Lesson 1 – Ephesians Chapter 1:1-10
Paul wrote this letter to the church in Ephesus to minister to them and strengthen them. Once they read the letter and copied it, they were to have his letter passed around to the other churches, with the help of the Holy Spirit, this is why we have this book today. When we read and study this book, I know it will minister to us and build us up in Christ as well. Paul wrote this letter while he was in prison in Rome, sometime around 60 to 62 A.D.
On Paul’s third missionary journey he stayed in Ephesus for three years. In three years, you can really get to know the people you are with, and Paul got to know the Ephesians very well. Paul’s years in Ephesus are perhaps the most fruitful times in his ministry.
At the end of Paul’s third missionary journey, he knew he would soon be imprisoned and probably killed. His final words to the church at Ephesus really display for us his devotion to Christ:
Acts 20:18-24
“When they arrived he declared, ‘You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike – the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus. And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.’”
Paul indeed devoted his life and gave his life for the gospel of Christ. Along with Ephesians, the books of Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon are thought to have been written at this time, that’s why they’re referred to as the “Prison Epistles.”
The first three chapters of Ephesians will teach church doctrine, and the last three put a focus on Christian behavior. The first half is theological, and the second half is practical. As we get into this book, Paul will explain just what God has done for us, and then he will tell us how live out the Christian walk. I’m sure we will all benefit greatly from this detailed study of Ephesians, so don’t let the familiarity of Scripture get in the way of further spiritual growth.
Eph. 1:1-2
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Paul is undeniably an apostle of Jesus Christ. Remember, this was never Paul’s plan in the first place. When Jesus got Paul’s undivided attention on the road to Damascus, he (Saul) was on his way to destroy any followers of Jesus Christ. Know this, that when Jesus gets your attention, it becomes a life changing event for you.
What were the qualifications to be an apostle? Number one was, that you had to have been with Jesus.
In I Cor. 9:1 Paul asks four rhetorical questions. “Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?”
Gal. 1:15-17
“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia (Petra), and returned again to Damascus.”
In my opinion, Paul makes the point that he was with the resurrected Jesus in the desert, which makes him uniquely qualified. Paul has a dual standing as an apostle, it says in our verse; “an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.” Paul has the unified authority of the Son and the Father.
This letter is written to the saints in Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus. Meaning that these Scriptures are for all the other churches and for us as well.
Paul says, Grace to you and peace… this was a common greeting among the Christians in the early days of the church. Grace (charis) is God’s lovingkindness toward those who are undeserving of His generous favor. This grace is given to all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ.
By saying grace to each other, it becomes a reminder to us, that God has given each believer a wonderful free gift.
John MacArthur says, “Grace is the fountain of which peace is the stream.”
Because we live in God’s grace, we enjoy peace with God.
Phil. 4:7
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
I can’t imagine a life without God’s grace. Grace expresses God’s faithful love toward us, and peace is the result of having a relationship with Him. It’s important for every believer to know and understand that all the blessings we receive come from our heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ, we learned this in James chapter 1.
As believers, we hear about God’s grace all the time. Be careful that grace doesn’t become so familiar to you that you take it for granted, thus becoming “cheap” grace.
Eph. 1:3 (In the Greek text, verses 3 through 14 are one entire sentence)
“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,”
Here Paul is sitting in prison, and declaring, “I am so blessed!” Some might say, “How in the world can Paul say such a thing while he’s in jail?” He might not be blessed physically or materially at this point in his life, but he is definitely blessed spiritually.
God doesn’t guarantee health, wealth, or prosperity to the followers of Jesus Christ. The blessings of Christianity are pretty much spiritual.
The churches that preach that all you have to do is claim the Word of God and you’ll be rich are heretical and are coming from false teachers. This is referred to as the “prosperity gospel,” also called “prosperity theology.” They teach that faith expressed through positive thoughts, positive declarations, and donations to the church will draw health, wealth, and happiness into the believers’ lives. It is also referred to as the “health and wealth gospel” or “name it and claim it.” Paul would strongly disagree with all of these false doctrines.
Does God bless us with health, wealth, and prosperity? Yes, He does, but only according to His plans and purposes, none of it is guaranteed to us. We should praise God and count our blessings every day.
When did God’s blessings start? They started from eternity past. What kind of blessings are they? Scripture says, they’re every “spiritual” blessing. Where do these blessings come from? In the heavenly realms (places). How do they come to us? They come from abiding in Jesus Christ (that Jesus has a place in your heart).
