Ephesians 1:15

Ephesians 1:15 says, Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,  Paul told the church at Ephesus that he had heard of their faith in Christ.  As stated before, news did not travel that fast in Paul's day, but news of their faith had reached Paul.  He said that he had not only heard of their faith in Christ, but also of their love for all saints, or Christians.  We need the same testimony to be ours today, and that is that through Christ we love all people, and especially that we love all fellow believers.  

Verse sixteen adds, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;  Paul said that he gave thanks to God for their faithful obedience to God and that he prayed for them.  I believe that when Paul said he made mention of them in his prayers that it meant more than just saying their name, but that he sincerely lifted them up to God that He might strengthen them.  We should be thankful for all fellow Christians and sincerely pray for them.  

Verse seventeen continues, That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:  Paul prayed that the church at Ephesus would grow in their knowledge of God.  They could only do this as they looked to God to increase their knowledge of Him.  The Holy Spirit will lead us to a better understanding of what we should be as followers of Christ if we allow Him to.  

Verse eighteen states, The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,  This is just a further expansion of what was said in verse seventeen.  We will see life in the hope of God's calling with the riches of the glory of the inheritance that God will give us.  This is not a promise of the temporary riches of the world, but of the everlasting riches heaven.  

Verse nineteen adds, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,  I believe that Paul was saying that even as the Holy Spirit leads us to a better understanding of God that we still fail to understand the greatness of God's riches and power.  

Verse twenty continues, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,  Paul tells us that God revealed His power and greatness through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.  What the world viewed as a defeat of Christ really only led to His victory over sin and death, not only for Himself but for all who put their faith in salvation through Him.  

Verse twenty-one says, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:  Paul tells us that the power of Christ is not only greater than any power of this life, but His power is greater than any in the world to come.  We belong to and are protected by God forever if we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord.

Verse twenty-two adds, And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head overall things to the church,  Paul tells us that everything is placed under the feet of Christ, or ultimately under His redemptive power.  This is especially true of the church, of which Christ is the head.  If we allow any person to become the source of authority in the church, other than Christ Himself being the authority, then something is wrong.  

Verse twenty-three continues, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.  Paul was still referring to the church, with Christ as the head and the believers as the body.  We, as the church or the followers of Christ, are to always be under the leadership of God through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Ephesians 1:7

Ephesians 1:7 says, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;  If we are redeemed to God, it is only through the blood of Christ.  If our sins are forgiven, it is not by any action on our part, but by the blood of Christ.  This is only made possible by the grace of God.  There has never been nor never will be any way to salvation except by accepting what Christ did for everyone on the cross.  

Verse eight adds, Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;  God gives us the wisdom to know the truth of salvation through Christ.  God not only provides the only way to salvation, but He gives us the faith to have the knowledge accept that salvation.  Rejection of salvation is purely an act of self will on the part of an individual, and salvation is purely an act of faith in following the will of God.  

Verse nine continues, Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:  Paul said that God had made known the mystery of His will.  We can never know God by our own ability but can only know Him as He reveals Himself to us.  Salvation will never be dependent on any act of people other than the acceptance of Christ as their Savior and Lord through faith, which is itself giving to them by God.  

Verse ten states, That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:  I believe that Paul was speaking about the second coming of Christ.  When God determines the time to be right, then all of those who belong to Christ through faith will be gathered together.  We do not need to worry about when but only be assured of the truth that we are assured of that fact.  

Verse eleven adds, In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:  Paul just offers further assurance that those who put their faith in Christ have gained a part in His inheritance.  I believe that salvation by Christ is what was preordained, and not the salvation of any particular individual or individuals.  

Verse twelve continues, That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.  We are not saved for our own glory, but for the glory of God, as Paul states here.  This glory to God comes through our acceptance of Christ, a free will act on the part of every individual.  Though God could have forced us to serve Him, it is to His glory that He allows us to make the choice.  

Verse thirteen proclaims, 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,  These promises are made to those who put their faith in Christ.  Once someone accepts the truth of salvation by Christ alone, they are sealed to a relationship with the Father by the Holy Spirit.  The only way a person who is truly saved could lose their salvation would be if they were more powerful than God, since He seals the relationship.  

Verse fourteen adds, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.  The Holy Spirit is the assurance of our inheritance until the final redemption.  We need only rest assured that we are God's forever through our faith in Christ.

Ephesians 1:1

Ephesians 1:1 says, 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:  As usual, Paul identified himself and those he was writing to.  He identified himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.  Paul did not feel that this was a title that he had somehow earned but was a position that God had called him to.  Paul said he was writing to the saints at Ephesus.  As we should already know, this did not mean some group of super Christians, but to all who were believers in Christ.  Paul also identified them as the faithful in Christ.  If we are to be identified as saints of God, those who are set aside from the world, then we must be faithful to Christ.  

