STUDIES IN EPHESIANS & COLOSSIANS STUART GREAVES FALL 2012, COURSE NOTES #02: EPHESIANS 1:1-14 UNFOLDING THE

E MYSTERY
I. EPHESIANS 1:1-2 APOSTOLIC GREETING
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Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:1-2 Paul always alludes to the reality that his ministry is by divine appointment and that he does not speak from his own authority. Paul was not self appointed but rather was commissioned by the King to be an ambassador to the nations of the earth.

A.

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And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry 1 Tim 1:12 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mothers womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles Galatians 1:15-16 then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christs behalf, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20 A greeting is an expression of desire or of good will from the greeter to the one who is being greeted. Greetings can come from the actual greeter or sometimes from a third party. I believe that the apostolic greeting is two-fold: 1. 2.
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B.

A communication of good will from the apostle to community of believers. A communication of good will on behalf of the Godhead to the people of God. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
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Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men! Luke 2:14

C.

Paul bestows the blessings and the greetings of God upon the church. It is customary for Paul to start his epistles with a bestowal of goodwill from his heart and a greeting from the Godhead. Paul has been in the place of prayer and encounter and has stood in the counsels of the Lord from which he was sent forth as an apostle of Christ to the people of God. The greetings and the content of the book of Ephesians come from a God who desires to bestow grace and peace upon His people. Grace and peace are what is imparted to the heart of the saints as they find themselves embracing and experiencing the truths in the book of Ephesians.

D.

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II. EPHESIANS 1:3 BLESSED IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST
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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Ephesians 1:3 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father, (Eph 1:3) inherit the kingdom prepared (Eph 1:4) for you from the foundation of the world Matthew 25:34 The apostle is about to give a brief layout of the mystery of God. It is from that place that he bursts forth with a doxology concerning the blessedness of God. Paul gives praise to the Father as He is the author of the mystery, the gospel, the plan of redemption. Worship is the only appropriate response to insight into the mystery of God the gospel of God.

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A.

how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Ephesians 3:3-4 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor? 35 Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him? 36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. Rom. 11:33-35 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began Romans 16:25 In the Jewish tradition there was a benediction called Berakah that was familiar to the Jewish liturgy. This is critical because in Paul use of the Berakah he is announcing that the God of Israel is also the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen. Psalm 41:13
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B.

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Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me! Psalm 66:20 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only does wondrous things! Psalm 72:18.
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C. Paul responds in worship because of Gods mercy and goodness towards the redeemed in that He has given us spiritual blessings. In Christ we can now have access to God. We can experience the grace of God, the pleasure and power of the resurrection and all that redemption has in store for a people of faith.

through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:2 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 11 You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand (of the throne of God) are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:10-11 These spiritual blessings are encountered in heavenly places into which we now have access through communion with the Holy Spirit. From the very onset the Apostle Paul connects us with the reality of the born again believer dwelling in the New Jerusalem, (1:3; 2:6; 2:7) the reason we have been seated with Christ. As we access the realm of heaven we are also able to experience spiritual blessings (grace) from above. This points to what Jesus told us about the Father and His desire to give us the kingdom-that we are blessed of the Father from before the foundations of the world. The heavenly places the place where we stand in grace. Rom 5:1-2, Jer 23:18, Dn 7:9-10, Isa 6:1-3, Ez 1, Rev 4-5

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F. III.

EPHESIANS 1:4 OUR PREDESTINED DESTINY AND PURPOSE VOLUNTARY LOVERS A. It was determined in the eternal counsels of the Godhead before Genesis 1 that God would have a people who would love Him. 1. 2. 3. B. What He chose us When Before the foundation of the world Why To be blameless and holy in love

We are not chosen outside of Christ but in Christ; God determined that those who are found in the Son of God would be chosen and approved of God for the purpose of having intimacy without shame. 1. 2. Holy set apart to be His people possessing the beauty of God (Ps 90:17, Isa 61:3, Rev 4:4) Without blame enmity and hostility removed (Rom 8:1, Col 2:15, Rev 12:10, Gen 3:10-15)

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3. C. D. Before Him in love access, voluntary love, counterpart (Eph 5:31-32). (It is significant to note that the New Jerusalem is called the bride of the Lamb (Rev 21:9))

