May 1, 2011
Morning Service

Eph 1:1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus.

Author-Paul the apostle (one who has been sent or a man with a mission)

·       Divine calling not a chosen vocation (by the will of God)

·       Sent on three missionary journeys from the church at Anticoch.  He stopped briefly at Ephesus on his 2^nd trip

·       Paul returned on his 3^rd trip and stayed for over 2 years, performing many miracles of healing and casting out evil spirits ( Acts 19)

 

Written to saints (believers) and faithful at Ephesus

·         Ephesus was a city was most celebrated for the Temple of Diana. This temple was 425 feet in length, and 220 feet in width. It was encompassed by 127 pillars, each 60 feet in height, which were presented by as many kings.  

·         Acts 19 tells how “the word of the Lord grew mightily,” through Paul’s preaching causing those who practiced magic to burn all their books in front of the whole community.  The conflict began to affect local merchants and a riot broke out protesting against “The Way”.

·         Paul moved on in his journeys, but he met with the elders one more time on his way to Jerusalem where he knew chains and tribulation awaited him.  Encouraging them to be watchful and shepherd over the church.  

 Act 20:36-38  And saying these things, kneeling, he prayed with them all.  (37)  And there was much weeping of all, and falling on the neck of Paul, they ardently kissed him,  (38)  grieving most of all over the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. And they went with him to the ship.

 

            Central themes to watch for

·         Unity- of the church and between the Jews and Gentiles

·         Mysteries explained as truth (Doctrinal & practical application)

 

Eph 1:2  Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

            Grace-a gift, unmerited favor, undeserved generosity, Greek word

            Peace-NOT the absence of trouble, but a deep settled understanding that God is in control of everything at all times. The only true source of real peace is in doing God’s will. Living above our circumstances.  In Hebrew it is “shalom” and is used as a greeting.

·         So begins our unity theme by using a mainly Gentile word tied in with a mainly Jewish word

 

Eph 1:3-4  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ;  (4)  according as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

 

            Spiritual blessings-Like  a benefit package you get from your employer, Paul begins to summarize the blessings (benefits) we are given in Christ (thorough our relationship with Him)

·         Chosen-Jesus called His 12 disciples, “Follow Me” they did not choose Him.  He has chosen us as well from the beginning of time.

·         Joh 15:14-16  You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.  (15)  No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master does. But I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.  (16)  You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to you.

·         We have been created for a purpose; to have a relationship (friend) with our creator

·         We are ordained to live a life that is worthy of our choosing

·         Paul calls it to be holy & blameless, Jesus referred to it as bringing forth fruit.

 

Holy-to be different, set apart or separated for a specific purpose. (Temple, holy days, a priest)  A Christian is to be different.  We are to be set apart for His use, yielding ourselves to His will.

 

Rom 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.  (2)  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God.

 

1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for possession, so that you might speak of the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

 

Blameless-without blemish or spot, perfect (sacrificial lamb of the OT).  We must strive to be perfect in every aspect of our lives.  It is a constant process, a journey towards God.

 

Mat 19:21  Jesus said to him, If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in Heaven. And come, follow Me.

 

Phi 3:12-14  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, but I am pressing on, if I may lay hold of that for which I also was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.  (13)  My brothers, I do not count myself to have taken possession, but one thing I do, forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things before,  (14)  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 

Eph 1:5-6  having predestined us to 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, in which He has made us accepted in the One having been loved.

 

Adoption-spiritual blessing, taking a stranger in to be part of one’s family, gaining all the rights of a legitimate son and losing all the rights and obligations of their former one.

• A new beginning, starting over, born again
• We have been released from the bondage of our sin and its wages (death Rom 6:23)
• We now enter into a new family of God, not as slaves or servants, but sons and daughters

 

Rom 8:15-17  For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba, Father!  (16)  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.  (17)  And if we are children, then we are heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; so that if we suffer with Him, we may also be glorified together.

 

• Abba Father was a term used out of sincerity or translated “Daddy”
• Notice this gives God good pleasure and results in the praise of His glory

 

We are each chosen by God this morning for a specific purpose; to be walking with Him and being available for His use.  We have also been given a new status as children of the most high God and an inheritance as joint heirs of Christ.