Ephesians 3 "Doctrine of Our Standing Before God." This Bible
Study is written by Roger Christopherson, and it's
transcription/location is provided by http://www.theseason.org Ephesians 3:1 "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles," Paul is reminding us that as he is writing this letter, he is a prisoner in jail, because he preaches the gospel to the Gentiles. Ephesians 3:2 "If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward." Ephesians 3:3 "How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words," Ephesians 3:4 "Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)" The above three verses are a statement which must be given together, for they make a certain statement. Paul is referring us back to the letter of Romans, and verses found in Romans 16:25-26. Let's go to it. Romans 16:25 "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 [hath been kept in silence through times eternal]," Romans 16:26 "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:" How do we acquire "obedience of faith"? This even sounds like a mystery. "Faith" is what you "Hope for". The "mystery" is that once you understand the truths of God's holy Word, by all the Prophets, their is no way that your faith could waver. Once you have the understanding of God's Word, you become committed in your mind and then give obedience to Jesus Christ. This "dispensation of Grace" Paul is telling us about in Ephesians 3:2, is a period of time or "dispensation" when the Almighty Father gives something freely to one person, because someone else paid the full price for it. "Grace", in this verse comes from the Greek word "Charis", and by definition means; "free, and undeserved favor; a noun". Grace is not mentioned in Matthew or Mark, because this dispensation started when Jesus Christ went to the cross at Calvary, and shed His blood. That is the price that was paid, and it was paid in full for all of the sins of those who believe upon His name and repent for their sins. It is a gift, and because it is a gift, we have the right to accept it, or refuse His gift. This "Grace of God" which concerns both you and I, is not a grace pertaining to some far off heavenly kingdom, but to us living on this earth, and today reaching out and taking it. When we take it, we are automatically adopted into the body of Christ, and become part God's family. This is the "mystery of God's saving plan", for all people, in all times, that will take this gift, and place their hope in Jesus Christ. That mystery also has to do with the three world ages, that still remains a mystery to most people today. We discussed that first earth age in the Ephesians 1, and it is also in Romans 8. This mystery is part of the "key of David", which "opens the doors, and no man can close", of Revelation 3:7. When you study His word, God will reveal it to you through the very Word itself. The revelation, or revealing of God's mystery of the ages, will give purpose to your life. For once you understand God's plan, and see just why you exist, and how Jesus Christ's death pertains to you, your eternal soul; your "obedience of faith" will not be shaken. Your spiritual eyes will be opened, and you will see you are somebody important. Your a child of the living God. Ephesians 3:5 "Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men," The apostles are of the New Covenant [Testament], while the Prophets are of the Old Testament. Paul is telling us that the truth of this entire earth age is given in both the Old and the New Testaments. This mystery was not a mystery in either period of time. All was foretold in the Old Testament, and revealed through Apostles also later. Ephesians 3:6 "That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel:" From the earliest of times, only the children of the promise [God's promise to Abraham] had access to the inner court of God. The altar of God is in His Temple, and the Gentiles were forbidden, by God to enter. When Christ died on the cross, that partition to the inner court, separating Jew from Gentile, and giving direct access to our Heavenly Father, came down. We read in Matthew 27:50-51; "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost [spirit]. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;" At the moment of Jesus death, when He "gave up the ghost", the way and access was made for Jew and Gentile alike. We see in Revelation 21:24 where people of all nations, 'Ethnos" in the Greek, will present themselves in the new eternal city of God. They have all become saved, and received eternal life the same way. Through the belief, and acceptance of Jesus Christ, and His blood shed on the cross. Ephesians 3:7 "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." Paul at one time considered himself to be the worst of all sinners. The persecutor of Christians, and even killing many of them, including Stephen [in Acts 7]. Paul says it was a "gift of His [God's] grace" that could take a sinner like this, and make a minister out of Him. The power of God changed that man's heart and mind. Paul is then saying, if Gods power can change my heart and mind; He can change yours. When you have done all you can do to change a friend, or family member that is on the wrong course; you must turn to prayer, and give them over to the power of God. God answers prayer, when it is with His will. Ephesians 3:8 "Unto me, who am less then the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;" Paul did not think to much of himself; as far as his comparison with other Christians. Paul is saying that the grace from God that was given to him, he did not deserve. Christ's riches are unsearchable, and those riches that Christ will give to you are untraceable. God will send blessings and protection to His own, as we put our faith