Notes on Ephesians, From the Writings of Dr. Henry Grube

The Sacred Secret In The Ephesian Epistle

Chapter One- Our redemption

From out of the darkness of a dungeon, the Apostle Paul sent forth the Epistle to the Ephesians. Like others before and after, he was given a glimpse of heaven while suffering for Christ on earth. The theme of this first chapter is REDEMPTION. In verses 1-6 we see God's PLAN IN REDEMPTION. In verses 7-13 we are shown the PROCESS OF REDEMPTION. In verses 14-23 the apostle offers a PRAYER on behalf of those who have been redeemed. God the Father is seen working for the Saints in verses 1-6, and Christ the Son is seen in His redemptive work in verses 7-11 and the Holy Spirit is shown his ministry in verses 12-14, thus we are shown the ministry of the Godhead ) the Trinity) working on behalf of all who were chosen 'in Christ'.

The expressions 'Blessed Us' (v.3) 'Chosen Us' (v.4) 'Predestinated Us' (v.10) etc. all refer to the Saved (those are the members of the Church which is known as 'The Body of Christ'.(v. 22,23) These blessings are heavenly and spiritual and must be distinguished between the earthly or physical blessings which God has promised to the nation Israel (Gen.12) While it is true that our STANDING is IN CHRIST (v.4) it is also true that our STATE should be one of SERVICE unto Christ. We who are going to have Heavenly blessings should behave on earth as Christians should (2:8-10) God uses the figure of a Seal (v.13) to show we belong to Him. A seal is for preservation, ATHENTICATION, IDENTIFI- CATION and to prevent MOLESTATION.

Paul's PRAYER (vs.15-21) was that we might know :

     (1) the HOPE of His calling, which means we should know for what PURPOSE God has saved us and the reason He is using us. The PURPOSE of the Church ( the Body of Christ) is not to reform the world, nor to build great organizations but to represent Christ and witness for Him.( II Cor. 5:18-20)

     (2) The riches of His glory will be when He displays to the world the results of the death of Christ. (2:7) and the greatness of His POWER is His saving power, which is even greater than His power displayed in the universe about us.

Verses 22-23 refer to the Church which is 'the Body of Christ' and this should be distinguished between the Church in the wilderness ( which was the Body of Moses) (Acts 7) and between the 'Hebrew church, which was in existence when our Lord was on earth ( Matthew 18) which was composed of Jews only. The Church spoken of in Ephesians is that Body of believers composed of all who have been 'born again' in this Church age which began after the death of Christ on the cross. This does not refer to man made denominations ( or local churches) but it refers to all who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior

EPHESIANS 2 –RECONCILIATION, OR HOW SINNERS BECOME SAINTS

The message and ministry of Reconciliation as given to every Christian in II Cor. 5:11-18 is given in detail in this second chapter of Ephesians. The chapter may be outlines as follows : What we were by nature, (vs. 1-5) and What we are by God's Grace (19-21)

One cannot read this chapter without seeing the message of Salvation by Grace through Faith. Here we are reminded there is a price tag on sin, but God's gift card on salvation.

OUR STATE BY NATURE is seen in verses 1-3 (Spiritual death-worldly dictation. Satanic Domination, fleshly desires, and natural depravity ) THEN A WONDERFUL TRUTH is contrasted with this dark picture, for in verses 4-10, we see our STANDING IN GRACE. He loved me v.4 He loosed me v.5 He lifted me. V.6

The chapter shows that – all believers—each member of the Body of Christ is 'TOGETHER' with Christ. but there is a practical aspect which must also be seen, and that is Salvation and Service always go TOGETHER. Salvation by Faith (v.8-9) and SERVICE through works, (v.10). Salvation is NOT of works but Salvation is UNTO good works. Good works do not result in salvation but Salvation will result in good works.

