complete ephesians study

8/15/2019 Complete Ephesians Study

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Ephesians Notes, Doug Floyd, 1

Unveiling the Glory of Christ in the

World through the Church

1. A church that appears too small, too weak, and too fragile to survive.

Paul writes a letter of encouragement to the churches throughout Asia Minor.

The church is made up of small groups of Christians spread throughout Asia Minor

worshipping in homes.

Paul, one of the key leaders, is imprisoned and will soon die.

The founder, Jesus Christ, was executed.

The whole church appears to be a temporary movement within Judiaism.

2. A culture that appears too large, too confident and too powerful to be threatened.

Cult of Diana and Mystery Religions The temple to Dinah (Artemis in Greek) in

Ephesus was considered one of the wonders of the world. It contained an image of Diana

that had fallen from the heavens. Diana was depicted as a multibreasted goddess. A bodyof eunuch priests ran the temple. There were no bloody sacrifices. She was considered the

mother of all living things. Large donations flooded her temple and priests every year.

Each year the city of Ephesus threw a large festival in her honor. The Ephesian Dianawas worshipped more than any other deity and statues of her filled the homes of the

people. Acts reveals the magical arts were practiced in relation to her.

Mystery religions were popular all through Asia Minor. These cults promised power to

their adherents; power of knowing the future as well as insight into secrets. These cults

were formed around a series of initiations. To enter the cult one had to be initiated and toadvance up through the various levels required a variety of initiations. Mystery religions

viewed life as trapped by cosmic forces. Ritual was a means of escaping the bonds of this

material prison.

Imperial Cult Minucias Felix (2nd century Christian) writes about the Romans, their

power and authority has occupied the circuit of the whole world: thus it has propagated

its empire beyond the paths of the sun, and the bounds of the oceans itself. Rome is thegreat city that rules over the kings of the earth (Rev 17:18). The imperial cult was a

natural response on the part of provincials to the tremendous power of the emperor,

which was perceived as truly god-like, and to the benefits that the rule of the emperorbrought to the provinces. The imperial cult especially focused attention on the emperor as

the patron of the world. Since his gifts matched those of the deities, it was deemed only

fitting that the expressions of gratitude and loyalty should take on the forms used to

communicate with the patron deities themselves. David DeSilva


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Prior to Caesar Octavious brought peace to a Roman world that had been in constant

turmoil. He was a master administrator and leader. He brought an empire racked with

division into order. Once he achieved victory, he surrendered his power to the Senate in27 BC. In 27 B.C., the Roman Senate granted Octavian the name Augustus, meaning

"the exalted." They also gave him the legal power to rule Rome's religious, civil andmilitary affairs, with the Senate as an advisory body, effectively making him Emperor.

Eventually temples were built in his honor. Although he rejected at first, eventually he

realized the power the imperial cult could have for uniting the kingdom. He agreed as

long as the deity Roma would also be honored alongside him.

The people looked to Augustus as ruling regent of the gods. The imperial cult continued

to grow under other emperors up through Constantine. It was particularly powerful andpopular in Asia Minor. The Christians in these areas would be surrounded by statues of

the emperors. Many of the social events in the cities would revolve around emperor

worship and Christians would feel intense pressure to participate. By refusing, Christianslimited their opportunity to participate socially, economically or politically.

Power

The cult of Diana, the mystery religions and the imperial cult all offered various forms ofpower. Some of it was practical social or economic power. Other parts esoteric power

living one to higher states of consciousness.

3. A power that is greater than power, preceding all things and transforming all

things in love.

Egyptians vs Hebrews (power of pyramids vs power of future)

two kinds of powerone is fading the other is growing

one looks back the other reaches forward

one relates through status/rites the other on the basis of personal loveone sacrifices others to save itself the other lays down its life to gain it

we behold the kingdom rule of christ now and begin to live (embody/enflesh) the reality

of that kingdom now

Paul writes a song in praise of the God of all power. He weaves prayers and songs

throughout the letter to proclaim the glory of God who expresses his power not in world

power but in the power of a love that transforms people. The expression of his power islove.

In the midst of a world consumed by power, Paul writes a letter to encourage theChristians through Asia Minor. In his letter he reveals the true source of power, Jesus

Christ. He explains how this power is revealed on earth through his chosen vessel: the

church. This power takes the form of expressed love that unites those divided by race and


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class and causes of to serve and care for one another. This power, though it appears weakand inconsequential, will ultimately overcome all other forms of power.

Ephesians 1:20-2:1

20 All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on athrone in deep heaven, 21 in charge of running the universe, everything fromgalaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not

just for the time being, but forever. 22 He is in charge of it all, has the final word

on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. 23 The church,

you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. Thechurch is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything

with his presence.

(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language 2002 by EugeneH. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

Christianity enters a world of chaos. The power of the gospel is moving all things from

chaos to harmony: glory to glory. Christianity moves toward the future with hope. Jesus

brings the kingdom of the future into the present when he raises from the dead. He

interrupts time.

Living the kingdom, bringing back from the end of time and embodying some of it here

and now, is the process by which man, ever since Jesus, consciously participates in hisown creation.

Center of all things - a person - church (not individuals) - we are working out his

kingdom - in the power of his life (spirit) - through relationships of love

Notes from Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy

Future means novelty, surprise; it means outgrowing past habits and attainments. When

a job, a movement, an institution promises nothing but treadmill repetition of a givenroutine in thought and action, we say correctly, There is no future in it.

So pagan thought almost universally pictures human life as a decline from a golden age

in the past toward ultimate destruction in the future.

Christianityhas shown how man can be eternal in the moment, how he can act once

for all.

Christian progress vs worldly progress (technological progress or temporal progress)

Bombs get better all the time. But this improvement does not determine progress.


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The great idea of human progress is not guaranteed by 101,000 progresses in specialsciences or gadgets since they have led to the quickest and most intensive destruction of a

whole civilization in our own time.

Progress is an act of our own creative faith, breaking with the past and embracing the

future that God is unveiling in Christ.

Christian progress involves embracing the cross (death) to reveal the life of God

It would be a mistake to consider all repetition bad. Life itself rests in a certain balance

between recurrent and novel processes; the former are our fixed capital investment, thelatter our free range of choice, selection, change, at any given moment. Unless the

achievements of the past were continually reproduced along with the fresh creations of

the present, there would be mere mutation without cumulative growth of any kind.

But the natural tendency of life when left to itself is to relax from initiative to routine,

and thereby to upset the balance between past and future, recurrence and innovation. Thatis why the automatic concept of progress is fallacious.

Progress is becoming what we are.

We are moving from glory to glory. Each step upward is through the death. I am crucified

with Christ and I no longer live. This laying down our life, the embracing the cross, this

being renewed in the love of God in Christ, renews and glorifies us and works through usto renew all things.


