The Epistle of the apostle Paul
to
the Ephesians
by
J.W.Weeda
A verse by verse Commentary
Introduction:
The epistle is written from Rome. Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter to the
Ephesian saints. The epistle was written from his first imprisonment. 4 Epistles the apostle Paul wrote to local churches to know: Ephesians, Filippians, Colossians and Philemon. Probably this epistle of the apostle Paul to the Ephesians is the most deepest epistle he wrote to a local church, to a group of people, ekklesia. It is a letter of doctrine. The first 3 chapters is doctrine and the last 3 chapters is over the practice, our walk in our Lord Jesus Christ. No other epistle or book of the New Testament let see very clear how the position is of the believer in Christ and how the believer has to walk in Christ. The epistle is written in the year 62 or 63 after Christ. Tychikus was the bringer of the epistle because Paul couldn't bring the epistle to the saints, he was in prison. Tychikus had also brought the epistles to Colosse and to Philemon. The purpose of this epistle is the unification and connection as believer with our Lord Jesus Christ.
The place/city of Ephesus:
Ephesus was the capital city of the proconsulat Asia (now Turkey). Ephesus was a lush city on the westcoast of Asia, laying on sandbanks of the Layster and plus minus 40 miles south of Smyrna. The harbor of Ephesus was very large. Anraclus was the founder of the city. Ephesus blossomed at the time of the Roman Empire. Ephesus is very known of two books of the Bible: The epistle to the Ephesias and Acts. The city was the centre of worship of the goddess Artemis or the Romans called her Diana. The great temple of Artemis was in 262 destroyed by the Gothen. Ephesus was in 431 after Christ the place of the concilie of Ephesus. Convened by emperor Theodosius II because of the controversy about the doctrine of Nestorius of Constatinople. Theme of this concilie was the confirmation that Christ in one Person God and Man is. It was declared that Christ had no 2 persons in him. The Godhead and humanity are in one Person united; the Person of the Word, the Son of God. That's why the holy virgin Maria the title received of Mother of God. She is the mother of Jesus: the God-Human (Theotokos) and not only the mother of the Man alone.
Artemis: the goddess of the Ephesians when Paul lived on earth was also named Diana. In the same city of Ephesus lived also Jewish people who were influenced by the Jewish doctrine.
Paul with Luc, Silas and Timothy came the first time in Asia but they were hindered to speak there to the people. Read Acts 16 verse 6. In Acts 18 verse 19 we read that Paul came the first time in Ephesus and went alone first to the synagogue and talked with the Jews. Paul stayed 2 years in Ephesus and after the 2 years there came a uproar under the population of Ephesus against the Word of Gods Grace and this was lead by Demetrius who saw his merchandise in statuettes of the goddess what brought prosperity break down. So the whole city came in an uproar. Paul went away and later in Acts 20 verses 16-17 we read : For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. He called them all and they came and Paul admonished them and that we can read in Acts 20:17-38.
Ephesians Chapter I
Ephesians 1 verse 1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Verse 1: Paul and apostle of Jesus Christ. In Acts 9 became Saul of Tarsus or Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ. He was called by the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven. Paul had never seen the Lord on earth. Paul or Saul was a murderer, a criminal and on the road to Damascus this happened Acts 9 3-6: And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. Read for yourselves Galatians 1 verses 11-16 and I Timothy 1 verse 12-14. It was for Paul, at that time Saul, impossible to resist and strife against God. In Acts 9 verse 15 we read: But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. What does the word Apostle mean? It comes from the Greek Word Apostelos what means one that is send with a special message, with a special order. In Romans 11 verse 13 we read : For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
The message the apostle Paul received from the risen Lord Jesus Christ was and is the Gospel of the Grace of God Acts 20:24, Romans 16:25-26. God had set aside His plan with Israel for a time because they had rejected God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit in Acts 7. God began a new Dispensation, the Dispensation of Grace and Paul was the bringer of all the Good News, the Mystery. Paul brought this message to this world. This Mystery was alone with God known and not known to men, kept secret and at first be known to the apostle Paul through revelations. And here we see in the first place he wrote his epistle or letter to the saints at Ephesus. Every believer in Christ is holy= set aside. Faithful and the Greek word is pistos what means trustful. So the trustful in Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1 verse 2
Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 2: Grace and peace comes from God. We men do not know what grace and peace is from our nature. We are born sinners and we live in a world what is at enmity of God. Now people say that here in the Netherlands there is peace since 1945 (end of the Second World War). Yes there is no war in this country. Okay. Since the Second World War are there so many wars that until now it didn't stop in the world. We have now war in Ukraine. There is a war in Etheopia! Man from nature do not know what peace is because of sin. But what does the word Grace means? Grace comes from the Greek Word Charis what means acceptable, gift, liberality, favour! In 2 Corinthians 5 verses 19-21 we read: To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. We, my brothers and sisters were dead for God, we were the enemies but God in His mercy died for us on the cross on Calvary and died our death there and paid the price for our sins with His blood, the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2 verse 1 says us: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Romans 5 verse 8 and 9 tells us: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. We are saved by God's Grace and we have now peace with Him through Christ Jesus Romans 5 verse 1. Another beautiful verses say us: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9. So brothers and sisters: we have God of Grace and Peace and from the Lord Jesus Christ! What a wonderful God we have!
Ephesians 1 verse 3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Verse 3: Brothers and sisters in Christ: This is really good news! First we read that God and the Father from our Lord Jesus Christ is be blessed. All honor to Him. Then we read that He hath blessed us. With one blessing? No is the answer. The answer is with all spiritual blessings! All of them!!! We received this my brothers and sisters: all spiritual blessings. We have never to ask for blessings. We have them all! Also no one can give us the blessings. God gave it to us already. We are in Christ blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places! All those blessing are from God. We received them all unconditionally! The blessing which Israel as folk of God received were conditionally. This we read in Deuteronomy 28 verses 1 and 2: And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of theLordthy God. We are as members of the Body of Crist blessed with all spiritual blessings. The spiritual things are more value than the material things. What a great God we have my dear brothers and sisters and what a great Word this is!!!
Ephesians 1 verse 4
According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Verse 4: Another beautiful strong verse of God my dear brothers and sisters. This is past! It has happened! He hath chosen us in Him, in Christ! We are members of the Body of Christ, the Church and Christ is our Head. And now we read He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world!! Wow, before the foundation the world. The Body of Christ is chosen before the word exists. God had this plan before the foundation of the world and hath chosen us in Him! What a wonderful God we have. With the purpose He did this and here is the reason for it: that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. He chose us and saved us from this world. We are chosen people my dear brothers and sisters. Before the world He had this plan to save us through His Son Jesus Christ! God chose and saves and men cannot save himself. God is love and search the sinner. We from nature chose not God and are not searching to find Him. We read John 15 verse 16a Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. This said our Lord to His disciples on earth and this let you see that men chose not God but God chose men!
Ephesians 1 verse 5
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
Verse 5: Dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ. God had us predestinated. What is predestinated? It comes from the word predestination from the Greek word proorizo = determine before. Before God had determined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself. We are adopted by God through His Son Jesus Christ. To Himself. It was His will to adopt us to the good pleasure. This was the purpose of God before the foundation of the world that He would save sinner like you and me in Christ Jesus! Adoption: this is a fact. We are adopted. The Greek word here is huiothesia: as son or daughter placed in Christ. We are full grown sons and daughters and this is exactly how God us sees in Christ. What a wonderful position we have in Him. We can God everyday thank for this fact! Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!!!
Ephesians 1 verse 6
To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Verse 6: Another beautiful verse here my dear brothers and sisters! Through God's Grace are we accepted in the Beloved. The Beloved is His Son Jesus Christ! We have received the undeserved forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ, the Beloved of God! What a great verse this is and what a security we have in Him dear brothers and sisters! We were dead in trespasses and sins. We deserved eternal death but God in His mercy saved us through Jesus Christ. He took our guilt upon Himself and died our death on that cross on Calvary! He was crucified to save us from the eternal death! He paid the price for our death with His own blood on that cross. He was buried and after 3 days He has risen from the death!! Death could not hold Him. He stood up for our righteousness Romans 4 verse 25. We are now without guilt before God through His Son Jesus Christ! His Grace in Him has us fully accepted. Read Philemon 17-19!
