This writing is going to contain a lot of questions and their answers as I go through this book in the Bible. Below it will be a narrative that puts together these answers. As you read what is here, I want to get your reactions to your reading. Do you have questions about it? Is there something that you do not understand? Do you have thoughts about this particular part of this letter? Please send this to me as I want this to be interactive. I plan to add a blog in which to post what I receive in this endeavor. If you send something personally to me, I will not post this as long as you tell me not to do so.
There are two things that I need in what I am doing: I need constructive criticism (anything else is likely to be ignored and will not be posted); and the thoughts of others about this specific letter.
I need some response about what I have written. Does it makes sense? Why? If not, specifically what does not make sense? (My email address is found in the Context tab.)
There are two things that I need in what I am doing: I need constructive criticism (anything else is likely to be ignored and will not be posted); and the thoughts of others about this specific letter.
I need some response about what I have written. Does it makes sense? Why? If not, specifically what does not make sense? (My email address is found in the Context tab.)
Before going further into the Ephesian Letter, the phrase faithful in Christ Jesus has caught my attention. For a while I am concentrating on how a child of God develops the faith that he has received in the regeneration. Today 3/15/2025, I am modifying my third installment of Developing one's faith. I expect to post more to this every Saturday.
Developing one's faith
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22,23)
Each of these fruits is evidence that the Spirit of Christ lies within the body of the individual possessing them. Specifically, this applies to faith. These characteristics are given to the individual child of God in regeneration. It takes time and training before they are apparent to others.
Then why are some people showing at least some of these characteristics even when no man has trained them to do so? The answer is simple: God trained them.
What is meant by fruit of the Spirit?
Fruit is the result of actions performed by someone or something. It is also proof of the existence of what had produced this action. Consider a ripe peach hanging from the limb of a tree. It is proof enough that this is a peach tree, and that this specific tree grew the peach and not another tree.
So, it follows that these nine fruits of the Spirit are proof that the Spirit exists within the individual who displays these fruits. And remember it is the Spirit who produces any of these fruits which we observe.
Then there is another lesson from biology that applies here. The fruit begins its individual life when the sperm of one fruit plant combines with the egg of another plant of the same type of plant (blueberries with blueberries, yellow neck squash with yellow neck squash, green peas with green peas, etc). So is it with Spiritual life. A child of God begins when the Holy Spirit places the Spirit of Christ within his soul. This is Spiritual regeneration.
What else is done at the same moment? The answer is found in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Hebrews 8:10,11.
1. God made His covenant with His people.
2. God shall put His laws into their mind.
3. God shall write them in their hearts.
4. God shall be to them a God.
5. They shall be to Him a people:
6. They shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
So, it is never a matter of whether these characteristics exist in a child of God because God puts them there in regeneration. He says so. But this does not mean he knows they are there nor how to use them.
Writing God’s law in the heart and mind
This life begins when God quickens this individual. There are parts to the quickening process, each one is very important. What are they? Let the Bible tell us.
First the Spirit of Christ is placed within the soul of the child of God by the Holy Spirit making this Spirit a part of the soul. At the same time, the promises contained in the following Bible verses. (Hebrews contains very similar verses to Jeremiah; we will use the Hebrews version.)
Jer 31:31-34 & Heb 8:8-12
Here is a list of the things God did to and for His children at the moment of quicken of the individual:
1. He puts His laws into their mind and writes them in their hearts.
2. The LORD is their God, and they are His people.
3. They shall all know Him (all that are a part of this covenant).
4. God is merciful to their unrighteousness.
5. He remembers their sins and iniquities no more.
How much of this is the individual aware of when it occurs? None of it is. The laws are now written in his heart and mind, yet he has no idea of how to access them or how to use them. Why? They have to mature more Spiritually before they can.
Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23)
With the placing the Spirit of Christ within one of God’s children, there are results that come because of this event. The Spirit manifests itself in the behaviors of such individual. This is why they are called the fruits of the Spirit. These fruits are is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
In 2 Peter 1:5-7, he writes several characteristics plus faith that essentially describe the same things. They are faith, virtue, diligence, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity.
These are to be made part of the inner being by the actions the person takes. In other words, the fruits of the Spirit are to be used when dealing with other people. Love, joy, and peace comes from obeying the Lord. They are one of the rewards for doing so. Longsuffering applied to problems lasting over a period of time leads to patience. (It has worked in the past; it will work again now.)
At first, the individual is not aware of any of these fruits being part of his behaviors. This is because he is still very immature Spiritually. It is not until he has grown in grace that he recognizes his present behavior contains them.
Part of the growing in grace is the learning how to consciously use these fruits in their daily lives. This is more so true of faith since we are to walk by faith. If we do not walk this way, we are like a blind man: without extreme care, we will experience many things that we would not like to suffer.
Each of these fruits is evidence that the Spirit of Christ lies within the body of the individual possessing them. Specifically, this applies to faith. These characteristics are given to the individual child of God in regeneration. It takes time and training before they are apparent to others.
Then why are some people showing at least some of these characteristics even when no man has trained them to do so? The answer is simple: God trained them.
What is meant by fruit of the Spirit?
Fruit is the result of actions performed by someone or something. It is also proof of the existence of what had produced this action. Consider a ripe peach hanging from the limb of a tree. It is proof enough that this is a peach tree, and that this specific tree grew the peach and not another tree.
So, it follows that these nine fruits of the Spirit are proof that the Spirit exists within the individual who displays these fruits. And remember it is the Spirit who produces any of these fruits which we observe.
Then there is another lesson from biology that applies here. The fruit begins its individual life when the sperm of one fruit plant combines with the egg of another plant of the same type of plant (blueberries with blueberries, yellow neck squash with yellow neck squash, green peas with green peas, etc). So is it with Spiritual life. A child of God begins when the Holy Spirit places the Spirit of Christ within his soul. This is Spiritual regeneration.
What else is done at the same moment? The answer is found in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Hebrews 8:10,11.
1. God made His covenant with His people.
2. God shall put His laws into their mind.
3. God shall write them in their hearts.
4. God shall be to them a God.
5. They shall be to Him a people:
6. They shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
So, it is never a matter of whether these characteristics exist in a child of God because God puts them there in regeneration. He says so. But this does not mean he knows they are there nor how to use them.
