The Letter of Paul to the Ephesians 22SEP

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Memory Verse, eph 2:8 (or, 2:1-10?)

Scriptures for today on whiteboard

Rom 8:29-30

Acts 4:27-28

Rom 9:11-13

Deut 4:36-39

Mark 8:38

Luke 9:26

2 Pet 2:4

Jude 6

1 Tim 5:21

1Pet 1:20

Deuteronomy 10:15

2 Timothy 1:9

Rom 9:11

2 Timothy 2:19

Acts 13:48

John 6:37

Ezekiel 36:26–27

2 Thessalonians 2:13

Last week

Finished up the Who (v1-2)

Author: Paul // Reader(s): Christians in Ephesus (& Asia)

Finished up the Why (v3)

Begins w/ doxology

Christians have GOD Himself as our Father

every spiritual blessing, in heavenly places (Rev 4)

Unity w/ Christ, indwelling of HS, peace w/ God, SALVATION

Began looking at Predestination

Defined it (ends defined before hand)

It’s something GOD does, no human contribution to this work

Eph 1:5, 11 ; Rom 8:29-30 ; Act 4:28 + 3:13-19

Discussed the Author

GOD, a trinitarian activity

Father initiated: Election (the act of divine choice, 1:4, more on this later)

Son affected (divine human action required, 1:5 “through JC”)

HS applied

1 Peter 1:2 “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”

Next up: OBJECTS of predestination

PRAY (ask someone)

…by way of reminder…

Let’s read Eph1:1-6 again to get the Scripture in our minds.

Objects of Predestination

Ephesians 1:4–6 (ESV)

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

OK, objects of predestination…

Who does God predestinate?

A: humans, angels, Christ

Exclusive to created “rationale” beings (Berkof’s words)

All humanity, good and evil, both groups of folks (ie. Israel) and individuals

predestined for salvation

Eph 1 & (1) Romans 8:29–30 “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

predestined usage of evil for a higher good

(2) Acts 4:27–28 “for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.”

(3) Romans 9:11–13 “though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”” Going to come back to this passage in a bit.

Group election, Israel

(4) Deuteronomy 4:36–39 “Out of heaven he let you hear his voice, that he might discipline you. And on earth he let you see his great fire, and you heard his words out of the midst of the fire. And because he loved your fathers and chose their offspring after them and brought you out of Egypt with his own presence, by his great power, driving out before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is this day, know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.”

Angels, both good and evil.

Holy Angels

(5) Mark 8:38 “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.””

(6) Luke 9:26 “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”

angels cast out because of allegiance w/ Satan

(7) 2 Peter 2:4“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;”

(8) Jude 6 “And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—”

“elect angels”, (9) 1 Timothy 5:21 “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.”

Distinction between man and angels

God didn’t elect angels out of the mass of fallen angels (like humanity)

Angels not elected/predestined in Christ as Mediator, but in Christ as Head, to stand in a ministerial relationship beneath Him as Mediator

The Mediator. Christ Himself.

Special love from the Father

(10) 1 Peter 1:20 “He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you”

Yogi read: John 17:24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”

Yogi read: Matthew 3:17 “and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.””

Perfect image of God in the flesh (model for our conformity), Rom 8:29

Special purpose/ends here on earth: save souls

Yogi read: John 3:35–36 “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

In finality: judgement, world renewed, consummated Kingdom established, shared with His sheep—> those whom confessed him as Lord,

Yogi read: Luke 22:28–29 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom,”

Parts of Predestination

If giving final destinations is the simple definition ”he chose us in him before the foundation of the world” // Election is the “choosing” part of it

Election

The BIBLICAL idea of Election

Israel, chosen for special privileges/service

NOT based on any inherent characteristics of THEM, but GOD’s divine choice

(11) Deuteronomy 10:15 “Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.”

to an office…

What are some examples of elected offices in the Bible?

