STUDIES IN EPHESIANS

LESSON 1 Ephesians 1:1-23

"GOD'S PURPOSE IN CHRIST"

1. SALUTATION - Vs 1-2

2. SALVATION - Vs 3-14

3. STANDING - Vs 15-23

1. SALUTATION: Vs 1-2

A. God's People: Vs 1

1. "Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ"-

Although some liberal critics may disagree, it certainly seems fitting that Paul should write this epistle. Unless of course, some writer was more Pauline than Paul himself.

Paul regards himself, and was recognized by the other apostles, as "an apostle of Jesus Christ."

Following his conversion on the Damascus Road, Paul was ever a special messenger of Jesus Christ.

2. "By the will of God"- It was Christ himself, who intervened in the life of Saul of Tarsus; on his way to persecute Christians, he became one himself.

Many today like to play the Arminian game of free-will, but Paul no doubt gave the credit to Him whom it is due. It is not the will of man, but the will of a sovereign God. (John 1:13.)

3. "to the saints which are at Ephesus"-

The word saints, does not refer to super-holy ones with a halo on their heads. It's simple New Testament meaning, is "holy ones", "separated ones". Those separated from the world unto Christ. All "born again" Christians are saints. These are local church saints, at Ephesus.

It may be that this letter was circulated among many churches in Asia, therefore leaving a blank spot where the word Ephesus is, in order to put in the name of the church it would go to.

At any rate, this epistle is written first, to local churches.

4. "and to the faithful in Christ Jesus"-

These are not two separate groups. It should better read, "to the saints which are at Ephesus, who are faithful in Christ Jesus."

Paul's greeting is to faithful Christian Church members who are separated unto Christ.

B. God's Grace: Vs 2

1. "Grace be to you"-

Paul's greetings are always filled with the blessing of grace. The Christian has been the recipient of God's sovereign (grace) unmerited favor.

2. "Peace"-

The Hebrew word is “shalom” and is a common Jewish greeting. The peace of Christ is bestowed upon those who follow Him. (John 14:27; 16:33; 20:19.)

3. "From God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."

The word "from" is in italics meaning it was not in the original. The peace of God and the peace of Christ is one and the same thing.

2. SALVATION: Vs 3-14

A. Personal Blessing: Vs 3

1. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Paul here indicates the deity of Christ. He offers honor to both the Father and the Son.

Jesus always referred to God as "His Father."

2. "who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings"-

God has given "us" the elect children, all spiritual blessings. Such blessings are for the people of God, and all spiritual blessings proceed from God through Christ.

Those who seek spiritual blessing in places other than Christ will come up empty handed. Those outside of Christ are spiritually dead, and unless made alive by the work of sovereign grace, they will remain empty and dead. Spiritual blessings are in Christ, and Him alone.

3. "In heavenly places in Christ"-

Literally, "in the heavenlies" as Dr. Ironside so ably put it.

Do we realize the depths that Christ brought us up from? Saved, from the dens of iniquity to a new standing in heavenly places or things.

B. Predestined: Vs 4-6

1. We see here the time of God's choosing.

"According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world."- Vs 4.

The word "foundation" is (Gr. katabole,) meaning "before conception as in Hebrews 11:11 where the same Greek word is used.

2. "that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love."-

God pre-determined that the ones He chose, the elect, should be set apart as holy (separated ones.) Without blame or seen by Him as blameless and in service before Him.

3. "having predestinated us"- Vs 5

Predestinated- (Gr. Proorizo) - determine.

"marking out beforehand"- New Jerusalem Bible.

"Proorizo"- This verb is to be distinguished from "proginosko", to foreknow; the latter has special reference to that to which the subjects of His foreknowledge are predestinated.

"foreknow"- (Gr. Proginosko) - to know before- Romans 8:29.

"Foreknowledge"- Gr. prognosis- Used in Scripture only of Divine foreknowledge to show the actual purposes of God. Galatians 1:16; Eph. 1:5,11; cf Acts 15:18.

"foreordained"- (Gr. Proginosko) - cf 1 Peter 1:20.

"The basis of God's foreknowledge of all things that come to pass in His own purpose. God could not have known that a thing would come to pass unless it had been certain to come to pass. God's eternal immutable purpose is the only Scriptural basis for the certainty of future events" –

(Thomas Paul Simmons, "A Systematic Study of Bible Doctrine"- Page 69.)