Writing God’s law in the heart and mind
This life begins when God quickens this individual. There are parts to the quickening process, each one is very important. What are they? Let the Bible tell us.
First the Spirit of Christ is placed within the soul of the child of God by the Holy Spirit making this Spirit a part of the soul. At the same time, the promises contained in the following Bible verses. (Hebrews contains very similar verses to Jeremiah; we will use the Hebrews version.)
Jer 31:31-34 & Heb 8:8-12
Here is a list of the things God did to and for His children at the moment of quicken of the individual:
1. He puts His laws into their mind and writes them in their hearts.
2. The LORD is their God, and they are His people.
3. They shall all know Him (all that are a part of this covenant).
4. God is merciful to their unrighteousness.
5. He remembers their sins and iniquities no more.
How much of this is the individual aware of when it occurs? None of it is. The laws are now written in his heart and mind, yet he has no idea of how to access them or how to use them. Why? They have to mature more Spiritually before they can.
Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23)
With the placing the Spirit of Christ within one of God’s children, there are results that come because of this event. The Spirit manifests itself in the behaviors of such individual. This is why they are called the fruits of the Spirit. These fruits are is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
In 2 Peter 1:5-7, he writes several characteristics plus faith that essentially describe the same things. They are faith, virtue, diligence, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity.
These are to be made part of the inner being by the actions the person takes. In other words, the fruits of the Spirit are to be used when dealing with other people. Love, joy, and peace comes from obeying the Lord. They are one of the rewards for doing so. Longsuffering applied to problems lasting over a period of time leads to patience. (It has worked in the past; it will work again now.)
At first, the individual is not aware of any of these fruits being part of his behaviors. This is because he is still very immature Spiritually. It is not until he has grown in grace that he recognizes his present behavior contains them.
Part of the growing in grace is the learning how to consciously use these fruits in their daily lives. This is more so true of faith since we are to walk by faith. If we do not walk this way, we are like a blind man: without extreme care, we will experience many things that we would not like to suffer.
Spiritual awakening (New birth, being born again)
Jesus compared Spiritual births with natural births. Paul, Peter, and the author of the Hebrews letter referred to Spiritual babes in different ways. The emphasis is on how little they know about Spirituality in the beginning. They are unskillful in the word of righteousness. This is true regardless of how young or old the new Spiritual child is regardless of how old he is naturally.
What can we say about him as a natural being? For the first of his infant life, he could not really do anything. Seemingly, all he had to do was to make a fuss, and someone would attend to his needs. (This is the foundation for selfishness: he was the center of his world).
Then there are various needs and desires that he has inherited from Adam after the fall. These lead him into actions and thoughts that are displeasing to God.
The first people who influence him are his parents and siblings, possibly also relatives. Their influence may inhibit some of his actions that are godly. Or their influence may even help him learn how to do something the wrong way, commit a sin. In any case, he is and was a sinner until his regeneration occurred. But now is he required to repent of the past turning to God, learning His way of life and then living it.
Remember that at this point in his development, he is only beginning to understand how to access these laws and commandments. He has very little ability if any to use them to correct his ways.
In 1 Cor 3:1, Paul equates the behavior of the brethren in their choosing one minister over another as carnal, as babes in Christ. They have not yet learned what each minister’s part is in their Spiritual education. Nor do they understand that the ministers are required to do so by God. Finally, without God, all of their work would do harm, not good.
Peter teaches that those who are new to newborn babes need to desire the sweet milk of the word. (1Peter 2:) Why? So they can grow Spiritually.
Hebrews 5:13: For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. Both Peter and Hebrews teach the same concept: babes in Christ do not know very much nor how to gain the knowledge to change how to act more godly.
So the conclusion is, that a babe in Christ knows little more other than how to act as a carnal man. He has everything he will need, but he is not mature enough to know that he does. To gain and then use this knowledge requires both time and the proper education. After all, it takes a new born baby 25 years to fully mature if all goes well. This is physical, mental, and emotionally. Even so, without a good education, the individual will not be able to do much for the rest of their lives. With it, much is not only possible but very likely.
Similarly, it takes time, for a new child of God to mature Spiritually to the point that he can use the fruits of the Spirit in their daily lives well, in their decision making. The Bible teaches him what Jesus expects of him. This also takes time to learn how to do these things as Jesus did.
Education plays a very important part in the development of everyone, both carnally or Spiritual. It is a part of our lives from shortly after birth until we die. This is fine, but how does one set up an educational program that provides what the student or students need Spiritually speaking? Let us see.
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. (1 Cor 3:10)
In this verse, the foundation is Jesus Christ and Him crucified and the principles he taught by word and deed. He left us with plenty of examples to use in our learning! This certainly seems like a difficult task given the number of principles He has left us with. Some of them are simple, and the others have increasing levels of difficulty. If the parents have only mastered the simple ones, God requires them to master the next level of complexity, gradually learning more principles that are on higher and higher levels. This is for their personal Spiritual growth as well as so they can teach their children more complex principles as they grow Spiritually.
In Paul’s describing this foundation, he also admonished the Corinthians to take heed how they built upon it. This included what they used to build upon it. Isa 28:10-13 describes what building blocks should be used and how: precepts upon precepts, line upon line, here a little and there a little.
Precept:
Any commandment, instruction, or order intended as an authoritative rule of action; esp., a command respecting moral conduct; an injunction; a rule
Every time I have read that passage, I think of principles when I read the word precept. And yet there is a close relationship between them. Behind each precept, there is a principle, the reason why we should obey the precept. Although, sometimes a principle is considered to be the precept as well as the reason for it.
Think about what parents should do when they have a newborn baby. It has specific needs if it is going to survive, and the parents are to provide them. This is the precept: provide the child with the specific things it needs. This is a commandment. It is also instructions which have to be followed: do it this way. Why do these thing have to be done? Because the child has to have them if it is to thrive, or even live In some cases.
What do principles have to do with precepts in this case? Again, it is the reason for their actions. Secondly, there exist principles of how to raise a child. These are guides for parental behavior. These guides are rules to be followed as well.
