Ephesians Chapter 1 Spiritual Blessings in Christ
Verses 1-2 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul makes his introductions and notes that this letter is to be sent to believers in Ephesus. Early manuscripts do not have “in Ephesus”; however, this letter is believed to be a circular letter intended to first be sent to Ephesus and then circulated to neighboring local churches. This is evident as the letter is included in the early cannon followed by the early church bishops. More importantly, this is a timeless message to all believers. Letters written from the Apostles were shared with all the growing churches as the church leaders knew this was inspired teaching from God.
Paul makes his introductions and notes that this letter is to be sent to believers in Ephesus. Early manuscripts do not have “in Ephesus”; however, this letter is believed to be a circular letter intended to first be sent to Ephesus and then circulated to neighboring local churches. This is evident as the letter is included in the early cannon followed by the early church bishops. More importantly, this is a timeless message to all believers. Letters written from the Apostles were shared with all the growing churches as the church leaders knew this was inspired teaching from God.
Verse 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
What do you think it means that God has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ? When I think of blessings, my thinking tends to navigate to desiring tangible material blessings because my fleshly insecurities limit my perspectives. I want to know and have the assurance that my needs will be taken care of and my worries in life will be limited and manageable. My human nature wants the security of knowing that I don't have to worry about earthly provisions. While we can certainly be blessed with material earthly blessings, God promises us something better - more than we could have thought to ask or imagine. And while He doesn't ask us to rid ourselves of material possessions, His desire is for us to place our trust and security in Him and not be self-sufficient and self-satisfied. Therefore, the blessings that He promises are eternal and transcend our earthly material needs. Here are a few of the blessings He provides: Spiritual Blessings |
He has blessed us - we do not need to wait. - we simply need to take hold! We have what it takes to walk confidently and boldly in Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:12 "...we have received the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us." Culture of the day: Ephesus was popular for the temple of Artemis and was actually a tourist spot in the day. As quoted by the city clerk in Acts 19: 35, “Men of Ephesus, doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image which fell from heaven?”. This practice was pagan idolatry and did not provide eternal rewards and gave the people of Emphasis a false sense of security. The temple provided a boost to their local economy because travelers would frequent here primarily because of the temple prostitution. Like this pagan practice, we make for ourselves false gods when we put our faith and trust in anything earthly. How is the temple dedicated to a god different from God's Temple? => Read More |
In Christ, we have all the benefits of knowing God. By saying these blessings are from the heavenly realm, Paul is indicating that these blessings are eternal - they came from the heavenly realm, from God who is and always has been. These blessings are not temporary and are not subject to decay and cannot be stolen from us. For example, we can be blessed with earthly riches – money, prestige, a nice home. But these blessings are temporary. As the saying goes, “You can’t take them with you.” Experiencing a peace, knowing that you are secure in Christ and can trust in God for all your provisions would be an example of heavenly realm blessings. Earthly, temporary blessings can be taken away but God promises that nothing can separate us from God.
Because we can have a close relationship with Christ now, we can enjoy these blessings now. |
Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do no break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.... ______________________________________________ |
Verse 4 -6 For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined us to be adopted as His son's through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will -- to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.