Eph. 1:4
“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,”
Just as… this small word “as” (kathōs) can also say, “since,” “because,” or “insofar as.” The idea is that all of our spiritual blessings are based on the work of the Trinity. He chose us… God blesses us because He has elected us, Jesus died for us, and the Spirit sealed us. We come to God on His terms through Jesus Christ. God created us, He gets to decide how we come to Him.
II Cor. 1:21-22
“Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
God choosing us and electing us, is all part of His sovereign plan for us.
Rom. 8:30
“Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”
Even though God chose you, it’s still up to you to decide whether or not to believe in Him (In the truest sense of the word “believe”). From all eternity, before the foundation of the world, and therefore completely apart from anything we might do or deserve, God chose you in Christ.
All of our spiritual blessings are due to the fact that God chose us. Apart from God, we are prisoners of sin. The “good news” is, God gives us the opportunity to receive Him or reject Him. As we have discussed before, to remain undecided is to reject God. You’re either “in” or you’re “out.”
What exactly is the purpose of us being chosen? That we should be holy and without blame before Him in love… This was decided by God from eternity past. What God began in the past will go on all throughout eternity in the future. God’s plans will never be thwarted.
• Can we be holy and blameless apart from Christ? No.
Christians are holy (hag’-ee-os), these are saints who are set apart to God.
I Peter 1:15-16
“But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
First, let’s look at God’s holiness. What does it mean that God is holy?
I Sam. 2:2
“No one is holy like the Lord, for there is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God.”
Isa. 6:3b
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!”
The Bible is filled with verses that speak of God’s holiness. Another way to say it is, God is absolute perfection. God’s holiness permeates His entire being and all of His attributes. His love is a holy love, His mercy is a holy mercy, and even His anger and wrath are holy anger and holy wrath.
These concepts are difficult for us to grasp, just as God, is difficult for us to understand in His wholeness.
What does it really mean for us to be holy? Well, for one thing, we need to be living by God’s standards, and not the world’s standard. Understand this, that God isn’t calling us to be perfect, but He does want us to be distinct from the world. We are set-apart unto God, and we are to be separated from the world. Romans 12:2a “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” We need to live out this truth in our everyday lives.
Holiness only results from us having a right relationship with God. This starts by believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Then, daily living out a life that is “set-apart,” devoted to God. A follower of Christ should not be trying to “blend in” with the rest of the world, there needs to be a difference.
Before Him in love… this is the first mention of “love” in this letter and the letter also ends with love in 6:23-24.
In love…
This is “agape” love, which is a love that isn’t an emotion, but a character of the heart that seeks the welfare and needs of others.
John 15:13
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
And in this love, God determined before He created us, the world, and the universe, that He would give us His only Son… just to save us.
Holding on to love was very important for the church in Ephesus. Jesus addresses them in the book of Revelation, with a verse that you’re probably familiar with:
Rev. 2:4
“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”
God is love, and believers, because of God’s electing love, should express love with holiness to others.
I John 2:5
“But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.”
Eph. 1:5
“Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,”
Having predestined us…
Jon Courson: “There is a predetermination concerning salvation. But guess what. God is never seen anywhere at any time in the Bible predestining someone to go to hell. He only predestines people to go heaven.”
The word predestined (pra-r-id’-zo) means to be marked out beforehand.
So we ask the question, just “what” has happened to us? Believers have been adopted as sons (and daughters) of God through Jesus Christ. God makes us more than citizens, servants, or friends in His kingdom, He makes us His children, and Jesus is the adopting agent or mediator for us.
Rom. 8:15
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
But wait, it gets better!
Gal. 4:4-7
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
I love how Scripture explains Scripture. Where Paul says, “But when the fullness of the time had come,” that’s predestination, that exact time was chosen from eternity past.
Jesus’ coming, and our being chosen, is all part of God’s plan. And remember, God’s plans always come to fruition. We are God’s adopted children, and as His children, we get to call out to God, “Abba, Father.” Which in the Aramaic translates, “Daddy” or “Papa.”
I know it’s hard for some of us to dial in on the fact that the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings, God of the universe is our Dad. It’s a pretty amazing thought, but it’s a truth that God (Dad) wants us to understand.
According to the good pleasure of His will…
Here’s why God adopted you. Here’s why God predestined you. Here’s why He chose you. Here’s why God has blessed your socks off in Christ in heavenly places: Because it’s His good pleasure to the praise and glory of His grace. But, know this, that God chose us not because of who we are, but in spite of who we are!
