“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” 2 Peter 1:20 – 2:1
Verses 1-2 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul always began his epistles by identifying himself and his position in the ministry of Jesus. He was an apostle or a messenger sent forth by the LORD Jesus Christ whom he served. He also prefaced all of his writings with the salutation of “grace and peace from God our Father and the LORD Jesus Christ”. He was writing to the saints who were all Christian believers living in Ephesus. Should any other Christian believers not living in Ephesus read this epistle, including all the believers down to this present time, he included them as “the faithful in Christ Jesus”. Remember that all the epistles in the New Testament are mail to the Christian believer. They are not the mail to or for unbelievers.
Application: To be a saint means to be holy and set apart. The institution of Catholicism teaches that saints are people who have died and then been declared by the institution to be saints. But in Christianity, the only true Church established by the LORD Jesus Christ and His apostles and disciples, all believers who are either physically dead or physically alive are saints. They belong to Jesus as He purchased them with His blood and called them to righteousness through His sacrifice as “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world”. John 1:29
Verses 3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
The Greek word translated as “blessed” is “eulogetos” and it means blessed said of God, or praised. So the Apostle Paul was praising God for all the spiritual blessings and because He chose all the saints to be in His spiritual kingdom before the world was spoken into existence. What are these spiritual blessings? Eternal life in Heaven, the indwelling of the Holy Ghost/Spirit to guide and teach each believer while their spirit is housed in a physical body, miracles of healing, provision and protection, knowledge that does not come from a school or a book, the ability to discern evil and evil spirits or devils, access through prayer to the very throne room of God so that no man/priest is needed as an intermediary between God and His people, wisdom that is not that of this world, and much, much more.
Application: So often preachers and evangelists urge their audience to “choose Jesus today”, but people do not choose Jesus. He chooses them. Because Jesus is God, very God, He transcends time and knows what the future is for each individual regarding salvation or damnation. When He chooses someone, He draws them to Himself so that they will humble themselves, submit their will to His, and be obedient to His calling. When they are converted, they no longer have to pay a penalty for the sin in their lives because Jesus paid it when He went to the cross. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23 They are then seen by Him as holy or set apart and without blame because He cancelled their debt because He loves them.
Verses 5-6 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
The Greek word translated as “predestinated” is “proorizo” and it means to predetermine or to decide beforehand, to foreordain, or to appoint. The Greek word translated as “adoption” is “huiothesia” and it means to take on or assume, or to choose someone to receive special recognition. In the verse above, it means the condition of disciples in Jesus, who by receiving the Holy Ghost/Spirit into their souls, become children or sons of God. Remember that God has only one begotten Son. All other sons are adopted into the family of God. Since Scripture is written in the masculine tense, women are also sons of God. And why did He do this when mankind is so disobedient, rebellious, sinful, and worthy of death? Verse five above says it was because of His good pleasure. It brings God pleasure when a sinner repents and becomes part of His family. According to verse six above, at conversion people become agreeable with and to God.
Application: God accepted the believer. The believer did not accept God, although this is commonly stated in churches today. The question, “When did you accept Jesus?” is often asked, when in fact the question should be, “When did the LORD accept you?” He is sovereign and should be supreme at all times. He does the choosing and the accepting. The Christian believer is just the recipient of the working of His Spirit in
Verses 7-9 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Scripture refers to “in whom” and not “by whom”. Why? Because Jesus’ ghost, the Holy Ghost/Spirit, lives or dwells in every Christian believer so He is in the believer and the believer is therefore in Him. This is literally what makes the believer separate and different from the unbeliever. And this is in the spirit realm, not the physical.
To have redemption means deliverance or a releasing or liberation from debt by the payment of a ransom. It is Jesus’ shed blood that paid the sin debt for all Christian believers. “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28 “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” Hebrews 9:22
The Greek word translated as “riches” is “ploutos” and it means abundance, fulness or wealth. The Greek word translated as “grace” is “charis” and it means favour, good will, or loving-kindness. Mercy is God not giving people what they deserve such as a death sentence for their sins. Grace is giving people what they do not deserve such as forgiveness of sins and eternal life. So the Apostle Paul’s reference to “the riches of his grace” means the abundance of the grace of God.
The Greek word translated as “abounded” is “perisseuo” and it means to exceed a fixed number of measure, to be left over and above a certain number or measure, to overflow, or to exceed. The Greek word translated as “prudence” is “phronesis” and it means understanding, knowledge and holy love of the will of God. God gives His children the ability to understand and love Him and to understand and love His plans, His prophecy, and His will regarding His people and life on this Earth.
The Greek word translated as “mystery” is “musterion” and it means hidden thing, secret, mystery, a hidden or secret thing not obvious to the understanding, a hidden purpose or counsel, secret will, or the secret counsels which govern God in dealing with the righteous but which are hidden from ungodly and wicked men but plain to the godly. The Greek word translated as “will” is “thelema” and it mean what one wishes or has determined shall be done. God’s will is to bless mankind through Jesus Christ. It is also His will to have His children desire to serve Him in whatever manner of ministry He leads them into.
