BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 1:11-14

Today we completed "God's Eternal Plan" from Ephesians 1:3-14. This last section dealt with the Future Plan - Inheritance. "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance." (1:11)

Those who are "in Christ" have been guaranteed the many divine promises of God. How many promises are mentioned in the Bible? Literally thousands... and every one of them have been given to God's children at the moment they believe. "By which are given to us exceedingly great and precious promises." (2 Peter 1:4) That is our inheritance.

We can count on God delivering what He promised. God cannot lie. He keeps His promises. "He is faithful that promised." (Hebrews 10:23); "What He has promised He is able to perform." (Romans 4:21)

There are three aspects of our inheritance:

1. The GROUNDS (basis of qualification for the inheritance): to all who are "in Christ".

2. The GUARANTEE: the seal of God - we are sealed with His Holy Spirit.

3. The GOAL: to Glorify God.

As we continue in our study of Ephesians, we continue to see the great riches and resources given to those who are "in Christ". Our greatest failure as Christians is when we do not tap into the fullness of God's resources in our day-to-day lives. Don't let patterns from your past life (old man) hold you hostage. Choose to change. Learn the truth in God's Word and agree in your soul (mind, will, and emotions) so you might live your life in the fullness that God has purposed. "That you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:10); "You are complete in Him." (Colossians 2:10

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 1:6b-12

As we continued with GOD'S ETERNAL PLAN, we looked at part 2/3.

My notes are below:

PART 2: PRESENT – (Redemption)
Ephesians 1:6b-12

In order for God to bring His elect people into the inheritance that He has for them in the future He must redeem them. He must buy them. He must purchase them. And so we look at the concept of redemption.

What is redemption? Here's a theological definition: Redemption is an act of God by which He Himself pays as a ransom the price for sin which has outraged His holiness.

Redemption simply means: deliverance by the payment of a price. Two words in the New Testament are used in the Greek language for the word redemption. The first one is exagorazo (by payment of a price to recover from the power of another), and the part of the word agora (the place of assembly; market place). What exagorazo means is to buy out of the marketplace.

But there is another word and perhaps even a stronger word and that is the word that is used here; the word lutroo (to release on receipt of ransom; to redeem), and we also have the word apolutrosis which we translate redemption. Now that means to pay a price to free somebody from bondage.

FIVE ASPECTS OF GOD’S…
PRESENT PLAN – REDEMPTION

I. THE REDEEMER – JESUS CHRIST
“by which He made us accepted in the beloved One in whom we have redemption.” (Ephesians 1:6, 7a)

We have been accepted in the Beloved One; because we are in Christ; because by faith we are made one with Jesus; because we're His body; because we are Christ in the world, we therefore are acceptable to God in Him. And it is in Him that we have redemption. There's only one redeemer, beloved. And that’s the Beloved One.

“You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11)

Think of it this way: Christ wants us to have every good thing. And the Father loves the Son. And since the Father loves the Son, the Father will grant to the Son of His love the things the Son desires. And the thing the Son desires is that we have every good thing. And so they are ours in Him.

II. THE REDEEMED – US (vs. 6); WE (vs. 7)
“by which He made us accepted in the beloved One in whom we have redemption.” (Ephesians 1:6, 7a)

“Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity.” (Titus 2:14)
Those who are “in Christ” are the redeemed.

III. THE REDEMPTIVE PRICE – THE BLOOD
“…through the blood…” (1:7)

Jesus didn’t just cut Himself and bleed on somebody and redeem them. This is simply a way of saying that He poured out His life. It implies substitution.

The New Testament says He gave His blood. The New Testament also says He gave His soul. The New Testament says He gave His life. And the New Testament says He gave Himself. It all means the very same thing… He died for us. He was a substitute on the cross for us. We should have been there. We should die. We should pay the price. We should be able to do that on our own. That would be pure justice, but God's justice is mingled with His mercy. So God provided a substitute. And the substitute was Jesus.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” (I Peter 1:18, 19)

IV. THE REDEMPTIVE RESULTS – 1. FORGIVENESS OF SINS; 2. WISDOM & PRUDENCE
What does it mean to be redeemed? What are the results?