---------- God CHOSE us IN HIM ----------
Underscoring the good news of Jesus is His grace. Nothing that He did for us was based on earnings or merit but from "His glorious grace, which He has freely given". The blessings bestowed through grace cannot be "free" if it requires something more than acceptance of the gift given. It cannot be characterized as "freely given" if it is constrained to "free while supplies last". God's grace never runs out. God chose us in Him before the creation of the world! What does it mean to be CHOSEN? We are predisposed to thinking of being chosen as if we are chosen out of a group based on our own merits, skills or likability. For example, we may remember the days when you may or may not have been chosen out of a group of classmates to be selected for a team or for a school office. Or maybe you wanted to be chosen for an award among fellow employees. We are conditioned to think that we are selected based on our own merits or skills. Selection is usually deserved. Worse...when we are not selected for something, we wonder what is wrong with us. It is easy to slip into this kind of thinking when we read that God chose us. But God doesn't choose us because we are deserving. If it was, "grace would no longer be grace." (Romans 11:6) [See Ephesians 2:8 for more notes.] This is why Paul said that God "chose us in Him". The phrase "in Him" is imperative and emphasizes that salvation depends totally on God. We are not saved because we deserve it but because God is gracious and freely gives salvation to those who accept His invitation....His calling. Because of Christ, we are holy and blameless in His sight. God chose us and when we belong to Him through Jesus Christ, God looks at us as if we had never sinned! How does that make you feel knowing that He had you in mind not only before He created you but before He created the world? If He knew you before you were born, and chose you for a specific purpose; how is that evidence of grace at work? If you were not even born, how could you have possibly "earned His good graces"? The Scriptures tell us that God had foreknowledge (Romans 8:29). Does this mean that God chose us because He knew we would make "great followers"? Did God say, "I've just got to have him/her on my team"? Paul must have been asked this question and he said that God called us "not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace" (2 Timothy 1:9) There is a saying "God doesn't call the equipped but equips those He calls". The truth is that God does not pre-qualify us for His calling. In fact, Biblical history shows that He called those that were most definitely not equipped. God does this so that we depend on Him....and we allow Him to work through us so that it is evidence OF Him at work. When He works through us, He gets the glory. However, He always equips us through the Holy Spirit to do every good work that has been planned for us to do. Hebrews 13:20 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen |
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John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent Me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. The significance in understanding that we are CHOSEN is not that He chooses some and not others but that God CHOSE us first. The Greek definition indicates a deliberate and intentional choice was made with a definitive outcome in mind. Because He chooses us, He also draws us to Him through the Holy Spirit. If He had not drawn us, there would be nothing in and of ourselves that would look to Him and choose Him. Our nature is to be selfish and self-serving. Even when we become a new creation, our old selfish nature battles with our new nature given in Christ (Galatians 5:17) This is why we have to crucify the flesh (Galatians 5:24) and deny our flesh daily (What does this mean?) 2 Timothy 1:9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
To call (Strongs #2564) means "to invite" "to summon" "to name". God's invitation is broad, yet it is specific. There is a difference, for example, in receiving a Facebook invitation and a personal invitation. He personally invites and calls us by name....He after all, knew us before the beginning of time. Isaiah 43:1 But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. God also chooses from those He calls. Matthew 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen." To be chosen (Strongs #1589, ekloge) is said to be a "choosing out, selecting, choice by God. The word is derived from a cognate: from 1537/ek "out from and to" and 3004/ego "speaking to a conclusion" - properly: selection out of and to a given outcome. What are we called out from? 1 Peter 2:9 "But you are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. *** link to Romans 8:30 And those He predestined, He also called. He called us out of darkness to a holy life (2 time 1:9) and predestined us to be conformed to His image. ephesians 1:4 He chose us FOR something specific....to be holy and blameless in His sight. Do you want to hear why God chose Israel for His purposes? Yes! Before we knew we needed Him,
God always knew He wanted us. Paula Halliday, First5 |
verse 5-6: (IN LOVE,) He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will – to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.
Predestination is a huge theological topic. Before considering the meaning of this biblical term, lets first focus on the fact that Paul emphasizes that "God, IN LOVE..... We have to keep in mind, always, the kind of God we worship. He is sovereign and He is not arbitrary in any of the decisions that He makes. Paul reminds us "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose....." (Romans 8:28). God is trustworthy! When we understand these qualities of God, we know that His choices are good even if we don't understand His reasons.
What does “predestined” mean?
According to www.biblestudytools.com, divine predestination means that God has a purpose that has been determined long before it is brought to pass. His plans and responses are not arbitrary. God is in control. It implies that God is infinitely capable of planning and then bringing about what he has planned. "Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'........Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.…"(Isaiah 46:9-11) What did God predestine to do? Paul tells us "in love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ n accordance with his pleasure and will." We are all God's creation but we are not all His children. God knew that sin would separate us from Him. So God had a plan to provide a way to be adopted into His family. This plan was in place long before the foundations for the world were spoken into being. This was not a reactive, after thought. God knew, if given the choice, our hearts would be corruptive by sin. Paul tells us that we were dead in our sin; we would need the power of the Holy Spirit it transform our hearts. This would be an internal, supernatural working of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:29 tells us that we were also predestined to be transformed into the image of Christ. What does it mean to be adopted? Why do you think we are called to be adopted through Jesus? Adoption was a big deal in Roman law. Adopted children had the same rights and privileges as biological children – even if they had been slaves. Paul uses this term to show how strong our relationship is with God. Imagine being a slave in ancient Israel. Then one day you are extended an invitation to be a part of this family that you had observed from a distance. Upon your acceptance you are told that you would be adopted and become an heir to the family inheritance. That would be a good day! Guess what? We are given that invitation and if we accept, will be adopted into God’s family and become heirs to a heavenly inheritance! |
Does anything take God by surprise? You might consider that given the state of the world, that something must have gone wrong with His plan. It might surprise you but “sin” didn’t take God by surprise. He knew what He was in for when He predestined to give us free will. He allowed us a choice….to choose to live with Him or without Him….to choose to accept His gift of salvation or to be judged on our own merits. Unfortunately, many people choose to live without Him.
