In Chapter One, Paul ends by proclaiming our inheritance through Christ. Our inheritance is eternal life in heaven and an eternal relationship with God as joint heirs with Christ. All those who have accepted Christ as their Savior and Lord have the promise of our inheritance. Everyone else is, unfortunately, condemned to eternal torment in the Lake of Fire in the final judgment. God doesn’t want anyone to fall victim to this tragedy. That’s why he created the plan of salvation. Without regard to your past sins or “righteousness,” you can accept your inheritance and be born again, redeemed, justified, and sanctified. God’s grace through your faith in Christ alone for your salvation is the path you should choose. From here, we move on to Chapter Two of our Bible Study of Ephesians.
Bible Study of Ephesians Chapter Two
The Holy Spirit through Paul starts with God quickening us from the dead. In other words, God brings us back to life from our death in trespasses and sins. We are redeemed. Trespasses is another word for sin because all sin is an act of transgressing against God, failing to obey His will. He reminds the Ephesians that they once lived as followers of worldly pursuits. They followed the prince of the power of the air – Satan. All of us in the past have fallen into the trap of Satan’s and the world’s influence.
But God! Paul says, as he continues explaining God as being rich in mercy (compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm:) Oxford Dictionary. He has brought us back to life through Christ through his mercy and love for us. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9[1]
If we could earn our way into heaven, people would try to do it by their will and to their glory. They could boast about how good and righteous they were to everyone who would listen. No! Through nothing more than our intangible faith, God’s grace is our salvation, with works coming after being born again. He made and saved us through Christ Jesus for the good works we will do out of our love and respect for God. God preordained this truth. But what is meant by preordained?
Preordained
God is not only all-powerful (omnipotent), but He is also all-knowing (omniscient) and present everywhere throughout all space, time, matter, and energy, as well as outside of the space, time, matter, and energy He created (omnipresent). So, he sees and exists within every moment of our linear time without the constraints of being linear. “Linear time refers to a view of time as a straight line that moves forward in a continuous manner.” Sarmiento 2013[2].
Time does not restrain God; therefore, he can simultaneously see the past, present, and future. Before he created the universe, God knew who would accept Christ as Lord and Savior. We are preordained, predestinated, but we must still accept Christ of our own free will – for our sakes, not His. As far as God is concerned, it’s a done deal, but He allows us to use the free will he gave us to choose – we must accept the free gift of salvation. I’m not a Calvinist or an Arminian because I believe the Bible requires both predestination and free will profession as we accept Christ by faith and become born again.
Circumcision of the Spirit
Paul explains that the Gentiles are uncircumcised to those that are circumcised (Jews) because they were not Jewish. The fact that they were not Jewish made them condemned by the Law. Paul refers to their old lives as the children of wrath having no hope. But the Ephesians that were far from God are made near through the blood of Christ. Christ’s willing sacrifice. Christ has broken down the wall between the Jews and Gentiles. Christ removed the Law as a barrier. Now, anyone can come to the saving knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and make peace with God. Paul says, “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” Ephesians 2:18[3]
Fellow Saints
Because of Christ’s sacrifice, Christian Jews and Gentiles are no longer strangers to each other. We are of one Spirit in service of God the Father. We (Gentiles) are fellow citizens with the saints (Jewish Christians). Paul further explains that our fellowship is founded on the teachings of the Apostles and Prophets. Jesus is the chief cornerstone of our faith, upon which everything else is built. Jesus taught the Apostles and the Prophets, inspired by the Holy Spirit, foretold everything that would transpire concerning Christ. Christian Jews and Gentiles are “fitly framed together” as a Holy Temple, and we are the habitation (dwelling place) of God’s Holy Spirit. All born-again believers, regardless of their background, are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit of God.
Bible Study of Ephesians Chapter Two
Our Bible Study of Ephesians Chapter Two taught us that anyone can accept Christ as Lord and Savior. God already knows who will accept Christ, but also requires us to choose salvation through Christ of our own free will. We were all trapped in our sins and came to Christ the same way. By grace through our faith in Christ alone for our salvation. Christ did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill the Law. But Christ also removed the stumbling block of the Law that required circumcision and adherence to Jewish customs, feasts, and laws. Therefore, the Gentiles were welcomed in as fellow citizens of the kingdom of God. We also refer to this as Gentiles being grafted into the kingdom of God.
If you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior, you should do it now. We are not promised another moment, so now is your best chance to open the door to heaven by believing that Christ died for you and he’s offering you the free gift of salvation. Act now! Accept Jesus today!
[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Eph 2:8–9.
[2] Sarmiento, Ulla. "What Is Linear Time Vs. Nonlinear Time?" Big Picture Questions. Last modified 26, 2013. https://bigpicturequestions.com/what-is-linear-time-vs-nonlinear-time/.
[3] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Eph 2:18.
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