043. Outline of Ephesians 4:17-32

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

Overall theme in Chapter 4. You ARE one in Christ. BECOME what you are!

Outline of Ephesians 4:17-32

1).           THE BANKRUPTCY OF RELIGION APART FROM CHRIST.  4:17-19

Paul contrasts the old life of those without Christ with the new life they now have through their faith in Him.

i).            They Are Accountable For Their Bankrupt Spiritual State. In verses 17 and 18 he describes them before they came to Christ as having futile minds, darkened understandings and as being alienated from the life of God. Eph 4:17  Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18  They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God

How did that happen? He gives the reasons in verse 18. It came from their ignorance which in turn stemmed from their hardness of heart.

So the order is as follows:  Their hardness of heart led to their ignorance which resulted in their having futile minds, darkened understandings and being alienated from God. This hardness (porōsis used in osteoporosis etc) indicated their accountability before God.

ii).          They Are Accountable For Their On-going Sin. Their on-going hardness of heart led to a deepening involvement in sin.  Eph 4:19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

 2).           BECOMING WHAT THEY ARE IN THEIR NEW LIFE IN CHRIST. 4:20-32

i).            Putting Off The Old Self. 4:20-22. Eph 4:20  But that is not the way you learned Christ!– 21  assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22  to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,

ii).          Putting On The New Self. 4:23-25. Eph 4:23  and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24  and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

iii).         Outward Expressions Of The New Life. To be seen in:-

  • Truthful speech. Eph 4:25  Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
  • Controlled attitudes. Eph 4:26  Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27  and give no opportunity to the devil.
  • Becoming a giver not a taker in relationships. Eph 4:28  Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
  • Appropriate speech in every situation. Eph 4:29  Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good (the three characteristics of appropriate speech)
    • a.  for building up, (Greek word oikodomeō means to edify or to strengthen)
    • b. as fits the occasion (It always has to be appropriate. For example, the right word to the right person at the right time in the right situation from the right motivation).
    • c.  that it may give grace to those who hear. (The person who hears it must be helped by the words said).

iv).         Overall Motivation For Living The New Life. Eph 4:30  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. How does one prevent grieving the Spirit?

  • By getting rid of the negative. Eph 4:31  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
  • By affirming the positive. Eph 4:32  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave (Note 1) you.

Note 1. The word for “forgave” here comes from “charizomai” meaning to impart grace. As God had “graced” them with forgiveness, so they were to “grace” others by forgiving them. The verb is from “charis” grace. They didn’t deserve God’s forgiveness, nor could they ever earn it. Likewise the readers were to forgive those who could never earn nor deserve their forgiveness.

Blog No.043.    Jim Holbeck.     Posted on Wednesday 2nd November 2011

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042. OUTLINE OF EPHESIANS Chapter 4:1-16

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

Blog 042. OUTLINE OF EPHESIANS Chapter 4:1-16

OVERALL THEME: You ARE one in Christ!  BECOME one in practice!

OUTLINE:

A).          THEIR UNITY IN CHRIST.  4:1-3

i).            Called to belong to Christ. Eph 4:1  I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

ii).           Called to belong to one another in Christ . Eph 4:2-3. with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3  eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 B).          THEIR UNITY BASED ON THE UNITY OF THE GODHEAD.  4:4-6

One Spirit. Eph 4:4.  There is one body and one Spirit–-just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

One Lord (Jesus). 5  one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

One Father. 6  one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

 

C).          THEIR UNITY COMING FROM GOD’S COMMON GRACE. 4:7-10

i).            Christ’s gift of grace to all. Eph 4:7  But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

ii).          Christ’s gift of grace resulted from His death, resurrection and ascension.  Eph 4:8  Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9  (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10  He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

(Compare Jesus’ gift of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost,  Acts 2:33  Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing).  

