110ephesians2

The American Wisdom Series

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Presents
Ephesians 2
Caution to students of God's Word - Please remember two things when using our studies: #1. Our commentary is not God's Word. It is only our interpretation or understanding of "His Word" and even though we try our best to be accurate we may or may not be correct. #2. The King James translation, or any other translation, of the original Hebrew text has some words which were given different translations at different places probably because of the interpreters preconceived ideas of what they think God meant to say. For example: According to the notes in the "Dake's Annotated Reference Bible" the Hebrew word hayah in the KJV is Trans. (became) 67 times, (becamest or came to pass) 505 times, (become) 66 times, and (come to pass) 131 times, but for some reason in Genesis 1:2 it is translated (was)! That sure changes the way a person perceives the original creation of the earth, doesn't it? Gen. 1:2 And the earth was (became) without form, ... Having said that, let us continue with our "Key Knowledge" lessons. These are pamphlets containing knowledge, we believe, you must have to fully and accurately unlock and understand the Word of God.

Notice to our readers: If you come across and links in our studies that you can't open, go to http://www.americanwisdomseries.com You will find the files there on our web site.

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:13-14
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

This Bible Study was originally written by Roger Christopherson,
published at http://www.theseason.org/

Without the leading by the Holy Spirit, there is no understanding of the truths, for all the truth of the Scriptures are revealed to us by God's Spirit.

Ephesians 2:1 "And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;"

"Quickened" means "made alive spiritually". Any time someone is in this flesh body, and without Christ, they will sin. Even with Christ they will sometimes sin. That is the way of the world.

Ephesians 2:2 "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:"

"Ye" are all those not called, and predestined in that first earth age, discussed in Verses 1:4, 13. The "world" is this "Cosmos" or world age; and the "prince of the power of the air" is Satan. The "Children of disobedience" are not only the Kenites [the offspring of Satan through their father "Cain"], but all those who hate or deny Christ. However, "children" used in the Greek text here is "Hebraism", not disobedient children, but "physical sons of Satan". It is also in an adoptive sense, those who allow Satan to parent them, and do the work of Satan.

These "sons of disobedience" are the same persons as the tares of Matthew 13, that Jesus spoke about. In fact Jesus stated that if you don't understand the parable of the sower and the tares, you will not understand any of His parables.

That means, by Jesus' explanation, that after that good seed was sown, in the night [secret] the evil one [Satan] came and sowed his seed also. Both the good seed and the bad seed looked about the same, and grew up together; However, at harvest time, the tares were poisonous and had to be separated.

Then in Matthew 13:35-41 Jesus explains to His disciples this parable. The good seed were placed in the field [world] by God. These seed are people. Satan [who is the devil or evil one] planted the tares, or evil seed through Eve, and the final product of that union [sexual] was "Cain". The "Kenites" are the physical offspring of Cain. This is identified in Strong's Hebrew Dictionary #7014, and #7017. Thus Paul's reference to them in Ephesians 2:2 as the "Children of disobedience".

This second verse is talking about walking in the world with these sons of Cain, the Kenites, and allowing them to lead you. They control the perversions, lies, and deceit controlling through this evil "spirit" of Satan [the prince of the power of the air.]

Ephesians 2:3 "Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."

Here Paul points out that all, even Paul was born in the flesh, and converted out of it. When you are in the flesh, your drives, your mind, and even your nature was to fill all the desires and drives of the flesh. Paul is saying, your nature was even as the "Kenites", the offspring of Satan; until the Holy Spirit touched you and opened your mind, and you were incapable of understanding spiritual matters. Then the Holy Spirit replaced your evil drives with righteousness. Your work for God is essential to fulfill the acts of righteousness for God.

Ephesians 2:4 "But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us,"

We can understand a parents love for their children and grandchildren; However, God's love is far beyond the human mind. A love so great that our Father, allowed His Son to be degraded to the fleshly form; then to suffer the insult and pain, as well as the degradation, and die. He did all this just so you and I would have that choice to choose Jesus Christ, and receive the gift, absolutely free that our eternal Father offers to each of us.

If you can start to understand that love, then you will have a glimpse of the mercy He is showing to you and I. This is a personal thing, for in the eternity, you will either be part of God's plan, and have accepted God's mercy; or friend, you just will not exist in any form, not even in the memory of your loved ones.

