Ephesians 1 - Saved But Unsure
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Book Of Ephesians
Book Of Ephesians
Background
Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians sometime in AD 60–61, around the same time he wrote Colossians and Philemon, as he sent all three letters by the hand of Tychicus, accompanied by Onesimus (; ; ).
Paul had spent about 3 years in Ephesus and was quite well connected with the church, the city, and the surrounding churches.
It was during this time that Paul sat in Rome undergoing his first Roman imprisonment (; ), making Ephesians one of the four epistles commonly known as the Prison Epistles. The others are Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.
It was during this time that Paul sat in Rome undergoing his first Roman imprisonment (; ), making Ephesians one of the four epistles commonly known as the Prison Epistles. The others are Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.
1st Missionary Journey (): Answering God’s call to proclaim Christ, Paul and Barnabas left the church at Antioch in Syria. At first, their method of evangelism was to preach in the town synagogues. But when many of the Jews rejected Christ, the missionaries recognized God’s call of witnessing to the Gentiles.
Because of his bold testimony of Jesus, Saul the persecutor became Paul the persecuted. Those who rejected his message of salvation through Jesus Christ tried to stop and harm him. In one city, he was stoned and left for dead. But God spared him. Through trials and beatings and imprisonments, he kept on preaching Christ.
Paul's ministry to Gentiles brought controversy over who could be saved and how to be saved. Between his first and second missionary journeys, he participated in a conference in Jerusalem discussing the way of salvation. The final consensus was that the Gentiles could receive Jesus without submitting to Jewish traditions.
2nd Missionary Journey (): After another stay in Antioch, building up the church there, Paul was ready to take a second missionary journey. He asked Barnabas to join him, revisiting the churches of their first missionary journey. A disagreement, however, caused them to split. God turned this dispute into a positive, for now there were two missionary teams. Barnabas went to Cyprus with John Mark, and Paul took Silas to Asia Minor.
3rd Missionary Journey (): During Paul’s third journey, he fervently preached in Asia Minor. God confirmed his message with miracles. tells of Paul at Troas preaching an exceptionally long sermon. A young man, sitting in an upstairs window sill, went to sleep and fell out the window. He was thought to be dead, but Paul revived him.
2nd Missionary Journey (): After another stay in Antioch, building up the church there, Paul was ready to take a second missionary journey. He asked Barnabas to join him, revisiting the churches of their first missionary journey. A disagreement, however, caused them to split. God turned this dispute into a positive, for now there were two missionary teams. Barnabas went to Cyprus with John Mark, and Paul took Silas to Asia Minor.
Theme
God providentially redirected Paul and Silas to Greece, bringing the gospel to Europe. At Philippi, the missionary team was beaten and imprisoned. Rejoicing to suffer for Christ, they sang in jail. Suddenly, God caused an earthquake to open the doors of the cell and free them from their chains. The amazed jailer and his family believed in Christ, but the government officials begged Paul and Silas to leave.
Traveling on to Athens, Paul preached to an inquisitive audience on Mars Hill. He proclaimed the only true God whom they could know and worship without man-made idols. Again, some sneered and some believed.
To enlighten the Christians at Ephesus with the hope of His calling, His rich inheritance for them, and His great power that was available to them in Christ.
Paul taught those who believed in Christ and established them in churches. During this 2nd missionary journey, Paul made many disciples from all backgrounds: a young man named Timothy, a businesswoman named Lydia, and the married couple Aquila and Priscilla.
Though Paul may not be writing anything he hasn’t taught directly to the church at Ephesus, there seems to be some concern that they aren’t “getting” it. Do they really understand who they are in Christ?
3rd Missionary Journey (): During Paul’s third journey, he fervently preached in Asia Minor. God confirmed his message with miracles. tells of Paul at Troas preaching an exceptionally long sermon. A young man, sitting in an upstairs window sill, went to sleep and fell out the window. He was thought to be dead, but Paul revived him.
He commends their faith and love but is concerned for their hope, their sense of what they have in Christ, and the power that God has made available to them to be able to live out the life they have been given.
The six short chapter of Ephesians are divided into:
Doctrinal Section - Chapter 1-3
Practical Section - Chapters 4-6
Text Study
Ephesians
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Apostle: an envoy of Jesus Christ commissioned directly by Him or by other apostles; normally someone who has been taught directly by Jesus and who is invested with the authority to speak on His behalf.
Will: inclination (attitude) n. — an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others.
apostle n. — an envoy of Jesus Christ commissioned directly by Him or by other apostles; normally someone who has been taught directly by Jesus and who is invested with the authority to speak on His behalf.
inclination (attitude) n. — an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others.
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
Saints: person of God ⇔ holy one n. — a person of God; understood as a person dedicated to God (morally, ritually, or by devotion).
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,
:3
Blessed: praised, blessed, worthy of commendation
person of God ⇔ holy one n. — a person of God; understood as a person dedicated to God (morally, ritually, or by devotion).
praised, blessed, worthy of commendation
Commendation: Recommendation, praise
A berakah or blessing is essentially a prayer of joy and thanks in which we praise the worthiness of God because of His goodness and love. Many of the Psalms contain berakahs. Our “Blessing at the table” is a continuation of this Hebrew custom.
“God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”
The heart of our Christian faith is God
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
John 14
Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.
Godliness: the devout practice and appropriate beliefs of God
the devout practice and appropriate beliefs of God
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
“ who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,”
act. kindly toward, bless, provide benefits
Blessed: act. kindly toward, bless, provide benefits
“IN Christ” - Deals with baptism of the spirit
Heavenly Places
We have assurance that our blessing is secure because it is anchored in the heavenly places. In God’s domain.
Heavenly places is not so much to a location as to a realm. The heavenly places are where Christ lives with with the Father in victory over death and all the destructive powers of the world.
List of Spiritual blessing:
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
Chosen (Spiritual Blessing)
Chose: to choose especially for oneself or in one’s own behalf.
to choose for oneself v. — to choose especially for oneself or in one’s own behalf.√
Being chosen is a word that expresses the joy of inclusion in God’s love
When Paul refers to being chosen or election it is with gratitude and thanksgiving
“Before the foundation of the world” - No act of our own
Why Did he chose us?
Holy - having the characteristics of moral or ritual purity; context often emphasizes one over the other.
holy (pure) adj. — having the characteristics of moral or ritual purity; context often emphasizes one over the other.Blameless -
Blameless -
Blameless - unblemished adjs. — being free from guilt; conceived as being free from physical spots or stains.
“Before Him”
blameless ⇔ unblemished adjs. — being free from guilt; conceived as being free from physical spots or stains.
he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
“In Love He predestined us for adoption to himself”
2. Predestined (Spiritual Blessing)
Predestined: decide beforehand
3. Adoption (Spirutal Blessing)
Adoption: placed in a position and rights as one’s own child, sonship
decide beforehand
placed in a position and rights as one’s own child, sonship
- Our relationship to God is not as natural children but is the result of His decision to choose us. Parents owe their biological children certain things simply because they have brought them into the world. But if a parent brings a child into a family it is an act of grace.
- A decision based on love and compassion.
The purpose of His Will - With great love