These are my notes for the third session of Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group's study of the New Testament book of Ephesians.
This is a letter written by the Apostle Paul believed to not be designed for just one congregation, but intended to be passed around to several churches in the area surrounding Ephesus. The epistle itself is in the form of a general document dealing with a particular or in this case several subjects rather than as a letter written to a specific church. For example, there are no specific exhortations or personal greetings, as with most of Paul’s letters.
Unlike other epistles written to specific churches, this epistle does not deal with specific problems in a local congregation. Instead, Paul addressed great themes that pertain to the Christian's position in Christ, as a member of the body of Christ, the church.
This letter to the church at Ephesus encourages, admonishes and teaches believers even today of God’s plan for His church. Paul offers so much information in these six chapters. When you read and study this book you can understand that the Holy Spirit gives the believer what they need to be saved, holy and God-honoring.
In this session we look what Paul tell us about the believer's position in Christ and his discussion on the mystery that Jews and Gentiles (in other words everybody) would become one body through faith in Jesus Christ.
This is a letter written by the Apostle Paul believed to not be designed for just one congregation, but intended to be passed around to several churches in the area surrounding Ephesus. The epistle itself is in the form of a general document dealing with a particular or in this case several subjects rather than as a letter written to a specific church. For example, there are no specific exhortations or personal greetings, as with most of Paul’s letters.
Unlike other epistles written to specific churches, this epistle does not deal with specific problems in a local congregation. Instead, Paul addressed great themes that pertain to the Christian's position in Christ, as a member of the body of Christ, the church.
This letter to the church at Ephesus encourages, admonishes and teaches believers even today of God’s plan for His church. Paul offers so much information in these six chapters. When you read and study this book you can understand that the Holy Spirit gives the believer what they need to be saved, holy and God-honoring.
In this session we look what Paul tell us about the believer's position in Christ and his discussion on the mystery that Jews and Gentiles (in other words everybody) would become one body through faith in Jesus Christ.
This letter to the church at Ephesus encourages, admonishes and teaches believers even today of God’s plan for His church. Paul offers so much information in these six chapters. When you read and study this book you can understand that the Holy Spirit gives the believer what they need to be saved, holy and God-honoring.
Ephesians emphasizes the truth that the Church is the body of which Christ is the Head. There is no higher point of revelation than is reached in this epistle which shows the believer as seated with Christ in the heavenlies and exhorts him to live in accordance with this high calling. Actually the epistle falls into two main parts of three chapters each. In Eph 1-3 the apostle tells believers what they are in Christ; In Eph 4-6 he tells them what they are to do because they are in Christ. It has often been suggested that the contents of the epistle can be summarized by the three words sitting, walking, and standing.
By position, the believer is seated with Christ in the heavenlies
Ephesians 2:6 (NLT2)6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.
Our responsibility is to walk worthy of our calling
Ephesians 4:1 (NLT2)1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
This walk is further seen as a warfare in which you take a stand.
Ephesians 6:11 (NLT2)11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
We talked about Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians in which he prayed that they would understand the significance of their being made a part of God’s family through Christ and that because of the relationship that they and we have with Christ we are seated with Him in heavenly places.
Chapter 2
Last week as we started in chapter 2 we said that our objectives in studying this chapter were to.
1) To consider the riches of God's grace toward sinners, how we are saved by grace through faith
2) To understand the Gentiles' condition outside of Christ, the effect Jesus' death had on the Law, and what Gentiles can now become in Christ.
What we talked about last week was our condition outside of Christ.
We were dead and slaves to sin.
Paul reminds them of how they had been dead in sin.
OUR CONDITION OUTSIDE OF CHRIST (1-3)
Ephesians 2:1-3 NLT Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
But made alive together with Christ and made to sit together with Christ in the heavenly places, so that God might show even more riches of His grace in the ages to come.
MADE ALIVE TOGETHER WITH CHRIST (4-10)
Ephesians 2:4-10 NLT But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
All this God did by His love, grace, and mercy. While it involved their faith, it did not involve any works whereby one could boast.
The end result is that they have been created in Christ to walk in good works, as God planned beforehand.
These good works are the result of the seed of the fruit of the Spirit sowed in you at salvation.
Paul also wants us to remember how far they have come as Gentiles, courtesy of Jesus Christ. Once strangers from the promises made to Israel and without God in the world, they can now draw near through the blood of Jesus.
THE GENTILE'S' CONDITION "THROUGH" CHRIST (13-18)
Ephesians 2:11-18 NLT Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
By His death on the cross Jesus abolished the law of commandments which separated Jews and Gentiles, and has reconciled them both to God in one body
The Gentiles can therefore be fellow-citizens and members of God's family; they are also part of that grand temple being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus as the cornerstone, in which they serve as a habitation of God in the Spirit.
