STUDIES ON EPHESIANS

LESSON 9

WHO THEY BECAME AND WHAT THEY CAME FROM

EPHESIANS 2:1-19

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands-- 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.

1. DEFINITIONS
   1. QUICK zavw -- 1) to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead)
   2. QUICKENED suzwopoievw -- 1) to make one alive together 1a) of Christians, with Christ
   3. RAISED sunegeivrw -- sun = with,

1) to arouse, cause to rise

1a) to arouse from sleep, to awake

1b) to arouse from the sleep of death, to recall the dead to life

1. Course of this world -- age of this world

WORLD = kovsmo"

I Corinthians 1:20 (KJS) Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world (age)? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world (kosmos)?

kovsmo"

1) an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government

2) ornament, decoration, adornment, i.e. the arrangement of the stars, 'the heavenly hosts', as the ornament of the heavens. 1 Pet. 3:3

3) the world, the universe

4) the circle of the earth, the earth

5) the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human race

aijwvn BDB/THAYERS

1) for ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity

2) the worlds, universe

3) period of time, age

VINES

an age, a period of time, marked in the N.T. usage by spiritual or moral characteristics, is sometimes translated "world;" the R.V. marg. always has age. . . .

The phrase "the end of the world" should be "rendered the end of the age," in most places (see END, A, No.2);

END, A, NO. 2

. . . In # Matthew 13:39,40,49, 24:3, 28:20 the rendering "the end of the world" (A.V. and R.V., text) is misleading; the R.V. marg., "the consummation of the age," is correct. The word does not denote a termination, but the heading up of events to the appointed climax. Aiôn is not the world, but a period or epoch or era in which events take place.

1. MADE ALIVE TOGETHER WITH CHRIST
   1. We are quickened -- made alive

      Colossians 2:13 (NKJV) And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses.

      Were we dead before. Do you remember even feeling a little dead. We were dead spiritually. We were subject to the law of "Sin and Death." (Romans 8:2) That is the worst death. But according to the passage here, 8:2, by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus we are free from that law of sin and death. Now you talk about your death bed experience. We were in sad shape. Then we were buried with Christ in baptism and raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). We were dead and now we live. Now that's worth telling about.

   2. We are raised

      We do have responsibilities, but consider who we are. We are the children of God. We need to seek our heritage not letting ourselves be bound by the things of this life.

      Colossians 3:1 (NKJV) If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

   3. We sit in heavenly places. SEE LESSON 8
   4. We are shown the riches of God -- SEE LESSON 8
   5. We are brought nigh
      1. God's plan from before the foundation of the world was a people from the world who would serve him.

         Ephesians 1:4-5 Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

   6. We have peace
      1. Jews and Gentiles are one.
         1. Jews believed Gentiles to be common and unclean. In Acts 10 when Peter saw the vision of the sheet with the animals on it to prepare him to preach to Cornelius. His statement was, verse 14, "I have never eaten anything common or unclean." Jews immersed themselves in water after leaving the market place on the chance they may have come in contact with a Gentile.
         2. Even proselyted Gentiles were separated out. This is indicated by Peter's action spoken of by Paul in Galatians 2. Peter ate with Gentiles until some men came from James and he feared those who were of the circumcism.
      2. Peace is the first consideration listed of those brought nigh. Notice the for-- verse 14
      3. The Gospel is for all. No one is excluded from the promises. We, as Christians, can be at peace with all. As a nation, as a nationality, as some group, we may be at odds. But as Christians, we should have peace. It's a shame and a sin that we often aren't.
   7. We are fellow citizens with the saints. (Past, Present, and Future for them then and us now)
   8. We are built on the foundation of the Apostles and prophets

      No one understood the mystery until the apostles preached the message. It was through the gospel that the Gentiles became who they were. People today want their own standards, law, ways, church, fellowship group, just as the the people in the first century but without the gospel, it does not benefit them at all.  The Gentiles sat for centuries having no hope and without God. They had their way, but it wasn't enough. Our way isn't enough. Just as they needed the gospel, so do we. We must be part of the revealed plan. Just because the plan is completed, doesn't mean that we are in it.

      Ephesians 3:4 (NKJV) by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

      II Peter 3:1 (NKJV) Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,

      Revelation 21:14 (NKJV) Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

   9. We are built for a habitation of God

      I Corinthians 3:16 (NKJV) Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

      NOTE YOU IS PLURAL NOT SINGULAR

      Note this in Revelation 21:22: John didn't see a temple in the City, because "the Lord God and the Lamb are it temple."

