BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 3:1-21

Today we crossed the "bridge" that connects the first section of Ephesians (Chapters 1-3) to the second section (Chapters 4-6). The key passage that builds the bridge is Ephesians 3:14-21. It is the ignition that releases the energy that God has already given to those who are "in Christ".

So far, everything Paul has been writing about deals with our inheritance and the glorious riches we have in Christ (the resources of the believer). If you are "in Christ" you have all the potential, all of the power, all of the riches, all of the energy. All of these resources that are ours in Jesus Christ are outlined in the first three chapters. Next, in chapters 4 - 6, Paul is going to show us how to apply these resources to the matter of living.

The takeaway from today's lesson is our need to focus on the "inner man". You will never get your ignition on until you focus on the inner man. You will flounder and wander around in impotence until you do. In order to know what verse 3:20 means, you must start with verse 3:16.

Your spiritual muscle grows when it becomes a daily routine for you to yield to the power of the Holy Spirit--to obey what you know is right before God--and not give into temptation. When you exercise your spiritual muscle, your inner man is renewed day by day. Though your outer man grows older and weaker, your inner man grows stronger. Gradually, you grow away from the mundane and further and further away from the things of this world that don't matter and have less and less preoccupation with them.

We all need to echo the prayer of Paul (3:14-21) and pray that we might be strengthened by His Spirit in the inner man. We do this by pouring the Word of God into the inner man so that the Holy Spirit can direct us into His will. As we are strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man, we are ready to take the next step. And we'll see what that is in our next lesson.

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 2:11-22

In today's lesson we completed Chapter 2 in Ephesians by looking at Ephesians 2:11-22. In this section Paul addresses being "One in Christ". At one time the Jew and the Gentile lived without peace between them, but because of the blood of Christ, as Paul states... "He is our peace,who hath made both (Jew & Gentile) one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us." (2:14)

This passage of scripture presented a natural segue to launch us into a discussion of "DEALING WITH FOOLS". Practically everyday we encounter situations with spouses, family members, friends, and even church members who are acting like fools. Having recently been under the attack of fools, I saw a need to search the scriptures and see what God had to say. Here is what I found:

We will continue our lesson next Sunday on "DEALING WITH FOOLS".

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 2:1-10

In this lesson, Paul describes the process, the act, and the miracle of salvation. In the first ten verses of Chapter two he outlines the six aspects of SALVATION:

1. From Sin...
2. By Love...
3. Into Life...
4. With a Purpose...
5. Through Faith...
6. Unto Good Works...

In verses 2:1-3 Paul refers to our "old condition" (Dead to God) as being "...dead in trespasses and sins." John Eadie, a Scottish theologian and biblical critic, said: "It's a case of death walking." Before salvation, we are alive physically but dead spiritually--we are "death walking".

The modern art sculptures below gives us a visual idea of what "death walking" might look like. People mindlessly walking through life engulfed by zeitgeist (the spirit of the age). Paul said those dead "...walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience;" (2:2)

In verses 2:4-10 Paul refers to our "new condition" (Alive to God). Because of God's mercy and great love we are raised up to sit in the heavenly places that He might show His exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "In Christ, I am a new creation." No longer are we "death walking".

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 1:15-23

In this lesson Paul prays that we would understand the meaning of being "in Christ". He prays:

"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe according to the working of his mighty power." (Ephesians 1:18-19)

In his "Prayer for Revelation", Paul addresses the future aspect of God's Eternal Plan: "...glory of his inheritance in the saints...". The three aspects of God's Future Plan include: 1) The Grounds for our inheritance; 2) The Guarantee of our inheritance; and 3) The Goal of our inheritance.

Our "...understanding being enlightened..." is only possible through God's Word and His Holy Spirit. Once we are "in Christ" we become enlightened when we walk in surrender, confessed of our sin and desiring God's will and the fulfillment of His purpose for our lives.

Understanding our position in Christ is the foundation of our Christian life, but our Christian growth is all about us practicing (living-out) the Christian life.

"...for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to our faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love." (2 Peter 1:5-7)

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!