 D).          THEIR UNITY AND DIFFERENT GIFTINGS.  4:11-13

i).            The people of the gifting.  Eph 4:11  And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers

ii).          The purpose of the gifting.  Eph 4:12  to equip the saints for the work of ministry,

iii).         The purpose of the ministry.   for building up the body of Christ, Eph 4:13  until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

iv).         The expected results of the ministry.

a).           Spiritual maturity. Eph 4:14  so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

b).          Growth in Christ-likeness. Eph 4:15  Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

c).           Bodily growth. Eph 4:16  from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow

d).          Growth in love. so that it builds itself up in love.

 Blog No. 042   Jim Holbeck.   Posted on Monday 31st October 2011

 

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041. Healing of Lou Gehrig’s Disease; ALS; (Motor Neuron Disease)

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

One is able to learn of a remarkable healing by God of Donald Jaeger of Florida who was healed in 1992 of Lou Gehrig’s disease or ALS (see Note 1 below).  You can read of his healing in an article to be found on Francis Macnutt’s website. Don’s testimony in written form is on the Glennon House at All Saints Episcopal church, Winter Park, Florida website.  For those who would like to hear Don’s oral testimony given during a Healing Service in audio MP3 form, you will find it on this website.

Instead of spelling out more fully in this article all the factors involved in Don’s healing, I will emphasise just one aspect of his healing that I personally found very helpful.  My ears pricked up when I heard him say that he had “delegated his healing to Jesus”. What was it that impressed me so much? I had discovered that Don was good at delegating responsibility.He is one of those rare individuals who is able to recognise a need and then work out an answer to meet that need (see Note 2 below). In business life he saw the need for good educational training, equipment and software and began a company in Florida to develop and market them. He would be the first to say that he is not the most savvy person in the universe about computers or software. Nor was he the most experienced person in the universe on educational matters. However he saw a gap in what was been offered. He then built up a team of those highly skilled in computers and software and others with expertise in education. Having found a solution which would fit the gap he then delegated those with expertise to pursue suitable suppliers, market, install and train the users.

When Don discovered that he had developed Lou Gehrig’s disease (seen by all in the medical field to be a fatal disease) he took seriously the medical findings and opinions of the medical experts. According to their opinions there was no hope offered to Don.  He had to look elsewhere. He heard the late Canon Jim Glennon speak in Orlando about God’s healing power and his faith was stimulated to believe that God could do something about his own situation. He knew he could not heal himself. If healing came it had to come from God Himself. So in his words, he “delegated his healing to Jesus.” He took every opportunity to have people pray for him, especially those who had faith to believe that God could do something about his illness. Many people prayed for him. When it seemed that things could not get worse for him, the Lord gave him faith to believe that he was healed.  Soon after many medical tests showed two things. One was that he had definitely been afflicted with the disease. The second was that he no longer had it, much to the amazement of medical specialists.  He had been healed!

In one sense I should not have been surprised to hear that Don’s healing came as he delegated his healing to Jesus. If Jesus is the Son of God, the Creator and Sustainer of this universe, the Promised Messiah, the Saviour and Redeemer, then nothing can be beyond His love or His power.  Indeed even our salvation comes from trusting in what Jesus did for us on the cross.  We delegate our forgiveness and our salvation to Him for He is the only One who could achieve them for us. They are ours through our faith in Him.

But we have a part to play in the whole process of Christian living. We have to trust in what God has done for us in Christ. We have to appropriate for our own needs what God has given us in Him in the “all things” which are ours in Him, Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? What Don discovered as he reached out in faith to Christ and asked Him for healing (as he “delegated his healing to Jesus”) was that the miraculous healing he needed was part of the “all things” he was given in Christ.

(Don has been for many years the Director of the Healing Ministry at All Saints Episcopal church, Winter Park Florida. Glennon House is the Centre for that ministry.)

NOTES:  1).   A.L.S. stands for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and is also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

2).    Don Jaeger is a graduate of the internationally famous “The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania” at Philadelphia. He applied insights learned there in his business and marketing practices. 

Blog No.041.    Jim Holbeck.    Posted on Sunday 18th September 2011.

