Tag: Pauline Epistle

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Ephesians, Lesson 6.

Lesson 6.

Ephesians 2:11-22, One new man in Christ

VV 11-13, 11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands, 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

We were once Gentiles, uncircumcised, without a Jewish pedigree, without the promise of the covenant, without Christ, without hope, and without God. All these had been reversed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

VV 14-18, 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace united Jews and Gentiles by demolishing the wall of separation between the Jews and the Gentiles. Uniting the Jews and Gentiles, He created “one new man in Christ”, a new entity called the Church. Jesus Christ reconciled Jews and Gentiles to God and each other through the cross. Both Jews and Gentiles could experience peace with God, peace from God, and peace of God. Through Jesus Christ, Jews and Gentiles had access to the Holy Spirit and the Father.

Romans 5: 1-2, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God”.

Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.

Galatians 5: 22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness’’.

VV 19-20, 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

Through Jesus Christ, we, the Gentiles, had become citizens and members of God’s family. The foundation of our faith is the apostles and the prophets but the chief cornerstone is Jesus Christ. The chief cornerstone is one special stone that stabilized an entire stone building. The whole weight of a stone building is supported by the chief cornerstone. Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone of our faith. He is the only way to God.

John 14:6, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me”.

Isaiah 28:16, “Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily”.

V 21-22, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

The whole building with the apostles and the prophets as the foundation and Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone is the Church, the one new man in Christ. The temple of God is our body where the Holy Spirit resides.

1 Cor 6:19, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”

1 Cor 3:16, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

1 Peter 2:5, “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”.

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Ephesians, Lesson 5.

Lesson 5

Ephesians 2: 4-10, salvation by grace through faith

VV 4-5, 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Because of God’s abundant mercy and great love, he saved us by grace through faith in Jesus Christ’s substitutionary atonement.on the cross. God justified us even when we were still sinners.

Romans 5:8, ”But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”.

VV 6-7, and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Because of God’s abundant mercy, great love, and saving grace, He will resurrect and seat us together in God’s heavenly throne in Christ’s millennial kingdom.

VV 8-9, 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9 is a memory verse. Greek for grace is “charis”, which means unmerited favour given as a gift to someone who does not deserve it. Grace is getting what we do not deserve. Salvation is a gift from God that is not earned by doing good work. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Greek for faith is “pistis”, which means believe or trust.

Galatians 3:6-7, “just as Abraham ‘believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness, therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham”.

Romans 3:28, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law”.

Romans 4:5, “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness’’.

Romans 5:1, Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

V 10, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Greek for workmanship is “poima”, which means poetry. We are God”s poetry in action. God predestined, prepared us beforehand, created us, and saved us for good works, not by good work. Good works come after only salvation and not before. We must never boast about our salvation because this is from the grace of God. We did not earn it and we did not deserve it. We must always boast about Jesus Christ who saved us and died for us on the cross.

Romans 4:2, “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God”.

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Ephesians, Lesson 4.

Lesson 4

Ephesians 2: 1- 3, Dead in sin, alive in Christ.

V 1, And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,

God revived our spirit man. When we were born spiritually dead due to trespasses and sins. Greek for trespass is “paraptoma’’, which means crossing over the forbidden line. Trespass is usually an intentional act. Greek for sin is ‘’harmatia”, which means missing the mark or missing the bull’s eye. To sin is to miss the bull’s eye of God’s perfect standard. Sin is an unintentional act.

Romans 3:23, ‘’for all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God”.

Romans 6: 23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

V 2, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

We once walked aimlessly, according to satan’s agenda, the prince of the world. We were once “the sons of disobedience”. We once walked in transgressions and sins, slaves to satan, the “prince of the power of the air’’. But when we are born again, God gave us new lives in Christ through spiritual rebirths and regenerations.

1 Peter 1:3, NIV, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead’’.

1 Peter 1:23, “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever”.

Titus 3:5, “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit’.

V 3, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

Our lives were once dominated by the evil desires of the flesh. We may be walking and talking but we were dead in sins and separated from God. We were once the walking dead, alive in the flesh but dead in the spirit. When we became Christians, the Holy Spirit comes into us and gave us new spiritual lives in Christ. Even after salvation, the flesh and the spirit are still warring with each other. Now that we are made alive in Christ, born again, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, we became slaves to our new master, Jesus Christ. He operates by grace and gives us eternal life. We are no longer slaves to satan, who operates by law and death. Once we were children of wrath, but now we are children of God.

