IN THE HEAVENLIES
Eph 1:1-6
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
INTRODUCTION
Early in my ministry, I was introduced to the writings of Ruth Paxton who served as a missionary to China. She had written a devotional commentary on Ephesians that greatly stirred my heart. From memory, I recall that she had divided Ephesians into three parts while stating as she did that Ephesians was the Joshua of the New Testament and that Joshua was the Ephesians of the Old Testament. She said that Ephesians 1:1-3:21 referred to the “wealth of the believer” and that chapter 4:1- 6:9 referred to the “walk of the believer”. Then she said that chapter 6:10-24 referred to the “warfare of the believer”. I always believed that this was a wonderful way to approach this most wonderful book. You cannot help but read it and be reminded as you do what it feels like to be seated in the heavenlies…
Another way that I have seen it divided is by dividing it into two parts. The first part is the doctrinal portion (Ephesians 1:1-3:21) and the last part is the duty portion (Ephesians 4:1-6:24). This is a common way of dividing Books of the Bible which major on the doctrinal and also on the practical. Another example of this division is the Book of Romans with chapters one through eleven being devoted to the doctrinal and chapters twelve through sixteen being devoted to the duty of the believer.
Ephesians is a very challenging Book in the way that it shows the wonderfulness of God and also the worship and the work of the believer. Never should the believer hesitate to worship and work for the Lord while he is seated spiritually in the heavenlies. Remember where He sits, we also sit…
A Divine Nature Planned by His Sovereignty (Vv. 1-6)
This great Book opens with the writer being identified. Certainly, it must be understood that Christ is the Author, but Paul is the writer whom God chose to exercise what we refer to in Theology as Confluent Inspiration. The term confluent inspiration means that the Lord used the personality of Paul and then blew His holy breath into his writing personality with the result of Paul being used of God to deliver the inspired, infallible Word of God. The Truth is not at all compromised when God did this. The writers of the Word of God were greatly protected, but more than that the Word of God was absolutely protected.
The name Paul means: “little”. Saul was the name that he went by when he was leveling his persecution against the church. Saul is his Hebrew name, whereas Paul is his Roman name. His name was changed in Acts 13:9 and Paul is his name that is mostly used in the New Testament. Paul introduces himself as an apostle. The title apostle had three meanings in the New Testament. In John 13:16 the word apostle is used in its primary sense to describe a messenger. The second way the term is used is in the sense of missionaries, men sent by the church to preach the Gospel. In this sense Paul and Barnabas are called apostles, Acts 14:4, 14; and probably Andronicus and Junias, Romans 16:7. The third way that the term is used and in a stricter sense is when those selected men were chosen directly by the Lord Jesus Christ to serve a particular function. Their commission was given by all authority and with this commission they also had the apostolic gifts for the purpose of authenticating the Gospel to the unbelieving Jews and doing the special work of the church during its infancy to all people groups. This special work was done during a period of time which has been called the apostolic age or the age of the apostles.
Paul certainly knew that he was called to be an apostle and he certainly knew what constituted his commission by the way that he identified himself in his opening salutation. He referred to himself in this manner, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,” He understood that Christ had called him while on the road to Damascus and that this call was according to the will of God. This call was a supernatural call in that Christ revealed Himself from heaven to Saul.
