The Search for Significance

Do you ever wonder if you life really matters?  Many Christians buy into the definitions of success promoted by our consumer culture.  We confuse "having" with "being."  What all of us need today is a new sense of who we are, not upon what we have.

I believe we can gain this new sense of significance by rethinking who we are as the people of God.  For to know God, or rather to be known by Him (Galatians 4:9) is to have one's life profoundly changed and refocused.  Here is significance that is authentic and lasting.  1 Corinthians 3:16-23 gives several metaphors of our significance to God.

    1. We are God's House.
    2. We are God's personal possession.
    3. We are God's holy place.

The real basis of self esteem is our position as the sons and daughters of God.  The basis for becoming "real" is love.  It is not having things but standing for something.  God defines what is real for us.

Text: 1 Cor 3:16-23, Gal 4:9

Ephesians - Notes

EPHESIANS by 
Avon Malone

Background - Paul is a prisoner (3:1; 4:1; 6:20) probably in Rome

(Ephesus and Caesarea have been also proposed as the place of writing). Ephesians belongs to the corpus of letters known as the prison letters which also includes Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. These were written during the first Roman imprisonment (about 60 or 61 to 62 A.D.) from which Paul seems to have been released (Philippians 1:25, 26; Philemon 22. Quote from Clement of Rome).

A.       Destination and Identity - Various Possibilities:

1.          The letter from Laodicea (Colossians 4:14).

2.          E. Goodspeed's view - a mosaic from other Pauline letters composed as a cover letter for the Pauline corpus.

3.          A letter addressed only to Ephesian Christians (Acts 19).

4.          A circular letter, i.e., going to Ephesus and to a number of other churches in Asia Minor (1:1, 2; 1:15 and 3:1).

B.       Tribute to Ephesians:

1.           "...the most profound book in the Bible" - John Bannister, F.W.C.C. Lectures, 1961.

2.           "...the divinest composition..." - Samuel Coleridge.

3.           "...an exalted prose poem of Christ and the church."

C.       Theme: The church in the eternal purpose.
Outlines:

A.      R. C. Bell

1.          The   calling of the church - Chapters 1-3

2.          The   conduct of the church - 4:1 - 6:9

3.          The   conflict of the church - 6:10 - 6:24

B.       W.   Nee

1.          Sit - 1-3

2.          Walk - 4:1 - 6:9

3.          Stand - 6:10-24

C.       The purpose of God - Chapter 1
The problem with man - Chapter 2

The place of the church - Chapter 3

The plea for unity - 4:1-16

The practical section - 4:17 - 6:24

D. An Extended Outline (1:1 - 4:17) (Homer Hailey and Ed. C. Wharton are the compilers of the following outline.)

I. GOD'S ETERNAL PURPOSE IN CHRIST. EPHESIANS 1:3-14.

"The apostle surveys in this thanksgiving the entire source of the revelation of grace. Standing with the men of his day, the newborn community of the sons of God in Christ, midway between the ages past and to come, he looks backward to the source of man's salvation when it lay a silent thought in the mind of God, and forward to the hour when it shall have accomplished its promise and achieved our re­demption." —G. B. Findlay, The Epistle to the Ephesians.

a.. God - the Architect and Fountain-head of all blessings, vv. 3-6.

Verse 3.

"Every spiritual blessing" - all blessings are from God, and in Christ.

"Heavenly places, "en tois erouraniois en Christoi." "This precise phrase (with en) occurs nowhere else than in Ephesians in the New Testament" - A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures.

"It is best therefore, to retain the simple local meaning, and take it to describe the blessings which are stated to be in their nature spiritual, further as being found in heaven. To that they belong, and from thence it is that they come to us to be our present possession on earth. The choice of the unusual form here may be due to the largeness of the idea. It is not merely that the blessings with which God blessed us are blessings having their origin in heaven, but that they are blessings which have their seat where God himself is and where Christ reigns." Salmond, Expositor's Greek Testament. See also Ephesians 1:20; 2:6; 3:10-11; cf. 6:12.

Verses 4-6.

He chose us, v. 4 (elected). (EklektosJ "picked out, chosen." —Thayer. "Expresses the idea of selecting for oneself out of a number... The foundation of the statement is the great Old Testament idea of Israel as a nation chosen by the Lord to be a peculiar people unto Himself, above all peoples that are upon the earth (Deuteronomy 14:2)... The immediate subject is not what we are made, but what God does-His election and how it proceeds. And the idea is that that election has its ground in Christ and without respect to His special relation to us, and His forseen work, there would be no election of us." Salmond, op. cit.

