The Believer's Position in Christ
Ephesus was a city of Ionia, in Asia Minor, and once the metropolis of that part of the world. The ancient city was situated at the mouth of the river Cayster, on the shore of the Aegean Sea, about 50 miles south of Smyrna. There isn’t any doubt that the apostle Paul is the author of this epistle it is, however, a doubt with many scholars, whether this epistle was sent to the Church at Ephesus. They think that the proper direction is, The Epistle of St. Paul to the Laodiceans; and suppose it to be the same which the apostle mentions, Colossians 4:16; : "When this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the Church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. This is simply a minor detail and all I intend to say regarding it. It does appear that the letter was intended to be passed around to the other churches including the church at Ephesus. The epistle of Ephesians is built around the concept of the church as the body of Christ. This is the mystery that Paul speaks of, this divine secret of the Old Testament being revealed in the New Testament. Paul uses the metaphor of the church as the body of Christ to explain this mystery. Metaphors had also been utilized in the scripture to describe the church or God’s relationship with Israel. Metaphors such as the church as a bride, the church is called a household, a kingdom a family. The church is referred to as a building and as vine and branches. This reference to the church as a body had not been used before and has become the primary way to view the church. (note: John MacArthur, Grace to You)
1. The Believers Position in Christ Ch. 1:1-2 Paul’s salutation to the church, introduces himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ, not by his own making but chosen by God.
In analyzing the remaining verses I will utilize the graphic organizer that is used by journalists to complete a news story.
Verse 3 WHO: Paul gives all praises to God as the source for all blessings WHAT; Spiritual blessings WHERE; In heavenly places in Christ
What does this mean what are the divine resources or spiritual blessings that have been given to those who are in Christ? a. Gal 5:22-23 speaks of the fruit of the spirit and outlines 9 characteristics of the fruit (love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) b. Acts 2: speaks of the giving of the Holy Spirit, given on the day of Pentecost which gives the church the power to be able to live as sons of God. c. 1st. Cor. 12 outlines the gifts of the Holy Spirit which speaks of the church’s ability to function as a body. d. Hebrews 10:19 tells us that because of the completed work of the son direct access to the father is possible.
Verse 4 WHEN; Before the foundation of the world God chose the gentiles from the very beginning of time or had the gentiles in mind from the onset of the Jewish religious system that we not just simply those of Jewish heritage would also be holy and without blame due to his manifest love for us. Please keep in mind that he chose Abram and made a covenant with Abraham that he would be the father of many and that all the nations of the earth would be blessed because of him (Genesis 22:18) The doctrines of Election, Salvation, Sanctification and Justification are in view in this verse. Election; God’s sovereign decision to choose people to be his own. It occurs in relationship to Christ (2nd. Peter 1:10). Election does not remove each person’s freedom and responsibility to choose God in Christ as Lord and Savior. (2nd Timothy 1:9, Isaiah 65:1, John 15:16, 2nd Thessalonians 2:13) Salvation; To be delivered or rescued from sin or evil into eternal life. (Romans 10:9) Sanctification; God’s cleansing process to make a person whole and like Jesus (1st. Cor.1:30, Colossians 3:1-17). Justification; God’s act of declaring and making a repentant person right with Him (Romans 4:24-25, Romans 5:17 1st Corinthians 1:30). Justification essentially means “just as if I had not sinned.” Verse 5 How; We were chosen by God to be sons through adoption by Jesus Christ. Predestination; To be chosen or selected beforehand. (Romans 8:29-30) God in his supreme authority and wisdom chooses those who will trust in him and be saved. Adopt; To make a conscious decision to become the parent of a child or someone that you did not bear. (Romans 8:15 & 23, Galatians 4:5) Why; God accomplished or completed these things on our behalf because it pleased him to do so. We had nothing to do with it. It is only because of God’s grace that we have standing with him. e. Romans 5:8 declares that “God demonstrated his love toward us while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” f. Rom.5:18 speaks of being justified because of the man Jesus’ righteous act. Verse 6 We should always give him praise because of who he is and what he has accomplished by his grace that we have been made acceptable to him because of our position in his son. Because of God being in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, we are the recipients of his great kindness only because we have been made accepted in the beloved or in Christ. g. John 3:16 simply states that it was God that had so great a love for the world that he gave his only son as a sacrifice for sin that whosoever believes in him will not perish bet have everlasting life.