Ephesians 1 verse 7
In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace;
Verse 7: Dear brothers and sisters! We have redemption through His blood. Yes the blood what flowed from Calvary had us redempted!! Redempted from all our sins! All our sins and trespasses are forgiven! Forgiveness of past, present and future! It is done, done on that cross on Calvary! According to the riches of His Grace! This is riches of His Grace! We didn't deserve this! In Ephesians 2 verse 5 we read:Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) Think about this: we were dead in sins! Eternal dead! Through our nature! God so loved us that He came Self to this earth through His Son Jesus Christ to save you and me and that He did on the cross on Calvary to pay fully the price for us. God became Man so that He could save men! Think about it: He died for the whole world! This is not to comprehend with our mind. We only can accept it because it is written in His Word, the Bible! What a love of God, what a wonderful God we have!! He alone is Love. From our nature we know not what love is because of sin. In Colossians 1 verse 14 we read: In Whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: In Whom that is Christ! What does this mean for every day? We may God everyday thank for this and that we are blessed with all spiritual blessings. Do we have to ask for forgiveness? No is the answer because your sins are forgiven. We are forgiven, does that mean we can sin, is this a license to sin? No is the answer and we read in Romans 6 verses 1 and 2 the following:What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Brothers and sisters: we received a new life in Christ our Lord and we can't touch sin. Our sins are forgiven so that we do not serve sin but God. We are alive in Christ, we have a new life in Him and we are no longer under the law but under Gods Grace Romans 6 verse 14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Ephesians 1 verse 8
Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Verse 8: Robert Lowry had made a song about the blood of Christ who has washed/forgiven our sins! This song is very famous:
"What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus"
The cross my dear brothers and sisters is the demonstration and wisdom and prudence of God. We are saved through the blood of Christ which flowed from the cross. This does not mean that this is a freedom for us to sin, God forbid. We must have the wish not to serve sin. Our purpose must be to serve Him Who died for us on that cross and took all our sins in His Body there on Calvary! Was buried and stood up from the grave after 3 days and 3 nights. I Corinthians 15:3-4. Let us reat Titus 2 verse 12: Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Ephesians 1 verse 9
Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself:
Verse 9: What does this verse mean? The mystery of Hs will has to do with Gods eternal purpose for heaven and earth. This eternal purpose was alone known with God Himself which He hath purposed in Himself. He set aside both Jews and Gentiles in the past in unbelief He was free to make known the counsel of His will which He foreordained before the foundation of the world. God began a new plan, a new program known as the Mystery read Romans 16:25 and 26. This mystery of God is the secret purpose of teh Church, the Body of Christ. This He made known or revealed it to the apostle Paul and Paul was the one who made it known in this world. This is the heavenly ministry of Christ and it let us see a new creation. The Church with its heavenly position is the point of God's plan and purpose for the Dispensation of Grace Ephesians 3:1-3. We are blessed my dear brothers and sisters with all spiritual blessings and we have a heavenly hope and calling.
Ephesians 1 verse 10
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together
in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him:
Verse 10: Here in this verse the apostle Paul is speaking about the Dispensation of the fulness of times. What is that? This is the counsel of God's purpose. That the heavenly plan and the earthly plan will be united together in Christ. In I Corinthians 15 verse 24-28 we read: Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
In Philippias 2 verses 9-11 we read the following: Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Here in these last verses we read that the ones who are in heaven of the Body of Christ shall bow for Him, The ones who are on earth: the ones of the Prophecy who shall reign with Christ on earth shall bow for Him and the ones who are under the earth: the unbelievers who shall stad before the White Throne shall also bow their knees for Him. After this all there will be a new Dispensation: the Dispensation of the fulness of times. All shall be united in Him, in Christ! What a wonderful news my dear brothers and sisters!
Ephesians 1 verse 11
In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according
to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will
Verse 11: In Whom. Who is the Whom? This is Jesus Christ. In Him we have as members of the Body of Christ obtained an inheritance. We are sons and daughters and we are heirs so thats why we obtained an inheritance! What a wonderful and great verse this is! What a riches we have in Christ! God had us adopted as sons and daughters in Christ. He has saved us on the cross on Calvary because there He died our death, He paid the full prize for our sins, our guilt and now in because He lives we live with Him and we have the highest position in Christ. Colossians 1 verse 13 we read: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. Think about this my dear brothers and sisters: from the power of darkness translated into the kingdom of Christ, the heavenly kingdom!! Rejoice, rejoice!!! This is really something and we are now heirs in Him. God predestinated us, the Body of Christ according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will. It was His will to save men so that men could live forever in Him, in Christ!! That was His purpose before the world began. You never can find this in the rest of the Bible, only here in the epistle to the Ephesians and in the epistles of the apostle Paul: Romans- Philemon. God works independently. He need no man to help Him to devise and execute plans. We my brothers and sisters can only thank God for this because it is His work that saved us forever!
Ephesians 1 verse 12
That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Verse 12: Dear brothers and sisters: In Him, in Christ we are heirs. We as members of the Body of Christ are before the world began predestinated according the purpose of Him . Why? That we should be to the praise of His glory. We who have trusted Christ as personal Saviour! Brothers and sisters: Christ is our Hope. It is not the praise of our glory but the praise of His glory! This is pure God's Grace and through His Grace He accepted us in His beloved Son Jesus Christ! In Ephesians 3 verse 21 we read the following: Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. And in I Timothy 1 verse 1 we read: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, Which is our hope! We, brothers and sisters have eternal life in Christ!! Our hope is in Him, He is our hope. In 1 Corinthians 15 verses 51-53 we read about that hope: Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. When we are in heaven we will have a task from God my dear brothers and sisters: we shall be above angels and shall also with Christ judge angels. What a great moment that will be and we have to look forward this!! Read Philippians 3:20-21
Ephesians 1 verse 13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Verse 13: What a wonderful verse this is and praise God for this!! On the moment we heard the Word of truth, the Gospel of Grace, the Gospel of our salvation Colossians 1:5-6, Ephesians 2:8-9 we trusted Christ as personal Saviour and on that same moment we were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. God's Holy Spirit came into our lives on that moment. We are sealed with the Spirit of God. God lives in us through His Spirit. Our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit of God! He lives in us and we cannot be separated from Him, from God anymore!! Think about this brother and sister: you cannot be separated anymore from God! In Romans 8 verses 15 and 16 the Bible tells us this: For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And in Ephesiasn 4 verse 30 we read: And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption"Till that day, the day of redemption, the day of the Rapture of the Church, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of God! On that day we shall receive a spirtual body likewise Christ my dear brothers and sisters. Read Romans 8 verse 23! For everyday we have this rule my dear brothers and sisters:And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Ephesians 1 verse 14
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Verse 14: God hath given us His Holy Spirit. We are sealed with that Holy Spirit and which is the earnest of our inheritance. What does that mean? Being heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, the total inheritance has not yet been totally given to us. So far, we have received just an earnest—a down payment—of the fullness of His Holy Spirit and the fullness of the associated blessings that we will receive in the future when the trump shall sound I Corinthians 15 verse 52. Until that day God's Spirit is the seal, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. My dear brothers and sisters: we are in Him and the world around us is in darkness and chaos. We can rest in the finished Work of Christ for us on Calvary. We can rest in His Grace what we received from Him Ephesians 2:8-9. He holds us fast through His Spirit Who lives in us. We are never separated from God. It depends not on us what we have done or should do in the future. Once a son or daughter always a son and daughter of God. We are save in Him. Romans 8 verse 31 tells us: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Ephesians 1 verse 15
Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and
the love unto all the saints
Verse 15: The apostle Paul heard much positive news from the believers in Ephesus. The apostle Paul had lived in Ephesus for more than 2 years. He knew the believers very good and heard now the news when he was in prison about them through Tychicus in Ephesians 6 verse 21. (read this!) In Acts 19 verse 8 we read: And he (Paul) went into the synagogue and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the Kingdom o God. And then in verse 9 and 10 we read: But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. The believers of Ephesus had much learned and had grown in the spiritual life. They had now love unto all the saints. This is remarkable because when the apostle Paul left Ephesus after more than 2 years there was a uproar in the city under Demetrius! The saints at Ephesus are a real example for us and we can a lot learn from them. They were build up by God's Word of Grace Acts 20:32. If we all had the will to be build up by God's Word of Grace then the Body of Christ should be stronger than it is now today. So a call to you my dear brother and sister: Learn God's Word of Grace Romans 16:25-26. It is also for your obedience of faith! This will build you up spiritual in Christ. And when you have learned it stand for the truth Colossians 1:5-6. There is no other Gospel than the Gospel the apostle Paul preached and what we can read now in all his epistles. Another Gospel is no Gospel. It is a mix of Gospels and there is no blessing in it! Believing Gods Gospel of Grace gives us all the blessings in Christ!!!
Ephesians 1 verse 16
Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
Verse 16: What a example the apostle Paul is for us brothers and sisters. Not only in behavior but also in prayer because he begins to pray for them to God! He said cease not to give thanks for you! This verse let you see that prayer is very important even today my brothers and sisters. To pray also for other in the Body of Christ. To pray for the people you know and to thank for them in your praying to God. This did the apostle Paul! He was glad and rejoiced in the Lord for them because they had grown through the Gospel of the Grace of God which is able also to build us up my brothers and sisters!! The apostle Paul is absolutely a example for thankfulness!! Let's pause for a moment when did we pray for another person we know? In Colossians 4 verse 2 we read: Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving" And in I Timothy 2 verse 1 we read: I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Just as the apostle Paul we have not to stop praying. Prayer is so important under this Dispensation of Grace Ephesians 3:1-3 whereunder we still live. In praying to God we can make known everything and in Philippians 4 verse 6 and 7 we read: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. We don't have to worry my dear brothers and sisters. The worries we give to the Lord and the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep our hearts and mind through Christ Jesus. Colossians 4 verse 2 tells us again: Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Not only to be in prayer but also watch in the same. We have also to watch, to be alert. This is also important brothers and sisters: to be alert, to watch.