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040. A Prayer Based On John 15:5-7. Receiving Through Abiding In Christ

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

Recently I was preaching on John 15:5-7 and decided to finish the sermon with a prayer based on verse 7. In the sermon I mentioned that Christian living and Christian ministry are both based on relationship.  Our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  In John 15 Jesus told His disciples that they needed to abide in Him as the vine to become fruitful branches. Otherwise they would not bear much fruit. Then He added those chilling words, “Apart from me you can do nothing.”  He meant that if they did anything without being in a close relationship with Him it would be of no eternal value.

However Jesus went on to give them the wonderful promise in verse 7,” If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you”.  What a concept! All we need to do is to ask for whatever we want and we will be sure to get it. Really? It just doesn’t seem to work out like that in our everyday experience!  Most of us do a lot of praying but we don’t always seem to get what we asked for.  Why? Was there something wrong with Jesus’ promise? Certainly not! He is the eternal Son of God.  He is THE TRUTH.  He did not and could not lie. So what’s the answer?

Look at the 2 conditions Jesus placed on the promise. The first condition was that people needed to abide in Him in order to receive such answers to prayer. Abiding means being focussed on Him, loving Him, adoring Him, praising Him for who He is and for all He has done for humankind (and especially for us personally).  It means practising His presence amongst His people. He promised, Mat 18:19  Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Jesus is always near to His people whether corporately as they meet together or personally with individuals who remain focussed on Him.

The second condition was that His words needed to abide in His people. His teaching is recorded in the Bible for us to read (AND to act on). He said that His words were from the Father,  John 14:10  Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. His words and His works originated from God the Father. His words have divine authority. They must be obeyed.  We must base our lives on them. We express our love for Him by obeying what He said. We allow His words to “abide” in us as we focus on them and allow them to shape and transform our lives.  We need to absorb them into our being. In the words of the late John Stott (about whom I wrote in a previous article) when he spoke many years ago to a group of Christian nurses in Australia, we need to have “bibline” blood.  We need to absorb His word, and let it become part of us. It must influence every part of our lives, especially our thinking and our behaviour. The more we abide in Him and the more we abide in His word, the more we come to know Him and to know His will. The more we know Him and His will, the more likely it is that the promise of Jesus in verse 7 will be fulfilled in us, “… ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you”.  

Now the prayer based on those words.  “Lord I give you all I am and all I have.  I want to learn to abide in You for every moment of my life. I want to abide in Your word so that it becomes part of me. As  I abide in You and as I abide in Your word, enable me by Your Spirit to pray in such a way that Your promise in John 15:7 is fulfilled in me, ‘Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.’  I ask this so that You may be glorified in my life and through my life,  in Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN. ” 

Blog No.040.  Posted by Jim Holbeck.   Wednesday 30th August 2011

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039. Outline of Ephesians 3:14-21. Paul’s Prayer For The Ephesians

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

We summarise the remainder of Ephesians chapter 3 in the following way. There  are Notes on individual verses below the Outline and a set of Questions for when the material is used in groups.

A).       HOW PAUL PRAYED. Verses 14-15.

1).        Earnestly. Eph 3:14  For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, (See Note 1 below).

2).        To The Heavenly Father. 15  from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. (Note 2)

B).       WHAT PAUL PRAYED. Verses 16-19a.  

1).        That they might know inwardly the Spirit’s power.   3:16  that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, (Notes 3 and 4)

2).        That Christ might be “at home” in their hearts.  3:17  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith–that you, being rooted and grounded in love, (Note 5).  

3).        That they might have power to comprehend the love of Christ. 3:18  may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, (Note 6)

4).        That they might be able to know Christ’s love.  3:19  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, (Note 7).

C).       THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF THE PRAYER .Verse 3:19b.

That they might be filled with God’s presence.   3:19 …. that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Note 8).