There are two areas of results:

1. The forgiveness of sins:
“…the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (1:7)

“This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28)

Israel, in the Old Testament, understood this. On the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, the day of national atonement for sin, there were two goats that were used by the high priest. The blood of one goat was sprinkled on the altar. The other goat, the other goat...the priest went up to that goat and put hands on that goat's head, and as it were, he laid all the peoples sins on the head of that goat. He confessed the people's sins on the head of that goat. And that goat was then taken out and sent into the wilderness where it could never find its way back again; it symbolized the taking of sin and sending it away where it would never ever be seen again.

It is the Greek word aphiemi which means to send away, never to return. How far does he send our sins? “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12)

“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, they transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins; return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.” (Isaiah 44:22)

“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” (Micah 7:18)

“He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13, 14)

2. Wisdom and Prudence:
“Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;” (1:8)

Whenever God does something He abounds. He forgave us and now He gives us His plan. The first word, wisdom, is sophia, it has to do with wisdom in eternal things like life and death and God and man and sin and eternity and time. It's theological. But the second word is prudence (phronesis in the Greek) and it means insight into earthly things, day to day living.

As a Christian we not only have forgiveness--that takes care of the negative--but positively God gives us the equipment to understand Him and to walk through the world on a day to day basis.

How sad it is when we see those who are "in Christ" grow old without growing in wisdom. Wisdom is not a natural part of aging. In order to gain wisdom, we must follow the advice in Proverbs 2:1-6:

1. accept my Words;
2. store up my command within you;
3. turning your ear to widom;
4. applying your heart to understanding;
5. call out for insight and cry aloud;
6. look for it; and
7. search for it.

"...then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find knowledge of God."

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge..." Proverbs 9:10

 If you want WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, and KNOWLEDGE, follow the advise above.

V. THE REDEMPTIVE REASON – “THE MYSTERY” – HE WILL GATHER TOGETHER IN ONE ALL THINGS IN CHRIST, BOTH WHICH ARE IN HEAVEN, AND WHICH ARE ON EARTH.

God thinks so highly of those who are “in Christ” that He has given them the secrets of the universe.
"Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself." (Ephesians 1:9)

Why did He do this? Why this incredible revelation? Why this amazing reality of salvation and redemption?

In order that… “In the dispensation of the fullness of times, (that means the millennial kingdom and right on out into eternity, when time is filled up, when the end comes, when the kingdom arrives, and eternity comes, the new heaven and the new earth) He will gather together in one all things in Christ which are in heaven and which are in earth even in Him." (Ephesians 1:9, 10)

God is redeeming in order that He might gather everything to Himself. Christ will gather the universe into unity. Right now the universe is splintered; it is scattered; it is splattered; it is divided; Satan rules; demons rule and the fight is on between God and the holy angels, but in time demons and Satan will be cast into the pit, in the Kingdom time, then released for a little time for their final fling and then they are sent to the bottomless pit forever. And God will call all things into one who are in Christ, and there will be incredible, eternal unity in Him; all things redeemed.

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 1:4-6a (Part 2)

We finished this section with the remaining 6 of 7 aspects of God's Eternal Plan - Past:

Below are my notes:

II. THE OBJECT - The Elect
“…He hath chosen us in Him…”

The “us” are the faithful, the ones who believe, the ones who respond. The “us” were chosen before the foundation of the world in order that He might make “us” like Jesus Christ in order that He might give “us” a room in the Father’s house and fellowship with Him forever. We are the inheritors of His Kingdom.

We will see in the first verse in Chapter 4, after these first three chapters telling of our great position in Christ, Paul says, “I therefore (because of what he wrote in chapters 1-3), the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” Beseech means to ask urgently and fervently to do something; implore; entreat; to beg someone for something or to do something.

Nobody ever goes to Heaven who does not willfully, consciously, submit himself to God. There must be a response. Luke 22:22 is a good example to clarify both God’s absolute sovereignty and yet man’s choice. “And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe that man by whom He is betrayed!” Judas was chosen by Christ but chose to betray Christ.

