STUDY OF EPHESIANS

LESSON 8

HOPE, INHERITANCE, AND GOD'S POWER

Ephesians 1:11-21(NKJV) In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. 15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

HEAR, BELIEVE, TRUST, SALVATION, EARNEST(GUARENTEE), REDEMPTION.

1. Hearing is fundamental -- if you do not know you cannot believe, you cannot trust; therefore, you do not have salvation and redemption. Since the guarantee is for what one has, that is also gone. Hearing has to be taken in the since of receiving knowledge of and being receptive to what is presented to us. The New Testament and the gospels had not been compiled and preserved as we know it at the time Ephesians was penned by Paul; therefore, the initial contact with the gospel during this early period was almost always the spoken word. The initial contact with most people today is still the spoken word. The spoken word today, since we cannot speak by inspiration, must be what the written inspired word teaches.
2. Belief from the heart yields righteousness -- We have to hear the right thing and then do the right thing. Obedience is necessary and included in the belief. See Romans 10:10-17.
3. Earnest -- Their earnest(guarantee) was the Holy Spirit of Promise. Our guarantee is the fulfilled promises. If the Holy Spirit is no longer seen in the miraculous manner of the New Testament times, then we must take the fulfilled promises as the earnest. This is why it is necessary to understand that if the miraculous deeds of the Holy Spirit have ceased, then all things have been fulfilled. The coming of the perfect (reaching the fulfillment or having completion), I Corinthians 13:10, must coincide with the fulfillment of the prophecies because that is when that which is in part will vanish away.
4. Redemption -- a releasing effected by payment of ransom
   1. redemption, deliverance
   2. liberation procured by the payment of a ransom

1. PAUL'S PRAYER --

   Paul prayed for the people he had contact with and told them about his prayers for them, probably in the same way as we do today. This shows Paul's support of them and his concern that they do right. We should never minimize the grandness of prayers on our behalf. Paul prayed that they be given the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. Scholars are divided as to whether this is the Spirit of God or spirit within man. Were the Ephesians to receive the Spirit of God so that they had special wisdom and knowledge or were they to develop within themselves, with God's help, abilities to know and use the knowledge available to them? Verses 9-10 show Paul's statement that God had made known the mystery which was accomplished by Christ. This answers one of the major arguments against man's spirit being referred to, because, since the mystery had been revealed, further divine utterances would not be needed for them to have the responsibilities associated with their knowledge of the mystery; they would need to discern and use it carefully and accurately. The apostles, as the ambassadors of Christ (II Corinthians 5:18-20) would have the responsibility of declaring any thing not yet revealed regarding Christ and His kingdom. Regardless of spirit considerations, the result is the same -- they were to know, through enlightened eyes of understanding, the hope, riches, and power for those who believe. Compare Colossians 1:9 --

   ⁹ For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM.

1. Spirit of wisdom and revelation does not necessarily refer to the Holy Spirit helping us to understand and see.

   If only the apostles could pass on the miraculous gift, then why would Paul pray for them to get it when no one was around to give it to them. If Paul did not ask for them to receive the spirit in the miraculous sense, then the prayer must have been that God would place within them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in accordance with their knowledge of Christ. It would be the spirit (like an attitude) to properly receive and use the knowledge they were gaining.

2. Wisdom is given by God -- If we are to pray for it, then God must give it.

   James 1:5 ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

3. Wisdom of God is made known by the church in heavenly places.
   1. Ephesians 3:10 ^{8 10} to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.
   2. See also verse 20 of our text. Christ was seated in heavenly places.
   3. The heavenly places refer to the realms of heaven, those places we cannot see because we are in the flesh. The establishment and existence of His church is eternal, it is a spiritual thing. We can be in it while in our physical bodies, only if we are spiritually minded living according to the spirit and not the flesh. If we are walking thus here, we shall continue to walk in those heavenly places and look forward to that end. Remember He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing "in heavenly places," verse 3. See Lesson 4, number III
   4. God in his wisdom, has blesses us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places.  Who are we to be in such a high position.  Yet God in his wisdom has placed us there.  We, being in His church, testify to His wisdom. 
   5. What's important is that we can ask God who has this great wisdom to give us wisdom.
4. Wisdom from God is necessary.
   1. The earthly should not be mixed with it.
      1. The preaching of the gospel is from God

         1 Corinthians 1:18-20 ¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." ²⁰ Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

      2. Faith comes by hearing, I Cor. 15:11. The apostles preached what they received from the Holy Spirit so that faith was from God not man.