Luke 12:32
“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
This is simply amazing!
Eph. 1:6
“To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”
“So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.” (NLT)
We’re not turned away by God, we’re accepted by Him through His wonderous grace. In a way, believers become God’s very showcase. Before God’s grace got a hold of us, we were a bunch of desperate renegades, rebels without a clue… yes Hilary, we were a bunch of deplorables.
Rom. 9:25
“Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea, “Those who were not my people, I will now call my people. And I will love those whom I did not love before.” (NLT)
Because of God’s amazing grace we are now accepted into the family.
Eph. 1:7
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”
Here we come to another spiritual mountain top truth, we have been redeemed through the blood of Christ!
Why exactly do we need to be redeemed?
Rom. 3:23
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
We know that all means all, thus putting us all in the same boat as sinners. The answer to this predicament is found in verses 24 and 25 of Romans 3:
“Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,”
What are the benefits of redemption? It includes eternal life, forgiveness of sins, becoming righteous in God’s sight, adoption into God’s family, deliverance from sin’s bondage, peace with God, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. To be redeemed, then, is to be forgiven, made holy, justified, free, adopted, and reconciled.
How is redemption made possible? It is through the blood of Christ!
We need redemption, we need deliverance from the slavery of sin, and the only way to get there is through the blood of the Lamb.
I Peter 1:18-19
“For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” (NLT)
Christ’s own death, by the shedding of His blood, it was the substitute for our death. Jesus did this for us, proving God’s love for us in a way that only He could accomplish. Jesus did for us what we could never do for ourselves.
Heb. 10:10
“For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.” (NLT)
Though Jesus never deserved it, He took on the bloody painful sacrifice, making the payment for what otherwise would have meant our condemnation into hell.
Eph. 1:8-10
“Which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth – in Him.”
The word Prudence means to have understanding.
Former president George H.W. Bush was known for saying things like; he didn’t like broccoli, or “Read my lips: No new taxes.” Bush mocked himself during the 2000 presidential campaign while attending a nonpartisan event as his son, George W. Bush, sought the presidency. He said: “Though I might be tempted to utter a few words of encouragement to anyone who is considering my boy, I will heed the immortal words of Dana Carvey: ‘Not gonna do it. Wouldn’t be prudent.’”
To be prudent then, is acting with or showing care and thought for the future: By God’s grace, He has given His children the ability to understand, and with our understanding comes wisdom. And remember our study in James, he encourages us to pray for wisdom.
Col. 1:9
“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;”
By God gracing us with wisdom and insight, He made known to us the mystery of His will… What is this mystery, what does it mean? The Greek word translated “mystery” is mystērion, or “that which was previously hidden or obscured.” God has forgiven us, chosen us, predestined us, and lifted us up out of the pit, but He’s also made known to us, by His amazing grace, the mystery of being accepted by Him.
Matt. 13:10
“And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”
Matt. 11:25
“At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.”
Remember your life in B.C. mode… before Christ? You didn’t belong to God, in fact He considered you His enemy. Then came that proverbial moment when a switch was flipped on in your mind and you saw the light as they say. It was at that instant, when your heart and soul recognized for the first time that you were a sinner in need of a Savior. Then by God’s grace you gave your life to Jesus. It was through the Holy Spirit that God’s mystery was unveiled to you, and you said “yes” to Him. That was the best day of your entire life!
According to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth – in Him…
We have to ask, why has God done so much for us? Why has He blessed us with all spiritual blessings? Why did His choose us from eternity past, making us His children, holy and blameless? The first obvious answer is because of His Grace and mercy. But more than that, God saves us that He might gather together in one all things in Christ. This is the big picture for us.
We just studied the coming Millennial kingdom and the final days of the “old” earth. When everything is said and done, Jesus will present the kingdom back to the Father, which is the fullness of time. This was all set in motion since creation, every jot, every tittle, as Scripture says. And, all of this is to God’s own pleasure. It pleases God that you belong to Him. It pleased God to reveal His mystery to you. To God be the glory forever and ever, amen.
• Paul was God’s chosen instrument to bring us the good news.
• All spiritual blessings are given to us from God.
• We were chosen from eternity past.
• We are God’s adopted children.
• We are saved by God’s own blood.
• God gave us wisdom and understanding, which led to salvation.
• The fullness of time is coming, everything will happen just as God planed.