"My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all my good pleasure" (Isaiah 46:10). Some may read such a Scripture and think, "that sounds arrogant or controlling". We mistakenly impose views of God based on bad experiences we may have had with people or from what we have seen of leaders through history. Earthly fathers who are abusive or controlling. Government dictators that abused their power. We have to seek to know God as revealed in the Scriptures. "God, in love" predestined those who have accepted His invitation for God does everything for His children out of love and fiercely protects them from "the snares of the devil" (Psalm 91:1-4) God is simply telling us that "He's got this!". He is not going to be taken by surprise by anything. And if we choose to follow Him, He will ensure to accomplish all that He determined accordingly. He can't be thwarted by human rulers or powers of darkness. 1. I know that I can trust Him because I know that He does everything out of love 2. His plans are not subject to being thrown-off by earthly or spiritual powers |
Galatians 3:26-4:7
3:26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. 4:1 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces[a] of the world. 4 But when the set time had fully come,God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. |
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Verse 7-8 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
What does it mean that we have been redeemed through Christ’s blood?
According to LAN: To speak of Jesus’ blood was an important first century way of speaking of Christ’s death. His death points to two wonderful truths – redemption and forgiveness. Redemption was the price paid to gain freedom for a slave (Leviticus 25:47-54). Through his death, Jesus paid the price to release us from slavery to sin. Forgiveness was granted in Old Testament times on the basis of the shedding of animals blood (Leviticus 17:11). Now we are forgiven on the basis of the shedding of Jesus blood – He died as the perfect and final sacrifice. (Romans 5:9, Ephesians 2:13, Colossians 1:20, Hebrews 9:22, 1 Peter 1:19). |
Redemption was the price paid to gain freedom for a slave (Leviticus 25:47-54)
We were once slaves to our natural man...slaves to our sin nature. But we have been redeemed through the blood of Christ! Christ paid the price so that we could gain our freedom! He also adopted us into His family so that we can be heirs to the same inheritance! |
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So God had a plan before He created the world….before He created you and me. His love was so intensive that it motivated Him to create a perfect world, without fault and sin. He then created man (with you and me in mind) and desired to lavish His love on us. So intensive was His love, He knew that we would only recognize and return His love if we were allowed to choose to receive His love and then love Him back. [God loved us first REF] A love that is controlling is a love based out fear and is not true love. [perfect love REF]. But He also knew, if given a choice, some would not choose to love Him and would rebel. He knew His perfect creation would be broken by sin. He knew all this before He ever spoke a word of His creation into existence. So God’s plan also included a way to redeem and restore all that was broken. God knew that man in his broken state would not be able to redeem himself….God would have to provide a way to restore and reconcile us to Him. God knew that real love is more than just words….it is action.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8 )
Grace is God’s voluntary and loving favor given to those He saves. We were redeemed "in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us". He "lavished" His grace on us. God's grace is extreme! We can’t earn salvation, nor do we deserve it. It comes only from God’s mercy and love. Without God’s grace, no person can be saved. To receive it, we must acknowledge that we cannot save ourselves; that only God can save us and that our only way to receive this loving favor is through faith in Christ.
