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Texts -- Ephesians 1:12-23 (NET)

Context
1:12 so that we , who were the first to set our hope on Christ , would be to the praise of his glory . 1:13 And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation )– when you believed in Christ– you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit , 1:14 who is the down payment of our inheritance , until the redemption of God’s own possession , to the praise of his glory .
Prayer for Wisdom and Revelation
1:15 For this reason , because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints , 1:16 I do not cease to give thanks for you when I remember remember you in my prayers . 1:17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ , the Father of glory , may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing knowledge of him , 1:18 –since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened – so that you may know what is the hope of his calling , what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints , 1:19 and what is the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe , as displayed in the exercise of his immense strength . 1:20 This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms 1:21 far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named , not only in this age but also in the one to come . 1:22 And God put all things under Christ’s feet , and he gave him to the church as head over all things . 1:23 Now the church is his body , the fullness of him who fills all in all .

Pericope

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Hymns

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  • AllahMu Benteng Yang Teguh [KJ.250a]
  • AllahMu Benteng Yang Teguh [KJ.250b]
  • Arah ke Sorga Cemerlang [KJ.221] ( The Lord Ascendeth Up on High )
  • BagiMu Tuhan, Nyanyianku [KJ.8]
  • Berkereta Awan Putih [KJ.225]
  • Datanglah ya Sumber Rahmat [KJ.240a] ( Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing )
  • Datanglah ya Sumber Rahmat [KJ.240b] ( Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing )
  • Dia Nobatkanlah [KJ.226] ( Crown Him with Many Crowns )
  • Kami Berdoa, Ya Roh Kudus [KJ.230]
  • Kudengar BerkatMu Turun [KJ.235] ( Even Me / Lord, I Hear of Showers of Blessmg )
  • Mahkota Duri yang Kejam [KJ.219] ( The Head That Once Was Crowned )
  • Maju, Berjuanglah Terus [KJ.251]
  • Muliakan Allah Bapa [KJ.242]
  • Naik ke Sorga Cemerlang [KJ.218]
  • Nyanyian Malaikat Nyaring Bergema [KJ.223] ( Golden Harps Are Sounding )
  • O Roh Kudus Ilahi [KJ.231]
  • O Roh Pencipta, Datanglah [KJ.229a]
  • O Roh Pencipta, Datanglah [KJ.229b]
  • Puji Tuhan, Haleluya [KJ.391]
  • Roh Kudus, Sinarilah [KJ.236] ( Holy Ghost, with Light Divine )
  • Setiap Pagi RahmatMu [KJ.321]
  • Sungguh Kerajaan Allah [KJ.247]
  • Tuhan, Pencipta Semesta [KJ.289]
  • Ya Sumber Kasih, Roh Kudus [KJ.55]
  • Yerusalem [KJ.189]
  • Yesus Hidup dan Menang [KJ.210]
  • Yesus Kristus Memerintah [KJ.220]
  • Yesus, Lihat UmatMu [KJ.57]
  • Yesuslah Raja yang Menang [KJ.248a]
  • Yesuslah Raja yang Menang [KJ.248b]
  • [Eph 1:13] Seal Us, O Holy Spirit
  • [Eph 1:13] Spirit Blest, Who Art Adored
  • [Eph 1:13] Sweet Assurance
  • [Eph 1:21] Christ, Above All Glory Seated
  • [Eph 1:21] Jesus, Name Of Wondrous Love

Questions

Sermon Illustrations

God-Ordained Authorities; Redemption Defined; 2 Corinthians 1:11; Ephesians 1:11-14; What Does the Holy Spirit Do?; Greek Words; Categories of Angels; Characteristics of Scripture; A Christian is . . .; Biblical Resources

