ADULT

Lesson CommentaryWinter Quarter, 2017

CONTENTS

About the Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Introduction to Ephesians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Lesson 1 God’s Plan for Blessing His Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Ephesians 1:1-12

Lesson 2 Understanding God’s Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Ephesians 1:13-23

Lesson 3 The Blessing of Salvation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Ephesians 2:1-10

Lesson 4 The Blessing of Reconciliation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Ephesians 2:11-22

Lesson 5 The Blessing of Serving Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Ephesians 3:1-13

Lesson 6 The Blessing of Spiritual Stability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Ephesians 3:14-21

Lesson 7 The Blessing of Spiritual Maturity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Ephesians 4:1-13

Lesson 8 The Blessing of a Renewed Mind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Ephesians 4:14-24

Lesson 9 The Blessing of Changed Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Ephesians 4:25—5:2

Lesson 10 The Blessing of Understanding God’s Will . . . . . . . . . . 107 Ephesians 5:3-21

Lesson 11 The Blessing of a Christian Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118 Ephesians 5:22-33

Lesson 12 The Blessing of Christian Relationships . . . . . . . . . . . . .128 Ephesians Ephesians 6:1-9

Lesson 13 The Blessing of Standing for the Truth . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139 Ephesians 6:10-24

Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

Vol. 18, No. 3, Winter Quarter, 2017. Editor in Chief: Kyle W. Elkins, kyle.elkins@bogardstore.org Business Manager: Wayne Sewell, wayne.sewell@bogardstore.org © 2017, Bogard Press, 4605 N. State Line Ave., Texarkana, TX 75503-2928 www.bogardpress.org; 1-800-264-2482

American Baptist AssociationThrough-the-Bible Series Sunday School Lessons

2019 John 11—21

Ezra; NehemiahHabakkuk; HaggaiMalachi; Esther

1 Peter2 Peter

1, 2, 3 JohnJude

2020

DanielEzekiel

ZechariahRevelation 1—11 Revelation 12—22 Genesis 1—11

Job

2021 Genesis 12—50 Matthew 1—13 Matthew 14—28 Exodus

2022 Romans

LeviticusNumbers

DeuteronomyHebrews

JoshuaJudgesRuth

2023 Acts 1—14 Acts 15—28

1 Samuel2 Samuel 1—4

1 Chronicles 1 —10Mark 1—8

2024 Mark 9—16

2 Samuel 5—241 Chronicles 11—29

1 Kings 1; 2

James1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians

Psalms 1—72

2025 Psalms 73—150 Galatians

1 Kings 3—222 Chronicles 1—24

2 Kings 1—13Joel; Obadiah

1 Corinthians

2017 2 Corinthians

Isaiah 1—392 Chronicles 29—32

2 Kings 17—20Nahum

Isaiah 40—662 Kings 21—23

2 Chronicles 33—35Zephaniah

PhilemonPhilippiansColossians

2018 Ephesians

1 Timothy2 Timothy

Titus

JeremiahLamentations2 Kings 24; 25

2 Chronicles 36

John 1—10

Winter Spring Summer Fall

2026

ProverbsEcclesiastes

Song of SolomonLuke 1—13:21 Luke 13:22—24

Hosea; Amos;Micah; Jonah;

2 Kings 14—162 Chronicles 25—28

About the WritersRecognized for their knowledge, wisdom and understanding of the Holy

Scriptures, the writers of the Adult Lesson Commentary are faithful pastors, teachers and spiritual leaders among the Lord’s churches. The following are a few biographical notes about these men.

Dr. David Harris was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas in 1953. He was saved at age nine and baptized by the authority of Harmony Missionary Baptist Church where he surrendered to preach at age sixteen and was later licensed and ordained. He graduated from Glendale High School in 1972 and entered the Missionary Baptist Seminary in Little Rock the same year. He received Bachelor, Master and Doctor in Bible Languages Degrees from the Little Rock school.

