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Ephesians Chapter 1

  • Once a large trade hub in western Turkey
  • Temple of Artemis is there
  • At Ephesus, some disciples had not known or even heard of the Holy Ghost
  • Ephesus was a stronghold for intense devil activity (Acts 19:13-17)
  • Paul stayed in Ephesus two years (Acts 19:10)
  • This led to a great revival (Acts 19:18-20)
  • This also led to a great uproar and riot over their paganism, loss of revenue for idol making and the worship of "Diana of the Ephesians" (Acts 19:34)
  • Paul gave his last great public speech there, before departing for chains in Jerusalem (Acts 20:17-37)
(Acts 18:19)
And he (Paul) came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

(Acts 18:21)
But bade them farewell, saying, I (Paul) must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

(Acts 18:24)
¶ And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.

(Acts 19:1)
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

(Acts 19:17)
And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

(Acts 19:26)
Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

(Acts 19:35)
And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

(Acts 20:16)
For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.

(Acts 20:17)
¶ And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

(1 Corinthians 15:32)
If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

(1 Corinthians 16:8)
But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.

(1 Timothy 1:3)
As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

(2 Timothy 1:18)
The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

(2 Timothy 4:12)
And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.

(Revelation 1:11)
Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

(Revelation 2:1)
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

EPHESIANS OUTLINE:

  1. Chapter 1: The Work of Christ, and our calling as the Body, the Work of the Trinity
  2. Chapter 2: The Church as a Temple, Jesus as the Foundation, made of past foreigners, pilgrims, strangers
  3. Chapter 3: The Church as a Mystery
  4. Chapter 4: Our earthly walk, as a new man
  5. Chapter 5: Us as a Future Bride (betrothed)
  6. Chapter 6: Us as soldiers of Christ

THE TRINITY EXPOSED

  • God the Father: v. 3-6
  • God the Son: v.7-12
  • God the Spirit: v. 13-14

(Ephesians 1:1)
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

  • The will of God is how one became an apostle, not by deciding to be one, claiming to be one, having hands laid on by elders to be one
  • To be faithful to God we must first be in Christ
  • Saints are believers, declared by God, not man

(Ephesians 1:2)
Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
  • True grace and true peace are only found in Christ
  • Jesus Christ can no longer give grace and peace if He was just a man and not God, if He was only dead and not alive
(Ephesians 1:3)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
  • Because we are in Christ, we already have all of the spiritual blessings in high places that God has for us, waiting for us
  • We are never guaranteed worldly blessings, riches, health and wealth in earthly, carnal, low places, in this life
  • We are guaranteed persecution for our faith, for living a godly life

(2 Timothy 3:12 [KJV])
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

(Ephesians 1:4)
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
  • We are in Christ, now we are in walking in His Love
  • We chose Jesus Christ, but He chose us long before we were even conceived
  • Before the foundation of the world means Jesus Christ is God the Creator
  • Our purpose for all of mankind is to glorify God, not ourselves
(Ephesians 1:5)
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
  • Once a believer, we are adopted as children by Jesus Himself to Himself
  • This is His desire and will
  • The Calvinists love to take verses like this out of context and use them for their false "doctrine".
  • The Bible clearly teaches we must believe, God knows who will believe and who will not, but believe we must!
(Ephesians 1:6)
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
  • In Christ, in His Love, now in the Beloved (Christ)
  • Because of Jesus Christ the Beloved, we are accepted by the Father as His beloved
  • We can not expect to be accepted in the beloved followers of Jesus Christ on earth, the Church, even the true believers. Not in these last days when truth is scoffed at, apostasy is rampant and the world is in the churches, the churches of and in the world

THE BELOVED SON

(Song of Solomon 5:16)
His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

(Matthew 3:17)
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

(Matthew 17:5)
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

(Mark 9:7)
And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

(Luke 9:35)
And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

(2 Peter 1:17)
For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

(Ephesians 1:7)
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
  • The words "through his blood" have been removed from "modern" "versions" of the Bible

