Ephesians 1:12-23

Eph 1:12 (KJV)
That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
 
Here is a verse which shows that the believer because of their salvation can praise God because of all the benefits He has bestowed on those who are in Christ. Here Paul is saying that those in Christ first, including himself, will be praising the Lord for this great salvation and for the attributes of God in that salvation.
Who first trusted - “who first put hope in” it carries with it the meaning of anticipatory trust.
 
 
Eph 1:13 (KJV)
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
 
Ye heard - Greek word “akouw” which means to hear but carries the special meaning of hearing with understanding - Luke 24:45
 
Ye believed - “pisteuo” - A qualified belief
 
Ye were sealed - seal up or set a seal upon - When one speaks of a seal, it is not like a postage stamp or glue. It is the seal of a king which cannot be broken except by the one who the letter is addressed to. The Holy Spirit is our eternal seal which God places in us to show that we are His.
 
 
Eph 1:14 (KJV)
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
 
Earnest - a “down payment or pledge” of something to be fulfilled in it’s entirety at a later time. It is only given to those who are in Christ. The Holy Spirit is our guarantee of salvation.
 
Redemption of the purchased possession - This is the entire body of believers. While the Holy Spirit indwells the believers individually, the purchased possession is the entire body of Christ since it was predestined who was to be saved from the foundation of the world.
 
The word “purchased possession” is the same word found in 1 Peter 2:9:
 
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: {10}Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
 
Notice that verse 10 speaks of believers being “the” people of God. This word completely does away with the idea that God has two chosen people. Christians are the people of God because we have been redeemed.
 
Praise of His Glory - Notice this phrase appears 3 times in this chapter. Once for each member of the trinity.
Verse 6 - God the Father - being predestined
Verse 12 - God the Son - being redeemed
Verse 14 - God the Holy Spirit - being sealed
 
 
Eph 1:15 (KJV)
Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
 
Wherefore - “For which cause” - Paul was also praising the Lord after he heard of the testimony of their
faithfulness and the love or charity shown toward all saints whether they be of high or low social status.
 
Heard - “akouw” hearing with understanding - Paul realized that these folks were really exhibiting habits in concert with true salvation.
 
 
Eph 1:16 (KJV)
Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
 
Cease not - do not rest or stop from making mention of you in my prayers. The testimony of faithfulness needs to be mentioned also and not only the testimony of faithlessness. We tend to focus on the negative but almost never focus on the good things that happen in Christianity.
 
 
Eph 1:17 (KJV)
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
 
Here the Apostle Paul begins a list of desires that he petitions God for on behalf of the Ephesian Christians. This is also a model prayer to use when you want to pray for someone and you don’t know what to pray for.
 
Another one is found in Colossians 1:9-12
 
Spirit of Wisdom - That God may implant in them wisdom for their Christian walk. Examples of people being filled with the spirit of wisdom: Ex. 28:1-3; Deut. 34:9; Isaiah 11:1-2
 
Spirit of Revelation - “revelation” = disclosure or manifestation of the knowledge of the Lord. This only comes when we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit who can teach us about the Lord. Revelatory knowledge about the Lord is important for our growth - Col. 3:10; 2 Peter 1:3 - Why is knowledge of the Lord important?
 
1. It gives us a healthy fear of God - Proverbs 1:7
2. It gives us confidence to go forward in our Christian walk - Ex. 3:12
3. It gives us a thirst for God - Matthew 5:6 ( a craving for righteousness)
4. It gives us an apologetic for truth - Peter and Stephen’s homilies (Acts 3 & 7)
5. It gives us strength during suffering - Daniel in the Lion’s Den (Daniel 6)
 
 
Eph 1:18 (KJV)
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
 
Eyes - Matthew 6:22-23
Understanding - know fully
Enlightened - Make evident or bring to light
Hope - expectation -hoping for the full revealing of what God has for the believer - since we have already received the pledge.
Riches - wealth or abundance
 
Because the full revealing of what God has for the believer will not be unfolded until eternity, the full understanding of the statement will not be comprehended until glory. The verse seems to be stating that the inheritance of the glorified saints will be God’s. When the church is finally presented to the Father by the Lord Jesus Christ in all it’s glory, that will be God’s inheritance - Ephesians 5:27
 
 
Eph 1:19 (KJV)
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
 
Exceeding - above and beyond what we can fathom
Greatness - “immeasurable greatness of divine power
Power - Might or ability
Working - The energy of working of the divine power
Mighty - “kratous” - strength, dominion or authority
 
All the power of God is directed at and for the believer. God empowers the believer for the task He assigns to each one.
 
 
Eph 1:20 (KJV)
Which he wrought in Christ, (1) when he raised him from the dead, (2) and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
 
Wrought - worked or accomplished
 
The power which God uses for the believer is always used “in Christ.” This is why religion will always remain shallow and dead. The resurrection of Christ was the greatest use of God’s power because it overcame the greatest enemy of physical man and that is death. Through the resurrection came the proof of eternal life. Christ holds the exalted position at the right hand of God. Mt. 26:64
 
Philippians 2:9
 
(1) God also raises the unbeliever from the dead to become the living elect.
(2) Keep in mind that this verse does not speak of Christ as God being set in heavenly places because Christ never ceased to be God. This speaks of Him completing the task which He came to earth to finish, namely the completion of God’s salvation plan on behalf of the elect.
 
Eph 1:21 (KJV)
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
 
Principality - “arche” - Chief, rule or authority
Power - Authority
Might - ability
Dominion - Lordship or mastery - The absolute authoritative rule of God
 
There is no one higher in the universe or in heaven than Christ Himself because He is God. All the chief princes of Hell are still under God’s authority.
 
Eph 1:22-23 (KJV)
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, {23} Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
 
Colossians 1:18
1 Peter 3:21-22
Hebrews 2:8
 
Christ completely indwells and fills the church with his glory. That glory can be seen when a new soul becomes saved or when a soul goes to glory which is evidence of the victory of the cross.
 
“Under his feet” a phrase which means that all are subject to him but he is not subject to any.

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