EPHESIANS
(Answers)
(Updated
02/2024)
CHAPTER 1
- Before the
foundation of the world God chose us to be holy and blameless in Christ.
Jesus was the means for our holiness.
- God
predestined that we who believe in His Son would also become sons of God.
- The one
who believes in Jesus has redemption and forgiveness through Jesus.
- a. The
Holy Spirit in us is our spiritual promise of the life to come. b. The
Spirit is our guide and teacher to sanctify us to eternal life.
- God saved
us from the eternal death of sin to the power of eternal life after death.
CHAPTER 2
- a. The
Gentiles were dead in their trespasses and sins and faced the wrath of God
because they had no propitiation for their sins. b. The grace of God saved
the Gentiles through Christ when God included them for the kingdom. c.
They were saved from the eternal death and the wrath of God.
- a. The
gift was God’s grace to the Gentiles. b. The grace was their salvation
from their fate by being included in the kingdom along with the Jews (vs.
11-13). They are saved from destruction by believing in Christ. c. We did
nothing to impress or earn God’s grace of including us into God's kingdom
with the Jews. It was God's love for us who He had created to be in His
image.
- God wanted
us to do good works in Christ from the beginning.
- a. The
Gentiles were not included in the covenant with Israel. They did not know
God (closely) or have an opportunity for salvation. b. The law was a
barrier between the Jews and the Gentiles causing hostility and enmity
between them. Not only did the Gentiles once have no part in the kingdom
of God, they could not serve God with the Jews.
- Through
Jesus the Jews and the Gentiles are now together as one body by one Spirit
serving and worshiping God. We all have access to the Father, His mercy,
and grace (there is no veil between God and us).
CHAPTER 3
- The riches
of Christ are unending. They are more than we can understand but the
basics is love, joy, peace, and eternal life in Him.
- The
mystery was that the Gentiles should be heirs with the Jews, be of the
same body, and partake of the promises of God in Christ.
- The
fellowship of the Jews and Gentiles is made known or worked out by the
church so that even the heavenly host understand God’s plan.
- a. The
Holy Spirit inside us strengthens us. b. We are strengthened in our faith,
love, and understanding in Christ.
- a. The
fullness of God should be in all believers. b. We are filled with the
divine blessings and presence of God.
- God is
able to do more than we can imagine or hope through His Spirit working in
us. If we grow in His Spirit than He can do more.
CHAPTER 4
- Paul
wanted both the Jew and the Gentile to walk together in unity and peace as
one body in one Spirit.
- Christ
defeated all spiritual enemies and
fears that brought us into the captivity of sin and death. Jesus conquered
those things that conquered us before; sin, the devil, and death.
- All
ministries work together to build our faith, increase our knowledge of
Jesus, and mature us to be like Christ.
- We should
measure our faith and walk by the example of Jesus in His service to God.
- a. We
should put off our former conduct of sin, lewdness, uncleanness, and
greediness. b. We should renew our conduct and the way we think to be like
that of Christ. c. We should think and choose to be righteous and holy.
- a. Lying,
anger, stealing, bad mouthing, wrath, and bitterness are some of the
things we should stop doing. b. Being kind, tender hearted, and forgiving
are how we should treat one another.
- Don’t let
the sun go down on your anger. We shall not let it grow in us to cause us
to sin. We shall not cherish it or harbor it until it causes ill will.
- By not
heeding the Spirit or allowing it to work in us we grieve the Spirit.
CHAPTER 5
- The fruit
of the light (Spirit) is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth and
exposing the works of darkness.
- a. We
should find out what is acceptable to the Lord. b. By studying the
scriptures and through the Holy Spirit in us we can find out what is
acceptable to the Lord.
- Instead of
the spirit of intoxication and the things that come with it flowing from
you we should be filled and controlled by the Spirit so that goodness,
righteousness, and truth flow from us. We fill ourselves with the word of
God and with spiritual songs and hymns.
- By the
washing of water by the word of God we become sanctified and therefore
clean.
- As a
husband and wife do, we forsake a life of independence to be joined with
God and to live in harmony with Him.
CHAPTER 6
- A long
life is promised to those who honor and obey their parents.
- Parents
must train children in the ways of the Lord.
- The Lord
will return good to you in return for the good that you do.
- We need
our armor to fight and persevere against spiritual conflicts that threaten
to weaken our faith and hope of salvation.
- a. The
breastplate of righteousness is to walk in righteousness, purity, and
integrity in God. b. The gospel of peace is standing firm in the love and
peace of Christ. c. The shield of faith is our trusting, enduring, and
being secure against all spiritual attacks of Satan. d. The helmet of
salvation is our hope of salvation, which will preserve us against
spiritual conflicts. The sword of the Spirit is the word of God that will
be used to fight against spiritual conflicts.