Lesson 2

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Ephesians

September 21, 2015

Lesson 1

January 18, 2010

Lesson 3

January 18, 2010

RETURN TO THE SYLLABUS

EPHESIANS 1:1-6
Lesson #02
WHO ARE WE?

• Memory verse: Eph 1:3

• Jesus Christ wrote a will before He died. Did you know that you are in His last will? He made you His heir of all His wealth. Then He died on the cross so that His will would be in effect. Then He rose from the dead so He could be your heavenly advocate (lawyer) to make sure that the terms of His will are correctly followed.
• Our study of Ephesians is to see what is in that will that belongs to us, his heirs.

• Read Eph 1:1-6 Our standing as believers in Christ Jesus
  • To the faithful “in Christ Jesus” (1-2)
    • It is not enough to believe intellectually that Jesus existed and did some wonderful things.
    • It is not enough to believe intellectually that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead.
      • To be “in Christ Jesus” you must give your life to Him and invite Him into your heart.
      • Our standing “in Jesus Christ” is initiated by God’s grace and results in a position of peace with God. (2)

 

• “God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ”

 

(3)
• Does that mean that when I get to heaven I will finally receive all the wealth I inherited from Christ?
  • No. It means we already have all the inheritance.
  • We don’t have to wait until we get to heaven. How do we know this?
    • Eph 2:6 tells us we are already seated with Christ in heavenly places.
    • The minute you were born again, you took your position in heaven next to Christ.
    • Therefore, you already have access to all your inheritance.
    • Our standing in Jesus Christ is based on blessing from God, the Father (1:3-6 )

• Read Rom 8:29-30
  • What has God done for us in the past?
    • He has chosen us (4) [the doctrine of election, foreknowledge, and predestination.

• The words “election” and “chosen” in the Greek mean = to choose out for oneself so as to give special care to; to love a person beforehand so as to take notice of him.
  • Before you were ever born, He chose you to be a part of His kingdom.
  • Even though you were chosen before you were born, that does not save you.
  • However, because He chose you, He had a plan to work in your life to bring you to the knowledge of salvation and to a point in time when you would choose Him and commit your life to Him.
• Read Joh 15:16 Rom 3:10-11 Luk 19:10

• Why is it important to know that God chose you instead of you choosing God?
  • It puts the responsibility on God.
  • If He chose me, then He is responsible for me.

• Remember that God’s “election” is by His sovereign choice prompted by His grace and love.
• Remember that God’s choosing (his election) never violates man’s free will.
• Remember that a non-believer will not be able to say, “I was not saved because I was not chosen.”
  • It is not a lack of God’s choosing that keeps people out of heaven.
  • It is their sin plus their choice to persist in it.

• The Old Testament example of “election”:
  • God chose the Israelites to be His people.
  • He did not choose them because they were worthy, but because He desired it. (Deu 4:36-37 Deu 7:7)

• The New Testament revelation of “election”:
  • In the New Testament God works with a body of believers called His church.
  • Believers are chosen by God to be:
    • “in Christ” (Eph 1:4)
    • “adopted” (Eph 1:5)
    • “to do good works”(Eph 2:10)
    • “to conformity in Christ” (Rom 8:29)
    • “to eternal glory” (Rom 9:23)

• What is foreknowledge?
  • It is the all knowing character of a God who is outside of time and space.
  • He knows the end from the beginning.
• What is predestination? How does it affect free will?
  • Both predestination and free will are taught in the Bible so we must include them both in our understanding of salvation.
    • “Predestination” means = to ordain ahead of time; to predetermine; to mark out and set boundaries around.
    • Does that mean because we are chosen by God before we are born, that we have no choice but to accept him? No. Remember we do have free will.

• Election refers to people.
• Predestination refers to God’s purposes only regarding those whom He has chosen. God never predestined anyone to go to hell.

• The events connected with the Crucifixion of Christ were predestined: our adoption, our conformity to Christ, our future inheritance. In other words, God’s plan and purposes for the believer were predetermined.
• This should be a comforting word to the believer. It puts the responsibility for my maturity on God’s shoulders. He is going to make sure I make it to heaven.

• What is God doing for us in the present?
  • He adopted us (5)
    • Adoption has a dual meaning.
      • Remember we do not get into God’s family by adoption. We become a part of God’s family by regeneration (being born again).
      • =1= The word “adoption” in the Bible means = “son placing”.
        • when a child reached the age to be an adult, he could inherit his father’s property. Then his father would have a celebration to indicate to all his family and friends that he was an adult able to inherit.
        • This practice was called “adoption” and always referred to one’s ability to inherit.
        • God gives His born again believers an adult standing in the family. Why does God do this?
          • Because we cannot inherit unless we are adults. (Gal 4:1-7)
          • This is something no one can see but is done spiritually when we give our hearts to Jesus Christ.
        • Why is this important?
          • The believer is given this “adult standing” even when he is still an immature baby Christian.
          • It is his “position”, therefore, he is able to inherit immediately. He does not have to wait until he gets to heaven.

• =2= The “adoption” also means that in the future we receive a glorified body, which everyone will be able to see.

• What is God doing for us in the future?
  • He made us acceptable in Christ Jesus (6)
    • Because of God’s grace, He has accepted us in Jesus Christ.
    • We are accepted from the time we invite Jesus into our hearts and into the future.
  • We are, therefore, assured that when we arrive in heaven, He will not suddenly change His mind and cast us out and say, “unacceptable!”.

• Discussion question:
  • Are the prayers of one believer, like Moses, Paul, or Billy Graham more acceptable to God than the prayers of other believers?
  • What do you think?

HOMEWORK
EPHESIANS 1:7-12
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher for correction.

• Application of Eph 1:1-6
  • Discussion question :
    • Are the prayers of one believer, like Moses, Paul, or Billy Graham more acceptable to God than the prayers of other believers? No
    • Because of God’s election, none of us are chosen because we are worthy. Everything, including answers to prayer is because of God’s marvelous grace.
      • Then doesn’t the Bible say the prayers of a righteous man availeth much? (Jam 5:16)
        • Yes, but how do we get to be righteous?
        • Righteousness comes through the blood of Jesus Christ. It is not because of anything that we do. One believer is not more righteous than another if both are in Jesus Christ.
      • However, everything is activated by faith, and some Christians develop their faith more because they read the Word of God.
  • How well do you understand the doctrines of election, predestination, and foreknowledge? If you still have questions, be sure to ask the teacher.

• Preparation for Eph 1:7-12
  • Read Eph 1:7-12
    • According to this passage, what has Jesus done for us in the past?

• What is Jesus doing for us in the present?

• What will Jesus do for us in the future?

Memory verse: Eph 1:9