< Previous10 chapter two Made Alive in Christ 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our fleshand following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ 11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands) — 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.11 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.12 Chapter 2 starts with a rather long sentence in the original Greek. The English translators divided this into the first seven verses, but it should be noted that the subject of this long sentence is God (v. 4), and the three main verbs are “made us alive with” (v. 5), “raised us up with” (v. 6), and “seated us with” (v. 6). The object of the sentence is believers. Knowing this can help us piece together what’s being said. Paul makes it very clear that God is the one acting in the work of our salvation. 2:1-7 2:8-9 2:15-16 2:1 AND 5 And just to make sure we heard him before, Paul says it again: “By grace you have been saved through faith”, it is “not from yourselves”, so that “no one can boast” in earning right standing with God. God’s people had been living under the rigidity of the law for generations. What Jesus offers is fulfillment of the law, and reconciliation with God. We often end up thinking what Jesus did for us on the cross was just about “cleaning us up” a bit from our sins. In reality, our sin doesn’t just leave us dirty, it leaves us dead. While Jesus certainly cleanses us of our sin, he does much more than that – he makes dead people live! a closer look AT CHAPTER TWO13 Dig deeper 2:17 FOR CROSS-STUDY: Jesus came to offer peace and reconciliation to those who were “far away” (the Gentiles who were without Christ and outside of God’s promises to Israel), and those who were “near” (the Jews who have lived under God’s promises). This salvation, God making dead people live, is offered to all people and given freely as a gift. • What does this chapter teach us about God? (Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit) • What does this chapter teach us about people? • What would you consider to be the main points of this chapter? • How is Paul challenging or encouraging the original audience of this chapter? • Are there any verses that you find challenging or confusing? Why? • How do you think the original audience would apply this chapter to their lives? • In what ways are you being prompted to obedience from this chapter? • How does this chapter fill you with hope and expectation for what God has for your spiritual growth? • 2:3 see: Psalm 51 • 2:5 see: Ezekiel 36:25-28 • 2:16 see: Colossians 1:20-22, 1 Corinthians 12:1314 chapter tHREE God’s Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles 1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles — 2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. 7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.15 A Prayer for the Ephesians 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.16 • Paul refers to the mystery of Christ that has now been revealed, that the Jews and the Gentiles would not only both be offered salvation, they would be joined together as heirs (adoption to sonship) and one body. • This mystery was kept from past generations, even though the idea that Gentiles would be saved is found woven throughout the Old Testament. • The mystery of Christ then, is not necessarily something mysterious to the reader of Ephesians, but rather should be understood as an ancient secret that has now been revealed. 3:3-6 3:17 a closer look Rooted: ( ριςοω - rhizoo) to be firmly established, as tree roots Established: ( θεμελιον - themelion) grounded, foundation, basis Rooted and established appear in the perfect tense in Greek, indicating a past action with continuing results. Paul uses two metaphors to describe the posture of love we are to take – one from biology and one from architecture. First, we are to be rooted in God’s love, like a tree with its roots spanning far the trunk and deep into the ground. Secondly, we are to be established in God’s love. Having a solid foundation allows homeowners to live at peace, knowing the structure of their home is secure. In the same way, a skyscraper’s foundation is often dug 150-200 feet into the ground. The deeper you dig the foundation, the higher you can build. The bigger the root system of a tree, the more stable it is when the storm comes. God invites us to grow our spiritual roots deep into his love. AT CHAPTER THREE17 • What does this chapter teach us about God? (Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit) • What does this chapter teach us about people? • What would you consider to be the main points of this chapter? • How is Paul challenging or encouraging the original audience of this chapter? • Are there any verses that you find challenging or confusing? Why? • How do you think the original audience would apply this chapter to their lives? • In what ways are you being prompted to obedience from this chapter? • How does this chapter fill you with hope and expectation for what God has for your spiritual growth? Dig deeper FOR CROSS-STUDY: • 3:3 see: Acts 9:1-19, Acts 22:17-21 • 3:5 see: Genesis 12:2-3* *One of Westwood’s core values is Rhythm, the understanding that we live with open hands gratefully receiving from God and joyfully giving it away. This is drawn from the Abrahamic covenant, that through Abraham all the peoples on earth will be blessed, which is fulfilled in Jesus. All people now have access to salvation through Christ, who has ushered in the New Covenant (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) • 3:6 see: Isaiah 56:1-8 • 3:20 see: 1 Corinthians 2:918 chapter FOUR Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ 1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.19 Instructions for Christian Living 17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. 20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.Next >