and trust in Him. The riches may not be money, but in many other ways. Those gifts He gives you are in teaching, or understanding His Word; other gifts are in witnessing, comfort to the sick, and your music and other skills. God's gifts are priceless, and when we possess any of them, we are commanded to use it for the glory of God. Ephesians 3:9 "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:" This, "And", gives a great deal more than what you may read into this verse. It goes all the way back to the very foundation of this earth [world] age, and the mystery of God's working to bring about this earth [flesh] age. For this entire earth age we now live in, is all part of God's plan in making a way back to Himself, for those children that fell in the the first earth age. God's plan of salvation is the escape hatch to avoid God's final judgment on Satan and his followers. In the beginning this mystery was there, and in Ephesians 2 we discussed a great deal of this mystery; How that Satan, and his literal sons, would become an active part in this earth age. Jesus even taught that this hidden mystery, was hidden from the foundations of this earth age. He taught about the physical offspring of the devil [the Kenites}. This is the teachings of Jesus Christ. The "parable of the sower and the parable of the tares" are all tied together; and then explained. Then when you understand these two parables, the "parable of the fig tree" opens right up to you. Jesus compels us to learn it, and when you do, the whole Bible will make sense, and open a whole new understanding of end time Bible prophecy. In Matthew 13: Christ had just finished teaching the "parable of the sower and tares", and His disciples asked Him why he spoke in parables. In verse 11; "He answered and said unto them, because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not." We are now going to find out who the mysteries are hidden from. Jesus is telling them that this is not a parable, but that He is explaining one. Matthew 13:34 "All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:" Matthew 13:35 "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world." There are things that are kept secret since Satan was defeated, and that first earth age was destroyed. This flesh earth age is the results of what happened in that first age. When a baby is born, God does not create new souls for each new baby born, but they are the souls from that first earth age. Each soul must go through this flesh age one time and no more then once. "It is appointed unto man once to die [in the flesh], then judgment." Hebrews 9:27 This is what Genesis 6 is all about. The "sons of God" are angels, or these created beings of God, and they had refused to come to earth through the womb of a woman. This has nothing to do with reincarnation, for you are incarnate only once in the flesh body. One time through this earth age only. Matthew 13:26 "Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field." Matthew 13:37 "He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;" Jesus is explaining it to His disciples. If you are His disciple, then it is for you also. "Disciple" means student, and comes from the word discipline. The seed in the verse are God's people, and the one that soweth, or made them was God's Word, Jesus Christ, who is the "Son of man". Matthew 13:38 "The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;" The field is where tis parable took place, and that field is this world [earth age]. That is this "Cosmos", or flesh age we now live in. Jesus then defines the difference in origins between God's children [not seed], and the literal physical offspring of Satan [who is the devil. The Greek word here for seed is "sperma", and that makes it real clear what we are talking about. Remember, Jesus is not teaching in a parable here; but He is explaining one, where a analogy was used. Matthew 13:39 "The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels." This is the root of the mystery that is being explained. The "enemy" that "sowed the seed" [sperma] of the tares is the devil. This "evil seed" is from Satan [the devil], and in this world age [flesh age]. All these tares came from the sexual union between Satan and Eve, which produced the "Kenites father "Cain". The offspring of "Cain" are also the offspring "the devil", as Jesus just explained to us. This is a separate race of people called "Kenites". Let there be no mistake who sowed the evil seed; it was the devil. This is the mystery of Ephesians 3:9, and it was taught even from the beginning of the Scriptures. The mystery is what happened in the "Garden of Eden"; and when we know and understand this mystery, then we can dig deeper into the Word of God, and know from where the source of all evil comes. These tares [Kenites] are among us today, and will be amongst us until God's appointed time. 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," The "principalities" are the rulers, not just of this earth, but "angelic beings" also. This means that Satan himself, and his fallen angels, as well as Satan's children [Kenites] are , or "might be known by the Church". The church is the body of Christ, and if you know and understand who is in Satan's realm, then you have the "wisdom of God". This is Paul's intent in writing this letter to the Ephesians. So that they and you can identify all of Satan's forces, both on earth, [the Kenites], and his angels when they arrive on earth at the sounding of the fifth trumpet [Revelation 9:1-10]. The true "wisdom of God" is to know our Heavenly Father, and His love and fairness towards each of us. Ephesians 3:11 "According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:" The "eternal purpose" of God, is that Jesus Christ would come to earth, and