He has pastored the Pine Grove MBC near Holly Grove, Arkansas; Hickory Ridge MBC of Hickory Ridge, Arkansas; Westlawn MBC of Texarkana, Texas; Calvary MBC of Van Buren, Arkansas; First Immanuel MBC of Pine Bluff, Arkansas; and presently serves the Temple MBC of Benton, Arkansas. He is a current member of the faculty of the Missionary Baptist Seminary in Little Rock where he has taught for twelve years and where he serves as assistant editor of the Searchlight published by the Seminary. Before he began to write the Adult Lesson Commentary for New Testament Studies, he had twenty years experience writing for Bogard Press and the Baptist Sunday School Committee. He has previously written Jr. High Sunday School, Jr. High BTC and the Adult Quarterly. He may be contacted at drdavidharris@hotmail.com.

Roger W. Stewart was born and raised in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he attended Central Baptist Church throughout his entire childhood. He was saved and baptized at age nine. At age seventeen he announced his call to preach before graduating from Northside High School in 1984. He soon found himself a student at the Missionary Baptist Seminary where he earned a Bachelor of Theology degree in 1991. Meanwhile, Brother Stewart married Gena Ashlock in 1986 and was ordained to the gospel ministry by

Victory Missionary Baptist Church in Sherwood, Arkansas, later that same year. God blessed the Stewart’s with two boys—Brett in 1989 and Hayden in 1991. After pastoring in Michigan for nine years, Brother Stewart returned to Southeast Arkansas where he was afforded the opportunity to complete his Master of Theology (2006) and Doctor of Theology (2008) degrees at the Missionary Baptist Seminary. He is pastor of Olive Branch Missionary Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He has served ABA churches in Holly Grove, DeWitt and Star City, Arkansas as well as in Coloma, Michigan. He is currently a member of the Standing Missionary Committee where he serves as Clerk. Brother Stewart is Vice President of the Alumni Association for the Missionary Baptist Seminary. He may be contacted at drrwstewart@sbcglobal.net.

Jason Carlton is the pastor of Memorial Baptist Church in De Queen, Arkansas. He graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in business management. He earned his Bachelor (2004) and Master (2005) Degrees in Bible Languages from the Missionary Baptist Seminary in Little Rock. Jason enjoys running, cycling and photography as hobbies. He and his wife Melanie live in De Queen with their daughters Riley Catherine and Amelia Elizabeth. He may be contacted at jcarltonphotos@yahoo.com.

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Introduction to Ephesians

The letter to the Ephesians is one of the so-called prison epistles which was written by Paul about the same time as Philippians, Colossians and Philemon. The Establishment of the Church. Paul had been to Ephesus himself. He stopped there briefly on his second missionary journey when he was on his way from Corinth to Jerusalem to attend the feast (Acts 18:18-22). Paul left Priscilla and Aquila at Ephesus while he went on to Jerusalem. Meanwhile, a man by the name of Apollos arrived in Ephesus. He was an Alexandrian Jew who was eloquent in speech and mighty in the Old Testament Scriptures. However, his knowledge was incomplete. He knew only the baptism of John. Aquila and Priscilla took him aside and explained things to him more perfectly. Afterward, Apollos went into Achaia and to the city of Corinth where he helped the church there (Acts 18:24-28). When Paul returned to Ephesus on his third missionary journey, he found about twelve men who had apparently been disciples of Apollos. It was an odd situation. They had been baptized unto John’s baptism but did not seem to have known anything about the Holy Spirit or even about Jesus. When they heard Paul’s explanation, they were baptized properly after Paul officially organized them as a New Testament church. He laid hands on them and the Holy Spirit came upon them as it had on the church in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost thereby affirming their proper organization (Acts 19:1-7). Paul continued in Ephesus for over two years and the church continued to grow. Paul left Ephesus and went again in Macedonia and Achaia after a riot caused by Demetrius, a silversmith who made himself wealthy selling silver shrines of the goddess Diana. On his return voyage, Paul visited with the elders from the church at Ephesus when he landed at Miletus on his way to Jerusalem (Acts 20:13-38). The Purpose of the Letter. Paul’s inspired letter to the church at Ephesus reminds us that as Creator of all, and as sovereign over all, God has a plan and purpose for all. The universe did not come into existence by chance or by accident; it is here by divine design. God created the world and everything therein according to His plan. Thus, God has a purpose and God has a plan for everything and everyone. Our task is to come to an understanding of God’s plan and to live accordingly day by day. Thankfully, we have the book of Ephesians, and the rest of the Holy Scriptures to show us the way. Christ and the church are highlighted in the letter to the Ephesians because God’s plan for the ages includes both. Christ is the Savior of men. He is, in fact, the only means of salvation available to man. Apart from His virgin birth, virtuous life, vicarious death and victorious resurrection there is no possibility of salvation (Acts 4:12). Yet, in God’s infinite wisdom and marvelous grace, He devised a plan whereby Christ would come into the world and make salvation