         1 Corinthians 2:4-5 ⁴ And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ⁵ that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

   2. Man's wisdom will be flawed, God's wisdom is pure

      James 3:17 ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

   3. Wisdom is necessary to walk properly.

      Colossians 4:5-6 ⁵ Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. ⁶ Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

   4. In all wisdom the word of Christ is to dwell in us.

      Colossians 3:16 ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

   5. It is only by our knowledge of God's word that we can exercise the wisdom that God has given us. Did you notice in the references the necessity of having the Word. 

      "The message of the cross is the power of God.  God has made foolish the wisdom of this world."  Paul's speech and preaching were "not with persuasive words of human wisdom,"  so that our Faith stands in the power of God. It is God's word that is to dwell in us in all wisdom.  We need the wisdom to make the applications, develope our faith, but we must have the word and wisdom to do any thing we do as Christians.

5. Revelation was ongoing at that time.

   The plan/mystery was in the process of being revealed. For someone to have the spirit of revelation in that time would be that he was seeing or realizing the revelation taking place. They would be recognizing the fulfillment of the prophecies. We must realize this fact and difference.  All has been fulfilled since 70 AD.  We no longer have the revelations and gifts.  That is a difference we must recognize to understand the Bible correctly.

6. Knowledge -- God's word, the revelation, the gospel

   In this passage knowledge is combined with wisdom. Without wisdom, the wisdom from above, we will not use God's word properly. God's revelation without the wisdom to use it is much like swine having pearls. Jesus said in Matthew 7:6 6

"Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces."

There are a lot of pigs out there so to speak.  The claim knowledge of the word.  They rant and rave.  They pronounce the sentence of many to Hell and they do not know the difference between having the prophecies fulfilled. Between revelation to establishe the word and the word preserved.  They pronounce life to all who will listen to them and they don't know life is for those in the kingdom of Christ and only for those in the kingdom of Christ.  They know little about the kingdom because they are too busy spouting out just what pleased them and their hearers.  Their reasoning comes from their pocketbooks, the crowds they can draw, the influence they can exert.

EYES OF UNDERSTANDING ENLIGHTENED

1. Understanding is that which comes from our minds, it could be correct or incorrect.

   In this passage the understanding is to yield or bring forth specified knowledge.  Paul said. "That you may know the hope of His calling, the ridhes of the glory of His inheritance and the greatness of His power.  What is the hope of his calling?  It is life, it has been restored.  What is the glory of his inheritance?  We have it now.  It is the kingdom of God and if you don't see the glory, you have not been enlightened.  What is the greatness of his power to us who believe?  Where would I start.  Forgiveness, a heavenly kingdom, Christ is king and reigns in our hearts and minds. Before the foundation of the world, God planned our salvation.  

2. Enlightenment renders evident. Notice the process as follows:

   2 Corinthians 3:12-16 ¹² Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech -- ¹³ unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴ But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. ¹⁵ But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. ¹⁶ Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

   Do we see the attitude that must be in us.  Our hearts must be opened to the understanding.  We must remove the veil.  Then we can have the understanding.

3. HOPE OF HIS CALLING
   1. Israel had a hope --

      Acts 28:20 ²⁰ "For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain."

   2. The Gentiles had hope -- Romans 15:12-13 -- See also Ephesians 2:11-19
   3. We are saved by hope -- Romans 8:23
   4. Hope is a product of tribulation perseverance, and character. -- Romans 5:1-5
   5. Hope abides -- I Corinthians 13:13
   6. Hope extends beyond this life -- I Corinthians 15:17-22
   7. One hope of our calling

      Ephesians 4:3 (NKJV) endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

      One must view this famous unity passage with the preceding discussion of the Gentiles being included by the Gospel. Before the cross, the Gentiles had no hope. Prophecies had been given that they would be included. But that was part of the mystery. Since the Gentiles had no hope before, the resurrection was not necessarily part of their hope. The reconciliation with God and restoration of eternal life with God was the basis of all hope. If the Jew died and was not yet with God, then a resurrection was necessary. If we physically die and are then with God, then we do not need a resurrection. The one hope was the reconciliation and restoration with God. That is what was taken away with sin and the forgiveness of sin restored it. Recall the words of Jesus to Martha once more:

      John 11:25-26 - "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

      Martha, Bill, Pete, Larry, Jack, Jill . . Do you believe this?

      Hebrews 7:18-19 says: "For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God."

      1. Hope in heaven --

         Colossians 1:5 ⁵ because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,

      2. A living hope -

         1 Peter 1:3-5 ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

         I must view this as in opposite to a dying hope, as in I hope to die to be resurrected. Only when we do not live spiritually do we have that hope. In this life we are limited by our physical bodies, what we can see and understand in them. If Jesus was correct, and I believe he was, when he said "whoever lives and believe in Me shall never die," then we must be spiritually alive.

