My notes: Ephesians is Paul's great letter about the church. It deals with the worldwide church, the head of which is Christ, the purpose of which is to be the instrument for making God's plan of salvation known throughout the universe.
1 - 14 Greeting and Hymn of Praise
God chose us in him, "to be holy and without blemish before him." (remember the sacrificial lambs in Moses' day. Also remember that Jesus died in order to make us without blemish). God has chosen us - through his grace.
We have been redeemed through Jesus' blood - we were chosen - "so that we might exist for the prose of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ (12). Hearing the word and believing is the first installment (down-payment) "of our inheritance toward redemption as God's possession."
15 - 23 The Church as God's Body
Paul reaffirms that God raised Jesus from the dead adn setated him at his right hand in the heavens - above "every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name this is named not only in this age but also in the one to come." He put everything beneath his feet and is the head of the church, which is his body, "the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way."
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Notes on this book:
Ephesus was the most important city in western Asia Minor because it had a harbor which let to the Aegean Sea. It had a large pagan temple to Diana (Artemis). Paul focused on this church for 3 years. Paul isn't writing to scold or correct this time but to expand their view of God's eternal purpose and to bring appreciation of the high goals of the church. Notes also indicate that this letter may have been circulated to several churches; hence the absence of personal greetings and messages present in other letters.
After the salutation Paul praised God who has "blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ" meaning that Christ is the ultimate blessing; there is none higher. God chose us before creation; He predestined us to be his children through Jesus because it pleases Him and brings Him glory.
4 "holy and blameless" notes- Holiness is the result, not the basis, of God's choosing us. It refers to the holiness imparted to us through Christ and our own personal sanctification.
9-10 God reveals His mysteries as He desires. Christ answered many questions but many things we won't know until the end of time. Then it will all "make sense".
11 Predestiny is mentioned again. It brings God glory.
13 "You also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth. Having believed, you were marked by Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance in glory." Anyone who hears the Truth and believes will be marked as God's by the Holy Spirit. This is just a deposit. We will be redeemed in eternity.
This is exciting to me! This is also a simple explanation of the point of our faith.
Things Paul prays for for the Ephesians which we can also pray for for anyone now:
that God gives you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know Him better,
that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you,
God's incomparable power.
God's power was demonstrated when he raised Jesus from the dead to make him ruler of all creation.
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