Ephesians 1:1-15
Today we start on the books of Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians. We will go through each book Ephesians about 15 days, Philippians 15 days, and Colossians 10 days. This will give us plenty of time to talk about each book and I hope you enjoy each of them. I look forward to hearing what you have to say about the daily topic.
Also, I have noticed that we have been getting a lot of commits with website links to private sites. Please understand that I will read your commits and even replay to you, but this is a study group and I will not post any commit on the main board with links to an outside website, unless they are related to the topic.
For the most part I will use the “New King James Version” of the Bible, but there maybe times I change and when I do I will tell you. But use the version you like best. So one once asked what is the best version to use and the replay was “the one you are willing to read” the only thing I ask if you are going to quote the Bible please do not use a paraphrase Bible like “Clear word” I like reading it but it
is not a “translation” it is a “paraphrase”
One last thing before we get started feel free to post I love to hear everyone’s thoughts. It is ok to disagree with others, just understand we may disagree with you as will.
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Daily reading: Ephesians 1:1-15
Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Redemption in Christ
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the
glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of
the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
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My Thoughts:
There are a few things that caught my eye as I was reading the txt for today.
- Let’s start with (V 1) where Paul says “ To the saints or (Holy ones) who are in Ephesus”
- I find this choice of words important because throughout the Bible we see the name “Saints” used to Identify God’s people. (Psalms 16:3), (Daniel 7:21), (Revelation 16:6).
- In (v. 4, 5) Paul says “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
- So why do I address these verses? Because we must understand that this verse is not a supporting txt for “Predestination”. From the beginning God’s plan was that we all live in Him and still today we all have the “choice” to live in Him or not (Romans 8:29).
- And I know I am going back to my last commit but let’s look at (V. 11) “also In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.”
- Paul’s readers would have regarded themselves as “Predestinated” by the Stars and plants, which they regarded as gods. Paul does not mean that they have no choice, just the opposite; Paul is giving them Hope that their choices make a difference and if they make the choice to follow Christ, Salvation is accessible to them (Acts 22:14).
Supporting Scripture; I have not removed this section. I am just moving the Supporting Scripture in to my commits.
Personal Reflection and Discussion
- What does the use of the word “Saints mean to you?
- Howdo you read Verses 4, 5 and 11? What do you think Paul is saying when he talks about “Predestination”
- Are there any other things you see in the Txt?
Prayer Activities
- Call your Partner and discuss this devotional.
- Continue to have a prayer list and let the new people know you are praying for them.
- Pray with them and ask for the following;
- For God to bring understanding to your life.
- For God to strengthen your fellowship with others.
- For the individuals on your pray list.
- For today use the following Bible verse in your prayer (Isaiah 43:10)
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These, to me are wonderful verses. They are full of hope. Paul tells us that God loves us, always loved us even before we were created. If God loved us before we were created, he is not going to just wander around down here on our own with no help or hope. To me that is the “predisposition”.We are not made to love our Creator but we were created to love. It still seems weird to me to be called a “saint” because in my mind we are sinful creatures(me especially). Fortunately, with the Holy Spirit indwelling in us, we can be, through His guidance “saints”. Praise God!
I agree with you Rosie. Not about the (me especially) part but about how these verses give us hope and yes the “predisposition” is there and we are all “predisposition” to be part of God’s Kingdom but we must still “choose to accept” that gift and God’s love. It all comes down to free will.
There obviously a such thing as predesination…the question is who. We know God knows the future even before the begining. These things are to high for us (or maybe just me) to understand. He is capable of things that would just blow our minds. We’re so limited it’s hard to comprehend even his self-exisitence or even fathoming eternity. I wonder about our individual predestination and I may never fully be able to understand that or even trust that anybody could know it. I just put to much weight on these matter since we can’t know everything about God; or even ourselves. I have to remind myself I’m just a dumb sheep…baa. But, what I think everyone could easily agree is that humans in general were predestined to be called children of God and recieve the inheirtance.
meant to read: I don’t put to much weight on these matters
Weather he perdestined me individually or not I know he knows me personally and, like Rosi said, I take joy in knowing he loves me and is very mindful of me. I love reading how everything really was for Him and through Him and we just give Him praise. His ways are great and I’m soo happy to be part of it.
My only other thought is; if God has predestinated us for Salivation or Not, then why would he waste His time with the ones He is not going to save?
What is Predestination? Webster’s defines it as “the doctrine that God in consequence of his foreknowledge of all events infallibly guides those who are destined for salvation” As Seventh-day Adventist we accept the biblical definition and deny the validity of Calvin’s interpretation. God has perfect “Foreknowledge” of past, present and future. But knowing something does not mean you control it. Each and every person has the “Free will” to choose. (Titus 2:11), (2 Tim. 1:9)
I know another post….Just got another thought I want to share.
I think the problem when most people think of predestination is that they can’t see the free will in it. Predestination is just like saying according to his will like in vrs 11. There’s no reason to believe it’s forced, against our will. Is it to hard for Him to know who would choose Him or not? He calls it before it happened because he sees it before it happens. When he looks at even a baby in the womb before he’s even formed, he knows wheather he will be a son of God or not. He know’s his parents, he knows what character, and the cirumstances in his life…aren’t all those predestined for the child even before he chooses. There has to be a balance to what God says in his word.
you asked the question “When he looks at even a baby in the womb before he’s even formed, he knows wheather he will be a son of God or not. He know’s his parents, he knows what character, and the cirumstances in his life…aren’t all those predestined for the child even before he chooses?” I am going to say no and here is why. Because He knows the choices we are going to make in our lives is why He knows is we are going to choose He, through our Free will not His. the key words of your question is “He knows” free will is the determining factor in an individual’s personal destiny.
I think we’re getting our thoughts confused and conflicting. It seem we agree but then again it seems we’re disagreeing. Some thought are difficult to write out and hope others would understand. Maybe you understand me fine it might be I’m having a difficult time understaning you. I guess we’ll move on.
They are but if you ever feel the need to revisit this topic I will be happy too.