Galatians 5:16-17, “I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law”.

John 3:6, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit”.

James 1: 14-15, ”but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has been conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death’’.

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Ephesians, lesson 3

Lesson 3

Philippians 1: 15-23

VV 15-16, 15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

Paul prayed for the Christians in Ephesus and the surrounding regions of Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey. Paul commended them for their faithfulness and love towards other Christians. Paul called Christians, saints, “hagio” in Greek, which means consecrated, holy, or separated to God.

VV 17-21, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

God is the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul prayed for the Father to give them the spirit of wisdom, revelation, knowledge, spiritual insight, and the hope of heaven.

V 19, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

Paul prayed for them to receive the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. the power that raised Jesus from the dead.

Philippians 3:10-11, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain[a] to the resurrection from the dead”.

Romans 8:11, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies [a]through His Spirit who dwells in you”.

VV 20-21, 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

God had exalted Jesus Christ above all principalities and power and had seated Christ at His right hand in the heavenly throne.

Philippians 2:9-11, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”.

VV 22-23, 22 And He put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

God had subjected all the principalities and powers to be under the dominion of Jesus Christ. Psalm 110:1, The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

God made Jesus Christ be the head of the church, His body.

Colossians 1:18-20, “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross”.

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Ephesians

Lesson 1

Ephesians 1: 1-2

Introduction:

Ephesians is one of the 4 prison epistles of Paul, viz. Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Paul wrote these 4 epistles between 60-62 AD under house arrest in Rome. Ephesians is believed to be a circular letter for the churches in the regions of Ephesus.

Ephesus was a flourishing commercial center in Asia Minor, which is present-day Turkey. This was home to the temple of the Roman goddess Diana or Artemis and the 25,000 seats Roman amphitheater. Paul founded the Ephesian Church on his second missionary journey recorded in Acts 18:18-21. He returned to Ephesus on his 3rd missionary journey and stayed on for 3 years, teaching, preaching, and building up the church, Acts 20:31.

VV 1-2, 1 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.

Paul, the author of Ephesians, was an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, the Father. Greek for apostle is “apostolos”, which means a messenger or an ambassador. Paul was chosen to be an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, the Father. Ephesians is addressed to the faithful Christians or saints in Ephesus. Greek for saints is “hagios” which means sanctified, consecrated, or set apart. Christians are sanctified, consecrated, and set apart for the work of God. Paul proclaimed grace and peace to his audience. Greek for grace is “charis”, which means God’s unmerited favor. Greek for peace is “eirene”, which means a state of tranquility. Grace always comes before peace. Salvation and justification by God’s grace result in peace with God, peace from God, and peace of God.

Romans 5:1-2, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God”.

Philippians 4:6, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.

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Philippians, lesson 11

Lesson 11

Philippians 4: 8-23.

VV 8-9, 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Paul implored the Philippians Christians, (and us), to meditate on things that are noble, just, pure, lovely, good, praiseworthy, to learn, emulate, and imitate him in words, actions, and deeds.

VV 10-13, 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Greek for abased is “tapeinoo”, which means in humble circumstances. Greek for abound is “perisseuo”, which means in abundant circumstances. Paul rejoiced in Christ and was contented in all circumstances, in poverty and in prosperity, in hunger and in fullness, in good times and bad times, in freedom and in prison.

1 Tim 6: 6-7, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out”.

Philippians 4:13 is a memory verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.

VV 14-16, 14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.

The Philippians church supported Paul financially in his second missionary journey when he was ridiculed, persecuted, beaten, and imprisoned by the Jews in Philippi. They supported him when he had left Philippi for Thessalonica.

VV 17-20, 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Paul was not greedy for money but encouraged them (and us) to give generously out of a grateful heart, to receive God’s blessings in return. He thanked them for their timely and acceptable offering through Epaphroditus.

2 Cor 9:6, “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully”

Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Philippians 4:19 is a memory verse, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”.

VV 21-23, 21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Greek for saint is “hagios”, which means consecrated or holy. Pauline theology considered all Christians as saints.

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

Paul sent greetings from all his coworkers in Rome, including Christians in Caeser’s household, who were converted and saved through the Roman Pretorian guards, who were converted and saved by Paul. Paul ended this epistle with a doxology, benediction, prayer, and Amen.