A study of Ephesians, organized by concepts.
(Ephesians chapter one to be written later.)
EPHESIANS CHAPTER TWO includes:
1. The predicament: people are far from God
2. The solution: we are brought near by Christ’s death on the cross
ONE. THE PREDICAMENT. Quotes are from English Standard Version:
1And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—3among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
HOW CAN UNDERSTANDING THE SINS OF NON-CHRISTIANS BECOME RELEVANT TO US WHO ARE ALREADY CHRISTIANS? It serves two purposes for us:
1. It makes us desire to pray that the lost will be saved.
2. It gives us insight into our old nature WHICH WE STILL HAVE.
| HERE ARE SCRIPTURES ABOUT THE BATTLE OF OLD AND NEW NATURES GOING ON IN OUR LIVES: Galatians 5:17 describes the two natures Romans 7:23 Describes Paul’s experience of the strkuggle between the two. Paul tells us what to do in verses 22 through 24 here: Ephesians 4 Luther shows how to put this concept into our daily prayers here. Read the fourth question and answer at this link: What baptism means for daily life |
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OUR PREDICAMENT, CONCEPT BY CONCEPT
Verse 1: you were dead in trespasses and sins
How do you differentiate Trespasses from Sins?
What is meant by Dead?
| In what way can a breathing person be called dead? The following verses clarify “spiritual death.”Paul’s experience in Romans 7:7-11. (Sin killed me)Applied to daily struggle between flesh and spirit: Romans 8:5-7Wages of Sin. Romans 6:23. Therefore we can look at these “wages” not just as something to be paid out at judgement day, but as wages that we exprience every day when our “old nature” |
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Verse 2: (trespasses and sins) in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience
John describers here what is meant by World: 1 John 2:15-17
The Prince is described here: John 12:31, 1 Peter 5:8
Sons of …. ? is a middle-eastern phrase still common today, that means “exemplifying something…”, “being a poster child for…”
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Verse 3: we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Passions and desires. Body=flesh. Mind=the human understanding.
Children of … (same middle-eastern phrase as “sons of…”)
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Verses 11 to 12: 11Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
“the circmcision” means the Jews; Gentiles is an umbrella term for non-Jews. (the Greek word is ethne, so we can understand this as meaning every ethnic group. The word “gentile” is from the Latin word that means “nation.”)
Our predicament as non-Jews meant we are separated from:
1.Christ
2. Israel (people of God)
3. Covenants
4. hope
5. personal God
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TWO. THE SOLUTION
Proceed by showing how each detail of our predicament is met.
Problem: Our separation from God’s people. Answer:
Verse 19 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
Problem: the hostility between people.
Verses 14-16. 14For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
“Both” here means whom? Can we apply this to other rifts between peoples?
Abolishing law? How do we know which laws are abolished and which still apply?
Book of Hebrews details the answer, summarized here: Hebrews 10:5-14,
(quoting Psalm 40:6-8)
Conclusion: Old Testament ritual ceremonial laws don’t apply any more.
Wich laws still apply? Those repeated in the New Testament.
All ten commandments are repeated in NT, except one.
The sabbath law: Colossians 2:16 Lutherans are “non-sabbatarian”
We are perpetually in God’s Sabbath Rest. Hebrews 4:9
Problem: Without God. Answer:
Verse 13. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (verse 16 adds “through the cross”)
Ephesian believers already knew Gospel, what Paul taught them is in Romans 3:23ff
Verses 8-9. .8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
What is the “this?” Eph 2:8. (it refers to the entire phrase “grace, saved, faith.”
Problem: Spiritual death. Answer:
Verses 4-6. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6and raised us up with him …
To understand Raised with Christ, see Romans 6:4 Colossians 2:12-14
PRIVILEGES OF SALVATION:
1. Peace.
Verse 17. 17And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
Jesus gives us peace. John 14:27
2. PRAYER ACCESS.
Verse 18. 18For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
See Hebrews 10:19-22
3. TOGETHERNESS WITH CHRIST
Verse 6b: and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
We are Above the circumstances
4. PURPOSE IN LIFE
Verse 10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
5. WE TOGETHER AS CHURCH ARE A TEMPLE OF GOD
Verses 19-22: you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God bye the Spirit.
IN ORDER TO SHOW THE WORLD
Verse 7: 7so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Also see 1 Peter 2:9
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EPHESIANS CHAPTER 3
Includes:
- Special terms: a. “the heavenlies” b. “unity with Christ”. c. “the mystery of Christ”
- A Prayer for Strength and Comprehension
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THE TOPICS in EPHESIANS 3 :
ONE. THE HEAVENLIES. Those that exist now, not after judgement day.
Where mentioned in Ephesians:
Eph 1:3. We have blessings in the “heavenly places.”
Eph 1:20. Christ at God’s right hand in the “heavenly places.”(this means above all powers, including unseen powers). Repeated in Hebrews 10:12. Christ is not “under the circumstances,” but over them.
Eph 2:6. We are seated WITH CHRIST in the “heavenly places.” So : We are not “under” the circumstances, but over them.
More mentions iof “the heavenlies” n Ephesians 2:
Eph 2:2 Satan is in “the air.”
Eph 2:10 We (the church) show God’s accomplishment (of defeating Satan and saving people) to the powers in the “heavenly places.”
SUMMARY. The “heavenlies” are”
1.A part of creation that includes God, angels, Satan and demons.
2. God did not give us a sense organ that can see these realities.
3. The Bible tells us that they exist.
a)Satan NOW seeks to harm us. 1 Peter 5:8-9
b)False spirits are deceiving us NOW. 1 John 4:1
4. Sometimes God allows a human to have a glimpse:
shepherds saw angels; an angel appeared to Mary
5. Sometimes they were seen in visions:
Daniel saw good & bad angels in warfare. Daniel 10:12 and 20.
Revelation 12:7 War in heaven
Ezekiel saw the heavens opened Ezekiel 1:1.
Isaiah saw the Lord and angelic creatures. Isaiah 6:1-7.
6. Christ’s work on the cross was also done in heaven. Heb 9:23
About the phrase: Thy WILL be done on earth, as it is in Heaven.
- Past: OT temple was a copy of a heavenly temple. Hebrews 8:5
- Ongoing: for unbelievers: 1 Timothy 2:4 For believers: 1 Thessalonians 4:3
Note Vaue of differentiating JUSTIFICATION from SANCTIFICATION“God loves you as you are: but He loves you enough not to Leave you as you are.”
What other examples can you think of that are God’s will now?
God’s promise: Philippians 2:13
About Finding God’s will. See article on Guidance.
See Luther’s summary about God’s Will.
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TWO. UNITY WITH CHRIST
(in progress)
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THREE: THE MYSTERIES
Paul often mentions “mysteries.” (things we wouldn’t have guessed)
Eph 3:4-6. Which two people groups are one in Christ?
Eph 1:9-10. The mystery of God’s will is to …. See Col 1:19-20
Col. 1: 26-27. Where is Christ?
FOUR: THE EPHESIANS 3 PRAYER
Eph 3:14-15. In what ways is God the template for fatherhood?
The following prayers are also stated as promises.
Eph 3:16. What do you need strength for today?
The Promise: Psalm 115:9
Eph 3:17. Was Christ not in their hearts yet?
The promise: Colossians 1:26-27.
Eph 3:17-19. What have you experienced of the dimensions of Christ’s love?
The promise: Romans 5:5
Eph 3:19. What would it be like to be filled with God?
The promise: Eph 2:22
Concluding sentence of praise:
20Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
(more chapters to be written later)
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