God Treats Us Like His Own Children

   GOD TREATS US LIKE HIS OWN CHILDREN

Ephesians 1:19-2:10

Introduction:  1:19 reminds us of how God’s power works in believers.  It is very similar to how he worked in Jesus’ life.  Paul seems to be making a comparison between believers and Christ.  We usually miss this because of the chapter division. 

I. He raised Jesus (1:20) and us   vs. 1, 4-6

     A. hath he quickened or made alive of some versions in not in the Greek of vs. 1

     B. We were dead because of our sin; Christ was dead because of our sins

     C. Our being brought back to life was the result of God’s grace, mercy, love and kindness; Jesus resurrection was to demonstrate God’s power

II. He seated Jesus at His right hand (1:20) and seats us with Jesus     vs. 6

     A. Jesus was seated at God’s right hand to be honored for what He did

     B. We are with Jesus because all of God’s children are equal

     C. Since we are (not will be) seated beside Jesus, Colossians 3:1-4

III. He gave Jesus all authority over all beings in the physical and spiritual universe (1:21-22) so Jesus could defeat those things in our lives         vs. 1-3

     A. 2 Corinthians 4:4

     B. “Prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” probably refers to Satan (6:11, 16)

     C. Supernatural powers hostile to human welfare and to God’s redemptive purposes have already figured in 1:21 and will do so again in 3:10 and 6:11, 12. In Ephesians, however, not only do such principalities and powers appear, but equally prominent is an ultimate personal power of evil behind them, designated here as the ruler of the realm of the air, but in 4:27 and 6:11 as the devil, and in 6:16 as the evil one. [1]

     D. Daniel 10:12-14

     E. All of the above were/are too powerful for us to defeat

IV. He made Jesus the head of the church, his body (1:22-23) and put us in the body to reveal His grace  vs. 6-8  and do good works  vs. 10

     A. ἐνδείκνυμαι: to cause to be made known; to cause to be known, to show, to demonstrate. [2]

     B. He reminds us that our salvation is because of Jesus’ sacrifice and God’s grace and not because of any works we can do; however, he expects those various parts of the body to function properly (do good works)

Conclusion:  It is amazing to me that God treats me like a favored son, not like a step-son or a slave.  Where He honors Jesus, He honors you.

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[1]Lincoln, A. T. (2002). Vol. 42: Word Biblical Commentary : Ephesians. Word Biblical Commentary (95). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.

[2]Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament : Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (1:340). New York: United Bible societies.