Staying with the principles for raising a child from birth, consider what happens of the next 20 years or so. With the passing of time, new situations appear which require a somewhat different approach from previous behaviors of the parents. More complex precepts have to be learned, both by the parents and the growing child. These new precepts are built upon the old ones which were simpler. Here is the beginning of building one precept upon another. This continue until the child becomes an adult. And this creates another more complex precept: how to interact with their child who is now an adult! If done right, the parents gain much more knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. The same is true of the child.
But now it is time to remember what was written earlier. All of these precepts are to be placed on the foundation which is Christ. They are based upon it. These precepts are suppose to be in the form of a building, be put together. More is obviously needed. What are they? They are the lines which are the next point to be considered.
lines:
a cord (as connecting) especially for measuring; figuratively a rule
When building a structure, we use a blueprint to do so. David essentially gave the blueprint for the temple to Solomon. The Old Testament contains many of the measurements of various parts of this blueprint. The workers on the temple used a cord for measuring to make sure each part was the proper size as well as where each part should be placed.
But first we need to review what we know about the foundation. It has a corner stone. All measurements are taken from this one stone (length, width, height). Also it is extremely important that the cord that is that is marked in cubits matches (in length) another cord also measures cubits. If the one cord has a slightly longer cubit that the other, there is a problem! The first may show 5 cubits while the second will show more than 5 cubits.
We mentioned the blueprint, but from where do we get this for our building? From where do we get the measurements? The Bible is the answer, our answers as to how we are to build our lives as we walk with God.
Its precepts tell us what we should be doing. The lines tell us where these precepts fit on the foundation that is Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
And before we leave this, something more about these lines (their connections) that should give the more meaning to it all. In a word, understanding which is knowing how the parts of whatever we are considering are related.
Going back to the blueprint. Each page of it contains where one thing on that page is from another thing. For example, the bed rooms are at one end of the house while the living area is at the other end. This is a simple example of a relationship. If you know this, you understand this relationship.
Let’s go back to a new born baby. One obvious relationship about a baby’s reactions is in its cry. When it cries, we know that there is something wrong. What? We do not know yet. So, we go down the list of possible causes until we find the problem. It takes some time before the baby develops more than one kind of crying. If the parents over this same period of time learns the difference, they know what is wrong and immediately do what is needed to solve the problem. They have increased their understanding of their child’s cries; parents, who stick a bottle into the baby’s mouth when they hear it cry don’t have that same understanding. So it is with raising a child from birth: those parents, who pay attention to what is happening, will gain understanding as to how they should properly raise that child.
Now, paying attention to changes to gain more understanding involve the next topic: here a little, there a little.
here a little:
to dwindle; small
While the first two (precepts, lines) had deeper meanings than one might expect, this one does not. This is literally about small changes which I have already mentioned.
You see while a parent is going though the process of learning the precepts of raising a child as well as the understanding required, so is the infant. It take some time for it learn how to first cry in different ways and then use different cries for different problems. This is done a little at a time (here a little, there a little).
So is it with the child of God after their Spiritual birth. They know very little, and they are not able to learn very much at a time. Even as it takes more than twenty years for the physical body to mature, it takes a lot of time for one’s Spiritual being to mature as well, to be truly one of the faithful in Christ Jesus.
Reading
So how is a babe in Christ going to learn? It is by doing what he sees others doing, hearing what is said by others, and reading. The first two begin early in his human life and are used by him probably exclusively. Reading requires more mental maturity than the others.
At first, reading involves obtaining what is read by learning what the words mean in his reading material with that being short in length. Later when he is reading from textbooks, it become necessary to divide what he is reading into smaller units. This is so he will understand each small units.
With this, it becomes necessary to go from reading to studying. The latter has the tools to first understand what is contained in a small reading unit and then how to combine what he understands in each of the small units into a coherent whole.
The key word is understand. To be able to do this, on must ask questions about the topic. These include the whats, wheres, whens, hows, whys, and how comes. There are more questions that will lead to understanding as well.
So what are the tools in learning how to read? They are scan, question, read, recite, and review. (SQ3R) While these five tools may appear to be the way to study, I am adding four more questions and their answers to the reading for all the parts for the way I describe the method for studying the Bible.
Scan:
Before the scanning is begun, you must decide how much you are going to read at this time.
The directions for scanning the Bible:
Eph 1:3-6 When scanning these verses, you will be reading the following verses:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
This is the first verse (3), then the first part of verses 4 & 5, and finally the last verse (6).
Question:
With this scan, you should notice that something is missing. What do you want to know? Write down the questions whose answers will give you what you seek.
Some questions could be these. What are these heavenly places? How is our being chosen in Christ related to the Spiritual blessings? Make sure you ask questions about any words you do not know. What are the relationships that you have noticed? (According as is one example.) How do they improve your understanding? What is the context of these four verses? (Without the context, wrong conclusions are very likely to happen.) What precepts do you recognize? Who is required to keep them?
Also, many of the proverbs contrast two situations. Here you need to consider how the two are either different or similar when determining the context of the proverb.
When you have written all the questions you can think of, you are ready to go to the next step.
Read and recite:
Jesus compared Spiritual births with natural births. Paul, Peter, and the author of the Hebrews letter referred to Spiritual babes in different ways. The emphasis is on how little they know about Spirituality in the beginning. They are unskillful in the word of righteousness. This is true regardless of how young or old the new Spiritual child is regardless of how old he is naturally.
What can we say about him as a natural being? For the first of his infant life, he could not really do anything. Seemingly, all he had to do was to make a fuss, and someone would attend to his needs. (This is the foundation for selfishness: he was the center of his world).
Then there are various needs and desires that he has inherited from Adam after the fall. These lead him into actions and thoughts that are displeasing to God.
The first people who influence him are his parents and siblings, possibly also relatives. Their influence may inhibit some of his actions that are godly. Or their influence may even help him learn how to do something the wrong way, commit a sin. In any case, he is and was a sinner until his regeneration occurred. But now is he required to repent of the past turning to God, learning His way of life and then living it.
Remember that at this point in his development, he is only beginning to understand how to access these laws and commandments. He has very little ability if any to use them to correct his ways.
