Biblical Places Spiritual Spaces Ephesus
The Ephesus Theater could seat 24,000 people
After the ground-breaking ministry in Europe, where five congregations were established, Paul sails from the Aegean side of the Corinth isthmus, Cenchrea, back to Jerusalem and Antioch, with a stop in Ephesus, where apparently, he leaves Pricilla and Aquila. This second mission trip finishes with a set up for the next Road Trip which will focus on Ephesus, the center of cultic worship to the goddess Diana.
The site of the ancient temple
Paul stayed in Corinth for some time after that, then said good-bye to the brothers and sisters and went to nearby Cenchrea. There he shaved his head according to Jewish custom, marking the end of a vow. Then he set sail for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him.
They stopped first at the port of Ephesus, where Paul left the others behind. While he was there, he went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews. They asked him to stay longer, but he declined. As he left, however, he said, “I will come back later, God willing.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. The next stop was at the port of Caesarea. From there he went up and visited the church at Jerusalem and then went back to Antioch. After spending some time in Antioch, Paul went back through Galatia and Phrygia, visiting and strengthening all the believers. Acts 18:18-23
The Ephesian Cardo
Bringing the Gospel to Ephesus would be like travelling to Mecca and proclaiming, “Jesus is Lord.” Ephesus was a very spiritually charged environment. The entire economy and culture of Ephesus was centered around one of the largest temples of the ancient world that worshipped the huntress goddess Diana / Artemis, who was also the goddess of childbirth, wildlife, the night and the Moon. It took a lot of courage for anyone to challenge the demonic powers that controlled that region.
Enter Apollo, a follower of Jesus from Alexandria.
Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, an eloquent speaker who knew the Scriptures well, had arrived in Ephesus from Alexandria in Egypt. He had been taught the way of the Lord, and he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy. However, he knew only about John’s baptism. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately.
Apollos had been thinking about going to Achaia, and the brothers and sisters in Ephesus encouraged him to go. They wrote to the believers in Achaia, asking them to welcome him. When he arrived there, he proved to be of great benefit to those who, by God’s grace, had believed. He refuted the Jews with powerful arguments in public debate. Using the Scriptures, he explained to them that Jesus was the Messiah. Acts 18:24-28
Apollo was a gifted teacher, but he didn’t have the complete message. He only knew about John’s baptism for repentance, and was unaware of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1 & 2). He was missing an important part of his arsenal as a minister of the Gospel. Two mature disciples, Pricilla and Aquila, quietly took him aside and told him what Jesus said about the necessity of experiencing the Holy Spirit in a very personal way.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Power. The Greek word is ‘dynamis’ which is same word we get dynamite from; Supernatural abilities that enable you to accomplish much more that you could yourself.
Apollo needed the infilling of the Holy Spirit if he was going to accomplish all that God has planned for him. We all do. Apparently, Apollo was not the only believer who had not heard the complete Gospel.
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them.
“No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
“Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked.
And they replied, “The baptism of John.”
Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.”
As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all. Acts 19:1-7
It is important not to assume anything with you meet another ‘believer’. There are many who claim to know Jesus, but are unaware of the Truth of the Bible, and often live their spiritual lives according to the dictates of their own culture. Our opportunity when we meet these who don’t have the complete picture is to befriend them and listen to their story. They are on a path to God, even if it is a winding road. We must help them get on the right path and understand Biblical truth. This is part of ‘Making Disciples’.
The Ephesian Theater, and below me in the red shirt where I took the photo from.
When I meet a ‘Christian’ who believes that taking the life of an unborn child is okay, I realize that they have been poorly taught. If I encounter a brother who holds racial prejudice, I realize his cultural upbringing is probably dictating his beliefs. When I encounter one who is engaged in sexual promiscuity, I know that they do not understand God’s plan for familial relationships, or why sex should be enjoyed only within the confines of marriage.
Principle: If a disciple of Jesus understands God’s will in specific areas of life, they often need encouragement to live a life that is pleasing to God (Colossians 1:9-12).
I often need this encouragement as well. We all do.