become the sacrifice once and for all. All those souls who seek Christ, repent, and come under the blood of Jesus Christ are part of God's "eternal purpose", and are given eternal life. Ephesians 3:12 "In Whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him." In other words, when Christ was in the tomb, and gave up the ghost to the Father; at that time the vail to the holy of Holies was rent in two, and all God's children can now come boldly to the Father, in Jesus Christ's name. We now all have direct access to the throne of God; not through some priest, but boldly, and with confidence we can talk to our Heavenly Father. Ephesians 3:13 "Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory." Remember, Chapter 3 started with Paul saying, "I am in prison for you". Paul is giving them reassurance that it is for the glory of Christ he was there, and that should encourage, not discourage them in their work for the Lord. Paul is encouraging them to take heart and allow God to work in and through them. Ephesians 3:14 "For this cause I bow my knew unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," This great plan of God is no longer a mystery for it is revealed to us through Paul. When Paul, as we ought to, thought of God's awesome plan, is is the time to fall to our knees and thank Him for His great love and mercy. Ephesians 3:15 "Of Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named," The word "family" in the Greek is "patra". It is the family of God's children. They each have become "kin" to each other. all of them, both on earth, and in heaven are one family. This is part of God's great mystery. Ephesians 3:16 "That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His spirit in the inner man;" What is this inner man? It is not this flesh man, but your spiritual [soul] body. There is no such thing as a handicapped inner body, physically speaking, for it is whole, complete and beautiful. The inner soul can have all the riches and strength that you soul and spirit need to overcome any obstacle. In Matthew 18:10, it is written that each of His children have their angel in heaven watching over us, and at a time of need, that angel has the ear of the throne of God, on our behalf. When you think it is all lost, and no one cares; God cares, and as do countless other prayer warriors. Many of these prayer warriors give intercessory prayers for souls they will never meet in this earth age, yet they have a burden for your soul and well being. Even while you may be deep in sin, our God loves you, and is waiting for you to repent, and come to Him. You are never alone for God is a person, and not a uncaring force off in space, as some like to teach. We are made in His image, and He understands each of us. When God's spirit enters your "inner man", He can change your entire life. He can give you "peace of mind," and understanding as you continue in His Word, and gain spiritual knowledge. Paul makes it clear that the Holy Spirit is the power of God, and if we call upon God, and allow that Holy Spirit to lead us, we can bring to full use those gifts God has given each of us. It is our individual faith in God, and Jesus Christ that will bring it to completion. Ephesians 3:17 "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love," This is to say that "Christ will be at home in your heart". We are all imperfect in many ways, but as long as we have that faith that His spirit is in us, it supports our beliefs, and gives us the motivation and confidence to sustain us in our daily walk with God. He will do exactly as He has promised in His word. "Being rooted and grounded in love"; is the most powerful force that exist on earth. Love is the soil the our life is grounded in. When that soil is good, and strong, then our whole life and faith can become deeply rooted and strong during times of testing. Ephesians 3:18 "May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;" Ephesians 3:19 "And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." It is only by the grace of God, and the work of God's Holy Spirit that we can ever understand and comprehend the full extent of the love of God. The love of God is shown in all things, in the heavens as well as on the earth. However, most of all, it is through His love for each of us, and the promises we have, that we can count on His love . It is the faith we have in God's eternal "love" that gives us our "love" for those around us, which gives us the desire that all people will come to know the love of God. No man can have the full understanding of the love God must have had to allow His Son to die on the cross, so He [God] could bring you and I to Himself. The "Love of Christ" is the commitment of Christ to His Father, and to you and I, and also to every detail in God's Holy Word. Ephesians 3:20 "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," This is in all things that we could ever dream, or hope for, as to the power of God's love. We can never come to the full understanding of that love of us, His child, except that His love for us allows it. This is a very powerful Scripture, as we try to understand God's love for us. Ephesians 3:21 "Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." Jesus Christ is the "glory" of His Church, His "called out ones". We call them Christians, and we can see Christ's glory in all the ages, as we discussed before. This earth age is the plan of God, which draws God's children back to Him, because of what happened in that first earth age. God's holiness and glory has always been, and will never end, even in the continuance of eternity. In that love, no man can fully understand, but it becomes the power and roots that the hope for our lives is grounded in. Amen.
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