In 1 Cor 3:1, Paul equates the behavior of the brethren in their choosing one minister over another as carnal, as babes in Christ. They have not yet learned what each minister’s part is in their Spiritual education. Nor do they understand that the ministers are required to do so by God. Finally, without God, all of their work would do harm, not good.
Peter teaches that those who are new to newborn babes need to desire the sweet milk of the word. (1Peter 2:) Why? So they can grow Spiritually.
Hebrews 5:13: For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. Both Peter and Hebrews teach the same concept: babes in Christ do not know very much nor how to gain the knowledge to change how to act more godly.
So the conclusion is, that a babe in Christ knows little more other than how to act as a carnal man. He has everything he will need, but he is not mature enough to know that he does. To gain and then use this knowledge requires both time and the proper education. After all, it takes a new born baby 25 years to fully mature if all goes well. This is physical, mental, and emotionally. Even so, without a good education, the individual will not be able to do much for the rest of their lives. With it, much is not only possible but very likely.
Similarly, it takes time, for a new child of God to mature Spiritually to the point that he can use the fruits of the Spirit in their daily lives well, in their decision making. The Bible teaches him what Jesus expects of him. This also takes time to learn how to do these things as Jesus did.
Education plays a very important part in the development of everyone, both carnally or Spiritual. It is a part of our lives from shortly after birth until we die. This is fine, but how does one set up an educational program that provides what the student or students need Spiritually speaking? Let us see.
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. (1 Cor 3:10)
In this verse, the foundation is Jesus Christ and Him crucified and the principles he taught by word and deed. He left us with plenty of examples to use in our learning! This certainly seems like a difficult task given the number of principles He has left us with. Some of them are simple, and the others have increasing levels of difficulty. If the parents have only mastered the simple ones, God requires them to master the next level of complexity, gradually learning more principles that are on higher and higher levels. This is for their personal Spiritual growth as well as so they can teach their children more complex principles as they grow Spiritually.
In Paul’s describing this foundation, he also admonished the Corinthians to take heed how they built upon it. This included what they used to build upon it. Isa 28:10-13 describes what building blocks should be used and how: precepts upon precepts, line upon line, here a little and there a little.
Precept:
Any commandment, instruction, or order intended as an authoritative rule of action; esp., a command respecting moral conduct; an injunction; a rule
Every time I have read that passage, I think of principles when I read the word precept. And yet there is a close relationship between them. Behind each precept, there is a principle, the reason why we should obey the precept. Although, sometimes a principle is considered to be the precept as well as the reason for it.
Think about what parents should do when they have a newborn baby. It has specific needs if it is going to survive, and the parents are to provide them. This is the precept: provide the child with the specific things it needs. This is a commandment. It is also instructions which have to be followed: do it this way. Why do these thing have to be done? Because the child has to have them if it is to thrive, or even live In some cases.
What do principles have to do with precepts in this case? Again, it is the reason for their actions. Secondly, there exist principles of how to raise a child. These are guides for parental behavior. These guides are rules to be followed as well.
Staying with the principles for raising a child from birth, consider what happens of the next 20 years or so. With the passing of time, new situations appear which require a somewhat different approach from previous behaviors of the parents. More complex precepts have to be learned, both by the parents and the growing child. These new precepts are built upon the old ones which were simpler. Here is the beginning of building one precept upon another. This continue until the child becomes an adult. And this creates another more complex precept: how to interact with their child who is now an adult! If done right, the parents gain much more knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. The same is true of the child.
But now it is time to remember what was written earlier. All of these precepts are to be placed on the foundation which is Christ. They are based upon it. These precepts are suppose to be in the form of a building, be put together. More is obviously needed. What are they? They are the lines which are the next point to be considered.
lines:
a cord (as connecting) especially for measuring; figuratively a rule
When building a structure, we use a blueprint to do so. David essentially gave the blueprint for the temple to Solomon. The Old Testament contains many of the measurements of various parts of this blueprint. The workers on the temple used a cord for measuring to make sure each part was the proper size as well as where each part should be placed.
But first we need to review what we know about the foundation. It has a corner stone. All measurements are taken from this one stone (length, width, height). Also it is extremely important that the cord that is that is marked in cubits matches (in length) another cord also measures cubits. If the one cord has a slightly longer cubit that the other, there is a problem! The first may show 5 cubits while the second will show more than 5 cubits.
We mentioned the blueprint, but from where do we get this for our building? From where do we get the measurements? The Bible is the answer, our answers as to how we are to build our lives as we walk with God.
Its precepts tell us what we should be doing. The lines tell us where these precepts fit on the foundation that is Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
And before we leave this, something more about these lines (their connections) that should give the more meaning to it all. In a word, understanding which is knowing how the parts of whatever we are considering are related.
Going back to the blueprint. Each page of it contains where one thing on that page is from another thing. For example, the bed rooms are at one end of the house while the living area is at the other end. This is a simple example of a relationship. If you know this, you understand this relationship.
Let’s go back to a new born baby. One obvious relationship about a baby’s reactions is in its cry. When it cries, we know that there is something wrong. What? We do not know yet. So, we go down the list of possible causes until we find the problem. It takes some time before the baby develops more than one kind of crying. If the parents over this same period of time learns the difference, they know what is wrong and immediately do what is needed to solve the problem. They have increased their understanding of their child’s cries; parents, who stick a bottle into the baby’s mouth when they hear it cry don’t have that same understanding. So it is with raising a child from birth: those parents, who pay attention to what is happening, will gain understanding as to how they should properly raise that child.
Now, paying attention to changes to gain more understanding involve the next topic: here a little, there a little.
here a little:
to dwindle; small
While the first two (precepts, lines) had deeper meanings than one might expect, this one does not. This is literally about small changes which I have already mentioned.
You see while a parent is going though the process of learning the precepts of raising a child as well as the understanding required, so is the infant. It take some time for it learn how to first cry in different ways and then use different cries for different problems. This is done a little at a time (here a little, there a little).
So is it with the child of God after their Spiritual birth. They know very little, and they are not able to learn very much at a time. Even as it takes more than twenty years for the physical body to mature, it takes a lot of time for one’s Spiritual being to mature as well, to be truly one of the faithful in Christ Jesus.
