The Epistle to the Ephesians

The Epistle to the Ephesians By Grace We are Saved: Ephesians 2:6-10 • Ephesians 2:6 – NKJV ‘and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus;’ • And even when were previously ‘dead in trespasses and sin’ (Eph 2:1-5). • I really like ‘made [us] sit together …’ but made is not in the original Greek. • Yet this is still His Will not our choice! • ‘raised up together’ also used in Col 3:1 and Col 2:12 • Where’s our citizenship (Phil 3:20)? • How can this help you in your daily walk? 1 March 1, 2009 Bob Eckel

The Epistle to the Ephesians By Grace We are Saved: Ephesians 2:6-10 • Ephesians 2:7 – NKJV ‘that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.’ • What’s this ‘ages to come’? • To be interpreted literally – from now/then on. • ‘He might show or display’ • Is there some doubt here? • ‘might show’ is aorist tense, middle voice, and subjunctive mood • The aorist tense is characterized by its emphasis on precise action; the concept of the verb is considered without regard for past, present, or future time, however, typically past tense is indicated. • The middle voice indicates the subject performing an action upon himself or for his own benefit – see Eph 1:6,12,14 • The subjunctive mood is the mood of possibility and potentiality. The action described may or may not occur, depending upon circumstances. 2 March 1, 2009 Bob Eckel

The Epistle to the Ephesians By Grace We are Saved: Ephesians 2:6-10 • So what ‘might He show’? • ‘the exceeding riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.’ • ‘His kindness toward us’ – do we deserve any of this? • Notice the condition – ‘in Christ Jesus’ • And in simple terms what is grace (contrast with mercy)? • mercy – spared due punishment • grace – receiving undo benefit • Ephesians 2:8 – NKJV ‘For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,’ • To what does ‘For’ relate? • Eph 2:5 • Wow, such an incredible verse and truth! • Let’s look carefully at the components. • Who’s the object? • You, 2nd person plural 3 March 1, 2009 Bob Eckel

The Epistle to the Ephesians By Grace We are Saved: Ephesians 2:6-10 • How were you saved? • Again Eph 2:5, Rom 3:24 • Compared to works of the Law • Rom 4:5 • When were you saved? • ‘are ye saved’ • ‘are’ is present tense • ‘saved’ is perfect tense • Strong’s calls this a ‘prolonged form of a primary and defective verb’ • What’s the basis of our salvation? • Faith in what? • Eph 1:19,20 • Or is ‘faith’ the gift of God? • From where does that faith come? • Rom 10:17, I Cor 3:6,7 4 March 1, 2009 Bob Eckel

The Epistle to the Ephesians By Grace We are Saved: Ephesians 2:6-10 • Ephesians 2:9 – NKJV ‘Not of works, lest any man should boast.’ • A convincingly negative final clause! • ‘works’ - ergōn • deed, toil, act – any human effort • Rom 4:4 ‘Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.’ • Rom 11:6 ‘And if by grace, then it isno longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.’ • ‘lest’ – best interpreted as ‘that’ • ‘should boast’ – kauchaomai • glory, rejoice • We are so very unworthy – with God all around us what’s there for us to take credit for anyway? • Thus, it’s all by His grace! • 1 Cor 1:29 ‘that no flesh should glory in His presence.’ • Also see Titus 3:3-5 5 March 1, 2009 Bob Eckel

The Epistle to the Ephesians By Grace We are Saved: Ephesians 2:6-10 • Ephesians 2:10 – NKJV ‘For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” • In the Interlinear Greek ‘workmanship’ is translated as ‘masterpiece’ • ‘having beencreated for good works’ • John 15:16 ‘You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.’ • How are you doing here? • Oh, it’s ‘in Christ Jesus’ • Eph 4:24 – ‘and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.’ • If ‘God prepared them beforehand’, are we simply robots? 6 March 1, 2009 Bob Eckel

The Epistle to the Ephesians By Grace We are Saved: Ephesians 2:6-10 • That fruit is the nature of the Lord Jesus in us – Gal 5:22-25 • 2 Cor 5:5 ‘Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.’ • And the life that’s lived in the power of the old man gives rise to ‘Oh wretched man that I am’ • And who shall deliver us from the body of this death? 7 March 1, 2009 Bob Eckel

The Epistle to the Ephesians