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The Power of Gods Will

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:

Ephesians 1:1

Paul, in his typical style, introduces the letter with a greeting we might be tempted tooverlook when trying to get to the heart of his argument. But if we do, we miss the

starting point. In these few words, we can gain insight into Pauls identity as well asGods purposes.

Remember, Paul is writing a letter of encouragement to a band of Christians surroundedby structures of earthly power. From the awe-inspiring temple of Diana to the imperial

cult, the Ephesians and all of Asia Minor live in a world dominated by manifestations of

political and spiritual power. To compete with these heavyweights, one must beimpressive.

In seed form, Paul introduces this letter with potent words that unfold throughout the

letter to reveal the beginning and end of all reality. This grand drama proceeds from thewill of the Father, through the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul

Saul was a Hebrew of Hebrew whose passion for Israel led to the persecution of the

church. This holy warrior meets the Lord of Glory and becomes a follower of Jesus. Over

time, his ministry becomes focused more and more upon proclaiming the good newsoutside the Jewish world among the gentiles. Paulus, his Roman name, gradually

becomes the name his uses instead of his Hebrew name. Paul opens this letter to the

Ephesians using his name.

He takes his stand in the name that reveals his calling to the Gentiles. By using this name,

Paul accepts his calling and takes a stand in it. This simple act demonstrates to us the

power of standing behind our name in all we say and do as people called by God.

apostle

Paul uses the word apostle in an original manner. His meaning appears to derive fromtwo different cultures and applications.

Apostolos This is a Greek word that originally referred to sending out a fleet on a

military expedition. Over time, the meaning became applied more generally to a varietyof naval enterprises. Eventually the word extends beyond fighting to exploring and

colonizing.

Saliah This is a Hebrew word indicating the legal authority a messenger carries on

behalf of a person or a community. Take for example, Abrahams servant who goes on

mission for Isaac. He carries the legal authority to represent Abraham in the marriagenegotiation.


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Paul brings the idea of legal authority into the idea of being sent on an expedition. But he

develops the expedition into a missionary event. Then he infuses the word with a

meaning that suggests the authority of the apostle is located in the truthfulness of themessagenot simply in a legal appropriation by the community.

Paul is both a herald and a colonizer. He is announcing the gospel (Good News) of thenew king who rules over all. He is also establishing colonies of heaven whom he referred

to as ekklesia or called out community and we call the church.

Pauls apostleship is not based on a human command but on the will of God. Unlike theHebrew saliah Pauls authority comes from the message. The good news carries

authority and power. And every time the good news is faithfully proclaimed it comes in

power.

Jesus

Paul speaks as a herald of Jesus. The name Jesus derives from the name Joshua, whichmeans Yahweh Saves. In the Old Testament Hoshua (meaning salvation) is chosen by

God to succeed Moses and lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land. But before

he can take his position as leader, God changes his name. He simply inserts his name

YHWH (or JA) into Hoshuas name, so that the salvation becomes YHWH Saves.

Joshuas mission will embody the presence of God as the true deliver and savior of the

children of Israel. The writer of Hebrews suggests that the work of entering the PromisedLand was not complete.

Hebrews 4:8-10

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of

another day. 9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For hewho has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from

His.

NKJV

Jesus comes as the second and final Joshua. He comes to fulfill the call and mission of

Joshua. In his own name, Jesus bears the reality of his prophetic mission. He comes to

Israel with a message: YHWH will redeem his people. Jesus himself is the propheticmessage for he comes bearing the presence of YHWH in the midst of the people. Jesus

literally is YHWH saves. Everything about him communicates the redeeming,

restoring, active power of YHWH that fulfills the mission he began with his people whenhe led them out of Egypt. Jesus will save the people from their sins.

Jesus will restore the people to their proper position as kings and priests of YHWH.Bearing the light and power and glory of the Creator as they reveal his covenant of love

to all people.


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Christ

The word Christ is not Jesus last name. This is his title. It comes from the Hebrew word

Messiah someone ceremonially anointed for office. In the Old Testament there are two

messianic offices (or two offices that derive their authority from of a specific ceremonialanointing: the King and the High Priest.

Jesus stands in both offices. He is the High Priest who forever stands at the mercy seatinterceding on behalf of the people of God. Yet he is also King. In fact, Jesus is the final

Hebrew King. He completes both offices: King and High Priest. As King, he fulfills the

line of David kings and restores the people of God to their proper status as Lords of

Creation.

He does not simply restore the Hebrew nation but opens the doors for all nations to enter

into Hebrew history as descendents of Abraham on the basis of faith. Thus he is king ofcompletely new race of people: made up of Jew and Gentile, forming one new man.

This new man, this people of God, now become the body through which Jesus reveals hiskingdom and glory and power to the cosmos.

Will

The whole world exists and is governed on the basis and power of Gods will. Everythingdepends on the will of God, his will sets the world in place, his will keeps the sun

shining, his will sustains us each moment of our lifethis world is not simply an

amalgamation of natural laws is the express will of God: Jesus is the express will of theFatherthe Holy Spirit precedes Him and proceeds from Him.

His will is his intention and purpose as well as his action in history. From the loving

communion of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, God conceived all creation. He created all

things from nothing. He spoke the world into existence and upon His word all thingsremain.

In the mystery of his wisdom and purposes, he chose to give man a will that could resistthe purposes of God. This ability to resist also contains the possibility of yielding in a

way that far exceeds instinctman had the capacity to respond in love. On the one hand,

we might think the story of human history is the story of mans squandering this precious

gift of freedom.

This story of mans sin corrupting the glory of Gods creation but in the end, all things

proclaim the glory of God. Thus, whether man is in submission or resistance, Gods willstill accomplishes his purposes and in the end his glory will shine so brightly that all

living things will recognize his rule and proclaim his glory.

Jesus completely yields his will to the will of the Father, thereby expressing the will of

the Father in all actions and all wordsthus he is the image of the invisible God. His will

is also his rule. He has created us free beingswe respond to him freely by the power ofhis Spirit. It is his Spirit that is transforming us that we might will and do the will of the


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Father: that in the grace and peace proceeding from King Jesus and revealed in the powerof the Spirit, we might become express images of the will of God. Power of Gods will;

Expression of Gods will in love

Saints

This comes from the word hagios, which indicates holiness. Holy is an ancientMesopotamian word that various Semitic tribes used to indicate the nature of their gods.Holy indicates a state of terror. The gods are powerful and terrifying. Also all element

and rituals used in service of the gods were considered holy: separate.

It did not have a moral component until the ancient Hebrews applied it to YHWH. Theysuggested that God is not simply powerful but he is all-powerfulthere is no god beside

him. Plus his terrifying, otherworldly power is completely pure, completely just,

completely trustworthy, completely loving. So they equated absolute moral purity withholiness. If YHWH was holy, so they should also be holy.