D).       Eph 3:20-21.PRAYER THAT LEADS TO THE DOXOLOGY. Verses 20-21.   20  Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Notes 9 and 10)

NOTES:

  1. ‘Bow my knees”. (“kamptō” for “bow” is only used 4 times in the New Testament.  It is used to represent total submission and is used in Romans 14:11 and Philippians 2:10 to indicate the total submission of people to God when Christ returns. In the other verse Romans 11:4 God told Elijah that He still had seven thousand men who had not “bowed” the knee to Baal.
  2. “Every family”. Paul had spoken of God as Father in verse 14 where the word is “patēr”. In verse 14 he uses a cognate of the word in using  “patria” for “family”. Paul is inferring that all fatherhood derives its origin from God as Father. Fatherhood, indeed parenthood was His idea.
  3. “According to the riches…”.  Not “out of” so that there is a diminishing supply of riches. Rather according to the measure of His riches, which we saw in Ephesians 3:8, are “unsearchable”.
  4. “Strengthened with power..” . Paul often combines different words for power in the same verse. Here he uses “krataioō” from “kratos” dominion.  Here it is coupled with “dunamis” which was often used of the mighty works or miracles of Jesus.  He has in mind the power of God being imparted to their inner beings by the Holy Spirit. Power indeed!  
  5. “May dwell”.  If believers are already indwelt by Christ why does Paul pray for Christ to indwell them?  The answer is in the word he uses for “dwell”. The usual word for “dwell” is “oikeō”.  Here the word is an intensified form of that word.  It is “katoikeō” which means to abide, settle down, make one’s permanent home in. He prays that Christ might take up full residence in human hearts as they are opened wide to Him.
  6. “with all the saints”. No one can grasp the immensity of the love of God. But in fellowship with other saints we can be enriched by hearing of their grasp and experience of God’s love.   
  7. Knowing the unknowable. Paul wants his readers to know more and more about the love of God whilst realising that they cannot fully comprehend or appropriate such love.
  8. “Filled with all the fulness of God”. King Solomon said in 1Kings 8:27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! If it is true that the heavens cannot contain God, how can believers be filled with the fulness of God? Some indication is given in Colossians 2:9-10 where Paul writes,  For in him the whole fulness ( noun “plērōma”) of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled (verb “plēroō” )  in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. We need to see that the fulness of God is associated with Christ and that our being filled is dependent on our relationship with Him. The more He is allowed to occupy His home in our hearts, the more of the fulness of God we will receive.       
  9. “Abundantly more”. (“huperekperissou”). The word is found only here and in 1 Thessalonians 3:10 where it is used for “earnest” prayer.  It has the sense of “infinitely more”. Paul is affirming that God can do infinitely more than believers can ask or ever imagine.
  10. “His power at work within us”.  How does God do more than believers ask or imagine? Paul tells us that it is by His power working within us.  Again we have a combination of power words with “power” being “dunamis” and “work” being “energeō”.  It is by God’s power operating within us in answer to believing prayer. Even then God’s power will always be beyond the capacity of humans to harness or receive.   

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

  1. Some people have a problem with the description of God as “Father”. Why do you think that is so? Do we need to try to help them understand the concept? If so, how would the truths in verses 14 and 15 be a help?
  2. If we prayed for others what Paul prayed for the Ephesians in verse 16, what difference would we hope to see in the lives of those for whom we prayed?
  3. In verse 17 Paul writes, “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith”. Jesus does dwell in the hearts of all His followers. What deeper truth does this verse imply and how can we explain the difference to other people?
  4. In verse 19 Paul prays that they might be “filled with all the fullness of God”. Does this mean the same as being “filled with the Spirit” in Ephesians 5:18? Give some reasons for your answer.
  5. In verse 20 Paul affirms that God can do “far more abundantly than all we ask or think according to the power at work within us”.  What encouragement is that for our own prayer-lives?
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038. Outline of Ephesians 3:7-13. The Purpose Of Paul’s Ministry To The World-Wide Gentiles.

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

“We ALL (Jewish And Gentile Believers) Belong To God”

1).        GOD GAVE PAUL A MINISTRY TO PREACH GOD’S GRACE TO THE GENTILES.  Eph 3:7  Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.  (See Note 1 below)

2).        THE CONTENT OF THE MESSAGE.  (The unsearchable riches in Christ).  3:8  To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, (See Note 2 below)

3).        THE PURPOSE OF THE MESSAGE.

