The letter to the Ephesians, a mystery that required special revelation to and then from a specially appointed apostle to the gentiles. The Mystery of Christ.
1) Written by Apostle Paul
2) Written in 60 AD
3) Written from Rome, 1st of 4 prison epistles (Philippians, Colossians, Philemon)
4) Number 7 of 13 letters he wrote to the gentiles
5) The theme = the mystery of Christ
6) The key verse Ephesians 3:6
7) Jews first in the church Acts 2
8) Gentiles added - Acts 10
9) Acts 2 - AD 30
10) Acts 10 - AD 40
11) Paul Converted - AD 37
12) Today - 2021
This letter explains the theology and logic of God of forming his church in this age and of including gentiles, which is the mystery, into a unified body of many members that began with the Jews in Acts 2 and explains the history of the Acts from chapter 10 forward when gentiles were first added and defines the "purpose" of God in this age. Following is the purpose clearly stated in words that cannot be misconstrued. I have put it in bold.
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he (God the Father) might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him (Jesus Christ):
This looks forward to the completion of his purpose when a gathering will take place. It has been 2000 years now. This gathering together will be from two places, heaven and earth. The operative word here is "together." There are saints in Christ who have passed, like the apostle Paul himself, and who are in heaven. There are saints who are still alive and are all over the world who are in Christ. These will all be brought together for the glorification of the body, the resurrection of the body, which will happen for us all in a moment in a twinkling of an eye and at the same time, as one, in the dispensation of the fulness of times. This is congruent with the fulness of the gentiles in Roman 11:25. We will meet the Lord in the air and will forever be with him as he takes us to his Father's house. This is the blessed hope of the church. This is the glorious bodies by which the church can inhabit the eternities and the heavenlies. It is what we are predestined for. It is salvation from the possibility of sin. It is the glorification of the body as the physical body of our Lord was glorified at his resurrection at the tomb.
He explains what happens next when we are presented before the Father. Take a read. This is wonderful.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Jesus our Lord addresses the churches in Rev 1 like this.
Re 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia
8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
We read about the beginning in Col 1:18 and the ending in Eph 1:10
Now, some clarification on Ephesian 1:1-14. These verses follow the beginning to the end as laid out in the following verses. Watch it. This is very important for the understanding of this letter.
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Now, the both and the two are Jews and gentiles in the body together as one. But they did not enter in the body at the same time. This is important to note.
I am going to show a layout of the 4 parts of this building and compare it to chapter 1.
19 Now therefore (4) ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens (3) with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon (2) the foundation of the apostles and prophets, (1)Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye (gentiles) also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Also = a word of addition.
1) Jesus Christ - Cornerstone - Eph 1:6-7
2) Apostles & Prophets - Foundation Eph 1:9
3) The Jews first - Framework Ephesians 1:12
4) The Gentiles Added Later- Framework - Eph 1:13-14
Finished - a temple of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 1 has nothing to do with anyone being elected before the foundation of the world but Jesus Christ. The church is the counsel of the Godhead in eternity past. God the Father elects all who the Spirit baptizes into the body of Christ because he elected Christ before the world began. It is that simple.
1 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:
Isa 42:1Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
This prophecy is fulfilled in this age. What do you think?
1) Written by Apostle Paul
2) Written in 60 AD
3) Written from Rome, 1st of 4 prison epistles (Philippians, Colossians, Philemon)
4) Number 7 of 13 letters he wrote to the gentiles
5) The theme = the mystery of Christ
6) The key verse Ephesians 3:6
7) Jews first in the church Acts 2
8) Gentiles added - Acts 10
9) Acts 2 - AD 30
10) Acts 10 - AD 40
11) Paul Converted - AD 37
12) Today - 2021
This letter explains the theology and logic of God of forming his church in this age and of including gentiles, which is the mystery, into a unified body of many members that began with the Jews in Acts 2 and explains the history of the Acts from chapter 10 forward when gentiles were first added and defines the "purpose" of God in this age. Following is the purpose clearly stated in words that cannot be misconstrued. I have put it in bold.
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he (God the Father) might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him (Jesus Christ):
This looks forward to the completion of his purpose when a gathering will take place. It has been 2000 years now. This gathering together will be from two places, heaven and earth. The operative word here is "together." There are saints in Christ who have passed, like the apostle Paul himself, and who are in heaven. There are saints who are still alive and are all over the world who are in Christ. These will all be brought together for the glorification of the body, the resurrection of the body, which will happen for us all in a moment in a twinkling of an eye and at the same time, as one, in the dispensation of the fulness of times. This is congruent with the fulness of the gentiles in Roman 11:25. We will meet the Lord in the air and will forever be with him as he takes us to his Father's house. This is the blessed hope of the church. This is the glorious bodies by which the church can inhabit the eternities and the heavenlies. It is what we are predestined for. It is salvation from the possibility of sin. It is the glorification of the body as the physical body of our Lord was glorified at his resurrection at the tomb.
He explains what happens next when we are presented before the Father. Take a read. This is wonderful.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Jesus our Lord addresses the churches in Rev 1 like this.
Re 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia
8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
We read about the beginning in Col 1:18 and the ending in Eph 1:10
Now, some clarification on Ephesian 1:1-14. These verses follow the beginning to the end as laid out in the following verses. Watch it. This is very important for the understanding of this letter.
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Now, the both and the two are Jews and gentiles in the body together as one. But they did not enter in the body at the same time. This is important to note.
I am going to show a layout of the 4 parts of this building and compare it to chapter 1.
19 Now therefore (4) ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens (3) with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon (2) the foundation of the apostles and prophets, (1)Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye (gentiles) also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Also = a word of addition.
1) Jesus Christ - Cornerstone - Eph 1:6-7
2) Apostles & Prophets - Foundation Eph 1:9
3) The Jews first - Framework Ephesians 1:12
4) The Gentiles Added Later- Framework - Eph 1:13-14
Finished - a temple of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 1 has nothing to do with anyone being elected before the foundation of the world but Jesus Christ. The church is the counsel of the Godhead in eternity past. God the Father elects all who the Spirit baptizes into the body of Christ because he elected Christ before the world began. It is that simple.
1 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:
Isa 42:1Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
This prophecy is fulfilled in this age. What do you think?