The understanding of holiness develops over time among the ancient Hebrews. Hoseacomes to realize that it is the holiness of God which can embrace the un-holiness of man:

The opposition of God's holiness to Israel thus works itself out in His love which

is quite incomprehensible to human nature. In Hosea, therefore, the concept of

holiness takes up into itself as the fullness of deity the thought of love aninsight never again attained in the OT. As Hosea himself in his shattered

happiness learned to know love as the indestructible force which could save even

his lost wife, so Yahweh's holiness as the sum of His being must contain thecreative love which slays but also makes alive again (cf. 6:1 f.). In the older

Hebrew concept the divine stands in mortal opposition to the human andespecially the sinful. This opposition remains in Hosea's view of God, but it is

absorbed into the opposition of holy love to unholy nature. What God in virtue of

His holiness may do to love unholy nature, no man may do, and therefore theantithesis between God and man consists in the very love which overcomes it.

(from Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Copyright 1972-1989 By

Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. All rights reserved.)

If YHWH forms relationship with his people, then they must become holy. His power

works to purify them. Otherwise, they cannot stand in his presence (No man can see God

and live.) So God in his holiness is God the redeemer.

Notice this passage says to the saints: plural. This is to the holy community of believers

gathered around Jesus Christ (that is faithful followers of King Jesus). We as a people arebeing transformed into a state of holiness, but Paul refers to the community in their final

statenot in their current expression. He is calling forth their destiny. We are destined to

be holynot simply to be pure but to image God; to reveal the express will of God in ourthoughts, actions and desires. We are becoming reflections of His glorythus we are

becoming saints: this is an awe filled and beautiful destiny.


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Faithful

We are faithful to one Sovereign (for you cannot serve two masters: God and Mammon).

We are faithful subjects of King Jesus. We may be Americans but our ultimate loyalty is

bound to King Jesus. All human power structures will pass away: none of them arepermanent. But the rule of King Jesus will never end.


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The blessing that sustains Gods people

Ephesians 1:2

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

ESV

A. This concise blessing proclaims the complete fulfillment of Gods purpose among

His people.

A short blessing precedes a longer blessing (3-14). The short blessing contains a potentvision of possibility rooted in the action of a Triune God. The Father blesses through the

Son by the power of the Spirit (Spirit is implied). The words grace and peace are not

simply friendly greetings but contain actual power directed toward fulfilling our purpose.

B. This blessing is directed to a people and not simply a person.

While grace and peace impact the individual, these gifts both convey a blessing upon thecommunity as a whole.

Grace

(Root meaning to stoop, to turn as an expressed act of assistance, to be inclined)Grace is a gift of Gods welcoming favor bestowed upon his people. The state of sin is a

state of personal isolation. Thus we are saved, redeemed as individuals. God turns toward

the repentant sinner and grafts her into his body, his chosen Bride. Thus grace is theaction of God whereby the isolated individual is joined to the family of God and welcome

to enjoy the benefits of the covenant people. In Ephesians, this favor is exemplified as a

welcoming of the Gentiles into the covenant community of God.

It is important to note that grace is not simply an antidote for sin. Gods unilateral favor is

present before and after sin. His presence, his face, his favor, his grace is the power of his

presence realized in the life of believer raising them up to a higher place, lifting them intothe glory of his love.

Peace(Rooted in the Hebrews idea of Shalom)

Yahweh's punishment of enemies, is explained by the fact that it is seen as part of

Yahweh's plan to restore his order in the world. Peace is that restored state of well-beingfor Gods covenant people. Peace indicates wholeness, completion and fulfillment of the

ultimate purpose of being.

The idea of shalom seems intertwined with the idea of Sabbath. To fully grasp themeaning of peace, we might find it helpful to reflect on the meaning of Sabbath. Ive read

a several Jewish Rabbis to better understand their idea of Sabbath. Abraham Joshua

Heschel is my primary source.

Sabbath is like a prince who was sent away from His Father. He spends many years away

longing for His Fathers presence. One day he receives a message to prepare to returnhome for he will soon see his father again. The prince is so overcome with joy he wants


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to celebrate with the whole village. He enters the local tavern and orders drink and foodfor all. This is a day for rejoicing for the prince is returning to His father. The Sabbath

reminds us to celebrate for we are going to the Father.

Sabbath is not so much a day as an atmosphere of rejoicing. Not a day for fasting and

mourning but for feasting, rejoicing, celebrating: a day to rest from work and enjoy theLord, his provision for us and our family.

Sabbath requires a day of preparation. Special foods are prepared for Sabbath.

Everyone dresses up in their finestoften wearing clothes only worn on Sabbath.

The table is set with the finest china and silver in the house.

At sundown. The priest blow three blasts on the trumpet. Sabbath is come!

Mother covers table with a white cloth, lights the sabbot candles, encircles the flame withher hands, and welcomes the holiness of the Sabbath. She prays ceremonial and private

prayers and often weeps tears of joy.

Everyone waits with excitement as the Sabbath arrives like a bride or a queen illustrating

Gods passion for His people.

There is a toast to bless the Sabbath and then a meal.

Two loaves of bread are served to symbolize the double portion of manna given in

preparation for the Sabbath in the wilderness.

The next day is set aside. No work of any kind. Instead the day is divided between

feasting and instruction (feasting on Gods works). Synagogue Torah is read and men

are free to get up and speak.

Family and friends spend the day together.

At the end of the day, another meal. A candle is lit to separate the sacred and the eternal

returning to normal time.

For six days, each person toils and sweats, longing for the coming Sabbath. The literally

counted their week in relation to Sabbath. One day after Sabbath, two days after Sabbath,three days after Sabbath, three days before Sabbath, two days before Sabbath, the day of

preparation, Sabbath.

Moses went up to the mountaintop to meet God. The people wanted something to connect

them to God, so they built a Golden Calf: an object in space that could focus their prayers

and desires toward God. Moses returns from the mountain but does not give them anobject of space, he gives them a moment of time: the Sabbath.


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The Sabbath reminds us of a God who is greater than all space. The Sabbath reveals thatwe cannot own time: it is a gift of relationship.

We are infatuated with the splendor of space, with the grandeur of things of space.Thing is a category that lies heavy on our minds, tyrannizing all our thought. Our

imagination tends to mold all concepts in it image. On our daily lives we attend primarilyto that which the senses are spelling out for us: to what the eyes perceive, consisting ofsubstances that occupy space; even God is conceived by most of us as a thing.(Heschel,

5)

Judaism is a religion of time aiming at the sanctifying of timeEvery hour is uniqueand the only one given at the moment, exclusive and endlessly preciousThe Sabbaths

are our great cathedrals; and our Holy of Holies is a shrine that neither the Romans nor

the Germans were able to burn (Heschel, 8)

The seventh day is the climax of creation. It a day of rest. It reveals the whole meaning of

creation in shared communion with the Creator. The Sabbath reveals the harmony of allthings united in loving embrace of the Creator.

