Ephesians

STUDIES IN EPHESIANS - OUTLINE

1: The Supremacy of Christ: Introduction and 1:1-10
    God who has blessed us (3)
    For he chose us (4-6)
    In him we have (7-10)

2: God's Eternal Plan: 1:11-23
    Our place (11-14)
    Paul's prayer (15-19a)
    God's Power (19b-23)

3: Incomparable Grace: 2:1-10
    You were dead (1-3)
    God made us alive (4-7)
    By grace.through faith (8-10)

4: The Mystery of the Church: 2:11 - 3:13
    Brought near (2:11-13)
    One new Man (2:14-18)
    God's Household (2:19-22)
    Heirs together (3:1-6)
    The mystery of the Ages (3:7-13)

5: An Apostolic Prayer: 3:14-21
    The Father's Family (14-15)
    The Spirit's Power (16)
    Christ's Love (17-19)
    Glory in the Church (20-21)

6: A Working Body: 4: 1-16
    One Body, One Spirit, One Lord (1-6)
    Christ's Gifts (7-13)
    A Mature Body (14-16)

7: Children of Light (1): 4:17 - 5:2
    A dark world (17-19)
    Transformed minds (20-24)
    Transformed lives (25-5:2)

8: Children of Light (2): 5:3-20
    A spiritual inventory (3-14)
        - things that are out and things that are in
    Wisdom and Folly (15-18)


9: Key Relationships: 5:21-6:9
    An attitude of mutual submission (21)
    Wives and husbands (22-33)
    Children and parents (6:1-4)
    Slaves and Masters (5-9)

10: Prepared for War: 6:10-24
    The War (10-12)
    The Armour (13-17)
    The Weapon - Prayer (18-20)
    Concluding greeting (21-23)

STUDIES IN EPHESIANS: 1:1-10 - THE SUPREMACY OF CHRIST

Background
Ephesus was the largest city in Asia with a population of around 300,000. It was the centre of Roman administration and the focus of the worship of Artemis (Diana) - a city of political and religious significance.

The church there had been founded by Paul in 54AD. Its early history was quite dramatic - read about it in Acts 19. The letter to the church (more probably churches) there was written in 61/62 from Rome where Paul was under house-arrest. It was sent along with the letter to the Colossians and the personal letter to Philemon, by the hand of Tychicus accompanied by the runaway slave, Onesimus.

Almost certainly the letter was intended to be read in several churches in Asia Minor (the early manuscripts have a gap in 1:1 for the destination). No doubt Paul expected the letter to be copied and distributed to the other churches in Asia Minor.

There is a very close link between this letter and the letter to the Colossians. Both were written to counteract a false teaching which denied the full majesty and divine nature of the Lord Jesus Christ - making him subordinate to 'angelic powers' who controlled access to God.

In the letter to the Colossians Paul concentrates on the true position of Jesus as Creator, Controller and Conqueror of the Cosmos. In the Letter to Ephesus he looks at our individual and corporate position in relation to the Cosmic Christ. In the words of scholar F.F.Bruce: "Paul's mind.was gripped by the vision of the Church as being not only God's masterpiece of reconciliation at the present time.but also God's pilot scheme for the reconciled universe of the future."

Introduction: verses 1-2
The letter opens in the customary way for a first century letter:
1.    The sender: Paul, apostle by divine appointment
2.    The receivers: the believers (saints = 'holy ones') in the churches
of Asia Minor
3.    A blessing: grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ

Note how Paul immediately makes a point of placing the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ together as the source of grace and peace.

The blessings of God: verse 3
Note that in the Greek manuscripts verses 3-14 are all one sentence!

The word 'praise' is literally 'blessed' - so "Blessed be the God.who has blessed us"

a)    God's heart is to bless: "he has blessed us". God's heart is to
love, to give, to favour - not to judge or chastise. To love and to bless is God's very nature.
b)    His blessings are comprehensive: "with every blessing": God is not
mean with his blessings. We do not have to squeeze the occasional benefit from him. He has a blessing for every occasion!
c)    His blessings are spiritual: "every spiritual blessing"; this does
not mean that God does not bless us materially or physically; but it reminds us that his primary concern is our spiritual welfare. He will bless us with material things and circumstantial good as long as that serves our best interest. There are great pitfalls in measuring God's blessings only in material and physical terms.
d)    His blessings relate to the heavenly realm: " in the heavenly
realms": blessings such as: angels to serve us; the joy of worship; the security of salvation; membership of the Family of God; the hope of resurrection and eternal life in the New Age - these are blessings this world knows nothing of .
e)    His blessings are in Christ: the blessings do not depend on us; we
cannot make ourselves worthy enough, good enough, obedient enough, holy enough for God to bless in ourselves. He blesses us because we are in Christ. He blesses us out of relationship, not condescension.

