EPHESIANS LESSON 4


     We will begin this lesson in Ephesians 2:11 "Wherefore remember,
that ye [being] in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called
Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh
made by hands;"

     The circumcision are the Jews who thought that they were God's
only people. Many of the Jews thought that they would be saved, just
because they were the descendents of Abraham. Pertaining to the law,
they were circumcised in the flesh. They thought this would make them
God's people. It was not the circumcision of Abraham that put him in
right standing with God, but his faith. Romans 2:29 "But he [is] a
Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart,
in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men,
but of God."  This is speaking of cutting away the earthly desires
from the heart. In a man's heart, he believes unto salvation. What our
heart is, is what we are.

     Ephesians 2:12 "That at that time ye were without Christ, being
aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the
covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:"

     This describes the whole world, before Jesus came and gave them
hope. It especially describes all who were not Jews. The covenant did
not cover the non-Jews, until Jesus came. Now, if ye be Christ's, then
are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. We who have
faith in Jesus are seed of Abraham, because he believed, also. It is
our faith that makes us faithful Abraham's seed. There was no hope for
the heathen world, until Jesus came and brought us hope.

     Ephesians 2:13 "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far
off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."

     The blood of Christ Jesus does not just do away with our sin, but
literally saves us. It is the blood of Jesus {our Saviour}. that
makes us acceptable to the Father.  It was His blood being shed that
removed the veil to the holy of holies. Colossians 1:14 "In whom we
have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:"
I Peter 1:18 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with
corruptible things, [as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation
[received] by tradition from your fathers;" I Peter 1:19 "But with the
precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot:"

     Ephesians 2:14 "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and
hath broken down the middle wall of partition [between us];"

     Jesus Christ is the King of Peace. He not only brings peace, but
is Peace. When we receive Jesus Christ within us {whether Jew or
Gentile}, we have the peace of God which passes understanding. In this
church of Ephesus, both Jew and Gentile had given their heart to
Jesus. They were one in Him. Jesus is the focal point upon which all
of us, whatever denomination, must center on. He is the hub of the
wheel, and each of us are spokes. We all are connected to Him, if we
are Christians. We draw our strength and power from Him. Of course, we
all know that Jesus tore the veil in the temple from the top to the
bottom when He gave His body on the cross. The veil in the temple was
symbolic  of the flesh of Jesus. He opened the way for whosoever will
into the very presence of the Father. It matters not whether we be
Jew or Gentile. We are one in Him. He is our Peace.

     Ephesians 2:15 "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even]
the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in
himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace;"

     Jesus fulfilled the law of commandments in His body on the cross.
He paid the debt of the ordinances in full for all of mankind in His
body. He is our Sacrifice. He is our Way. He is our Truth. He is our
Life. The way to heaven is in Jesus.  It does not matter whether you
are black or white, young or old, male or female. The only way is in
Him. When we receive Jesus, we are a new creature in Christ. Our old
self has vanished away. Our prejudices vanished with self. Now we live
by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 8:3 "For what the law
could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his
own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in
the flesh:"

     Ephesians 2:16 "And that he might reconcile both unto God in one
body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:"

     There would be no longer special privileges to one race of
people. God is the Father of them all. We all, Jew and Gentile, make
up the family of God. When we become believers in Christ, we are
brothers and sisters with all other believers. The separation is over.
We are actually sons of God. Romans 8:14 "For as many as are led by
the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."  The Spirit of the Risen
Christ dwells within us if we are believers in Christ. I John 3:1
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we
should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not,
because it knew him not."

     Ephesians 2:17 "And came and preached peace to you which were
afar off, and to them that were nigh."

     Jesus' main mission upon this earth was to reconcile man to God.
He preached the good news of the Gospel to all who would hear. Only
the love of God can bring peace to mankind then, or now. Man had lived
in terror of God. Jesus taught the love of God. Romans 5:1 "Therefore
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ:"

     Ephesians 2:18 "For through him we both have access by one Spirit
unto the Father."