Reading
So how is a babe in Christ going to learn? It is by doing what he sees others doing, hearing what is said by others, and reading. The first two begin early in his human life and are used by him probably exclusively. Reading requires more mental maturity than the others.
At first, reading involves obtaining what is read by learning what the words mean in his reading material with that being short in length. Later when he is reading from textbooks, it become necessary to divide what he is reading into smaller units. This is so he will understand each small units.
With this, it becomes necessary to go from reading to studying. The latter has the tools to first understand what is contained in a small reading unit and then how to combine what he understands in each of the small units into a coherent whole.
- Note:
- Tip:
The key word is understand. To be able to do this, on must ask questions about the topic. These include the whats, wheres, whens, hows, whys, and how comes. There are more questions that will lead to understanding as well.
So what are the tools in learning how to read? They are scan, question, read, recite, and review. (SQ3R) While these five tools may appear to be the way to study, I am adding four more questions and their answers to the reading for all the parts for the way I describe the method for studying the Bible.
Scan:
Before the scanning is begun, you must decide how much you are going to read at this time.
- Tip
The directions for scanning the Bible:
- Read the first verse.
- Read the first thought of the succeeding verses.
- Read the last verse.
- TIP
Eph 1:3-6 When scanning these verses, you will be reading the following verses:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
This is the first verse (3), then the first part of verses 4 & 5, and finally the last verse (6).
Question:
With this scan, you should notice that something is missing. What do you want to know? Write down the questions whose answers will give you what you seek.
Some questions could be these. What are these heavenly places? How is our being chosen in Christ related to the Spiritual blessings? Make sure you ask questions about any words you do not know. What are the relationships that you have noticed? (According as is one example.) How do they improve your understanding? What is the context of these four verses? (Without the context, wrong conclusions are very likely to happen.) What precepts do you recognize? Who is required to keep them?
- TIP:
Also, many of the proverbs contrast two situations. Here you need to consider how the two are either different or similar when determining the context of the proverb.
When you have written all the questions you can think of, you are ready to go to the next step.
Read and recite:
- Read the entire passage looking for the answers to your questions.
- Write them down as you go. (These answers are the understanding that you now have about this passage.)
- Describe as well as you can what you have learned.
Ephesians Chapter 1
Observations: Paul’s method of writing is interesting, and important. It is a narrative: a continuous chain of thoughts throughout the letter. Why is this important? Without considering the previous verses, one can misunderstand what he was teaching.
For example, consider verse 3. It is a statement of experiences had by specific members of this church. From there he begins with this and points to the things God had done for them from before the foundation of the world: they have been made children of God with the eternal benefits that goes with it. More over, there are timely benefits as well: the kingdom of God.
In essence, their recognizing the Spiritual blessings God has given them leads to knowing what their relationship with their God, their Father eternally is. This leads them to understand this relationship is both eternal and timely. The kingdom of God involves the latter.
Can every child of God know that all of these statements apply to them? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Oh, they may even have the basic doctrines down pat, they have no idea as whether these apply to them. So, they miss out on having a close relationship with their Father.
But this will become more clear as we get farther into this letter. (Coming attractions as Bro. Carl has said many times.)
Salutation
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Paul
The second time was recorded begins with Acts 19:1. This time he spent more than three years before leaving. (We don’t know how much more time as several events occurred there before he left for Macedonia.) The next time he was in the area was when he was on his way to Jerusalem for Pentecost. (Acts 20:16-38 describes who he met and what happened.)
My conclusion from this is that they were aware of who and what he was, an apostle by the will of God, having learned much from him during the time he spent with them. What about those who came later? Memories of these times were very likely told and repeated by those who came earlier.
But what about us? We have to use our Bibles to see what does the it teach us about him. Acts 9:1-31 and 11:25 to the end of the Book of Acts. So, we have a lot of information about Paul. As far as him being an apostle by God, Acts 9:15,16 states His purpose for the rest of Paul’s life: He states what Paul is to be doing.
If this is not enough, read all that Paul wrote to the churches, or to a few individuals. There he writes about experiences which shed some more light about his life that is not written elsewhere.
The recipients
Did they always act in the right way? Not at all. They also have desires that sometimes led them astray. It is just they they did not do so as often as others. Perhaps, this point could be explained in the beginning verses of Romans 3.
This refers to Abraham’s lifestyle. When looking at this from the point of the flesh, Paul came to this conclusion: he had could glory in all of the good things he had done. He could point out how much more he had done than others. But what about God’s point of view? How well did he stack up here? He fell far short to His sense of what is right! (And this rule is the one that counts.)
So it was with those who were saints, faithful in Christ Jesus. While they were working out their own salvation with fear and trembling, they were not always working out what God had work in them.
And then there is the words of Jesus, Himself, in Luke 17:5-10 and specifically, the last one: "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."
The lesson there in Luke is how much an individual nurtures and uses the faith God gave him in regeneration. Regardless of how often he does these things, he had done nothing special of himself: all of this was his duty to do. In fact, there were things that he left out: he should have done more.
Such is also the case with the Ephesian brethren. In man’s eyes, they may be extraordinary, but with God, they are still lacking in some ways.
So for those who learns from the light punishment for their sin, they avoid the harsher. Besides they have the blessings for the times they obey Him as well. To me, that sounds a very definite advantage over those suffering punishment.
The characteristics of the people to whom this was written were special. The things written in this letter was for them: they were the truth. They could rely upon them.
But what about those who do not possess these characteristics? They do not have the assurance that these things apply to them. While in God’s view, they apply to all of His children, there there is no evidence to show that any of the things applied to them.
As far as not completing a godly project without grace, consider 1 Cor. 15: 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. You see, in actuality, God grace more than half of each work I set out to do. In fact, it is far more the half. So much so, that He is the One that deserves the praise, the credit.
It is true that grace is much involved in their lives, and Paul is asking God to give even more grace. They will need it because of all of the growing they have yet to begin.
TEXT
Paul had spent more then three years at Ephesus, so likely there were some members who had been present during this time. There were others o who may have been part of the church in Ephesus at the time he was there but had died. So, they, while alive, could describe what had occurred during this time which would make what they experienced a part of the oral history of this church. Another source about Paul as an apostle would be Timothy whom Paul had left at this church to preach and teach the members while he traveled into Macedonia.