Before the foundation of the world, v. 4

(Katabole) "a founding (laying down a foundation, pro, John 17:24; Ephesians 1:4; I Peter 1:20)." -—Thayer "Lit., a casting down...(2) (jrro, John 17:24; Ephesians 1:4; I Peter 1:20; all other passages, a£0, HH) The latter phrase (pro, the three passages just cited, HH) looks back to the past eternity." W. E. Vine.

Having foreordained us into adoption as sons, (prooridzo)

V. 5. oridzo. "To predetermine, decide beforehand... to foreordain, appoint beforehand." —Thayer. "Denotes to bound, to set a boundary (English, horizon); hence, to mark out definitely, determine, pro, beforehand, to determine before, foreordain (Acts 4:28; I Corinthians 2:7; Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:5-11)." ~W. E. Vine.

But the choosing, foreordaining, was in the purpose of God, see vv. 9-11. Keep this thought before you in studying the passage.

Foreknowledge - study this also, prognosin, noun form, two times in the New Testament; (proginosko) verb, 5 times;

Acts 26:5 2 Peter 3:17

Acts 2:23 1 Peter 1:2

Romans 8:29 Romans 11:2 1 Peter 1:20

Verb form, purely classical, "previous knowledge." Wuest.

Noun form, beyond purely classical meaning.

Verb form, also beyond purely classical meaning.

b. Jesus Christ - the summing up of God's purpose and the channel of His blessings, vv. 7-12.

Verse 7.

Redemption: explained as "the forgiveness of trespasses." Through His blood - for both those of the Old Covenant and of the new, Hebrews 9:15, 22; 10:4. "That apart from us they should not be made perfect." Hebrews 11:40.

Verses 8-10.

Mystery: (musterion) "1. A hidden or secret thing, not obvious to understand. 2. A hidden purpose or counsel; secret will." —Thayer

Dispensation - (oikonomia) "administration, Dispen­sation." —Thayer, "arrangement or administration" -- Vine. "The divine ordering of the affairs of the world" - The New Century Dictionary.

Fullness of time - when the time should be ready. When ready, Christ came, Galatians 4:4; Mark 1:14, 15. Thus began the unfolding, the revelation of the mystery, the fulfilling of the purpose of God. To sum up all things in Christ: i.e., the summing up of God's redemption, thus uniting the family in heaven and on earth. See Ephesians 3:14.

Verse 11a.

In whom also we were made a heritage (Am S V); in whom we have obtained an inheritance (KJV) (kleroo) "to make a cleros, i.e. a heritage, private possession...the heritage of God, Ephesians 1:11 (In eccles, writ, it signifies to become a clergyman)." -Thayer. Therefore, the Am S V is better, of 1:18.

Verses llb-12.

A summary of the "purpose." Purpose - "according to purpose," key to the passage, (protithemi) "to set before, set forth," - W. E. Vine, (prothesis) "The setting forth of a thing; placing it in view, 2. to set before one's self, propose to one's self; to propose, determine." Thayer.

Therefore, purpose signifies God's plan set before Him­self from eternity. Hence, God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, foreordained us to adoption, according to purpose, in His plan.

c. The Holy Spirit - the earnest of our inheritance vv. 13-14. You heard the gospel - you believe - you v/ere sealed.

Verse 13.

Sealed: sphragidzo: "To set a mark upon by impress of a seal, to stamp...respecting God, who by the gift of the Holy Spirit indicates who are his, pass., Ephesians 1:13; 4:30." —Thayer, "to seal, is used to indicate (d) owner­ship and security, together with destination." —W. E. Vine.

"Holy Spirit of promise" - promise; Not active, bringing or confirming the promise; but passive, promised; object or content of the promise. Promises Joel 2:28-32; Isaiah 44:3; Ezekiel 26:26, 27; Zechariah 12:10; John 14-16; Acts 2:38-39; Galatians 3:26:27; 4:6-7. —Hence, it was the Holy Spirit himself who was promised.

Verse 14.

Earnest, (arrabon) "an earnest, i.e. money which in purchases is given as a pledge that the full amount will subsequently be paid." —Thayer. "Originally, earnest-money deposited by the purchaser and forfeited if the purchase was not completed. In general usage it came to denote a pledge or earnest of any sort; in the New Testament it is used only of that which is assured by God to believers... 2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:14" -W. E. Vine. There­fore, it is God's full guarantee that the purpose will be consummated in our inheritance, in the resurrection; the final work of Christ's redemptive sacrifice, I Peter 1:5-9; •Hebrews 9:27, 28. This view of the purpose extends from eternity to eternity.