The Sabbath day is a mine where spirits precious metal can be founds with which to

construct the palace in time, a dimension in which the human is at home with the divine;a dimension in which man aspires to approach the likeness of the divine. (Heschel, 18)

The Jews sometimes refer to Sabbath as a bride and the people of God as a husband. Thisis to indicate that the Sabbath. To name it queen, to call it bride is merely to allude to the

fact that its spirit is a reality we meet rather than an empty span of time, which we chooseto set aside for comfort or recuperation (Heschel, 59)

A thought has blown the market places away. There is a song in the wind and joy in thetrees. The Sabbath arrives in the world, scattering a song in the silence of the night:

eternity utters a day. Where are the words that could compete with such might? (Hechel,

67)

The Sabbath has sustained the Jewish people when everything was stripped from them:

their homes, their land and even their lives. And yet the great empires of space fall to the

ground and pass away. Israel, the tiny empire of time, continues even to this day.

One must be overawed by the marvel of time to be ready to perceive the presence of

eternity in a single moment. One must live and act as if the fate of all time would dependon a single moment. (Heschel, 76)

The day of the Lord is more important to the prophets than the house of the Lord.(Heschel, 80)


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Judaism tries to foster a vision of life as a pilgrimage to the seventh day; the longing forthe Sabbath all days of the week which is a form of the longing for the eternal Sabbath all

the days of our lives. (Heschel, 90)

Looking out of the window of a swiftly moving railroad car, we have the impression that

the landscape is moving while we ourselves are sitting still. Similarly, when gazing atreality while our souls are carried away by spatial things, time appears to be in constantmotion. However, when we learnt to understand that it is the spatial things that are

constantly running out, we realize that time is that which never expires, that it is the

world of space which is rolling through the infinite expanse of time. Thus temporality

may be defined as space relating to time. Time, that which is beyond and independent ofspace, is everlasting; it is the world of space which is perishing. Things perish within

time; time itself does not change. We should not speak of the flow or passage of time but

of the flow or passage of space through time. (Heschel, 97)

In the spirit, there is no difference between a second and a century. One good hour may

be worth a lifetime; an instant of returning to God may restore what has been lost in yearsof escaping from Him. (Heschel, 98)

Sabbath Observance Degenerated Over Time

Over time, the simple call to rest from labor, remembrance of Gods great acts, andcommunity worship gave way to extensive rules and regulation.

During the exile, many rules were added to help protect the Jews from enculturation. Infact, one Syrian ruler realized the power of the Sabbath to keep them separate from the

culture and he outlawed it.

Jacob Neusner talks about how the rabbis used analogy to extend the prohibitions and

expected actions. He says, The result was a system of law that, in the rabbis owndescription, hung like a mountain from a strand of hair, containing an inordinate number

of rules, based on a small biblical foundation.

Jesus Comes and Restores the Glory of the Sabbath

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were

hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 And when the Pharisees saw it,

they said to Him, "Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the

Sabbath!" 3 But He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was

hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the

showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but

only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in

the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? 6 Yet I say to you that in this place

there is One greater than the temple. 7 But if you had known what this means, 'I desire

mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of

Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."

Matthew 12:1-8


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The Sabbath is only an image, a type, a picture of the abundant life that Jesus brings.

16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or

sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

Colossians 2:16-17

The people of God are called to live perpetually in the life of the Spirit, the Sabbath.Through his called out community, Shalom will become a living reality. Shalom is the

result of the Sabbath. Shalom is the completion of Gods purposes on the earth.

Gods transforming power if revealed in the rest of the Spiritnot continuous activity.So the grace and peace of God are gifts of the Father through the Son by the Spirit that

teach us to live in the reality of who we really are. We are Sabbath people: not bound by

the lusts and desires of a world of space, but consumed with longing for the harmony ofShalom manifest in all our relations.

Once we begin to enter into this place of Shalom, we come to realize that space and timeallow differing types of movement. But the goal of this movement is always the same:

love. All things are being transformed by the love of God.


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Unfolding the Mystery of Gods Blessing

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ

with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before

the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5

he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In

him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according

to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9

making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth

in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven

and things on earth.

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the

purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we

who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 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, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance

until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

(ESV, Ephesians 1:3-14)

Verses 3-14 form one sentence.

The word blessing in the Greek (eulogia) means to speak well or to speak well of

someone and originated in the theater. Paul uses the Greek word but actually infuses itwith a Hebrew meaning. The word blessing in Hebrew (barak) captures a whole concept

about life. A father can give his son a blessing. The blessing can only be given once and

it is irrevocable. The blessing was believed to embody a powerful force affecting

everything in the sons life. The Hebrews come to understand blessing as a power thatproceeds from YHWH alone. Gods blessing cannot be thwarted, thus those who live

under Gods blessing cannot be cursed.

God blesses humans by speaking well of them. His words carry creative power that

manifests in a blessed life.

1. A Trinitarian Blessing (Who?)Throughout this passage, Paul suggests that the blessing of God is a Trinitarian act. We

are blessing by the Father through the Son in the power of the Holy Spirit. In one sense,the passage might be read in a Trinitarian manner:

The will of the Father (3-6)

The action of the Son (7-12)The sealing of the Spirit (13-14)

We know from Galatians that the actual blessing is in fact the promised Holy Spirit.

(Galatians 3:14)


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Why is it important to understand the blessing is Trinitarian?

The more we meditate and reflect upon the Triune nature of God, the more we come to

realize the mystery of our own relation to God, other humans and this world. Jesus isloved by the Father before the creation of the world. This love between Father, Son and

Spirit precedes all things.

In the creation of the world, we see the Father, Son and Holy Spirit working as one in

perfect harmony. Thus the source of all people and all things is the love of Father and the

Son and the Holy Spirit. The origin of all life is a loving relation between Father, Son and

Spirit. Within the Godhead, there is a continual fullness of joy.

We are created out from a loving relationship, and we all sense this longing for perfect

relationship in our hearts. We may compete with others, we may fight, we may growangry with God and others, but we were not created to be alone. And we cannot live in

isolation. We are created to live in love with God and one another.

2. A Covenantal Blessing (What?)The Hebrew concept for covenant comes from a word that means to bind. God binds

us to himself for His glory.

Blessing His People

Sin does not presuppose Gods action toward man. His intention was always to pour outblessing upon humans. The blessing mentioned in Ephesians reaches all the way back to

the Garden of Eden and Gods covenant with man. (See Genesis 2).

In the Garden, man was sinless but not perfect (complete). Testing is part of the process

of completion. Man has a priestly, kingly and prophetic function. The tree of liferepresented his priestly function. According to James Jordan, the tree of the knowledge of

good and evil represents his kingly purpose. Before he could function in his rightfulkingly authority, man had to develop his priestly role.

Communion with God (life/zoe) would prepare him to rule (take dominion) in the properway. For then his rule would proceed from and to love. But man interrupts the

developmental process and eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This gives

on wisdom to rule. But without the properly formed priestly heart, the kingly function ofman corrupts man. His rule is not based on love.