What about us when it comes to reading this letter? Are we certain that he was an apostle and that what he wrote in this letter is just as truthful as the four Gospels when it comes to their teachings? After all, we have access to Paul’s life, his experiences in his journeys, and the epistles he wrote. Without our being certain of these things, none of his writings will have any real meaning to us!
So, this is only a condensed version of who Paul was as well as who gave him the ability to speak and write concerning the things of God and godliness. It was God. And it was Him that put Paul into the office of being an apostle.
Now, what about the people to whom it was written? It is also very brief indeed. Yet there is more to whom these brethren were and their actions which prove who they are. Paul conclusion about them? They were saints, the faithful in Christ Jesus. (The latter means they were trustful in the things of God.) At this point, there no reason to write anything more than he did.
Yet, this epistle may not apply to every member of this church. There could be those who were babes in Christ. They need the sincere milk of the word to grow: they need a good foundation upon which to build their Spiritual lives. Some people are content to remain in that state. Whether that was true here or not, we have no way to know.
Then there are those who chose to use this milk to grow by. Their foundation will become solid: the things they believe are the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. But they still have much to learn, and they know it.
What is the advantage of having become saints over others who strive for this? They are at a point in their live where they know that everything they read in this letter applies to them. Those, who do not make to an effort to live the life Paul describes, have absolutely no assurance that this is true in their case. For those who are growing in Spiritual maturity, what is written can not yet be fully comprehended. But they can know this much: as they mature gradually, they will also comprehend more and more. The letter will become more and more real to them.
Conclusion: First came the identification of the sender, and then to whom it was sent. Now comes the request of blessings be granted to them by God and His Son Jesus.
This begins with the request for grace which is very important to every child of God each and every day. It is through this grace that we are saved both during our lives on the earth and after the end of time. It is what makes us what we are when it comes to godliness.
Peace is also very important to our lives. There are always events that would take this peace from us if we let it. They will make us emotional in any of many ways. Some of these events are because of our bad behavior. Others are because of other's bad behaving as well. Then there are events that are unexpected like the sudden death of someone for whom we care deeply.
Remember the deep anguish the disciples felt from the time they saw Jesus die until when he appeared among them on the next Sunday night? They had no peace until they saw Him that night. This was in spite of first the women’s witness that they had seen Him alive, spoken to Him, even touched Him until He told them to stop. The the two brethren who had suddenly returned from Emmaus. They had talked extensive over more than an hour. Hearing this was greeted with total unbelief!
Yet, the women had also been depressed until that morning when they saw and touched the resurrected Jesus. Now they had a sense of peace. But it was somewhat muted by the brethren's refusal to believe their witness. The sisters were happy, but the brethren were despondent if not totally depressed.
Was any of this grieving really necessary? Jesus’ statements indicated that the answer is no. this reasoning comes from the 14th chapter of John.
27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
28 "Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
29 "And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe."
This prayer by Paul for these brethren was made because he cared deeply for them and their welfare. By experience, he knew how wonderful is was to experience these two blessings many times: the grace of God working him, and the peace that passes all understanding. He wanted them to experience these also for themselves, the more, the better.
This prayer by Paul for these brethren was made because he cared deeply for them and their welfare. By experience, he knew how wonderful is was to experience these two blessings many times: the grace of God working him, and the peace that passes all understanding. He wanted them to experience these also for themselves, the more, the better.
For example, consider verse 3. It is a statement of experiences had by specific members of this church. From there he begins with this and points to the things God had done for them from before the foundation of the world: they have been made children of God with the eternal benefits that goes with it. More over, there are timely benefits as well: the kingdom of God.
In essence, their recognizing the Spiritual blessings God has given them leads to knowing what their relationship with their God, their Father eternally is. This leads them to understand this relationship is both eternal and timely. The kingdom of God involves the latter.
Can every child of God know that all of these statements apply to them? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Oh, they may even have the basic doctrines down pat, they have no idea as whether these apply to them. So, they miss out on having a close relationship with their Father.
But this will become more clear as we get farther into this letter. (Coming attractions as Bro. Carl has said many times.)
Salutation
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Paul
- Who is Paul?
The second time was recorded begins with Acts 19:1. This time he spent more than three years before leaving. (We don’t know how much more time as several events occurred there before he left for Macedonia.) The next time he was in the area was when he was on his way to Jerusalem for Pentecost. (Acts 20:16-38 describes who he met and what happened.)
My conclusion from this is that they were aware of who and what he was, an apostle by the will of God, having learned much from him during the time he spent with them. What about those who came later? Memories of these times were very likely told and repeated by those who came earlier.
But what about us? We have to use our Bibles to see what does the it teach us about him. Acts 9:1-31 and 11:25 to the end of the Book of Acts. So, we have a lot of information about Paul. As far as him being an apostle by God, Acts 9:15,16 states His purpose for the rest of Paul’s life: He states what Paul is to be doing.
If this is not enough, read all that Paul wrote to the churches, or to a few individuals. There he writes about experiences which shed some more light about his life that is not written elsewhere.
The recipients
- To whom is this letter written?
- What does this mean?
Did they always act in the right way? Not at all. They also have desires that sometimes led them astray. It is just they they did not do so as often as others. Perhaps, this point could be explained in the beginning verses of Romans 3.
This refers to Abraham’s lifestyle. When looking at this from the point of the flesh, Paul came to this conclusion: he had could glory in all of the good things he had done. He could point out how much more he had done than others. But what about God’s point of view? How well did he stack up here? He fell far short to His sense of what is right! (And this rule is the one that counts.)
So it was with those who were saints, faithful in Christ Jesus. While they were working out their own salvation with fear and trembling, they were not always working out what God had work in them.
And then there is the words of Jesus, Himself, in Luke 17:5-10 and specifically, the last one: "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."
The lesson there in Luke is how much an individual nurtures and uses the faith God gave him in regeneration. Regardless of how often he does these things, he had done nothing special of himself: all of this was his duty to do. In fact, there were things that he left out: he should have done more.