Moses, priests, kings, prophets, apostles.

CHOSEN to fulfil a purpose, defined by God

Again, NOT because of any inherent human characteristic—> God’s divine will

The primary sense of Election: save humans…”Chosen by God unto salvation, worked out in the individual by faith in Christ”

“God’s eternal purpose to save some of the human race in and by Christ.”

Characteristics of Election

1st characteristic: Expression of the sovereign will of God, His divine good pleasure.

Christ is NOT the impelling or moving cause of election itself

Couldn’t be, because souls were elected before time began!

(12) 2 Timothy 1:9 “who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,”

John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

1 John 4:9 “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.”

We’re not owed it! Adam broke the Law, and we break the Law.

God has a 100% perfection standard.

Therefore, election CAN’T be based on anything within us!

(13) Romans 9:11 “though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—”

2 Tim 1:9

So, the fact that He confers it to anyone is an Amazing Grace!

2nd characteristic: It is immutable. He chooses, He acts, it happens, and that’s it.

(14) 2 Timothy 2:19 “But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.””

Salvation IS NOT secured by our obedience, THANK GOD!

Salvation IS secured by the purpose of God, bearing HIS SEAL

3rd characteristic: It’s not dependent on us, our own merit, it’s dependent on GOD alone!

WRT us, it’s given freely, UNCONDITIONALLY

Yogi read: Romans 9:10–16 “And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.”

maybe read further?

(15) Acts 13:48 “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.”

4th characteristic: It’s irresistible

When we say something is “irresistible”, what do we mean?

Those chosen can resist to a certain degree, but their opposition will ultimately not prevail

(16) John 6:37 “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

But..

Did you arrive at saving faith the very first time you the gospel was presented to you? The very first time you read the Bible?

This doesn’t mean that God elects in a manner that destroys human free agency (we are obviously thinking creatures, capable of making choices)

We have free wills, minds that make moral decisions

Idea from Jonathan Edwards, “The Freedom of the Will”

"The will of man, in every act of choice, necessarily follows its greatest present desire or inclination."

In "The Freedom of the Will," Jonathan Edwards defines human free will as the ability to act according to one's strongest inclination or desire at any given moment. He argues that humans always choose what they perceive to be the most desirable option based on their current understanding and motivations.

Key Points:

Determined by the Strongest Motive: Edwards asserts that the will is not a neutral entity but is always determined by the prevailing motive or inclination. This means that we invariably choose what appears to be the greatest good or most satisfying option at the time of decision.

Moral Necessity: Edwards distinguishes between natural and moral necessity. While natural necessity involves external forces compelling actions, moral necessity refers to the internal motivations and dispositions that influence choices. He contends that human choices are morally necessary, meaning they are determined by one's own internal state and inclinations.

Compatible with God's Sovereignty: Edwards argues that his view of free will is compatible with God's sovereignty. He suggests that God ultimately determines all events, including human choices, but does so in a way that is consistent with human nature and responsibility.Rejection of Indifference: Edwards rejects the notion of the will being indifferent or capable of choosing contrary to its strongest inclination. He believes this idea leads to an infinite regress and undermines the concept of moral responsibility.

In essence: Edwards' definition of free will revolves around the idea of choosing according to one's strongest motive. This freedom is not absolute but is constrained by internal motivations and God's sovereign plan.

The $1M question is: to what set of standards are our wills conformed to?? What is the magnet that controls our “true north”?

Enslaved to sin (Eph 2, much more on this in the coming weeks)

Or, enslaved to God? Philippians 2:13 “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

God as the driving source IN the heart of a believer, so that…

we are then able to will (make decisions) and work for HIS good pleasure

This happens by heart transplant.

(17) Ezekiel 36:26–27 “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”

The Purpose of Election

To what end were souls chosen?