Throughout history, one of the curses of man is to rule too early. Thus most of our kingsand leaders did not establish their rule in love. This is why David is such an importantking. He becomes a lover before he is a king.

The Ephesians blessing, suggests that God has restored man back to the proper positionso that he can serve properly and prophet, priest and king. Each person functions as a part

of the people of God in a particular way. (the mystery of particularity and universality)


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Ephesians reveals that man plays a role in the deification of all creation, meaning that allthings reach their fullness in Christ as mans function in his proper rule. We al play a role

in proclaiming the glory of God through all things. Spiritual blessing is not an abstract

otherworldy blessing but a blessing entering the here and now, the physical realm ofhumans by the power of the Spirit. It is a blessing that is sustained and made real through

the Holy Spirit.

Blessing God

How can man bless God? It is impossible for man to add anything to God and yet Paul

says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

The blessing of God flows into man and as it completes its work in manGod is blessed.

God is blessed when his blessing attains its purpose.

To the praise of His glorious grace (vs 6)

according to the riches of his grace (vs 7)

to the praise of his glory(vs. 12, 14)

So long and intensively does he shower grace upon them that finally they cannot help

but sing paeans to his splendid grace. His joy and pleasure in doing good is only fulfilled

when they show themselves utterly please pleased. (Markus Barth)

God creates the Jews as minstrels of God. Not simply by given times of worship but their

very existence become a hymn of praise to the creator. In their singing, praying, dancing,crying, longing and struggling, they are emblems of his mercy and grace. They proclaim

his glory. Ephesians suggests that the Gentiles have now also been grafted into thisspecial calling.

3. An Effectual Blessing (When?)The unfolding blessing of God in His people.

Past Before the Foundation of the World (3-6)

Future The Summation of All Things in Christ (7-12)

Present The Seal of the Spirit (13-14)


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Revealing His Glory in the Church

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the

saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of

wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being

enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the

glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His

power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He

worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in

the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion,

and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22

And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the

church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Ephesians 1:15-23

Faith

There are two helpful words for thinking about faith. One is trust. Our trust in King Jesusthe personnot just trusting a concept. Also, faithfulness. Our trust in Jesus the person

results in a life centered in him. Thus both words point to faith as an ongoing

relationship. What does it mean to have a personal relationship with Jesus?

Love

Our faith manifests in love (Galatians 5:6). This is a particular love focused on the saints.Because love is not simply a general conceptonce again this is a relational word. I

cannot honestly love someone I do not know. My love for others will take a particular

form in each relationship.

Knowledge and Wisdom

We need a new heart, a new mind a capacity to know in a way that is beyond knowledge.

This is more than just knowing by memorizing factsit is a knowing that only comesfrom relationship.

Enlightened

He prays for the Father of glory (light) to enlighten. This light directs our path and leads

us upward into his Presence. But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,

which shines brighter and brighter until full day (Proverbs 4:18).

Calling

Calling and conversion refer to the same action of God. He calls us from non-being into

being; unloved to loved; far off brought near. We are grafted into the chosen people.Dietrich Bonhoeffer suggested, When Jesus calls a man, he bids him come and die. Our

calling is our destiny. Our sacrifice; our laying down our life to find it.


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Inheritance

The riches of glory in store for Gods beloved. If we could but grasp the glory of his

calling and kingdom, we like Paul, would consider everything else dung in relation to

pursuing Christ.

PowerKing Jesus reveals power beyond all power. As the Church Fathers say, he is alwaysgreater than. King Jesus rules over every power structure: nature; history; heredity;

culture; government; relationships; universe; science; knowledge;

Fullness

The Church as the body of Christ functions as a servant to all of creation. Rule of love

brings fullness, perfection, completion to all things.


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Gods Glorious Masterpiece

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the

course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at

work in the sons of disobedience 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of

our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children

of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great

love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive

together with Christ by grace you have been saved 6 and raised us up with him and

seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he

might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the

gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his

workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand,

that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:1-10, ESV

In todays passage, Paul introduces two ages of man. These two ages are actually two

worlds that overlap. One is the old creationfallen under weight of Adams sin, and theother is the new creationrevealed in the resurrection of the second Adam. All of us are

born under the old age, but by Gods grace can leave the old age (which is passing away)

and enter into the new age which never fades: world without end.

1. The age of sin.

This old world is characterized by sin and trespasses (falling short of the glory of God).The sons of disobedience live in this world following the passions of their body and

mind. This is the path of division between all peoples (Cain and Abel; Jews and the

Gentiles). Notice the you, we divisions in verses 1 3.

The way of sin

This is this path where the ungodly walk.

There is a way that seems right to a man,

but in the end it leads to death. (Proverbs 14:12) (See also Psalm 1; Proverbs)

The ruler of this age and air (aion and aeros).

Paul talks about a power that leads the unbelievers in their path of wickedness. This

power might be referred to as World Age and it also might be referred to as satan. Notice

how the word age (aion) is translated throughout Scripture. It is often translated as world.We may think of a physical planet but the text is referring to an age or an epoch that is

passing away.

Matthew 13:39-40

39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world

(age); and the reapers are the angels.


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40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in theend of this world (age).

Matthew 28:2020 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and,

lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (age). Amen.

Luke 18:30

30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world

(age) to come life everlasting.

John 6:51

51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this

bread, he shall live for ever (age or age after age): and the bread that I will give ismy flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

John 14:1616 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he

may abide with you for ever (age or age after age);

Romans 12:22 And be not conformed to this world (age): but be ye transformed by the

renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and

perfect, will of God.

2 Corinthians 4:44 In whom the god of this world (age) hath blinded the minds of them which

believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of

God, should shine unto them.

Galatians 1:4-5

4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evilworld (age), according to the will of God and our Father:

5 To whom be glory for ever and ever (age or age after age) . Amen.

Ephesians 1:2121 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every

name that is named, not only in this world (age), but also in that which is to come:

Ephesians 3:21

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world

without end . Amen.

The Old Creation is ruled by satan through fallen man.

The Scripture does not give us a comprehensive explanation of evil like it does of God.This should help us realize that we do not focus all our energy upon explaining or


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discussing it. And yet, evil is present in the world of Adam, the first creation, the firstage. Adam gave up his rightful dominion to the evil one and now evil works through the

hearts and actions of the sons of disobedience. Paul suggests that both Gentiles and Jews

walk in this path. Their actions set up institutions and societies and culturesas evilworks in and through them, so evil is at work in the realms they create. How is evil

defeated?

2. The age of grace.

Rich in mercy.

This is the Father heart of God: rich in mercy. He will not let his creation waste away. He acts because of the great love with which he loved us. The Father showers his love

upon his creation. In this shower of love, he comes to heal the breach between man and

God and man and man.

Resurrection power.

Jesus resurrection changes everything. When he dies, the old world dies. And when herises the new world rises. This present evil age has already died and passed away. The

age (the new heaven and earth) is here. The two ages overlap temporarily. One is fading:

one is growing brighter and brighter. He raises up divided man (Jew and Gentile

together). Resurrection is not for individuals but for one new man. The people of Godunited as one in Christ.