The way His plan blesses us (Vv. 1-3)
Before considering how His plan blesses us, it would be appropriate to consider first how we are to bless God. Verse three begins in this manner: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”. This use of the word bless as it is applied to God means that we are to give honor and praise to Him. The Greek word eulogetos is the word that we get our English word eulogy. God is the One to whom we should eulogize and give praise and honor. Then, as we honor Him, He will return a blessing to us in the form of giving us favor, making us happy or by causing us to prosper spiritually. In our Text, however, the blessing is in the past tense which signifies that God has already according to His plan and purpose blessed us. He “hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in Love:” (Vv. 3b, 4)
God was able to develop a plan based upon His foreknowledge that allows the blessing to originate in the heavenly places to minister to us in an earthly setting. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 gives valuable insight as to the way the blessing comes upon the Gentile. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. (2 Thessalonians 2:13-17)
There are three notable parts to the blessing that is available to the one who believes. First we are told that “God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation…” The time frame for the blessing to originate in heavenly places was from the beginning. The beginning that is spoken of is known only to God. The starting point for this “beginning” seems to be when God chose to reveal the elements that pertain to one’s conversion. First, there is a part that belongs to God alone. This involves His choosing. Just exactly how did He choose? For such a question, He gives the answer. He began with the Gospel call: Whereunto he called you by our gospel. There are those who are convinced that the Gospel is not necessary for one to be saved. They will tell you that there is no need for either missionaries or Gospel preachers. Yet, God tells us in this portion of Scripture that “God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation”. This means that from the beginning that He had a plan and in this plan the first necessary part was the call of the Gospel. The second necessary and notable part is the “belief of the truth”. Once the Gospel witness declares the Gospel, then the hearer has the responsibility of accepting and then the believing of the Truth. Some might argue that the true candidate for belief will believe the Truth without any personal exercising of the will. For those who take this position, they disregard that man does have a responsibility to God that includes the operation of his personal will. The third necessary and notable part to conversion is the “sanctification of the Spirit”. This act of consecration can only be done by the heavenly Father. John 6:44 illustrates this Truth: No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:44).
The formula for God’s choosing will appear each time that a salvation plan is given. An example of this is given in the first chapter of Ephesians. In verse 13, notice “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,” In this verse, the call of the Gospel considers the first part of the verse that says; “after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation”. The believing of the truth is identified this way, “ye believed” and then the sanctification of the Spirit is shown this way, “ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise”. Again, any time Scripture is given relative to conversion, it will contain these three necessary parts.
According to the plan’s great source (Vv. 1-3a)
The Theme for the Book of Ephesians could very well be applied grace. The first three verses show us the source of the mentioned grace that allows for God to have a plan for redemption and how redemption is implemented. We must remind ourselves that when Paul wrote this letter, he was writing it as a mystery. He was given the privilege of revealing this mystery which had also been delivered to the other apostles and prophets in the New Testament economy. The first thing that is given to us after the writer, Paul, identifies himself is those to whom he was writing. He wrote “to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus”. The Book is named Ephesians because the letter is written to the saints in Ephesus. “The Israelites, under the old dispensation, were called saints, because they were separated from other nations and consecrated to God. In the New Testament the word is applied to believers, not merely as externally consecrated, but as reconciled to God and inwardly purified. The Greek word from which the word ’saint’ is derived signifies ’to cleanse,’ either from guilt by a propitiatory sacrifice, as in Hebrews 2:11 and 9:10, 14, or from inward pollution, and also to consecrate. Hence, saints are those who are cleansed by the blood of Christ, and by the renewing of the Holy Spirit, and thus separated from the world and consecrated to God.”—Commentary on Ephesians. A
Historically, this Church letter served an immediate purpose as it ministered to a particular people group that made up the saints of Ephesus, but as viewed in time, it was a letter written to include all of the faithful in Christ Jesus. This could very well be a reason that this Book met the qualifications of being in the sacred Canon of Truth. Paul emphasizes that what was writing was according to the will of God; this letter is not a product of human genius but God speaking through human instrumentality as He chose to reveal Himself and His message to us.
“Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ” (V.2). Paul will show the mystery of how the Jew and the Gentile are able to come together as the Church, where there is neither Jew nor Gentile. It appears that Paul is addressing the two ethnic groups that make up the church respectively. The Greek salutation or greeting would be “grace” whereas the Hebrew greeting would be “Peace”. Here he used both. The first word, grace, in redemptive order must come first, for there can never be peace without first there being grace. Paul is identifying with both racial groups as he begins this letter by using words that are familiar to the Jew and the Gentile. As Truth is expounded, he will show the mystery of how these two groups union together to become one in the church.
