Class Notes, Eph 2:1-10

Eph 2:1-3 (NIV)  As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

·         Before we were regenerated, what was our spiritual state?

o    We were spiritually dead

o    There are two types of death in scripture, spiritual death and physical death.  Sometimes we confuse the two

o    So, in answer to the question, when did you become a Christian, and the person answers, I was always a Christian or I was born a Christian, what is the problem?

·         It is not true

·         We are spiritually dead and separate from God

§  John 1:12-13 (NIV) Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

·         Three ideas of moral pathology (Simpson, p46)

o    Pelagianism asserts the convalescence of human nature. Man merely needs teaching

o    Semi-pelagianism admits his ill-health, but affirms that the symptoms will yield to proper treatment, to a course of tonic drugs and a scrupulous regimen

o    Biblical Christianity ... pronounces that mortification has set in and that nothing less than infusion of fresh lifeblood can work a cure. Nostrums (medicine of secret composition; questionable remedy) and palliatives (something that helps but cannot cure the disease) aggravate rather than allay the disease. Sin is an organic epidemical malady, a slow devitalizing poison issuing in moral necrosis (localized death of living tissue); not a stage of arrested or incomplete development, but a seedplot of impending ruin."

·         Paul describes the environment in three ways

·         The first is a lifestyle that follows the ways of this world.  How would you describe this lifestyle?

o    The phrase ‘olam hazeh (CJB) is used in the Complete Jewish Bible (reference to a Gentile demonic lifestyle)

o    Not just opposed to the rules of God, but actually, seeks to eliminate God from every aspect of life.  There is a worldview that is of this world and there is a biblical one.  They are in opposition to each other

·         Secondly, this lifestyle is dominated by the "ruler of the kingdom of the air" also called "the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient"

o    The ruler is Satan

o    Satan has been cast out of heaven by Christ' ascension

o    His rule is restricted to earth.  This is also the region where demons dwell

o    His power though extends into the hearts of unbelievers

·         Not all unbelievers are demon-possessed

·         Even in Jesus' time it was somewhat rare

·         Today, there are 30-50 times as many people, so demon possession would be more rare

·         So, the philosophy or lifestyle of the world influences people, Satan and his demonic forces influences people, and lastly, our flesh (human nature marred by sin) dominates us

o    Our sinful nature is inherited from Adam and is corrupted

o    We want to satisfy our lusts

o    We desire to sin

o    We want to be proud

o    We want to do things to excess

o    We are all narcissists to a degree (some more than others)

·         Consequently, prior to coming to Christ, what is our state?

o    We are objects of wrath

o    Why?

·         Because we opposed God (from three different ways).  We accepted a philosophy that pushes or eliminates him.  We followed the ruler of this world.  We allowed our flesh to dictate our needs

Eph 2:4-5 (NIV) But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved.

·         So that we understand our state before coming to God, how would you describe it?

o    Opposed, enemies, without any good (from God's perspective), and without ANY hope

o    Who takes the first step?

·         GOD

·         This is an absolutely key thought.  You did not seek God.  God sought you.  If you think you initiated the relationship, then you have completely missed the point

·         1 John 4:9-10 (NIV) This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

·         I love how the AMP and NLT translate the Greek

o    Eph 2:4-5 (NLT) But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, …

o    Eph 2:4 (AMP) But God — so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,

·         Why all the discussion on our condition prior to the statement that it is grace that saved us?

o    Paul wants us to truly understand:

·         Our condition

·         Our rebellion

·         Our lack of saving our self

·         God's amazing love

·         Our need for heart felt repentance, thanks, and humility

·         GRACE -- God's riches at Christ' Expense.  Undeserved merit

Eph 2:6-10 (NIV) And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

·         We have been transformed from objects of wrath to what kind of object now?

o    Objects of his grace.  Objects of his kindness.  Objects of his incomparable riches

·         What are the ages to come?

o    Millennial age, and the age that follows, and whatever other ages God plans

·         Obviously, the "seated" is not literal but has to be taken metaphorically.

o    Seated refers to our new home, our new citizenship

o    Jesus has literally done, what we will do in the future

·         Verse 8 and 9 are the summary verses of this whole section.  Put it in your own words

o    You cannot save yourself

o    God saved us.  It had nothing to do with us

o    In heaven, there will be no more boasting.  (it would be nice to see that today)

·         So salvation is not something we have produced.  It is not a masterpiece that we can show off.  But we are a masterpiece that God shows off.  The JB translates workmanship, a work of art.  The Greek word is poime, which is where we get the word poem

o    But here is the part where we have a role

o    God's created the poem.  He has even prepared the good works for us to do.  So what are we doing to write it?