  • To make the mystery known to the Gentiles. 3:9  and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things,
  • To enable the church to make known the wisdom of God. 3:10  so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. (See Note 3 below)

4).        THIS PURPOSE HAS BEEN ACHIEVED IN WHAT CHRIST DID.  3:11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized “in Christ Jesus” our Lord,

5).        THE RESULT OF WHAT CHRIST DID.  Access. 3:12  “in whom” we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith “in him”. 13  So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. (See Note 4 below)

 NOTES:

  1. Paul uses strong language in verse 7 to show his readers that his ministry was given to him by God Himself. He was “made a “minister” of the gospel. He didn’t assume that role by his own authority. How? Through the “gift of God’s grace which was given to me”.  In this phrase there is an emphasis on God giving to Paul. His ministry is a “gift” where the word is the noun “dōrea” often has the connotation of being freely given. The gift comes from God’s grace “charis” referring to the fact that God chose and equipped Paul to do this ministry. (“Grace” can mean the privilege Paul received from God in being entrusted with this ministry. But grace can also mean equipping or being given strength to do something. So Paul was called to this ministry and equipped by God to fulfil it.) Even then Paul is not finished with the God-given nature of his ministry. Now he adds “which was given me by the working of his power” where “given” is “didōmi” the verb of “dōrea”. God equipped him by the working (energeia) of His power (dunamis) in Paul. Paul sees his call to ministry and his functioning as a minister all coming from the grace of God.  
  2. Because Paul saw everything about his ministry as coming from the grace of God he had a humble view of himself. To describe himself as “the very least of all the saints” was not just false humility on his part. He wrote in 1Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Such a verse shows he recognised that his call to ministry and what he accomplished in his ministry were derived from the grace of God Himself.  The content of his preaching was God’s “unsearchable riches”.  “Unsearchable” is (anexichniastos) which comes from (an) = not and (exichniastos) = to explore or trace out.  He meant that God’s riches are beyond any human search or exploration.
  3. Paul has an exalted view of the church as being the vehicle through which God’s “manifold wisdom” might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.  This multi-coloured, multi-faceted, (polupoikilos) variegated, diverse wisdom of God had to be revealed.  The church was God’s chosen instrument to do so.
  4. “Access” (prosagōgē ) is found only in 3 verses in the New Testament. In addition to its use here it is also found in 2:18, “For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father”   and in Romans 5:2,   Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand … . Access into the grace of God or the presence of God has been made available through what Christ accomplished through His death and resurrection.  That’s why believers can come with boldness and confidence before a gracious God who has made it possible for people to approach Him in that way.

 QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1).        In verse 8 Paul describes himself as “the very least of all the saints”. Do you think that is false modesty on his part or is he being genuine in what he says? Why do you think so?

2).        In verse 8 Paul uses the term the “unsearchable riches of Christ”. What do you think are some of the things that are included in those riches?

3).        In verse 12 Paul writes of Jesus, “in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him”.  What does he mean, and how does this truth help us in our everyday Christian living?

Blog No.038.     Jim Holbeck.  Posted on Monday 22nd August 2011

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037. OUTLINE OF EPHESIANS 3:1-6. The Purpose Of Paul’s Ministry To The Ephesians. “YOU Belong To God”

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

In the previous blog we looked at the outline of all of Chapter 3. Now we break it down into smaller “bites”.

1).           GOD CHOSE PAUL TO MINISTER THE MESSAGE OF GOD’S GRACE TO THE GENTILES. Verses 1-2

 3:1  For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles-2  assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you.   (Paul was a messenger of God’s grace to them.)