According to the plan’s great scope (Vv. 3b)
God reveals Himself to both the Jew and the Gentile as the great One who blesses. According to Gill God graciously made His blessings available as being the only one who could truly bless. Notice, what Gill says, “God is the author and giver of all blessings; and he blesses his people with them, as he is the God and Father of Christ, and as he is their covenant God and Father in Christ; and he only can bless; if he blesses not, none can; and if he blesses, they are blessed indeed: the "us" that are blessed, are such who deserve, according to the tenor of the law, to be cursed; and are not all men, but some distinct from others; and who are before described as saints, and faithful in Christ Jesus; and include both Jews and Gentiles, who belong to the election of grace. And the blessings such are blessed with are spiritual, so called to distinguish them from temporal blessings” (Gill).
According to the plan’s great strength (Vv. 3c)
All the benefits and the plans of redeeming grace that Paul considers in this Ephesians’ study have for its strength, Christ. Christ is the source of strength whether it is the legal strength that is necessary to make His covenant binding or the strength to keep us saved eternally. The covenant of grace would not be of any strength or power, if it were not for Christ and certainly we could not enjoy an enduring eternal salvation if it were not for Him being the Strong One. This, which we are referring to has as its point of origin, the throne room. The terms “Heavenly places” or “the heavenlies” appears five times in this Book (1:3, 1:20, 2:6, 3:10, 6:12) keeping us reminded that not only is heaven the place that our blessings originates, but that it is something to be enjoyed now, not just in the future, and is available with much power. This study will emphasize all of the benefits which are available to us presently such as: justification, sanctification, new birth, eternal life, peace, nearness, reconciliation, the gift of the Spirit, etc.
“These things are available now while we are pilgrims upon this earth. Israel was promised temporal blessings in earthly places on condition of obedience to law. But all of their attempted works have gained them nothing. But God has given, on the ground of His grace alone and by virtue of the infinitely valuable sacrifice of His Son, every spiritual blessing in heavenly places to all who receive His Son in this day of His grace. This verse entitles us to claim every spiritual blessing we find in either the Old or New Testament. We cannot claim the temporal blessings promised to Israel, but what is spiritual is ours” (Grant).
About these blessings we may summarize them in this manner as we recognize that there are three things indicated here in our Text. First, they are spiritual, not material as were Israel’s blessings. Then, they are heavenly and not earthly realizing that every good and perfect gift comes from above (so says James in his Epistle) and thirdly, these blessings are in Christ. That marks the crowning jewel of these wonderful blessings that God, our heavenly Father makes available to us. It all comes from His Son to us.
The way His plan benefits us (Vv. 4-6)
This fourth verse in our first chapter reveals the way God preplanned our existence and our redemption. God must explain things to us relative to His attributes and strengths. He is certainly omnipotent having no limits to His strength. Another attribute of God is that He is omnipresent; meaning that by His Spirit He is everywhere. He is also omniscient in that there is nothing that he does not know. He has perfect comprehension. Thus, this verse is to be understood, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” (Eph 1:4)
It was in “eternity past” that God chose us “in him” as indicated by the formula given to us in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17. God’s choosing was predicated upon His foreknowledge. He, having perfect and complete knowledge also had the competence to develop a plan that would require a work on the part of God and a responsibility on the part of man. This in no way takes away from the grace of God; it only permits God to exercise His sovereignty according to His own purposes. The Scriptures clearly indicate that God chose to create man with both a will and a responsibility. This verse indicates that it was His divine intention to bring us to full maturity. “When the Spirit’s work in us has reached its completion, including the quickening of our mortal bodies at the first resurrection, we shall be landed in heaven. We shall then be marked by perfect holiness of nature, and perfect freedom from all blame as to conduct. We shall be for ever in the presence of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ in an atmosphere of perfect love. That will be heaven indeed. Thus verse 4 begins in a past eternity and ends in a future eternity.” (Hole)
The benefits are according to His purpose. (Vv. 4)
During the lifetime of the believer, the Lord is doing an ongoing work of Grace to get the believer to the place that he can be presented as being a part of the church without “spot or wrinkle”. The Book of Ephesians gives us insight as to how God accomplishes this. There has been much debate in the realm of theology as it pertains to the teachings of foreknowledge, election, and predestination. Much of the teachings will continue with ongoing debate as it already has for centuries. Charles Spurgeon wrestled with the teachings as it involved the free will of man in respect to the way that God elects men to salvation. He wisely recognized that these two doctrines are like two rails on a railroad track. They run side by side never seeming to touch, but also never spreading apart. Much about the way that God chooses is mysterious and it will continue to be that way, perhaps because man by nature is lazy and this helps prompt men to “dig a little deeper”. I certainly know that because all of the teachings that pertain to this subject are not clearly revealed to me that I have had to diligently study, whereas otherwise I may not have done so.