Ephesians 2:5 "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)"

God's great love and mercy so loved us, even when we were dead to His true Spirit; God still loved us. When He had no reason to, or we had any value to Him, He still loved His own so much that He sent His own Son, Jesus Christ to "quicken us", and make us alive and give our soul a new eternal life. This is exactly how a parent reaches out to his son [daughter], regardless how troubled the child is, or even when that child knows right from wrong.

Why? Because that parent loves and corrects his child in the ways he knows are right. Our Heavenly Father reaches out also in like manner to His children, because His love is constant towards us.

Ephesians 2:6 "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:"

At your conversion, Christ had already prepared the way so that when Jesus Christ went to the right hand of the Father, you were given the connection right to the throne of God. Our connection is through the working of the Holy Spirit of God working in and through each of God's children. That, my friend, is clout in the highest place.

Remember back in verse 1:18 where it said; When you believe in Christ, He will give you the understanding of the hope [salvation] that we have in Christ. You become part of Jesus Christ's inheritance, given by the Father, when you become an active part of God's plan of salvation.

Ephesians 2:7 "That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus:"

This is to say; "in the world age to come"; in the millennium age and on into eternity ; the Heavenly Father is going to give His children riches far beyond your mind could ever imagine.

Friend, this love, riches, and kindness you are in fact going to receive, is going to happen only because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross for you, and I. Have you thanked Him for that grace. Grace is God's riches at Christ's expense. It's a gift.

Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

Grace is the source, and faith is the means by which we obtain the grace of God. It is through our faith that we believe. Faith is the action that causes us to do what we do, and comes by our acting on our belief. That action we take, because of our belief, is sustained by our confidence in God, that when we do what we are asked to do, He will fulfill His promises to us.

Faith needs a focal point to activate, and Jesus Christ and the Word of God is that focal point. With God's promises, and teachings in our mind, we have the firm foundation to act upon. Faith is not stagnate, it is action. We do not act blindly, but our actions are based on a solid foundation: the Word of God.

The "confidence" we have has no hesitation, for because of God's commitment to us, through His Word, we in turn have that same sure commitment to our "faith" in God. That faith in God then takes us to God's "grace", His unmerited favor, and forgiveness to each of us. Even though we fall short.

Many people take this verse and say "works will not save you". That is true. It is God's grace that brings about salvation. By yourself, you simply are not able to do anything to earn God's salvation from sin, and it's penalty.

This Ephesians 2 stresses, as Christians, we are fellow servants, and workers in Christ, and that our works will not save us, salvation just doesn't come that way. It is God that gives us all that we have, such as the gift of teaching, or as prayer warriors, or singing, or even laboring and planting seeds of God's word in the minds of others. Even being helpful with the "kind attitude" and a smile to lift others, is a gift. What ever that gift might be, we can't take credit for it, for all the credit and glory goes to the Father, and to His Word, our Lord Jesus Christ.

If you don't belief that, why would you spend any time in His work, or even call yourself a Christian. For, to you, your faith would be in a dead man. So any works you perform are all part of God's overall plan, and what ever gifts and works you do must fit into that plan. You do the works because you are saved, and not to be saved. Get it? Then in performing those works, God rewards His children for being faithful.

As we do our work, it is the Holy Spirit that directs and develops our working gifts that they can be used effectively.

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

There are those who say; "grace is all I need". The warning to us, is to stay clear of them. Their "faith" is dead, as there is no action in their belief, and definitely no confidence in the work or words of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is not pleased with "lazy Christians". He doesn't have much use for their unfruitfulness.

"Workmanship" means God's "handiwork". God made each of us for a purpose, and that purpose is to do good works. This isn't something that happened overnight, but God "before ordained", before you were even conceived, God had plans for your good works to be used in His overall plan.

Ephesians 2:11 "Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;"

In the time prior to Christ's death on the cross, there was no hope for the uncircumcised. Those of the circumcision were those of the "whole house of Israel", all the tribes or offspring of Jacob. When Christ died on the cross, the veil at the "holy of holies" in the Temple was rent [split] in two, and all peoples and races in the world, Jew and Gentile alike were offered God's gift of salvation. The door is open to you today.

The other side of this is the fact that many of the Israelites, scattered in 722 B.C. by the Assyrians, were lost, and didn't even know they were Israel, with the promises God gave to Abraham. Now, thousands of years later, their offspring are just as lost as their forefathers. The only trace these ten tribes have of their past is the fact they call themselves "Caucasians", after the event of escaping captivity through the Caucasus mountains, and migrating to the west under many different names. Today these offspring of Israel even call themselves "Gentile", and they attribute the name Caucasian to be a race, instead of the recording of an event.