Ephesians 1 verse 17
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto
you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:
Verse 17: Dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the prayer the apostle Paul prayed for the brothers and sisters in Ephesus. Also for us this verse is valid because we are members of the same Body of Christ. What we here see is that God the Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory may give unto us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. What is this knowledge? This is the truth, the Gospel of the Grace of God my dear brothers and sisters. That we may know this Gospel and the deeper Word of God's Grace. The epignosis, that we may learn this and understand. Romans 10 verse 17 tells us:So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. So it's about insight and knowledge of the epistles of the apostle Paul because therein we have the truth, the preaching of Jesus Christ according the revelation of the Mystery. That we may know this! This is the will of God my dear brothers and sisters. I Timothy 2: 3-4. Personally almost 40 years ago I became to know the truth. I heard personally the whole truth, the Gospel of Gods Grace and through God's Spirit I received also wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, of God and Jesus Christ Which is God's Son. It is God's will that everyone of you too learn this truth Romans 16:25-26. It was not only for me or for my wife but also for you my dear brothers and sisters. If you have the will to know it you will know it. If you search for the truth as I did 40 years ago you will find it! I'm convinced of that! God revealed it to me through His Word. He used believers to explain the whole Gospel of Grace to me in that time. That was so wonderful and I am thankful for this fact every day.
Ephesians 1 verse 18
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Verse 18: They eyes of your understanding being enlightened! This is God's will. That our mind be open and that we acknowledge the truth and that we may know what the hope is of His calling. Our hope is our Lord jesus Christ and we look for our Savior every moment of the day! Titus 2:13, Philippians 3:20-21, I Corinthians 15:51-53, I Thessalonians 4:13-18. This will be the greatest day my dear brothers and sisters: the Rapture of the Church, the Body of Christ. We have this hope, the hope of His calling: eternal life in Christ and very soon a new body as His resurrected body, a spiritual body!!! It has to do with our future state
What the riches of the glory of His inheritance in us saints. That we may know this, understand with our mind through God's Spirit. The knowledge of sins forgiven, new life in Christ, understanding that we will be delivered from he wrath to come.
Through the epistles we can know this all!! So read and study my dear brother/sister the epistles of the apostle Paul Romans -Philemon!! His inheritance: The Body of Christ is this Ephesians 5 verse 27: That He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Ephesians 1 verse 19
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Verse 19: What a great verse this is my brothers and sisters! What does this mean? The exeeding greatness of His power to us ward who believe. It is God's power, His resurrection power and that is so great and more than dynamite my brother and sister!!! In Psalm 106 verses 8-11 we read: Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known. He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness. And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left. Brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ: God saved His people Israel from the hands of the Egypts, their enemies. Today God has revealed His strength through His resurrection power! The power of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!! This power lives in us too, this resurrection power. We are more than conguerors in Him! According to the working of His mighty power! We can triumph with His mighty power over sin and let not have sin dominion over us in our lives! The Gospel of Gods Grace changes our lives my brothers and sisters because this we read here in the book of Ephesians which is a part of the 13 Epistles the apostle Paul wrote in his life here on earth. With this resurrection power in us daily we can resist the devil, we can stop to sin. Yes we can do this in His power!
Ephesians 1 verse 20
Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,
Verse 20: Dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ did not stay in the grave! Death couldn't hold Him because He was and is without sin and God the Father raised Him from the dead! Christ is risen, He lives and sits on the right hand of the Father in the heavenly places. Romans 6 verses 9-10: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him. For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God. God hath raised Him from the grave. That resurrection power was very great and that is with no pen to describe my dear brothers and sisters! This resurrection power is given to us because we are one with Him. Romans 6 verses 5-8 tells us: For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him. Christ is resurrected from the dead and we with Him through our identification with Him. That's why the apostle Paul says in Ephesians 2 verse 1 the following: And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. And in verse 6 we read: And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" This is really something my dear brothers and sisters. This is fantastic!!! Raised with Him and we are now in Him. Our position in Him is in heaven! We are heavenly citizens in Him!!! This resurrection power lives in us! The power of sin is away. We can sin but we don't have to sin, we can choose not to sin and to serve God. He holds us fast. In Romans 8 verse 34 we see a very beautiful verse: Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Every day this is reality my dear brothers and sisters! So rejoice in Him!
Ephesians 1 verse 21
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Verse 21: Christ is on the right hand of God far above all principality, power, might and dominion! God has the absolute power! Nobody is above Him becasuse He is above all and above everyone and every power, might and dominion. In Philippians 2 verse 9 we read: Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name" And in Hebrews 1 verses 3 and 4 we read: Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when He had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
This my dear brothers and sisters is a glorification!!! Christ has absolute power and authority above all because He humbled Himself, yes till the death on the cross to bear all our sins, to die our death!! And paid the price with His own blood for us! He is our Savior. He without sin for us sinners. That's why death couldn't hold Him and after 3 days He stood up from the grave. Read I Corinthians 15:3-4. And in Romans 4 verse 25 we read: Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. All things are subject under His feet now! And every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come! I Corinthians 15 verses 27 and 28
Ephesians 1 verse 22
And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the Church,
Verse 22 All things are put under His feet, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ has all power and might and He is also the Head over all things above all things. He is also the Head of the Church, the Body of Christ. He is far above principalities and powers, might and dominion. This we read already in the one of the last verses. In I Corinthians 15 verse 27 we read: For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. Dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ: God the Father has given Him this power. He has put all things under His feet and He is Head above all things! Wat a wonderful God we have. The devil is defeated, him waits the judgment what is written in Revelations 20:10: And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. This is the final destiny of the devil! The devil is defeated. He works in the children of disobedience, the unbelievers. He hates the Gospel of the Grace of God by which he is defeated. Now he will do everything to hinder this wonderful Gospel and brings lies to people in this world or hold back people to learn this Gospel of the Grace of God or the truth of God! Acts 20:24, 32, Romans 16:25-26. Christh hath triumphed over him and al his angels/ministers. In Colossians 2 verse 15 we read : And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. In Hebrews 2 verse 14 we read: Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; The power of death is destroyed by Christ my dear brothers and sisters! Satan is defeated by the cross! What great to know and believe this my dear brothers and sisters!
Ephesians 1 verse 23
Which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.
Verse 23: Dear brothers and sisters: we come now to this last verse of this first chapter. Christ is resurrected and He sit on the right hand of the Father far above all principalities, power, might and dominion and above all names. He is the Head of all and the Head from the Church, the Body of Christ. What good to know this because we know also from the Scriptures that the head of the family is the man, the head of the woman likewise Christ the Head is of the Church and He is the Preserver of the Body of Christ. He is our head and we are the members! He holds the body together! Dear reader: you can be a member of a local church. As long as you are no member of the true Church, the Body of Christ are you still lost! Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved! Acts 16:31. Accept you are a sinner and that Jesus Christ paid the prize for your sins on the cross on Calvary. Believe that He is resurrected and that He is alive! If you do this now you are saved forever and a son or daughter of God forever!!! Do it now before it is to late. Nobody can say if you can accept the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior tomorrow. So don't put off until tomorrow! Do it now!!!
The fulness of Him that filleth all in all. What does that mean? The Church is a living organism that derives its life from Christ who filleth all in all. The Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ dwells within us my dear brothers and sisters. God has chosen to reveal it us in written form. Thus we ae instructed as members of the Body of Christ, the Church, to be filled with the knowledge of His will. In Ephesians 4 verse 16 we read: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. And so we end this first chapter!
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Ephesians Chapter 2
Ephesians 2 verse 1
And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Verse 1: Dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ. We are made alive in Christ!!! Christ stood up from the dead and we with Him! In Romans 6:3-6 we read: Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. These verses form the base my brothers and sisters. This happened on the moment we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior of our lives. First we were dead in trespasses and sins! We were dead, eternal dead as others around us in this world who did not yet accept Christ as their Savior! In that time we were eternally separated from God. Think about it! God hath He quickened, made alive with Christ. We are now in Christ and it is His Work, not ours!! We come from Adam and with the sin nature of Adam we are born in this world Romans 5 verse 12. Romans 3 verse 23 we read : For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. From our nature, how we are born we miss the glory of God, we miss as human beings through sin eternal life! But now there is Good News, very Good News. In verse 5 of Ephesians 2 we read:Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) God hath made us alive in Him! From ourselves we couldn't made alive. What you try to reach God with all your thinkings, doings, so named good works. You never can reach God. That's why God reached us and gave His life for us. He sacrificed himself for us. He died our death on that cross and took away all our sins! Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, Ephesians 4:32. Romans 5 verse 8 tells us: But god commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. What a great God we have Who paid the prize for us complete and now we are alive in Christ and complete in Him! We have new life in Him. This is wonderful and praise God for this every day my brother and sisters!!!