"Whence is God's knowledge of the futurity of any event, except from the knowledge of His purpose to cause or permit them to come to pass"-

(J.P. Boyce- "Abstract of Systematic Theology."

"God's foreknowledge rests on His determinate counsel"-

(J.R. Graves, "The Seven Dispensations-Page 100.")

Cf 1 Corinthians 2:7- foreordain or appoint beforehand (Thayer). Cf Romans 8:29.

"of God decreeing from eternity"- (Thayer.)

Some restrict God's foreknowledge to mean "His knowledge of what will happen or who will be saved in future." This concept is not Scriptural, for although God knows everyone who will ever be saved, His knowledge is not based upon this, but upon His eternal purpose which He decreed"- cf Eph. 1:5,11; Acts 2:23; Acts 13:48.

Predestination is, "according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will."

Cf Romans 8:28-29-

1. Called according to His purpose- vs 28.

2. Foreknowledge

3. Predestinate

4. Called-- etc.

Cf Acts 2:23; 4:27-28; 13:48; Romans 9:15-18; Psalm 135:6; Isaiah 46:10; Daniel 4:35.

God's foreknowledge then rests upon foreordination (God's decree.)

‘’Foreknowledge implies fixity, and fixity implies decrees- From eternity God foresaw all the events of the universe as fixed and certain. This fixity and certainty could not have had its ground either in blind fate or in the variable wills of men, since neither of these had an existence. It could have had its ground in nothing outside the Divine mind, for in the unity nothing existed besides the

· Divine mind. But for this fixity there must have been a cause; if anything in the future is fixed, something must have fixed it. This fixity could have had its ground only in the plan and purpose of God. In fine, if God foresaw the future as certain, it must have been because there was something in Himself which made it certain, or, in other words, because He decreed it."-

· (Dr. A.H. Strong Systematic Theology-Page 356.)

· 2. "unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself"- vs 5

Predestination is always unto something fixed. Here it is "unto the adoption of children." The word adoption as used here is not the same as we use in modern English to legally adopt a child and be come parents. The meaning here is "the placing as sons".

The sinner does not become a child of God by adoption, but rather, by the new birth (John 1:12; 3:3.)

The saved sinner is justified, sanctified and placed as a son in the family of God. While this was determined in eternity, it happens in time. It is God's plan to accomplish this through His Son, Jesus Christ.

C. Particular Redemption: Vs 7-10

· 1. "In whom we have redemption through His blood..."- Vs 7

Only the elect, are said to be redeemed. Only those who trust in

Jesus Christ, accepting His vicarious death and blood atonement for

their sins are saved. It is ridiculous to think of universal atonement any more

than universal redemption. While salvation is very much a practical

act, it is also very much a legal act. Christ did not waste His blood on

any who would never believe. His atonement is limited to those

who are elect from the foundation of the world. To those who are

believers, trusting from the heart in Christ's redeeming blood.

Redemption is particular, it is "we" who have been predestined, called and

who trust in Christ. The Holy Spirit calls, and brings sinners to Christ through the blood of Jesus Christ. Again, it is a legal act whereby the one redeemed, in trusting Christ is justified freely from all that by which he could never be justified under the law. Therefore, our eternal security rests foursquare upon the doctrines of predestination and election. Without predestination and election, the doctrine of eternal security is seriously weakened. Then Paul also says, "we have", present tense. Not, we will have, might have, or should have. We HAVE, redemption, because we are first God's elect, and secondly we have trusted in the blood of Christ.

"What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus." The liberal who denies or plays down the blood of Jesus, as a "bloody religion", undermines the foundation of the doctrine of salvation, and justification by faith. Take the blood out of the Bible, and you render its message useless. Well did the writer to the Hebrews write, "for without the shedding of blood there is no remission"- (Hebrews 9:22.) Blood is a symbol of cleansing from sin all the way through the Bible. In Genesis 3:21, blood must have been shed for the skins that covered Adam and Eve. The blood of bulls and lambs was shed for the covering of sins on a yearly basis under the Old Covenant. The blood of Christ was not really for an atonement (covering), but for remission, the payment in full, or taking away of the penalty of sin.

"the forgiveness of sins"-

Remission brings forgiveness. See Acts 2:38 where some translations use the word forgiveness in place of the word remission. A debt forgiven is a debt remitted or paid for.

There is no forgiveness of our sins apart from repentance and the blood of Jesus Christ.