Ephesians 2:12 "That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world."

Until Jesus Christ died on the cross, that is exactly how we were. That was the purpose of Christ's death, He went immediately to those who were prisoners in the grave, who had no hope, or any way to free themselves. There He preached the same message of salvation to them that we now have today, and salvation was made available all the way back to Noah.

Ephesians 2:13 "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."

If anyone should love Jesus Christ, it would be the Gentiles in the flesh. Now through the blood of Jesus Christ we can all enter into that heavenly place.

Ephesians 2:14 "For he is our peace, Who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;"

The partition in the old Temple separated the Israelites [Jews] from the Gentile. At Christ's death on the cross, the earth shook, and the vial in the Temple was split in two, as recorded in Matthew 27:51. All barriers came down that blocked any person from approaching God through His Son, Jesus Christ. That wall of separation, separated the outer court from the inner court, and a Gentile could not walk past that wall. God's approach was through the holy of Holies, in the inner court, and the forgiveness of sins was only possible through the blood sacrifices offered there.

When Jesus shed His blood, all the blood sacrifices ended. Jesus Christ was the only sacrifice necessary to cover all sin, both then and now. Jesus is now the Temple, and when we are in Christ we become part of that body of Christ, or Temple.

Ephesians 2:15 "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;"

In other words; there is only one temple, one family, one way through Jesus Christ. If you think it means "the law doesn't matter anymore", your wrong. The key to the understanding of this verse is stated," contained in ordinances". There is a difference between "the law", and "ordinances within the law".

This verse is directed to the ordinances of "blood sacrifice", also called "the daily sacrifices" that are within the law. These blood sacrifices are not required anymore. ever, because Jesus Christ's blood sacrificed on the cross satisfied completely that part of the law, before our Heavenly Father. Jesus was, and is the perfect sacrifice. See Hebrews 10.

Ephesians 2:16 "And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:"

Ephesians 2:17 "And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh."

Jesus preached His message to all flesh, Israelite and Gentile alike. Paul's ministry was directed wholly to the Gentile nations, and the lost "House of Israel", not the Jews [Acts 9:15].

Ephesians 2:18 "For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father."

Ephesians 2:19 "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;"

Because of Jesus Christ's shed blood, we are fellow citizens in Christ's kingdom, His body, with all the other saints.

Ephesians 2:20 "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone;"

The Apostles are those of the New Testament; while the Prophets were the teachers in the Old Testament. Jesus Christ is the foundation, and the "fit Temple" for all of God's children who seek after Him, in any age.

The "Chief corner stone" is the stone which all dimensions of the entire structure are measured to, and now in the Temple of God, Christ is that "chief corner stone". When we partition to the Father now, we must ask in the name of Jesus Christ, for there is none other.

Ephesians 2:21 "In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord:"

In both the Old and New Testament Christ is named the center of the structure, the cap-stone of the Temple. The Temple of today is in two parts; one is false, and one is true. The "false temple" will be built shortly in Jerusalem, in fact is already being built, and it will be from that temple that Satan will rule as the false-christ, over his world religious system. The way many Christians are taught today, when the false-christ sits there they will actually believe and worship him as Jesus Christ. However, the spurious messiah or false-christ is a fake and a counterfeit; he is Satan himself claiming to be Christ, watchout! The temple, being built today, with the help of many so called Christian churches, is the Temple that Christ will destroy at his return!

There will not be one "little stone", i.e. Satan and his followers, left standing atop of another; only our "Rock", Jesus Christ and His faithful, i.e. those who endure til the end, will rule.

When Jesus Christ came out of the tomb, He became our "True Temple", and His word is that Temple "fitly framed together". You need no other Temple than Jesus Christ, and in the Millennium age another Temple will be constructed from where Christ will rule and teach the world.

If you're part of Christ's Temple in this flesh age, then your work, salvation, and very mind will fit into the Temple of Christ, through your study, and following His Word.

Ephesians 2:22 "In Whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

This building is a spiritual building, or Temple; and as we fit into the Christ's Temple, we also become part of another habitation; that being of the plan of God the Father. It is through God's Spirit that we are led to the positions and work we are to fulfill.