What is resurrection?

Raised up to heavenly places.He has raised us up to demonstrate his loving-kindness in and through us. We are the

firstfruits of the new heaven and hew earth.

James 1:18

18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of

firstfruits of his creatures.

Romans 8:19-23

19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For

the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it,in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the

freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has

been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

3. We are Gods workmanship.

Raised up together as the people of God, we are empowered (not through our ownstrength) to show forth the works of God in all our actions. We are Gods masterpiece,

displaying the excellent power of his grace to bring love and healing to a world wrecked

by sin and division. What is our duty?


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Old Things Have Passed Away, All Things Become New

One New PeopleTherefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh who are called

Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands 12 that

at that time you 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.

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the

blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:11-13 (NKJV)

The Gentiles are told to remember their past separation from the covenant people. This isone of the only times in Scriptures people are told to remember something about their

sinful past. Normally when sins are remembered this means judgment. If God remembers

our iniquities, he is getting ready to pour out his wrath. But in this instance, the Ephesiansare told to remember how they were outside the covenant of God and now they are

inside.

Things to remember:Uncircumcision ceremonial exclusion

Without Christ social, political, sociological, psychological

Aliens from the commonwealth of Israel social, political, sociological,psychological

Strangers to the covenants of promise social, political, sociological,

psychologicalNo Hope - theological

Without God - theological

This list is interesting because the Ephesians prior to conversion would have most likelybeen in the cult of Diana or the Imperial cult. In other words, they would have had access

to social, economic, and political power. But they gave that up when they entered into the

community of faith. Yet Paul points out that they were on the outside (because the onlyreal, lasting power in this world is in the covenant family of God). Therefore, even

though they may have enjoyed certain temporary benefits, they were ultimately without

hope and without God.

Two interesting side notes:

When Paul uses the phrase made in the flesh by hands this is in direct contrast with the

work of God which is not made with hands.

2 Corinthians 5:1-2

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a buildingfrom God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

NKJV

Now those who were far off have been brought near. This is a reference to Is. 57:19:


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Isaiah 57:19

19 "I create the fruit of the lips:Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,"

Says the LORD,"And I will heal him."NKJV

And yet, the Isaiah passage is referring to Jew and Jew. Those who are in exile and those

are not. They will be restored. Eventually the rabbis thought this might apply to Gentilesas well. Isaiah 49:5-6

5 "And now the LORD says,Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant,

To bring Jacob back to Him,

So that Israel is gathered to Him(For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the LORD,

And My God shall be My strength),

6 Indeed He says,

'It is too small a thing that You should be My ServantTo raise up the tribes of Jacob,

And to restore the preserved ones of Israel;

I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.'"

(NKJV)

One New ManFor He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middlewall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of

commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the

two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body

through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached

peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both

have access by one Spirit to the Father.


Jesus removes the separation between man and man as well as man and God.

1.

The two people (Jews and Gentiles) have become one. One culture did not trumpanother culture. Instead both cultures become one new culture in Christ.2. Wall of Separation

a. Israel and the Nations (wall at temple)b. The Lawc. Enmity between Jews and Gentilesd. Enmity between Jews and Gentiles and God


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3. Jesus offers his life as an intercession to break this wall of hostility: flesh, veil(think John 17 extends beyond simply Jews and Gentiles) Theology of the Cross

binds people together (not multiple Christian bodiesone new man)

4. Jesus offers the pattern of sacrifice for all to follow. We sacrifice for those in frontof us.

5.

Old creation ends with the creation of man. New creation starts with one newman.6. This one new man is a community of persons: mutuality, exchange, diversity,

individualism, distinct cultures and histories (distinct stories), yet woven into the

fabric of one new manspanning all divisions: age, race, epoch, calling; freedom

to love one another. Salvation is dependent upon our relation to one another. Goddoesnt save individuals. He redeems one new man.

Matthew 5:23-25 23

Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that yourbrother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the

altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come

and offer your gift. NKJV

Worship is connected to our relation between one another. Perfect love. Prodigal son.

Different ages: medieval man and modern man. Teacher and Soldier. Pastor/teacher,

prophet, apostle and evangelist. Four directions. Peace Shalom Fulfillment ofPotential. Enemies and friends.

One New TempleNow, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the

saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of

the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom

the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 inwhom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.


Think of Hebrew idea of temple (place where heaven meets earth). Temple not made by

hands. Temple of the Lord built out of Gods people spanning across space and time.Celtic idea of communion. Apostle and prophet.


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The Power of Revelation

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, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4

When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was

not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to

his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow

heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through

the gospel. 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. 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, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for

ages in God who created all things, 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. 11

This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,

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.

Ephesians 3:1-13/ESV

In chapters 1 through 3 of Ephesians, Paul seeks to make sure the believers grasp the

stunning glory of Gods revelation in Jesus Christ. In 3:14-21, he will offer the greatclimax to this proclamation in an act of prayer and worship. Right before he does, Paul

once again reiterates the revelation that has been entrusted to him, the call to proclaim

that revelation and the cost of that calling.

1. The Revelation Given to Paul

Paul beholds Jesus Christ as Lord and it transforms his life. In verse 3, he mentions how

the mystery was made known to me by revelation. There are two key words: revelationand mystery (secret).

A. Revelation (apocalypse) unveiling, appearing, manifestation: a continuous andunceasing flow of information and power. From revelation to revelation (The Bible is

apocalyptic in that it moves from revelation to revelation.)

2 Corinthians 3:12-18

12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech 13 unlike

Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily

at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this daythe same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is

taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their

heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the

Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with

unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into

the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

NKJV


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Ephesians 1:17-23

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit

of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding

being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches

of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of Hispower toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He

worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in

the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion,

and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the

church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

NKJV

B. Mystery - To close something kept hidden but now is revealed in the preaching of

the gospel.

This mystery or secret is Jesus Christ. In him, dwells all the fullness of God. In him, is

our redemption. In Christ all through Ephesians. Gods secret is not some heavenly

mystery that only the initiated learn. It is Gods action in human history in Christ. God

reveals himself, his power, his redemption, his glory in and through Jesus Christ.

This mystery is now unveiled. While this mystery was not fully unveiled in previous

ages, it now is revealed in the act of proclamation (verses 5 and 9). The mystery hiddenfor ages aeons. For ages and ages it was hidden in God. The depths of Gods love

would only fully be unfolded after he created man. For man has been chosen by God tobe the recipient of the revelation of his unending depths of love.

This mystery grafts the Gentiles into the chosen people. When Jesus is proclaimed,eyes of faith open to the mystery. Thus faith comes by hearing and hearing by the

Word. As Jesus Christ is proclaimed, the Gentiles realize that they are grafted into the

people of God by Jesus (verses 6 and 8). When the message is proclaimed and webelieve, we join the covenant community of Gods elect people, formerly limited only to

the children of Israel. Now we enter into their history by the culmination of their history

in Jesus Christ.