Ephesians 2 verse 2
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Verse 2: We were dead in trespasses and sins. We walked according to the course of this world. We walked the same as the unbelievers now in this world. We walked according to the prince of power of the air. Who is this prince of power? This is satan my dear brothers and sisters. He is the prince of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Who are these children? The unbelievers. Satan works in them and he blinds them. They are in his hands and they are sinners like us but not alive. They are still in their sins and dead in trespasses and sins and without hope and eternally dead in this world. But now we as members of the Body of Christ we are made alive with Christ. We are now in Him! That's why the apostle Paul explained what we were in the past before we accepted Jesus Christ as personal Savior . Before we were slaves of sin. Slave of satan. In Colossians 3 verse 6 and 7 we read: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. And in Titus 3 verse 4 we read: For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. This is what we see in this world! People are hateful and hate each other. So is the nature in this sin world my dear brothers and sisters. That's why there are murder, war etc every day!! A lot of persecutions people had to undergo. Also for all the people in this world there is Good News: Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Be saved forever and you will receive eternal life!!
Ephesians 2 verse 3
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Verse 3: Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ. We were from nature the children of wrath. The wrath of God was upon us before we accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. Colossians 3 verses 6-7 tells us: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. Yes we were dead in our conversation in times past and had the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind! Fulfilling the desires of our flesh: never satisfied. Desires could be drinking, smoking, sex, women etc. This was also in the city of Ephesus and Corinth. The apostle Paul describes the position of the saints at Ephesus before they accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and we too my dear brothers and sisters. This is past and now we are in Christ. We can understand the world very well but the world doesn't understand us.
Ephesians 2 verse 4
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Verse 4: We were the children of wrath in times past. God's wrath was upon us. Here is Good News my brother and sister: But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us. This let you see that God is Love. He alone is that. We as persons are sinners and have no love in ourselves. We are from nature loveless and egocentric! Self centered. But this is not the character from God. God is love and is merciful. The but let us see that there is a change. God is a God of mercy. He is rich of mercy! He alone is this because He is without sin my dear brothers and sisters and that's why He died for us through Christ for our sins on the cross on Calvary! Romans 5 verse 8 tells us: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. This is God's great love towards us. To love us and to die and pay the punishment we deserved on the cross on Calvary! He did this for you and me my dear reader!! He died not His own death, no He died our death so that we could live in Him forever!! If you not dear reader on this moment has accept/believe the Lord Jesus Christ what He has done for you do it now before it is to late. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved forever!!
Ephesians 2 verse 5
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with
Christ (by Grace ye are saved)
Verse 5: My dear brother and sister in our Lord Jesus Christ. We were dead in trespasses and sin from birth on. Romans 5 verse 12 tells us the following: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" We were dead, spiritually dead and eternal dead before we accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Redeemer. What happened? We are made alive/quickened with Christ. We are alive in Him. We live forever in Him! What a wonderful news. This is very Good News my dear brothers and sisters and we can rejoice in this!! We are no longer dead in sins! Think about this my brother and sister. God hath made us alive in Christ. Colossians 1 verse 13 confirms this: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. What a great verse this is and this is very wonderful: freed from the power of darkness and placed in the light of His Son Jesus Christ. Galatians 2 verse 20 tells us: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me"This is now our position in Christ my brothers and sisters. He lives now in us through His Holy Spirit Ephesians 1:13-14. Think about this and let these Scriptures above penetrate to your heart. The law of God couldn't save us and also we couldn't save ourselves but we are saved by Gods Grace through Faith and in Christ alone!!!
Ephesians 2 verse 6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly
places in Christ Jesus
Verse 6: God hath raised us up together. It is His Work, His operation in Christ! Dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ: We are not only quickened or alive in Christ. We are raised up with Christ. With Him we are resurrected and God hath made us sit together with Christ in heaven!!! We are in position now in heaven. What GOOD NEWS this is!! Our position is in Him in heaven! We are heavenly citizens. This is how God sees us because He placed us in His dear Son Jesus Christ. We are save in Him. Romans 6 verses 6-9 we read: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. Think about it! Quickened, raised and sit together with Christ in heavenly places in Him!!! How wonderful this is!! To read this and study this and think about it you as believer in Christ become aware of this!!
Ephesians 2 verse 7
That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Verse 7 In this verse we see the reason why God hath us as members of the Body of Christ raised up with Christ because that He might shew the exceeding riches of His Grace and His kindness toward us through His Son Christ Jesus. The Grace of God or the exceeding riches of His Grace defined as God's Wealth at the expense of Christ. He, Christ paid with His own blood on Calvary when He died for our sins. He died our death what we deserved. Believe this my reader and thou shalt be saved! He died for us so that we can enjoy in eternity with Him! Ages to come: eternity. Without time, out of time that we can enjoy these exceeding riches. Exceeding= supereminent is excellent. Better than this there is not. Now the question: What can God do more what He has not done for us. He has done everything for us. It is complete!!! Rejoice in Him instead to boast in ourselves.
Ephesians 2 verse 8
For by Grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God
Verse 8: What a great Word of God this is my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ. We are saved by His Grace through the faith of Jesus Christ. We are saved by Grace alone, by Faith alone and in Christ alone. We are not saved from ourselves, our works, the works of the Law! We are saved by God's Grace. It is His gift in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son. Saved from what? From all eternity. Saved from eternal death. Through Him we live forever and ever!! He, Jesus Christ was and is faithful. In Philippians 2 verse 6-9 we read again: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: Christ died our death on Calvary on the cross. He He bore our sins on the cross in His body! He was buried and after 3 days He was resurrected from the death. Death could not hold Him because He was and is without sin!! That's why He died our death: He without sin for us sinners!! Through His faith are we saved. That's God's Grace my dear brothers and sisters! We have accepted Him as Savior and now we may know for all eternity that we are saved by Grace alone, by faith alone and in Christ alone. We are made alive in Him because He lives and is resurrected! And we with Him. Our old man is crucified with Him, buried with Him and resurrected with Him. We are new men in Him! This makes us glad my dear brothers and sisters. We have such a high position in Christ. The most high position a believer has. We can rejoice in this every day and Him everyday thank for this!
Ephesians 2 verse 9
Not of works, lest any man should boast
Verse 9: My brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are saved through faith alone, the faith of Christ that saved us. Are we saved though our believe? No is the answer. We are not saved by ourselves, by our so named works because then we could boast in ourselves. We cannot boast in our ourselves. We have to boast in God, in Christ what He has done for us. Romans 3 verses 26 and 27 tells us: Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. It is the one deed Christ did for us: Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification Romans 4 verse 25. Who boast boast in our Lord Jesus Christ!!
Ephesians 2 verse 10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Verse 10: Dear brothers and sisters in our Lord: We are His workmanship. We are His creation. What does it mean workmanship? It comes from the Greek word poiema wat means a product. What is made. We are a new creation in Christ. God created us new in Him. We are born again in Christ. Galatians 2:20 read this for yourselves. 2Corinthians 5 verse 17 tells us: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. This is very good news my dear brother and sister! We are new creations in Christ, we are new men in Him. We live as long we are on this earth in our flesh but alive in Christ. We have the old nature and the new nature in us. The old nature is our flesh and the new nature is in Christ. We have the position in Christ and are created in Him for the purpose to walk in the good works of God which God hath ordained! According the Gospel of the Grace of God, His finished work on the cross we can walk and He will and can work in us through His Spirit wherewith we are sealed to the day of redemption. This gives us the strength every day and we can rejoice in it!!!
Ephesians 2 verse 11
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Verse 11: Wherefore remember. Remember my brothers and sisters in time past we also as the Ephesian believers were Gentiles in the flesh. We were not Jews as they were not. The Jews were the Circumcision and the Gentiles were the Uncircumcision. The apostle Paul speaks here in this verse about the past. We were in the flesh, we were from nature in Adam, the sin nature. With this nature like the Ephesian believers we too were born with this. Every person who is naturally born in this world is a sinner Romans 5:12. The apostle speaks about the time, the former Dispensation when God had His plan and deals with Israel. It was His folk. God had set aside the Gentiles and began in Genesis 12 with a new folk and later this was called Israel. Israel means with God. They were circumcised because of a sign which Abraham received of believe/faith. In Genesis 17 verse 11 we read: And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. Read this carefully a token of the coventant between God and Abraham. It was a token or sign of purity! This distinguished the people of Israel from the heathen or Gentiles. And we were the Gentiles my dear brothers and sisters!
