"THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS" Chapter One OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THE CHAPTER 1) To review the wonderful blessings God has provided in Christ 2) To understand what Paul desired the Ephesians that they know 3) To notice the greatness of God's power toward those who believe 4) To consider the exalted position of Christ and His church SUMMARY Following a brief salutation (1-2), Paul begins this epistle with an expression of praise to God for the spiritual blessings that are in Christ (3). In this doxology is a list of blessings divided into three sections. The first section describes those blessings related to the Father, how He has chosen us in Christ, predestined us to adoption as sons to Himself, and made us accepted in the Beloved (4-6). The second section focuses on those blessings in relation to the Son, e.g., redemption through His blood, forgiveness of sins, the revelation of His will concerning Jesus Christ, and the inheritance we have obtained, as predestined according to God's will (7-12). The third section describes blessings related to the Holy Spirit, how we are sealed with the Spirit of promise, and how He serves as a "guarantee" (or deposit) of our inheritance (13-14). The key phrase throughout this section is "in Him" (or "in Whom") which stresses the point that all spiritual blessing come through Jesus Christ and enjoyed by those who are "in" Him (cf. 1:1,3). The last half of the chapter contains Paul's first of two prayers that are in this epistle. The prayer in this chapter is for their "enlightenment", that their knowledge and understanding might increase. Paul especially desires that they might know God more fully, what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the great power of God toward those who believe (15-19). Regarding this "power", it is the same power God used to raise Jesus from the dead and seat Him at His right hand. The exalted position now enjoyed by Christ includes authority over all things, especially the church which is described as "His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." (20-23) OUTLINE I. INTRODUCTION (1-3) A. THE AUTHOR (1a) 1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ 2. By the will of God B. THE RECIPIENTS (1b) 1. The saints (who are in Ephesus) 2. The faithful in Christ Jesus C. THE SALUTATION (2) 1. Grace and peace 2. From God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ D. THE THEME OF THE EPISTLE (3) 1. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is to be blessed (praised) 2. For He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ II. OUR SPIRITUAL POSSESSIONS IN CHRIST (3-14) A. BLESSINGS INVOLVING THE FATHER (4-6) 1. We are chosen by God (4) a. Chosen in Christ before the world began b. Chosen to holy and without blame before Him in love 2. We are predestined by God (5-6a) a. Predestined to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself b. Predestined according to the good pleasure of His Will -- To the praise of His glorious grace 3. We are accepted by God (6) a. Accepted by virtue of His glorious grace b. Accepted in the Beloved (Christ) B. BLESSINGS INVOLVING THE SON (7-12) 1. God has redeemed us (7a) a. Redeemed in Christ b. Redeemed through His blood 2. God has forgiven us (7b-8) a. Forgiven us of our sins b. Forgiven us according to the riches of His grace 1) Which God has made to abound toward us 2) Abounding in all wisdom and prudence 3. God has revealed His will to us (9-10) a. Revealed the mystery of His will 1) According to His good pleasure 2) Which He purposed in Himself b. Revealed how He will gather together in one all things in Christ 1) Things in heaven 2) Things on earth 4. God has given us an inheritance (11-12) a. An inheritance predestined by God 1) According to His purpose 2) Who works all things according to His will b. An inheritance... 1) For those who first trusted in Christ 2) So they can be to the praise of God's glory C. BLESSINGS INVOLVING THE HOLY SPIRIT (13-14) 1. The Holy Spirit is our "seal" (13) a. Having trusted in Christ after hearing the word of truth, the gospel of salvation b. Having believed, we were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise 2. The Holy Spirit is our "guarantee" (14) a. The guarantee of our inheritance b. The guarantee until the redemption of the purchased possession -- To the praise of God's glory III. PAUL'S FIRST PRAYER: FOR THEIR ENLIGHTENMENT (15-23) A. THAT WHICH PRECIPITATED HIS PRAYER (15-16) 1. Having heard of their: a. Faith in the Lord Jesus b. Love for all their saints 2. Resulting in his: a. Unceasing thanks for them b. Making mention of them in his prayers B. THE CONTENT OF HIS PRAYER (17-23) 1. To whom addressed (17a) a. The God of our Lord Jesus Christ b. The Father of glory 2. That God would... a. Give them the spirit of wisdom and revelation (17b) b. Enlighten the eyes of their understanding (18a) 3. That they might know... a. The knowledge of God (17c) b. The hope of His calling (18b) c. The riches of the glorious inheritance in the saints (18c) d. The exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe (19a) 4. Regarding this power toward us who believe... a. It is according to working of God's mighty power in Christ (19b-20a) b. The same mighty power which... 1) Raised Christ from the dead (20b) 2) Seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places (20c-21) a) Far above all principality, power, might, dominion, and every name b) Not only in this age, but also in that which is to come 3) Put all things under His feet (22a) 4) Gave Him to be head over all things to the church (22b-23) a) Which is His body b) Which is the fullness of Him who fills all in all REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER 1) What are the main points of this chapter? - Introduction (1-3) - Our spiritual possessions in Christ (3-14) - Paul's first prayer: for their enlightenment (15-23) 2) Why is God to be blessed (praised)? (3) - Because He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ 3) What blessings have we received that pertain especially to the Father? (4-6) - He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world - He predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ - He made us acceptable in the Beloved (Jesus) 4) What blessings have we received that pertain especially to the Son? (7-12) - God has redeemed us through His Son's blood - God has forgiven us of our sins - God has revealed His will to us - God has given us an inheritance 5) What blessings have we received that pertain especially to the Holy Spirit? (13-14) - We have been "sealed" by the Holy Spirit - We have received the Spirit as a "guarantee" of our inheritance 6) What had Paul heard, that prompted his prayers in their behalf? (15-16) - Of their faith in the Lord Jesus - Of their love for all the saints 7) Concerning what did Paul pray that his readers might know and be enlightened? (17-19) - The knowledge of God - The hope of His calling - The riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints - The exceeding greatness of His power toward those who believe 8) According to what is God's power toward those who believe? (20) - The mighty power God worked in Christ, in raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand 9) What is Christ's exalted position at God's right hand? (21) - Far above all principality, power, might, dominion, and every name that is named, both now and in the age to come 10) What has been placed under His feet? Over what is He the head? (23) - All things - The church 11) What is the church in relation to Christ? (23) - His body - The fullness of Him who fills all in all
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