Ephesians 1

Notes compiled from 


Ephesians 1:1–14


Paul receive God's authority to write this letter.


Before becoming a Christian, Paul heavily persecuted all Christians. However, when Jesus opened his eyes, Jesus didn’t persecute him the way he persecuted those Christians. Instead of punishing Paul for his deeds, Jesus forgave him and led Paul to fully repent, allowing Paul to become one of the best evangelical preachers. I believe this is one of the most inspiring experiences of grace and peace that God shows in a person's life.



"Every spiritual blessing" = God's blessing to his people in Christ from the heavenly realm


"Heavenly realms" = Paul's perception that God's plan for human salvation was worked out in the divine realm.




http://www.gci.org/bible/eph00
Special attention needs to be paid to the small phrase “in Christ” that so often appears in Paul’s writings, as is the case with Ephesians. It is a reference to every believer’s incorporation into all the spiritual blessings available in Christ via the Holy Spirit. The blessings possessed in Christ are not any less real because they are “spiritual.” It is because of the spiritual realm where Christ reigns in heavenly places that we can be assured of victory today and of the promise of a glorious inheritance, of which we have only begun to taste!


http://www.gci.org/bible/eph01
In any case, scholars have viewed Ephesians as the “Queen of the Pauline epistles” for its all-encompassing presentation of Christ’s unique relationship to the universal church and his purpose for it. In the blessing section (vv. 3-14), which in the Greek is a single sentence, are presented golden nuggets of blessings from God to his people in Christ. Also, we find the praises or blessings from believers to God in response to those spiritual benefits. The unveiling of God’s mystery is that from all eternity God has known the solution to humanity’s predicament with its cosmic consequences on account of sin. God’s remedy is not something new or novel — it has always existed! What is new is only its disclosure in time, space and history.


The heavenly disclosure is the “good news” that salvation is the gift of God in and through Christ alone. Jesus Christ is at the very center of God’s divine purpose in bringing universal reconciliation in every sphere of life in heaven and earth. In him alone we have been chosen, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, sealed and consequently glorified. Halleluiah!


Zondervan NIV footnote:


* Eph 1:3-14 All one sentence in Greek, this section is often called a "doxology" because it recites what God has done and is an expression of worship to honor him. Paul speaks first of the blessings we have through the Father (vv. 3-6), then of those that come through the Son (vv. 7-12) and finally of those through the Holy Spirit (vv. 13-14).


* Eph 1:3 blessed ... blessing. Jewish people used the word "bless" to express both God's kindness to us and our thanks or praise to him. heavenly realms. Occurs five times in Ephesians, emphasizing Paul's perception that in the exaltation of Christ (his resurrection and enthronement at God's right hand) and in the Christian's issue that pertain to the divine realm and that in the final analysis are worked out in and from that realm. At stake are God's eternal eschatological purpose (3:11) and the titanic conflict between God and the powerful spiritual forces arrayed against him - a purpose and a conflict that come to focus in the history of redemption. Here (v. 3) Paul asserts that, through their union with the exalted Christ, Christians have already been made beneficiaries of every spiritual blessing that belongs to and comes from the heavenly realm. In vv. 20-22, he proclaims Christ's exaltation to that realm and his elevation over all other powers and titles so that he rules over all for the sake of his church. According to 2:6, those who have been made alive with Christ (2:5) share in Christ's exaltation and enthronement in heaven. Thus (3:10) by the gathering of Gentiles and Jews into one body of Christ (the church), God triumphantly displays his "manifold wisdom" to the "rulers and authorities" in the heavenly realm. As a result, the spiritual struggle of the saints here and now is not so much against "flesh and blood" as against the great spiritual forces that war against God in heaven.

Blessings from God to His children:


- God chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight (Ephesians 1:4)


- In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves (Ephesians 1:5-6)


- In Jesus, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding (Ephesians 1:7-8).



- With all wisdom and understanding, God made known to us the mystery of his will to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment (Ephesians 1:9-10)



Blessings from Christ to believers:


- And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ (Ephesians 1:8-9).


- In Jesus, we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1:10-12).


- And we, the believers, also were included in Christ when we heard the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation. Having believed, we were marked in Jesus with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:13-14).




Ephesians 1:4–5
Romans 8:29–30


God wants restoration for us. We have sinned and fallen away from Him. He thus sacrificed His perfect Son in order to restore us to holiness and blameless in His sight (Ephesians 1:4), so that we bear the image of Jesus (Romans 8:29).



Zondervan NIV footnote:


* Eph 1:4 chose. Divine election is a constant theme in Paul's letters (Ro 8:29-33; 9:6-26; 11:5, 7, 28; 16:13; Col 3:12; 1Th 1:4; 2Th 2:13; Tit 1:1). In this chapter it is emphasized in the following ways: (1) "he chose us" (here)' (2) "he predestined us" (v. 5); (3) "we were also chosen" (v. 11); (4) "having been predestined" (v. 11). before the creation of the world. Cf. Jn 17:24. holy and blameless. See 5:27 for the same pair of words. Holiness is the result - not the basis - of God's choosing. It refers both to the holiness imparted to the believer because of Christ and to the believer's personal sanctification.


* Ro 8:28 the good. That which conforms us "to the likeness of his Son" (v. 29). called. Effectual calling: the call of God to which there is invariably a positive response.


