Paul's Intro and Overview

Ephesians 1:1-2

Notes to guide our discussion on May 4, 2016.

“1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 1:1–2, ESV)

Observations & Questions:

1. Paul carries his message with a certain authority 
   1. Commissioned by Christ
      1. Q- How were Apostles commissioned?
         1. See Mark 3:14, Acts 1:1-3, 22-23, 2:42, 4:32-33, Eph 2:20, 3:5, 2 Pet 3:1-2
      2. Q- What was their job?
         1. To bring about the obedience of faith 
            1. Rom 1:5
   2. His writing is Scripture- the very words of God
      1. Q- What support do we have from other Scripture that Paul and the others wrote the very words of God?
         1. 1 Cor 2:13
         2. Gal 1:11-12
         3. 2 Pet 3:14-18
         4. 2 Pet 1:16-21 (Read from Taking God at His Word)
2. Paul serves not according to his desire but according to the will of God
   1. His natural choice was not to spend his life this way
      1. What was God’s will for Paul’s service?
   2. The Father has willed that Paul be a messenger for Christ
      1. Q- How does the whole trinity get involved in revealing the message of God to mankind?
3. He writes not to anyone, but to a certain group of people
   1. To saints
      1. Q- Who is a saint?
         1. Paul uses term of all Christians
         2. Set apart for God’s purpose
         3. See Eph 1:4
         4. A Christian is set apart when God reaches down through the person and power of the Holy Spirit, regenerates him, and thus draws him into the company of God’s church. James Montgomery Boice, Ephesians: An Expositional Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Ministry Resources Library, 1988), 5.
   2. To those who are faithful "in Christ Jesus"
      1. What defines faithfulness in Christ?
         1. Matt 25:14ff Parable of the talents
         2. Gal 5:22-23
         3. 1 Thess 5:23-24
         4. Matt 10:22
         5. Lexicon- Trusting…acting in trust…keeping actions in step with words
      2. What about “in Christ”?
         1. Used 164 times by Paul, 9 times in Ephesians
         2. What’s it mean? Rom 6:5
         3. Compare with “in adam” 1 Cor 15:22 Consider Rom 5:12-21
         4. Analogies include temple, vine to branches, marriage, body
4. Grace and peace come to these saints from the Father and the Son together
   1. Q- What is grace in the context of what we would receive from the Father and the Son?
      1. Titus 2:11-14
   2. Q- What is peace in the same context that always follows grace in Paul’s letters?
      1. Peace with God. Escape from wrath.
         1. John 3:36, Rom 1:18ff, 5:1-11, 1 Tim 1:2