II. THE CHURCH - IN THE ETERNAL PURPOSE OF GOD: EPHESIANS 1:15 - 4:16.

In passing from the book of Colossians to the book of Ephesians, one passes from a consideration of "the fullness of Christ" to that of "the fullness of the church." God in Christ - "Christ, the fullness of the Godhead." Colossians 2:9. Christ in the church - "the church, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all," Ephesians 1:22, 23.

The eternal purpose of God has been considered; also it has been shown that Christ is the summing up of all the purpose, wisdom and knowledge of God. In this section we propose to show the place of the church in the eternal purpose of God, and that in it are summed up all of God's provisions for man which He has made in Christ.

1.       The church - the fulness of Christ, Ephesians 1:15-23.

(1)        In Christ: Every spiritual blessing, 1:3.

Redemption, the forgiveness of sins, 1:7.

Summing up of all things, 1:10.

God's heritage, 1:11.

Sts. sealed unto the inheritance, 1:13-14.

(2)       Paul's prayer and desire for the saints; that they may appropriate these blessings and the power which are at the Christian's disposal, 1:15-20.

(3)       But the church is the fullness of Christ, 1:23. Therefore, all that God has provided in Christ is enjoyed by those in Christ, who are the church, which is the fullness of Him that filleth all in all. Every provision in Christ, made by God for man, is realized in the church.

2.       The church - the alive with Christ, 2:1-10.

(1)      The former condition; dead in sins and trespasses, 2:1-3.

(2)      But now raised up to sit with Him in heavenly places, and that by the power exercised in Him when God raised Him 4, 10.

3.       The church - the body of the reconciled, 2:11-18.

(1)      Separated, alienated, and without God, 2:11-12 (plus the enmity which existed between them and the Jews).

(2)      But now made nigh in Christ, by His blood, 13-15. One new man: the new creature, 2 Corinthians 5:17; neither Jew nor Greek. The "one body" is the church, made up of those new individuals.

(3)      Reconciled in "one body" - the church. Christ preached peace unto them; but when? In the Holy Spirit through the gospel, John 14:18, 26; Acts 26:23; through the apostles, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21; through Christians, Ephesians 3:17; Philippians 2:14-15; Revelation 22:17.

Therefore, all the reconciled are those in Christ, in the church; all outside of Christ are outside the church, the body of the reconciled, and hence lost.

4.       The church - a temple of God, a habitation for God in the Spirit,
2:19-22.

(1)       Fellow-citizens - here in the kingdom idea - fellow-citizens
in the kingdom, though strangers in the world, 2:19; I Peter
2:11, 12. The kingdom and the church are one:

Church bought with blood, Acts 20:28. Individuals bought with blood, I Peter 1:18, 19. The individuals bought with blood are the kingdom, Revelation 5:9, 10.

Since the individuals bought with blood constitute the church -constitute the kingdom - the church and kingdom are the same.

(2)       Household of God - the family idea - God's family, His sons and daughters, 2 Corinthians 6:16, 17; I Timothy 3:15.

(3)       A temple of God - the worship idea - a dwelling place for God in the Spirit, vv. 20-22; see I Corinthians 3:9, 16, 17;

2 Corinthians 6:16-18; I Corinthians 6:19-20. The various congregations make up the church in the aggregate.

5.       The church - in the eternal purpose of God 3:1-13.

(1) The revelation of the mystery, vv. 1-7.

The mystery: the place of the Gentiles in the plan of God (see also Colossians 1:27; 2:3-4).

Fellow-heirs: Israel's God is our God; Abraham is our father, Galatians 3:7, 29; Israel's experience our example, I Corinthi­ans 10:6-11; their inheritance our inheritance, Hebrews 9:15; Acts 20:32; both are heirs of the ages, I Corinthians 3:21-23.

Fellow-members of the body: one body, the church, made up of Jews and Gentiles - now new - Ephesians 2:15, 17.

Fellow-partakers of the promise: God's promise to Abraham, Genesis 12:3; 22:18.

Its revelation: Through the apostles and prophets (New Testament prophets, 4:11) by the Holy Spirit, John 14:26; 16:12-14; I Peter 1:3-4. Here is the Holy Spirit's work. (This forever answers the absurd claims of Mormonism and all other modern revelationists, there is nothing left to be revealed; there is no vacuum to be filled.)

(2) Paul's special mission, vv. 8-10.

Preach to the Gentiles, v. 8. Whole plan of the gospel. To make all men see - to bring them into fellowship with God through the gospel, v. 9.

Through which unfolding in the church angels were being instructed, v. 10. See I Peter 1:10-12.

