Ephesians 1

Ephesians 1:1-2

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Salutation – verses 1 and 2

  • Where do Paul’s apostolic abilities come from?
  • Where does the grace that Paul offers the Ephesians come from?
  • How does Paul describe the Ephesians?
  • What does this word “in” mean?

Strongs: in en

A primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state)

Ephesians 1:3-6

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, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

SUMMARY

Praise Him because of his wonderful plan (3-6)

  • He gave us every spiritual blessings in Christ (3)
  • He chose us in Christ as part of His eternal plan (4)
  • He adopted us through Jesus (5)
  • He accepted us in the beloved (6) (Mat 3:17, Mat 17:5)
  • What do these verses reveal about God’s plan?
  • What do they reveal about Jesus and His relationship to us?

 Ephesians 1:7-14

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation–having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

SUMMMARY

The fruits of God’s plan of salvation in Jesus (7-14)

  • Redemption through his blood, forgiveness of sins in a portion matching the depth of His generous gift of sacrifice (7-8)
  • Revealing to His children the will of God to eventually make all things one under Christ in heaven and earth. (9-10)
  • Jesus receives glory through those who trust in Him. (11-12)
  • Believers receive the Holy Spirit in Him, as earnest money for the purchase of our inheritance, toward the full purchase price of us – the redeemed.

Questions:

  • How many times does the phrase “In Him, through Him” occur in this reading?
  • To whom does “In Him” refer?
  • What does that tell you about:
    • God’s role in our salvation
    • Jesus’ role in our salvation
    • Our role in our salvation

Strong’s Greek:

Faith: pistis

pis\’-tis

persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: – assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.

Believed – verb form of pistis / faith (no corollary in English): pisteuō

pist-yoo\’-o

From G4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), that is, credit; by implication to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well being to Christ): – believe (-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.

Ephesians 1:15-23

15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of youin my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

SUMMARY

Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians (15-23)

  • God, the Father gives the spirit of wisdom and knowledge of Him (17)
  • God open their  eyes to know the hope of His calling and the riches if His inheritance (18)
  • God’s great power to us who believe according to His power displayed in Christ’s resurrection by placing: (19)
    • Him in heaven at the right hand of God (20)
    • Him above all nations, powers, names, now and for all time (21)
    • placed all under his feet (22)
    • Him as the head over all things to the church – his body. (22)
    • His body – the church – is the fullness of Him that fills all (23)

Questions:

  • What did Paul give thanks for?
  • What did Paul pray for as most important?
  • What examples did Paul use to show God’s great power on our behalf (healing, parting of the Red Sea)?
  • Why did Paul use God’s power through Jesus resurrection to demonstrate God’s great power toward us?
  • What aspect of the church is Jesus in charge of?  Give some examples.
  • Consider the relationship between the head and the rest of the body.

THEME

APPLICATION

ATTRIBUTES OF GOD