     "Him", in this verse is Jesus Christ. The Spirit is the Holy
Spirit. The Father is, of course, Father God. We see the action of
Father, Son {Word}, and Holy Ghost here. The Gentile and the Jew had
no way to reach the Father directly, before Jesus opened the way for
us. Our Mediator is Jesus Christ and Him alone. Matthew 28:19  "Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" John 14:6 "Jesus saith
unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto
the Father, but by me."  I Corinthians 12:13 "For by one Spirit are we
all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether
[we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one
Spirit."

     Ephesians 2:19 "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and
foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household
of God;"

     The Gentiles had no opportunity to know God, until the
crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The law was limited to just a very few
people, but Christianity was offered to all who would believe. Look at
the following Scripture and see who is the family of God. Mark 3:35
"For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and
my sister, and mother."  Look, with me once more, who can receive the
water of life freely. Revelation 22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride
say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is
athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life
freely." The next Scripture will show that the Gentiles were far off,
but belief in Jesus brought them in, too. Ephesians 2:13 "But now in
Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood
of Christ."

     Ephesians 2:20 "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles
and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone];"

     The stone that the builders rejected was Jesus Christ. He became
the Cornerstone, and we are the lively stones that build upon that
cornerstone. I Peter 2:5 "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a
spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices,
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."   The apostles and prophets have
laid the foundation for this building. Jesus is the cornerstone. We
Christians are building this spiritual temple {house}.

     Ephesians 2:21 "In whom all the building fitly framed together
groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:"

     The "whom" here, of course, is Christ. The apostle Paul, here, is
trying to make these Ephesians understand that each Christian {whether
Jew or Gentile} framed together make up the Church of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Jesus is the cornerstone that brings the building together.
The church is made up of many members. Those members have one head
{Jesus Christ}. We are to grow into the temple holy, acceptable unto
God. The church that Jesus is the head of is righteous, because we
have taken on the righteousness of Christ. We are in Christ Jesus.

     Ephesians 2:22 "In whom ye also are builded together for an
habitation of God through the Spirit."
     The church of the Lord Jesus Christ is the habitation of God. We
Christians are the church of God. We are the habitation of God on this
earth. Revelation 21:3 "And I heard a great voice out of heaven
saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell
with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with
them, [and be] their God." John 14:17  "[Even] the Spirit of truth;
whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither
knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be
in you."













































                        Ephesians 4 Questions


1.  What was Paul telling them to remember in verse 11?
2.  Who were the circumcision?
3.  What were the Jews depending upon to save them?
4.  What put Abraham in right standing with God?
5.  Quote Romans chapter 2 verse 29.
6.  What is a man really?
7.  The Gentiles were aliens from the _____________ of Israel.
8.  Now, if ye be Christ's you are Abraham's ______ and ______
    according to the promise.
9.  Now, in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh
    by the ________ of _________.
10. What makes us acceptable to the Father?
11. Quote Colossians chapter 1 verse 14.
12. We were redeemed with what?
13. Who is King of Peace?
14. Who is the focal point of all believers?
15. What did the torn veil in the temple symbolize?
16. What does verse 15 say, Jesus abolished?
17. Name several things that Jesus is for each Christian.
18. Quote Romans chapter 8 verse 3.
19. Who makes up the family of God?
20. Who are the sons of God?
21. Why does the world not know the believer?
22. Who did Jesus preach the good news of the gospel to?
23. We have peace with God through our _____ ______ ______.
24. Who is our Mediator?
25. Quote Matthew chapter 28 verse 19.
26. Quote Mark chapter 3 verse 35.
27. Who built the foundation?
28. Who is the Chief Cornerstone?
29. What kind of stones are the Christians called?
30. All the building fitly framed together groweth unto an ______
    ______ in the Lord.
31. What is the habitation of God?