The choice of God: verses 4-6
a)    The basis of God's choice: "he chose us in him": God did not choose
you and me to be his children in an arbitrary or random fashion. He chose us according to a plan. The plan was to create a new world around Christ. Our choice is to identify with Jesus as the Christ.
b)    The Timing of God's choice: "before the creation of the world":
"before the foundation of the world" (NRSV): God's plan was no knee-jerk reaction to Mankind's rebellion and failure; it was in place from the outset!
c)    The purpose of God's choice: ".to be holy and blameless": he has
chosen us to represent him in this fallen world
d)    The result of his choice: "in love he predestined us to be adopted
as his sons": the new Heavens and Earth which will be brought into being in honour of Christ Jesus will be not only his inheritance, but the inheritance of his brothers and sisters by adoption!

All this is God's pleasure and will and celebrates his love and grace (verse 6).

The Gifts of God in Christ: verses 7-10
"In him we have."

a)    Redemption through his blood: redemption is the buying back of a
slave or captive making him free by the payment of a ransom; in our case we have been bought back by the ransom of Jesus' death from enslavement to sin and death.
b)    The forgiveness of sin: the word Paul uses suggests the cancellation
of an obligation or punishment; a pardon; a release from guilt.
c)    The riches of his grace: God's grace is lavished upon us - the word
suggests abundance, more than enough, overflowing - the overflowing grace of God.
d)    The revelation of the mystery of his will: the key words here are
"to be put into effect" - where the word means management, arrangement or economy. God wants us to understand his economy - his arrangement for the sum-total of the planned times. God is managing history through planned stages to a planned conclusion. This gives us as Christians a completely different perspective on what is going on in the world than others have.
God's goal for human history is 'one perfect whole in Christ' (Barclay).

Human history is not leading to inevitable disaster, annihilation or destruction but to ultimate reconciliation, peace and harmony under one Supreme Head - our Lord Jesus Christ! This is God's Plan.

Are you living in the Plan?

The second in the Ephesians series based on Chapter 1:
11-23. The title was "God's Eternal Plan"

 Plans are part of life - some work and some don't. Some are defeated by human factors and some by circumstantial factors. Martin drew attention to various plans of his in the past that had not gone well. But Ephesians 1:11 refers us to God's plan - a rich plan - the best plan that is being worked out on planet earth and we can celebrate that:

 1.       You and I are included (v13). Many of us have experienced the joy or trauma of being picked first or last for teams. But in God's plan we are not second choice. And we are chosen to participate, not to spectate - so don't sit on the bench.

 

2.       We are marked (v13) with a seal - the Holy Spirit who expresses himself through us in fruit (Galatians 5:22) and through Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). We have enjoyed this taster and are convinced the fullness is yet to come. The taster should not frustrate but should inspire in a positive way. Believe for more!

 3.       You and I can now see (v15-23).  How we see and what we see affects the way we live. Therefore we need to see with increasing clarity:

What He is like (v17). Just as long-married couples often say "It
just gets better and better", so our relationship with God can become richer with time. Don't settle for acquaintance with God - get to know Him better

The hope we have (v18). This is not a wishful hope based on luck,
but a certain hope from the King on the throne, from our personal father, with a supernatural supply of grace and power.

The glorious inheritance we have in the saints(v18) Give thanks
for each other and for the blessing of relationship. We can miss it if we don't view it rightly.

The incomparably great power. The greatest spectacle of power
pales into insignificance  next to the resurrection of Christ - an event that reversed a huge momentum. Creation, history and destiny were heading for death, decay and judgement - but the resurrection  reversed that inevitability and brought salvation, life and forgiveness.

The place that Christ occupies (v20-22) - He is seated at God's
right hand in the heavenly realm. We can focus our attention on Him - above everything and over everything.

Ephesians 2: 1-10 and was entitled "The Incomparable Grace of God"

 He began by drawing attention to the new posters on some buses, sponsored by atheists in response to the Alpha bus-poster campaign. The poster says "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life".  It is probably as good at drawing attention to God as the Alpha one is !! But, of course, the idea that there is no spiritual dimension is contrary to scripture and contrary to the experience of millions. We are not by ourselves.

