In Christ Jesus
Today we’re starting our journey in the remarkable book of Ephesians as we celebrate the Lord’s Table. During his 30+ years of truly remarkable ministry, Paul visited Ephesus on two of his three missionary journeys. Ephesus was the capital of Asia Minor, which is modern-day Turkey. It was a key strategic location for the Roman empire. It had a bustling economy, with over a million inhabitants, and millions more visiting each year. It was a centre of Greek philosophy as well, with the temple to the Greek godess, Artemis, the goddess of wild animals. Also known as the temple of Diana (Roman goddess) – it was four times larger than the Parthenon in Greece.
Many of the Roman leaders would head to Ephesus for their vacations, it was one of the most influential cities in the ancient world. Paul spent 3 months in the Jewish synagogue teaching the Jews about Christ. Later, he spent two years in the school of Tychicus teaching the world about Jesus. So effective was his teaching, that we learn that no one that went to Ephesus did not hear the good news of the Gospel. The Ephesians received more of Paul’s teaching than any other place or group of people – they were the most spiritually advanced of all the churches of the Roman empire.
Scripture
Ephesians 1:1-2 ESV 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.
Luke 22:15-20 ESV And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
Bible Study Questions
Paul the Apostle
Paul remarkably opens his letter to the Ephesians by calling himself an Apostle. In the world today, and especially in South Africa, we are exposed to lots of self-proclaimed Apostles. How can we discern whether or not a person is indeed an Apostle?
Ephesians 1:1 ESV Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus
Galatians 1:1 ESV Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—
Saints and believers
In verse 1, Paul refers to the believers in Ephesus as saints. The word saints comes from the Greek word, Hagios, which means set apart, separated, Holy. What do you think it means to be considered a saint?
Ephesians 1:1 ESV Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus
1 Kings 8:4 ESV And they brought up the ark of the LORD, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the priests and the Levites brought them up.
John 6:29 ESV Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
In Christ Jesus
How many times have you read these three words together in the Bible, but just glanced past them? What does it meant to be in Christ?
Ephesians 1:1 ESV Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 ESV For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. (13) For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
Romans 8:1 ESV There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Unity through grace and peace
The word for Grace in Greek is Charis. This was a common Greek greeting in the ancient world among the Greeks. The Hebrew word for Peace is Shalom, a common greeting for the Jews. Why do you think Paul uses them together here?
Ephesians 1:2 ESV Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 ESV For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. (13) For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
How peace works
The world talks a lot today about peace and love and when the world does, it seems like wisdom. But nowhere do you see the world talking about grace. Paul repeatedly uses the words grace and peace together, as he does here in Ephesians. Why do you think this is?
Ephesians 1:2 ESV Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 1:16 ESV For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
God our Father
Paul refers to God as our Father in verse 2. How do we become the children of God?
Ephesians 1:2 ESV Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 John 3:1 ESV See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
The Trinity
As Paul closes off his greeting, he only speaks of God the Father and Jesus the son. Why do you think he does not mention the Holy Spirit?
Ephesians 1:2 ESV Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:17-18 ESV that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,