Did you read Ephesians yesterday? Please take the time to read it...that wonderful Word will get engrafted in your heart, mind, body and soul.
Here is our study for today:
Let's examine verses 1:7-14:
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Study Questions:
1. How did we receive redemption?
2. What did the Father give us? Did He make that decision on a whim?
3. Why did He reveal the mystery of Christ to us?
4. What Promise did God make to us who believe? How long will that Promise last?
5. What purpose does the Promise serve?
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Eph. 1:7 Redemption denotes ransoming someone from captivity or from slavery. The supreme OT example was the exodus, where God redeemed Israel from slavery in Egypt (see Ex. 15:13; Deut. 7:8; 2 Sam. 7:23; Mic. 6:4). Forgiveness of our trespasses explains the nature of redemption: Christians are freed from slavery to sin and guilt. This was effected by Christ's blood, which means his death as an atoning sacrifice (see also Rom. 3:24; Eph. 1:14; 2:13; 4:30; Heb. 9:15).
Eph. 1:9 Mystery as used in Scripture (Gk. mystērion) refers to the revelation of something that was previously hidden or known only vaguely but now is more fully made known (see note on Col. 1:26–27). The mystery of God's will, now revealed in Christ, is “to unite all things in him” (Eph. 1:10; see also 3:3–11).
Eph. 1:10 fullness of time. “When the time was ripe,” i.e., the time for the fulfillment of God's plan. unite. This is the central theme of the passage: God has effected cosmic reconciliation in Christ. The work of Christ on the cross is the central axis for the history of creation, whether in heaven or on earth (see also Col. 1:15–20), since he has redeemed his people and silenced all hostile powers (see Eph. 3:10).
Eph. 1:11 Obtained an inheritance seems the best rendering of the Greek verb that normally means “to allot [a portion].” Some believe the meaning is that God has claimed his own portion, the believing Jews (see v. 14). predestined. Making those who believe in him heirs with Christ was not an ad hoc event; God had planned it from all eternity. By definition God is sovereign, directing all things freely according to his royal counsel. This is in sharp contrast with the pagan gods of the time, who were understood to be often fickle or bound by an inscrutable and arbitrary fate. God's predestination gives his people tremendous comfort, for they know that all who come to Christ do so through God's enabling grace and appointment (see 2:8–10).
Who works all things according to the counsel of his will is best understood to mean that every single event that occurs is in some sense predestined by God. At the same time, Paul emphasizes the importance of human responsibility, as is evident in all of the moral commands later in Ephesians (chs. 4–6) and in all of Paul's letters. As Paul demonstrated in all of his remarkable efforts in spreading the gospel (Acts 13–28; cf. 2 Cor. 11:23–28), he believed that doing personal evangelism and making conscious choices to obey God are also absolutely essential in fulfilling God's plan. God uses human means to fulfill what he has ordained.
With regard to tragedies and evil, Paul and the other biblical writers never blame God for them (cf. Rom. 5:12; 2 Tim. 4:14; also Job 1:21–22). Rather, they see the doctrine of God's sovereignty as a means of comfort and assurance (cf. Rom. 8:28–30), confident that evil will not triumph, and that God's good plans for his people will be fulfilled. How God's sovereignty and human responsibility work together in the world is a mystery no one can fully understand.
Eph. 1:12 praise. See note on v. 6.
Eph. 1:13 Sealed can mean either that the Holy Spirit protects and preserves Christians until they reach their inheritance (see 4:30; 2 Cor. 1:22; 1 Pet. 1:5; Rev. 7:2–3) or that he “certifies” the authenticity of their acceptance by God as being genuine—they bear the “royal seal” (see John 3:33; Acts 10:44, 47). The first interpretation seems best here, though both ideas are biblically true.
Eph. 1:14 God pours out his Holy Spirit on all of his children to guarantee (or to provide a “down payment” on [esv footnote]) their share in his eternal kingdom because he applies to them all God's powerful working in redemption. until we acquire possession of it. This phrase can also be rendered “until God redeems his possession” (esv footnote). In that case it means that, like the Levites in the OT, believers are the Lord's specially treasured possession (see Num. 3:12, 45; 8:14; Josh. 14:3–4; 18:7).
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Be open, be honest, seek, knock, and you will find the answers! He is an Awesome God who will provide for us--as we see from these passages, our destiny and that of the chosen were planned and orchestrated before the foundation of the world. He works in the Spiritual Realm, He is Omnipresent--past, present, and future. How wonderful that we are the sons of a living, loving, perfect God. Love someone who is difficult to love--reach out, show them you understand the mighty gift and price Christ paid for them and for you. God bless, Sister Lisa
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