And now, fulfilled in the church, hence the church was as much a part of that eternal purpose of God - the body of recon­ciled and redeemed men - as any other part. This forever answers the claims and foolishness of premillenialist on the church as a substitute or an after-thought.

6. Therefore - unto Him be glory in the church, 3:14-21.

(1)       Paul's prayer for the church that they faint not, but they be strengthened in Christ, vv. 14-19.

(2)       "Unto Him be glory.in the church and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever." 3:20-21. Here is God's great and eternal purpose finding its fulfillment and unfolding - glorified in the church.

THE HOLY SPIRIT - HIS WORK.

1. The mission of the Holy Spirit as promised by Jesus.

(1) To be with the apostles as a "Comforter," i.e., an aider, succorer, helper. To be with them in the stead of Christ, 14:16-18. Comforter: parkletos: "3. In the widest sense, a helper, succorer, aider, assistant." --Thayer. So used of the Holy Spirit who was to be with the disciples in the stead of Christ.

Another: alios: "another, other." —Thayer. "Alios expresses a numerical difference and denotes another of the same sort." W. E. Vine.

Jesus: "I come unto you." He came in the person of the Holy Spirit.

(2)        To teach the apostles all things, to guide them into all
truth: 14:26; 16:13, 14.

At this point He has borne witness to Jesus: as He guided the apostles into all truth. This evidence is offered below.

(3)        Declare things to come, 16:13.

At this point also the Spirit has borne witness: all the church knew then and knows now about things to come, the Holy Spirit revealed it.

One prophecy is sufficient: Paul's declaration of the apostasy, 2 Thessalonians 2. Continues to be fulfilled.

(4)        Convict of sin, righteousness, judgment, 16:8.

This work He began on Pentecost, through the preaching of the gospel, the resurrection of Christ, Acts 2:37.

(5)        Bear witness of Christ, 15:26-27.

This witness He has borne:

Abiding with them as their helper, aider, succorer. Guiding them into all truth. Confirming that truth with signs that followed. Convicting the world of sin, righteousness, judgement.

The completed work of the Holy Spirit in the complete revelation.

(1)      He revealed the mystery, God's purpose in Christ, Ephesians 3:3-5; I Corinthians 2:7-13.

(2)      He made known the grace of God:

The grace has appeared, Titus 2:11-14.

The grace has been preached by the Spirit, I Peter 1:10-12.

That grace has been written, I Peter 5:12.

(3)        The faith has been once delivered: 2 Peter 1:1-2. Jude 3:

The faith - the organized body of truth.

Once for all - complete, not to be repeated or added to.

Delivered - revealed, not discovered.

Since the apostles completed their work, not one line of truth has been added to that faith once for all delivered. This is the Spirit's testimony to the truthfulness and omniscience of Jesus.

(4)        Man made partaker of the Divine nature.

By the work of the divine power - the Holy Spirit - man is made partaker of the divine nature, 2 Peter 1:4. The divine power granted the things pertaining to godliness (v. 3); through this man becomes partaker of the divine nature (v. 4); but such could come only by the Holy Spirit, and did so come. The transformation of sinners into the likeness of God, and their partaking of the divine nature is the Spirit's testimony to Christ's deity.

(5)        Apostles made sufficient as ministers of a new covenant.

A word ministry given to the apostles who ministered terms of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-19); which ministry was "sufficient" to provide the New Covenant (2 Corinthians 3:5-6). Cf. 2:14-16.

a.       Jesus died dedicating for us the new covenant, Hebrews 9:15-20 (which is the "new and living way," Cf. 10:19-20).

b.       Which covenant was delivered to us by the apostles, 2 Corinthians 2:14-16; 3:5-6.

c.       Who received such "knowledge of a new covenant and the authority to minister it once for all time through the promised Holy Spirit, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 (Cf. 2:14, 16; 3:5-6; Cf. 1 Corinthians 2:1-13).

(6)        Men thoroughly furnished unto every  good work, 2 Timothy 3:14-17.

Thoroughly furnished by the scriptures; therefore, the Scriptures would have to be complete. Peter considered Paul's writing as scripture, hence that by the New Testament writers now makes man complete, II Peter 3:15-16.

Since by the Holy Spirit the mystery is revealed, the grace of God is made known, ^:.he faith has been once for all delivered, man is made partaker of divine nature, has knowledge of the new covenant through the complete word and thoroughly furnished unto all good works, we conclude that all truth is now revealed, complete, and thereby the Holy Spirit has borne and bears testimony today to Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God.