Thus, I am given the opportunity to gently nudge these believers toward the Truth of the Bible, which expresses God’s moral values and His plans for humanity. I have learned the value of asking many questions and pointing to Scripture to give God’s answers to the issues of life, rather than my own. It is often a slow and tedious process, as many have deep roots in their own culture and beliefs. Friendship, practical displays of love, and the application of large quantities of grace are often the prescription to straighten out those winding roads.
Principle: Discipleship is often patient persistence to help others straighten out their winding roads, by speaking the truth in love at the appropriate moment.
The famous Ephesian Library with Michael and Pierre relaxing on the steps.
Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord.
God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled. Acts 19:8-12
For two years, Paul held “daily discussions” in the Hall of Tyrannus. What do you think these discussions were about? All Luke tells us is that they “heard the word of the Lord”.
Perhaps Paul spoke about the Biblical account of the Creation of the Earth. Surely, he taught about how sin entered mankind through the deception of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and the murder of Abel. Undoubtedly, he taught about God’s plan for the family to be the foundation of human society and the roles the husband/father, the wife/mother, and the children were to play.
He must have covered how humans are to interact with one another and how God’s design for us to be “others-centered” benefits our neighbors, our community, and ultimately ourselves. He must have shared how God gave mankind his commandments at Mt Sinai, how the character of God was revealed, and what God intends our relationship with Him to be.
He probably told the stories of Abraham, Issac, Jacob and Esau, Joseph, Judah and Tamar, Moses, Joshua, Rahab, Boaz and Ruth (ancestors of King David), Saul, David, and all the kings of Israel and Judah, as well as all God’s prophets who spoke His words to their communities so that the Ephesians would understand how men and women have related to God and each other.
I’m sure that he focused much of his teaching on the prophecies of the Messiah, and the life and words of Jesus, explaining his atoning sacrifice on the cross and his coming return to set up his Kingdom rule on Earth.
Along with that, he must have spent many of those days and weeks focusing on the role we play in the Kingdom of God, our mission, and how to best live successful lives here on Earth not according to our culture’s standards but God’s desires, living in a spiritual world filled with angels and demons with whom we interact on a regular basis.
These are some of the basics of Discipleship.
Sophia- "Wisdom" at the Ephesian Library
During this time of teaching the word of the Lord, God was performing “unusual” miracles through Paul. This causes us to wonder what a “normal” miracle is.
Principle: Normal miracles are considered to be a normal part of the ministry and lives of the disciples.
Many of us two millennium later can attest to this concept as a reality of the Christian life.
Paul’s teaching the Word and performing miracles are the complete package of evangelism and discipleship. His descriptions of supernatural empowerments in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12 are clearly for all disciples.
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
The Theater and road to the harbor
In Romans 12, Paul points out other empowerments of the Holy Spirit
For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:4-8
These must be the “normal miracles” that we should be experiencing on a regular basis in our lives as spirit filled followers of Jesus. As we walk in these supernatural empowerments, unusual miracles often follow.
Principle: These normal ‘miracles’ are an essential part of our evangelism and discipleship.
What is the other part?
Laura and the goddess Nike - "Victory"
When Jesus was asked a ridiculous question about marriage in Heaven by some Sadducees, who didn’t believe in an afterlife, his response identifies the two crucial elements to our ministry and our own spiritual lives.
So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her.”
Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God. Matthew 22:28-29
Jesus identified the two essential elements of every effective ministry: The Scriptures and The Power of God.
Paul dug into to the ministry in Ephesus, teaching the Scripture in the Hall of Tyrannus for two years, while exercising the Power of God through his prayers for healing and expelling evil spirits.
Principle: These two elements, the Scriptures and the Power of God, are necessary for healthy, balanced ministry.
There is a tendency for us to sometimes focus on one or the other. When that happens, we are liable to become either legalistic and argumentative, or super spiritual and judgmental, and we lose our effectiveness in making disciples who can reach their own communities.
Entrance to a home in Ephesus with Medusa over the door
During Paul’s time in Ephesus there were some travelling Jews who were also attempting to harness the power of God and cast out evil spirits.
A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this.
But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.
The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect. Acts 19:13-20
The seven sons of Sceva were lacking something when it came to encounters with demonic spirits: Jesus’ authority. As a result, they were overpowered and beaten up by a demon possessed man.
Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. Matthew 10:1
Principle: Jesus has given His disciples authority over the rebellious angels.
Authority is defined as “the power or right to give commands, enforce obedience, take actions, or make final decisions” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th ed.).
When Jesus’ disciples exercised this authority in their ministry, Luke reports that:
The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.” Luke 10:17-20
As a pilot in the United States Navy, I was given authority by President Gerald Ford and later President Jimmy Carter (via the chain of command) to enforce the laws and policies of the United States in my role as a carrier attack pilot flying an A-6 Intruder, defending the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This meant I could use any of a variety of missiles, rockets, bombs, and even nuclear weapons to carry out United States laws and policies when ordered by my squadron commander.
Using the authority was a different matter. Even though I may have the orders from above to use it, I always had the ultimate choice whether I would use that authority. It took a conscious decision and action on our part to press the bomb release button on the stick or pull the trigger. We often joked that in the event of a nuclear war, we pilots would suddenly have stuffed sinuses and runny noses and be medically unfit for flight rather than go flying to drop ‘the big one.’
Principle: In spiritual matters, it is the same. When you realize you are in a spiritual battle, showing your ‘badge of authority’ is the first step in seeing the enemy back off.
Sometimes, for whatever reason, we don’t do that and deal with the situation through our own strength and resources. This is a formula for a protracted struggle and ultimate defeat.
The disciples Jesus sent out saw results, and Jesus cautioned them to remember the reality that it all comes from Him. Without His authority, we are nothing. With it, and Him, we are formidable in spiritual battles.
From the top seats in the Ephesian Theater 2021
Ephesian Cardo 2008
The ministry thrived in Ephesus, and it became a center for the Jesus Movement. When we were there a few years ago, we noticed this symbol carved into the pavement close to the ancient seaport. It was a sign to all arriving that there were Christians in this city.
The 'Pie" symbol located near the harbor indicating that there are disciples of Jesus in this city.
It was now that Paul received his next marching orders:
Afterward Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. “And after that,” he said, “I must go on to Rome!” Acts 19:21
He does go to Rome, but not in a manner that he would choose.
Luke records that “the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.” So much so that it began to affect the local economy, which was based on the tourism to the Temple of Artemis.
About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen; 25 these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. 26 You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all. 27 Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.”
28 When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.
30 And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, the disciples would not let him. 31 Also some of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to venture into the theater. 32 So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together.
Luke’s Greek readers would probably smile as they read this, as many of the Greek comedies focused on the people’s stupidity. The reality that this “assembly” had become a mob.
33 Some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
35 After quieting the crowd, the town clerk *said, “Men of Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the image which fell down from heaven? 36 So, since these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash. 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.
Luke wants us to know that what Paul has been preaching is not against Rome, and not illegal according to Roman Law. The town scribe continues:
38 So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against any man, the courts are in session and proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another. 39 But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly. 40 For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today’s events, since there is no real cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering.” 41 After saying this he dismissed the assembly. Acts 19:23-41
Effective preaching, teaching, prayer, miracles, and simply living the Christian life will often provoke a response in the lives of those around us. There will be many positive responses among many of our friends and neighbors. There will also be often violent pushbacks against us by those who are opposed to our efforts to positively influence our culture.
Do we allow these often-illegal activities to silence us? Intimidate us?
What do we do when society demands that our religious beliefs remain private and never allow them to enter into the public sector, that our morality remains upstairs in the privacy of our homes and never affects or influences our thoughts and behavior in the public marketplace and government halls?
Such was the case when Notre Dame Law Professor Amy Coney Barret was before a Senate committee during her 2017 confirmation hearings for a federal appeals judgeship. California Senator Diane Feinstein expressed her concerns that if confirmed, Professor Barret would inject her religious beliefs into her judicial decisions:
“Dogma and law are two different things,” Feinstein said. “And I think whatever a religion is, it has its own dogma. The law is totally different. And I think in your case, professor, when you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you, and that’s of concern when it comes to big issues that large numbers of people have fought for in this country.”
In response, Professor Barrett pointed out that there were many sitting federal and state judges who held religious beliefs and who were competent in their roles as judges.