The above-mentioned realties are in time pursued but in eternity attained. Concerning the issue of election: It is my belief that the idea of election means that God predetermined He would elect those who are in Christ by choice as they respond to the grace of God. (Titus 2:11-12, Eph 1:13). It is in Christ, the Elect One (Isa 42:1), that we are elected by the predetermined decree of the Father before the foundations of the earth. God has determined from eternity that He would elect and approve of a people who would choose Christ by the grace of God alone. I do not believe this has to mean that God predetermines individuals. God has determined from before the ages that He would have a people who would be voluntary lovers, holy (set apart and beautified) and blameless (intimacy without shame and without animosity between them and God and among one another). Holiness, in essence, is love for God and one another. We are called to be before Him (1:3, 2:6) in love as we seek to live out the commandment of love the 1st and 2nd commandments. This is true in all three contexts: 1. 2. 3. Now we are called to walk in love before Him now At the judgment seat where we will be evaluated in regard to love (1 John 4:17-19) In the age to come Eph 2:7

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F.

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The crowning reality and the height of redemption that is alluded to in 1:4 is expressed in what is called the great mystery. (Eph 5:31-33) For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Ephesians 5:31-33

IV.

EPHESIANS 1:5-8 THE PRAISE OF THE GLORY OF HIS GRACE A. The primary purpose of the plan of redemption is the glory of God. God cares intensely for His own glory (Isaiah 41-44). The pleasure of His will is to the praise of His glory God has pleasure in His own glory. God predetermined and established that the redeemed would have sonship (authority and an inheritance) in Christ (John 1:12).

B.
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Then the King will say to those on His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Matthew 25:34

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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love Ephesians 1:3-4 Gods glory is revealed in His calling us to sonship and it is seen as we walk out the reality of sonship. Forever the grace of God will be magnified (Eph 2:8-9). It is by the grace and power of God that we are accepted in Christ the Beloved and are now called the beloved of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirsheirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Ephesians 1:15-17 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits 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 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. Romans 8:19-23 The planned redemption of God (Rev 13:8) was that the redemption of the redeemed would be accomplished in Christ. It was determined before the foundations of the earth that the 2nd Person of the Trinity would become a man and die for the sake of a people, and all this was in keeping with His grace. (kindness 2:7) The mention of redemption through blood and the forgiveness of sins imply that this glorious plan of the Father involved great risk in that those who would be redeemed and become voluntary lovers would have real choices to be able to deny or accept God in His grace. Choice is what dignifies love. The vision is filled with risk for many reasonsit would mean that many of the most prized creation, human kind, would not accept His grace and would end up in the Lake of Fire. This plan also meant that the 2nd Person of the Trinity would have to enter into the realm of the natural and be exposed to the plight and dilemma of humanity, sin and real temptation, in order to purchase their salvation. The plan of God is a carefully thought through plan. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor? 35 Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him? 36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:33-36

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F.
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9 and

to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, Ephesians 3:9-10

V.

MYSTERY - THE CENTRAL PURPOSE OF GODS PLAN OF REDEMPTION 1:9-10 A. The premier vision of God is for the earth to be filled with the knowledge of His glory. The centerpiece of Gods eternal purpose is for Jesus to come back to fully establish His Kingdom rule over all the earth as He joins the heavenly and earthly realms together. Both heavenly and earthly dimensions must come together to fully express Gods personality and purposes. The whole earth is to be filled with the knowledge of His existence, personality, and purpose, also known as the attributes of God. The attributes of God are the expression of who He is, the revealing of His personality. The whole earth will be filled with this reality.

B.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, Let there be light; and there was light. Genesis 1:1-3 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6 but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. Numbers 14:21 And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Psalm 72:19 And one cried to another and said: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory! Isaiah 6:3 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14 C. The idea of the mystery of God speaks of the place of God in accordance with the longings and the desires of the heart of God. The apostolic mystery is more than a theological treatise but it is an expression of the heart God. The mysteries of God are an invitation into communion with the Godhead. God longs to make known the things that are on His heart (1:9).

D.

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E. There is a mystery in the heart of God which God ordained before the foundations of the earth. I believe that this plan was the holy motivation behind the execution of Genesis 1.