A: For 1) Salvation, and 2) His Glory

Salvation

(18) 2 Thessalonians 2:13“But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”

God’s Glory

Ephesians 1:4–6 ESV

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

v4 “holy and blameless before him” = conformed into the image of Christ

==> fully realized in glorification

v6 “to the praise of his glorious grace” “…of the glory of his grace”

My view —> plain teaching of scripture, reformed orthodox view

Election: In His holy, divine, GOOD will, God sovereignly chooses souls for salvation…

to make them holy and blameless (conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29 “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”)

for adoption to Himself (Ephesians 1:5 “he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,”)

to put the glory of His Grace on display

graciously, freely given (not earned by any human work) through/in Christ the Beloved. (Our “own” righteousness doesn’t compel God to choose us. And, BTW, Scripture says this choice happened before we became flesh and blood!)

_____________ if it comes up _________________

Supralapsarianism vs Infralapsarianism

>>See notes in Ephesians notebook

>> Conclusion from Berkhof….

Systematic Theology 3. The Infralapsarian Position

The true element in Supralapsarianism is found in its emphasis on the following: that the decree of God is a unit; that God had one final aim in view; that He willed sin in a certain sense; and that the work of creation was immediately adapted to the recreative activity of God. And the true element in Infralapsarianism is, that there is a certain diversity in the decrees of God; that creation and fall cannot be regarded merely as means to an end, but also had great independent significance; and that sin cannot be regarded as an element of progress, but should rather be considered as an element of disturbance in the world. In connection with the study of this profound subject we feel that our understanding is limited, and realize that we grasp only fragments of the truth. Our confessional standards embody the infralapsarian position, but do not condemn Supralapsarianism. It was felt that this view was not necessarily inconsistent with Reformed theology. And the conclusions of Utrecht, adopted in 1908 by our Church, state that, while it is not permissible to represent the supralapsarian view as the doctrine of the Reformed churches in the Netherlands, it is just as little permissible to molest any one who cherishes that view for himself.

Adoption

v5 “In love he predestined us for adoption to himself…”

In our human, familial context, what is adoption?

In the context of verse 5, what does adoption mean?

Greek: to “put/place a son” or “to purpose as a son”

It’s an action to redefine the nature of a human, to give a new identity to a human, a new bloodline, a new family.

Galatians 4:4–7 (ESV)

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Justification (declared righteousness) is the basic/foundational blessing

Adoption is the crowning blessing: permanent intimacy w/ God as heavenly Father

Those who receive Christ, and in Christ

So, God loves you as he loves His only begotten son,

So, God shares with them all the glory that is Christ’s now. Amazing!

Plug Packer’s books, Concise Theology and Knowing God

Tell em about the resource in Church Center

MAYBE do the following at the very end?….

Read the final portion of the chapter, pg 228

Need to flesh out Rom 9, explaining the “tension” in our minds when we hear this teaching, that some are “prepared for destruction”, REQ UIRED to have a proper understanding of the Doctrine of Man

Closing

Lots of rich theology today

J. C. Ryle “Depend on it, if we want to “do good” and shake the world, we must fight with the old apostolic weapons, and stick to “dogma” (read: doctrine). No dogma, no fruits! No positive Evangelical doctrine, no evangelization!

Let’s not forget: Paul’s pastoral purpose

Understanding election and adoption —> a joy and peace that is eternal and resilient against the attacks of life

The Christian is meant to…

BE ENCOURAGED by hearing we were chosen by God before time!

BE REMINDED of the gifts of “every spiritual blessing” of heaven!

BE THANKFUL for our Redeemer.

BE MOTIVATED toward holiness—> conformity to Christ.

BE EQUIPPED to praise God, pronounce Christ, put God’s Glory on display!

PRAY

See you next week!

Opening Benediction for…

(1:3-6a) the Father’s gracious purpose.

(1:6b-10) the Son’s redemptive accomplishment.

(1:11-14) the Spirit’s sealing work of the new creation.

Ephesians 1:3-14