2).           GOD REVEALED THE “MYSTERY OF CHRIST” TO PAUL.  Verses 3-5.  (See Note 1 below)

i).            It Was Revealed To Paul.  3:3  how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 3:4  When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,

ii).          It Was Once Not Known.  3:5  which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations

iii).         It Has Been Revealed By The Spirit.  as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

3).           THE “MYSTERY”. THE  UNITY BETWEEN BELIEVERS FROM JEWISH AND GENTILE BACKGOUNDS. V6  

The Message of the “Mystery”. 3:6  This “mystery” is that the Gentiles are

i).            fellow heirs, (Believers from  the Jews and non-Jews share in the same inheritance “in Christ”) 

ii).          members of the same body.  (Not two or more groups of believers but one organism “in Christ”)

iii).         partakers of the promise “in Christ Jesus”. (All the promises of God find their fulfilment in Him.   2Cor 1:20  For all the promises of God find their Yes “in him”. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory).  It would appear that the primary meaning for the “promise” here, is the gift of the Holy Spirit. (See Note 2 below)

How Did The Gentiles Come To Belong To Christ? They responded in faith to the gospel message.  Paul adds, “through the gospel”.   Paul had already declared that in Ephesians 1:13. (See Note 3 below)

 NOTES:

  1. “Mystery” is from the Greek word, mustērion.  In New Testament use it means an “open” secret. It can be known only by revelation. It is open only to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.  God had revealed it to Paul. Now God had commissioned him to reveal it to the Gentiles.
  2. Paul’s argument in Galatians 3 leading up to Gal 3:14, seems to indicate that the promise given to Abraham (the blessing of Abraham) was fulfilled in the gift of the Holy Spirit being given to all of God’s people, Gal 3:14  in order that “in Christ Jesus” the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

As Peter explained on the Day of Pentecost about the outpouring of the Spirit,  Acts 2:33  Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. …… Act 2:36  Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”   His listeners were convicted by this and asked what they had to do. He replied, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”  His hearers could receive the promise, the gift of the Spirit by believing his message about Christ, leading to their repentance and baptism into the faith Peter was preaching.

3.       Ephesians 1:13 “ ‘In him’ you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed “in him”, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”

 QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1).           What do you think Paul meant by being a steward of God’s grace to the Ephesians?

2).           If the “mystery of Christ” can only be known by revelation, what does that mean for our attempts to share the gospel message with other people?

2).          In verse 6 Paul says that the Gentiles are “fellow heirs”.  Of what are they heirs, do you think? Does that apply to us as believers today?

3).           Do you find it hard to recognise that believers in other churches or in other countries belong to the same body of Christ? How might we work for a greater recognition of our unity in Christ?

Blog No.037.   Jim Holbeck.  Posted on Monday 22nd August 2011

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036. Outline Of Ephesians Chapter 3. Paul’s God-given Ministry To The Ephesians

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

The whole of the chapter could be summarised in this way:-

A).          3:1-6.     The Purpose Of Paul’s Ministry To The Ephesians. To reveal  the “mystery” to them.  They belong to God.

B).          3:7-13. The Purpose Of Paul’s Ministry To The Ephesians. To show that Jew and Gentile believers together belong to God.  (They are “fellow heirs; members of the same body; and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”)

C).          3:14-19a. Paul’s Prayer For The Ephesian Believers. He prays for them to be “strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, (17)  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith–that you, being rooted and grounded in love, (18)  may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,  (19)  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge …”

D).          3:19b.    The Ultimate Purpose Of The Prayer. He prays, “…. that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

E).           3:20-21. The Doxology. To the One who is able to do “far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us”.

We will look at these sections in blogs that follow.

Blog No.036.  Posted by Jim Holbeck.  Monday 22nd August 2011

 

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035. Outline Of Ephesians Chapter 2

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

In Ephesians chapter 2 we see God’s grace in action towards the Gentiles.

In Section (A) from verses 1 to 3 Paul gives the description of their life before they became committed to Christ. In Section (B) from verses 4 to 10 he shows the difference in their new status as a result of their being united “with” Jesus in His death, resurrection , ascension and session at the right hand of God.  The theme in these verses  is “WITH” Christ.

Paul then uses repetition as he had already done in chapter 1. He goes back to their pre-Christian life which he describes in Section (C) verses 11 and 12. Then Section (D) follows in which Paul gives the contrast with their new life “in Christ”. The theme here is “IN” Christ.

