Coachlight Bible Study - Ephesians Chapter 1

Working of His Mighty Power

In Chapter one of Ephesians Paul demonstrates the working of the Godhead by telling us that we are chosen by the Father, Redeemed by the Son, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. The revelation of the mystery hidden in ages past, is from the Father's pleasure and will, the work of Christ the Redeemer, and is manifested today by the sealing (installment or down payment) of the Holy Spirit

I. Salutation - Ephesians 1:1-3

A. From Paul

1. An Apostle

652 apostolov apostolos ap-os’-tol-os - “special messenger” or “one sent with a message"

2. By the will of God

B. To the saints

40 agiov hagios hag’-ee-os - "set apart ones"

C. At Ephesis

D. And to the faithful in Christ Jesus - 4103 pistov pistos pis-tos’ - "those that have faith in God's Word, in union with Christ"

E. Grace be unto you

1. From God Our Father

2. From the Lord Jesus Christ

F. Blessed be the God - The word [eulogetos] rendered "blessed" is one from which our word eulogize is derived. It means primarily, "to praise." "Praised be the God," etc

II. The Believer's Position In Christ - Ephesians 3:4-14

A. He Has Blessed Us with all spiritual blessings - Ephesians 1:4

1. Who hath blessed us - The "blessed" [eulogeo] is here from the same root. The word means, as above, "to praise," or to "speak" good things of one; then to "speak" good things to, or bestow blessings, as in this meaning.

2. All spiritual blessings

4152 pneumatikov pneumatikos pnyoo-mat-ik-os’ - "spirit or wind"

AV-spiritual 26; 26

"All," that is, "every possible blessing for time and eternity, which the Spirit has to bestow" (so "spiritual" means; not "spiritual," as the term is now used, as opposed to bodily).

3. In heavenly places-Phrase used five times in Ephesians, and no where else.

Ephesians 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Ephesians 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places

a. Christ’s ascension is how we are introduced into the heavenly places - sin kept us away -

Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. {captivity…: or, a multitude of captives}

b. Changes made by Christ

Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. {having…: or, making}

Ephesians 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places

c. Our citizenship is in heaven

Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: {conversation…: or, we live or conduct ourselves as citizens of heaven, or, for obtaining heaven}

d. Our treasures are in heaven

Matthew 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

e. Our affections are in heaven

Colossians 3:1 ¶ If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. {affection: or, mind}

f. Our hope is in heaven

Colossians 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; {glorious…: Gr. the appearance of the glory of the great God, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ}

g. Our inheritance is in heaven

1 Peter 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, {for you: or, for us}

4. In Christ-the center and source of all blessing to us

B. He Has Chosen Us - Ephesians 1:4

1. 1586 eklegomai eklegomai ek-leg’-om-ahee - "to choose"

2. 2602 katabolh katabole kat-ab-ol-ay’ - "Beginning or laying a foundation"

3. 2889 kosmov kosmos kos’-mos - "world or universe"

4. Before He created the world God choose men to live unblemished - like the unspotted lamb

a. He loved us and He knew that we would sin

b. By His grace He made provision for our salvation by His Son, Jesus Christ

5. Before Him - In His presence

6. Adam was perfect before sin, and communicated blamelessly with God daily

C. Has Predestinated Us - Ephesians 1:5

1.4309 proorizw proorizo pro-or-id’-zo - "predestinate, determine before to foreordain, appoint beforehand"

2. That we would be adopted, By Christ, according to His will

3. Effected by Christ

D. He Has Made Us Accepted - Ephesians 1:6

1. We are made acceptable - 5487 caritow charitoo khar-ee-to’-o - "given favor"

2. We are made acceptable Because of Christ

2. To the praise of His glory - doxa - "splendour or brightness"

3. Of His grace - 5485 cariv charis khar’-ece - "favour or thanks"

E. He Has Redeemed Us - Ephesians 1:7

1. In Christ we have redemption - 629 apolutrwsiv apolutrosis ap-ol-oo’-tro-sis - "a ransom paid to purchase a slave or set someone free"

2. Through His blood - Payment made at the cross

3. It is the forgiveness of sins

4. Because of His rich grace

I Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

F. He Has Abounded To Us - Ephesians 1:8

1. 4052 perisseuw perisseuo per-is-syoo’-o - “to exist to the maximum; to be furnished beyond what one needs"

2. Wisdom -4678 sofia sophia sof-ee’-ah - “insight; discernment; divine viewpoint”

3. Prudence - 8 Abiayar Abiathar ab-ee-ath’-ar - "practical outworking of wisdom"

G. He Has Made Known The Mystery His Will To Us - Ephesians 1:9-10

1. 3466 musthrion musterion moos-tay’-ree-on - "revealed what was not known in the past" - not something mysterious

2. It is God's pleasure to reveal what was hidden

3. Dispensation - 3622 oikonomia oikonomia oy-kon-om-ee’-ah -“economy or administration”

4. Fulness of times - 4138 plhrwma pleroma play’-ro-mah + 2540 kairov kairos kahee-ros’ - "a succession of events, ages, eras"

5. Gather together - 346 anakefalaiomai anakephalaiomai an-ak-ef-al-ah’-ee-om-ahee - “to bring together several things under one head”

(It was used in Greek rhetoric for summing up a speech at the end, showing the relation of each part to the complete argument.)