So God had a plan before He created the world….before He created you and me. His love was so intensive that it motivated Him to create a perfect world, without fault and sin. He then created man (with you and me in mind) and desired to lavish His love on us. So intensive was His love, He knew that we would only recognize and return His love if we were allowed to choose to receive His love and then love Him back. [God loved us first REF] A love that is controlling is a love based out fear and is not true love. [perfect love REF]. But He also knew, if given a choice, some would not choose to love Him and would rebel. He knew His perfect creation would be broken by sin. He knew all this before He ever spoke a word of His creation into existence. So God’s plan also included a way to redeem and restore all that was broken. God knew that man in his broken state would not be able to redeem himself….God would have to provide a way to restore and reconcile us to Him. God knew that real love is more than just words….it is action.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8 )
Grace is God’s voluntary and loving favor given to those He saves. We were redeemed "in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us". He "lavished" His grace on us. God's grace is extreme! We can’t earn salvation, nor do we deserve it. It comes only from God’s mercy and love. Without God’s grace, no person can be saved. To receive it, we must acknowledge that we cannot save ourselves; that only God can save us and that our only way to receive this loving favor is through faith in Christ.
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Verse 9 And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment - to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
Verse 9 And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment - to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
What is the mystery of His will?
I've heard people speak of the mysteries of God. Certainly, His will can at times seem to be a mystery. And certainly, God being God, there are going to be a few things that we aren't going to get. That's what makes God...well....God (Isaiah 55:8). But God revealed the mystery of His will! He was not intentionally keeping His plan a secrete. But His plan for the world could not be fully understood until Christ came to dwell among us....to die before us....and to rise and live for all eternity. The "mystery of His will" was "purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment". You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:7 Perfect! God had a plan before time actually began. If you read the pages of the Old Testament, you will see how God rolled-out this plan throughout time….always pointing forward to the fulfillment of a better promise. The law served to let man know what is sin by defining it; but the law was weak in that it could do nothing to save us from our sins. The sacrificial system provided was a temporary covenant intended to point to the need for a Savior that could redeem us and reconcile us once and for all with God our Father. God was not intentionally keeping His plan a mystery but we could not fully understand His plan until Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins and then rise from the dead showing that death had no power over Him. God was patient in waiting for "just the right time" to reveal His plan to us. |
A verse that is often quoted when we "don't get it" is Isaiah 55:8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. But you might be surprised to read the verse in it's context: Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon."For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.…(Isaiah 55:7-9). The Lord has compassion on those who turn from their wicked ways and turn to God. He will give them an abundant pardon. In a word: Forgiveness. We may want justice, but we ourselves our not quick to forgive those who have offended us. God's grace and mercy is difficult to understand. We want to receive His mercy and grace but we ourselves are not quick to extend it to others. That's why Christians are often perceived as being judgmental.
* * * * * * * * * * * * I can keep someone's confidence but it's difficult for me to keep a secrete...especially when the secrete involves a gift. I know people who can shop month's in advance for a gift for someone. Not me! If I have something I want to gift to someone....especially if I know its the perfect gift....I can't wait to give it to the person. God had the most perfect gift to give the world. And He waited until the right time to give Him to us! God was patient in working with an imperfect people who, it seemed at every turn, were rebellious and disobedient. But He faithfully navigated them through history....disciplining at times but ALWAYS offering the promise and commitment to restoration. |
Verse 10b - 12 -- to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory.
We were also chosen
This is sometimes translated "obtained and inheritance". NASB: "also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will," CSB: "In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will," NLT: ""Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan." This is the only occurrence of the Greek word 2820 klēróō. It is derived from the Greek from 2819 /klḗros, "to cast lots") – properly, make a choice when assisted by casting lots. It is also related to 2818 klēronómos (a masculine noun which is also derived from 2819 /klḗros, "lot" and nemō, "to distribute, allot") – an heir; someone who inherits.[In ancient times, inheritance was often determined by casting lots (such as with land disposition). Numbers 26:52-56 discusses the allotment of the promised land of Israel. |
In other words...this is saying that in Christ we have become an heir to the inheritance allotted by God which had been predetermined before the foundations of the world (vs 4).