GOD’S GRACE IN ACTION.  The “Apart From Christ” people, and the “Now In Christ” people

A). WHAT THE GENTILES WERE.  PART 1.  “Dead”.  Eph 2:1-3                        B).  WHAT THEY ARE NOW IN CHRIST . “With Him’”.  Eph 2:4-10.
They were “dead IN SIN” before they came to Christ. Eph 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2  in which you once walked, THEIR ENEMIES. (Compare the vows made in Baptismal and Confirmation services stressing the need to renounce the world, the flesh and the devil). 

  • THE WORLD.  following the course of this world,
  • THE DEVIL.  following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience–
  • THE FLESH. Eph 2:3  among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind,

THE RESULT OF SUCH LIVING. and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

a).    They Were “Made Alive With Christ” By God’s Mercy, Love And Grace When They Came To Christ. GRACE. Eph 2:4  But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, Eph 2:5  even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved—

b).    They Were “Raised And Seated With Christ”.  To Reveal His Grace.  

Eph 2:6  and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (in the place of honour, acceptance and authority)

Eph 2:7  so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

c).     They Were Saved By Him By Grace Through Faith, Not By Works.  Eph 2:8  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, Eph 2:9  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

d).    They Were Re-Made By Him.  God’s Continuing Work Of Grace

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship (Greek poiēma, masterpiece)  created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

C).  WHAT THE GENTILES WERE. PART 2. “Far Away”.  2:11-12 D).      WHAT THEY ARE NOW IN CHRIST.  “In Him”.  “Near”.  2:13-end
Eph 2:11  Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands– 12  remember that you were at that time

  • Didn’t belong to Christ. separated from Christ,
  • Didn’t belong to the people of God. alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and
  • Didn’t have a covenant relationship with God. strangers to the covenants of promise,
  • Didn’t have any hope.  having no hope and
  • Didn’t belong to God. without God in the world.

 

 a).  Brought them near to Himself. Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. b).  United Jewish and Gentile believers in Him in peace. Eph 2:14  For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

c).  Set them free from the law. Eph 2:15  by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances,

d).  Created a new humanity of Jewish and Gentile believers thus bringing peace.  that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,

e).  Reconciled us (Jewish  and Gentile believers) both to God.  Eph 2:16  and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

f).  Brought the message of peace to us. Eph 2:17  And he came and preached peace to you who were far off (Gentiles) and peace to those who were near (Jews).

g).  Enabled them both to have direct access to Him. Eph 2:18  For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

h).  Enabled all believers to share one citizenship, belong to one separated (to God) people;  one household;  one temple built on Christ and the apostles;  a temple where God dwells by His Spirit.  Eph 2:19  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20  built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21  in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22  In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION : –

1).       What do you think Paul means by people following the world, the flesh and the devil in verses 1 to 3?  Have these verses any meaning for us personally today?

2).       In verse 6 Paul describes believers as being raised with Christ and seated with Him in the heavenlies. What assurances can we get from that description of ourselves as believers?

3).       Verse 10 tells us that God has good works for us to do. What would stop us from knowing and doing those good works He has for us to do?

4).       There is a lot of hostility in today’s world. What does verse 16 suggest as a way of overcoming the hostility?

5).       From verse 18. What preparation do we need to make to come before God?      

 

 

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034. OUTLINE OF EPHESIANS 1:15-23

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

PRAYING FOR OURSELVES AND FOR OTHERS.  (In these verses we can learn HOW to pray; WHAT to pray; WHY we can pray with confidence).

A).       HOW PAUL PRAYED

1.)     With Thanksgiving.  Ephesians 1:15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints. (“Saints = hoi hagioi- the separated ones, believers).  “Love” is agapē, used for God’s love for us and of His love shed abroad through us Romans 5:5.

2).    Regularly And Consistently.  Ephesians 1:16  I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.   (Compare 1Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing). It means a habitual attitude of lifting people to God in believing prayer. 