Ephesians 2 verse 12
That at that time ye 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:
Verse 12: That at that time! Which time? Under the former Dispensation we were Gentiles like the Ephesian believers from origine, from nature without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel. We had nothing to do with Israel as a nation. We were not circumcised. For a Gentile to know the God of Israel he or she must become a Jews. First to be circumcised as man and second he or she must do the whole law of God and serve God in this way and he or she became a proselyte. Most of the Gentiles remain Gentiles or heathen and were aliens of Israel, strangers form the covenants of promise which God made with His folk Israel. We had no hope my dear brothers and sisters and we were without God in the world. Can you imagine this: having no hope and without God in the world? We were lost sinners! We were the children of wrath like the others in this world who have not accepted Christ as personal Savior. Romans 11 verse 32a tells us: For God hath concluded them all in unbelief! This was a hopeless situation my dear brother and sister!
Ephesians 2 verse 13
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Verse 13: But now! Oh how wonderful! There is a change! But now a change has taken place! My dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ. But now in Christ Jesus. We are in Christ Jesus now! This is what this verse tells us! We were far off but in Christ we are made nigh by the blood of Christ!!! He is our Head and we are the members of His Body, the Body of Christ. How? Through His blood. The blood that He gave for us on the cross, His own blood for us my dear brother and sister!! He gave His life for us because He gave His blood for us! The blood that saves us from all sins, from the power of sin! Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14. We are free now in Him! God sees us in Christ! We Gentiles just as Jews are new men in Him. How wonderful this is!!! He died on that cross in our place, He died our death and that's why we are made nigh by the blood of Him. Romans 5 verse 8 tells us this so good:But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us!! We were the enemies of Him and through His love He died for us ungodly people!!! He was buried and after 3 days He was resurrected from the death! Death could not hold Him because He was and is without sin. I Corinthians 15:3-4 We have eternal life in Him, in Christ. How wonderful this is!!! In Romans 4 verse 25 we read: Who (Christ) was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification" And in Romans 5 verse 1 we read: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" What a wonderful and loving God we have and we can rest in Him because we have now peace with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ! That's why we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us!
Ephesians 2 verse 14
For He is our peace, Who hath made both one, and hath broken
down the middle wall of partition between us
Verse 14: Brothers and sisters: HE IS OUR PEACE! God is our peace in Christ!! In Romans 5 verse 1 we read allready : Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. From enemies of God to sons and daughters of Him. God is a God of peace, not of war under this Dispensation. He had reconciled the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them" 2 Corinthians 5 verse 19. Now we see here in this verse a declaration of God: Who hath made both one. Who are the both? Jew and Gentile made one in Christ. Christ died for all mankind with the purpose that everyone , every person my dear reader can accept Him in Christ as Savior. Christ on the cross hath broken down the middle wall of partition what was between Jew and Gentile. This wall stood tall and strong for over fifteen hundred years. It barred the Gentiles access to the true and living God. In Herod's temple in Jerusalem stood: No Gentile may enter the barricade which surrounds the Sanctuary and enclosure. Anyone who is caught doing so will have himself to blame for his ensuing death. Strong words but this was true my dear brothers and sisters.
There was a wall between Jews and Gentiles. What was the wall between them? The Law my dear brother and sister. The Law is now away. Christ is the end of the Law. He nailed the Law to His cross. The Law: the handwriting of ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us. We are now free from the Law of commandments contained in ordinances my dear brothers and sisters. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law. Very Great that Christ gave Himself for all mankind on the cross, for you and me my dear reader! If you accept Him as personal Savior. If you believe what He did for you personally you are saved forever and you are no longer under the wrath of God. Do it now!!! Before it is to late!!! Don't put off until tomorrow! Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Acts 16:31
Ephesians 2 verse 15
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances;
for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Verse 15: My dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ who read this! God hath in Christ the world reconciled to Himself 2 Corinthians 5:19! He, Christ died on that cross on Calvary for our sins, in our place. That's why He is our peace my dear brothers and sisters! In His flesh abolished the enmity. He, Christ hath abolished or nullified, cancelled in His flesh the enmity, the law of commandments contained in ordinances. He nailed it to the cross!! With this purpose to make in Himself of twain (Jew and Gentile) one new man, so making peace. This happened at the cross my dear brothers and sisters. This is done on the cross. This is the glory of the cross, the preaching of the cross. It is Christ and Him crucified!!! The hate that was between the Jew and Gentile is destroyed, is cancelled. He made on the cross of 2 one man in Himself. It never exists anymore!!! We both are new men in Christ. A new creation now is what counts. What a great God we have and how wonderful this is. Be still and think about this. Let this sink into your heart my brother and sister!! The law of ordinances what was between Jew and Gentile in the past was like a wall. Christ hath abolished in His flesh on the cross this enmity! He was the Only One Who could save us and made one new man through His Grace!! We have to thank God everyday for this my brothers and sisters! Romans 6 verse 14 tells us: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under Grace. Christ hath made us free from the Law! Fantastic and wonderful to know this and believe this.
Ephesians 2 verse 16
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Verse 16: That He might reconcile both unto God. Who are the both? That are Jew and Gentile and now reconciled to each other in one Body, the Body of Christ, the Church. Through what? By the cross. How wonderful the cross is my dear brother and sister!! All happened there on the cross on Calvary!! The cross is the answer to all! This is God's love towards us, to all mankind!!! We are new man in Christ, we both Jew and Gentile reconciled by that cross because Christ having slain the enmity thereby: the law of commandments contained in ordinances which stood between those 2 men and have abolished this on the cross, having nailed to the cross, having nullified. It never will be anymore!! Think about this: 1500 years, a wall between Jew and Gentile and now it is gone by the cross! This reminds me to the wall between the two Germanies: West Germany and East Germany what was be taken down in 1989 and in 1990. This wall what existed almost 30 years and was good to see. I visit this wall 2 times in my life. Now it is gone. But what you read here is more beautiful because it speaks about the real peace between Jew and Gentile by the cross united in Christ and one new man! It doesn't matter where you come from: we are new men in Christ. Awasome and we may thank God everyday for this!
Ephesians 2 verse 17
And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Verse 17: He came and preached peace to you. It looks that Christ preached this in His earthly ministry but this isn't true. Christ had never preached this under His earthly ministry. This was only made known through the Gospel of Gace which the apostle Paul preached from the risen Lord Jesus Christ. We read I Timothy 2 verses 3-7: For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. Through this Gospel, the Gospel of Grace which was first given to Paul from our risen Lord Jesus Christ from heaven. to make known to Jews and Gentiles the wonderful news of salvation and the deeper meaning of the cross namely the glory of the cross. This is the meaning of which were afar off- Gentiles and them that were nigh -Jews. Now we are one new man in Christ my dear brothers and sisters.
Ephesians 2 verse 18
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Verse 18: Through Him, through Christ we have both acces by one Spirit unto the Father!!! Great to believe and to know/epignosis this!!! Through God's Spirit the way is open to the Father and Jesus Christ has taken care of that now we both (Jew and Gentile) have access by one Spirit unto the Father. That's why we can call Him now Abba Father. Under the former Dispensation, under the Law the way was not open to God the Father. Christ had made the way open and that He did on the cross on Calvary. There is no difference anymore between Jew and Gentile anymore. There is now one new man in Christ. No matter where you come from my friend, brother, sister!!! Galatians 4 verse 6 tells us: And because ye are sons, (daughters), God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father" And in Romans 8 verse 15 we read: For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father" Could this be clearer my dear brothers and sisters!! How wonderful and great is our God for us!!!
Ephesians 2 verse 19
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Verse 19: Dear brothers and sisters: the believer of Ephesus were in the past, when God was dealing with Israel as folk, under the former Dispensation, strangers and foreigners. We have also seen this in verse 12. And we too my brothers and sister. though we live 2000 years later! Under this Dispensation there is a change Ephesians 3 verse 1-3. God is not dealing anymore with Israel because of their fall. See Romans 11 verse 11 and 25. Therefore this in Romans 11 verse 32: For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all" The whole world!! Through the finished Work of Christ on the cross and that He is risen from the dead are we one new men and fellowcitizens of the saints, the holy, no strangers or foreigners anymore. We are now holy people of God my dear brothers and sisters and of the household of God!! What a blessing of God and great to know and believe this!! We are citizens of heaven now, this is our postion and we are in Him, Christ!! Philippians 3 verse 20: For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ "What a moment this will be my dear brothers and sisters!! This is our hope in Him!!
Ephesians 2 verse 20
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief corner stone;
Verse 20: Nobody can lay another foundation which is laid and that is Jesus Christ Himself. I Corinthians 3 verse 11 read this! He, Christ Himself is the foundation and the Chief corner stone! What does this mean the Corner stone? This is a secret place. As members of the Body of Christ are we built upon the foundation which is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ lives and is the Chief Corner Stone what is synonyme with this foundation. God in Christ united Jew and Gentile in one Body, the Body of Christ, the Church. Who are the apostles and prophets here written? Are they the 12 apostles and the prophets of old times like Isaiah or Jeremiah? No these are the apostels and prophets according the Dispensation of Grace who declared our Lord of Glory and His glorification! He Paul proclaimed the Gospel of Gods Grace Acts 20:24 and we can learn this all in his epistles my dear brothers and sisters. We are built upon the foundation Jesus Christ the Chief corner stone. This is done. God had made this.