[thought...could the "inheritance" be related to the spiritual gifts that the Spirit determines for each of us in accordance to His plan for us in fulfilling the common mission of the Church?] The believer's inheritance is two-fold. First, it means becoming a child of God; this gives us the right to expect an inheritance. Second, we gain eternity with the Lord, dwelling in His righteousness for all time. Paul's intent here is to point out how it was Jews who were the first to accept the gospel, according to the plan of God, and for His glory (Ephesians 1:12). Unfortunately, most of Israel rejected Jesus as the Messiah. As a result, the gospel was spread to the Gentiles (Ephesians 1:13), who share in the same inheritance. Psalm 16:5-6 (NIV) "Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance." |
What was His plan?
- to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under Christ God's purpose for sending Christ was to unite believers - Jews and Gentiles - in one body with Christ as the head. And when the time is right, He will bring us all together to be with Him forever. "...God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness - the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:25-27 - we were also chosen according to the predestined plan of God; who works out everything to conform to His purpose and will God's purpose is to offer salvation to the world - to reconcile those that believe in His Son and accept His grace in salvation. God's purpose cannot be thwarted no matter what evil Satan may bring. God works out everything according to His plan and purposes of His will. The fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies is a witness to that fact. God chose a people who were obedient to believing in His promises to fulfill His plan. |
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Notice through out all of these verses (1 thru 14) how Christ was emphasized by the phrase "in Him" or "in Christ" - to the faithful in Christ - every spiritual blessing in Christ - He chose us in Him - In Him we have redemption - He purposed in Christ - In Him we were also chosen - first to hope in Christ - included in Christ - marked in Him This is intended to emphasize that salvation depends totally on God….He chose us! We can choose to follow Him and accept His gift of salvation only because He chose us first and put a plan in place that would allow us to be redeemed and reconciled to Him. |
Verse 12 - 14 In order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's posession - to the praise of His glory.
Consider the phrase "the first to hope in Christ.
The Jewish Christians were the “first to hope in Christ”…to confidently put their expectation in the Messiah who would come from the seed of Abraham as God promised. But God did not plan or expect that the fulfillment of this promise would be limited to the Jewish people. As stated verse 10 “that all things were to be brought together under one head….that is Christ.” Christ is the head of the church of believers so that there is neither Jew, nor Gentile, nor slave , nor… All are equal in His sight and fulfillment of His plan. (See also Gal 3:8, Col 1:27) Paul may have been talking to 1st century Christians but this message was not intended to be limited to them. The good news continues…..you and I were also included in Christ when we heard the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation. When we accepted Christ (having believed) we also received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; Galatians 4:6; 2 Corinthians 1:22, Romans 8:9-10). Like a dignitary placing a wax seal on important papers indicating their authenticity, God seals us with His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God’s seal that we belong to Him and His deposit guaranteeing that He will do what He has promised….that is the biblical definition of hope! The Holy Spirit in us is like God’s notary guaranteeing the authenticity of our salvation. The Holy Spirit in us demonstrates the genuineness of our faith and proves that we are God’s children and secures eternal life for us. His power works in us to transform us now, and what we experience now is a taste of the total change we will experience in eternity. |
What does it mean to have hope?
For many people, to have hope may feel elusive. They have no confidence of actually obtaining what they are hoping for in life. It may feel like wishful thinking that something may or may not happen in the future. But wishful thinking can also lead to regrets as we wish we had not made certain choices in life or gone down wrong paths. This can make us feel hopeless. For real hope to exist it must be concrete and it can only exist when it points to something that is real. The object of our hope is significant in determining our level of confidence. Christ is the source and object of our hope and faith. Hope and faith go hand in hand. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure (having the confidence) in what we hope for and certain (have the assurance) about what we do not see. There are many different belief systems available for consideration and application to our lives. However, a belief system has only real value if it is true. Believing and accepting Christ is the only belief system that offers hope….hope of salvation and eternal life. 1 Peter 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you. But how do we know this is true. Christianity is based on a historical figure but so is Buddhism and Islam. But Christianity also offers a historical event which is the anchor to our faith….that is, the resurrection of Christ. We can reason the evidence and do not have to blindly accept our faith as true. In fact, the Apostle Paul said without the resurrection, our faith would be in vain: 1 Corinthians 15:14, 17-19 14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith…… 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. |
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Ephesians 1:15-23
Verse 15-16 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
"For this reason"....what reason would that be? Bible section headers, while extremely helpful can also be distracting and can cause us not to read the Scriptures in the context that they were written in. Backing up and reviewing the prior verses, will help to tie the verses together. "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.....For this reason......" Paul had a love for sharing the gospel that propelled him to ship out from his home base of Antioch and reach out to various parts of the world to share and reason his faith. The church at Antioch was the location where the believers there were the first to be called Christians (Acts 11:26)....Jew, Gentile, Greeks.....united by a common bond created by their belief in Christ. It is sad in today's Christian culture that doctrinal divisions have created a separation among believers and harming the overall mission of the Church. Paul at one time was threatened by the growth of the Christian Church, But after meeting Christ and committing to serve Him in his life, Paul was now compelled by an even stronger motivation to introduce and encourage everyone he had met (and even those he had not yet met) to share in following Christ. Paul now saw people through a different lens and was motivated by a love so strongly that his own personal story of transformation speaks volumes to the authenticity of his faith. Paul had heard about the faith of the Ephesian believers and knew that "having believed" in Christ that they too had received the promised Holy Spirit. The presence of the Holy Spirit testifies to us about the genuineness of our faith and our inclusion in God's family. The Holy Spirit also works in us to bring about change and transformation so that we will be conformed into the image of Christ (2 Cor 3:18). |
"Ever since I heard about your faith....." When do you think that was?