Such is also the case with the Ephesian brethren. In man’s eyes, they may be extraordinary, but with God, they are still lacking in some ways.
- But is there an advantage to obeying God more often than others?
So for those who learns from the light punishment for their sin, they avoid the harsher. Besides they have the blessings for the times they obey Him as well. To me, that sounds a very definite advantage over those suffering punishment.
- Conclusion:
The characteristics of the people to whom this was written were special. The things written in this letter was for them: they were the truth. They could rely upon them.
But what about those who do not possess these characteristics? They do not have the assurance that these things apply to them. While in God’s view, they apply to all of His children, there there is no evidence to show that any of the things applied to them.
- 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Why Grace in particular?
As far as not completing a godly project without grace, consider 1 Cor. 15: 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. You see, in actuality, God grace more than half of each work I set out to do. In fact, it is far more the half. So much so, that He is the One that deserves the praise, the credit.
It is true that grace is much involved in their lives, and Paul is asking God to give even more grace. They will need it because of all of the growing they have yet to begin.
- Why peace?
TEXT
Paul had spent more then three years at Ephesus, so likely there were some members who had been present during this time. There were others o who may have been part of the church in Ephesus at the time he was there but had died. So, they, while alive, could describe what had occurred during this time which would make what they experienced a part of the oral history of this church. Another source about Paul as an apostle would be Timothy whom Paul had left at this church to preach and teach the members while he traveled into Macedonia.
What about us when it comes to reading this letter? Are we certain that he was an apostle and that what he wrote in this letter is just as truthful as the four Gospels when it comes to their teachings? After all, we have access to Paul’s life, his experiences in his journeys, and the epistles he wrote. Without our being certain of these things, none of his writings will have any real meaning to us!
So, this is only a condensed version of who Paul was as well as who gave him the ability to speak and write concerning the things of God and godliness. It was God. And it was Him that put Paul into the office of being an apostle.
Now, what about the people to whom it was written? It is also very brief indeed. Yet there is more to whom these brethren were and their actions which prove who they are. Paul conclusion about them? They were saints, the faithful in Christ Jesus. (The latter means they were trustful in the things of God.) At this point, there no reason to write anything more than he did.
Yet, this epistle may not apply to every member of this church. There could be those who were babes in Christ. They need the sincere milk of the word to grow: they need a good foundation upon which to build their Spiritual lives. Some people are content to remain in that state. Whether that was true here or not, we have no way to know.
Then there are those who chose to use this milk to grow by. Their foundation will become solid: the things they believe are the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. But they still have much to learn, and they know it.
What is the advantage of having become saints over others who strive for this? They are at a point in their live where they know that everything they read in this letter applies to them. Those, who do not make to an effort to live the life Paul describes, have absolutely no assurance that this is true in their case. For those who are growing in Spiritual maturity, what is written can not yet be fully comprehended. But they can know this much: as they mature gradually, they will also comprehend more and more. The letter will become more and more real to them.
Conclusion: First came the identification of the sender, and then to whom it was sent. Now comes the request of blessings be granted to them by God and His Son Jesus.
This begins with the request for grace which is very important to every child of God each and every day. It is through this grace that we are saved both during our lives on the earth and after the end of time. It is what makes us what we are when it comes to godliness.
Peace is also very important to our lives. There are always events that would take this peace from us if we let it. They will make us emotional in any of many ways. Some of these events are because of our bad behavior. Others are because of other's bad behaving as well. Then there are events that are unexpected like the sudden death of someone for whom we care deeply.
Remember the deep anguish the disciples felt from the time they saw Jesus die until when he appeared among them on the next Sunday night? They had no peace until they saw Him that night. This was in spite of first the women’s witness that they had seen Him alive, spoken to Him, even touched Him until He told them to stop. The the two brethren who had suddenly returned from Emmaus. They had talked extensive over more than an hour. Hearing this was greeted with total unbelief!
Yet, the women had also been depressed until that morning when they saw and touched the resurrected Jesus. Now they had a sense of peace. But it was somewhat muted by the brethren's refusal to believe their witness. The sisters were happy, but the brethren were despondent if not totally depressed.
Was any of this grieving really necessary? Jesus’ statements indicated that the answer is no. this reasoning comes from the 14th chapter of John.
27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
28 "Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
29 "And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe."
This prayer by Paul for these brethren was made because he cared deeply for them and their welfare. By experience, he knew how wonderful is was to experience these two blessings many times: the grace of God working him, and the peace that passes all understanding. He wanted them to experience these also for themselves, the more, the better.
This prayer by Paul for these brethren was made because he cared deeply for them and their welfare. By experience, he knew how wonderful is was to experience these two blessings many times: the grace of God working him, and the peace that passes all understanding. He wanted them to experience these also for themselves, the more, the better.
Subject of this epistle
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
• Why is this the subject?
It reveals what God has done for His saints, His faithful in Christ Jesus as well as what He requires them to do. What He has done for these people are Spiritual blessings. So are the inspired word (all of His Scriptures) He has left for us to learn from. And then there are the revelations given to His ministers, guided by the Holy Spirit which are another example of God’s blessings.
(Warning! When listening to preaching, we always must make sure that what is said is thus sayeth the Lord.)
So, yes, the saints of God, the faithful In Christ, have every reason to bless God for the Spiritual blessings He gives them: we owe that to Him! And we have not discussed yet the blessings of being in heavenly places, nor for being in Christ. These are truly the ultimate in Spiritual blessings.
• What are the heavenly places?
These are the places where His people interact with their God (the Father, Son, Holy Spirit). During our lives on earth, it is the kingdom of God (or kingdom of Heaven). After our body dies, it is being with our God in Heaven forever. The point is that God has always, is always, and will always love and care for His people. This is the basis for this verse above and the extent of it.
• What can we say concerning being in Christ?
This is impossible to do in only a few words because there are so many Spiritual blessings in this. Also this phrase “in “Christ” is used in later parts of this epistle, so this is a coming attraction. Then there are those parts which point to this phrase. The point is though that they will be massive.
• When do these Spiritual blessings occur?
So far, I have mentioned during time and after the end of the universe as we know it. What about before the creation? They were a part of them as well.
▪ Why?
