Eph 2:1-10

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passageRead the Passage at least twiceWho is in the passage?What action verbs do you see?What other words stick out in your mind

Four things stand out

• We were dead- Walking zombies, different desires

• Made alive by God through Christ

• How Rich is God's grace

• Look at how Christ changes our life

1. Made alive with Christ

2. Raised up with Christ

3. Seated with Christ in heavenly realms b/c of Chirst

4. God kindness to us displayed in Christ

5. We are created in Chirst to do good works

It is not about us at all. The only thing we do is have faith (vs 8) and do what God has prepared us to do. The path to slavation is through Jesus. There is no other way!

vs 1- 3 even though we lived; we were really dead. Why b/c we followed the "ruler of the air" (Satan). Interesting that paul acknowledges Satan does have a kingdom. But like all earthly kingdoms it will also pass away. (see Luke 4:6-7, Rev 17:14, Rev 20:10)

We lived to gratify ourselves (so we thought, really just pawns of Satan see 6:11-12) disobedient to the one who created us (vs 10) . It is our nature, our makeup to be disobedient and therefore we deserve the wrath of God

4-7 In spite of what we desevere God steps in b/c of His great love and rich mercy and gives us life through Christ. We are made alive through God's work in Christ. Better yet we are given the privledge of being at the table with Christ (adoption as children of God 1:5) and it is not just for a time; it is forever. It is a love and mercy that is continially shown forever! By the power of God this happens (1:19-20) The power of God to raise Christ can also raise us through forgiveness.

8-9 In case you haven't gotten it yet Paul sums it up. It is not about what you can do to get to God. It is about what God did to get to you. Your life is a gift! We have no claim to it being anything we have done.

vs 10 - Because it is God's work, we belong to Him (1:14). We are a new creation (2 Cor 5:17-18) created by God to do good works that seek to reconcile others to Him. God has planned to use us from the beginning. He has lavishly given us what we need to do His plan (1:8) That plan is to bring all things under Christ (1:10, 21, 22) It is in Christ that all things are fullfilled and completed, especially us. (1:23)

Eph 1:15-23

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passageRead the Passage at least twice. Who is in the passage?What action verbs do you see?What other words stick out in your mind

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1996 (electronic ed.) (Eph 1:15–23). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Eph 1:15-23

what was said in the beginning of this letter is now in a lot of ways echoed in a prayer that Paul tells them he prays for them. The very blessing avaiable to them is what he prays they will receive. And he prays continually for them (vs 17)

See Acts 18:19? (vs 15) Has already had relationship with the city. Must have gotten new info about the city

Vs 15-17 What Paul praises them for is their faith in Jesus and love for all the staints. They have the vertical relationship with God right and their relationship with believers right. He prays that that will continue and improve as they know God's will for them. Note: Paul not of the opinion you hit a level and stay there (see 4:14, Heb 5:13-14)

Note again the emphasis of the trinity in vs 17. asks God the Father who is our Father through our Lord, Jesus Christ to give us the Spirit of how to live for God and know Him better.

The purpose of the wisdom and revelation is about knowing God better, not making a name for ourselves.

vs 18-20 Eyes of heart (spirtual lives) opened. Pray that we see better the will of God for us "the hope He has called us to, Our rich inheritance. When you know what is in your future you can live today with an abandonment of worrying about your future. You also can live today based on the what you have before you.

But also available to us now is this great power of God. The incomparable great power is what we have right now because we are adopted in to God's family. That power has been shown in it's greatest way through Jesus' death and ressurection. It is available, again not for us to become big headed but for us to bring praise to God (vs 12, vs 14). He is referring to the power of the Spirit to work in us(vs 13-14, 17, John 14:12-14)

vs 20-22 Paul gets caught up in telling who Jesus is. But in that telling He lets us see Jesus' place because he did the will of God the Father. Jesus is an example of what it is to be in the will of God and the benefits that come from that. (see Isa 53:10-12, Luke 22:41-42)

Christ's place

• right hand of God

• far above anyone other authority or power

• has every title that can be given (not titles to make one fell important but more like honors received and true power because of title)

• power both now and forever

• Controls all things,

• head of the church

• Fulfills everything in every way ( all that has importance finds it completion in Him) It all points to Jesus! (Phil 2:10-11, Col 1:15-20)

Eph 1:1-14

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passageRead the Passage at least twiceWho is in the passage?What action verbs do you see?What other words stick out in your mind

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

To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:

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

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1996 (electronic ed.) (Eph 1:1–14). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

The will of god- God's plan has been from the beginning and I have been chosen to be a part of it. while chosen we have to hear and believe (Vs 13)

The desire to lavish on us good

What we are given

• Grace

• Peace

• blessed with every spiritual blessing

• planned for from beginning

• holiness

• blameless

• adopted as His children

• redemption through blood

• forgiveness of sins

• know the mystery

• chosen

• given word of truth

• salvation

• marked with a seal, Holy Spirit- a deposit

• inheritance

God's will and work (we now know vs 9)

• He chose us through Christ before creation

• In Love He adopted us

• brings praise to His name

• Freely gave Jesus

• His lavish grace brings forgiveness, wisdom, understanding

• Plan from beginning was Christ

• Works all things to the conformity of His purpose (Rom 8:28)

• Goal to bring all things to the feet of Jesus (thy will be done on earth as in heaven)

• We are God's possession (family) to praise of His glory

The balance of Faith- We are predestined very clearly from this passage- 4, 5, 11. Yet we also have choice vs 13- respond to what we hear, and we believe.

vs 1- Paul chosen to be apostle by God, given the job of proclaiming Jesus to Gentiles (3:8)

vs 3 There is nothing lacking in Christ. All we need is in Him He blesses us spiritually (note necessarily in world view, but in what really matters) with everything we need or desire. This inculdes or exudes from the Holy Spirit in our lives

vs 4, 7,8,9- God's desire is to love us. it is what He wants to do (see word pleasure)

We see the work of the Trinty in this passage.

Father is the force behind the plan, Jesus is the carrying out of the plan, Holy Spirit is the guaranteur of what God promised until the plan is completely fullfilled. All to the Glory of God

vs 11- Rom 8:28-30- God's plan is coming together, everything leads to it. Even evil points people in direction of God.

vs 13-14 marked with a seal. We are His, To prove it He gives the Holy Spirit. Our adoption will be completed