Home Group Lesson: Ephesians 1

More of pastoral/Christian conduct; Spiritual Blessings of following Christ; Grace through Faith

English Standard Version (Ephesians)

EPHESIANS

The apostle Paul wrote Ephesians to the churches around Ephesus (Acts 19) to display the scope of God’s eternal plan for all humanity—for Jews and Gentiles alike. This is the mystery of God, hidden for ages but now made known in Jesus Christ. The first three chapters focus on what Christians should believe, unfolding the glorious riches of God’s grace in Christ. Dead sinners are made alive and gain eternal salvation “by grace … through faith” (2:8). The last three chapters explain the implications of God’s grace for the church, for individuals, and for families. This second section comes to a climax with a command to stand with the armor of God against the devil. Paul wrote this letter while in prison, probably in Rome about A.D. 60.

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,To the saints who are in Ephesus, and care faithful 1 in Christ Jesus:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.Spiritual Blessings in Christ 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Verses 1-2: We see that the first two verses are a greeting, Paul identifies himself as the sender, and who He is sending the letter to (the saints/fellow faithful Christians who are in Ephesus) . He identifies the divine source of his authority (He is an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God). Lastly, He offers the diving source of his prayers and blessing (God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ). We should never be ashamed to proclaim who we are… We are Christians who have been washed by the blood of Christ.

Verse 3: Blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the Heavenly places… God has given us everything we need for our Christian journey here on earth. Remember, “your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

Verses 4-6: Predestination: the divine foreordaining of all that will happen, especially with regard to salvation of some and not others. Previously ordained or appointed to some position. All true followers of Christ are sons and daughters in the sense of being heirs who will inherit blessings from our Father in heaven. We see here that Paul both qualifies and stresses God’s plan and initiation of redemption with the phrase according to the purpose of his will. My ESV Study Bible says, God cannot be constrained by any outside force, and his inexorable (Impossible to stop or prevent) will for believers is to pour out his grace and goodness on them in Christ Jesus.

We need to get out of asking why some are predestined and some are not, as if God is not being fair. God is just, he knows all, and He knows who is going to receive the Gospel message or not. Sometimes we make things more difficult that what they should be. We need to take God’s Word for what it is, and quit trying to question everything. If we trust God, if we know that He is righteous and just, then we need to be at peace and be thankful that we are counted with the chosen of God. We should rejoice at the fact that we are adopted sons and daughters of the High God and joint heirs with Christ. Going back to Verse Five: it is according to the purpose of His will! Verse 6 says “to the praise of his glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved...” Through the grace and mercy Christ showed us by dying on the cross, we are now blessed to be reconciled to the Father, and partakers in eternal life.

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known 3 to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

The Greek word used for redemption is exagora, which means buying, repurchase, ransom, release from imprisonment or captivity. Paul is stating that our redemption came by way of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, through His precious blood. The redemption we as believers receive is then equated with “the forgiveness of our trespasses.” Forgiveness implies an offense requiring just punishment. My Ephesians-Philemon Bible commentary says, “And just as Israels exodus from Egypt was accompanied by the institution of the Levitical system so that Israel could atone for their sins, so also the believer’s redemption in Christ from sin is accompanied by full and final forgiveness.

Verse 9: “mystery of His will…” What does Paul mean? When Paul uses the word mystery, he’s not referring to anything eerie. It means a sacred secret that was once hidden but now has been revealed. As born again Christians, by Christ’s work on the cross to save us from sin and reconcile us to the Father, we are able to share in what is a mystery to the non-believer; we have the beauty of knowing and being partakers of the glorious Gospel. It is a mystery to the non-believer because they do not have the Spirit of the Living God dwelling within them. Going back to 1 Corinthians 1:18 “18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved ( for those in which the mystery has been revealed) it is the power of God.”

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Paul says that we as Christians have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined (God knows who are His and who are not) according to the purpose of Him (God) according to the counsel of His will (God). Why? So that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory.

In verse 14 Paul uses the Greek world arrabon, which means a down payment give to someone providing a service with the expectation that full payment would be made after the service was performed. God has given us the Holy Spirit with the expectation and assurance that a full inheritance will follow (eternal life in heaven). I love what this says from my Bible commentary: “Although the inheritance believers will receive certainly includes the blessing of eternal fellowship with God, because the Spirit indwells believers they can even now begin to enjoy their inheritance. Again, the result of God’s favor on His people that includes sealing with the Holy Spirit should lead to praise (end of verse 14). These verses begin and end with praise.

While meditating of God’s grace, Paul erupts with praise to his God. Paul is not merely saying that God is worthy of our praise, rather, he is actually praising God for His glorious salvation, and He invites his readers to do the same. We should not only be praising the Lord, we should constantly be exhorting other believers to do the same.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love 6 toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Verses 15-18: This is just beautiful, Paul exhibits gratitude toward the Ephesian church because of their faith, and the love that is shown toward other believers. Paul is in prayer for the Ephesians church that God give them wisdom, revelation, and knowledge of who God is, what God commands, and in what way we must serve Him. Paul prays that the Lord opens their hearts to receive what has been bestowed upon them by what Christ did on the cross. Their faith was not just an mental affirmation of who Jesus is, but it was a truth spiritual union with Jesus, who has given them the grace and strength to survive in face of hardships, and to thrive as a church and spreaders of the Gospel. Any and every spiritual blessing has been bestowed upon them ( and us ) because of the selfless sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

Verses 19-23: Paul is exhorting the Ephesian church to know and recognize the greatness of God’s power, the exact power that raised Jesus from the dead, seated at the right hand of the Father, and has ultimate authority over all things. aul makes the focus God’s power, in which he uses to show his readers that they can totally rely on God. Paul illustrates God’s power in proclaiming the exaltation of Jesus to the right hand of Himself. 20-23 Paul proclaims God’s works accomplished through Jesus;(1) the resurrection, (2) exaltation, (3) conquest, (4) dominion over all things.