God loves His people with an everlasting love, a great love; His mercy is rich. The latter allows God to bless His people with so very much when they were not, are not, and never will be worthy of any of His blessings (that is, up to the resurrection of the bodies of His people).
The simple truth is that as I go through this letter, I will be pointing out how God’s love is involved in each lesson: it is that extensive.
• What does it mean to be in Christ?
This phrase is used at least three time in this letter. If I counted right, Paul used this phrase in approximately 50 times. So, it is a very important phrase that contains some very deep meanings!
Each phrase has slightly different meanings. While it is tempting to search out all of these meanings, my concern is the specific meaning each time it is used in this letter and will confine my writing to this.
To be in Christ means to be a part of Him, to share things in common, to be joint heirs with Him, to journey with Him. Of these, the last seems to fit this verse. Life is an educational journey, and this is especially true as we grow (mature) in the grace and the knowledge of our Jesus Christ. We need to have access to Jesus in everything we do. By His being in us, we have that. By obeying Him in what we do, we have rewards for doing so, and these are truly wonderful blessings in deed!
TEXT
Where do we start when writing- what this verse means? By the questions and answers, it should be obvious how vast this is. This is because it involves the entire letter! So, this part of this article has to be brief.
Now, its importance lies in the memory of the reader. What Spiritual blessings do you remember from the past? How close has God brought you to Himself? When has He done this? How often does this happen? Do you see God’s guiding hand in at least some events of your life?
God has purposes for your life which He requires you to complete successfully. (Eph. 2:10) Do you see areas of your life in which you went from knowing very little to begin with and then over a period of time, you have gradually increased in learning until you have gotten very good at doing it? If it is godly, then know that God has purposed for you to do this very thing. His guidance and control of your environment, whenever needed, and joys in your accomplishments are part of the Spiritual blessings that are in heavenly places in Christ. This obviously means that the letter of Ephesians applies to you today even as it did to those to whom was sent this letter! The rest of this letter is for your learning and edification!
There is so much that can be written about this, but is covered in more detail later in this letter. So they will have to wait until we get to these passages. Some of them are the next section.
This is the point at this point. If you can know by experience that God works with you, then you can be sure that He loves and blesses you. This means that you are His with all that this means.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
• Why is this the subject?
It reveals what God has done for His saints, His faithful in Christ Jesus as well as what He requires them to do. What He has done for these people are Spiritual blessings. So are the inspired word (all of His Scriptures) He has left for us to learn from. And then there are the revelations given to His ministers, guided by the Holy Spirit which are another example of God’s blessings.
(Warning! When listening to preaching, we always must make sure that what is said is thus sayeth the Lord.)
So, yes, the saints of God, the faithful In Christ, have every reason to bless God for the Spiritual blessings He gives them: we owe that to Him! And we have not discussed yet the blessings of being in heavenly places, nor for being in Christ. These are truly the ultimate in Spiritual blessings.
• What are the heavenly places?
These are the places where His people interact with their God (the Father, Son, Holy Spirit). During our lives on earth, it is the kingdom of God (or kingdom of Heaven). After our body dies, it is being with our God in Heaven forever. The point is that God has always, is always, and will always love and care for His people. This is the basis for this verse above and the extent of it.
• What can we say concerning being in Christ?
This is impossible to do in only a few words because there are so many Spiritual blessings in this. Also this phrase “in “Christ” is used in later parts of this epistle, so this is a coming attraction. Then there are those parts which point to this phrase. The point is though that they will be massive.
• When do these Spiritual blessings occur?
So far, I have mentioned during time and after the end of the universe as we know it. What about before the creation? They were a part of them as well.
▪ Why?
God loves His people with an everlasting love, a great love; His mercy is rich. The latter allows God to bless His people with so very much when they were not, are not, and never will be worthy of any of His blessings (that is, up to the resurrection of the bodies of His people).
- (In the resurrection, each of their new men will reunite with his body. Now each individual has a new man whose sins were destroyed on the cross with Jesus: the new man is sinless. The body has been change so that is is now incorruptible, immortal, and Spiritual, so also sinless. This combination is perfectly suited to live forever in God’s presence, and they will do exactly that.)
- In what part of this does God’s love play?
The simple truth is that as I go through this letter, I will be pointing out how God’s love is involved in each lesson: it is that extensive.
• What does it mean to be in Christ?
This phrase is used at least three time in this letter. If I counted right, Paul used this phrase in approximately 50 times. So, it is a very important phrase that contains some very deep meanings!
Each phrase has slightly different meanings. While it is tempting to search out all of these meanings, my concern is the specific meaning each time it is used in this letter and will confine my writing to this.
To be in Christ means to be a part of Him, to share things in common, to be joint heirs with Him, to journey with Him. Of these, the last seems to fit this verse. Life is an educational journey, and this is especially true as we grow (mature) in the grace and the knowledge of our Jesus Christ. We need to have access to Jesus in everything we do. By His being in us, we have that. By obeying Him in what we do, we have rewards for doing so, and these are truly wonderful blessings in deed!
TEXT
Where do we start when writing- what this verse means? By the questions and answers, it should be obvious how vast this is. This is because it involves the entire letter! So, this part of this article has to be brief.
Now, its importance lies in the memory of the reader. What Spiritual blessings do you remember from the past? How close has God brought you to Himself? When has He done this? How often does this happen? Do you see God’s guiding hand in at least some events of your life?
God has purposes for your life which He requires you to complete successfully. (Eph. 2:10) Do you see areas of your life in which you went from knowing very little to begin with and then over a period of time, you have gradually increased in learning until you have gotten very good at doing it? If it is godly, then know that God has purposed for you to do this very thing. His guidance and control of your environment, whenever needed, and joys in your accomplishments are part of the Spiritual blessings that are in heavenly places in Christ. This obviously means that the letter of Ephesians applies to you today even as it did to those to whom was sent this letter! The rest of this letter is for your learning and edification!
There is so much that can be written about this, but is covered in more detail later in this letter. So they will have to wait until we get to these passages. Some of them are the next section.
This is the point at this point. If you can know by experience that God works with you, then you can be sure that He loves and blesses you. This means that you are His with all that this means.
Verses 4-6
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Questions and answers
Text
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6