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possible through His redeeming blood. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that it is God’s will for all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). Likewise, it is God’s will for all believers in this present age to follow Him in scriptural baptism, unite with a local New Testament church and use their talents and abilities in service to God through the church of their membership. This is the essence of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). One of the key verses in this study of Ephesians says, “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end” (Ephesians 3:21). Believers who are not serving the Lord through one of His churches are missing out on His plan for their lives.

God has a plan for man which is revealed in His Word, the Bible. God’s plan centers around the Son of Man, Jesus Christ. Those who are in Christ are those who understand His plan and who reap the benefits of His plan.

Greeting (Ephesians 1:1, 2)

In his customary fashion, Paul greeted the readers of his letter. An identical opening phrase “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God” can be found in Paul’s greeting to the Corinthians, Colossians and Timothy (2 Corinthians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 2 Timothy 1:1). Similar, but not identical, opening phrases are found in his other letters (Romans, 1 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, Titus and Philemon). The Author (verse 1). The letter begins with the words “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.” Paul’s custom was to introduce himself first when writing a letter. Today, we usually sign our name at the end of a letter, but such was not the habit in Paul’s day. The author identified himself as Paul. In the Latin language, Paulus meant little or small. Perhaps, in his own eyes, Paul was small, but we see him as a spiritual giant. He may very well stand as the world’s greatest missionary. Before he was saved, he was known by his Hebrew or Jewish name, Saul, which meant to ask or pray (Acts 7:58). The noted change in the book of Acts from Saul to Paul probably has more to do with his outreach to the Gentiles than it does to his salvation experience (Acts 13:9). Paul affirmed his apostleship when he identified himself as “an apostle of Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:1). An apostle was one sent by Christ as His official representative with power to authenticate the message of the gospel with miracles (Matthew 10:1-4). The apostles played a critical role in the development of the early churches (1 Corinthians 12:28). The term underscored Paul’s authority under Christ. There were those who challenged Paul’s apostleship and denied his authority. In fact, the second letter to the Corinthians was largely a defense of his apostleship. Even though Paul was not a follower of Jesus during His personal ministry, he was definitely an eyewitness of the

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Lesson 1 For Sunday, December 3, 2017

God’s Plan for

Blessing His Children Ephesians 1:1-12

resurrected Lord (one of the criteria for being an apostle). Paul saw Jesus when He appeared to him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-6). The apostolic office has ceased; there are no apostles today. Paul’s commission as an apostle did not come from men, but from God. It was “by the will of God” (Ephesians 1:1) that Paul was both a minister of the gospel and an apostle of Jesus Christ. Ananias baptized him, but he did not confer apostleship upon him. Paul made the point in his letter to the Galatians that his apostleship was not from men, but from God (Galatians 1:11-17). It was not something he sought for himself or chose for himself. It was God’s will for his life. God had a plan for Paul’s life, and He put Paul where He wanted him to be (1 Timothy 1:12). A practical application of this great truth is that God has a plan for all of His people. The Readers (verse 1). Paul addressed his letter “to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus.” Saints are those who have been saved by the grace of God and, thereby, set apart unto Him. The word “saints” basically means separated, consecrate or devoted. The term is related to the words holy and sanctify. The Catholic church uses the term to designate a special class of deceased Christians. They call it canonization. The New Testament, however, makes no such distinctions. All who have put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior are saints (1 Corinthians 1:2). Paul further addressed the Ephesian church members as saints in Ephesians 1:1, “the faithful in Christ Jesus.” This is a further description of the saints. Paul was not necessarily addressing two different groups within the church. The word refers “in this context not to the fact that the saints at Ephesus were faithful in the sense of being true to the Lord Jesus in their lives, but to the fact that they were those who had put their trust in Him. They were believers as contrasted to unbelievers” (Wuest, Ephesians 1:1). Faith is the means of salvation; faithfulness is the evidence of salvation. The Divine Blessing (verse 2). Paul continued his greeting, saying, “Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” Grace is one of the great doctrinal words of the New Testament. Grace is related to the word gift and emphasizes the freeness of the gift without any

