“Knowing Your Heritage”
An Expository Series From The Book Of Ephesians
Part A
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Who’s Your Daddy?
(Is God Jesus’s Father?)
(Is Jesus God’s Father?)
(Is God Your Father?)
(Is Jesus Your Father?)
(Is God Your Brother ?)
(Is Jesus Your Brother?)
(Are We Children of God?)
(Are We Children of Christ?)
(Who Is LORD God?)
(Do We Pray To Jesus?)
(Do We Pray To The One Jesus Prayed To?)
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How Can We Prove The Truth?
(Filp A Coin?)
(Take A Wild Guess?)
(Ask Your Parents?)
(Read The Church Bylaws?)
(Ask Your Pastor?)
(Become Ordained?)
(Google It?)
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Let’s Read The Bible For Ourselves!
TheOnenessofGod.Org (Separating Truth from Tradition)
We Have The Same
God & Father
Today’s Reading: (Eph 1:1-3)
Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle (G652) of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Eph 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, AND (G2532) [a conjunction word] from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph 1:3 Blessed (G2128) be [He who possesses the blessings] the God and Father of our Lord (G2962) [master] Jesus Christ, who hath blessed (G2127) us [He who receives the blessings] with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in (G1722) [with] Christ:
The Significance Of Paul’s Writings
The History Of Paul’s Authority
Paul is the author of this letter to the church
1. The outpouring of the Holy Ghost occurred in (Acts 2:1-6, 29-38); The Day of Pentecost.
2. At that time Paul was a persecutor of the church, those who were “disciples of the Lord” [followers of Christ] (Acts 8:1, 9:1-2). Paul would later have a supernatural encounter that would change the course of his life forever. This supernatural encounter, however, was not with God, it was with Jesus (Acts 9:3-6, 17).
3. Paul is later baptized, filled with the Holy Ghost and receives his sight (Acts 9:18- scales fell from his eyes – his understanding and purpose become clear from this point).
4. Paul, having been sent by Christ (Acts 9:15-16), was (the 14th and last apostle Christ sent out) therefore qualified to speak on behalf of Christ as to who Jesus was, and is (Acts 9:20 – Christ, the Son of God), and went out “proving” it (Acts 9:22).
5. Paul, by the will of God, carried this proclamation (the God of Christ) with boldness (Acts 9:27; Eph 1:1-3, 17). We should never be ashamed to proclaim this Biblical truth “boldly”. (Mark 8:38; Rom 1:16; 2Cor 10:8; Heb 11:16)
6. Ref Link: ( The Importance of the Apostles Writings )
A Word About Authority
I. Paul reveals a dual source of his authority.
Paul identifies himself as “an apostle of Jesus Christ”.
An apostle refers to someone who is sent, “a sent one.” The word is used in the New Testament to refer to those men who were chosen to be the founding leaders of the church, Eph. 2:20.
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (Eph 4:11-13)
Paul also lets us know that Christ was looked upon as the first “apostle” sent. Jesus was sent by God (John 12:49; Heb 3:1) and therefore Jesus Christ was rightly regarded as the chief corner stone (main foundation) of the church (1Cor 3:9-11)
II. Paul also tells us that he was an apostle “by the will of God”
Paul was a man sent by Jesus for a special mission holding divine authority. Paul tells us that he was an apostle “by the will of God.” This reminded the saints at Ephesus that Paul had not chosen this path for himself; the Lord (God) had chosen this path for him. (1Ti 1:1)
1Ti 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord (master) Jesus Christ, which is our hope; (Eph 1:1)
1Ti 1:2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord (master).
Note: Great caution must be applied concerning the Greek translated word “Kurios” (Lord, lord, master, sir, Sir) which is most often transliterated in KJV as “Lord” (G2962). This particular word “Lord” can apply (and is applied) to both God and man. This is vitally important to be aware of because at times it can make a passage become confusing and/or misleading. (Ref: Are There Two Lords? Prove It! (Jude 1:4) )
and
1Ti 1:14 And the grace of our Lord G2962 (God) was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
Note: Grace came to man from God, not Christ, it is a gift of God (Eph 2:4-5, 8). Grace and Salvation was God’s plan, not Jesus (John 7:16-17, 8:26-29; 12:49-50, 14:23-24, 31)
A Word About The Addressees
Concerning the recipients of this letter.