Verse two adds, Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul asked that the grace of God would be with the church at Ephesus.  The grace of God would lead to peace in their lives and should in ours as well.  The church was not a place, but a fellowship of believers.  When Paul said from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, he was not speaking about two Gods, but one God that we see manifested in two ways.  Though Paul did not mention the Holy Spirit, we know that He is the other Person of the Trinity.  We cannot divide God into three separate gods.  The Bible is consistent throughout that there is but one God.  

Verse three Paul continues, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:  As just stated, Paul was not dividing God but was simply acknowledging that God as our heavenly Father should be blessed for sending the Son to redeem us.  Paul said that God is the source of all spiritual blessings.  We cannot just decide what blessings we want from God and expect Him to have to give them to us.  Paul was persecuted and imprisoned for much of his ministry, but he said that God should still be blessed.  We cannot allow material things to come between us and God.  

Verse four states, 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:  There are those who read this and claim that certain people were ordained before creation to be saved and that they are the only ones who will be saved.  I do not believe that this is what Paul was saying, but instead was saying that even before the foundation of the world that God had His redemption plan in place.  This plan of salvation is available to everyone and not just a select few.  

Verse five adds, Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,  As just stated, I believe this adoption is what was predestined, and not just a particular person or group of people who could receive it.  We can never be any more than the adopted children of God through faith in Christ.  Verse six continues, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  Paul praised God for His grace, from which He had made us acceptable through Christ.  It is only by the grace of God that we are saved.  For this alone, with no earthly or material reward, we should praise God.  If everything on earth is lost, our salvation is still secure by our faith in Christ.

Galatians Review

In the book of Galatians, Paul addressed false teachings that had entered the church there.  Paul did not just go to an area and preach the gospel then go away and forgot them.  It was much more difficult to know what was going on in other places then, and Paul himself was being persecuted.  Still, he managed to keep up with what was going on in the churches he had helped to establish.  We today need to have that same concern for churches around us.  We may have had nothing to do with their establishment, but if false teachings enter into any profession of the gospel, we need to stand ready to correct it.  The particular issue that Paul was addressing was the requirement for Gentile believers to be circumcised in order to be saved or accepted as a part of God's people.  We today may not face that same issue, but there are those who would add to the requirement of salvation by faith alone, and they lead many into following their teachings.  Paul recognized the danger of this and said that anything added to the requirement of faith in Christ alone for salvation was wrong.  Paul also addressed the issue of feeling superior to other Christians.  Some of those who were Jews felt that they were somehow more important than those who had been Gentiles because God's law had been given to them.  Paul said that the only purpose of the law was to lead them to faith in God.  Instead of proving their worthiness, the law did just the opposite.  Since in order to be justified by the law a person needed to keep all the law perfectly, in thoughts as well as in action, then no one could be justified by the law.  Christ came to fulfill the requirements of the law, and through faith in Him alone could anyone, Jew or Gentile, male or female, be restored to a right relationship with God.  The Holy Spirit indwells all believers to give them guidance and make intercession for them with God.  Paul said that once we are freed by the gospel of Christ, then we would be foolish to return to the requirement of the law.  We as followers of Christ are all made equal through the cross and should never allow anything to separate us.

Galatians 6:11

Galatians 6:11 says, Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.  Paul was very concerned about the false teachings that were beginning to come into the church at Galatia.  He wrote the letter himself, not dictating it to someone else to write it down.  I believe that this made it even more personal and ensured that nothing could be misrepresented by someone writing these things down for him.  Verse twelve adds, As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.  Paul said that those who wanted to make themselves right through the flesh, or their own goodness in the keeping of the law, demanded that gentile Christians be circumcised.  When they did this, they were negating salvation by faith in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross as being the only way to and requirement for salvation.  Verse thirteen continues, For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.  Paul said that those who were demanding that believers in Christ be circumcised were unable to keep the law.  They could not be reconciled to God through the law, yet wanted to glory in placing others under the same law that condemned them.  Verse fourteen declares, But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.  Paul declared that his only glory was in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Christ was not his Lord alone but is the Lord of all who believe in Him.  Paul said that through Christ he was crucified to the world and the world was crucified to him.  He no longer lived by the flesh but lived by faith in Christ.  Paul asked God to forbid him from glorying in anything other than the cross, and so should we.  Verse fifteen adds, For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.  This was the point of disagreement in the church.  Paul said that neither being circumcised nor not being circumcised mattered.  We are a new creature through Christ, and nothing that we did or didn't do before matters.  We are simply to live under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse sixteen continues, And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.  Paul prayed for peace to those who believed in salvation by faith in Christ alone, who were the Israel of God.  Verse seventeen states, From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.  Paul asked that no one trouble him by questioning his faith, because he bore the marks of Christ.  This was no particular mark that a believer must have, but the marks that Paul had suffered from being punished for his belief in salvation for all who believed in Christ.  Verse eighteen continues, Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Unto the Galatians written from Rome.  Paul may have been writing to the Galatians to correct them, but he did so that they might know the peace that comes from having Christ as the Lord of their lives.  We today must also want that same peace for everyone, especially for those who proclaim Christ as their Savior and Lord.  We cannot allow anyone to add to the requirements of the gospel.

