his sons and daughters and that is sealed by the Holy Spirit and can never be reversed;

Est 8:8 Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption.

c. The amplified Bible says

³⁰And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God's own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin).

Eph 1:14 which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of God's own possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Eph 1:14 (Amplified) That [Spirit] is the guarantee of our inheritance [the firstfruits, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage], in anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring [complete] possession of it--to the praise of His glory.

Examining the book of Ephesians part 3

Introduction

a. Going through Ephesians.

b. Not how quick we read the bible it is how much we have learned., then it is also what we do with what we know

c. In the first fourteen verses of chapter one we see that in salvation we are

Chosen by the Father. 1:3-6.
Redeemed by the Son. 1:7-12.
Sealed by the Holy Spirit. 1:13,14.

d. Every see that every member of the Holy Trinity was active in salvation

e. This week we will be looking at these points

I. Chosen by the Father. 1:3-6

a. we discussed this last week so I will not spend time on this

II. Redeemed in the Son 1:7-12

The word redemption means:

1. improving of something: the saving or improving of something that has declined into a poor state

a. However the sinner is not so much in a poor state. He or she is in a dead hopeless state.

Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Eph 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

· a sinner is a slave to sin

John 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. (ESV)

· everyone is born in sin

Psa 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

a. estranged means To make hostile, unsympathetic, or indifferent; alienate.

Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

· The sinner does not seek God

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

· The sinner cannot understand the things of God

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

· There sinful life style seems right to them

Pro 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

2. redeemed state: the improved state of somebody or something saved from apparently irreversible decline.

a. redemption is not restoration. Jesus does not restore us to what Adam was before he fell.

b. When we are saved we are put in a position where we can never be lost again

3. buying back of something: the buying back of something given, for example to a pawnbroker, as security for a loan

DEFINITION: Redemption – to buy, to buy out, especially of purchasing a slave with a view to his freedom. To release on receipt of ransom. To release by paying a ransom price. (Of Christ’s work -- He redeems us from iniquity, self-will, and bondage to sin.)

a. a man finds a buy that had caught some birds

b. the bible teaches that we have been bought

1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

1Pe 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot

¹⁸You must know (recognize) that you were redeemed (ransomed) from the useless (fruitless) way of living inherited by tradition from [your] forefathers, not with corruptible things [such as] silver and gold,

¹⁹But [you were purchased] with the precious blood of Christ (the Messiah), like that of a [sacrificial] lamb without blemish or spot.

c. We are saved to serve not saved to live as we like.

Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

1Pe 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

5. CHRISTIANITY atonement for human sin: deliverance from the sins of humanity by the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross[1]

2. The price of our redemption

Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

3. We have forgiveness in him (Jesus)

a. It is only through Jesus that we have forgiveness. Had Jesus not shed his blood there could be no redemption. This truth is found all the way through the bible. The writher of Hebrews makes it abundantly clear.

Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Mat 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

No wonder peter decaled in

Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Jesus is not one of many ways he is the only way.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Examining the book of Ephesians part 2

Introduction

a. Recap

b. We have examined the purpose of Ephesians, how the church was established, what I a saint.

I. It is all in Christ

Everything to do with our salvation come from God through Christ and is only found in Christ
Not how many times the Ephesians uses the term in Christ

(Ephesians 1:1 )

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

(Ephesians 1:3 )

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

(Ephesians 1:10 )

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

(Ephesians 1:12 )

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

(Ephesians 2:5-6 )

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

(Ephesians 2:10 )

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

(Ephesians 2:12-13 )

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

11. Chosen, Predestinated, Elected

Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

1. foreordained: decided in advance

2. foreordained by God or a deity: decided and decreed by in advance by God, a deity, or fate[1]

a. Anyone reading the Book of Ephesians with an honest heart cannot fail to believe the sovereignty God in salvation

b. The bible does not teach decisional salvation. Salvation. For Salvation is not man’s choice but God’s

Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

c. Your name was not written in the book of life when you decided to be a Christian it was there from before the foundation of the earth.

Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world

Rev 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

d. All those that were chosen will respond

e. Acts 13:46 notice verse 48

Act 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

f. The word ordained means to decree (an official order)

Joh 6:37-39 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

g. Paul in was chosen verse read Acts 9: form verse 11

Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

h. Jesus only prayed for the elect

Joh 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

(2 Timothy 2:10)

Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Election

2. transitive verb decide to do something: to make a decision to do something

3. transitive verb RELIGION choose somebody for salvation: to choose somebody by divine will for salvation

4. intransitive and transitive verb US choose something: to choose or select something, particularly a subject or course to study at university • He elected French as his main subject.[2]

Some do not like the fact that God as an elect people that he as chosen. But the bible over and over again calls us the elect.

(Matthew 24:22 KJV)

And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

(Matthew 24:24 KJV)

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

(Matthew 24:31 KJV)

And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

(Mark 13:22 KJV)

For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

(Luke 18:7 KJV)

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

(Romans 8:33 KJV)

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

(Colossians 3:12 KJV)

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

(2 Timothy 2:10 KJV)

Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

(Titus 1:1 KJV)

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

(1 Peter 1:2 KJV)

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

In Salvation it is God that chooses, God Elect and God’s Decision

Isa 45:4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

Joh 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

2Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Examining the book of Ephesians part 8

Introduction

a. in our study of Ephesians w have looked at:

How the Church at Ephesus was established
What is a saint?
Predestination
Election
The condition of the sinner?
What saving grace is, why salvation as to me by grace and can never be achieved by works

I. GOD HAS MADE UNITED JEW AND GENTILE INTO ONE NEW PEOPLE (EPHESIANS 2:11-22) read it

a. The term uncircumcised means they had no part of God’s chosen people Read Geneses 17

b. Circumcision was a literal and Jews fulfilled the literal physical requirement of the law by physically being circumcised but there was no change in their behaviour and still walked contrary.

c. Jeremiah called for circumcision of the heart.

Jer 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

d. This actually is what happens to believers that are saved by grace.

Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

e. When you are born again you heard is circumcised and in fact you get a new heart.

Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

2. Gentiles without hope.

Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world

Ephesians 2:11-12 Aplified Bible [Remember] that you were at that time separated (living apart) from Christ [excluded from all part in Him], utterly estranged and outlawed from the rights of Israel as a nation, and strangers with no share in the sacred compacts of the [Messianic] promise [with no knowledge of or right in God's agreements, His covenants]. And you had no hope (no promise); you were in the world without God.

a. Jesus told the woman at the well that salvation was only for the Jews under the Old Testament

John 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

b. .Gentiles were Aliens

c. In Ephesians 2:11-12 the gentiles were regarded as Aliens and strangers.

Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world

Definition of an Alien

2. LAW foreign resident of country: somebody who is a citizen of a country other than the one in which he or she lives or happens to be

3. outsider: somebody who does not belong to, is not accepted in, or does not feel part of a particular group or society[1]

d. The wonderful Conjunction

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

AMPLIFIED BIBLE Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were [so] far away, through (by, in) the blood of Christ have been brought near.

11. Jesus our peace

Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

a. The middle wall

b. Some have said in middle wall is

· The referring of the veil of the Temple

Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

· Others have said the barricade separating the court of the gentile. However that was never removed from the temple while it was standing

· Jesus did more than just remove physical barriers

Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

God’s Word Translation Eph 2:15 He brought an end to the commandments and demands found in Moses' Teachings so that he could take Jewish and non-Jewish people and create one new humanity in himself. So he made peace.

11. Unifying factor is Jesus

Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

a. Jesus alone is what reconciles us

Eph 2:15 He brought an end to the commandments and demands found in Moses' Teachings so that he could take Jewish and non-Jewish people and create one new humanity in himself. So he made peace.

b. The Gospel of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross brings peace to, and between, Jews and Gentiles. The typical Jewish concept of Gentiles was that they were “far away” from God.

c. We are all saved the same way

Eph 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

a. Salvation is the same for both Jews and Gentiles

Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

11. Being built into a temple

(Ephesians 2:21 KJV)

In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

a. Jesus did not only save us from sin but we are saved unto something and being built is a Spiritual temple

(1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV)

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

(1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV)

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?