* Ro 8:29 foreknew. Some insist that the knowledge here is not abstract but is couched in love and mixed with purpose. They hold that God not only knew us before we had any knowledge of him but that he also knew us, in the sense of choosing us by his grace, before the foundation of the world (see Eph 1:4; 2Ti 1:9). Others believe that Paul here refers to the fact that in eternity past God knew those who by faith would become his people. predestined. Predestination here is to moral conformity to the likeness of his Son. that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. The reason God foreknew, predestined and conformed believers to Christ's likeness is that the Son might hold the position of highest honor in the great family of God.

Redemption:
1. the act of making something better or more acceptable
2. the act of saving people or being saved from sin and evil




Ephesians 1:3–14


As mentioned above, God wants restoration for us. And to achieve that, God brings unity to all things in Heaven and on Earth under Christ (Ephesians 1:10).


For me personally, I know that I am restored in God through Christ. As for the world, there are still many people in the world who are prideful and sinful like the Israelites, who continue to refuse to accept God’s Grace and Mercy. However, God will give people more time to allow these people to repent. However, this period of Grace does not last forever. It will end, ushering in judgment in the last days.


Our redemption and restoration are achieved only through God, "to the praise of His glory." That is, our restoration in God exhibits God's glory, because we could not and did not achieve this through our own works. Jesus did it all when He died on the cross in our place. We sinned, we are unworthy, and we couldn't get ourselves out of the whole we had dug. But, through His Grace and Mercy, God saved us.



Zondervan NIV footnote:


* Eph 1:6 to the praise. See vv. 12, 14. Election by grace is for God's glory. glory = (n.) High renown or honor won by notable achievements.

Though we could not achieve restoration by our own works, that doesn't mean our works have no meaning.


"Faith without works is dead" (James 2:26).


Therefore, it has been said, and I agree with this fully, that our works are PROOF of our salvation. That is, we do good works BECAUSE we are saved, as opposed to we do good works for our salvation.


One way to start doing good works is to be a Christian who grows in Christ every day, be a good example of how a Christian should live. Be on the look out for the opportunity to share God’s Word and Wisdom with family and friends, and continue to grow in God' Word. Most important of all, continue to nurture our personal relationships with God and never loose sight of Him.




Ephesians 1:13


The 3 stages of being "included in Christ":
1. Hear the Word of Truth, the Gospel of our salvation
2. Believe
3. Receive the Holy Spirit and be sealed




Ephesians 1:13–14
2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5


The Holy Spirit…
- Seals our salvation from God
- Marks us as followers of Christ
- Marks us as God’s people
- Guides us



The Holy Spirit is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.



When we choose to follow Christ, we are anointed with the Holy Spirit. We will be guided and protected by the Holy Spirit.




Ephesians 1:15–23


Wisdom: to have knowledge based on experience
Revelation: to have knowledge based on God’s inspiration, as God reveals His knowledge to us



http://www.gci.org/bible/eph02
Ephesians 1:15-23


Lesson objective: To understand that all believers are called upon to increase their knowledge of God as he reveals himself, to understand the depth of God’s promise of glory, and to personally know the power of the risen Christ.


Introduction: As the Epistle to the Ephesians continues to unfold, the apostle Paul pauses to give thanks to God and to intercede in prayer on behalf of the addressees (1:15-23). In the cosmic battle between the forces of good and evil, a line must be drawn and allegiances chosen. Paul knows all too well that believers can sometimes be lulled to sleep, let their guard down and take their faith in God for granted, which can lead to dire consequences. It is easy to fall into the trap of giving only lip service to God while our heart drifts away. The one sure antidote for this malady is to come to know God in Christ more fully in a personal and loving way (vv. 15-17).

Ephesians 1:17

We should pray to have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that we may know God better: This means that in order for us to get to know God better, we need to TALK to God! Hold a conversation! Approach God like a child who approaches his father!




Ephesians 1:18-19
We should pray to have our eyes of our heart enlightened so that we may know God’s mission for us: This means to listen to God with an open mind. If we listen to only things we want to listen to, we would miss out on God’s whole message.





Ephesians 1:20

Through Jesus Christ, we receive answers to such prayers.




The more we come to know God, the more we understand His amazing sovereignty. But more than that, the more we come to know God, the more we come to love God. No one can love a person he/she doesn’t know. Therefore, for us to understand God’s love for us, and for us to love God back as His children, we need to develop a relationship with Him. We need to talk to Him through prayers, and He will reveal Himself to us.




Ephesians 1:20–23


Jesus Christ is alive today and is currently preparing a place for us in Heaven. Jesus is seated at the right hand of God, in the heavenly realms, waiting for the time to return as the King of Kings.


God has placed all things under Jesus' feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the Church.




The Church is the people who follow Jesus of Nazareth, the body of Christ. Our role is to be witnesses of Jesus (Acts 1:8). We are to spread the Gospel share with the world about repentance and the forgiveness of sins.



Zondervan NIV footnote:


* Eph 1:23 his body. See 2:16; 4:4, 12, 16; 5:23, 30. fullness ... fills. The church is the fullness of Christ probably in the sense that it is filled by him who fills all things.





Personal inspirations from Ephesians 1:


With God as our Father, we have no worries in life. As long as we do God’s work, God will provide. Food, shelter, and other materialistic needs... God will provide everything.


God hears us (1 John 5:14-15). We are not talking to ourselves or talking to a dead, lifeless imagination! When we pray, we talk to a living God! When we are anointed in the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to guide us, God hears and answers our prayers.


We are Christ’s bride. Christ loves us as a husband loves His wife. He will never leave us; He will always be there to love and protect us.