EPHESIANS LESSON 2
We will begin this lesson in Ephesians 1:11 "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:"
In the last lesson, we were looking into the mystery of why God
would even want to save us. We found that He did not talk it over with
anyone. This was His decision and was not up for discussion. Galatians
3:29 "And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs
according to the promise." Our inheritance is in Jesus. We are heirs
of the Father, because we are sons of the Father. We are sons of the
Father, because we have received Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord.
The inheritance belonged to Jesus, but when we decided to belong to
Jesus, His inheritance became our inheritance, as well. This
inheritance was predestinated to those who become Christ's. We belong
to Christ. He bought us and paid for us with His precious blood.
Ephesians 1:12 "That we should be to the praise of his glory, who
first trusted in Christ."
The key to this is that we first trusted Christ. We, who first
trusted in Christ, should be the praise to His glory. The crucifixion
of Jesus glorified the Father. Even the healings and raising of the
dead glorified the Father. Over and over the Scriptures say, and they
glorified God. The very greatest glory of all was the fact that Jesus
fulfilled the will of the Father to save all who believed. The
suffering on the cross glorified the Father and the Son. John 13:31
"Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man
glorified, and God is glorified in him." John 13:32 "If God be
glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall
straightway glorify him." The greatest victory mankind has ever known
was the victory of Jesus on the cross. Jesus defeated Satan and sin on
the cross, and defeated death when He rose.
Ephesians 1:13 "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,"
The victory for all mankind in this, is that now, all who believe
will be saved. Salvation was not available to whosoever will, until
the cross. The gospel {good news} of salvation is that all who believe
in the Lord Jesus will be saved. It seems that there are two
statements "after ye believed" "sealed with the Holy Spirit of
promise". The Holy Spirit, we Christians receive, is called the
earnest of the Spirit. Look, with me, at a couple of Scriptures on
this. II Corinthians 1:22 "Who hath also sealed us, and given the
earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." II Corinthians 5:5 "Now he that
hath wrought us for the selfsame thing [is] God, who also hath given
unto us the earnest of the Spirit." The Spirit is a small taste of
what we will have in heaven with Jesus. The Spirit of the Risen Christ
within us bears witness of our salvation.
Ephesians 1:14 "Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the
redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
The Spirit, that we receive, gives us power to be able to live a
victorious life here on the earth. This strength, that we receive
within ourselves, is the fact that the Spirit of the Risen Christ has
taken up residence in us. It is His strength that we draw from. The
Spirit not only verifies that we belong to Christ, but also helps us
in our day to day walk. When we allow the Spirit to be our teacher and
our guide, we are assured of the decisions we make. It is a knowing
that all is well with our soul. It reassures us of our coming
inheritance. Notice we are the purchased possession.
Ephesians 1:15 "Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in
the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,"
Now, we see the glorious report. Love of the saints is automatic
with faith in the Lord Jesus. We can not directly do anything for
Christ. The way we give to Him is through His saints.
Ephesians 1:16 "Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention
of you in my prayers;"
Paul immediately began to pray for them, when he realized they
were believers. All leaders in the church should pray for all of those
who come to Christ. The congregation should pray for their leader, as
well. Pray ye, one for the other. We Christians all need each other,
and should give thanks for the believers.
Ephesians 1:17 "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:"
"Wisdom" is a gift from God. "Knowledge" is accumulated learning.
The Spirit of wisdom would be a gift through the Holy Spirit of God.
This would be above the natural ability of man. Revelation, here, is a
revealing of the Lord Jesus Christ through the study of Him {Word of
God}. Jesus called the Father, God, on several occasions. Jesus was
also spoken of as God. 1st. John chapter 5 verse 7 covers both.
Ephesians 1:18 "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,"
The eyes of your understanding enlightened, would mean that God
has allowed your innermost being to understand. The Light has shined
on you from within and revealed the meaning to you. This is
approximately what had happened to Paul on the road to Damascus. It is
a revealing from within. Jesus is the Light, so this means that His
light has shone brightly within you revealing secrets. When the Light
of Jesus shines within, there are no hidden corners left. His Light
does away with darkness. Then you can see clearly what your calling
is. You, also, can see clearly what your inheritance in Him is. This
"knowing" is not with your mind, but with your heart.
Ephesians 1:19 "And what [is] the exceeding greatness of his
power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty
power,"
The main thing it reveals, is the fact that it is not our own
power that works within us, but His power. Philippians 4:13 "I can do
all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Zechariah 4:6 "Then
he answered and spake unto me, saying, This [is] the word of the LORD
unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit,
saith the LORD of hosts." His power works in us, and through us, if
we believe. John 14:12 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater
[works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." He has
given us power of attorney to use His name. John 14:13 "And whatsoever
ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be
glorified in the Son." John 14:14 "If ye shall ask any thing in my
name, I will do [it]." The greatness is His power working in us and
through us, as I said.
Ephesians 1:20 "Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him
from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly
[places],"
That very same power that was shown at the resurrection of Jesus,
is the same power that we have when we pray for the sick, or do mighty
miracles in His name. The power is in Christ. It is in His name. He
healed in His own name when He was on the earth. We can now use that
powerful name. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father because
the work is finished. He is, also, The Right Hand of God. Read the
little hand book I wrote on that. In a spiritual way, we believers are
seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 1:21 "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:"
The following Scripture says it all. Philippians 2:10 "That at
the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and
[things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;" His name is exalted
above all others.
Ephesians 1:22 "And hath put all [things] under his feet, and
gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church,"
He is our exalted Leader. He is our Lord, He is our Saviour, He
is our King, He is our High Priest, He is our Life. Acts 17:28 "For in
him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own
poets have said, For we are also his offspring." He is the head of
the church, who we are. He is the Creator of everything and everyone,
and we are His creation.
Ephesians 1:23 "Which is his body, the fulness of him that
filleth all in all."
We, Christians, are the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are
His bride, we are His habitation. He is the vine, and we are His
branches. He is the Tree of Life and the Water of Life. He is the
spiritual and the physical Light of the world. When we are in His
presence, there is no night at all, just eternal day. The fullness of
the church takes place in heaven. We are the maid child {the church of
the Lord Jesus Christ}. We will be full of the Lord.
Ephesians 2 Questions
1. Quote Ephesians chapter 1 verse 11.
2. Quote Galatians chapter 3 verse 29.
3. Our inheritance is in _________.
4. He bought us and paid for us with His ____________ _____.
5. What is the key to verse 12?
6. What were some of the things Jesus did that glorified the Father?
7. What was the greatest victory mankind has ever known?
8. Christians are sealed with that ______ _________ of promise.
9. When did salvation become available to whosoever will?
10. What is the Holy Spirit that Christians receive called?
11. What within us bears witness of our salvation?
12. What strength can the Christian draw from?
13. What is the glorious report?
14. When did Paul begin to pray for them?
15. Wisdom is a ______ from God.
16. Knowledge is ____________ ___________.
17. In verse 17, how does the revealing take place?
18. What does "the eyes of your understanding enlightened" mean?
19. The "knowing", in verse 18, is how?
20. Quote Philippians chapter 4 verse 13.
21. Where do we find the statement, Not by might, nor by power, but by
my spirit, saith the Lord?
22. When we pray for the sick, what causes it to happen?
23. Quote John chapter 14 verse 14.
24. Where is Christ seated?
25. Quote Ephesians chapter 1 verse 21.
26. At the name of Jesus, who will bow?
27. Name several things that Jesus is to us?
28. Quote Acts chapter 17 verse 28.
29. What are the Christians?
30. What is the maid child symbolic of?
Home