In Whom, in Him, in Christ

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

(Ephesians 1:4)
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

(Ephesians 1:7)
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

(Ephesians 1:11)
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

(Ephesians 1:13)
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

(Ephesians 2:21)
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

(Ephesians 2:22)
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

(Ephesians 3:12)
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
  • In Whom we have redemption through His Blood
  • In Whom we have obtained an inheritance
  • In Whom we trusted
  • In Whom we grow into a temple of the LORD
  • In Whom we are built as a place for the Holy Ghost to live
  • In Whom we have boldness and access to God
(Ephesians 1:8)
Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
  • God has all wisdom and prudence
  • He makes it abound toward us as He wills and we pray, study His Word
  • Knowledge is knowing something. Wisdom is knowing what, when, why how and with whom to do it
  • Prudence is "wisdom applied to practice" (Webster)
  • So the verse is saying that God exercised His Will for our salvation the perfect way, at the perfect time, for the perfect reason, to those He chose
WISDOM, n. s as z. [G. See Wise.]
1. The right use or exercise of knowledge; the choice of laudable ends, and of the best means to accomplish them. This is wisdom in act, effect, or practice. If wisdom is to be considered as a faculty of the mind, it is the faculty of discerning or judging what is most just, proper and useful, and if it is to be considered as an acquirement, it is the knowledge and use of what is best, most just, most proper, most conducive to prosperity or happiness. Wisdom in the first sense, or practical wisdom, is nearly synonymous with discretion. I differs somewhat from prudence, in this respect; prudence is the exercise of sound judgment in avoiding evils; wisdom is the exercise of sound judgment either in avoiding evils or attempting good. Prudence then is a species, of which wisdom is the genus.
Wisdom gained by experience, is of inestimable value.
It is hoped that our rulers will act with dignity and wisdom; that they will yield every thing to reason, and refuse every thing to force.
2. In Scripture, human learning; erudition; knowledge of arts and sciences.
Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. Acts 7.
3. Quickness of intellect; readiness of apprehension; dexterity in execution; as the wisdom of Bezaleel and Aholiab. Exo 31. 4. Natural instinct and sagacity. Job 39.
5. In Scripture theology, wisdom is true religion; godliness; piety; the knowledge and fear of God, and sincere and uniform obedience to his commands. This is the wisdom which is from above. Psa 90. Job 28.
6. Profitable words or doctrine. Psa 37.
The wisdom of this world, mere human erudition; or the carnal policy of men, their craft and artifices in promoting their temporal interests; called also fleshly wisdom. 1 Cor 2. 2 Cor 1. The wisdom of words, artificial or affected eloquence; or learning displayed in teaching. 1 Cor 1 and 2.

PRU'DENCE, n. [L. prudentia.] Wisdom applied to practice.
Prudence implies caution in deliberating and consulting on the most suitable means to accomplish valuable purposes, and the exercise of sagacity in discerning and selecting them. Prudence differs from wisdom in this, that prudence implies more caution and reserve than wisdom, or is exercised more in foreseeing and avoiding evil, than in devising and executing that which is good. It is sometimes mere caution or circumspection.
Prudence is principally in reference to actions to be done, and due means, order, season and method of doing or not doing.

(Ephesians 1:9)
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
  • God kept the church age as a mystery, rarely and barely seen, in the Old Testament
  • This was His will also, both the mystery and the Jew/Gentile Church
  • It was for His pleasure and purpose
  • This mystery is our salvation, "Christ in us, the hope of Glory"
(Romans 16:25)
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

(Colossians 1:26-27)
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

(Hosea 2:23)
And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.

(Ephesians 1:10)
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
  • The dispensation is the timing
  • This dispensation here is at the end of times, not the Church age
  • The New Jerusalem coming down to earth, the bodies of the glorified saints on earth during the 1,000 year reign of the LORD Jesus Christ on earth will be a time for this to happen, not to mention the new heaven and new earth
(Ephesians 1:11)
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
  • God chose us beforehand (predestinated) and we chose Him
  • We have an inheritance in Heaven, never fading, always waiting for us
  • There is nothing worked out that is not according to God's Will
(Ephesians 1:12)
That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
  • Our reaction to our salvation is to glorify God, which is our purpose
  • This is for "we, who first trusted in Christ", not the world which cannot glorify God because they are not His
(Ephesians 1:13)
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:14)
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
  • Earnest=deposit, guarantee
  • Until the redemption is future. We have been redeemed already, so this is talking about our glorified bodies await us in the afterlife
  • This indwelling of the Holy Spirit is also our inheritance
  • This repetition in different ways of the same idea is all to make sure that it is unequivocal, not privately interpreted, not missed, completely perfectly understood
(Ephesians 1:15-16)
Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
  • "I also" means Paul is not alone in his prayers for the Ephesian saints
  • "Ceasing not" is praying always
  • Change in tense from past (heard) to present (cease not), meaning the prayers is because he heard
(Ephesians 1:17)
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
  • This is the Trinity in this verse right here
  • "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory" (God the Father, God the Son)
  • "the spirit of wisdom and revelation" (God the Spirit)
(Luke 2:25)
And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

(1 Corinthians 2:10)
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

(Ephesians 1:18)
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
  • The Spirit reveals to us our calling, hope, riches, inheritance, glory, meaning and purpose
(Ephesians 1:19)
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
  • He also reveals to us the power given, and gives us the power to do His (the Fathers) will
(Ephesians 1:20)
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
  • That power is revealed in the Resurrection from the dead, the ultimate power only God has
(Ephesians 1:21)
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
  • As much power, principality, dominion as the enemy has, it is nothing compared to God and His power
  • As much power as the name we shall receive has, it is nothing compared to God and His power
(Ephesians 1:22)
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
  • No other Name is over the Church-no man, no woman, no one
  • All things are his, all things are under His feet, all power, all doctrines, all glory, all purpose, all workings, everything
  • No other name can save but Jesus, which is the most powerful thing that can be done (life from death, our dead spirit to life)
(Ephesians 1:23)
Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
  • The church is the people in the body of Christ, not an organization, not a building
  • The Church is the rest of Christ, which fills Him being the head
  • Head (Jesus) + Body (church) = complete fulfillment of God's Will
Ephesians Chapter 2

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