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory 1 Corinthians 2:7 F. There is a hidden plan in the heart of God that was determined even before Genesis 1 took place. The Divine strategy (human history) is the way that God unfolds hidden information that binds our hearts to Him and enlarges us in love. This hidden plan, or blue print, necessitated that the 2nd Person of the Trinity become a man to pay the price for sin, to be raised from the dead, and to be seated back at the right hand of God the Father before the Father would declare this hidden plan to humanity (the redeemed). God gave the mystery of God to the apostles who recorded it in the written Word of God, and it was passed down through the generations.

G.

which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets Ephesians 3:5 H. Not until the Christ is revealed in the flesh and declares the mystery with His own mouth first would the apostles know the mystery of God. God has now made the mystery plain to us by revealing it to the apostles and prophets who recorded the information in the scripture for us.

No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. John 1:18 I. The unfolding of human history as understood according to the Divine mystery impacts us and changes our emotional chemistry. God devised a plan such that as He unfolds it to our hearts it causes us to grow in the experiencing of the romance of the Gospel.

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory 1 Corinthians 2:7 J. The mystery of the Gospel reveals Gods plan, His power, and His Personhood. The revelation of the mystery of God is about the splendor of His majesty, the greatness of His power and the brilliance of His wisdom. The divine blueprints are called mysteries because they were hidden in the heart of God until the 2nd Person of the Trinity became a Man and declared them to us from His own mouth. Jesus had to be the first One to declare the mystery. The Father would not give it (that is His own heart) or delegate it to anyone else. This mystery was locked up in the very heart of the Father Himself. Only the One Who eternally dwells in the heart of God was able to faithfully declare the heart of God.

K.

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L. God wants the whole Church to make known the mystery. Throughout church history and especially at the end of the age the Lord wants the Church to encounter, walk out and proclaim the mystery. The angels are filled with holy curiosity longing to look into the plan of God. They will gain their insight as God empowers the church to walk out the mystery of God.

but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished,(mystery faithfully declared in the earth) as He declared to His servants the prophets. Revelation 10:7 And one cried to another and said: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory! Isaiah 6:3 Of this salvation (mystery) the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.(the unfolding of the mystery) To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven things which angels desire to look into. 1 Peter 1:10-12 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord Ephesians 3:10-11 VI. WISDOM REVEALED IN THE MYSTERY PRODUCES CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. Ephesians 3:12-13 A. B. The Father has a plan that He conceived in Himself. This plan was rooted and grounded in the good pleasure of God, and it reveals the unsearchable riches of Christ. The revelation of the mystery of eternity produces confidence and boldness instead of timidity and shame because in it we can see the determined will of God and His zeal to bring it to pass. In these divine blue prints we can see the Fathers passion in the very plan itself.

I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. Job 42:2 C. The wisdom of God has to do with skill God possesses to carry out His own plan. It speaks of the brilliance of His leadership. He is the only wise God and through His administration not one of His plans or purposes will be thwarted

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Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor? 35 Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him? 36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:33-36 God wants us to know that He devised a plan for His people rooted in His passion and in His pleasure. This eternal purpose is profoundly rooted in His gladness and His kindness for His Son and for the very people that would be in the embrace of His Son.

D.

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will Ephesians 1:5 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself Ephesians 1:9 VII. THE SOVEREIGNTY AND PLEASURE OF GOD IN THE MYSTERY A. The mystery of God was devised according to Gods pleasure: 1. 2. 3. B. He wanted this plan The plan brings great delight to Him When we touch this plan it will fill us with delight and bind our heart to Him in a deeper way.

God purposed the plan within Himself: 1. 2. 3. He is the sole architect of the plan He found no inspiration outside Himself for this plan He reigns supreme in giving oversight over the execution of this plan

VIII. THE FULLNESS OF OUR INHERITANCE GUARANTEED 1:11-14 A. The promised inheritance of God to us: to be in heavenly places (1:4, Heb 2:10), to be sons of God (1:5), to be the beloved of God (1:6) and the experience of the fullness of God (Eph 1:9-10, Gen 15:1).

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B. C. D. E. 1:11 could also be referring to the fact that we are His inheritance (this idea is further developed in chapter 2). Everything God has to offer humanity is found in Christ (1:11), and none of His plans will be thwarted (Job 42:5). The ones who believe in Christ and endure become trophies of the grace of God the praise of His glory and manifold wisdom. (1:12) 1:13-14, the Spirit is the guarantee of the fullness and the revealer of the full inheritance.

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