·         You are writing a gospel each day, by the things that you do, and the words that you say.  Men read what you write, distorted or true.  What is the gospel according to you? (Author unknown)

Eph 1:15-23

1. Salutation 1:1-2
   
2. The Christian's calling 1:3—3:21
   
   1. Individual calling 1:3—2:10
      
      1. The purpose: glory 1:3-14
         
      2. The means: knowledge 1:15-23
         
      3. The motive: grace 2:1-10
         
   2. Corporate calling 2:11-3:19
      
      1. Present unity 2:11-22
         
      2. Past ignorance 3:1-13
         
      3. Future comprehension 3:14-19
         
   3. Doxology 3:20-21
      
3. The Christian's conduct 4:1—6:20
   
   1. Spiritual walk 4:1—6:9
      
      1. Walking in unity 4:1-16
         
      2. Walking in holiness 4:17-32
         
      3. Walking in love 5:1-6
         
      4. Walking in light 5:7-14
         
      5. Walking in wisdom 5:15—6:9
         
   2. Spiritual warfare 6:10-20
      
4. Conclusion 6:21-24 (reference, Constable, 2010)
   

• The nine spiritual blessings Paul identified in verses 3-14 are election, predestination, adoption, grace, redemption, forgiveness, knowledge, sealing, and inheritance. Stott summarized them as three: past election, present adoption, and future unification.
  

  Eph 1:15-16 (NIV) For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
  

• What does Paul mean by "ever since I heard about your faith …?"
  
  • Could be a work was previously started -- that does not fit with Acts
    
  • Could be that his early works was so short that he had not seen much fruit during his initial visit. Later he would spend almost 3 years there teaching them
    
  • NOTE: Paul's first visit to Ephesus (on the sea coast of Lydia, near the river Cayster) is related in Acts 18:19-21. The work, begun by his disputations with the Jews in his short visit, was carried on by Apollos (Acts 18:24-26), and Aquila, and Priscilla. At his second visit, after his journey to Jerusalem, and thence to the east regions of Asia Minor, he remained at Ephesus "three years" (Acts 19:10, the "two years" in which verse are only part of the time, and Acts 20:31); so that the founding and rearing of this church occupied an unusually large portion of his time and care; whence his language shows a warmth of feeling, a free outpouring of thought, and a union in spiritual privileges and hope between him and them (Eph 1:3, etc.), such as are natural from one so long and so intimately associated with those whom he addresses. On his last journey to Jerusalem, he sailed by Ephesus, and summoned the elders of the Ephesian church to him at Miletus, where he delivered his farewell charge (Acts 20:18-35).
    

    (from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
    

• How would you describe his relationship to the Ephesians? How would you compare that to the Corinthians?
  
  • Ephesians: Close, warm relationship; good knowledge of truth; little difficulty
    
  • Corinthians: Loving but strained; knowledge of the truth is corrupted by false ideas of worship; much difficulty
    
• Prayers in the bible are a good opportunity to study the concept of biblical prayer and then compare it to what we pray. What is the first aspect of prayer that Paul mentions?
  
  • Thanksgiving
    
  • What does that mean, and how can we incorporate that in our prayers? Specifically thank God for:
    
    • their salvation;
      
    • particular service in the church or community;
      
    • spiritual change in their life;
      
    • spiritual knowledge;
      
    • spiritual encouragement given through a word or testimony;
      
    • the person's genuine concern or willingness to find out about me;
      
    • the person's follow-up on my prayer requests
      
  • What would another person thank God about me? And who would do that?
    

  Eph 1:17-20 (NIV) 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. 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, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
  

• Let's look deeper at other aspects of biblical prayer. Let's list what Paul prays and discuss what that means (or how that looks)
  
  • God would give a spirit of wisdom and revelation to know Him better
    
    • First of all, what does the previous verses 13 and 14 say? We have the Spirit as a seal and deposit
      
    • So then, this would not be the Holy Spirit. It is called "a spirit of wisdom and revelation" in all other translations except NIV. The NIV does have a footnote saying that it could be translated "a spirit" -- not clear why they went with "the Spirit" denoting the Holy Spirit. AMP says "a spirit of wisdom and revelation of insight into mysteries and secrets." Message says "to make you intelligent and discerning"
      
    • So what does that mean? What are we praying for when we pray that for someone?
      
      • Insight in to the scriptures -- assumes what? They are in the scriptures
        
      • Focus is on the relationship aspect, ie, to know him better. So it is not just head knowledge (the word used, epignosis refers to exact, complete, and experiential knowledge of God)
        
        • Discussion on QT: Suggestions for different ways to have QT
          
        • A few verses at a time and a QT journal
          
        • A few chapters at a time and a short journal entry
          
        • A store produced journal with a thought, verse, and area to write
          
        • Really need two-way communication. I don't think it is sufficient just to read the word. I think there has to be engagement. It could be prayer afterwards reflecting on God's word
          
  • God would enlighten the eyes of their hearts so that they would understand their hope
    

    Eph 1:18 (NIV) By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones),…
    

    Eph 1:18 (MESSAGE) your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians,
    

    Eph 1:18 (NLT) I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
    

    • What does it all mean?
      
