Bible Study on Ephesians 1:1-14
vs. 1-2 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Written to every saint - not just those in Ephesus at the time, but to all ‘the faithful in Christ Jesus.”
Grace be to you! Grace: 1. Favour, good will: kindness. 2. The free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits people receive from Him. 3. The favourable influence of God; divine influence of the Spirit, renewing the heart and restraining from sin. 4. The application of Christ’s righteousness to the sinner. (All definitions from Webster’s 1828 Dictionary). May all this be upon you!
Peace be to you! Hallelujah Lord!! Thank you for grace!! Thank you for peace!! - Peace: Prosperity. Wholeness. Nothing missing. Nothing broken. This flows right into His name Jehovah Rapha. “Nothing missing and nothing broken” flows right into His healing virtues. Also flows right into His name Jehovah Jireh. Abundant provision includes “nothing missing and nothing broken.” The peace comes on the wings of His grace - His divine influence upon the heart. And His unmerited favor. The more time you spend with God is the more peace you will have, the more grace you will have.
This is part and parcel of my heritage in Christ - as a son of the Most High. Grace and peace belong to me!! As the offspring of God Himself, we should never see ourselves as merely human. Being born from above means that we now have God substance within us - this great treasure, in earthen vessels.
vs. 3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”
WE HAVE ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS!!! The Father has given us all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. So we can only access them when we recognise that we are in heavenly places. Cannot access those blessings being carnal.
And He didn’t give us those blessings so we could crash and burn. He didn’t give us those blessings to leave us hanging out in the cold. No!! We have them to use as more than conquerors! No whining! Man up and use what you have to conquer and take territory!
IN THE HEAVENLIES, WHERE JESUS LIVES!!! That is where we are seated. Above the circumstances, not under the circumstances. Using the authority and position we have in Christ to change our circumstances. This requires a change of perspective.
vs. 4 "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:" Before the foundation of the world, He chose me! That I should be holy and without blame before Him in love! So, He loved me! Before He even created this planet!!
vs. 5-6 "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." His grace was extended to us long before we were born, to make us accepted in the beloved family of God. We are now His adopted children through the agency of Jesus Christ.
vs. 7 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" As a part of the family of God, we are now the redeemed. Redeemed from the curse of the law (Gal. 3:13). Redeemed from the hand of the enemy (Ps. 107:2). Our enemies include sin, sickness and disease, poverty and lack, confusion, demonic influence, etc. We have been redeemed, ransomed by the blood of Jesus from the perilous place of slavery to sin and its consequences, and brought back into the fellowship with God and rich existence that Adam enjoyed before the Fall. Because of the blood of Jesus, we are redeemed and forgiven by the grace of God.
vs. 8-10 "Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:" Because of this, God has lavishly blessed us with wisdom and understanding, having revealed His plan to bring everything under the authority of Christ. And we are a part of His body!
vs. 11-12 “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted Christ.”
So God works ALL things after the counsel of His will.
He works all things so that we can be the praise of His glory. Everything He allows is working to bring Him glory out of your life! How cool and straight up encouraging is that??
So whatever He allows HAS TO work together for your good AND for His glory!!
We have obtained a wonderful inheritance in Christ.
Great and mighty God we serve!!
vs. 13-14 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." We, having heard the truth, now trust in Christ. Because of this, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, marked by the Holy Spirit, branded as His by the Holy Spirit, which is a downpayment or pledge that secures more to come as maturity takes place.