This mystery is unsearchable, unfathomable beyond searching out (verse 8). God

does not open himself to mans inquiry. God can not be studied in the lab or the

classroom. Rather, God reveals himself to man but man will never penetrate the depths ofGods wonder and glory. So every time God reveals a glimpse of his person, we are

overwhelmed in worship and wonder. This knowledge does not puff up or make us

superior but like Paul is humbles us revealing our low estate and Gods incomparablemercy and grace. So instead of making us spiritual snobs, it makes us people of prayer

and worship. In the Eastern Orthodox Church theology is a discipline of prayer. You

cannot be a theologian if you are not living a life of prayer.


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This mystery reveals the manifold wisdom of God. Manifold is like intricateembroidery or the varying ways that light is reflected through a diamond. In Gods

church, the impact of the revelation of Jesus Christ transforms each member to reflect

Gods love in a particular way. Then the whole body, joined together in Christ, reflectsthe manifold wisdom of God.

2. The Call to Proclaim this Revelation

Paul is commissioned to proclaim this revelation to the Gentiles. Pauls authority is not in

himself but in the revelation of the secret Jesus Christ (Mystery of Christ).

A. Stewardship - stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you stewardship oikonomia oikos (household) nomia (administration) administration of a

household affairs. This is the origin for our word economy: a management of resources.

This is translated in the KJV as dispensation (one place where dispensationalists findtheir argument). In this sense, dispensation would be a method or system of government

suited to the needs of a particular nation or time (OED). Paul has been given resources

(grace) for the Gentiles. It is his responsibility to manage these resources or pour outthese resources on behalf of the people. One theme which repeats itself throughout this

passagegrace is not given for one person to enjoy or store up but rather to bepoured out on behalf of Gods elect.

B. Grace. Verse 7 like verse 2 emphasizes that the grace has been given to Paul to serve

the body. This grace has made Paul a minister. The actual word minister is diakonos

(deacon) or servant, a waiter (to serve at table). The revelation of Jesus Christ has calledPaul to serve and given him the resources (grace) necessary to wait upon Gods people

the Gentiles.

The Cost of the Call

The revelation of Jesus Christ transforms Paul into an expression of revelation.Conversion and calling are one movement that flows from the salvation realized in the

revelation.

Like Paul, we are to become lights in the universe

The calling makes Paul into a prisoner, steward and servant of this revelation.

Prisoner for Jesus Christ on behalf of the Gentiles Bringing liberty to the Gentiles

cost Paul his freedom. Proclaiming life led to his death.

The calling humbles Paul (verse 8). Instead of making Paul feel superior, he realizes

his lowly estate. It is only Gods call that animates him.

In Christ, the eternal purposes of God are revealed and this produces boldness and

faith in Paul.


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Do not lose heart over my suffering. The call of the gospel will cost us. It cost Pauleverything: his freedom, his respect, his life. And it was worth it.

Peter gives us an example of the calling.

At first Jesus tells Peter, Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.He calls Peter to be one of the twelve apostles.He calls Peter to come to Him, walking on the water.

He calls Peter (and the others) to follow him by taking up the cross and dying.

He calls him to stay awake in the garden.

Finally, he calls Peter to let go of everything, even his own power of life. Mostassuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked

where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and

another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish."

The calling in the end was no different from the calling in the beginning. Bonhoeffer said

that When Jesus calls a man, he bids him come and die.

The call is a call to conversion, to submission, to worship, to confession, to Jesus Christ.

It is a call to eternal life that comes through death. It is a call to let go of everything, even

our very life, and yield to the love revealed in and through Jesus Christ alone.

In the beginning the call simply comes as an invitation to Follow Me. This path, this

quest, this journey will reveal more wonder and glory than we thought possible on thisearth, but at the same time, it will ultimately make us of prisoners, servants, and stewards

of the call. So that eventually our lives will be but a dim reflection of the shining gloryemanating ever forth from Jesus Christ.


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Knowing Love Beyond Knowledge14

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,15

from whom

the whole family in heaven and earth is named,16

that He would grant you, according to

the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,17that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and

grounded in love,18

may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and

length and depth and height19

to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that

you may be filled with all the fullness of God.20

Now to Him who is able to do

exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works

in us,21

to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and

ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-21

This prayer is one of the towering peaks of Scriptures. Doxology (prayer and worship)takes a us to a place far above the heights of intellect. After behold the goodness and

blessing of Gods life poured upon his people, all generations can only respond by

shouting, Glory!

The family God creates fills heaven and earth.

A. Paul kneels in prayer. Kneeling in prayer is not a Jewish tradition. Standing in

prayer is a Jewish tradition. Other cultures surrounding Israel kneeled in worship. So whydoes Paul begin by mentioning that he is kneeling to the Father? He is writing to Gentiles

about their inclusion in the family of God. Thus kneeling would be familiar to them in

worship. He, a Jew, has so identified with the Gentiles to whom he has been sent, that hehas adopted their worship habits.

B. The Father has named his whole family in heaven and earth. God has created this

family that is not limited to time and space as we know, but extends in all directions.Naming is suggests covenant and authority. Jesus names the twelve apostles, giving them

authority of office; so his names all members of his family. Each one carries authority to

reveal his glory in a particular way, creating a stunning harmony when all voices rejoiceas one.

The dwelling created and strengthened by the Spirit.

The heart of man must be transformed, renewed, recreated by the Holy Spirit to

becoming a holy dwelling for the Jesus. By heart do we mean an organ inside the body?

Yes and no. Actually the heart normally refers to the whole person but this is not some

kind of mystical, bodiless dwelling. God entered human history in the physical body ofJesus Christ. And through Christ, he continues to incarnate his presence in this world

today. So our whole person include the body, the emotions, the will, and all the words we

may use to understand what refers to our whole person. We are growing toward Jesus,into Jesus, through Jesus. Our relationship with him (mediated by the power of the Spirit)

is literally changing us from the inside out. Think about how two people that are married

may begin to look alike or act alike. They are changed into one another throughrelationship. This is what is happening with Jesus only in a much deeper way.


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The vine that God sustains through love.

Paul moves from a building metaphor (dwelling) to an organic metaphor (rooted and

grounded). Much like John 15, we are the branches sustained by Gods love alone. Wehave no fruit, no life, no joy or peace, outside his love. How does a branch draw

nourishment from the vine? It remains. It abides. This is not about activity, but aboutdependency. We hunger, we thirst, we rest, and we trust in his unceasing flow of love tosustain us.

The dimensions of love that we can never fully exhaust.

Ephesians begins with a vision of how Christ is the center point all the cosmos. Now Paulflips that images and looks to the farthest reaches of the cosmos: width and length and

depth and height (much like the four corners of the earth). Go as far as you can, in any

direction, and you cannot escape the love of God in Christ. This reminds us of Romans:

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or

persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36

As it is written:

For Your sake we are killed all day long;

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.[c]

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.38

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities norpowers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any

other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is inChrist Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35-38

The knowledge of love that surpasses knowledge.