B).       WHAT WE CAN PRAY FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS

1).   For People To Come Into A Deeper And More Intimate Knowledge Of God . Ephesians 1:17  that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation so that you may know him better). (There is only one thing better than knowing God. That is, knowing Him better! )

2).   For People To Have Their Spiritual Understanding Deepened.  Ephesians 1:18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, (phōtizō = to reveal, illuminate, make known) Spiritual enlightenment.

3).   For People To Know These 3 Vital Aspects Of The Christian Life.  …that you may know

i). what is the hope to which he has called you.  (The certainty about the future knowing that God will fulfil all His promises. Salvation. Acceptance for ever. His Second coming. Eternal glory with Him).

ii). what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. (In His unsearchable riches in Christ.)

iii). what is the immeasurable (huperballon)  greatness (megethes) of his power (dunamis) toward us who believe.  (“Huperballon” also found only in the following, in [ 2Corinthians 3:10  surpassing glory], [2Corinthians 9:14  surpassing grace], [Ephesians 2:7  surpassing riches],  [Ephesians 3:19  love of Christ surpasses knowledge]. Unlike “hyperbole” in English which comes from this word, there is no exaggeration.   His power cannot be measured, nor surpassed, nor ever exaggerated.)

C).  WHY WE CAN PRAY WITH CONFIDENCE FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS

God Is And Always Will Be All-Powerful.   according to the working (energeia) of his great (kratos) might (ischuos). Paul uses 3 of the great New Testament power words in this one verse.

His power was and is seen in the following:-

i).         In The Resurrection Of Jesus. Eph 1:20  that he worked (energeo) in Christ when he raised (egeiro)him from the dead. (Jesus is Victor over sin, sickness, death and over the powers of darkness.)

ii).        In Seating Jesus In The Heavenlies. and seated (kathizo)him at his right hand in the heavenly places, (In the place of honour, acceptance and authority). (Believers are there with Him too, Eph 2:6)

iii).       In Establishing Him As Lord Of Everything In This Universe.  Eph 1:21  far above all rule (arche) and authority (exousia)  and power (dunamis) and dominion (kuriotētos), and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (Paul’s point is that no matter what type of power one could imagine, God’s power is so much greater). He IS LORD and MASTER.

iv).       In Putting Everything Under His Ultimate Control.  Eph 1:22  And he put (hupotasso) all things under his feet.  (Conquering kings often placed their feet on the necks of their enemies to show publicly their victory over them.) Jesus has ultimate control over every power in the universe.

v).        In Giving Him To The Church As Lord. and gave him as head over all things to the church.  (He is the head of His body the church as part of having authority over everything in the universe).

vi).       In Making It Possible For His People To Be Filled With His Fulness. Eph 1:23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Fulness = plērōma. ( Other verses using this same word, which speak of the fulness associated with God, are John1:16  And from his fulness we have all received, grace upon grace. Ephesians 1:23  which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all.  Ephesians 3:19  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fulness of God. Ephesians 4:13  until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, Colossians 1:19  For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, Colossians  2:9  For in Christ all the fulness of the Deity lives in bodily form,

(The verb plēroō  to fill is used in Ephesians 5:18  And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit). It is also used in Colossians 2:10  and in Christ you have been brought to fulness (literally, have been filled in Him.)  The question to be answered is whether we can receive more of Him or whether we can offer Him more of us to be filled with His presence.)

 SOME SUGGESTED QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

1).      From verse 16. How can we improve our prayer lives to make them more like St Paul’s?

2).      From verse 17.  What is the difference between knowing more about Jesus and knowing Him more deeply? How can we allow the facts about Jesus in His word to bring about a deeper personal trust and confidence in Him?

3).      From verse 18. What is the difference in the way we use the word “hope” in these sentences? “I have the hope of being with God in heaven”.  AND  “I hope the weather is fine tomorrow?”  Why is it important to know the difference?

4).      From verses 19-22. Some Christians have had a discomfort about the use of the word “power” in such terms as “Power Evangelism” and “Power Healing”. Should they be ill at ease about these terms? If not, why not?

5).      From verse 23 and from Ephesians 5:18  And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit. If God wants to fill us with His fullness, what is our part in that process?

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