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • A spark of hope flickered in the darkness of Samson's prison cell. His hair continued to grow (v. 22). In grace God permitted Samson's hair to return symbolizing the possibility of his renewed commitment to Yahweh. However, G...
  • What this book is all about has been the subject of considerable debate. Many people think God gave it to us to provide His answer to the age-old problem of suffering. In particular, many believe it is in the Bible to help us...
  • Chapters 1-9, as we have seen, contain discourses that Solomon evidently wrote urging his sons to choose the way of wisdom for their lives.92At 10:1 we begin the part of the book that sets forth what the wise way is in a vari...
  • Having laid a foundation for appeal in his confession (vv. 4-14) Daniel now proceeded to petition God to restore His people to the Promised Land.9:15 He first referred to the Exodus as a former demonstration of God's power an...
  • 10:10-11 Evidently the "man"who touched Daniel and who proceeded to speak to him was the same one the prophet saw in the vision (vv. 5-6). The angel described Daniel as a man of high esteem (cf. 9:23; 10:19). We know that Dan...
  • The revelation that Yahweh gave Malachi for Israel consisted of six "heavy"messages. The first one reminded God's people of His love for them and of their ungratefulness.1:2a The Lord's first word to His people was short and ...
  • The Lord had said that Israel's earlier history was a time when the priests and the people of Israel pleased Him (v. 4). Now He said that those early days were short-lived (cf. Exod. 32:7-9). In contrast to His faithfulness (...
  • The Synoptics record Jesus' cleansing of the temple after His triumphal entry (Matt. 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-16; Luke 19:45-46). Only John noted this cleansing of the temple at the beginning of Jesus' ministry. The differences b...
  • Having begun with a formal and unusually long greeting compared to his other epistles, Paul next proceeded to address his readers more personally. He had not met the Christians to whom he wrote so he spent some time getting a...
  • 8:5 Here Paul began to elaborate the difference between "flesh"and "Spirit."This distinction is difficult to grasp because both terms have more than one meaning. To "walkaccording to the flesh"(v. 4) means to carry out in con...
  • Paul proceeded to expound on the thought that he introduced at the end of verse 17. This passage gives a very wide perspective of God's great plan of redemption, which is the heart of Paul's theology.2648:18 In the light of e...
  • Paul followed his salutation with an expression of gratitude for his original readers, as he usually did in his epistles. In this case the focus of his thanksgiving was on God's grace in giving the Corinthians such great spir...
  • Having claimed singleness of purpose in his dealings with the Corinthians, Paul proceeded to help them appreciate the fact that his behavior had been consistent with his Spirit-led purposes."Long-range plans may need to be mo...
  • The apostle began to apply the principle stated in 2:15-21 to his audience.3:1 It is folly to mix law and grace. The Galatians were behaving as though they were under some kind of spell and not in full use of their rational f...
  • The Book of Ephesians enables us to view God's creation from an alpine altitude. When we study this book, it is as though we have climbed a high mountain peak because the book gives us that kind of perspective on what God has...
  • I. Salutation 1:1-2II. The Christian's calling 1:3-3:21A. Individual calling 1:3-2:101. The purpose: glory 1:3-142. The means: knowledge 1:15-233. The motive: grace 2:1-10B. Corporate calling 2:11-3:191. Present unity 2:11-22...
  • In most of his epistles Paul began by setting forth foundational truth and then concluded by applying that truth to the lives of his readers. This pattern is very obvious in Ephesians where the first three chapters deal with ...
  • In the Greek text verses 3-14 are one sentence. The Holy Spirit carried Paul along in his thinking as he contemplated God's provision so that he moved quickly from one blessing to the next. It is as though he was ecstatically...
  • Christians should bless or praise (Gr. eulogetos, speak well of) God the Father for bestowing these blessings. Paul was thinking of God as both the Father of believers (v. 2) and the Father of His Son (v. 3). God has already ...
  • The spiritual blessings that have come to us are the work of all three members of the Trinity. God Himself is the basis of these blessings.1:4 The first blessing is election. God has sovereignly chosen some people for salvati...
  • 1:7 The "Him"in view is the beloved Son (v. 6).Redemption (Gr. apolytrosin) means release from slavery (cf. v. 14; 4:30; Luke 21:28; Rom. 3:24; 8:23; 1 Cor. 1:30; Col. 1:14; Heb. 9:15; 11:35). It involves buying back and sett...
  • "God's spiritual blessings for believers are based not only on the sovereign election of the Father (vv. 3-6) and the redemptive work of the Son (vv. 7-12), but also on the seal of the Holy Spirit."301:13 In contrast to the J...
  • Having reviewed his readers' blessings in Christ, Paul next prayed that they would appreciate and appropriate these good things in their own lives. Verses 15-23 are one sentence in the Greek text as are verses 3-14. Intellect...
  • As was his custom, Paul first commended his readers for what they were doing well. Then he told them what his prayer requests for them were.1:15 In view of their spiritual blessings, Paul felt constrained to pray for his orig...
  • 1:17 Paul returned to his concept of God as the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 3; cf. Matt. 6:9). He combined with this fact the idea that all glory belongs to the Father (vv. 6, 12, 14; cf. Acts 7:2; 1 Cor. 2:8).Paul as...
  • Paul concluded his revelation of the Christian's individual calling in Christ (1:3-2:10). He began this section of the epistle by explaining the purpose of our calling (i.e., the glory of God, 1:3-14). He then expounded the m...
  • The wrath of God on the unbeliever (v. 3) contrasts with the grace of God on the believer (vv. 5, 7, 8). God's grace toward some unbelievers gives them life (vv. 4-5), raises them up (v. 6), and seats them in heavenly realms ...
  • Paul began to pray for his readers again (cf. vv. 1, 14), but he interrupted himself to tell them more about the church. What he said in this section gives background information concerning the church as a mystery.3:1 "For th...