Paul was on his 2nd missionary journey. While in Corinth, he met some new friends - Priscilla and Aquila. When Paul was ready to return home to Antioch, Syria., they joined him on his return trip but traveled only as far as Ephesus where Paul left them. (Acts 18:18-22). Although Paul's first visit in Ephesus was brief, he did not want to miss an opportunity to be a witness to his faith in Christ. Acts 18:19 says "He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews". Ready to return to his home church in Antioch, Paul declined to stay longer as requested by the Jews in Ephesus but seeds of faith had been firmly planted. Priscilla and Aquila remained in Ephesus for a period of time before returning to Rome. While in Ephesus, they continued to water the seeds planted by Paul and developed a home church while there. It's not difficult to imagine that this couple ensured that Paul heard about the growing faith of the people of Ephesus. Later, when Paul was on his 3rd Missionary journey, he "traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phyrgia, strengthening all the disciples" (Acts 18:23). Paul stayed on a direct route toward Ephesus. When he arrived this time, he found some disciples and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? (Acts 19:2) Discovering that these disciples had only heard of the baptism of repentance as taught by John the Baptist, Paul provided further instruction on the message and ministry of Jesus Christ. They had believed on the promise of Jesus as the coming Messiah but they did not understand the significance of his death and resurrection or the work of the Holy Spirit. Becoming a Christian involves both turning from sin (repentance) and turning to Christ (faith). These believers were incomplete. But upon hearing the good news, these disciples were baptized in Christ and received the Holy Spirit. |
Paul remembered the Ephesian believers in his prayers. What did he pray for and what can we learn from his prayer requests?
This is such a beautiful prayer. Often we do not know what and how to pray for ourselves and for other believers. When in doubt, consider some of the requests that Paul made on behalf of the Ephesian's:
Verse 17 - I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.
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I'm sure Christ's account in the garden was shared with Paul upon his conversion as he spent some time with Peter. Perhaps knowing that Jesus referred to God as Father, Paul had the following to say to fellow believers:
Romans 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" Galatians 4:6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" |
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Paul said it like this in his letter to the Colossians (1:9-10):
"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to
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Verse 18 - I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints....
