Ephesians

We finished Galatians and learned a lot how Gossip can ruin a church, how the Christ became the law and we are not justified by faith and not by works. Also how it doesn’t matter who we are or what we did in the past God still sent His Son for us.

Now we are going to continue in Paul’s letters as he speaks to to the church of Ephesus.

English Standard Version Introduction

Introduction

The apostle Paul wrote Ephesians to the churches around Ephesus (Acts 19) to display the scope of God’s eternal plan for all humanity—for Jews and Gentiles alike. This is the mystery of God, hidden for ages but now made known in Jesus Christ. The first three chapters focus on what Christians should believe, unfolding the glorious riches of God’s grace in Christ. Dead sinners are made alive and gain eternal salvation “by grace … through faith” (2:8). The last three chapters explain the implications of God’s grace for the church, for individuals, and for families. This second section comes to a climax with a command to stand with the armor of God against the devil. Paul wrote this letter while in prison, probably in Rome about A.D. 60.

Ephesians 1:1–14 ESV

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

There is a word in here that some people don’t like reading

Predestined

Ephesians 1:3–6 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

I want to get on this because this is a debate between a lot of Christians.

Now I am not going to go into deep Theological information that is out there.

Right now there is a 2 theologies you hear in SBC

Calvinism and Arminianism

Calvinists believe in the predestination mostly due to this verse and other verses in scripture.

Arminians believe in free will.

Now both are correct in their theology. It does not matter what theology you believe, the only thing that matters if that you believe in the Gospel which is God sent His Son, Jesus Died on the Cross, rose again 3 days later and is coming back again.

Now in verse 4 and 5 Paul states to church of Ephesus

Ephesians 1:4–5 ESV

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

God Chose you before the foundation of the World

However, did you know when you were a baby that God chose you to be sons and daughters of Him. No you didn’t. You have to make that choice, you have to make that decision. That is free will.

Like I said I am not going to get into Theological debate here but if you would like to discuss it please feel free to catch me after and we can set up something.

Moving on

Ephesians 1:7–10 ESV

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Once we make the personal decision this is what we get

Redemption and Forgiveness

And because we make the decision to follow Him, He then makes known to use everything through Scripture.

He tells us why He sent His Son, He tells what happened in the past and what will happen in the future, He gives this knowledge. Now He doesn’t give us everything. We still have questions that we can only get when we get there.

Question of the Day

One question one of the youth kids have is Did Adam and Eve have belly buttons.

I am for one glad to not know everything and that may not be the question I want to ask, but we all have a question that has never been answered and we will never know til we get to Heaven

But thats not all, here is one of the best parts in this scrupture

Ephesians 1:11–14 ESV

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Inheritance

We inherit the kingdom of God. We have mansions and we have family and friends that we will see. Now remember we will not see everyone, don’t get this confused. But we will see our loved ones that fully accepted the free gift of Grace that God offered everyone.

Because of this we

Hear the Word of Truth

We hear the Gospel of Salvation

we believed

We don’t get the reward right away

It says here it is sealed with the promised Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it.

We know it’s there, we know its safe and nothing will take it away.

We don’t have to worry about it getting ruined or messed up. We only got to make sure we follow God’s plan until the day we die and leave this earth.

I want to say this last little part

Ephesians 1:15–23 ESV

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Because you believe doesn;t mean the church stops.

We don’t Walk Away

We Give Thanks and We Pray

We give thanks to God that you made that decision, and you believe in the hope to Which HE HAS CALLED YOU.

Then he says God Put all Things under Christ’s feet and gave him head over all thing to the church.