expectation of return. As used in the New Testament, it speaks of the unmerited, undeserved favor of God as demonstrated in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for undeserving humanity. By grace we are saved (Ephesians 2:8); and by grace we are empowered to serve (Hebrews 12:28). If grace is the means of salvation, peace is the result. The Bible speaks of having peace with God as a result of being justified by faith in Christ (Romans 5:1). The gospel is “the gospel of peace” (Romans 10:15). Those who were at enmity with

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Grace and Peace Word Studies #5485, 1515

Ephesians 1:2. This is the common formula that Paul uses to open each of his letters . Grace is the Greek charis, undeserved favor . Peace is both the absence of hostility and the presence of goodwill . Paul does not vary from this greeting even in his letters to the churches of Galatia and Corinth, even though he has serious issues with their conduct .

God’s Plan for Blessing His Children / 11

God are brought into a relationship of peace through the salvation He provides in Christ. The Bible also speaks of having the peace of God which passeth all understanding (Philippians 4:7). It is a peace which the world does not have or know but is given by Christ to those who believe (John 14:27). The source of grace and peace according to Ephesians 1:2 are “from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” God is one (Deuteronomy 6:4); yet, He manifests Himself in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is our Father; that is, He is the Father of all who have believed. He is not the Father of those who have not believed (John 8:44). In Ephesians 1:2, “the Lord Jesus Christ” is our Lord and Savior. Christ emphasizes His deity; Jesus emphasizes His humanity and Lord emphasizes His sovereignty.

Blessing (Ephesians 1:3)

This verse begins a train of thought which continues through verse 14. This sentence encompasses what God has done for us in the past, is doing for us in the present and will do for us in the future. Also, it speaks of the blessings we have in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is often referred to as Paul’s doxology because it is Paul’s expression of praise to God. Who. Paul began, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” “Jewish people used the word ‘bless’ to express both God’s kindness to us and our thanks or praise to him” (Barker 1696). “Blessed” is the translation of a word in the original text which gives us our English words eulogy and eulogize. It means to speak well of. God’s people should speak well of God, and that is exactly what Paul did. He praised and glorified Him for who He is and for what He has done. The chief duty of every believer is to bring praise to God. One reason God’s people do not praise Him more is because they do not understand and appreciate what He has done. The expression “God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” stresses the source of the blessing. The blessing is from the Father through the Son. It also points to the uniqueness of Christ. Jesus is the eternal Son who became flesh through the miracle of the virgin birth. Thus, God is the Father and Jesus is the uniquely born or only begotten Son of God (John 3:16). All three members of the Trinity are equal in divinity, but each one has a role to play and a function

MannaSpiritual Opposed to Physical Bless­ings (Ephesians 1:3): Far too often the average person equates blessings to the physical world and material gain. Indeed, such blessings should never be discounted but, with all due respect, the greatest of all blessings are not physical but spiritual. Among the greatest spiritual blessings are the fol-lowing which are retained in Heaven and merely disbursed on earth: the believer’s citizenship (Philippians 3:20); his high priest (Hebrews 4:14); his hope (Colossians 1:5); his inher-itance (1 Peter 1:4); his treasure (Mat-thew 6:20, 21); his affection (Colossians 3:1, 2). These blessings are distributed according to the believer’s need and growth.