So what is the Apostle Paul saying in the verses above? Simply that God has overflowed in His outpouring of knowledge and understanding to His children so that they can know His will that has in the past been hidden from mankind, both the righteous and the unrighteous, but is now revealed and understood according to His perfect timing and good pleasure. At least that is what this writer concludes. What do you think?
Verse 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
The Greek word translated as “dispensation” is “oikonomia” and it means the management of a household or of household affairs, the management, oversight, or administration of other’s property, or the office of manager or overseer. The Greek word translated as “fulness” is “pleroma” and it means that which is or has been filled, completeness, or fullness of time. Putting these definitions together, the sentence above could read, “That in the management and oversight of a specific time period that has been completed. . .”. So the Apostle Paul is saying that God planned for a specific period of time when He brought together all things collectively into one and in Jesus Christ. All means all. So all of the Earth and everything in and on it, all of the heavens and everything in them are subject to Jesus Christ. That is why Jesus could say, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6 Jesus Christ holds all things together, holds the breath of all living things in His hands, is the mediator between the Father and mankind, is the only source of salvation and eternity in Heaven, and is the Judge of this world. There is no longer Jew or Gentile: all are one in Him. There is no longer male and female: all are one in Him. All the angels, both righteous and fallen, are all subject to Him. He is in control and He will bring the rest of His prophetic Word to pass, and one day time will be no more. This Earth and Heaven will pass away, and a new Heaven and a new Earth will replace that which was ruined by Adam and Eve rebelling against God and listening to the lying words of the Devil.
Verses 11-12 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
The Greek word translated as “inheritance” is “kleroo” and it means to cast lots, determine by lot, to choose by lot, to assign by lot, or to make a private possession. So the Christian believer has been appointed beforehand to receive an inheritance from Jesus Christ which is faith in Him, salvation, and eternal life along with the title of a son of God through adoption into His spiritual kingdom because of His death on the cross, His burial, and His resurrection. All of this is for the purpose of glorifying the LORD Jesus Christ, God Almighty. And all of this is and has been and will be according to the will of God. Since the Apostles were the first to walk and work with Jesus, when the Apostle Paul uses the word “us” in this opening of the first part of this letter to the Ephesian church, this writer believes he is referring to those who were the first to convert into the kingdom of God, but that it also applies to all the believers who have lived and died down through the ages to this present day. Remember, when reading Scripture, always look for the natural meaning first and then the spiritual meaning if it applies.
Verses 13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
In verse 13 above the reference is to “ye” who also trusted as opposed to “us” who have trusted. So after the Gospel was preached to the people living in Ephesus, who were chosen or predestinated before the foundation of the World, they believed the Gospel, placed their faith in the LORD Jesus Christ, and were converted and sealed (marked) with the indwelling of the Holy Ghost/Spirit which Jesus promised when He told His disciples that He had to leave them, but that He would send the Comforter. “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” John 14:16 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” John 16:7 The Holy Ghost/Spirit is the earnest of the inheritance or the down-payment of the believers’ inheritance and is the demonstration that people are in God’s kingdom. He is the believer’s seal. The definition of a “seal” is a device or substance that is used to join two things together so as to prevent them from coming apart or to prevent anything from passing between them. The presence of the Holy Ghost/Spirit in a man or woman’s life joins them to Jesus and prevents the things of this world from coming between them and the LORD. A further definition of a seal is a piece of wax, lead, or other material with an individual design stamped into it, attached to a document to show that it has come from the person who claims to have issued it. In times past, wax seals were used on legal documents, etc. Unless broken, the seal proved that the content of the letter or package was intact. Spiritually, the seal of the Holy Ghost/Spirit on each believer, unless broken by the believer due to unrepentant sin, disobedience to God or the choice to give up the Christian walk, shows that he/she are “intact” and the property of the LORD Jesus Christ. Christian believers belong to the one who purchased them: Jesus Christ. They are the purchased possession, and all will be officially in His kingdom in Heaven at the death of their physical bodies or at the coming of Jesus at the end of time as long as they remain faithful and true and obedient to Him.
Verses 15-16 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
Application: Do today’s believers bother to pray for and give thanks for their own churches, for the churches scattered across their own nations, and for the churches in other countries? The Apostle Paul did, and he often told believers to follow his example. Jesus prayed for the Church as recorded in John chapter 17. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;” Think about it.
Verses 17-20 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Application: These verses contain the points that the Apostle Paul prayed about when mentioning the churches in his prayers. These words can be written down with the necessary adjustments in believers’ Bibles or on a card and inserted in their Bibles as a book mark and they can be repeated each day on behalf of Christian brothers and sisters around the world. God will hear and God will bless.
Verses 21-23 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1)
Jesus is King, LORD, Savior, Creator, Sustainer, Healer, and Friend. There is no one higher than He is as He is God, very God, and everything or everyone else is a created being or thing that cannot exist without His power and presence.
Application: Jesus is the head of the Church, not the pastor, not the deacons, bishops or elders. All believers answer to Him and all believers are on the same level as far as importance. No one is to elevate themself above another because Jesus died for all the believers, and Jesus forgave all the believers, and Jesus is the head of all believers. The only difference is in the function or ministry each believer has been called to. The home-school mom is just as important as the college-graduated pastor. They both teach and preach. All believers need to elevate Jesus and humble themselves.