Paul calls the recipients of his letter “saints” and he calls them “the faithful in Christ Jesus.”
The word “saint” means “a most holy thing.” It speaks of something that has been sanctified and set apart for God’s exclusive use. It speaks of how God sees us! Every child of God is a saint. Every person who is saved by the grace of God and washed in the blood of Jesus is “a holy thing,” set apart for the glory of God and for His exclusive use in this world.
The word “saint” describes what the Lord has done for us in Jesus. When we came to the Lord Jesus by faith, God saved our souls and He imputed the righteousness of Christ to our accounts (Rom. 3:21-22; 1 Cor. 1:30; Phil. 3:9).
While the word “saint” describes our standing before God, the word “faithful” describes our activities in the world. Because we have been saved and sanctified by God, we are new creatures in Jesus, 2 Cor. 5:17. As a result, we live a distinct, different life than the world around us. In other words, those who know the Lord (God) are His holy saints, who live faithful lives in a world that does not know the Lord.
Saints Have the Same Father and God As Jesus Christ:
How do you know that the individuals you call mom and dad are indeed your real parents?
For the most part, most of us accept the identities of our parents based on what we were told or taught during our early childhood. The same is often true when we are asked to identify our heavenly father.
Since the Bible is to be our guided source of what we know about man and our beginning we can confirm what is true based on the word of God.
Having a firm understanding of how God is your father will help you understand how the same God could be the father of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Having a firm understanding of how we are the offspring and children of God will also help you understand why we are brothers and sisters with Christ, knowing that there is only one God, the Father.
And finally, having a firm understanding of the adoption process will help you understand why we are joint heirs with Christ.
If we are “true” children of any parent (physically or spiritually) we will possess some aspect of that parent (inwardly or outwardly) although it may not always be immediately verifiable or observable, it nonetheless exists.
1. “Son of Man”
a). Everyone (in the Bible) that is referred to as being the “Son of Man” was born and brought into this world, by means of a woman. Since Adam was not born into this world, rather was created, he is therefore not referred to as “Son of Man”, instead he is considered as the “Father of Mankind” (being that he is the first man God created)
Note: See also “quickening“: (G2227), Keeping in mind Christ was born with the Holy Ghost as was John (Mat 1:18 (NIV); Luke 1:13, 15; Acts 10:38)
Note: The absence of a human father, however, does not automatically disqualify someone from being 100% human – (See: Pregnant Without Human Sperm?)
b). Everything that is called the “Son of Man” will all have been mortal – [All were/are capable of dying].
2. “Son of God”
Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God (Romans 8:14, Isa 48:17; 2Cor 6:18; 1John 3:1; Rev 21:7) and children of God because of our faith in Christ (Galatians 3:26, 4:6, Romans 8:1, Ephesians 1:5). Without question, Christ was led by the Spirit of God (John 5:30, 8:29; John 14:31, 15:10, 17:4, Heb 5:8) (John 17:21-22; John 20:17).
To Be Continued…..
Eph 1:4 According as he [God] hath chosen [selected] us [the saints] in him [with Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we [the saints] should be holy and without blame before him [God] in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated (G4309) [determined before] us [the saints] unto the adoption of children by (G1223) [with] Jesus Christ to himself [God], according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption (G629) [ in exchange ] through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his [God] grace;
Eph 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest (G728) [pledge] of our inheritance until the redemption [exchange] of the purchased possession [the saints], unto the praise of his glory.
Eph 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
Eph 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20 Which he [God] wrought in Christ, when he [God] raised him [Jesus] from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Part B:
( Sermon Notes: Ephesians 1:4-5 )