Ephesians Lesson 2 part 1

Romans is so doctrinal, it's so basic, we have to work hard to mess it up. And then in Corinthians with all the problems that had to be reproved, and Galatians trying to go back into religions legalism or paganism, and how that had to be corrected. But here in this little Book of Ephesians we're not going to deal with any of those things. Here we're going to deal with hammering home the fact that we are now positioned in Christ, in the Body, to find the roots of that position, we're going to see it in verse 3. Where we are now positioned? In the heavenlies. Do you see that? We're not an earthly people, any longer but rather a heavenly people, spiritual people. A people set apart for God's purposes and not our own. If we retain our own desires, worldly lusts and religious idolatress forms or paganism we are NOT His but rather deceive our own selves. However we are on the earth, but everything that we constantly think about, everything that makes up our being even as we live, work, and move in this old sin-cursed world among the unbelieving ones is our position in the heavenlies. That should be uppermost in our thinking.

So now Paul's letter to the receiving believers in the area of Ephesus probably went out to the other cities in that area. We're sure it got to Colossi, and probably up to Troas, and maybe even got inland as far as Antioch, and Derbe. Isn't it amazing that as these various letters of Paul went out to the various congregations back there in the ancient world where there were no copy machines, no mail system that we know of and no instant communication, that they didn't get lost. Because faithful righteous men rewrote word for word all these letters. However like so many of God's words if they're not received by our spirit they mean remain veiled from our understanding or until the still small or quiet voice speaks to us from our inner being.

Somebody was providentially aware that, "Hey these letters are important, and we'd better protect them." Somehow or other they were kept intact for 300+ years before the Church fathers put them together and put them into what we call the Scriptures. Now that in itself is miraculous. These were just simple letters that were sent out to a congregation, and they only had the one copy, they took the trouble to laboriously hand write each one of these for a Church. This letter especially was rewritten many times as it was sent and circulated among all the Churches in the area around Ephesus, and yet they never got lost. It's just amazing. This is just a little tidbit that too often we forget that makes this Book supernatural. Much of Paul's revelation of Grace, Faith, Love and Truth are revealed by such followers as Clements and a small host of others. We'll quote from some of Clements writings as we progress but for now verse 2.

Ephesians 1:2-3
"Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath (it's already done) blessed us with all (not a Cadillac in every believer's garage. Not a seven bedroom home, but rather we already have) spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:"
Now remember that all of our earthly blessings will only last till we die or they fade from our view by usage or just plan rot. Some of us might get past 90, but most of us are going to come to the end of the road somewhere after 40, 70 or 80, that is if the departure doesn't happen first, and we trust it will, happen soon. But remember these material things are here for such a little while. How did the Psalmist put it? "A blade of grass shoots up in the morning, and in the afternoon it's withered and gone." Thusly bearing witness to our progress unto spiritual resurrection and ascension (salvation). Another good example is up in the north country of Minnesota when it's real cold. Boy you get a -30 degree morning and every breath just becomes a cloud of vapor, but how long does it last? Puff and it's gone. Now that's what the Bible compares our earthly life span to.

But these spiritual blessings, how long will they last? All Eternity and Forever! The world scoffs and thinks we're a bunch of nuts, they think we have to give up all the good times, and we have to shun these things, and we're only living a life of sacrifice. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We don't even have an appetite for those things. Our appetite is now to be on things spiritual because the Lord has given us enough insight that spiritual things are going to last forever - not just for 40 to say 70 years. He's also shown us by example what He expects of us as well, to mix with the sinners, the spiritually wicked (religious) and publicans and the self-righteous ones is to deny Christ. Just as Paul said that he was all things to all peoples so are we to take the same position in Christ. Now this is just what happened when the Hebrews and Romans executed Jesus outside the city wall of Jerusalem. It was done to bring in a New and Living Hope through Faith by Loves activity of receptivity of Grace. For if they had not taken Him outside the city their sin and blood guilt could not the reckoned upon them or the Gentiles. His execution would have remained only a Jewish execution of a righteous and innocent man. From here and before I progress I feel that we need to look at a few of Clements statements in books one and two and we'll skip between books and the chapters: starting with chapter 30 of book two:

“Let Us Do Those Things That Please God, and Flee from Those He Hates, That We May Be Blessed.”
“Seeing, therefore, that we are the portion of the Holy One, let us do all those things which pertain to holiness, avoiding all evil-speaking, all abominable and impure embraces, together with all drunkenness, seeking after change, all abominable lusts, detestable adultery, and execrable pride. “For God,” said [the Scripture], “I resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6; 1Peter 5:5) Let us cleave, then, to those to whom grace has been given by God. Let us cloth ourselves with concord and humility, ever exercising Godly self-control, standing far off from all whispering and evil-speaking, being justified by our spiritual works, and not our words. For [the Scripture] says, “He that speaks much, shall also hear much in answer. And does he that is ready in speech deem himself righteous? Blessed is he that is born of woman, who lives but a short time: be not given to much speaking.” Let our praise be in God, and not of ourselves; for God hates those that commend themselves. Let testimony to our good deeds be borne by others, as it was in the case of our righteous forefathers. Boldness, and arrogance, and audacity belong to those that are accursed of God (the religious man or woman); but moderation, humility, and meekness to such as are blessed by Him.”

