Paul's Letters Ephesians

The Work Of The Trinity

Discover Jesus as: The Head Ephesians 1 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 538 of 730
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INTRO

This lesson begins our study of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Our phrase for Ephesians is The Head (Ephesians 1:22, 5:22- 23). All 66 books in the Bible point to and reflect one thing––that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the entire Bible. The Head describes how Jesus is presented in Ephesians. The city of Ephesus was located in the Roman province of Asia (today it’s located in modern Turkey). Paul identified himself as the author in Ephesians 1:1. Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians while he was imprisoned in Rome (Acts 28:16, 30-31) between A.D. 60-62. While in prison, Paul wrote letters to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon, letters that are usually referred to as the Prison Epistles.1

Remember that Paul was originally called Saul from the tribe of Benjamin, a Jew who was one of the leaders of the anti-Christian movement. He was on the way to Damascus to arrest the Christians there when he met the resurrected Jesus on the road. Paul was transformed from going after the Christians to being one of the greatest preachers in early Christianity.

Paul first visited Ephesus on his second missionary journey. When he departed, he left Priscilla and Aquilla behind to continue the ministry there. Paul returned on his third missionary journey and helped strengthen the struggling church that Priscilla and Aquilla had begun, and left Timothy there to shepherd the ministry and counter the false teachers there.2

Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus was written nine to ten years after his visit there. Because the name of the city was not mentioned in the letter, many scholars believe the letter was meant to be circulated throughout the churches of Asia Minor, and was sent first to Ephesus.3 According to Ephesians 6, Tychicus became Paul’s courier to deliver the letter to the Ephesians.

In my opinion, one of Paul’s greatest messages was the letter he wrote to the Ephesians. Paul was in Rome under house arrest and waiting to be tried. Things didn’t look good for Paul. Yet, Paul’s focus was on those with whom he had shared Christ and his concern was that they were continuing to walk with the Lord faithfully.

TEACHING

Ephesians 1:1-6: Paul began the letter with his usual greeting: “To the faithful saints in Christ Jesus at Ephesus. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (vv. 1b-2). Paul named the blessings (grace and peace) that came from the Ones with authority (God the Father and Jesus Christ). Paul continued to remind his readers that they had

been blessed through Christ with every conceivable spiritual blessing, and that they had been chosen by Him from before the beginning of the earth (vv. 3-4).

Nelson’s Commentary explains being chosen as having “predestined us” (v. 5): “Predestination is not a cold-hearted determinism or set fate, but rather a loving choice on God’s part.”4 Love is a choice more than an emotion. Regardless of what happens, we choose to love, just as God chose to love us. God chose us, predestined us, and adopted us (vv. 4-5). He favored us with His beloved Son (v. 6). The work of the Father comes through election.

Ephesians 1:7–12: The work of the Son is our redemption (vv. 7-8). Christ “made known to us the mystery of His will.” Nelson’s Commentary explains the term mystery this way: “The mystery is not a puzzle to solve, or knowledge only for the few and the initiated, as the mystery religions of Paul’s day. In Paul’s usage, the word mystery refers to an aspect of God’s will that

was once hidden or obscure, but now was being revealed by God (Romans 11:25).”5 In the Old Testament, the people didn’t understand the mystery, but it has been explained to us. As ambassadors of Christ, we can make known the mystery that came through Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We’ve also received an inheritance that was predestined according to God’s will.

CLOSING

Ephesians 1 provides an explanation of the Trinity in our salvation: (1) God the Father’s work through our election; (2) Jesus the Son’s work through our redemption; and (3) the Holy Spirit’s work to provide us protection.6

  1. John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2005), p. 1680.

  2. Earl Radmacher, Ronald B. Allen, and H. Wayne House, eds., Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999), p. 1530.

  3. Nelson’s Commentary, p. 1530.

  4. Nelson’s Commentary, p. 1531.

  5. Nelson’s Commentary, p. 1532.

  6. MacArthur, p. 1683.

Questions

  1. What do you think some of the spiritual blessings are that are mentioned in Ephesians 1:3?
  2. Who chose us for adoption, when were we chosen, and what was the process (Luke 19:10; John 15:16; Ephesians 1:4-6, 11; 2:18-19)?
  3. According to Ephesians 1:4, as one of the chosen, how does God see us? Do you see yourself the way God views you, and if not, how do you see yourself? Which one is the correct view? How can you change your thinking (Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 2:12-16; 2 Corinthians 10:5; Philippians 4:8)?
  4. In Ephesians 1:18-19, what were Paul’s reasons for his prayer that the eyes of our hearts would be enlightened? How would you say that this prayer has been answered in your life?
  5. Describe what Christ being The Head over the Church should look like (Ephesians 1:22; 3:10; 4:11-16; 5:23-32)? In the NLT, Ephesians 1:23 says, “And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.” Is this how you see the American church as a whole? If not, how can that change?
  6. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in Ephesians 1 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin Ephesians 1:7-8

"We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding."

God sent Jesus Christ into the world as a free gift for you to receive. Your heavenly Father is the giver of every good and perfect gift. When you believe in Jesus, you receive redemption through His blood, forgiveness of your trespasses, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Because God—as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is rich in grace, He lavishes grace after grace upon you. Today, you need to believe the truth that you are worthy to receive His lavish grace. Lavish means amazingly rich, elaborate, or luxurious. Many parents desire to lavish their children with good gifts of all types and sizes. Your heavenly Father is able to do abundantly more than you can even imagine. He chooses to lavish you with what He knows you need most of all—grace with all wisdom and understanding.

Stand and receive this truth today. Your heavenly Father delights in showering you with gifts. He gushes over you with grace, wisdom, and understanding. Lift up your hands and receive His wonderful gifts!

“We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”

— Ephesians 1:7-8

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • John 1:16-17 — “Indeed, we have all received grace after grace from His fullness, for the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
  • Ephesians 3:20 — “Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us.”
  • 2 Peter 1:2 — “May grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”