Such a high calling we have. Again, it is now wonder Paul says in chapter one: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ...”

III. THE TIME – Eternity
“…before the foundation of the world…”

Before anything ever was: before creation; before the fall of man, God laid it all out and formed the “body” of Christ. In theology, this is called predestination or election.

In Matthew 25:34 He said, “…’come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:” The Kingdom was our then—before anything was ever created.

In 1 Peter 1:19, 20 it says: “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world…”

The whole master-plan of God was formed before anything began and is being worked out now…in the present.

We will see in Ephesians 2:10 the concept of the creation of God’s master-plan for the purpose of us fulfilling it: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Your style of life and everything you are to have and do was preordained before the world began. The only choice you have is to either walk in God’s will or to walk in your will.

IV. THE PURPOSE - Holiness
Why did He do all of this?

 “…that we should be holy and without blame before Him…”

When Paul talks about being “without blame”, he is not talking about your practices, or what you do, he is talking about your position in Christ. Understanding “positional truth” is a key, if not the key, to understanding Ephesians. The phrase “in Christ” is repeated 27 times in the book of Ephesians. His holiness is ours. His righteousness is imputed to us. His spotlessness is our spotlessness. And thus Paul says later in 5:27: “That He might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

Your holiness and purity is only because you are one with Christ…“in Christ”. His blood covers your sin. When God sees you He only sees the righteousness of Christ. Because you are covered in the righteousness of Christ; that is your position.

In Colossians 2:1-8, Paul is asking them to not to be spoiled by those who are not “in Christ”, but to instead walk in the fullness of Christ Jesus by whom they have been called. In Colossians 2:9, 10 he says: “For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”

The Greek word is pleroma (play’-ro-mah): that which is (has been) filled…fullness, abundance.
As we will see in chapters 4-6, your practice ought to match your position. The Christian life is simply making your practice equivalent to your position. It’s living like who you are. It’s becoming what you are.

V. THE MOTIVE – Love
What was God’s “motive” to do this? Very simply, the last part of verse 4 we see that there is only one reason He did it…

“In love…”

There is only one reason He did it: LOVE. It’s always love. What is love? It is a disposition in the heart of God by which He determines to sacrifice Himself to meet the needs of others. Love is not an emotion, biblically. Love is an act of selfless sacrifice. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

God determined that He would sacrifice Himself for us. In love He set His affection upon us before the world began. How can He do this? Why did He do this? “…for God is love.”(1 John 4:8)
“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16)

In 2:4: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us…”
That is why God did what He did. That was His motive. Paul never got over it. He never could understand it. I don’t think any Christian really can understand how great God’s love is for “us”. God planned this from eternity past.

VI. THE RESULT – Sonship
“… unto the adoption of sons by Jesus Christ to Himself…”

The amazing result is sonship. When you become a Christian, you become a child of God. Paul says you can cry “Abba! Father!” (Galatians 4:6 and Romans 8:15) -- which in the Greek means papa, or daddy, a term of closeness and endearment; a term of affection.

Peter said (2 Peter 1:4): “…that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature…”. You have the very nature of God within you. When we were adopted, we were given God’s nature and God’s Spirit. God has drawn us as close to Him as possible.

Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if I were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:1, 2)

As sons of God you have access to all that God is and all that He has for you.

VII. THE GLORY - Himself

Lastly, why? What was the end that He had in mind? Why did He want all of us to be His sons?
The reason is GLORY! His GLORY! He wanted to do it to get glory.

“…according to the good pleasure of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace."

The reason for everything that exists in the universe is that God may be glorified. Psalms 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God…” The only rebels in the whole universe are fallen angels and fallen me. Everything else glorifies God.

God will remove from His universe all which do not give Him glory, leaving only that which glorifies Him. That’s why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:31: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

In His last day on Earth, Jesus prays to His Father and says: “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” (John 17:4, 5)

It is because of God’s “…good pleasure of His will…” that He wants to make us His sons and give us the Kingdom; to be the praise of His glory!

