Ephesians 1

  1. Introduction
  2. Review of History Introduction
  1. Ephesians Chapter 1
  2. Vs. 1-2 – Paul’s Introduction
  3. Paul establishes his Apostleship and Authority
  4. Paul establishes to whom this letter is to – Faithful Christians of Ephesus and the World.
  5. Establishment of the Deity of Christ in the giving of grace and peace with the Father.
  6. Col. 2:9 – for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,
  1. Vs. 1-14- The Blessings of Being in Christ
  2. Vs. 3 – Blessed means “Blessed or praised” – So Praises to God. Why?
  3. “Blessed us with every spiritual blessing”
  4. Forgiveness, Eternal Life, Love, Peace…
  1. Blessed“In the heavenly places”
  2. This term is used 5 times within Ephesians. I believe it is a broad term encompassing:

Church

The very presence of God.

The unseen realms created by God

  1. Blessed“in Christ”
  2. Act 4:12 - And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved.
  3. Joh 14:6- Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.
  1. Vs. 4 – He has not only blessed us with Spiritual Blessings
  2. He determined that man should stand before him Pure and Blameless. How?
  3. Only by the blood of Jesus Christ

Rev 7:14- And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

  1. He determined a plan of purity from the beginning
  2. His plan would be to bless, reward, and protect the obedient. “He Chose, Us, in Him”

Ex. 19:5-6 - Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be mine own possession from among all peoples: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

He did not say, “OK, Bobby, Sally, and Joe regardless of what they do, they are going to be blessed and Rob, Tim, and Eddy, you’re gonna be punished no matter what.”

  1. Vs. 5-6 –God chose to adopt those who were obedient in Him as His Children.
  2. He didn’t have to do it, but he loved mankind. Adoption is a choice.
  3. He did this through Jesus Christ.
  4. This was his Plan and it should cause us to sing His praises.
  5. God’s plan was presented by Christ free to all who would follow/accept it.
  6. Gal. 3:27-29
  7. Vs. 7-8 – For those accepting the Plan…
  8. Christ Redeems (buys back), rescues, forgives our sins through his blood.
  9. Acts 20:28, Col. 1:14
  10. Rom. 6:3-7 – Baptism is the contact with blood? Forgiveness of sins is tied to this action.
  1. Why? Did he do it? His Grace… He has great good will toward us.
  2. In His wisdom and knowledge, he knew we would need help. We are imperfect.
  1. Vs. 9-10 – The Mystery!
  2. He made known to us His plan when the times were right to fulfill:
  3. Prophecy concerning Christ
  4. The timeframe He was born into – Romans into Power!
  5. Rom. 16:25-27 – It has been made known.
  6. Col. 1:25-27 – The Mystery was Christ and Salvation through Him.
  1. Vs. 11-12 – Paul notes it’s not only Gentiles who receive these things.
  2. The Jews were the first to be presented with Christ.
  3. Rom. 1:16
  4. This too was to be for the purpose of Glorifying God.
  1. Vs. 13-14 – Subject is Being sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise.
  2. This follows:
  3. Hearing Word of God
  4. Believing in it
  5. Being “in Him” – Being in Him we know requires baptism (as already seen in Gal.)
  1. Holy Spirit Promised inJoel 2:28-32 – Visible Evidence of Salvation Offered.
  2. Christ Promised – John 16:7, Acts 17-9
  3. Peter identified Joel – Acts 2:14-21 – Visible. Evidence of Salvation Offered.
  1. Seal – A Visible mark.
  2. Mt. 27:66 – A visible mark.
  3. Romans 4:11 – A Visible mark.
  4. I Cor. 9:2–Talks of the Church being his seal – His visible mark.
  5. II Cor. 1:21-22 – Speaks of Apostles being sealed.

How do you know they were apostles? The visible seal of the miraculous.

II Cor. 12:12

If the apostles did no works at all and said I am chosen because of an invisible non-miraculous dwelling of God, no one would have believed them.

  1. Earnest (Pledge – downpayment) – This is something which validates offer of Salvation.
  2. Thus, the statement a “view to redemption”, meaning this was given with salvation in mind.
  1. We will cover this more in detail over time. However, one must think, we are one with Christ, God, and the Holy Spirit when we walk in his commandments, this is representative.
  2. The Spirit given in a personal fashion which is non-miraculous would do nothing.
  1. Vs. 15-23 – Paul Expresses Thanksgiving for and Prays for the Ephesians Growth.
  2. For this reason… What Reason?
  3. Redemption, Salvation!
  4. Because of this Paul gives thanks and prays for their further growth.
  5. He further prays for:
  6. their realization of the value of being sons
  7. Their realization of the power of God.
  1. The value of being a son and the power of God were manifested in:
  2. Raising Christ from the dead
  3. Sitting him at his Right hand in heaven.
  4. In this circumstance, we see “heavenly places” extending to the dwelling place of God.
  5. This set Christ above all things.
  6. In him, being his body, we reign with Christ.