to perform. This is a mystery to us, but we readily accept by faith what the Bible teaches regarding the Godhead. What. Paul blessed the One “who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings.” The words “blessed” and “blessings” are related. The difference being that when we bless God, we speak good of Him; when God blesses us, He does good for us. He has blessed us time and time again, in ways we do not even recognize or comprehend. The phrase “with all spiritual blessings” identifies both the source and the substance of God’s blessings. James said, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17). All that we have comes from Him who loved us and gave His Son to die for us. The proof that God is both willing and able to provide all things for us lies in the fact that He gave His Son. In another context, Paul argued, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). The “spiritual blessings” in Ephesians 1:3 are the most valuable and most enduring blessings we have. Material things have their place. We are thankful for the material and physical things God allows us to enjoy; however, all material possessions will perish. It is the intangibles which are of greatest value: salvation, adoption, regeneration, sanctification, resurrection and glorification to name a few. Where. The spiritual blessings which God has given believers are described by Paul as being “in heavenly places in Christ.” Two things stand out. First, they are in Heaven. We are on earth, but the blessings we enjoy find their source in Heaven. Heaven is where God the Father is enthroned and from which He rules. The heavenly places refers “to the realm of God’s complete, heavenly domain, from which all His blessings come” (McArthur 1772). The heavenly source and nature of our spiritual blessings should be a reminder for us to live like Heaven is our home. We should “seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” Moreover, we should set our “affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:1, 2). Second, these spiritual blessings in Ephesians 1:3 are in Christ. Everything we have is bound up in Christ. Christ “is our life” (Colossians 3:4). Apart from Him there is no life and there are no spiritual blessings. Christ is everything to us and supplies everything for us. We are so perfectly identified with Him by faith that we are said to be crucified with Him, buried with Him and raised up together with Him (Romans 6:1-6). To be in Christ is to be in the Father. Those who are not in Christ are not in the Father. The only way to be in Christ is by faith (Galatians 3:26).

Election (Ephesians 1:4)

Paul spoke of the spiritual blessings we have in Christ, saying, “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.”

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God’s Plan for Blessing His Children / 13

Chosen by God. The simple truth is that God loved us before we loved Him. He came looking for us before we went looking for Him. He convicted us before we called on Him. He chose us before we chose Him. Sal vation is the work of God, not the work of man. God is the one who recognized the need for it, devised the plan for it and supplied the means of it. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12). Chosen in Christ. The phrase in Ephesians 1:4, “in him” refers specifically and particularly to Jesus Christ. God the Father chose us in Christ. God has chosen to save those who repent of their sins and place their faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus died for the whole world (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2). He tasted death for every man (Hebrews 2:9). The grace of God which brings salvation hath appeared to all men (Titus 2:11). All are invited to be saved. Nevertheless, only those who repent and believe will be saved. The only way to be saved is God’s way, and His way is in Christ. Chosen Before the Foundation of the World. The plan of salvation was devised before the world was ever created. This is beyond our human comprehension, but we must remember that God is omniscient. He knows all things through all time. The word “foundation” in Ephesians 1:4 actually means to throw down or lay down. “It describes the act of the transcendent God throwing down a universe into space, speaking a material universe into existence which had no existence before” (Wuest, Ephesians 1:4). This does not mean we were saved before the world was created, but that the plan was devised and the choice was made to save all who believe on Christ. We were chosen before the creation of the earth, but are placed into Christ in time—at the time we repent and believe. This is why Paul spoke of some who were in Christ before him (Romans 16:7). Chosen for a Purpose. Paul’s stated reason recorded in Ephesians 1:4 for which believers were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world was “that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.” Two things seem to be in view. First, believers have been set apart in Christ and imputed with His infinite righteousness. As to our standing, we are holy and without blame before Him in love. This is what is called

He Hath Chosen Word Study #1586

Ephesians 1:4. This is from the single word eklegomai, to pick out or choose . Paul uses it in the middle voice here, indicating that God did this for Himself . The context also indicates that believers are chosen in Christ . It appears in Luke 6:13 for the choosing of the apostles . In Acts 13:17 it is used of God’s choosing Israel .