  • Paul had explained that Jews and Gentiles are one in Christ (2:15). Therefore he prayed that they might experience the unity that was theirs spiritually in their relations with one another. Verses 14-19 are also one sentence ...
  • Practical application (chs. 4-6) now follows doctrinal instruction (chs. 1-3).
  • 4:1 "Therefore"or "then"refers to what Paul had said in chapters 1-3. To walk worthily or in balance means to harmonize one's conduct with his or her calling. Calling here refers to God's calling to live in unity as Jews and ...
  • Having described the basis of Christian unity Paul next explained the means by which we can preserve it, namely with the gifts that the Spirit gives.4:7 Whereas each believer has received grace (unmerited favor and divine ena...
  • Paul turned from how not to walk to the positive responsibility Christians have to live in holiness.4:20 In contrast to unsaved Gentiles, Christians' minds are no longer dark, they are no longer aliens from God, and their hea...
  • In addition to calling his readers to walk in unity (4:1) and holiness (4:17), Paul urged them to walk in love (5:2). He first advocated positive love (vv. 1-2) and then negatively warned to abstain from evil (vv. 3-6).5:1 "T...
  • That this section is distinct from the five that precede it is evident from two facts. Paul introduced it differently, and the emphasis in it is on God's resources. Earlier Paul urged the strengthening and growth of the body ...
  • Paul's anticipation of his defense before Nero brought him back to the present in his thinking. His exposition of the mystery of the church to his readers had ended. He had also explained their proper conduct in view of their...
  • Paul had already written that he prayed for the Philippians (vv. 3-4). Now he explained what he prayed so his readers would know specifically what the apostle was asking God to do for them. In response to God's working in the...
  • So far everything Paul had written about Christ other New Testament writers also revealed, but what follows in verse 18 is uniquely Pauline.In 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 and Romans 12:4-8 Paul used the human body to illustrate th...
  • Paul's role in the household of God (the meaning of "stewardship") was that of a servant who fully expounded God's revelation for the benefit of his Gentile readers."He was a servant of the church, but in the deepest sense he...
  • 4:9-10 Paul urged Timothy to join him in Rome soon. He did not expect to live much longer (cf. v. 6)."The constitutional method of inflicting capital punishment on a Roman citizen was by the lictor's axe. The criminal was tie...
  • Paul commended Philemon for the fruit of the Spirit that Philemon permitted the Spirit to manifest in his life. He also prayed that it would continue to abound to encourage Philemon to respond to the request that follows in a...
  • Having just encouraged his readers with a reminder of God's help for the faithful (1:14) the writer next urged his readers to be faithful. He did so to warn them of the possibility of retrogressing spiritually and consequentl...
  • The writer returned again from exhortation to exposition. He now posed the alternatives of rest and peril that confronted the new people of God, Christians.127The writer warned his readers so they would not fail to enter into...
  • 1:3 Peter called his readers to bless (praise) God for giving us a living hope. This undying hope rests on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because He lives, we shall live. Our new birth gave us this resurrected life of Chri...
  • "The main thread of Peter's rhetoric [in this pericope] can . . . be expressed in one sentence: Then you will rejoice with inexpressible and glorious delight, when you each receive the outcome of your faith, your final salvat...
  • Peter reminded his readers of God's power and promises that were available to them. He did this to rekindle an appreciation for the resources God had given them in view of their present needs. This epistle begins and ends on ...
  • Next Peter outlined what will surely happen so his readers would understand what will take place.3:7 God has given orders that the present heavens and earth (vv. 5-6) will experience another judgment yet future. Then God will...
  • The Ephesians, however, were serving Jesus Christ and maintaining orthodoxy as a tradition rather than out of fervent love for their Savior (cf. Eph. 1:15-16).79Obviously genuine believers are in view.80They did what was corr...
  • The scene continues to be on earth.7:1 The phrase "after this"(Gr. meta touto) indicates that what follows is a new vision (cf. 4:1). The general chronological progression of the visions suggests that the events John saw now ...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • Deut. 32:9I choose these two texts because they together present us with the other side of the thought to that which I have elsewhere considered, that man's true treasure is in God. That great axiom of the religious conscious...
  • We read of the gospel of your salvation' (Eph. 1:13), and in the same letter (Eph. 4:15) of the gospel of peace.' In these expressions we pass from the consideration of the author or of the subject matter of the good news to ...
  • In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, the earnest of our inheritance.'--Eph. 1:11-14.A DEW DROP twinkles into green and gold as the sunlight falls on it. A diamond flashes many colours as its facets catch the light. S...
  • The earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession.'--Eph. 1:14.I HAVE dealt with a portion of this verse in conjunction with the fragment of another in this chapter. I tried to show you how much...
  • that ye may know what is the hope of His calling.'--Eph. 1:18A MAN'S prayers for others are a very fair thermometer of his own religious condition. What he asks for them will largely indicate what he thinks best for himself; ...
  • That ye may know what is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.'--Eph. 1:18.THE misery of Hope is that it so often owes its materials to the strength of our desires or to the activity of our imagination. Bu...
  • That ye may know.., what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ.'--Eph. 1:19-20.THE riches of the glory of the inheritance' will...
  • This epistle is remarkable for its frequent references to the divine rule, or standard, or measure, in accordance with which the great facts of redemption take place. The things on the earth'--the historical processes by whic...
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