Ephesians 2 verse 21
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Verse 21: We can see and read in this verse that we are as members are forming the Body of Christ, the Church, the heavenly Church which is a organism, not a organization! A building is formed by stones. Nowadays we have also other buildings (the skeleton of metal or other material). In the past buildings were more formed by stones. The Body of Christ is formed of members, we! And we are fitly framed together and this groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord! Read I Corinthians 12 verse 13. The term temple here in this verse is in the Greek language Naos which refers to the sanctuary to the specific section Holy of Holies. In this holy sanctum dwelt the very presence of God Almighty. Now through the blood of Christ, God dwells in our midst my dear brothers and sisters. That's why we can come boldly unto the throne of Grace. Hebrews 4 verse 16. Everyone of us who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ dwells in the very presence of God! We in the Body of Christ therefore bear one anothers burdens!
Ephesians 2 verse 22
In Whom ye also are builded together for an habitation (dwelling place) of God
through the Spirit
Verse 22: In Whom. This is Christ we are also builded together as the Body of Christ. We as members forming this Church. Christ is the Head of the Church and we are the members. The Body of Christ, the Church is an habitation. Exactly a dwelling place of God through His Spirit which is given to anyone, every believer who believes in Christ!! In I Corinthians 12:13 we read: For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. We see and read here in this verse that the Spirit of God baptizes us into one body the moment we accept Christ as personal Savior!! We are sealed with that Holy Spirit. God is living in us through His Spirit my dear brothers and sisters!! Ephesians 1:13-14. We all are new men in Christ. How wonderful is our God and what a love of Him!! Thank everyday for this my brothers and sisters!!!
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Ephesians Chapter 3
Ephesians 3 verse 1
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
Verse 1: Paul is the author of the epistle to the Ephesians. When he wrote this epistle he was a prisoner, he was in jail. Probably when he wrote this epistle it was his first imprisonment in Rome because he stood there for Caesar and because he was a prisoner of the hope of the resurrection and for the gospel of the grace of God Acts 20:24: “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” In Acts 21 verse 27 we can read how Paul became a prisoner. It was in Jerusalem, his last visit to this city! “ And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people , and laid hands on him” In verse 33 we can read that the Roman soldiers took him (Paul) and bound him with two chains. Because Paul appealed unto Caesar that’s why we read in Acts 27 that Paul as prisoner was sent to Rome. In Acts 28 we read in verse 16: “And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him” And in verse 30 we read: “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him.” Probably from his hired house and surely from his first imprisonment he wrote the epistles to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon. More verses to prove that Paul was a prisoner we can read in Ephesians 4:1, II Timothy 1:8: “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God. And in 2 Timothy 2:8 and 9: Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds: but the word of God is not bound” God's Word is never bound, it will not end!!! It is forever!!! He Paul is the apostle of the Gentiles Romans 11: 13: For I speak to you Gentiles, forasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office" Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles and prisoner in Rome! In 1 Timothy 2:7 we read that he is a teacher of the Gentiles, in 2 Timothy 1:11 we read an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles! He says here that he is a prisoner of Jesus Christ, he never considered himself a prisoner of Rome. Even people from the household of Caesar came to Paul to listen to God’s Word of Grace.! Philippians 4:22. In 2 Timothy we read about Paul’s second imprisonment what was more worse than the first imprisonment and in the last days of his life he writes to Timothy and also to us: Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me: that by me the preaching might be fully known; and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion” 2 Timothy 4:17,18. He, Paul, asks Timothy to come with speed to him because Paul was on the end of his life: “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand” 2 Timothy 4:6.
Ephesians 3 verse 2
"If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward;
Verse 2: Than is this second verse we read about the dispensation of the grace of God. First what is a dispensation? This word is translated from the Greek word oikonomia. It comes from the 2 words oikos that is house and nemo is to dispense, to distribute. Literally: to have an administration. House management! It is an administration with rules etc. The apostle Paul was the first person and responsible to dispense the dispensation of the grace of God. To make it known for the believers at Ephesus and for us!!!! In I Corinthians 9:16, 17 Paul tells us: For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.”For almost 2000 years now we as members of the body of Christ live under the dispensation of God’s grace. It’s the administration for the body of Christ with rules for us as believers according to God’s grace. Under a dispensation dealt God with those under Him, especially with man. The dispensation of the law was committed to Moses and Moses proclaimed the law to Israel. We read in John 1:17: For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Yes this is true: Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. But in John 1 verse 17 we don't read what this exactly is. What is the content. However the dispensation of grace was committed to Paul. He received this at first from the risen Lord. The principles of God, this has to do with His character, His nature will not change. God's dealings with men do change from time to time.
Ephesians 3 verse 3
How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Verse 3: How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery. By revelations God made known the hidden things, the mystery, to the apostle Paul. This was not made known before to men. It was hidden with God. This mystery was alone known with God before the world exists. It was from heaven; from the risen Lord Jesus Christ Paul got the mystery and the gospel of Grace. In Acts 26 verse 16 we read: But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which i will appear unto thee. Another verse is in 2 Corinthians 12 verse 1: It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. And in verse 7 of this chapter: And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. The apostle received the Gospel, the Mystery through revelations from the risen Lord from heaven directly. Paul never saw the Lord on earth. These verses let us see that the apostle Paul had many revelations and visions. God revealed more times to let Paul know the whole gospel of grace under the dispensation of Grace, to let him know the mystery Romans 16:25, 26 for the obedience of faith! The definition of the mystery is: Jew and Gentile one in Christ by the blood of Christ! Read Ephesians 2:13-15!!! These are the words what the apostle Paul wrote before this chapter in chapter 1 and 2!!!!! Brothers and sisters: Learn and study the Epistles of the apostle Paul Romans-Philemon (13 epistles) and make it your own. This is your spiritual food for today, for you as member of the Body of Christ.
Ephesians 3 verse 4
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ
Verse 4: As reader of the Bible, as believer in the body of Christ if we read all what the apostle Paul wrote about the mystery God gave him a lot of wisdom and knowledge (deeper knowledge)in this. Paul was well learned in it and could explain it very well! You see it in all his epistles!!! For example before Agrippa and Festus in Caesarea in Acts 26: the apostle Paul was in prison and he appeared for them. Paul explained them how he was saved by the Lord Jesus Christ on the way to Damascus and then in verse 23: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. And in 24: AND as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad!!! The answer from the apostle Paul is: But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the word of truth and soberness. Persons like Festus and others thought that the apostle Paul was mad or crazy because of all the wisdom and knowledge he had in God’s Word, but Paul was not mad because is our example in believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and we have to follow him, Paul as he followed Christ according to the gospel of the Grace of God. In I Corinthians 11:1 we read: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” We have to follow Paul! In another verse he says:”For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me” I Corinthians 4:15, 16. It is sad to say that most believers in Christ are not following the apostle Paul as he followed Christ according to the mystery Romans 16:25, 26. They don’t see the apostle Paul as the apostle for the Gentiles, for the body of Christ, as our example. Their gospel is a mixed gospel of law and grace. Mixing prophecy and mystery, not seeing the difference between them. The opponent of God satan blinds them! Oh we have to pray for all of them that they come to know the gospel of Grace and come out of this blindness!!!! 1 Timothy 2:4”Who (that is God) will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Ephesians 3 verse 5
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit"
Verse 5: The Mystery was in other agaes not made known unto the sons of men. It was a secret with God. The mystery was first revealed to the apostle Paul. He received it by direct revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ of glory! God hadn’t made it known to men, it was a secret and God kept it secret and when the time was there He revealed this mystery through revelations to the apostle Paul so that he could dispense this to the people and that they became to know it through all his epistles!!!! We have in the time of the apostle Paul more apostles: for example Barnabas, Apollos and maybe Luke. There are also prophets like Agabus and the daughters of Philip. Apostles and prophets who were with Paul. We read in Ephesians 4:11: And He gave some apostles; and some prophets, and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers. The first two: apostles and prophets disappeared, we don’t have them now because the Word of God is complete from Genesis till Revelation. We read in Colossians 1:25: Whereof I am made a minister according to the Dispensation of God (The Dispensation of Grace) which is given to me for you, to fulfil the Word of God" Paul was the one who completed the Word of God. After this the whole Bible was and is complete. This commentary on this verse will end with the famous words: “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.” Romans 16:25,26
Ephesians 3 verse 6
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel:
Verse 6: Brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ. The Mystery which was entrusted to Paul from the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven. One of the mysteries/musterion was this that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs of the same Body and partkakers of His promise in Christ by the Gospel. In other ages the Gentiles were strangers we have seen in the second chapter of Ephesians but now through the blood of Christ, the good News or the Gospel of Gods Grace they are now also partakers. Because of this Romans 11 verse 32: For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all" Now in Christ there is no difference between Jew and Gentile. We are the same for God: One new man in Christ through the promise in Christ by this Gospel of Grace!! All through the cross on Calvary!! Not that Israel was a channel of blessing but because of their fall God stopped His plan with Israel for a time and and began a New plan: to save people individually through Christ. No matter who you are, where you come from. For God we are all the same. Read Romans 11:11,12! In Titus 1 verse 2 we read: In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began" To whom God promissed this? To people? No He promissed this all to Himself and He is God and what He promissed He does. We men in general promiss other people things or promiss to ourselves things but because of the sin nature we lie and do not. God cannot lie. He is without sin so what He promiss He does.