         Some one might well ask,  "Had they not already received salvation?" They had obtained salvation from sin but the revelation is what is spoken of here.  Consider that the manifestation or revealing of the sons of God had likewise not taken place, Romans 8:19. (Same root word). The understanding lies in what had to be revealed. They had salvation, they were the sons of God but to the world it was not yet known. When the Jewish Theocracy was destroyed in 70 AD, the Christians remained as God's people.  This is when the revelation took place. If the salvation was still of the Jews, their system of worship and approach to God would have remained. But it didn't, so who was in and who was out? That's the revelation.

      3. Hope of eternal life -- Titus 1:1-3

         " Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, 3 but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior.

4. RICHES OF THE GLORY OF HIS INHERITANCE
   1. THE RICHES OF GOD ARE DIFFERENT AND FAR BETTER THAN MAN'S RICHES.
      1. Parable of the rich man illustrates this. -- Luke 12:16-21
      2. Jesus answer to the rich young ruler shows the difficulty of entering the Kingdom of God with riches. -- Luke 18:18-25
      3. We are not to lay up treasures on earth -- Matthew 6:19-21
      4. Moses is a good example: Hebrews 11:24-26

         By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

   2. OUR ACTIONS AND CONDUCT REFLECT OUR UNDERSTANDING OF GOD'S RICHES.
      1. Zacchaeus had a good attitude about his tax collections.

         Luke 19:8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." 9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

      2. The poor widow gave more than they all. -- Luke 21:1-4
      3. The Macedonians gave themselves first. -- II Corinthians 8:1-5
      4. We should be rich in good works.

         I Timothy 6:17 (NKJV) Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

   3. THE RICHES OF GOD LEAD US TO SALVATION AND INTO THE RICHES GOD HAS FOR US.
      1. God's goodness leads to repentance --

         Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and long suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

      2. God endured the vessels of wrath to make known the riches of his glory.

         Romans 9:22-26 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,

      3. The riches of Christ are unsearchable. -- Ephesians 3:8 see also verse 20
      4. Riches are revealed to the saints.

         Colossians 1: 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

         Colossians 2:2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.

      5. Riches of Grace brought forgiveness of sins -- Ephesians 1:7
      6. Using the riches we have, we should abound in good works
         1. II Corinthians 9:8 (NKJV) And God is able to make all grace abound toward you,that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
5. The power of God for those who believe -- Ephesians 1:19

   This refers to the unmatchable and inherent power of God. This is for those who believe.

   1. The kingdom is in power -- I Corinthians 4:20
   2. Know the scriptures to know the power of God - Matthew 22:29
   3. Preaching of the cross is the power of God -- I Corinthians 1:18
   4. God's eternal power is understood by the things which are seen -- Romans 1:20
   5. The body is raised from the dead in power -- I Corinthians 15:40-43
   6. His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness - 2 Peter 1:3
   7. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God -- Ephesians 6:10-11
6. Colossians 1:10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and long suffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
7. The devil had the power of death -- Hebrews 2:14  But we have been freed and death has lost it's sting.  Now do you see the power of God.  You can die in trust and with hope.  You can have the forgivenss of sins.  Don't you see the power of God. Our eyes are enlightened, his power is great beyond comparison. Praise God from whom all blessing flow.  Amen.

QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS

LESSON 8

HOPE, INHERITANCE, AND GOD'S POWER

1. According to Ephesians 1:13 they were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise. What does this mean and are we sealed now?

2. In Ephesians 1:12-13 what did the Ephesians do before hoping (or trusting) in Christ? Why was this necessary?

3. What was the guarantee of their inheritance? Do we have a pledge or earnest now and is it the same? If the guarantee is no longer available has the inheritance been received?

4. Had the redemption of the purchased possession taken place? Has the redemption taken place now? What was the purchased (acquired, God's own ) possession?

6. Explain the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.

7. How does a Christian get wisdom? From where does it come? What is it for? Who has wisdom?

8. What are the principalities and powers in heavenly places? Is this a change from what you once thought?

9. List the different sources of wisdom which are mentioned in this lesson.

10. Do we need a spirit of revelation now? Why? or Why not?

11. Should we view knowledge and wisdom together? Why?

12. What can we know by proper understanding?

13. How do we obtain proper understanding according to verses 17 and 18?

14. What are veils that might hinder our understanding today?

15. How does hope come from tribulation?

16. How does hope save us?

17. What was the one hope of the Ephesian's calling? Is that the same as ours?

18. How do our actions reflect on what we consider to be the true riches?

19. What riches came from God and what effect should God's riches have on us?

20. Does everyone know about God's riches? Why?

21. How might we use our earthly riches to show our understanding of the true riches?

22. Reflecting on God's power and from your standpoint as a human, what is the most difficult thing God does or has done?