How can knowledge of love surpass knowledge? There are at least two ways of knowing:

intellectually and relationally. We can amass information, memorize facts, and quotemaxims, yet still not know something. Relational love is not about collecting data but

rather about encountering Presence. We turn and face one another. We behold. We are

change and are changed. Once again think of a man and a woman. When they say, I love

you. What does that mean? Does it mean something different for the twentysomethingspassionately in love and something different for the fortysomethings raising a family and

building a life together and still something different for the seventysomethings as their

health declines and they care for one another? Love is particularized in everyrelationship. This is a beginning to consider what it means to know love that surpasses

knowledge.

Filled to the fullness of God.

This speaks of perfection, completion. Gods love completes us. Only in his love can we

become what we were created to become. And what He is doing and will do is evengreater than anything we could ever grasp or imagine. All we can do is rejoice!


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One People Called by One God1

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with

which you were called,2

with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing

with one another in love,3

endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of

peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your

calling;5

one Lord, one faith, one baptism;6

one God and Father of all, who is above all,

and through all, and in you all.

Ephesians 4:1-6

After introducing the blessings of covenant in chapter 1 through 3, Paul turns his focus to

the expectations of the covenant. These come second because obedience must never beconfused with merit. Obedience is in response to Gods action. Merit is an attempt to get

God to act. But God has already acted. He has blessed us exceeding above all we could

ask or imagine. We respond in worshipful obedience as children of the covenant.

The Calling Walking in the Spirit and direction of the covenant

Pauls exhortation to walk worthy of the calling indicates the idea of walking toward a

specific destination. This is not aimless wondering but walking toward the PromisedLand. Like the children of Israel, we journey toward the full realization of Gods

covenant in our lives. We journey as free people, as nobility. We are called to walk as

Knights of God. We embrace traits as noble citizens of heaven: humility, gentlessness,love unity and peace. This is one of many lists Paul uses to describe how the church

behaves toward one another.

We work our calling in particular contexts. These words are not pointing toward some

general disposition of life but rather, specific relationships. We cannot love people in

general. We love persons with whom we enter into relationship. It requires a specific

context and as a result, it means we will literally bear one anothers burdens.

In verse 1-16, Paul is beginning to show how we can live as the family of God without

sacrificing our personalities or the unity of faith.

The Confession Following the one in three God

The heart of our faith is Trinity. One is mentioned seven times during verses 4 through 6.It is also divided into three sets that turn focus onto the Spirit, Son and Father: body-

Spirit-hope; Lord-faith-baptism; Father-of all-above all-through all-in all.


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The Procession of Gods People into

Gods Presence

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8

Therefore He says:

"When He ascended on high,

He led captivity captive,

And gave gifts to men."

9(Now this, "He ascended" what does it mean but that He also first descended into the

lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above

all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) 11 And He Himself gave some to be

apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the

equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13

till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to aPerfect Man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no

longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by

the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the

truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head Christ 16 from

whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to

the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for

the edifying of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:7-16/NKJV

Paul alludes to the enthronement Psalm 68 as he introduces the idea of Jesus triumphant

ascent into heaven. This psalm celebrates the Ark of the Covenant being restored to Israeland being put atop Mount Zion by picturing God as a conquering warrior that leads hispeople from captivity to becoming a great nation (to which all nation flock). With this

image in mind, Paul discuss the descent of Jesus to earth and his ascent into the heavens.

He is leading His people out from slavery and into the freedom of Gods family of priests

and kinds who move ever upward into His glory and who express the reality of His love.

1. Jesus comes to earth to rise us up to heaven. God became man so that man might

become god. Vs 7-10. Jesus comes to us because we cannot go to him. This descent wasa sign of Gods willingness to enter into loving relationship with His people.

2. Jesus gives servants to his ministers (priests and kings). Vs. 11-12

3. Jesus is raising up a body of priestly lovers who flow by Word (Son) and Power

(Spirit) of God. Vs. 13 - 16


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Stripping Off the Old Man, Putting on the

New Man

This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of

the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened,

being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of

the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to

lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But you have not so learned

Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in

Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows

corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24

and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true

righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak

truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. 26 "Be angry, and do not

sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him

who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good,that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed

out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to

the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for

the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be

put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted,

forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:17-32/NKJV

Clothing can communicate status, job description, personality, spiritual power, andtransformation. Paul uses the metaphor of clothing to discuss the change that comes both

as a result of Christs finished work as well as through our choice to live in the reality ofthat finished work.

I. Stripping Off the Old Man

This is an image of shame and humiliation. When a ruler was publicly humiliated or in

mourning, they would tear their clothes off and cover themselves in dust and ashes. Paulencourages the Gentiles to realize the horrid stench of their former clothes (the Old Man)

and strip clean. Who is the Old Man? While there are several different possibilities, the

consistent parallel image Paul uses between old and new is Adam and Jesus. The OldMan is living subject to the sins of Adam.

The clothes are representative of the whole person. Paul demonstrates that everythingabout life under the rule of Adam is futile and doomed: thoughts, understanding, feelings,

vision, words and action. The whole person is dominated by rebellion against God and

his truth. All the sins Paul mentions are ultimately forms of idolatry. We think of sins likefornication as moral sins, but Paul sees them as idolatry.


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This submission to Adam corrupts the human person created in the image of God. Thecorruption is incurable. The image cannot be restored, but must be cast aside and we must

clothe ourselves with a New Man.

II. Putting on the New Man

Jesus is the New Man. His gift of grace frees me from the power of sin and death andassures me that by the power of His Spirit, I will be fully clothed in Christ on the Day ofJudgment and stand blameless before the throne. While this is a future realization, the

provision has already been made in the past. I choose to clothe myself in the reality of the

Jesus Christ.

Paul explains that we have attended the school of Jesus. At this university we discover

truth in Jesus. Jesus is the complete expression of truth. There is no more revelation I

need. God has provided everything in Jesus. He incarnates truth in his words and action.


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Living As Light in the Darkness

1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has

loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling

aroma.3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named

among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse

jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no

fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in

the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because

of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not

be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness,

and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with

the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to

speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed

are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He

says:

Awake, you who sleep,

Arise from the dead,

And Christ will give you light.

15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time,

because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of

the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with

the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing

and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to

God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the

fear of God.


Paul moves from the image of clothing (putting off the old man Adam and putting on the

new man Jesus) to the image of light. He alludes to Greek culture to reveal the contrast

between life in Jesus and life outside of Jesus.

I. Imitate God (vs 1-2)

This language of imitating God or the gods is all through Greek thought. Greekphilosophy and culture sees the physical as an imitation or lesser expression of the

complete ephesians study

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