TEACHING NOTES Introduction Last week we covered the first 14 verses of Ephesians. Paul begins this letter by explaining God’s plan of redemption through the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Paul’s goal in the first three chapters is to clearly explain the Gospel and in the last three chapters he’s going to tell us how to live it out. Today, we’re going to learn more about what kind of believers Paul is addressing. ​ Ephesians 1:15 ESV 15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, For this reason = This points back to verses 1-14 where Paul has explained God’s plan of redemption and each member of the Trinity’s role in that plan. I have heard = The Ephesians had a reputation. Word has come to Paul that the Ephesians are known for something. The people around them have been watching and noticed that these believers stand out. Your faith in the Lord Jesus = As we’ve learned previously, biblical faith (Grk. pistis) is about faithfulness or loyalty. Paul is saying the Ephesians are known for their faithfulness to Jesus as “Lord” (Grk. kurios - master, boss, owner). The Ephesians aren’t merely believing a set of facts or doctrines, they live out what they believe. Jesus is not just their Savior, He is their Lord. Your love = The Greek word for love here is agape. This is the Bible’s way of describing the deepest form of love. Agape transcends our modern idea of love by a longshot. We “love” all kinds of things. The modern idea of love is so overused that it has become shallow and basically meaningless. Agape is sacrificial, selfless, value creating, goodwill toward another. Agape gives instead of takes. Agape is the kind of love that God has for us, because God actually IS agape (1 John 4:16). Agape is also the kind of love that God commands us to have for others. As Jesus said, “love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34). Paul’s definition of agape is found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Toward all the saints = Who did the Ephesians love? Each other. Of course they loved people outside the church, but they were known for how they loved each other inside the church. Christianity in the early days had the reputation of being the most loving people in town. This is exactly what Jesus taught disciples to do. In John 13:35 Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” True selfless, sacrificial, value creating agape for each other stands out in a world of selfishness. If we would stop loving the things of this world and start loving God and His people, the world would notice that they need what we have. Agape should be what we’re known for. ​ Ephesians 1:16–17 ESV 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, I do not cease to give thanks = Paul is so pleased with the reputation of the Ephesians that it drives him to pray for them continually. Paul loved to pray and spend time with God. Abiding with Jesus is vital to being a disciple (John 15:4-5). Later in Ephesians he will encourage them to “pray at all times in the Spirit” (Eph. 6:18). Paul told the believers in Thessalonica to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). The content of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians is deep and gives us insight to what is most important. The Spirit of wisdom = Biblical wisdom is the capacity to understand and discern in such a way that changes the way we live. Paul states that this wisdom comes from the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of wisdom. Our own wisdom is merely flawed opinions. But the Spirit gives us wisdom that works. The Spirit gives us God’s own wisdom. The Spirit of revelation = The Greek word for revelation is apokalypsis. This is where we get our English word “apocalypse”, which most people associate with the end of the world. However, apokalypsis has nothing to do with the end of the world. It means to reveal or explain something hidden or unknown. The Spirit brings us revelation in helping us understand God’s word, draws us closer to Jesus, and gives us divine wisdom in how to live. The knowledge of him = Knowing God personally was the #1 priority of the apostles. The apostle John tells that he wrote his Gospel for one reason, “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ…and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31). In John 17:3 we find the meaning of eternal life, “3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” The definition of eternal life is knowing the Father. That was the Father’s goal all along, to have a personal relationship with His people. ​ Ephesians 1:18 ESV 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, The eyes of your hearts = Jeremiah 17:9-10 tells us that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the LORD search the heart and test the mind...” Our hearts are sick and so mysterious that we cannot even understand ourselves. The only solution to this problem is to ask God to search (or reveal) our hearts and heal what is sick. Enlightened = Grk. φωτίζω (phōtizō) - to shine upon, to make known, to be illuminate what is dark. Since the eyes of our hearts are dark, they need to be enlightened. Our sin and immaturity needs to be exposed so we can understand our problem and God’s solution. Paul wants us to know three things: The hope of our calling. The riches of our inheritance. The greatness of God’s power in us. To know the hope to which he has called you = Hope (Grk. elpis) refers to looking forward to something with confidence. Paul says we have been called to this hope. What hope? What are we looking forward to? The riches of His glorious inheritance is our hope. Riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints = Here, Paul takes terms and phrases that normally refer to Israel in the Old Testament and applies it to Gentiles. God’s promised Israel that He would make them into a holy people (saints) who would inherit the Promised Land. Through Christ, the church are the holy ones who inherit the Holy Spirit now and will later inherit a new earth. But notice that Paul is not talking about OUR inheritance, but HIS inheritance. He’s referring to the fact that God has inherited us (the saints). And because we are His, God will also give us an inheritance. ​ Ephesians 1:19–21 ESV 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. Immeasurable greatness of his power toward us = The Greek word for power is dynamis, which is where we get our English word “dynamite”. Paul describes God’s power as immeasurable greatness, which means that God’s power cannot be defeated and is far beyond anything we can imagine. But notice that Paul says this power is “toward us who believe”. In Greek, this phrase can also be translated “into us who believe”. God doesn’t keep His great and immeasurable power to Himself. He uses it for us and works it into us. Paul will pray again for the Ephesians in chapter three that they will “be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being” (Eph. 3:16). That he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead = This power that God puts into us is the same power He worked in Christ to raise Him from the dead. Seated him at his right hand = The idea that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father comes from Psalm 110:1. The Father exalted Jesus to His right hand and is slowly putting all enemies (spiritual evil) under His feet. This is important for two reasons: (1) Jesus cannot be defeated and (2) we have been seated with Christ (see Eph. 2:6). Rule, authority, power, dominion = This is Paul’s way of referring to the demonic spiritual beings that rebelled against God. In the biblical worldview, the powers of evil are often behind the rulers of evil nations. These spiritual forces are at work in the world for one reason - to create and instigate destruction. But God made a promise to the evil serpent that One would come that would crush evil under His feet (Gen. 3:15). Jesus has all rule, authority, power, and dominion. ​ Ephesians 1:22–23 ESV 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Put all things under his feet = Refers back to Psalm 110:1 which the apostles quote numerous times in the New Testament. Noting is outside of Jesus’ reach. Nothing is able to defeat Him. Head over all things = Since the Church is the body of Christ, we must always remember that only He can be the head. As we know, every part of the body depends on the head. In the same way, the Church depends of Christ. We are the body parts and He is the head. Scripture nowhere supports the idea that a human should be the head of the church. To the church, his body, his fullness = Through the Church (Christ’s body), the presence of Jesus fills the earth. When Christ was on the earth He limited Himself to one place at a time. Now Jesus is all over the world at once because He dwells with and through His Church. Conclusion Paul prayed that the Ephesians would know God and experience His power in their lives. As we worship and take Communion today, let’s ask God to help us know Him more and work His power in and through us.