Ephesians 1:1-6

[Shield]

Shield> Tonight we will begin a study series on the letter to the Ephesians.
Shield> Our session will begin with an overview of the historical and geographical context of this volume.
Shield> The Apostle Paul was incarcerated by means of house arrest in the early A.D. 60's.
Shield> During this time he was allowed to receive visitors and write four letters, Philemon, Philippians, Colossians and, of course, Ephesians.
Shield> His epistle to the Ephesians was birthed out of the lengthy ministry he had enjoyed there previously (see Acts 10 and 20:16-38).
Shield> The city of Ephesus hosted one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Temple dedicated to the pagan goddess Artemis (Latin for Diana), daughter of Zeus.
Shield> Given that it was the capital of the Roman province of Asia (now extreme western Turkey) and located as a port city on the mouth of the Cayster River three miles from the Aegean Sea, Ephesus gained widespread fame regarding its political, commercial and religious influence.
Shield> Approximately one half million people dwelled there, making it the province's largest city.
Shield> The city also was home to a temple dedicated to worship of the Roman Emperor and his family.
Shield> Religious life in the city was characterized by emperor worship, idolatry, occultism and spiritism.
Shield> Moral life was characterized by the large brothel that stood at one of the major intersections in the city.
Shield> It is in this general context we find the Apostle Paul attempting to penetrate the cacaphony of evil with the gospel by means of his letter to the believers in Ephesus.
Shield> Having spent at least two years of his life there ministering to the people during the course of his second missionary journey, Paul was well acquainted with their needs and concerns.
Shield> Thus under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he took up his pen and began the arduous undertaking of writing this important letter.
Shield> So let us begin our exploration of the first six verses of Ephesians chapter one.
Shield> 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:
Shield> this forms the standard greeting for a Pauline letter
Shield> in fact this formula was characteristic of the Hellenistic form of letter writing
Shield> yet Paul used it to communicate the truths that God had inspired
Shield> Paul was an apostle of Christ Jesus
Shield> he was sent with a commission by God to the saints in Ephesus
Shield> seems to me we see the foreshadowing of what will come in this letter
Shield> Ephesians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Shield> Paul is speaking as an emissary of God Himself
Shield> Ephesians 1:3 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,
Shield> Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
Shield> Ephesians 1:5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
Shield> Ephesians 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Shield> Pauls makes the statement about our being blessed with every spiritual blessing and then he proceeds with the elaboration of those blessings in the verses above...
Shield> so then... what does it mean to be blessed with every spiritual blessing?
seekHim> Well, verse four tells us that we are chosen before the foundation of the world.
Shield> yes indeed seekHim
Shield> for what purpose?
Bride> well ... God does not guarantee us health, wealth and propserity ... so
seekHim> to be holy and blameless.
Bride> the spiritual would be all we have In Christ ... eternal life ... etc
gara> since this world is but a vapor-Paul assures us that our true grace and blessings come
Shield> God promises that we are indeed chosen to take on Christlike character
gara> from being the children of God and that our future is secure because of grace and the Love of the Lord?
Shield> Ephesians 1:5 Ephesians 1:5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
Shield> Ephesians 1:6 Ephesians 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
seekHim> thanks :)
Shield> :)
barabas> predestined?
Shield> yes
Shield> this is a quote from the Bible itself:)
seekHim> I don't see anything there about salvation, directly. But that's what I always thought these verses were talking about.
seekHim> have I missed something?
Shield> yes i think so bro
barabas> explain the signifigance of that word, predestined
seekHim nods
seekHim> may I paste your comment about verse 5?
Peach> my bible says unchanging plan
Shield> adoption as saints is contained in the broad idea of salvation
Shield> yes seekHim
seekHim nods
seekHim> [22:18] Shield> God promises that we are indeed chosen to take on Christlike character
Shield> but it goes farther
seekHim> Ok, we're chosen to take on christlike character. No salvation, there, that I see.
seekHim> I think the salvation is in verse six, right?
Shield> that was a reference to the earlier verse
Shield> if you recall
gara> As I have understood it-adoption deals with the kidsman relationship. That a close kin could pay the cost for a less fortune relative
Shield> Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
seekHim> Oh. Oops.
seekHim> ah.
Shield> i didn't elaborate farther...
gara> and Jesus took this place.
Shield> which i am going to do now...
Shield> predestination is a difficult concept to be sure
Shield> there is much wrangling in the hallowed halls of the seminaries around the world over the concept
Shield> yet it is something that need not be overwhelming
barabas> does it mean that we do not choose God, he chooses us?
Shield> there are verses that suggest both
Peach> i think god chooses us
seekHim> Yes, there certainly are.
Shield> this one clearly indicates that God chooses us
barabas> that would suggest no free will?
seekHim> But we also must choose God.
Shield> however there are other verses that indicate we do have free will
Peach> yes there is
Shield> i must tell you...
Peach> it is up to us to respond to his call
Bride> God does choose ...He desires that none should perish ... however we have the free will to accept or reject His offer
gara> Perhaps because we do not understand that time is an made for the countdown of this world-God exists where there is no time and in all times.
Shield> true gara
Shield> amen Bride
Shield> Peach => yes we must respond
Peach> wow
Peach> you guys are awesome
Shield> Peach => thank you:) you are special too:)
Joy> how about ...God has predestined all of us, however He has given us a free will. The bible says "It is not My will that any should perish, but that all should come to the knowledge of the truth. By the way Hello everybody
Shield> well
Shield> lets think about a specific example...
Shield> Saul...before he became Paul...
seekHim>{Shield}: I was just looking at that, tonight.
gara> Oh good example
Shield> he was by his own words an evil person....
joy> yeah
Shield> who persecuted Jesus himself
seekHim> Romans 7.
Shield> yet God got a hold of him
joy> uhhuh
Shield> sovereignly introduced him to the dust of the road:)
Shield> *wink*
joy> well I'm glad you brought him up because...
seekHim> *smile*
Bride>Laughs Out Loud
Shield> Hehehe
Bride> good word picture Shield
Shield> Hehehe
Shield> well its precisely what happened
Bride> yep
Shield> Saul wasnt looking for it
Shield> at all
Shield> he was on his way to get some Christians
Shield> and God stopped him in his tracks
Shield> that is why he could say....
Shield> 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:
joy> Saul/Paul was a man who was extremely passionate about what he believed....
Shield> yes he was joy
Shield> no doubt about that for sure
joy> when he believed christianity was wrong he faught against it with great passion...
gara> I have often wondered if most of us are called upon in just as direct way from the Lord. Thus making it impossible not to make a knowing decision
joy> but after his experience with the Lord he became a believer and contended for Christ with even greater passion
Shield> Acts 9:1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest
viLuZioN> Ro 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
joy> And my pastor always say if youre not growing youre dying
seekHim ^NIV^ Acts 9:8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.
Shield> indeed
Shield> God had a plan for Saul
Shield> and you know what?
Shield> God has a plan for you
Peach> and not just for us christians
Shield> God has not forgotten you
Shield> God chose you from the foundation of the world!
Shield> at those times when you may doubt your calling or wonder if God remembers your names....
Shield> remember, God is here..right now.... and he loves you
Shield> he has chosen you
Shield> called you
Shield> he will equip you
Shield> as you surrender to Him