Galatians 6:1

Galatians 6:1 says, Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  Paul tells us that if we see someone that has been overtaken by a fault, or fallen into a sinful action, that we who live by the Spirit are to restore them with a spirit of love.  Paul did not say that we are to condemn that person and look down on them.  I believe instead that we need to consider that having an attitude of moral superiority leaves us open to temptation, since this attitude would not be from the Spirit but from the flesh.  Verse two adds, Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.  Paul tells us that we are to help those who are burdened.  We are all, as followers of Christ, to live by the example that He set.  Verse three continues, For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.  This is a warning against self-justification or self-pride.  When we begin to glorify ourselves, we are deceiving ourselves.  We are all saved by grace alone and cannot begin to glorify ourselves.  Verse four states, But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.  Paul said that if we prove ourselves by the work done for God that we might rejoice, but only to ourselves, and not seeking the praise of others.  Verse five adds, For every man shall bear his own burden.  This seems to contradict verse two that tells us to bear one another's burdens, but it really doesn't.  Speaking to an individual, Paul tells us we are responsible for our own actions and should accept that responsibility.  When speaking to the church, Paul tells us we are to help those who are struggling.  I believe this also means that even though other people are not responsible for our burdens, if we are doing our best to overcome them, then we should be willing to accept their help.  Verse six continues, Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.  Paul said that if we have been taught the word of God that we are to share it with others.  This also means that some are called to be teachers, and as such they should utilize their gift to benefit others.  Verse seven declares, Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  Paul tells us that we may fool people, but we will never be able to mock God by proclaiming to follow Him while sowing seeds of corruption.  We will one day reap the harvest of what we sow.  Verse eight adds, For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.  If we are living by the rules of the flesh and ignoring the salvation and leadership that come through Christ, then we are sowing to corruption, or to temporal things.  If we are sowing under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, then we are sowing to everlasting life.  Verse nine continues, And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  Paul advises us to not grow weary of well doing, which would mean living for God's glory under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  We are to do what God calls us to do as long as we are able to do it.  God will always empower us to do what He calls us to do.  Verse ten concludes, As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.  Paul calls on Christians to do good to everyone.  We are to have a concern for even those who may despise us and are to share the love of Christ with them.  Paul also says this should especially be true of the household of faith, or our fellow Christians.  We are to follow the will of God through the leadership of the Holy Spirit in our relationship to all people.

Galatians 5:13

Galatians 5:13 says, For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.  Paul issues a warning in this verse.  He said that even though we are called to liberty in Christ that we are not to use that liberty to justify actions of the flesh.  We cannot claim that since all our sins are forgiven through Christ that it does not matter if we commit a sin.  Paul tells us that this liberty in Christ should lead us to serve one another in love.  Verse fourteen adds, For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  Paul said that if the Galatians wanted to live under the law, that all the law was fulfilled in one commandment, and that was that we love our neighbor as we love yourself.  Verse fifteen continues, But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.  I believe that Paul was warning against fighting within the church.  If we begin to fight against one another based on additions to the gospel, we will all destroy our witness for Christ.  Verse sixteen states, This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  Paul gives us the solution for eliminating disputes among Christians.  He tells us to walk in the Spirit.  When we do this, we will not be tempted by the flesh, or the things of this world.  Verse seventeen Paul adds, For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.  Paul warns us that being led by the things of this world puts us at war with God's Holy Spirit.  We cannot follow both.  Verse eighteen continues, But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.  When we accept Christ as our Savior, we are freed from trying to be justified by the law.  At the same time, we are to make Christ our Lord and live under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  In the next three verses, Paul speaks of the works of the flesh.  Verse nineteen says, Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  Verse twenty adds, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  Verse twenty-one continues, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  These are things that people are guilty of when they attempt to live justified by the law, and even being guilty of one of these keeps anyone from inheriting the kingdom of God.  We do not earn our place in the kingdom of God but inherit it by faith.  The next two verse speak of the fruit of the Spirit.  Verse twenty-two states, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  Verse twenty-three adds, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  Paul contrasted the works of the law with the works of the Spirit, and he concluded that there was no law that could stand against the work of the Spirit.  When we become Christ's through faith, we live under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and become a new person.  Verse twenty-four continues, And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Paul said those who are Christ's have been crucified to the lusts of the flesh.  Verse twenty-five says, If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  I believe that Paul was saying that our actions should be consistent with our words.  If we live under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, then we do not need to attempt to justify ourselves by the law.  Verse twenty-six adds, Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.  I believe that Paul was warning against trying to prove that we are somehow superior to other Christians by any earthly act.  We are to glorify God and love others through our faith in Christ.