One of the main reasons that much debate has gone on as it pertains to verses like this is that we are so prone to think in only human terms. We have no omnipotence, omnipresence or omniscience in our makeup. We have to move in respect to time. We are capable of making future plans, but not with the benefit of omniscience as can God. Because God does enjoy these attributes, He can plan and elect with perfect knowledge as He pleases. “As he pleases” is the difference. He was able to choose from the beginning, but He was also pleased to let man have the responsibility of believing the Gospel. As God did with Lydia, so He does with us; He opens our heart of unbelief so that we can receive the Gospel. This, again, does not at all take away from his grace. It just further provides for man to come to repentance demonstrating that He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
The benefits are according to His predestining. (Vv. 5a)
The term predestination as it is used in our Text means that God predetermined ahead of time that the saved would be adopted into the family of God as mature or adult sons. He could have saved us without adopting us, but He did not. That means that we have the wonderful privilege of enjoying the rights of sonship with all of the blessings that it attends. What is so very wonderful is that the Lord did it according to His own will. He was not forced to do this; He did it with pleasure. Before we examine this aspect of his predestinating, may we further examine the act of His doing so for the purpose of adoption. “In the NT, adoption means placing a believer in the family of God as a mature, adult son with all the privileges and responsibilities of sonship (Gal. 4:4–7). The Spirit of adoption plants within the believer the instinct to address God as Father (Rom. 8:15). Our adoption as sons is by Jesus Christ. God could never have brought us into this position of nearness and dearness to Himself as long as we were in our sins. So the Lord Jesus came to earth, and by His death, burial, and resurrection He settled the sin question to God’s satisfaction. It is the infinite value of His sacrifice on Calvary that provides a righteous basis on which God can adopt us as sons.” (McDonald)
The term predestinate should not frighten those of us who are in the faith. It is simply a term that can only be accurately used by one who has foreknowledge. Having this ability, God predestinates His children to be like His Son, Christ Jesus. Romans 8:28, 29 clearly teaches us this: 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:28-29)
The benefits are according to His pleasure. (Vv. 5b-6)
Some would have you to believe that the word pleasure as used here is a strict hedonistic term and that God is incapable of enjoying pleasure of any kind. This is certainly not so, for God finds great pleasure in bringing many sons unto glory. This is the demonstrated purpose of God’s electing grace. He plans to have a large family and this is what brings Him pleasure. It was He who made us “accepted in the beloved”. He did this to bring glory back to Himself through the redemptive graces that are found in His Son Jesus Christ. During the early 1900’s, J. Armitage Robinson, D.D. understood this truth as he stated, “To sum up verses three through six, the blessing, for which we bless God, is of a spiritual nature, in the heavenly sphere, in the exalted Christ. It is in accordance with an eternal choice, whereby God has selected us in Christ. Its goal, so far as we are concerned, is the fulness of all virtues, love. It includes an adoption through Jesus Christ to a Divine sonship. It motive lies far back in the will of God. Its contemplated issue in the Divine counsel is that God’s grace, freely bestowed on us in His Well-beloved, should be gloriously manifested and eternally praised.”
We should remain mindful that any grace that we enjoyed as members of the family of the redeemed had its origin in Christ Jesus. For he made us “accepted in the beloved” and by Him having done this, it grants us the legal right through adoption to enjoy that which also brought pleasure to Him.