In verse 11, Paul speaks directly to the Believers who were Gentiles-and points out that before Christ died on the Calvary there was a barrier. (v.11-12) separating the Gentile from God and from fellowship with God's people, Israel. But now the barrier is down and there is a Bridge instead. The GENTILE HAS BEEN ACCEPTED (v.13). He now has ACCESS INTO God's presence (v.14-18) and he has a divine APPOINTMENT in the Church which is the Body of Christ (19-22). The Christian is described as a Heavenly citizen in the household of God and the Church is pictured as a Holy Temple.

Key verses which explain the scope of the Message of Grace are verses (12- at that time, i.e. before the Cross) and vs. 13 (..but now, i.e. after the cross). [ Editor's note : 'before the revelation of what happened at/through the cross' and 'after the revelation of what happened at/through the cross' .] Thus we see the truth of Colossians 2:14-16,

How the Lord Jesus in His Flesh (by His death) the Law of Commandments contained in ordinances—and so made peace. (v.15)

The first and only time Jew and Gentile could ever be together is shown in v. 16.. in fact the only place in the universe you can put a Jew and Gentile 'together' is IN CHRIST.

The Jew and the Gentile were Divinely separated and then they were divinely brought together ( Compare Deut. 32:8 with Eph. 2:16) The Jew and the Gentile were in SIN together-they were raised up together- they were made to sit together in the Heavenlies and they are in a building fitly framed together and they are builded together for an habitation of God !!! and so we see in this chapter the basis for the oneness of the Body of Christ. '..made both one.' v.14. '..one new man v.15..One Body by the cross' v.16 and access by one Spirit. (v.18). The scattered things were brought together by the Death of Christ on the Cross. It is here in this second chapter of Ephesians we see the basis… the reason for the message of Chapter 3.

EPHESIANS 3-THE REVELATION OF THE SACRED SECRET

William R. Newell, one of America's well known Bible Teachers said, 'We cannot understand Paul's epistles until we know his life and calling, for Paul is God's special messenger to us ( Christians) … Paul got all his teaching from heaven ( Not from the Disciples) and his Gospel has nothing Jewish about it. He was not converted in Jerusalem but near a Gentile city.. he was NOT told to go to the Jews but to the Gentiles, etc.'

Dr. Harry A. Ironside, pastor of Moody Church said, 'Let us preach Paul's Gospel and let us preach our Lord Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery as made known to and through Paul.'

Dr. William Pettingill, author, Bible teacher and co-editor of the Scofield Reference edition of the Bible said, 'There is much preaching of Jesus Christ which does not establish God's people, because it is not according to the revelation of the mystery.. which was kept secret since the world began.'

The Apostle Paul had a two-fold ministry. First to announce the Gospel of the Grace of God to the Gentiles and second to enlighten believers about the sacred secret ( the revelation of the mystery as mentioned in Romans 16:26 and Ephesians 3:1-9 respecting the Church (Col. 1:23-27).

The Sacred Secret..(The Mystery) or the special revelation was (is) this: God had decreed ( but did not reveal to anyone until he revealed it to Paul) that there was to be a special election of people, a special choosing of people out from among the nations of the world who should become members of His Body( known as the Church) and sharers of the glories of Christ This Body of redeemed souls would be different entirely from God's promises to Abraham and to the nation Israel. In other words, God's program for Israel was prophesied all through the Old Testament, but God did not reveal that He was going to set Israel aside, and would during a special age create a new thing ( the Church) which would be composed of both Jews and Gentiles who would receive Christ as Lord. The entire program of the special revelation was given to Paul. No one in the O.T. knew it would take place (vs.1-9). No one knows now actually when it began (although it seems that more evidence points to the fact that it began either with Paul's conversion or sometime before he wrote his first epistle). No one knows for sure who actually belongs to this Church, except each individual who knows in his heart he has trusted and received Christ as Lord. This Church, (His Body) has no visible head on earth, has no organization, it is not a physical organization but a spiritual organism. We do not know when this church age will end ( when the rapture takes place). We do know that all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, ( that is all who have been born again) and who trust Him as Savior and Lord, are members of this Body which is called the church and we know that all who own Him as Lord, have been baptized into 'the Body by the Holy Spirit. ( I Cor. 12:12).

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