EphesiansLesson 2

Ephesians 1:1-14• Grace: God’s unmerited/undeserved favor• Grace and peace to you vs. 2• Glory of His grace freely bestowed/blessed vs. 6• Riches of his grace lavished on men vs. 7-8• 2 Timothy 1:9 God saved and called us according

to His own purpose and grace• Eph. 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved• Blessings: Every spiritual blessing

In the heavenly places

In Christ• These blessings are part of His grace

Word Studies• “Chosen” : eklegomai, eklego – to choose, select,

choose for oneself, NOT necessarily implying rejection of what is not chosen, but giving favor to the chosen subject, keeping in view a relationship to be established between the one choosing and the object chosen.

• In the NT it is only found in the middle voice: the subject initiates the action and participates in the result of the action (Zod)

• Eph. 1:4 By God

In Christ

Before the foundation of the world

To be holy and blameless before Him

Word Studies “Chosen”• I Pet. 1:1-2 According to God’s foreknowledge

By the Spirit’s sanctifying work

To obey Jesus• John 15:16 Jesus chose the 12• I Cor. 1:26-30 GOD chose…..• Predestined: proorizo: to determine or decree

beforehand• Eph. 1:5,11 In love , in adoption as sons, through

Christ, according to God’s kind intention, His purpose and to the praise of the glory of His grace

Word Studies• Acts 2:22-23; 4:27-28 The cross was also God’s

“predetermined/definite” plan• Romans 8:28-30 Those called were also predestined

to be conformed to the image of Christ• “Redemption” – apolutrosis: to let go free for a

ransom. The recalling of captives from captivity through the payment of a ransom for them, i.e., Christ’s death

• Eph. 1:7, 14 In Christ

Through His blood

Forgiveness

According to grace lavished on us

Word Studies “Redemption”• I Peter 1:18-19 Believers are not

redeemed/ransomed with perishable things• Col. 1:13-14 Redemption is in Christ’s blood• Romans 3:24; 8:23 Our redemption brings

justification as a gift by His grace. In the future, our physical bodies will also be redeemed

• “Administration” – oikonomia – to be a manager of a household. The position, work, responsibility or arrangement of an administration, as of a house or a property, either one’s own or another’s.

• Revealing the mystery of God’s plan of salvation

Inheritance• Eph. 1:11 We have obtained an inheritance• I Pet. 1:3-5 Our inheritance is: imperishable

undefiled

will not fade away

reserved in heaven• Rom. 8:16-23 We are heirs with Christ• Titus 3:5-7 Heirs because of being justified• James 2:5 Heirs of the kingdom which is promised

to those that love God.

The First to Hope in Christ• Eph. 1:12 The Jews• Acts 2 The church began with Jewish believers

like Peter, John, the apostles and others at Jerusalem. (vs. 36)

• John 1:11 He came unto His own and His own received Him not. (as a whole)

• Eph. 1:13 “You also” refers to Gentile believers• Acts 10 Cornelius is a Gentile, Italian descent

Sealed with the Holy Spirit• Pledge: arrabon – an installment; a deposit which

guarantees the balance. Is the regular term in the NT times for “earnest-money”, advance payment that guarantees the rest will be given, then represents full security backed by the purchaser who supplies sufficient proof they will fulfill the entire pledge.

• Sealed: esphragisthete – to attest ownership; marked for possession or identity

• Eph. 1:13 You were sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise

• I Cor. 6:19-20 Our bodies are the temple of the HS• I John 3:1-3 I am called a child of God• I Cor. 15:50-54 Mortal bodies will be immortal

Conclusion• Don’t forget who you are and WHOSE you are• Live like you have a seal on your body that all can

see• How can death ever have victory when we will be

immortal?