      • We don't see very well with our earthly eyes
        

        2 Cor 4:17-18 (NIV) For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
        

    • Spiritual focus to life
      
      • Recognizing that our inheritance, our retirement reward, our real hope is not found in this life but in the life to come
        
    • What happens when we do that to how we live this life?
      
      • We begin to see what God is doing and not what we want to do with life
        
      • Earthly life takes on less importance
        
      • We move from narcissism to servanthood. It is not about what I can get out of life to make me happy. I have a reward. I am not missing out on anything by sacrificing for others or for the sake of the gospel
        
      • It is a change in the basic structure of how we think about life
        
  • The third is a continuation of enlightened eyes. To know the incomparable power available to us
    
    • The power was displayed in raising Christ back from the dead
      
    • The Greek word, dynamis, refers to a spiritually dynamic living force. Other descriptive terms include: working, strength, might, and mighty
      
    • Why does the believer need God's strength?
      
      • It is too easy to give up
        
      • It is too easy to believe I am a failure
        
      • It is natural to try to live the Christian life in our own strength
        
        • Butler article on "Why I'm not a Committed Christian"
          
        • Tson described the difference, "When you make a ommitment, you are still in control, no matter how noble the thing you commit to. One can commit to pray, to study the Bible, to give his money, or to commit to automobile payments, or to lose weight. Whatever he chooses to do, he commits to. But surrender is different. If someone holds a gun and asks you to lift your hands in the air as a token of surrender, you don't tell that person what you are committed to. You simply surrender and do as you are told. . . . Americans love commitment because they are still in control. But the key word is surrender. We are to be slaves to the Lord Jesus Christ."
          

          Pasted from <http://www.navpress.com/dj/content.aspx?id=4422>
          

      • What am I, a committed Christian, or a surrendered Christian? Maybe if I surrendered, I would be less likely to do things in my own strength
        

  Eph 1:21-23 (NIV) … 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. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
  

• Why is Paul reminding the Ephesians that Jesus is above all rule and authority, power and dominion?
  
  • The Jews would have seen those words as referring to evil angelic powers
    
  • We do not need to worry about what evil could, can, or has done to us. We have a different prize which cannot be taken away from us. We have a true future and a hope. The enemy wants to zap us of our strength by keeping us focused on the material aspects of life
    
• Everything is subject to Christ. Obviously, we don't see that now. So what is Paul saying?
  
  • It could be referring to the millennial rule of Christ
    
  • It is a present true statement but evil is allowed to run its course until the time of judgment which will occur during the tribulation period
    
• We are Christ's body, the church, now on earth. The time of judgment is coming. We are a sort of firstfruits that will judge the world. We are to be surrendered to his authority as an example to the world. Christ is making his appeal to the world through us
  
  • Individually, I believe that what is true of the church ought to be true of us as individuals
    
  • What does my life show to those around me

Eph 1:1-4

• Background:
  
  • Prison epistle (w. Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians)
    
  • First imprisonment in Rom (62 AD). Acts 28-16-31
    
  • Second imprisonment (2 Timothy)
    
  • Strong emphasis on "mystery" and the church, and love
    

  Outline (reference, Constable, 2010 -- here and throughout the notes)
  

• Salutation 1:1-2
  
• The Christian's calling 1:3—3:21
  
  • Individual calling 1:3—2:10
    
    • The purpose: glory 1:3-14
      
    • The means: knowledge 1:15-23
      
    • The motive: grace 2:1-10
      
  • Corporate calling 2:11-3:19
    
    • Present unity 2:11-22
      
    • Past ignorance 3:1-13
      
    • Future comprehension 3:14-19
      
  • Doxology 3:20-21
    
• The Christian's conduct 4:1—6:20
  
  • Spiritual walk 4:1—6:9
    
    • Walking in unity 4:1-16
      
    • Walking in holiness 4:17-32
      
    • Walking in love 5:1-6
      
    • Walking in light 5:7-14
      
    • Walking in wisdom 5:15—6:9
      
  • Spiritual warfare 6:10-20
    
• Conclusion 6:21-24
  

  Eph 1:1-2 (NIV) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
  

  To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
  

  2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
  

• The term "apostle" has a general meaning and a specific meaning.
  
  • It means "sent one"
    
  • It also refers to the 12 or Paul, those who had seen the risen Christ
    
• Paul calls the recipient "saints" (Gr, hagiois, meaning holy ones)
  
  • While the letter here is addressed to Ephesus, there is some argument that the letter was meant to be circulated among the churches
    
  • Very little personal information
    
• Grace and peace were common in Paul's greetings
  
  • Grace, Gr charis, meaning God's unmerited favor
    
  • Peace, Gr eiren,is our condition resulting from God's grace
    

  Eph 1:3-10 (NIV) 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. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 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.
  