Today we want to finish chapter 2 by looking at our condition in Christ
Ephesians 2:19-22 NLT So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
Chapter 3
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
To understand the "mystery" so long hidden that is now revealed, and the role of the church
To examine Paul's prayer for the Ephesians' enablement, what it means for us today
SUMMARY
In this chapter Paul reminds his readers of God's grace that has been shown to him regarding the revelation of the "mystery. By reading what he had written earlier, they would understand how the "mystery'' pertained to Gentiles becoming fellow heirs in Christ, and Paul felt privileged to preach among the Gentiles what for ages had been hidden. Knowing that what he did was part of God's eternal purpose in Christ to make His manifold wisdom known by the church, he asked his brethren not to be discouraged by any tribulations he experienced on their behalf (1-13).
The chapter also contains Paul's second prayer for the Ephesians. He prays for their enablement, that the Father would strengthen them by His Spirit, that Christ might dwell in their hearts through faith, that they be able to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, and so be filled with all the fullness of God. He concludes his prayer and this chapter by ascribing that glory be given to God in the church by Jesus Christ for all eternity (14-21).
A MYSTERY ONCE HIDDEN, NOW REVEALED (1-7)
Ephesians 3:1-7 NLT When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles . . . assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets. And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.
Paul starts this part of his letter by mentioning God's grace (1-2)
Ephesians 3:1-2 NLT When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles . . . assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles.
A measure of grace given to him
We talk about grace all the time but do we really know what grace is and in particular God's grace? The Greek word that Paul uses for grace is charis. Charis which is where we get our English word charity. So grace itself is a gift in the context that Paul uses it in Ephesians it is the power and equipment for ministry.
Given for the benefit of his readers.
So that he could deliver the revelation that God had given him which had beforehand been a mystery.
That by revelation God made known to Paul the "mystery"
Ephesians 3:3-7 NLT As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets. And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.
Concerning which he wrote previously
Which as they read, they will understand his knowledge in the mystery of Christ.
Ephesians 1:9-10 NLTGod has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.
Verses 9-10 God lets us know ‘his secret plan that Christ would complete’. He makes it possible for us to understand this. But he did not show his plan before Jesus came.
God’s plan was that Jesus Christ will be the head (or ruler) of the whole universe (heaven and earth). God arranges the time of all things. He does this in perfect wisdom. God has fixed all the ages and seasons. He has decided when they will end. God is now working out his plan (that Christ will rule the whole universe). His plan is working all the time. One day God will complete it. History is ‘his story’.
The mystery is not that the Gentiles will be saved. There are many instances in the Old Testament about salvation of the Gentiles, especially in Isaiah. The mystery is that they should be joined with Jews in one body, the church.
Isaiah 42:4 NLT He will not falter or lose heart until justice prevails throughout the earth. Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction. ”
Isaiah 49:6 NLT He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
Isaiah 56:3-6 NLT “Don’t let foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord say, ‘The Lord will never let me be part of his people.’ And don’t let the eunuchs say, ‘I’m a dried-up tree with no children and no future.’ For this is what the Lord says: I will bless those eunuchs who keep my Sabbath days holy and who choose to do what pleases me and commit their lives to me. I will give them—within the walls of my house— a memorial and a name far greater than sons and daughters could give. For the name I give them is an everlasting one. It will never disappear! “I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord , who serve him and love his name, who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest, and who hold fast to my covenant.
Zechariah 2:11 NLTMany nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day, and they, too, will be my people. I will live among you, and you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me to you.
In other ages it was not made known to men
But has now been revealed
By the Spirit
To God's holy apostles and prophets
The "mystery" involved the Gentiles.
That they should be fellow heirs, of the same body
That they should be partakers of God's promise through the gospel
Paul's role as a minister of this "mystery" was a gift from God. The word Paul uses for minister is deacon or servant.
A gift of God's grace
A gift given to him by the effective working of God's power
PAUL'S TASK AS A MINISTER OF THIS "MYSTERY"
Ephesians 3:8-13 NLT Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.
Even though he was "less than the least of all the saints"
Yet this grace was given to him
To make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery.
Which from the beginning was hidden in God who created all things
But with the intention of now making God's wisdom known by the church
Made known to principalities and powers in heavenly places
God’s purpose for the mystery of the church is to enlighten and inform everyone, everywhere, to make known the wisdom of God.
Ephesians 6:12 NLT For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
According to God's eternal purpose which He fulfilled in Christ Jesus because of this we can have boldness and confident access through faith in Him (In Christ)
Paul does not want them to lose heart over his tribulations in their behalf,
RSS Feed