What does it mean "the eyes of your heart"? Jesus often spoke about spiritual eyes and ears. While we can reason our faith and consider the historical record and the evidence as provided through the eye witness accounts in Scripture, we also have to be open and willing to hearing and seeing the truth. Those that refuse to accept the truth are said to be hardened of heart (Ephesians 4:18). Paul is praying that God would give the believers a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the true knowledge of Him. In order to do that, we must ask God to open our eyes. Even though God has opened our eyes to see and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, we still must seek Him to enlighten the eyes of our hearts so that we will come to a deeper understanding of these crucial truths. “The eyes of our hearts” refers to our total inner person, which includes the intellect, the emotions, and the will. In other words, this is not just an intellectual ability to understand or teach these truths. The knowledge that Paul is praying for includes an intellectual grasp of the truth, but it also grips our emotions and brings our will into greater submission to the lordship of Jesus Christ. As a believer, you are always in need of the Holy Spirit to enlighten the eyes of your heart to the great truths of the Bible so that we can know, love and obey God better. What is the hope to which He has called you? A better phrasing of this verse is "the hope of His calling" and is intended to emphasize that He took the initiative in our salvation. This hope is also the certainty of the promises made in Christ that we can actualize beginning now in this life and carrying us all through eternity. As previously noted, believers have been “sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise.” Since God’s promises are as certain as He is faithful, the hope of our calling is not some vague, wishful thinking that everything will work out for our good. Rather, if we are called according to God’s purpose, then we know that He is actively working all things together for our good, both in time and in eternity (Rom. 8:28)! So even in the most difficult trials, we can be filled with hope (see Rom. 15:13). As believers, we should be filled with hope because our faith in Christ did not originate with our feeble will, but with the sovereign, eternal will of God. Thus we know that He will fulfill all of His promises to us. We will be with Him forever in heaven, where there will be no suffering or tears or death. We will be perfect in righteousness and in love for God and one another. We will enjoy perfect happiness in a perfect environment where nothing will be spoiled by sin. Even more, we will be in the presence of the One who loved us and redeemed us with His blood. Lastly, Paul is praying that we might know the "riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints". Paul wants us to get a glimpse of our glorious future so that we will live in light of it right now. Excerpts taken from: https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-10-what-god-wants-you-know-ephesians-118-19 |
Sin blinds the minds of unbelievers and renders them incapable of understanding the truth of the gospel, unless God opens their blind eyes The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God......For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 |
Verse 19 - 23....and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.
The Surpassing Greatness of His Power
God wants you to know what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.. Paul is emphasizing God’s power that already saved us. In other words, if we now have come to believe in Christ, we can know that it took nothing less than God’s mighty power to bring us to that point. Salvation is not a joint project, where we teamed up with God to bring it about. Paul wants to encourage us as we realize that our salvation is evidence of God’s surpassingly great power at work in us because we were dead in our sins and He gave us life! Colossians 2: 13 "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. 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. And having disarmed the power and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." And the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in us to give us life! [See => We Have Been Given Life] Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Jesus is head over the church (ekklesia - "called out ones") At the will of God the Father, Jesus rules over everything. Both the Father and the Son reign together over all created things, according to Paul's words in this verse. This includes the church, the bride of Christ. Interaction with the church—the human, living group of fellow believers—is essential to a believer's spiritual health. Though imperfect, it is the family of believers working together who serve as God's bride in this world. This requires cooperation and unity. The church is intended to seek God's goals for our lives both collectively and individually. Those who seek to grow spiritually without church involvement miss out on an important aspect of faith. Being part of a church is part of God's design, and is foundational to spiritual maturity. Ephesians 4:10-13 "He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe. So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors, and teachers, to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." |
The Church is God's Household
1 Timothy 3: 15 "If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth." The church belongs to Jesus and serves as the foundation of God's truth to the world. The Church is Christ's Body This is a common metaphor, and relatively easy to apply. We are the "hands and feet" of Jesus in this world. We are meant to influence the people around us, caring for them and working for good. This means different Christians will have different talents, skills, and roles to fulfill in serving God on earth (1 Corinthians 12). Ref: Bibleref.com The Church is the fullness of Him As Christ's body, the Church should express the direction of the Head. God desires that we participate in His plans and purpose. The Great Commission is actually a co-mission. In the wonderful purpose of God for us, He has given us the task of expressing Christ to the world. In that sense, we are His fullness. Christ fills all in all Christ doesn't need the church to be made complete, but the Church does need Christ - apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). God's plans do tie together all that the Father wills (Ephesians 1:10). The church, then, is something Christ makes full through His gift of all blessings. Ref: Bibleref.com All that we are and have as His people comes from His gracious hand. Christ filling all in all not only refers to His gifts and power as given to the Church but also to His supreme presence and power in all the universe. Jeremiah 23:24 "Can a man hide himself in hiding places so I do not see him? declares the Lord. 'Do I not fill the heaven's and the earth? declares the Lord. As Head of the church, the fullness of Christ is directed toward the church. Christ continues to work in and through His church and the Church continues the work of Christ. Do they see His grace, His love, and His holiness through our lives? People do not see the risen and exalted Christ, but they see His body, the church. What do they see? Do we represent our risen, exalted Head in a proper manner? Do they see His grace, His love, and His holiness through our lives? |
ON BECOMING THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST =>
Our lives as believers corporately, as well as my life individually, is to have the Spirit of Christ living in and through us [SO] that what comes out is not a tiny picture of Jesus but the full expression of who He is. The world is to know there is a God because they see Him showing Himself through our lives......I allow the Living God – through the Holy Spirit indwelling my life – to act upon the stage of my life, to show Himself strong and powerful to the world, despite my weakness and inability. The only explanation for my life is to be Jesus. The reason I have victory or purity or joy or peace or strength or wisdom or anything else is not because there is something inherently good about myself or because I try real hard but rather because I am embracing Jesus and He, through the Spirit, is producing His life through mine. The Head shows itself through the body.