Ephesians 3 verse 7
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the Grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power.
Verse 7: Why called God Paul? He had called the 12 apostles. Why God called this one man to be a apostle? Yes the Lord Jesus Christ choose 12 apostles to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom and to begin in Jerusalem. They began in Jerusalem Acts 2. Later in chapter 3, 4 and 5 you read that the leaders of the folk Israel refused to believe in God and His Son Jesus Christ. They had another chance but didn't want and in Acts 7 they resist also the Holy Spirit. In Acts 9 God choose His new apostle the apostle Paul who was a murderer and persecutor of the church of Jerusalem. He was a Pharisee and he was also a Roman citizen. With the call of Paul God began His new dispensation namely the Dispensation of the Grace of God. In Galatians 1 verses 15 and 16 we read:But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood" God made known through revelations to Paul His Mystery and the Gospel of the Grace of God through the Mystery and the apostle Paul had to make it known. He was the first who heard all this. This went by the effectual working of His power. With the power of the resurrection!! The Mystery was new, the Gospel of the Grace of God was new Acts 20:24, Romans 16:25-26 and the apostle Paul defends it many times because a lot of the world then didn't believe this was true and nowadays most of the people in this world do not believe this too. But brother and sister: you can read the 13 epistles of the apostle Paul and you can believe it, to accept this as the message for today and do it because this shall change your thinking, manner of life etc. It has changed my life from the first beginning when I began to learn it. If this has changed my life it surely can change your life too!!
Ephesians 3 verse 8
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Verse 8: Unto Paul the gospel of God’s grace was given. He was the first man who was saved by grace alone, by faith alone and in Christ alone!!!! The first man in the body of Christ! He, Paul, says here I am the least of all saints. He, Paul of Tarsus the bitterest enemy of God. He persecuted the church at Jerusalem. In Acts 26 verses 9-11 we read: I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
He calle himself the least of all saints and God saved him, Paul, by grace alone, by faith alone in Christ alone. And so we are also saved my dear brothers and sisters. What a merciful God we have! It was for him, Paul, amazing that the Lord took him to be His servant and to make known or preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ!!! In 1 Timothy 1:15 we read: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” And in the same chapter in I Timothy 1:12,13 the apostle thanks our Lord: “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, Who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious; but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief” In I Corinthians 15:9,10 we read: “For I am the least of the apostles , that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain: but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” The apostle Paul was appointed a preacher, and an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles 2 Timothy 1 verse 11. God saved Saul of Tarsen, later Paul named near Damascus and said to him what to do: But rise, and stand uopon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minster and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee" Acts 26:16. From a murderer and persecutor of Jesus Christ Paul became a servant of Jesus Christ and the apostle of the Gentiles and he was allowed to proclaim the Gospel of the Grace of God in this sin world, to every person who wanted to hear the Gospel and accept it. Read for yourselves Romans 16:25-26. This is the Gospel of the Grace of God and this is for today and is the truth my dear brothers and sisters see Colossians 1:5-6. The unsearchable riches of Christ: What God had done through His Son Jesus Christ on the cross for us. What the Glory of the cross is. Paul said in I Corinthians 1 verse 17 the following: For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: not with wisdom of words, letst the cross of Christ should be made of none effect" This Gospel is alone in the epistles of the apostle Paul Romans-Philemon. It is not written in the rest of the Bible. It was known only with God before the world began. And God revealed this on His time with the conversion of the apostle Paul which He ordained to proclaim this to every individual man/woman.
Ephesians 3 verse 9
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from
the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Verse 9: This is the purpose of the apostle Paul had to proclaimed: to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery! So that everyone would knew the truth Colossians 1:5-6. This was never told to people by God because it was hid in Him and this Mystery was first revealed to the apostle Paul. The mystery: Jews and Gentiles reconciled by the cross of Jesus Christ. No difference between them anymore but a new man, a new Body: the Body of Christ which is the Church!!! This Church , the Heavenly Church where we are members of my dear brothers and sisters!!! This Church has a heavenly hope I Thessalonians 4:13-18. If you believe it or not this shall happen in the future!!! He Christ is our Head, the Head of the Body of Christ, the Church. Colossians 1:18. What a blessing we have in Christ!!! Colossians 1 verse 16: ”For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him.” And God through the epistles of the apostle Paul, His Word will say to us all that we have to see the Mystery and have fellowship of the Mystery!! Now personally: Do you see what is the fellowship of the mystery my dear brother, sister? If not read and learn the epistles of the apostle Paul which is the truth: Romans-Philemon. This is your spiritual food for today, your personally spiritual food!!
Ephesians 3 verse 10
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly
places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
Verse 10: The Church, the Body of Christ and we are members of this Church, this heavenly Church my brothers and sisters. To the Church is given this task, this commission to make known the manifold wisdom of Christ. What means manifold wisdom : suggests variety, diverseness; polupoikilos has this meaning more intensely! varied multifaceted or multicolored. To what? To the principalities and powers in heavenly places. What are the principalities and powers here in this verse? We know from Colossians 1 verse 16 that principalities and powers were created by Jesus Christ. They, the principalities and powers in heaven are now learning about the Mystery through us, the church. Powers and principalities are angels created by God through Jesus Christ. Not even the elect angels knew anything about God's eternal purpose for the Body of Christ. After dark ages the mystery is again preached through the church and the angels are rejoicing in this that they hear this through the ones of the Body of Christ who proclaim this Mystery to others and also to them. They hear the manifold wisdom of God! Do you join with me and make known the Gospel of the Grace of God known to this lost world, to the ones who don't know the Gospel of Gods Grace, this manifold wisdom of God!!!
Ephesians 3 verse 11
According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Verse 11: The eternal purpose of God which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. What is this? God had before the foundation of the world purposed that He Himself should save this world through His Son Christ Jesus our Lord to let Him die on the cross to pay the prize for all mankind, to pay from everyone the debt!!! This was His eternal purpose! He died for us all and paid with His Own blood on that cross. He died not His own death, He died our death!!! He did this for you and me my dear reader!! He was buried and was resurrected and is alive so that individual persons like you and me could have eternal life in Him. In I Timothy 2 verses 3-4 we read: For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. Romans 5 verse 8 tells us:But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He died for us and on that moment we were yet sinners. Think about this my dear reader! If you read this know this you are a sinner. You cannot save yourself from all your sins. You need a Savior and this is Christ Who died for you and stood up from the death to give you eternal life in Him! Believe that Christ died for you on that cross on Calvary and accept this and accept that He is your Savior. Do it now!! You are one step away from eternal life! Tomorrow it can be to late. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved forever!!
Ephesians 3 verse 12
In Whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him.
Verse 12: In Whom? Who is this? This is Christ. We have boldness and access with confidence in Christ. And it is by the faith of Him. Christ had made open the way to God the Father! In Ephesians 2 verse 18 we read: For through Him we both (Jew and Gentile) have access by one Spirit unto the Father. He Christ gave His life for us on that cross on Calvary. His Own blood for us and He is alive because He stood up from the dead!! And now we are made alive in Him and in Him we have boldness and access! This is Great my dear brothers and sisters!!! For us the way is open to God the Father so that we call Him Abba Father. We can always pray to Him. What a great fact this is my brother and sister: our life if now in Him and we can reach God every moment of the day. Not as the folk Israel that should not draw near to God for example in the desert! Through God's Spirit by which we are sealed till the day of redemption we have this boldness and acces with confidence by the faith of Him. Read Ephesians 4:30
Ephesians 3 verse 13
Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Verse 13: The apostle had to suffer a lot for the Gospel of the Grace of God. In Acts 9 verse 16 our Lord from heaven told Ananias the following words: For i will shew him how great thngs he must sufer for My Name's sake. This is what God told Ananias from Paul. The apostle Paul after his conversion his life was full of danger, tribulations, persecutions and at the end of his life he was beheaded under Ceasar Nero because Paul proclaimed the Gospel of the Grace of God, he proclaimed God's truth. Colossians 1:5-6. The truth is powerful and a few people in this world now want to know it. Why is this. Well people are then confronted with themselves and people want to live as they live now and will not change in their lives. The apostle Paul told the Ephesian believers that he desired that they faint not because of his tribulations because through his tribulations there was a reason for them to continue to believe in the Gospel of Grace which brought much fruit in their lives and continue to proclaim this to other people in this world. In Colossians 1 verse 5 and 6 we read: For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the Word of the truth of the Gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you since the day ye heard of it, and knew the Grace of God in truth" This is what the apostle Paul proclaimed and wherefore he had a lot of tribulations of this. In II Corinthians 11 verses 24-27 we read: Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. The apostle Paul suffered a lot and had a lot of tribulations and those tribulations was for the Ephesian believers a motivation to continue in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and that was their glory and this should also be our glory my dear brothers and sisters!! We have not to suffer like Paul suffered in his life for our Lord Jesus Christ. Delay is standing still and this brings a danger with it where the adversary of God, satan have good advice. It is for us who know the truth and stand for it also to continue and not to faint to proclaim this wonderful message of Grace and make it known the truth of God and suffer for this and not to be afraid for anything.