IV. THE CHURCH - ITS UNITY AND GROWTH: 4:1-16.

1. The unifying spirit - the temper in which unity is to be achieved and maintained, vv. 1-3.

(1)      A proper sense of our Christian calling, v. 1. This carries one back to the first three chapters; God's purpose. Called according to His purpose, Romans 8:28. Heavenly calling, Hebrews 3:1, into fellowship with Christ, I Corinthians 1:9. The walk must be worthy of the calling, and of God, I Thessalonians 2:12; and of the gospel of Christ, Philippians 1:27.

(2)      Lowliness and meekness. Lowliness is deep humility; meekness, that disposition which readily submits to God, James 1:21; it does not avenge itself. Both are exemplified in Jesus, Matthew 11:29 and commanded of Christians, I Peter 5:5-7.

(3)      Longsuffering - that disposition that leads to suppression of anger - opposed to short temper.

(4)      Forbearing...love - the spirit in which longsuffering is exercise; spirit of unselfishness, in love, I Corinthians 13:4-7.

5.  Diligence...spirit...peace - Diligence: "steady application... constant care...due attention, industry; assiduity." Web.

2.       The unifying facts - the basis upon which unity rests, 4-6.

(1)      One body - organism, organization.

(2)      One spirit - The Holy Spirit by which led. Oneness of life.

(3)      One hope - the hope wrought in you by your calling.

(4)      One Lord - the Christ, around whom all revolves. One head.

(5)      One faith - One belief, having Christ as its object; one system of salvation, the result of one message, Jude 3; Romans 10:17; I Peter 4:11.

(6)      One baptism - The rite, same for all, by which admitted into fellowship with Him, Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:3-5.

(7)      One God - all - the author of every  blessing, Ephesians 1:3. Over all - transcendence, sovereignty over all expresses supremacy of absolute Godhead and Fatherhood.

Through all - Expressing immanence, all pervading presence. In all - indwelling, expressing the constant abode of the one God and Father in His people, by His Spirit, Ephesians 2:23.

3.       The unifying gifts - the offices under which unity is to be achieved
and maintained, vv. 8-12.

(1) The gifts: Apostles and prophets - provision for the foundation of the church, 2:19-20; 3:5. The foundation had to be laid only once, hence, no successors in their office. They are still there: Apostles - provision for:

a.        Laying the foundation of the church - Ephesians 2:19-20. That foundation was the deity of Christ, Matthew 16:13-19. Christ here makes a 3-fold claim:

(1) to build His church,

(2) to receive a resurrection, and hence,

(3) to be stronger than death. To meet these claims he must be "tried." Isaiah 28:16 prophesies of the "tried stone." On the cross the Lord was "tried" and at the resurrection He was "proven." Hence, Christ's deity is established at the resurrection. This is the foundation stone upon which the church rests. I Corinthians 3:9-11.

b.       Judging the church - Matthew 19:28. The apostles were to sit on thrones of authority judging the church in the regeneration, the apostles are now judging, (Cf. John 3:3; I Corinthians 4:15; James 1:18; I Peter 1:22; Titus 3:5). The apostles are still with us judging the church by the authority of their word.

Apostles:   Witnesses, Acts 1:21-22; 2:32-33; 10:39-41. Signs,

Revelation 2:2; 2 Corinthians 11:14-15; 12:13. Three classes, Christ, Hebrews 3:1; of Christ, the twelve; of the church, 2 Corinthians 8:23; Philippians 2:25.

Prophets:   Mouth, spokesman, Exodus 4:16; 7:1. Inspired teachers. Associated with the apostles, Ephesians 2:19-23; 3:4-5; 4:11. Independent of apostles, Acts 11:27-30; 13:1-3; 21:9-10.

Evangelists: Provision for the extension of the church. To proclaim

the gospel: Philippians, Acts 21:8; Timothy, 2 Timothy 4:5. Study the work of these two men to learn what they do.

Pastors and

Teachers:   Provision for the continuation, development of the church; discipline.

Pastors:    Elders, bishops, shepherds, Acts 20:17, 28; I Peter 5:1-5; Titus 1:5, 7. See also Hebrews 13:17; I Thessalonians 5:12-15.

Teachers:   Instructors, faithful and able, 2 Timothy 2:2; James 3:1.

(2) The purpose of these ministers: Perfecting the saints - maturing. Work of ministering - spiritual ministry, service. Building up of the body of Christ - numerically and spiritually.

4. The unifying growth - development through which unity is attained, vv. 12-16.

Unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God; full grown man; measure of stature of fullness of Christ - the possession of all Christ has to offer, becoming like Him, 12, 13.

Aim: Purpose of such a goal; no longer children, but grown up,

complete, mature, and steadfast - i.e., "not tossed about..."