Holy Word Study #40

Ephesians 1:4. This is the purpose of believers being chosen in Christ, that they would be holy . The basic concept is that which is set apart or consecrated . Believers are set apart from the rest of the world and are dedicated to serving the purposes of God . In Romans 12:1, believers are to offer their bodies as holy, living sacrifices.

positional sanctification. It cannot be improved upon because the believer is in Christ and robed with the righteousness of Christ. Second, as to our practice, we ought to live holy and without blame. Our practice should be in keeping with our position. This is called practical sanctification. No one can achieve sinless perfection in this life, but most can do better than they are doing. In the end, believers will experience ultimate sanctification in the resurrection when Christ will, as Jude said, “present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24). The final two words in Ephesians 1:4, “in love,” point to the motive which God has in choosing believers, showering them with spiritual blessings and imputing them with the perfections of Christ. It is all because of His “great love wherewith he loved us” (Ephesians 2:4). In love points to the proper response of believers to all that God has done. We should love Him with all our hearts.

Predestination (Ephesians 1:5)

Paul continued to describe what God has done for those who are in Christ, saying, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” Even more spiritual blessings and great doctrinal terms can be found in this verse. They are: predestination, adoption and sovereignty.

Predestination. The meaning of the word predestined is quite simple. It merely means to determine beforehand. What some have taught regarding predestination, however, has caused confusion and heated disagreements. To be clear, God did not indiscriminately predestine some people to be saved and others to be lost without giving them a chance. What God determined beforehand, or predestined, was that all who put their trust in Christ as Savior will receive “the adoption of children.” God chose to save those who repent and believe. Likewise, He predestined believers to adoption.

Adoption. Adoption is the aspect of salvation wherein those who repent and believe become God’s children; they are made His sons. To adopt is “to formally and legally declare that someone who is not one’s own child is henceforth to be treated and cared for as one’s own child, including complete rights of inheritance” (Louw Nida 35.53). Apart from salvation, the unbeliever is a child of the devil, not a child of God (John 8:44). However, when one repents and believes the gospel, he is born again by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit and becomes a child of God through spiritual adoption.

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Predestinated Word Study 4309

Ephesians 1:5. This is a compound word, composed of the prefix pro (before) and the verb orizo (to deter-mine, appoint or set the boundaries of something) . This is the same word Paul used in Romans 8:29 of God’s predesti-nating believers to be conformed to the image of Christ . In Acts 4:28 it is trans-lated “determined before” and refers to God’s sovereignty in the conspiracy to execute Jesus .

Paul brought out two aspects of adoption in Romans 8. One is that believers “have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15). Only believers have the right to pray, “Our Father which art in heaven” (Matthew 6:9). Furthermore, Paul said, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). Second, the full benefit of our adoption will not be realized until believers experience the resurrection. As of now, Paul said, “We ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23). Sovereignty. The concluding phrase of Ephesians 1:5 “according to the good pleasure of his will” brings up the sub-ject of God’s sovereignty. There can be no doubt that God is sovereign. He is God and He does what He chooses. There is no power on earth, under the earth or above the earth that can prevent God from doing what He has chosen to do. The thing that is difficult for us to under-stand is how God’s will and man’s will can work together. Nevertheless, both the sovereignty of God and the free will of man are taught in Scripture. God’s sovereignty does not force anyone to be saved; neither does it prevent anyone from being saved (John 6:37). God gives men a choice, and when they choose Him, He chooses them.

Redemption (Ephesians 1:6, 7)

Grace, redemption and the forgiveness of sins are more of the spiritual blessings that are found in Christ. The Glory of His Grace (verse 6). Paul exclaimed, “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Everything about salvation and adoption brings praise and glory to God. Nothing about it serves to bring praise to man. Indeed, “If Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God” (Romans 4:2). If salvation were by the good works of men, men could claim the glory and the praise for having saved themselves. We know this cannot be because “it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31). The prophet Jeremiah explained, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth

God’s Plan for Blessing His Children / 15

MannaAdopted (Ephesians 1:5): Citizens in the first century emphasized two seg-ments of the adoption process: first was a private arrangement between the two families; second was the formal and public declaration of the adoption. The greater likelihood was that Paul referenced the former in Romans 8:15 and the latter in Romans 8:23 with his mentioning of “waiting for the adop-tion.” The servant had been adopted privately but was awaiting a formal proclamation of the fact. Adoption was permitted when a man had no son and even if the adopted one had once been a slave he took on the name of his father and was regarded as a biological child. From this union was born a legal status and a right to the inheritance.