"according to the riches of His grace"-

The riches and generosity of His gracious favor is the basis of God's forgiveness. Oh how foolish the one who thinks that because of some good deed well done, they deserve salvation, and ought to go to heaven as a result. My friend, if we got what we deserve, we would all be in hell right now! No act of man's righteousness (so-called) will avail him of salvation- (Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9.) Forgiveness of sins is ours only through repentance and trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary.

"Father I have wandered from Thee,

Often has my heart gone astray;

Crimson do my sins seem to me,

Water cannot wash them away:

Jesus to that fountain of Thine,

Leaning on Thy promise I go;

Cleanse me by Thy washing divine,

And I shall be whiter than snow."

(Sankey's Sacred Songs & Solos-#113)

2. "Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and

prudence;"- vs 8

Again, the word is to "us". Let no man ever think that apart from trusting in Jesus Christ, God has anything in store for him. The meaning here is that God literally lavished upon His elect in every kind of wisdom, and understanding, practical insight and prudence. God works in the heart of those whom he has chosen, to bring them to Christ. No man ever came to God apart from the wooing of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit works within the heart of the sinner to bring him to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, it is the work of the Holy Spirit operating in the Christian whereby he becomes more Christ-like (sanctified wholly, or through and through- Phil. 2:13; 1 Thess. 5:23.)

3. "Having made known unto us the mystery of His will"- vs 9

God reveals to the believer the mystery or secret of His will, His plan and sovereign purpose.

"according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself."-

And it is this, in accordance with His good pleasure or merciful intention, which He had previously purposed and set forth in Himself.

God deals with those whom He had determined before the foundation of the world. Out of the purpose of His sovereign will and grace, He works in the life of those He has determined to bring to Himself.

Again, it is God's particular work in those whom He sovereignly chooses to bring to salvation. God's will, plan, and purpose was very much a mystery under the old dispensation or covenant. Then, God spoke in types and shadows. The revelation of the New Testament Church was not known then, but in type. Here, especially in Ephesians, Paul elaborates on this mystery that God saw fit to reveal to and through him. See Eph. 3.3.

"according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself"-

The mystery of God's will and purpose in Christ is according to God's good pleasure. In other words, it is sovereign in God Himself. God's will and purposes are purposed in and of Himself.

4. "That in the dispensation of the fullness 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:"- vs 10.

"God's plan for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ (both) things in heaven and things on earth."- (A.B.)

D. Purpose of God: vs 11-14

"In whom also we have obtained an inheritance..."

Notice here what some of that inheritance consists of.

1. Predestination. Those who either deny predestination or play it down as insignificant or unimportant, lose a lot here. Predestination is based upon God's decree and foreknowledge. It is not from time, but from eternity. The believer in Christ can look back to eternity and see the love of God, His mercy and absolute sovereign grace.

Romans 8:17-

"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ....."

Cf 1 Peter 1:3-4

2. Purpose of God. The believer in Christ is brought into line with the eternal and sovereign purpose of God. Paul says, "who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will."

3. Praise of His glory. Vs 12

Those who first trusted (hoped) in Christ with their confidence in Him, have been destined or appointed for the praise of His glory.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-

"But we are bound to give thanks always 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."

Don't let anyone misunderstand. Predestination is not the end of the road, or the last of God's dealings with sinful men. The Holy Spirit works in the hearts and lives of those marked in eternity to bring them to God's total deliverance from sin. This is done Paul says, "through sanctification of the Spirit."

4. Place reliance on. Vs 12,13- "who first trusted in Christ."

To trust in Christ, is to place one's faith in, to rely upon. Here, salvation comes out of eternity into time. Here is where the Holy Spirit knocks on the door of the sinner’s heart. Here we must accept (human) responsibility for our sin and find the solution in God's offer of pardon and grace.

"In whom ye also trusted"-

Those in Ephesus also trusted in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

This is the point of conversion. Cf 2 Cor. 5:17.

Notice God's dealings with man to bring him to faith and trust in Christ.

‘’After that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation:’’

Our Hardshell friends, would have us believe that it is not necessary or wrong to preach the gospel to sinners. However, the command of our Lord is clear. New Testament churches and preachers have a mandate to "preach the gospel." It is still through the foolishness of preaching that God chooses to save the elect. We do not know who the elect are. The fact is, that until the elect come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, they are not different from any other sinner. Until regeneration all sinners are as dead and humanly depraved as another.

Oh how we need to busy ourselves in preaching the gospel!

Upon faith in Christ, or "after you believe" Paul says, you receive:

Sealed with the Spirit.

"Ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise."

Cf 2 Cor. 1:22

"Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts."

Eph. 4:30-

"And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

From this it is clear that God's seal is upon the believer; that this sealing is the work of the Holy Spirit (not some man's empty hands on an empty head.) That this work is unto the time of the redemption of our bodies.

Cf Romans 8:23; Eph. 4:30.

3. STANDING: Vs 15-23

A. Prayerful Intercession: Vs 15-16

"Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,"

Knowing their standing in Christ makes a difference in Paul's prayer for these in Ephesus. The basis of the Christians right standing with God is-

1. Faith in the Lord Jesus.

2. Love unto all the saints. This latter is one of the evidences of Christian faith.

1 John 3:14

"We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."

Cf - 1 John 3:16; 2:9-10.

Vs 16- "Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;"

We are to pray for all people, but there is a special place in God's heart for those who are in Christ Jesus.

The apostle Paul had about the largest prayer list of anyone I have ever heard of. I do not believe that it was just "idle talk" when Paul said, "I am praying for you." Paul's heart and life was in his apostolic ministry. He interceded with God for those whom he served in ministry. The good note here is that Paul was able to "give thanks" for them. Can this be said of us?

Oh how we need to pray seriously for one another! A handicapped friend of mine in the L'Arche Daybreak community here in Richmond Hill, Ontario, told me every day, "I prayed for Rem's daughter (J.R.) this morning." My how his face beamed when I was able to tell him recently, "Bill, keep on praying because God somehow will answer your prayers." The request was for our handicapped daughter in the Philippines to be allowed to emigrate to Canada. We were told this week that a directive was sent to Manila, to issue her a Ministers Permit to come to Canada. Oh yes, we know with Paul that God answers prayer. We of course pray for Bill in thanksgiving for his consistent prayer life, for us and for J.R.

Note: God really did answer Bill’s prayer; for although a directive for JR to come to Canada had gone forth, before it was received the Lord took her to be with Him in Heaven on May 14th 1996. This is how God chose to answer all of our prayers. We humbly submit to his love and Providence. God knows what is best, even though we do not always understand it at the time.

Paul's prayer life was not a "hit and miss" thing. He did not just pray in times of need. Thus he says, "I thank God for you." We too ought to be thankful for each other and the prayers of intercession we send up to the throne of Grace for each other, like Bill’s ought to be regular and consistent.

B. Powerful Knowledge: Vs 17-18

Paul's prayer for the Ephesian Church is that they may receive from God that which would give them wisdom that would acknowledge Him to others. Through knowing Christ, one can best tell others of Him. It is difficult to talk about someone whom we know very little. That may be one reason why some Christians spend so little time in talking about Jesus to their friends.

This knowledge involves:

1. The God of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This does not detract from the Deity of Jesus Christ. If anything it shows us both his deity and humanity.

Cf John 20:17

"Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my FATHER: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my FATHER, and your Father; and to my GOD and your God."

2. The Spirit of wisdom.

The Holy Spirit who is all wise, and whose ministry it is to lead us into the truth and revelation of God.

3. Revelation in the knowledge of Him.

Insight into mysteries and secrets in the deep and intimate knowledge of Him.

4. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened. Vs 18.

-The eyes of your heart and mind being filled with the light of God.

Knowing God is not the result of a university or college course or degree. It is the work of the Holy Spirit within us.

We can learn a lot "about" God in a seminary or college course. However, it takes the work of the Holy Spirit within us to actually know God Himself, as a person. The proper word here, rather than revelation, is illumination.

-That you may know what is the hope of His calling.

The hope to which we are called by His Spirit when we trust Him and are born again.

-and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.

How rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints. The word “saints” refers to Christians and means holy one's, or those separated unto God as His people.

Paul is saying, that God actually has an inheritance in His people, the set apart one's. God has made a substantial investment in His elect. That is just one more reason why He is so interested in our welfare.

C. Power Inwardly: vs 19

"and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power."-

God's power exceeds greatness. It is immeasurable, unlimited and surpassing greatness, in and on behalf of those elect, who trust in Him.

God's greatness is demonstrated by the working of His mighty strength in the believer.

It is amazing that we have learned to harness the power of the mighty Niagara and other great rivers to bring us electricity. We have harnessed the power of the atom to make great bombs of destruction. We are now living in the nuclear age – and yet we know so very little of the power of the resurrection, and that power whereby God would work within us. The power of Christ is mightier than any nuclear weapon. The latter destroy but Christ’s power creates and builds the eternal kingdom of heaven.