• Verses 3-14 are one sentence in the Greek text.
  

God and Father	Blessed us in heavenly realms	Every spiritual blessing in Christ
	Chose us before the creation of the world	To be holy and blameless in his sight
	Predestined us	To be adopted as his sons
In Him (the son)	Redemption (through his blood)
	Forgiveness of sins
	Lavished on us (the riches of God's grace)	With all wisdom and understanding
	Made known to us	The mystery of his will

• What does it mean he chose us?
  
  • "It [election] involves a paradox that the New Testament does not seek to resolve, and that our finite minds cannot fathom. Paul emphasizes both the sovereign purpose of God and man's free will." (Francis Foulkes)
    
  • Here is a vast host of people hurrying down the broad road with their minds fixed upon their sins, and one stands calling attention to yonder door, the entrance into the narrow way that leads to life eternal. On it is plainly depicted the text, 'Whosoever will, let him come.' Every man is invited, no one need hesitate. Some may say, 'Well, I may not be of the elect, and so it would be useless for me to endeavor to come, for the door will not open for me.' But God's invitation is absolutely sincere; it is addressed to every man, 'Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely' (Rev. 22:17). If men refuse to come, if they pursue their own godless way down to the pit, whom can they blame but themselves for their eternal judgment? The messenger addressed himself to all, the call came to all, the door could be entered by all, but many refused to come and perished in their sins. Such men can never blame God for their eternal destruction. The door was open, the invitation was given, they refused, and He says to them sorrowfully, 'Ye will not come unto Me, that ye might have life.' (H A Ironside)
    
• What does it mean to be predestined?
  
  • Predestination is the mean by which God chose to save us. Election emphasizes the people, and predestination the means
    
  • God predetermined the final destiny of the elect, namely, that we would be His full-fledged sons (cf. Rom. 8:15, 23; Gal. 4:4-7). Jesus Christ was the agent who made that adoption possible by His death. Sons adopted in Roman culture received the same rights and privileges as children born into the family. Likewise our adoption does not imply an inferior status in relation to God. God predestined us to adoption because He delighted to bless us in this way. (Constable)
    
• What is redemption? (Chart from Constable, Notes on Ephesians, 2010)
  

  
  

  • New testament uses 6 different words for redemption. We were bought back (interesting concept) by a ransom price. The price was blood, representative of life, from a perfect sacrifice
    
    • Immediate result is forgiveness
      
    • Adoption gives us immediate access to our inheritance
      
• What is the mystery of his will?
  
  • First, what is a mystery? The NT uses the term "mystery" to refer to a truth previously hidden but now made known by divine revelation
    
  • The mystery is that God's purpose is to bring everything into submission to the son
    
  • When does this happen?
    
    • The word for administration is oikonomia, and is not translated in the NIV, means dispensation, arrangement, or administration
      
      • Eph 1:9-10 (NASB) He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.
        
    • Word for times is kairos, meaning particular times, rather than the passage of time
      

  Eph 1:11-14 (NIV) 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, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 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, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession — to the praise of his glory.
  

• In this section, there is a "we" and a "you." Any thought as to what Paul was referring?
  
  • "We" could be Jewish believers
    
  • "You" could be Gentile believers
    
  • The "also" shows continuity while also marking the discontinuity
    
• So, given that understanding, what would predestined being referring to?
  
  • God chose the Jews to believe first because they were always part of his plan to take the message to the world
    
  • Acts 3:25-26 (NIV) And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, 'Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.' 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."
    
  • Rom 1:16 (NIV) I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
    
• This is a strong statement (vs 11) about the sovereignty of God. What does sovereignty mean to you?
  
  • He allows
    
  • He intervenes when appropriate to his will
    
  • He lets people experience the consequence of their sin AND
    
  • He lets people experience the general effect of sin (so that they repent or seek God)
    
• What is the result of believing?
  
  • Being sealed by the Holy Spirit
    
• When does the sealing occur?
  
  • At the same moment of belief, and not a separate event
    
  • Whereas "filling" is a repeatable event (not a single event)
    
    • Eph 5:18 (NIV) Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
      
  • Are only Gentile believers "sealed?" No, it says "you also"
    
• Deposit, Gr word arrabon, was a regular feature of the Greek business world. The arrabon was a part of the purchase price of anything paid inadvance as a guarantee that the rest of the price should in due time be paid."(Barclay)
  
• The nine spiritual blessings Paul identified in verses 3-14 are election, predestination, adoption, grace, redemption, forgiveness, knowledge, sealing, and inheritance. Stott summarized them as three: past election, present adoption, and future unification.