Further Thought:

 Underlying the Epistle to the Ephesians is a story that is often rehearsed in part or alluded to in it. The major events in the narrative are these:

1. God’s choice of the people “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4-5, Ephesians 1:11).
   

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2. Their past, lost existence (Ephesians 2:1-3, Ephesians 2:11-12; Ephesians 4:17-19, Ephesians 4:22; Ephesians 5:8).
3. The intervention of God in Christ to save them (Ephesians 1:7-8; Ephesians 2:4-6, Ephesians 2:13-19; Ephesians 4:1, Ephesians 4:20-21; Ephesians 5:2, Ephesians 5:8, Ephesians 5:23, Ephesians 5:25-26).
4. Their acceptance of the gospel (Ephesians 1:12-13,  and implied elsewhere). Having once “no hope” (Ephesians 2:12), they now possess the “one hope” toward which believers move (Ephesians 4:4; compare Ephesians 1:18).
5. The present lives of the addressees as disciples. Though living at a time fraught with hazards and the opposition of the evil powers, they may draw on the resources offered by their exalted Lord (Ephesians 1:15-23, Ephesians 2:6, Ephesians 3:14-21, Ephesians 4:7-16, Ephesians 6:10-20).
6. In the future culmination of history, the Spirit’s role as “guarantee” (Ephesians 1:13-14, ESV), or “seal” (Ephesians 4:30), reaches fruition. In this crowning moment, the addressees will be rewarded for their faithfulness by taking possession of the “inheritance” already granted to them in Christ (Ephesians 2:7; Ephesians 6:8-9); and, through their faith in Christ, they will be granted a place in the Christ-centered age to come (Ephesians 1:21; Ephesians 2:7, Ephesians 2:19-22; Ephesians 4:13, Ephesians 4:15; Ephesians 5:27).

Discussion Questions:

<–Thursday

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Read back through Ephesians 2:1-10, focusing on Paul’s conclusion in verses 8-10. What points does he highlight as he concludes the passage?

In Ephesians 2:1-3, Paul documents that the salvation of the believers in Ephesus does not occur because of their good behavior or winsome qualities.

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When the story begins, they are spiritually dead. There’s not a spark of life or worth in them (Ephesians 2:1). They have been utterly conquered by sin (Ephesians 2:1). They exhibit no personal initiative but are led around by Satan himself and by their own base passions and mental delusions (Ephesians 2:2-3).

Unknown to them, they are in a far worse position than simply being without spiritual life or virtue. In company with all humankind, they are the enemies of the true God and are moving toward a day of destiny and divine judgment. They are “children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” (Ephesians 2:3, ESV).

Instead of being rooted in their own qualities, their salvation is rooted in God’s inexplicable love — a love that cannot be explained based on any worth in the object of that love. In mercy and love, God acts on their behalf in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4), resurrecting them from spiritual death. Because of God’s intervention, they experience an amazing itinerary that follows the trajectory of Jesus Himself. From the extreme depth of utter spiritual death and grinding slavery, they are resurrected and conveyed to the “heavenly places” and seated with Christ on the cosmic throne (Ephesians 2:5-6). This lightning-like, divine intervention, though, is no momentary phenomenon. It has real staying power, eternal durability, because God intends to exhibit His grace toward them in Christ Jesus throughout all eternity (Ephesians 2:7-8).

In his conclusion to , verses 8-10, Paul goes back over this ground, wishing to ensure that his point sticks: the salvation of believers is a divine work, not a human one. It does not originate in us but in God’s gift. No human being can boast of having sparked it (Ephesians 2:8-9). Standing in the grace of God, we believers are exhibits of His grace, and only of His grace. We are His masterpieces, created by God “in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:10).

<–Wednesday Friday–>

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Compare God’s planning for salvation in Ephesians 1:3-4,  with the eternal results of that plan described in Ephesians 2:7. What are essential elements and goals of God’s “plan of salvation”?

Graduation ceremonies are wonderful celebrations, whether for kindergarten or a Ph.D. A graduation marks an important accomplishment, the move to a different stage of life or career. It is important for us as believers to understand a profound truth of the gospel: we never graduate from grace. There is never a celebration that we have attained our Ph.D. in grace or graduated from our need of it.

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Paul affirms this truth in Ephesians 2:7, accenting it with an expansive chronology. God has acted in the past in Christ to redeem us, so identifying us with His Son, Jesus Christ, that we are in the present co-participants in His resurrection, ascension, and exaltation (Ephesians 2:4-6). God’s plan, though, does not end with a grace-filled past and a mercy-bathed present. God’s plan, rooted in divine councils in time immemorial (Ephesians 1:4), stretches forever into the future. It includes all “the coming ages” (Ephesians 2:7, ESV). His plan for the eternal future is founded on the same principle as His actions in the past and present — the principle of grace. “In the coming ages,” God looks forward to demonstrating “the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7, ESV).