Ian Thomas, one of my heroes from Christian history, once wrote in his book The Mystery of Godliness:
The Christian life can be explained only in terms of Jesus Christ, and if your life as a Christian can still be explained in terms of you – your personality, your willpower, your gift, your talent, your money, your courage, your scholarship, your dedication, your sacrifice, or your anything – then although you may have the Christian life, you are not yet living it.
He went on to say:
It is only when your quality of life baffles the neighbors that you are likely to impress them! It has got to become patently obvious to others that the kind of life you are living is not only highly commendable, but that it is beyond all human explanation! That it is beyond the consequences of man’s capacity to imitate, and however little they may understand this, it is clearly the consequence only of God’s capacity to reproduce Himself in you! In a nutshell, this means that your fellowmen must become convinced that the Lord Jesus Christ of whom you speak, is essentially Himself the ingredient of the life you live!
Could it be that the world becomes aware of the Head because they see the Head through the body? Does the world see Jesus in my life? Is Jesus the only explanation for how I live, how I think, or what I do? Or can they explain my life away but chalking it up to my talent, resource, wisdom, or my whatever?
Excerpt taken from the following article by Eric Ledy Becoming The Fullness of Christ.
Our lives as believers corporately, as well as my life individually, is to have the Spirit of Christ living in and through us [SO] that what comes out is not a tiny picture of Jesus but the full expression of who He is. The world is to know there is a God because they see Him showing Himself through our lives......I allow the Living God – through the Holy Spirit indwelling my life – to act upon the stage of my life, to show Himself strong and powerful to the world, despite my weakness and inability. The only explanation for my life is to be Jesus. The reason I have victory or purity or joy or peace or strength or wisdom or anything else is not because there is something inherently good about myself or because I try real hard but rather because I am embracing Jesus and He, through the Spirit, is producing His life through mine. The Head shows itself through the body.
Ian Thomas, one of my heroes from Christian history, once wrote in his book The Mystery of Godliness:
The Christian life can be explained only in terms of Jesus Christ, and if your life as a Christian can still be explained in terms of you – your personality, your willpower, your gift, your talent, your money, your courage, your scholarship, your dedication, your sacrifice, or your anything – then although you may have the Christian life, you are not yet living it.
He went on to say:
It is only when your quality of life baffles the neighbors that you are likely to impress them! It has got to become patently obvious to others that the kind of life you are living is not only highly commendable, but that it is beyond all human explanation! That it is beyond the consequences of man’s capacity to imitate, and however little they may understand this, it is clearly the consequence only of God’s capacity to reproduce Himself in you! In a nutshell, this means that your fellowmen must become convinced that the Lord Jesus Christ of whom you speak, is essentially Himself the ingredient of the life you live!
Could it be that the world becomes aware of the Head because they see the Head through the body? Does the world see Jesus in my life? Is Jesus the only explanation for how I live, how I think, or what I do? Or can they explain my life away but chalking it up to my talent, resource, wisdom, or my whatever?
Excerpt taken from the following article by Eric Ledy Becoming The Fullness of Christ.
Other references:
https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-11-god%E2%80%99s-mighty-power-ephesians-119-23
: https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/his-body-the-fullness-of-him-who-fills-all-in-all
https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-11-god%E2%80%99s-mighty-power-ephesians-119-23
: https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/his-body-the-fullness-of-him-who-fills-all-in-all