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 1:4-6a

Today we began the first of a series of lessons in our study of Ephesians titled: "God's Eternal Plan - Past, Present, and Future".

It's hard to study verses 4 through 6a without mentioning the "mysteries" of God, something we will cover in more detail later. The word "mystery" is used 29 times in the New Testament but none in the Old Testament. The first use of the word in Ephesians is in 1:9: "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to His good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself."

When used in scripture, mystery means "something that has been hidden and has now been revealed in the New Testament." There are three ways that God deals with His mysteries: 1) He never tells us; 2) He tells only believers; 3) He reveals them at a certain time. We will look more at the amazing mysteries of God as we progress through Ephesians.

Another word of importance that Paul uses is the word "body", as he refers to the unity of the "body of believers" who are in Christ. There are many metaphors used in the Bible to describe the Church (those that are "in Christ"), but the word "body" is only used in the New Testament. When you consider the human body--unified yet diverse--it is a perfect metaphor to describe the Church.

Below are my notes for today's lesson, followed by the slides. Next week we will continue with the remaining six aspects of "God's Eternal Plan - Past".

LESSON 3: GOD’S ETERNAL PLAN
PART 1: PAST – (Election)
Ephesians 1:4-6a

"According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before Him, In love having predestinated us unto the adoption of sons by Jesus Christ to Himself according to the good pleasure of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace."

God’s eternal plan includes three phases:

1) Past - Election

2) Present - Redemption

3) Future - Inheritance

SEVEN ASPECTS OF GOD’S PAST PLAN

I. THE METHOD: Sovereign Selection (Election)

1. Theocratic Election – Theo from the word Theos which means God. A theocracy is a form of government in which God or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler. Therefore theocratic means God rules. Theos is also the basis of the word theology, “the study of God.” The nation of Israel was ruled by God. There was a theocratic election, that is, God chose a nation for a special place. “For thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God, the Lord thy God has chosen thee to be a special people.” (Deuteronomy 7:6)

2. Vocational Election – God often chooses a certain person or persons to do a specific task. In Deuteronomy 18, God chose the Levites out of Israel to be His priests. Because you were a Levite did not necessitate the fact that you were granted absolutely salvation. God’s call to the Levites was a vocational election. In the New Testament Jesus called the 12 Apostles. He called 12 of them to a task but only 11 of them were called to salvation. Judas was not. “You have not chosen Me but I have chosen you.” (John 15:16). This has nothing to do with salvation.

3. Salvation Election – God has individually ordained who will be included in the body of Christ. He has chosen us. “Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord.” (Romans 16:13). “No man come to Me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” (John 6:44). But it is not without faith that we respond. Jesus said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37-39). In Romans 9 we see that the “children of the promise” were ordained before they were born. Also, Rebekah’s twins: “Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” (Romans 11-13). Then in Romans 10, the next chapter, he says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13). You have sovereignty, that’s God’s side. You have human choice, that’s man’s side. That’s what the Bible teaches.

“According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world…” (Ephesians 1:4)

We now understand why Paul blesses God in verse three. He is absolutely overwhelmed that God has chosen him before the foundation of the world. The METHOD by which God formed the body was election--sovereign selection.

Questions to consider:

    Does God choose people to be saved before they’re ever born? YES

    Before the world began, did Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit write down in the Book of Life who would be saved? YES

    Was the Book of Life written “before the foundation of the world”? YES (Revelation 13:8; 17:8)

    Does man have a choice about being saved? YES

    Can anyone come to Christ and be saved? YES

    But aren’t election and choice opposites? YES

The facts are that the Bible teaches that God chose us “before the foundation of the world”, and the Bible also teaches that “whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.” We must not try to find middle ground or worry about how God harmonizes the two concepts of sovereignty and choice. He is God! We must remember that as it says in Deuteronomy 29:29: “The secret things belong to the Lord.” And Isaiah says: “That His ways are higher than our ways.”

The word "chosen" in Greek is eklego - a compound of the words ek and lego. The word ek means out, and the word lego means I say. Together these words literally mean Out, I say! It can also mean to call out, to select, to elect, or to personally choose.