Paul thinks of God’s grace as a treasure or fortune of unfathomable value (compare Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 3:8) from which believers may draw to meet any need. This grand generosity of God toward us becomes an eloquent, ageless, and cosmic exhibit of His grace.

“By coming to dwell with us, Jesus was to reveal God both to men and to angels … . But not alone for His earthborn children was this revelation given. Our little world is the lesson book of the universe. God’s wonderful purpose of grace, the mystery of redeeming love, is the theme into which ‘angels desire to look,’ and it will be their study throughout endless ages. Both the redeemed and the unfallen beings will find in the cross of Christ their science and their song. It will be seen that the glory shining in the face of Jesus is the glory of self-sacrificing love.” — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, Pages 19, 20.

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

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In Ephesians 1-2 we saw ourselves in Christ. In Ephesians 1:6, we saw ourselves accepted in Christ, and then in Ephesians 2:6, we saw ourselves sitting in heavenly places in Christ . Being “in Christ” is our justification. Justification is our deliverance from the penalty of sin and is our title to heaven. But justification is way more than a legal procedure allowing us to have eternal life. Justification is restoring our relationship with God in the here and now. Being accepted in the Beloved means our relationship with God is restored and we are all friends again. The Father is at peace with us now as much as He is at peace with His own son.

Therefore, since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed). Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand. Let us rejoice in our hope and the confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying] the glory of [our great] God [the manifestation of His excellence and power]. Romans 5:1-2 AMP

Now we turn to Ephesians 3, where we begin to see Christ in us. While us in Christ is our justification, Christ in us is our sanctification. Our sanctification is our deliverance from the power of sin and is our fitness for heaven. But just like justification, sanctification is way more than a legal procedure allowing us to have eternal life. Sanctification means we belong to God. In Genesis 2:1-3 God sanctified the Sabbath and it became the Lord’s day. See Mark2:28.  In Numbers 3:13 God sanctified the firstborn by calling them His own. Sanctification makes us God’s very own intimate friends.

Look at how Jesus uses the terms of us in Him and Him in us to describe a very intimate relationship.

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. John 15:4-10 NKJV Emphases supplied. 

Justification and sanctification are way more than legal terms. They are relational terms describing our relationship of how we are in Christ and Christ is in us. In previous weeks we have seen how Ephesians 1-2 portrays us being in Christ. Now we will look at how Ephesians, beginning in chapter 3 portrays Christ in us. 

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—  to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21 NKJV Emphases supplied. 

I find this amazingly awesome! We can be filled with all the fulness of God. Let that sink in. Here on earth, in our sin-torn fallen natures, we can be filled with all the fulness of God. Our own works could never make such a grand  theme possible, but yet the impossible is possible by the Power that works in us.

My mother used to collect plates. One day while dusting she accidently knocked a plate off the mantle and it shattered into pieces on the floor. She was upset as it was one of her favorite plates. She watched as dad swept all the pieces into a dustpan and took them to the garage. My mother was sure he was just going to throw the pieces away in the garbage can in the garage. My mother never thought it was possible to ask or think that the plate could ever be restored, but instead of throwing the pieces in the trash he placed them on his work bench. A few weeks later my dad presented the plate back to my mother, with every single piece glued back together with invisible glue. As far as my mother was concerned, the plate she thought was hopelessly shattered to smithereens  had been perfectly restored.

This was something she never asked or thought possible. Have you ever thought that you had ruined your relationship with God and blown it to smithereens? Have you ever felt hopelessly lost in sin, and thought you and God could never be friends again? Well God the Father has taken those shattered pieces of your relationship, and instead of throwing them in the garbage can, through Christ He has perfectly restored your friendship with Him.

At one time you may have felt  “you were without Christ, …..having no hope and without God in the world.” Ephesians 2:12 ” But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13. While sin blew your relationship with God to smithereens and you thought the only solution was to throw all the pieces in the trash, God did what you never asked or thought possible. Christ’s blood was the glue that perfectly restored your relationship with the Father. Now, instead of being alienated from God and without hope, you have been brought very near. So near He is now filling you with all the fulness of God! The relationship with God that you thought impossible to restore has been perfectly restored. While you once thought you were without God and without hope, Christ did the unthinkable and unimaginable. He is filling you with all the fulness of God. A Shattered relationship has been restored to a higher level of intimacy than we ever thought possible, not by our works, but by the Power working in us. 

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Join It Is Written Sabbath School host Eric Flickinger and this quarter’s author, Dr John McVay, as they provide additional insights into this week’s Sabbath School lesson
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_b4uUqA6GQ&w=560&h=315]

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