Ephesians 4 verse 14
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Verse 14: For this cause! Which cause? The apostle Paul speaks here a prayer to God and went on his knees litterally to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He began to pray for the Ephesian believers and indirect for us too. This cause is the manifold wisdom of God which is spoken here. He prayed to God that they should have the courage to continue in the faith of Christ despite the tribulations which overcame the apostle Paul and that he had to suffer so much. He prayed to God on his knees. This is beautiful to see and let you see how Paul was submissive and humble to God. We should do the same my brother and sister to pray to God on our knees in daily life because this shows respect to God our Father. I remember my grandmother who did this regular in her bedroom to pray on their knees.
Ephesians 3 verse 15
Of Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named
Verse 15: Brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ. We read these words here in this verse but what does this mean? It is speaking of the Body of Christ here in this verse. The whole family/the Body of Christ, the Church, the heavenly Church is in heaven (those who sleep in Christ) and on earth (we who live here on the earth). The ones in heaven are the ones who died physically and are there litterally without a body and waiting just like us who serve God here on earth till the day of redemption. Ephesians 4: 30. In Christ we are one and He is our Head. We are the members whether we live here on eath or sleep in the Lord Jesus Christ. We depend on Him and His Name is above all!
Ephesians 3 verse 16
That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;
Verse 16: This verse my brothers and sisters is a part of the prayer the apostle Paul did for his brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ in Ephesus. He prayed here to God and not only for them in the first place but also for the ones who would live after! We also! What is to grant? That God would give you (a gift, a cadeau) according the riches of His Glory and of His Grace that we should be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. That we should be stronger in the inner man. How? Through His Word of Grace which is able to build us up Acts 20:32 and through the Spirit of God which is living in us!! How is God working in us you ask yourself. Well as believers we have a old and a new nature. We are new man in Christ. Our new nature want to serve God in our Lord Jesus Christ. The new nature with help of the Holy Spirit want to serve God through His Word. Then we are strenthened with His might. Our old nature want to serve our flesh. The old nature is never satisfied, want more and more things. With the new nature you want to put on the new man which is created in Christ Jesus. To lead ourselves by His Spirit through His Word. Romans 10:17 . Then we are renewed day by day my dear brothers and sisters.
Ephesians 3 verse 17
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Verse 17: The prayer continues. Here speaks the apostle Paul to us personally my dear brothers and sisters!!! That Christ may dwell in your and mine heart by faith. His faith is spoken here! This was the wish and that is also the wish of God that Christ may dwell in our hearts my dear brothers and sisters. And now the question to you: is the Lord Jesus Christ dwelling in your heart by His faith. Are you rooted and grounded in love, in Gods love? No one of us can know this but by God's Gospel of Grace. Through this Gospel what the Gospel is for today we can grow in faith and will be build up Acts 20:32 read this again for yourselves!!! Through this Gospel of Grace we know and understand more and more what it means that Christt dwells in our heart and that we will be rooted and grounded in love. So I tell you : learn and study the epistles of the apostle Paul and learn to rightly dividing the Word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15. We are as believers in Christ free but use not this freedom for the flesh but serve God through His Word. Colossians 3:1-3.
Ephesians 3 verse 18
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Verse 18: The prayer to God Paul prayed here is that every believer in Christ of Ephesus and we too are able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, length, depth and heigth. What does this mean my dear brothers and sisters. What is the apostle Paul talking about? And is this possible? Verse 17, the verse before this verse can't separate you from this verse. It all is in Paul's prayer to God. We saw in verse 17 that God's Grace builds us, through this Gospel we are rooted and grounded in love, the love of God. In Acts 20:32 we read again: And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. It is now to comprehend with all the believers in the Body of Christ the dimensions of the Mystery of God.
The apostel Paul begins first with the breadth: what is that? These are all the believers, the whole Body of Christ which contents Jews and non Jews (Gentiles) Ephesians 4 verse 4 tells us: One body is it! And in I Corinthians 12 verse 27 we read: Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. So the breadth my dear brothers and sisters has to do with the whole Body of Christ in heaven and on earth
Second we read here about length: This means the patience of God. God put His earthly plan with Israel aside for a while because of their unbelief Romans 11:11, 25 with the purpose that He perfect and righteous this world could judge because of rejecting His Son Jesus Christ. Romans 11: 32. But instead of judging this world He had/has mercy upon all. All individual person in this world, past, present and future! Through revelations He revealed to the apostle Paul a new Dispensation, the Dispensation of the Grace of God Ephesians 3:1-3 and offered the world the riches of His Grace through His Son Jesus Christ through the finished work on the cross of Calvary. Every human being could be saved now I Timothy 1:15-16.
Third we read here about depth: The depth in this verse has to do with this finished work of Christ on that cross! Through the epistles of the apostle Paul we can comprehend the deeper meaning of the cross, the finished work on the cross of Calvary, what took place there. The glory of the cross! The apostle Paul let us see in his epistles the Good News of the cross and how the Savior Jesus Christ our Lord gave Himself a ransom for all mankind (we inclusive my dear brothers and sisters) on the cross! I Timothy 2 verses 3-6 Read them all!!
Fourth we read about the height: This means Christ glorification in heaven on the right Hand of the Father far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come Ephesians 1 verse 21. Israel had a earthly hope and we as members of the Body of Christ have a heavenly hope. Our hope is in Him, in Christ and this we can share with each other my dear brothers and sisters through God's Word of Grace. We can study and read this together in a world that is far from God and confused.
Ephesians 3 verse 19
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Verse 19: What a beautiful verse this is my dear brothers and sisters: to know the love of Christ, which passedth knowledge. With our own mind we cannot comprehend the love of Christ! But through God's Spirit through His Word of Grace we can comprehend this. How wonderful is this. What is the love of Christ? In 2 Corinthians 5 verses 14 and 15 we read the answer: For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. This is it my dear brothers and sisters! He died for you and me on that cross: for our sins because we were all dead. Romans 5 verse 8. From darkness God took us out of this and placed us in His Son Jesus Christ, in the light. We were the enemies of God. But He saved us there on Calvary and saved us from the power of sin and gave us eternal life because He stood up from the dead. Death couldn't hold Him because He was and is without sin. He died our death. Every day He showed us His love and hold us fast. Read 8 verse 27! That we all might be filled with all the fulness of God. The fulness of God and the epignosis, the deeper meaning we can find in His Word of Grace Romans-Philemon. There we find the truth my dear brother and sister!! Man is proud in this world and he or she is proud from nature on his/her performance. God is still the infinite Person in all knowledge and wisdom my brothers and sisters. As believers in Christ we never belong being intimidated through the intelligence of this world with his systems because we have a higher position in Christ. All the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. The natural man cannot know God , cannot comprehend Him because he or she has not the Spirit of God. For to comprehend the Love of Christ you you must have the Spirit of God. Romans 8 verse 35 we read: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword. No nothing can separate us from His Love. We are secure in Him 100%
Ephesians 3 verse 20
Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.
Verse 20: What a beautiful verse: Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly. What does that mean? To surpass abundantly above all that we ask or think. He does much more than that. And this my dear brothers and sister according to the power that worketh in us. Which power is this? This is the power of His resurrection in us. There is a inexhaustible fulness of Grace and mercy in God, which te prayers of all the saints can never draw dry. It is His Work, the Work of His Power in us. And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty can we read in Ephesians 1 verse 19 and in verse 20 of the same chapter we read: Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places" This is that power, the power of His resurrection which God used when He raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. That same power works in us because we are resurrected with Him! Romans 6 verse 3-5. Oh how wonderful our God is my brother and sister!!
Ephesians 3 verse 21
Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout
all ages, world without end. Amen.
Verse 21: Unto Him is God. Unto God is the glory, be the glory in the Church, the Body of Christ through our Lord Jesus Christ. tot inallegeneraties, totin alle eeuwigheid. Troughout all ages: to all generations. The Body of Christ is not yet raptured I Thessalonians 4 verse 13-18. Otherwise we should not serve our Lord here on earth. World without end. What does that mean? The glory of God through Christ in the Body of Christ and that for all eternity. There will be no end of this!! Oh, dear brother and sister: we can thank God every day for this! To Him, to God is all the glory and honor