Prison Epistles Lesson Two

Questions From Last Week

Who blesses us with every Spiritual Blessing. (3)

What is the meaning of predestined? (5)

What is redemption and how does one become redeemed? (7)

What is a dispensation? (10)

What are all things worked within? (11)

How should we respond when we hear of another persons faith? (12)

Describe how the Holy Spirit is the Guarantee of our inheritance. (14)

Can an unbeliever understand fully what they are missing? (18)

Who brought Jesus from the grave? (20)

Who is now over all things? (22)

1. Why is Ephesians in the Bible. Canon of Scripture? Athanasius 367 AD

a. Orthodoxy (It was not contrary to other scripture)

b. Apostolic connection (It had to be written by an apostle or someone closely related)

c. Acceptance (universal accepted by the Church at that time)

2. Unlike other epistles written to specific churches, this epistle does not deal with specific problems in a local congregation. Instead, Paul addressed great themes that pertain to the Christian's position in Christ, as a member of the body of Christ, the church.

Truths in verses 1 and 2

Verse 1-2:

The calling of Paul isn’t by his own will , it and all callings are of God.

This letter is written to believers and its contents should be interpreted in that light.

This letter is spoken on behalf of Jesus Christ… His truths through Paul.

Truths in verses 3 (Question 1)

Verse 3

It is God who has blessed us in every spiritual blessing and this is accomplished through the work of His Son Jesus Christ.

The phrase “In heavenly places” is found five times in this Epistle, and not elsewhere. Christ’s ascension is the means of introducing us into the heavenly places, which by our sin were barred against us.

Verse 4-6

Truths in verses 4, 5 and 6 (Question 2)

In verse 4 it states that God chose us in Him. The question then is this a choice base upon nothing more than God’s deciding who would be chosen and who would not be. In verse 5 the word is changed from chose to the word predestined but it should be remembered that both words are speaking about the same process.

There are two camps within this discussion. Those that believe this passage implies that before the beginning of time God chose who would and who wouldn’t be saved. These people usually follow the teaching of John Calvin (Calvinism). Those that believe God died for all people and that everyone has a opportunity to be saved follow the teaching of Jacob Arminius (Arminianism).

Acts 1:24–25 NKJV

24 And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen 25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.”

They were chosen because of the heart they had not for the heart they would have.

2 Peter 3:9 NKJV

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

This verse isn’t written (not willing that any who have been chosen should perish)

Now that doesn’t change the standard for us to live once we are saved.

We should live Holy

This means set apart

We should live Blameless

(The same as the spotless lambs brought for sacrifice)

We should live before Him in love

Our every moment should be lived knowing… desiring Him to see how we live

In verse 5 we can also agree on how we are predestined

It is by Jesus Christ

It is to Jesus we are brought

It is by the good pleasure of His will

Verse 6 then declares the desired outcome

We are now accepted

We are now included (in) the Family.

Verse 7-9

Truths in verse 7,8 and 9 (Question 3)

Redemption is the buying back, purchase from one to another

Redemption is the work of God (In Whom is referring to Jesus)

Redemption is a completed work in you (”we have is a present possession)

Redemption had as its cost the blood of Jesus

Redemption has as a result the forgiveness of sins

verse 8 goes further.

This opportunity (abounded) was lavished upon us.

This opportunity came from the perfect mind of God.

verse nine concludes with

His plan was revealed to man

His plan was offered when and where and how He was pleased

Verse 10

verse 10 address dispensation (Question 4)

The word "dispensation" means "a system of order, government, or organization of a nation, community, etc., especially as existing at a particular time."

The seven dispensations – What are they?

1. The Dispensation of Innocence

a. This dispensation covers the time from the creation of man to the fall of man (Genesis 1:28-30 and 2:15-17).

b. All of God's creatures lived at peace with themselves and with each other, and the world was without sin or death.

c.Man was to procreate, rule the earth and the animals, and take care of the garden.

d. He was given one command to obey: not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

e. Eve and Adam disobeyed this rule, and were expelled from the garden as punishment, ending the dispensation of innocence.

2. The Dispensation of Conscience

a. The expulsion from the garden began the dispensation of conscience—a time when man was left to rule himself by his own will and conscience, both of which had been tainted by sin.

b. It was a disaster that ended with the worldwide flood (Genesis 3:8—8:22).

c. During this dispensation, man became so wicked that "every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" and God regretted making man and was "grieved to his heart" (Genesis 6:5-6).

3. The Dispensation of Human Government

a. The dispensation of human government began just after the flood.

b. God made promises and gave commands to Noah and his family.

c. God promised not to curse the earth again, and never to flood it again.

d. He commanded Noah and his sons to repopulate the world and scatter across the earth, and He allowed them to use animals for food.

e. God also established the law of capital punishment (Genesis 8:1-9:7).

4. The Dispensation of Promise

a. The dispensation of human government lasted until the call of Abraham.

b. The call of Abraham, the lives of the patriarchs, and the enslavement of the Jewish people to Egypt all fall under the dispensation of promise.

c. This dispensation ended with the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt. Once they left Egypt they were officially a nation, led by God into the wilderness toward the Promised Land.

5. The Dispensation of Law

a. The dispensation of law lasted almost 1,500 years, beginning with the Exodus and ending with the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

b. The delivery of the Ten Commandments and the Mosaic Law, found in Exodus 19—23, outlined the standard of perfection that God required from His people, and included the instructions about temple worship and sacrifices.

c. This was the age of priests, prophets and kings, both good and evil.

d. The people of Yahweh repeatedly broke His commands, and wandered off after other gods.

6. The Dispensation of Grace

a. The dispensation of grace started at the resurrection of Jesus Christ and continues today.

b. It is the new covenant in Christ's blood (Luke 22:20). This is also called the "age of grace" or the "church age," and scholars believe that the entire dispensation—more than 2,000 years—occurs between the 69th and 70th weeks of Daniel's prophecy in Daniel 9:24.

c. Atonement was provided on the cross, once for all, for any who would believe.

d. This dispensation ends at the second coming of Jesus

7. The Millennial Kingdom of Christ

a. The Millennial Kingdom begins with the defeat of Satan (Revelation 20:1-3) and ushers in 1,000 years of peace, where Christ will reign on the earth (Revelation 20:4).

b. This is the fulfillment of many prophecies, declaring that Christ will return and be King.

c. After the 1,000 years are ended, Satan will be released.

d. People will again follow him in a battle against God, and they will be defeated again (Revelation 20:7-10).

e. There will be a final judgment of all people, great and small (Revelation 20:11-15), the old earth and heaven will be destroyed by fire, Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire, and this will begin the Eternal Kingdom, the new heaven and the new earth (Revelation 21 and 22).

The word dispensation here isn’t speaking of these exact periods of time but speaks of the preciseness of these times.