More than that we live in a clash of two kingdoms. There is no neutral zone.
We are in one or the other. We should not underestimate the influence of the ruler of the air, who blinds the eyes of unbelievers.  Without Christ, we are bound over by wrong desires and thoughts, fuelled not only by what is in us but also energised by the ruler of the air - swept along where we didn't intend to go.

Verses 4-10 are "But God ....." verses, bringing relief and salvation. God has changed our circumstances. Four things come to bear on us - v4 - His great love; v4 his mercy, v7 his kindness; v7 his incomparable grace. These result in five glorious benefits:

V5 - we are saved from the ruler of the air - like someone saved from drowning

V4 - we are made alive in Christ - the reversal of spiritual death is even more dramatic than the reversal of a cardiac arrest

V6 - we are raised with Him and given new citizenship - with all the accompanying benefits of being a citizen of a new country. Like an ornament lifted out of reach of a toddler, our lives are lifted out of reach of the enemy.

V10 - we are restored to fulfil our original purpose. No matter how broken our lives, God can restore.

V9 - we have been left without a boast. Our only boast is in the cross. Do we boast about it keep quiet about it?

There are two hinge words in all this:   "through faith"

 Martin brought an illustration of a crane - capable of lifting huge loads but activated by a small lever. In the same way a small act of faith can activate a huge work of God.

Martin finished with a quote form J I Packer which included the thought that what matters is not that I know God but that He knows me. That my name is graven in the palm of his hand. That He knows me as a friend and is never distracted from me. There is the momentous knowledge and unspeakable comfort that He watches over me for my good, despite knowing the worst about me.
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Ephesians 2: 11 - 3: 13

2: 11-13 God has "brought us near".  He has a plan of restoration, starting with The Garden of Eden, and continues  on until He creates a new heaven and new earth.  His plan reaches out to all nations, beyond the "now" and into eternity, as "man was made for immortality" as Abraham Lincoln said.  We are higher than the apes, and in fact, a  little lower than the angels, and God's plan encompasses this.  Isaiah 40 reveals that God has a shepherd heart, an  intention to nurture and protect us.  He longs to adopt us into his family.  We should not try and disqualify  ourselves.  We need to "come near".  Jesus said "come to me all you who labour, and are heavy-laden.

2: 14-18. God has created "one new man".  This is one of the mysteries of God's plan for the church:- he has taken  those who, in theory should "belong"  (the Jews), and those who do not belong (the gentiles) and made one "nation"  of them, under Christ's banner.  In verse 15, it is made very clear that the commandments have been abolished  through God's initiative of grace.  In the light of this, our response should be to "take every thought captive to  Christ".  Paul highlights the mystery and miracle of The Cross.
Gary quoted observations of the late Revd David  Watson, who reminds us that the cross is a picture of violence, but is the key to peace, a picture of weakness, yet  a key to life, a picture of weakness, but a key to true power, a picture of punishment, yet a key to forgiveness, a  picture of hate, but a key to true love, a symbol of shame, yet something that the Christian can truly boast in.

3: 1-6. "Heirs Together".  Paul was a prisoner as he wrote the letter to the Ephesians, but understood fully the  freedom of God's offer to us through Christ, and the uniqueness of his divine call.  Gary referred us to Romans
5:  6.  God's plan is working out through time, already designed for eternity.  Jews and Gentiles will share in God's  ultimate plan for a new heavens and earth as described in Revelation 20: 21.  Our ultimate destiny is glorious!

3: 7-13.  "The Mystery of Ages".  Paul tells of the treasure of God's mysterious plan.  We can approach God in full  confidence and faith!  How can we claim to be spiritually poor, weak, lacking guidance and encouragement when God  has revealed his full riches through Christ?  We can come to the throne of grace boldly through the very same grace  that has been shown to us.

Gary led us to reflect on whether we do truly live in the light of these great offers of God through His Son?  Or  do we merely "exist" as earth-bound individuals?  God's heart is inclusive to all.  Is ours?  God wants us to  embrace his promises, and has a clear purpose for his church.
Do we realise this?  God has an eternal destiny for  us.  Do we look forward to this, and live in the light of it?  At his time of challenge in the world, are we truly  "looking up" to our calling and destiny in Him?

Chapter 3, verses 14-21, Paul's  "Apostolic Prayer".  This section builds on the rest of the book, as well as being a bridge between the  consideration of who we are as believers in Christ, and our consequential actions, namely, how we should live in  the light of those promises.  Tony read the passage from the William Barclay translation, which added helpful  insights.  A key phrase to consider in connection with this passage was "for this reason", meaning, "because of the  wonder of God's plan described so far."  Tony quoted J.B. Phillips - "When I think of God's Plan, I fall on my  knees".
Indeed, the audacity, scope, and implications of the plan seem to prompt Paul (in essence) to respond -  "Oh boy!  We certainly need prayer for this to work out!"