      It's both ways. We are the temple of God and God is with us. We don't need a temple, we just need to recognize who we are and then live accordingly.

2. WITHOUT CHRIST
   1. Gentiles in the flesh -- the uncircumcism.
      1. This is a designation of the difference between Jews and Gentiles.

         Galatians 2:7 (NKJV) But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter 8 (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), 9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

      2. This is a physical consideration, a superficial thing. Paul here specifies made by hands when referring to the circumcision. Note Paul in Romans.

         Romans 2:29 (NKJV) but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

         Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

      3. Since this is not a consideration for those who serve God, Paul is merely using the term to designate who he was talking about and their condition. Circumcision was the physical sign of those who were God's people. What is the sign now? Could it be our lives?
   2. Aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.
      1. As a part of God's plan he had selected Israel through which to bring Christ to save the world. We studied that earlier.
      2. Gentiles did not have the oracles of God.

         Romans 3:1 (NKJV) What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.

         Romans 10:1 (NKJV) Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.

         Jews did not keep the teachings and the Gentiles didn't have them. The standard still remains. We must submit to God's righteousness. We do not have it in ourselves to be righteous.

3. The law was not given to the Gentiles.
4. Exod 19:3 (NKJV) And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 4 `You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. 5 `Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 `And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."
5. Examples of Gentiles who recognized the God of Israel:
   1. Naaman - II Kings 5:15-17
   2. Balaam - Numbers 23
   3. Cornelius

•  Acts 10:1 (NKJV) There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.

1. Strangers from the covenants of promise.
   1. The promise began after Adam's sin. Genesis 3:15 is considered to be the first prophecy of Christ. Abraham was promised that in his seek all nations would be blessed.

      Genesis 12:3 (NKJV)

      I will bless those who bless you,

      And I will curse him who curses you;

      And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

   2. Peter quoting from Deuteronomy. 18:15 says:

      Acts 3:22 (NKJV) "For Moses truly said to the fathers, `The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 `And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.' 24 "Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. 25 "You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, `And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'

2. Among the Promises -- the Gentiles would be brought in.

   Isaiah 49:6 (NKJV) Indeed He says,

   `It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant

   To raise up the tribes of Jacob,

   And to restore the preserved ones of Israel;

   I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,

   That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.' "

                   Without God

                  Without Hope

• I Thess. 4:13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
• I Corinthians 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love
• Colossians 1:4 (NKJV) since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 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, 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;

1. NOW: (verse 19)

   You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.

   Remember what they/we were - dead, conducted ourselves in lust of the flesh, fulfilled desires of flesh and mind, were children of wrath, without Christ, aliens and strangers, having no hope, without God.

   That's pretty bleak. But now, besides verse 19, we are alive, we have been raised, we have peace, we are all fellow citizens, we are a habitation of God and His workmanship. We have hope.

   Now we're very special. What are you right now on this earth? Who are you?

QUESTIONS & DISCUSSIONS

LESSON 9

WHO THEY BECAME AND WHAT THEY CAME FROM

1. Write one or not more than two sentences using all of the following words: grace, faith, obedience, saved or salvation, and good works.
   
   
2. Consider our being raised. How does it happen? From what are we raised? Who raises us? What difference does it make in our lives?

3. Does "brought nigh" deal with time, place, access or something else? Explain

4. Describe the Jewish Christians' difficulty in accepting the Gentiles. How did God demonstrate the necessity of this acceptance? Acts 10 in addition to passages already listed in the text might help.

5. Describe the condition of the Gentile before Christ. If Gentiles could be pleasing to God, why were there only a few who served God. Of the Gentiles who served God, what were they still lacking?

6. In Ephesians 2:19, who are the saints?

7. Describe the foundation of the church and how it was laid.

8. Is the city in Revelation 21 a spiritual place or a physical place? Explain.

9. Where does God live?

10. Since the true Jew is circumcised in heart, was it really necessary for a Jewish man to be physically circumcised?

11. Since baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward God, (I Peter 3:21), is it necessary for a man to be dunked in water to be saved?

12. Why did Naaman want the two mules' burden of earth?

13. As a matter of access, where could God be found during the Old Testament periods of time?

14. God's promise to Abraham was that through his seed all nations would be blessed. How could the Gentiles be aliens of that covenant and yet be included in it?

15. Can one please God without hope?

16. Name something hope helps us to conquer.

17. How do we get hope?