6. Both which are in heaven and in earth in Him.

a. Everything depends on Jesus Christ. He is the focal point of God’s plan.

b. Christ must be first in life, otherwise a person is outside of the plan of God, and only misery will follow

c. We can become stabile through fellowship with Christ, living in the Word.

7. The mystery is explained further on in Ephesians:

Ephesians3:5 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;

Ephesians 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

8. This is why the Christian dispensation was not revealed in Daniel's 70 weeks prophesy

H. He Gave Us An Inheritance - Ephesians 1:11-12

1. 2820 klhrow kleroo klay-ro-o - “to be appointed by lot” - “lot”, used two ways since the time of Homer: (1) “a lot which is drawn, or cast”, and (2) “a lot of land; an allotment”.

2. We have our inheritance because

a. God foreordained it before the foundation of the world - 1:5

b. 1754 energew energeo en-erg-eh’-o - "put something into action" God works all things according to His will

c. We trusted in Christ

d. We then are the praise of His glory

I. He Sealed Us With The Spirit - Ephesians 1:13-14

1. In the ancient world, the seal was a guarantee or a transaction, e.g., a signet impression on a ring.

2. Sealing was used to authenticate contracts, laws, invoices, military orders. The seal was also used in the ratification of treaties.

3. Seals were used to preserve tombs, libraries, treasuries. The seal was backed up by the force of the government in charge, (the seal on the tomb of Christ was guaranteed by the Roman troops.)

4. Seals indicate ownership; God owns the believer, having purchased him from the slave market of sin (1:7)

5. The believer is sealed and is guaranteed his inheritance

6. With the Holy Spirit of promise “by means of the Holy Spirit which was promised” and establishes us

II Corinthians 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

II Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Romans 8:17 ¶ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Romans 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Romans 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. {the…: or, every creature}

Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Romans 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

7. The earnest of our inheritance - 728 arrabwn arrhabon ar-hrab-ohn’ - installment; deposit; down payment”.

8. Because of the redemption

9. Then we are to the praise of His glory

II. Prayer For Revelation - Ephesians 1:15-23

A. Paul prayed for the Ephesians always

1. After he heard of their faith in Christ

2. After he heard of their love of the saints

B. Paul gave thanks for the Ephesian Christians

C. the God of our Lord Jesus Christ - God the Father and God the Son

D. The Father of glory: (doxa), "glory" - The perfect character of God

E. may give unto you

1. The spirit of wisdom - pnuema sofia - refers to wisdom in the human spirit.

2. Revelation in the knowledge of Him - 602 apokaluqiv apokalupsis ap-ok-al’-oop-sis - refers to the inspired Word of God

a. eyes of your understanding being enlightened- Metaphor 3788 oftalmov ophthalmos of-thal-mos’ + 1271 dianoia dianoia dee-an’-oy-ah - “the faculty of knowing ”

(The KJV English gives the present participle, which is nearly right, but not as strong as the Greek, however, is perfect tense and a participle, indicating that which already would have occurred prior to the receiving of knowledge and wisdom of the previous verse. So the Greek, “the eyes of your heart having become enlightened” - The passive voice indicates that the believer receives the action; God brings light into men’s lives.

b. You may know what is the hope of His calling - "There is no uncertainty regarding the Plan of God for you"

c. And the riches of His glory of His inheritance of the saints

d. What is the exceeding greatness of His power to believers by His working His mighty power

e. What the exceeding greatness: huperballw, used as an adjective, “surpassing; unmeasureable” plus the noun megethos, “magnitude”. So “what is the unmeasureable magnitude" of His power.

There are four great words in this verse for the power of God. The Greek words are dunamis - "mighty or explosive power", energeia - "put in motion or to raise", - kratos - "power of control, dominion, might ", and ischus - endowed power, the faculty of power.

Greatness of His power: dunamis

The working: energeia

His mighty power: kratos and ischus

Synonym definitions of the four words for power:

1. dunamis: inherent power, the omnipotence of God

2. energeia: the (action) power of God (excludes all human power)

3. kratos: power of control, dominion, might

4. ischus: endowed power, the faculty of power

e. He wrought in Christ: energew, “had been operational in Christ"

f. When He raised him: egeirw, “having raised him”

1. Set Him at His own right hand

2. In heavenly places

3. Far above all

a. principality - 746 arch arche ar-khay’ - "principal or first"

b. power - 1849 exousia exousia ex-oo-see’-ah - "out of the essence"

c. might - 1411 dunamiv dunamis doo’-nam-is - "power"

d. dominion - 2963 kuriothv kuriotes koo-ree-ot’-ace - "government"

e. Every name that is named

1. In this world

2. In the world to come

4. Put all things under His feet

5. He is the head of the church

a. His body

b. His fullness