Home     Courtyard     About the Old Teacher     Favorites    Recordings

online bible study

Small Doors

Small Doors

Faith

Love

I Am

Wisdom and Knowledge

Why are you on this earth?

Understanding and Applying the Word

The Trinity

Time and Eternity

Last Days

Revelation

The Rapture

Priesthood

Prayers

The Nature of God

Lordship

Sermon on Jonah (by Pastor Thompson)

The Holidays

Hear God

Geneaology

Encouragement

70Weeks of Daniel
 

 

The Book of: Ephesians

We told you earlier in our study of Romans that we consider that book and particularly chapter 8, to be one of the High points in Scripture. Ephesions is another remarkable Scripture. After seeing the weakness of the Galatian churches, we find that the Ephesians are a one hundred eighty degree turnaround. Whenever you feel weak and discouraged, or disappointed and hopeless, or confused and lost, we suggest that you spend as much time as you can in this book. It's almost guaranteed to encourage you. The depth of meaning in this book places it beyond any possibility in this study of doing it justice. We do believe that if you spend a little slow and prayerful study you will get to the meaning that God wants you have. The first three chapters deal with who we are and what we have in the body of Christ. The last three chapters deal with who we are and what we are in the world.

We should note carefully the use of the word" in" when we go through this chapter. In is used twice in verse three. We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places by virtue of our being in Christ. This status is gained when we truly accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. We are told that we are baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit at that point. We suggest you continue to note the use of this word as it applies to our relationship to Christ.

(chpt:  1 Vs: 001)  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: 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 002)  Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 003)  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 

In verses 4 and 5 we are told that God has chosen us to be in him ( Christ ) before he formed the earth , for the purpose that we would be holy and without blame. We are told that he predestined to be his adopted children through Christ Jesus. This is done according to his will and for his pleasure. We would suggest that maybe this would be a good time to go back and look at Romans the eighth chapter again. We would like to think that we made all the choices all by ourselves. Predestination presupposes the foreknowledge of God which means that he knows every action and every decision that we will make under all circumstances. With that in view he has given each of us the best set of circumstances to bring us to a point of making the critical decision to receive Christ as Lord.

(chpt:  1 Vs: 004)  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: 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 005)  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 006)  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 

Verses 7 through 14 continue in this theme of predestination and God's plan.

(chpt:  1 Vs: 007)  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 008)  Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 009)  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 010)  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: 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 011)  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: 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 012)  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 013)  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, 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 014)  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 

The rest of the chapter is acknowledgment of the Ephesions faith as evidenced by their love one for another and Paul's prayer for their Christian growth and blessing in God.

(chpt:  1 Vs: 015)  Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 016)  Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 017)  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 018)  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 019)  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 020)  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 021)  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 

Verses 22 and 23 tells us that all things are placed under the authority of Christ and that he is the head of the church which is his body. That means that you and I are part of that body if we are saved and that Christ must be our head.

(chpt:  1 Vs: 022)  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 023)  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. 

The first few verses tell us that one time we were dead because of our sin, but that God made us alive through Christ Jesus.

(chpt:  2 Vs: 001)  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 002)  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 003)  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 004)  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 005)  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 006)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 007)  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 

Starting with verse 8 Paul stresses the fact that we are saved by Grace through faith in that that faith is not ours but it's a gift from God. We are told we are God's workmanship in Christ Jesus to do the good works which he has planned for us before hand.

(chpt:  2 Vs: 008)  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 009)  Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 010)  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

From verse 11 through 22 Paul stresses the fact that through the blood of Christ. all who have received Jesus as Lord are one in the body of Christ. This doesn't mean that all of the church groups in the world are united together. We don't think this is possible in this day and age. It means that each and every believer no matter where he is, is part of the body of Christ. We are told that this body (in verses 20 through 22) is God's holy temple and Christ is the chief cornerstone. It also says that we are joined together to be a habitation for God through the actions of the Holy Spirit.

(chpt:  2 Vs: 011)  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 012)  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 013)  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 014)  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 015)  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 016)  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 017)  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 018)  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 019)  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 020)  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 021)  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 022)  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. 

In this chapter Paul speaks of a mystery that has been revealed to Paul. In this context the word mystery has to do with God's plan that make salvation available to all mankind and with the formation of the church.

(chpt:  3 Vs: 001)  For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 

(chpt:  3 Vs: 002)  If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 

(chpt:  3 Vs: 003)  How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 

(chpt:  3 Vs: 004)  Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 

(chpt:  3 Vs: 005)  Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 

[1/4]

Free online bible lesson

Take the Guided Tour 

John

1 John

2 John

3 John

Genesis

Exodus

Matthew

Mark

Luke

Acts

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

Revelation

Ecclesiastes

Proverbs

Psalms

Jonah

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

James

1 Peter

2 Peter

Jude

Hebrews

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

Ezra

Nehemiah

Esther

Job

Daniel


Books below have no comments

Joel

Amos

Song of Solomon

Nahum

Habakkuk

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Lamentations

Ezekiel

Hosea

Obadiah

Micah

Zephaniah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi


Select by Bible order

"The Old Teacher" was called to be with The Lord on 10 June 2007.  To learn more about "The Old Teacher" please visit the "About Old Teacher" link.