Tony led us to consider 4 themes, being made up of Paul's "Trinitarian Tapestry" (three parts), followed by the  consequences in, and response of The Church.

1 - The Father's Family (v14 - 15).  Fatherhood and family are linked together.  It follows that, if He is our  father, we must be our family.
God the Father does not merely "do fathering", but is, truly, The Father.
His is  The Paradigm of Fatherhood.  There is a serious implication following from this - both in spiritual and natural  realms, we are models.
The world (our neighbours!) are watching us.  I cannot say "My Father"
without having to  affirm my status in "My Family", with its
responsibilities and benefits.  One cannot follow without the other.   Tony
reminded us of events in East Africa over the last fifty years.  The area experienced revival, yet that did  not translate into a sense of family among believers, which failed to prevent the massacre of Christian brothers and sisters by each other.

2- The Spirit's Power.  Only through this divine enabling can we fulfil this divine ideal.  Do we welcome Him, or  grieve him?  We need this power in our inmost being - otherwise, where will our discipline, courage, and determination to overcome sin come from?  This Spirit will give us endurance to overcome demonic opposition.  Satan  opposes the work of the church, as he knows that the power of Christians united together as a divinely-ordained and  guided body, will hasten Jesus' return, which will coincide with The Enemy's downfall.

3 - Christ's Love -  We need to keep our roots sunk deep into this love ("how wide, how deep.")  Strong foundations  driven deep into this love will, indeed, keep us divinely strong as we do His work.  We need to, truly "get hold of  this love".  Love will guide us to action, and protect and strengthen us as we act.  Paul then prays that the  Ephesians would "know the unknowable", and "be filled with all the fullness", both logically (due to the infinite  greatness of God) impossible (!), but such is Paul's passion for the church!

4- Glory In The Church.  Simply, having seen the majesty, power, and potential of the three personals of The  Godhead, now it's out turn to respond!  He is able to do "immeasurably more", but it's now up to us to bring Him  Glory in The Church, through our response to His Majesty and Kingship, and for the sake of His Honour, making Him  known to the world through The Church.

Colin and Juliet continued the series on Paul s Letter to The Ephesians.

This week we looked at Chapter 4, verses  1 to 16.
 
A Working Body.
 
Colin read from  The Message , which is well worth reading, as it gives different angles on the sense of the passage through its paraphrase.

Colin expounded verses 7 to 16, covering the practical outworking of the theory that Paul had given so far in the  book.

Simply, Paul is  earthing  big concepts.

Verse seven reminds us of the importance of God overflowing grace to all believers. He has something unique for us  to give to his works as we are, too, unique!  Verses 8 - 10 tell of the great price paid by Jesus, and that, although the Holy Spirit does the empowering, God chooses to use people like you and me for His work.  Colin used  the illustration of an overseas touring cricket team, which has many different specifically skilled and gifted  personnel serving the single cause, each being a vital and individual specialist in their field.  Such team work  gives us opportunities to grow in grace.  However, we do need to be  tooled up  in grace to do kingdom work, and to  be  there for each other  in a Christ-like way.

Juliet shared on the first six verses. 

The strength of Paul's  I urge you is significant. 

From verse 1 to 6, he outlines the  how to .

We are to be as humble as Jesus, our leader and example. 

Gentleness mentioned in the following verse included the ability not to feel exasperated when under pressure, rather than simply serene when in  a state of idleness.  Likewise, the  patience  that Paul exhorts us to is useful only when we have to exercise  self-control, overlooking slights and offences.  We need to question ourselves as to if we have the Christ-like  spirit.  Are we able to choose not to be offended, or be offended on the behalf of others, unnecessarily?  Verse 3  sees another element of emphasis, the  every effort  being as strong as the  urge  of verse 1.  We have to work to  find this unity, almost  fighting  for it.  See Galatians 5: 13-15.  Paul reminds us in v 4 - 6 that we are drawn  together under one banner for one purpose - we don t just commit our lives to Jesus, but to the church (each other)  as well, other believers coming as a free gift, along with the rest of the church worldwide!  We need to determine,  as we are part of this God-ordained body, that we don t settle for disunity as a normal state of affairs. 

And, in  the striving for unity, we become more Christ-like as we rub against other believers in good times as well as bad!  

We need to ensure that we pursue unity over the things that matter, not being distracted over the things that are  peripheral to kingdom life!