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glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me” (Jeremiah 9:23, 24). All who are truly saved should praise God for it and seek to glorify Him because of it. All that God has done, is doing and will do for the believer is to the praise of the glory “of his grace” (Ephesians 1:6). Grace was mentioned by Paul in his initial greeting to the Ephesian church (Ephesians 1:2). The repetition of the word serves to remind us that all spiritual blessings freely flow from the fountain of His grace and goodness. Later in this letter he will affirm “by grace ye are saved” (Ephesians 2:5). God’s grace precludes the possibility of salvation being by works. In Romans 11:6, Paul explained, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” God’s grace “hath made us accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6). To be accepted by Him is to be received by Him. Acceptance is another of the great spiritual blessings made available to us only through Christ. Actually, the phrase “made us accepted” is translated from the same basic word as grace. In other words, God has graced us or “highly favoured” us as it is translated in Luke 1:28. No one is accepted by God on the basis of his own merit; it is all by grace. The only way to be acceptable in the sight of God, as recorded in Ephesians 1:6, is to be accepted “in the beloved,” that is, in His Son. The word “beloved” is

from the word which is used for the love of God. As used here, it is a reference to the beloved Son, Jesus Christ. At His baptism, God the Father spoke from Heaven and said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). The Redemption by His Blood (verse 7). Paul spoke of Christ, saying, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” To redeem something means to buy it out of the marketplace. The Ephesians would have understood this in light of the slave markets which were common in the Roman world. Those who were either born or brought into slavery could be purchased, or redeemed, out of the market for a price. Likewise, we understand redemption to mean that we were all born into the slave market of sin. The only way out is to be bought,

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Redeemed Through His Blood (Ephesians 1:7): The saving nature of Jesus Christ was clearly underscored in the Prison Epistles. Paul empha-sized this power of redemption as being through the blood of Jesus by stating those “who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13) and God reconciled both Jews and Gentiles through the cross (Ephesians 2:16). The Law required blood-redemption; consequently, the writer of Hebrews merely borrowed a page from the Old Testament (Leviticus 17:11) when he declared, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without the shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). Herein, the thinking of Jesus in Matthew 26:28 was explained.

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but at what price? No man can free himself. In fact, it cannot be purchased with money or earned by service. No, the price of man’s redemption from sin comes only through the blood of Christ upon Calvary. He alone has paid our sin debt and purchased our freedom with the high price of His own life. Jesus has provided for us “forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” The meaning of “forgiveness” is literally to send away or let go. Redemption speaks to the price which was paid; forgiveness is the result. As a result of what Jesus has accomplished for us, our sins are sent away never to be held against us again. The Old Testament picture is the scapegoat on the Day of Atonement which symbolically carried the sins of the people far away into the wilderness. The psalmist wrote, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). (See Isaiah 43:25.) All of this—redemption through His blood, and forgiveness of our sins—is “according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7). This is the third mention of grace in these opening verses of Paul’s letter. Previously, he spoke of the glory of His grace now, to the riches of His grace. God’s riches are incalculable. God’s grace is incalculable. No one need fear that God’s grace is not sufficient nor Jesus’ blood insufficient to redeem and pardon. God’s grace is more than sufficient.

Purpose (Ephesians 1:8-12)

In these verses, Paul continued to expand on, and explain, God’s plan for man as revealed in Jesus Christ. In Wisdom and Prudence (verse 8). Paul wrote, “Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.” The relative pronoun “wherein” refers to the last two words in verse 7, “his grace.” It is in His grace that God has abounded toward us. “Abounded” literally means superabundance. God’s grace is not limited. It is available to all men and it is superabundant. Paul said to the Romans, “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20). Christ is both the personification of grace and the dispenser of grace (1 Corinthians 1:30). This super abounding grace has come to us in the sphere of “all wisdom and prudence” (Ephesians 1:8). Not only have we received redemption, adoption and forgiveness, but we also