Now chapter 33: “But Let Us Not Give up the Practice of Good Works and Love. God Himself Is an Example to Us of Good Works.”
“What shall we do, then, brethren? Shall we become slothful in well-doing, and cease from the practice of love? God forbid that any such course should be followed by us! But rather let us hasten with all energy and readiness of mind to perform every good spiritual work. For the Creator and Lord of all Himself rejoices in His works. For by His infinitely great power He established the heavens, and by His incomprehensible wisdom He adorned them. He also divided the earth from the water which surrounds it, and fixed it upon the immoveable foundation of His own Will. The animals also which are upon it He commanded by His own word into existence. So likewise, when He had formed the sea, and the living creatures which are in it, He enclosed them [within their proper bounds] by His own power. Above all, with His holy and undefiled hands He formed man, the most excellent [of His creatures], and truly great through the understanding given him — the express likeness of His own image. For thus says God: “Let us make man in Our image, and after Our likeness. So God made man; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:26-27) Having thus finished all these things, He approved them, and blessed them, and said, “Increase and multiply.” (Genesis 1:28) We see, then, how all righteous men have been adorned with good works, and how the Lord Himself, adorning Himself with His works, rejoiced. Having therefore such an example, let us without delay accede to His Will, and let us work the work of righteousness with our whole strength.”

Chapter 34: “Great Is the Reward of Good Works with God. Joined Together in Harmony, Let Us Implore That Reward from Him.”
“The good servant receives the bread of his labor with confidence; the lazy and slothful cannot look his employer in the face. It is requisite, therefore, that we be prompt in the practice of well-doing; for of Him are all things. And thus He forewarns us: “Behold, the Lord [comes], and His reward is before His face, to render to every man according to his work.” (Isaiah 40:10, 62:11; Revelation 22:12) He exhorts us, therefore, with our whole heart to attend to this, that we be not lazy or slothful in any good spiritual work. Let our boasting and our confidence be in Him. Let us submit ourselves to His Will. Let us consider the whole multitude of His angels, how they stand ever ready to minister to His Will. For the Scripture says, “Ten thousand times ten thousand stood around Him, and thousands of thousands ministered to Him, (Daniel 7:10) and cried, Holy, holy, holy, [is] the Lord of Sabaoth; the whole creation is full of His glory.” (Isaiah 6:3) And let us therefore, conscientiously gathering together in harmony, cry to Him earnestly, as with one mouth, that we may be made partakers of His great and glorious promises. For [the Scripture] says, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which He has prepared for them that wait for Him.” (1Corinthians 2:9)

Chapter 35: “Immense Is This Reward. How Shall We Obtain It?”
“How blessed and wonderful, beloved, are the gifts of God! Life in immortality, splendor in righteousness, truth in perfect confidence, faith in assurance, Godly self-control in holiness! And all these fall under the cognizance of our understandings [now]; what then shall those things be which are prepared for such as wait for Him? The Creator and Father of all worlds, the Most Holy, alone knows their amount and their beauty. Let us therefore earnestly strive to be found in the number of those that wait for Him, in order that we may share in His promised gifts. But how, beloved, shall this be done? If our understanding be fixed by faith's reward of God; if we earnestly seek the things which are pleasing and acceptable to Him; if we do the things which are in harmony with His blameless Will; and if we follow the way of truth, casting away from us all unrighteousness and iniquity, along with all covetousness, strife, evil practices, deceit, whispering, and evil-speaking, all hatred of God, pride and haughtiness, vainglory and ambition (which are of religions practices). For they that do such things are hateful to God; and not only they that do them, but also those that take pleasure in them that do them. (Roman 1:32) For the Scripture says, “But to the sinner God said, Wherefore do you declare My statutes, and take My covenant into your mouth, seeing you hate instruction, and cast My words behind you? When you see a thief, you consented with him, and did make your portion with adulterers. Your mouth has abounded with wickedness, and your tongue contrived deceit. You sit, and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother’s son. These things you have done, and I kept silence; you thought like the wicked one, that I should be like to yourself. But I will reprove you, and set yourself before you. Consider now these things, you that forget God, lest He tear you in pieces, like a lion, and there be none to deliver. The sacrifice of praise will glorify Me, and a way is there by which I will show him the salvation of God (Psalm 50: 16-23).”