In classical Greek writings, this word eklego referred to a person or a group of people who were selected for a specific purpose. For example, the word eklego was used for the selection of men for military service. It was also used to denote soldiers who were chosen out of the entire military to go on a special mission or to do a special task. Finally, it was used for politicians who were elected by the general public to hold a public position or to execute a special job on behalf of the community.

In every case where the word eklego is used to portray the election or selection of individuals, it conveys the idea of the great privilege and honor of being chosen. It also strongly speaks of the responsibility placed on those who are chosen to walk, act, and live in a way that is honorable to their calling. Because of the great privilege of being elected to a higher position or selected to perform a special task, those who are "chosen" bear a responsibility to walk and act in accordance with the calling that has been extended to them. They should look upon themselves as chosen, honored, esteemed, and respected - special representatives of the one who elected them!

So when Paul says that God "…hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world…," he is saying that God looked out to the horizon of human history - and He saw us! And when God saw us, His voice echoed forth from Heaven: "Out, I say!" In that flash, our destinies were divinely sealed! We were separated by God from a lost and dying world, and He called us to be His own.

Look at when this selection took place. Paul says it occurred "…before the foundation of the world…." The word "foundation" is the Greek word katabole, a compound of the words kata and bole. The word kata means down, and the word bole means to hurl or to throw. These two words together mean to forcibly hurl something down, and it refers to the act of creation.

Thus, before God ever spoke the earth into existence - before His booming voice ever called out for the first layers of the earth's crust to be put into place - He had already spoken our names! He selected and elected us before the very first layers of the earth were created.

Verse 4 could be paraphrased to read as follows:

"When God saw us, He said, ‘Out, I say!' In that moment, He separated us from the rest of the world and enlisted us in His service. And think of it! He did all of this before He ever hurled the first layers of the earth's crust into existence...."

God elected Israel as the chosen nation. God elected the angels (1 Timothy 5:21). God elected Jesus Christ as the Cornerstone (1 Peter 2:6). God elected all who make up the body of believers (2 Timothy 1:9, 2:10; 2 Thessalonians 2:13) all “…before the foundation of the world…”

Interesting how Paul says, “I endure all things for the elect’s sake that they may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:10). In other words, Paul said he was trying to reach the elect; the ones who were already chosen that they might take hold of the faith that has already been granted them in God’s sovereign plan. Paul understood the sovereignty of God and the choice of man and found no conflict.

If you are a member of the body of Christ, you are blessed… as Paul said in verse 1:3. You are a value eternally in the heart of God. You matter to Him. Jesus came to shed His blood to purchase you. You are important! And so God has eternally formed His body. If you are a Christian, you’re a part of it. There is no reason for you to ever struggle with a sense of self-worth; you are worthy. Don’t struggle with a sense of inadequacy; He has blessed you with all spiritual blessing in the heavenlies. The resources that are available to you are unlimited and you need to use them. Use them to build the church that Jesus purchased with His own blood.

The six remaining aspects of "God's Eternal Plan - Past"

II. THE OBJECT - The Elect
III. THE TIME - Eternity
IV. THE PURPOSE - Holiness
V. THE MOTIVE – Love
VI. THE RESULT – Sonship
VII. THE GLORY - Himself

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 1:3

We saw this Sunday that Paul wrote the book of Ephesians during the same time that he wrote four of his other letters: Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon - all while in prison in Rome (approximately AD 60-62).

Below are my notes for this lesson:

LESSON 2: SIX ASPECTS OF BLESSING
Ephesians 1:3

NOTE: Verses 1:3-14 was one sentence in the Greek: 202 words.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” (Ephesians 1:3)

1. GOD IS THE BLESSED ONE:

Blessed is from the Greek word: Eulogetos …. “eulogize” (praise). Eulogy – to speak well of, to bless (thank), praise. To “kneel down”, “adore with bended knees”. Eulogetos pertains “to being worthy of praise or commendation – ‘one to be praised’” The NT applies it only to God, describing His “intrinsic character.” God is good! There is none that is good BUT God.