D. Positional Standing: Vs 20-23

1. This exceeding great power involves three areas -

a) "which he wrought in Christ"-

God's power is seen in the believer, but the spring from which we feed is Christ, the Dayspring. Cf Luke 1:78.

All that God offers to humanity is in and through the Person of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

b) "when He raised Him from the dead"-

Christ was raised from the dead by the power of God the Father. He did not rise simply because of who He was, although that could have been the case. Christ fulfilled God's plan and purpose from eternity past.

Acts 2:24

"Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it" - Cf Hebrews 13:20; Romans 4:24.

Christ rose from the grave, because He defeated death.

c) "and set Him upon His own right hand in heavenly places."- Vs 20-b

God accepted the sacrifice of Christ, raised Him from the dead, and placed him in a place of authority (at his own right hand), in heavenly places. (the word "places" is in italics in the KJV- this should read, "in the heavenlies," as H.A. Ironside puts it.

This is Christ's standing, but it is that of the believer in Christ as well.

The elect are positionally in a place of authority in Christ, in the heavenlies. Unfortunately we do not often act like it. Our practice needs to be lined up with our standing in Christ.

2. "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:"- Vs 21

What a glorious position is that of the believer in Christ-

Most times we find ourselves to be in a mess, but listen to Paul’s teaching of the meaning of being “in Christ”.

a) Far above all principality-

Far above all rule and authority. Cf Romans 8:38.

b) and power and might-

Above all power and strength.

c) Dominion- kingly authority and power.

d) every name that is named-

Above every title that can be conferred

e) Not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. -

Not only in this present age/world, but also in the age and world which are to come. Cf Phil. 2:9-10.

3. "and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the Church- vs 22.

Christ is in a place of rulership and authority. He has been appointed the supreme head of the church.

Christ (not any man) is Head of the Church.

Note: The word church (Greek- ecclesia) means an assembly or gathering of believers. This word is not used here in a universal, but in an institutional or generic sense. Wherever there is a gathering of God's elect, saved, immersed, believers, gathered together for the worship of God and the carrying out of the commission of Christ (Matt. 28:19-20), there is the church of which Jesus Christ is head.

-all things are under the feet of Christ- it is a great position to be in, to be in Christ. In the instance to which Paul speaks here, is to be a member of His body a true New Testament Church.

This is the positional standing of the Church in Ephesus to whom Paul is writing here.

4. "Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all - vs 23

The church, wherever it is gathered is the body of Christ. The Church in Ephesus was the body of Christ in that locale.

The church is the fullness of Christ, the one who fills all. She is the full measure of Him who makes everything complete, and who fills everywhere with Himself.

We need to understand the importance of church membership, of being an active member of the body of Jesus Christ. The Christian's life and ministry is in the (local) New Testament Church.

Do not let anyone fool you into believing that it is not important to be a member of a true, scriptural, New Testament Church. The modern idea, "I don't care what church you belong to," is heresy. One might just as well say, "it does not matter where a man's wife sleeps at night."

The church of the Bible is local and visible. There is absolutely no sense in creating a universal, invisible church for local, visible people. Christ's body is His church, a very real body, positioned in and with Christ in the heavenlies.

Let me close out this chapter by stating some reasons against the universal church concept.

1. Protestants devised the mystical universal church doctrine, because in coming out of the Roman Catholic (Universal) Church, they had unchurched themselves.

2. Catholics started the universal church doctrine, by laying claim to their title as THE Church of Christ, universal.

3. The New Testament declares no organizational body as a universal (catholic) church. The New Testament recognizes only independent, sovereign churches.

4. The Greek word for church "ecclesia" is used in reference to local visible churches, except in about three cases where it is used in an institutional or generic sense.

E.g.- The Canadian family is in reference to all individual families in Canada as an institution. It does not mean that in Canada we have one big family, rather that we have thousands of sovereign, independent families, related only in an institutional or generic sense.

Note: See the author’s books - “Introduction to the New Testament Church” and Baptist “Church Polity”, for more information on the New Testament Church.

STUDIES

“LIVING IN THE HEAVENLIES WITH YOUR FEET STILL ON EARTH”

By

By

DEDICATION

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

COPYRIGHT BY THE AUTHOR

All rights to copy and reprint these notes

STUDIES IN EPHESIANS

Romans 5:12

Romans 5:19