MannaThe Mystery of His Will (Ephesians 1:9): The religions of Paul’s day—pagan, Greek, and Roman—employed the word musterion in the sense of something being revealed only to be immediately set in motion. Paul, on the other hand, used the word mystery to denote something which could not have previously been known without a revelation from God. In this case and passage, onto his argument for both Jews and Gentiles being redeemed and forgiven (verse 7), Paul stacks the following layers: “according to his good pleasure” (verse 9) on top of “purposed in himself” (verse 9) on top of “the dispensation of the fulness of times” (verse 10) on top of “all things in Christ” (verse 10).

have received “wisdom and prudence.” The Greeks prized these virtues. They understood wisdom as having the intellectual answer to the problems of life and death. They saw prudence as the ability to employ wisdom to solve the everyday problems of life. The Greeks, however, completely missed the boat. It is in Christ that the Almighty God of the universe has both displayed and imparted wisdom and prudence. The Mystery of His Will (verse 9). Paul continued, “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself.” The “mystery of his will” includes God’s plan of redemption for His fallen creation. It has been “made known” or revealed to us “according to his good pleasure which he purposed in himself.” God’s plan and purpose cannot be discovered through human means. Neither philosophical nor scientific investigation will reveal what God has planned. God has chosen to reveal His plan in the written Word and in the living Word, Jesus Christ. He devised the plan, and He has “purposed in himself” to carry the plan to fruition. The Fulness of Times (verse 10). The end result of God’s perfect plan is “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.” This verse has been described as the key verse to the entire Bible. Regardless, it does provide a summation of all that God has planned and affirms will be accomplished. In the end of this present age, Jesus Christ will return to earth and rule over it for one thousand years (Revelation 20). Sin, death and Satan will be dealt a final blow and consigned to the lake of fire for eternity. Jesus will bring all things unto Himself and into harmony with God. Paul explained to the Corinthians when he wrote of Christ, saying, “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” (1 Corinthians 15:24, 25). He went on to say, “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” (verse 28). The Counsel of His Will (verses 11, 12). Paul continued to exalt Jesus Christ, saying, “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance.” It is in Christ that believers “have obtained an inheritance.” This is not a reference to our rewards, which are earned, but rather to what we have in Christ by virtue of our relationship with Him. As a result of our regeneration, we have been adopted. As a result of our adoption, we will receive an inheritance.

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We Have Obtained an Inheritance Word Study #2820

Ephesians 1:11. This phrase comes from the single Greek word kleroo, to receive an inheritance or to be named as an heir . It is based on the noun for one’s allotted portion that comes from the casting of lots or by inheritance . An inheritance comes to the heirs through the death of the one who owns the assets . The cross guaranteed the inheri-tance of eternal life for believers .

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The apostle Peter spoke of it as “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4). Paul described all of this—our redemption, forgiveness, adoption and inheritance—as “being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11). It is not that some have been predestined to be saved and others predestined to be lost; rather, it is that those who have repented and believed are predestined to receive all these spiritual blessings in Christ because God the Father has purposed it and will accomplish it after the counsel of His own will. There is no power in all the universe that can stop God from accomplishing His plans and purposes. They will be done, and that is why we can rest assured that all will be well. Everything God has done, and everything we have in Christ is “that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ” (verse 12). Our salvation brings glory to God, not to us. All the credit is due Him, not us. Likewise, our lives should reflect the fact that all glory and praise is to God.

MannaTo the Praise of His Glory (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14): The language of this verse provides a strong indication that verses 3-14 of the first chapter of Ephesians was actually a song with each stanza ending with “to the praise of his glory.” The New Testament contains numer-ous references to music and songs. During Jesus’ personal ministry he referenced the following: flute-players (Matthew 9:23); a funeral dirge (Luke 7:32); the return of the prodigal son (Luke 15:25); the end of the Last Sup-per (Mark 14:26). In addition to these, in the Gospels referenced the song of Mary (Luke 1:46-55); the song of Zach-arias (Luke 1:67-79) and the saying of the angels (Luke 2:14) all sung in con-junction with the birth of Jesus. Revela-tion mentions at least four songs: a new song (Revelation 5:9, 10); a song sung before God’s throne (Revelation 14:2, 3); the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb (Revelation 15:3, 4).