    Matthew 19:17
    Genesis 14:20
    Revelations 5:13

2. GOD IS THE BLESSER:

God blesses because He is the source of every good thing…not of “some” good things, but EVERY good thing.

    James 1:17
    Romans 8:28

3. BELIEVERS ARE THE BLESSED:

God’s wonderful grace, His marvelous providence, and His sovereign plan He has chosen to bless us! Who are the blessed? Who are the “us”?

    Galatians 3:9

4. HOW MUCH BLESSING?:

He blesses us with all that is possible to be dispensed to us through the agency of the Spirit of God. Because we don’t know our resources we need the Holy Spirit to make intercession for us.

    Romans 5:5
    John 14:27
    Philippians 4:13
    2 Peter 1:3

5. WHERE ARE THE BLESSINGS?:

It isn’t just heaven; the heavenlies simply mean the supernatural world of God, the domain of God, the divine realm. In chapter 6, we will see that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”…in the heavenlies; heavenly realms; heavenly places.

    Philippians 3:20
    Luke 16:8
    Ephesians 2:6

6. WHY AM I BLESSED?:

Two words: “IN CHRIST”. When you became a Christian you were placed in a marvelous union with Christ. I am in Christ so His position is my position.

    1 Corinthians 6:17
    Romans 8:16-17 “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…”

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 1:1-2

EPHESIANS 1:1-2:

The book of Ephesians is based on this idea of riches and fullness and inheritance which we can see by just a couple of illustrations. For example, chapter 1 verse 7 talks about the riches of His grace, at the end of the verse. Chapter 3 verse 8 talks about the unsearchable riches of Christ. Chapter 3 verse 16 - the riches of His glory. So you have the riches of His grace, the riches of His glory and the riches of His Son. In other words, God is unloading all of His riches in the book of Ephesians. The word grace is used 12 times. And the word grace means God's unmerited, undeserved kindness and favor. Grace is behind all of this lavishness that God pours out. The word grace is used 12 times. The word glory is used 8 times. The word inheritance is used 4 times. The word riches is used 5 times. The words fullness and filled are used 7 times. And the key to everything is the phrase "in Christ" which is used 27 times.

It is because we are in Christ that all of the fullness of all the riches of the inheritance of the glory of His grace is ours. Because we are one with Christ in His church, because we are redeemed, this incredible fullness is ours. Maybe the sum of it all is in chapter 3 verse 20 - "That you might be filled with all the fullness of God." It's an incredible thought that literally the believer can be filled with all the fullness of God Himself. That we would know the unsearchable riches of Christ. That we would be able to do exceeding abundantly above all we could ask or think according to the power that works in us. It's all about fullness, riches, inheritance, wealth, resources - all in the book of Ephesians. That’s God’s plan.

Next week we will continue to look at the riches and fullness of our inheritance "in Christ". One of the keys to unlocking the book of Ephesians is to understand that it is an epistle built around the concept of the church as the body of Christ. This will be our focus: the "body".

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Book Survey, Chapter Analysis, Book Synthesis

The next three Bible study methods go together because these three methods are really part of one. When combined, these three methods give you the most comprehensive approach to studying the Word of God. They may require extra work, effort, and time, but they can reward you with the greatest results.

Because God gave his revelation in segments that we call books, we should first study these books as a whole, then examine their parts carefully, and finally put our study together to see the whole again. The approach used is survey, analysis, and synthesis.

First, we make an initial survey of the book to see it as a whole; this is our "telescopic view" study. Then we take the book apart chapter by chapter and do detailed analysis of each one; we look at all the details as through a microscope. Finally, we put it all together again in a synthetic study in which we summarize the book as a whole and produce our own outline. The process moves from the whole to the particulars and back to the whole:

• Survey - get a bird's-eye view of the book.
• Analysis - study everything in each chapter in detail.
• Synthesis - put it back together again and draw some conclusions.

 Using these three methods (+ Book Background Method), we will be studying Ephesians for the next couple of weeks.