Nancy Ammerman, professor emeritus of sociology of religion at Boston University, said that Americans are very protective of the separation of church and state, but that the principle is often misunderstood.
“We invoke this notion of the separation of church and state, which has to do with using the power of the state to limit the free exercise of religion of the individual. But that’s not what people worry about. Most people worry that religion isn’t supposed to have an impact on politics, that you’re supposed to keep them separate. The reality of the matter is that there are all kinds of ways in which people’s religious faith influences how they think about political issues,”
What will our legacy be?
Paul leaves Ephesus in 55 AD and travels across the Aegean to Greece, and continues his travels back to Jerusalem, where he gets arrested and sent to Rome, arriving in 60 AD. There he is held under house arrest awaiting his hearing before Caesar.
Emperor Augustus
It is probable that Paul was under the authority of the Praetorian Guard, whose fortress was at the edge of the city, with apartments in close vicinity which were rented out to these prisoners awaiting their hearing. Paul had the freedom to invite friends to his apartment, share meals, write letters, all the while chained to a guard who was responsible for his captivity and safety.
The Roman Colosseum
In Rome at this time, there were many soldiers who served as guards who were ethnically from the gallic regions that had be conquered by Julius Caesar during 58-50 BC. 110 years earlier, the population had been integrated into Roman society, and many of this third generation of conquered peoples from modern day France, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland were serving in the Roman military. Soldiers placed their lives on the line for honor and plunder from conquered cities and peoples. Many soldiers ended their military careers well off financially. Thus, positions with the legions fighting on the frontiers of the Empire were the most desirable. Guarding political prisoners in Rome was a less worthy post, with little opportunity for financial gain. These positions were often given to the Gallic soldiers, who were not ‘Romans’ but still suffering the prejudices of being from the conquered lands of the north.
The Roman Forum
Paul is chained for two years to these guards who were Roman in name, but still Gallic in culture, not sure what being a Roman really meant. It’s probable that Paul engaged these guards on a personal level, understanding their cultural confusion over their identity and purpose in the Roman world. It may have sparked remembrance of his three years teaching at the Hall of Tyrannus and conversations with his disciples in Ephesus, who shared a similar identity and purpose confusion in their transition from Greek thinking and functioning people to members of the Family of God.
He had many hours to consider the similarities between his Gallic guards and Ephesian followers of Jesus, and this may have been the impetus to write a letter to his Ephesian disciples that would help them understand their new identity, their relationship to God, their relationship to one another and their place in the grand order of God’s creation and timeline of His restoration of Earth to its original form. He also wanted them to understand the most effective manner to walk out the remainder of their lives on Earth so that they could fulfill God’s calling and purpose for their time. He knew that like his Roman soldier guards, they must understand the environment where the battles raged, the tactics of their enemies, and how to most effectively defend themselves, stand their ground and defeat the enemies of their souls.
Randy, Dottie, Laura and Emperor Marcus Aurelius
This letter has survived and is included in our Bibles and offers one of the most complete portrayals of the realities of Christianity, and how we humans who have decided to follow Jesus should understand and function in this environment. After visiting Ephesus and better understanding Paul’s experience there, let us read through portions of this letter and discovered our position and roles in the Kingdom of God. He begins with a greeting:
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:1-2
Grace: cháris; to rejoice. Grace, particularly that which causes joy, pleasure, gratification, favor, acceptance, for a kindness granted or desired, a benefit, thanks, gratitude. A favor done without expectation of return; the absolutely free expression of the loving kindness of God to men finding its only motive in the bounty and benevolence of the Giver; unearned and unmerited favor.
Peace: eirḗnē; Particularly in a civil sense, the opposite of war and dissension; By implication, a state of peace, tranquility; Peace, meaning health, welfare, prosperity, every kind of good.
Principle: Understanding God’s affection for you allows joy, gratitude and favor to flow between God to you.
Now what follows is a single sentence of over 200 words, which no modern translator has attempted to duplicate in English, instead breaking it into shorter sentences focusing on specific points that define our identity, which is one of the historically major issues in every human’s life.
Who am I? What is it that defines me? My feelings? My family? My job? My possessions? Who my culture tells me I should be? What my life experiences have made me? What I aspire to be based on all of these?
The soldiers guarding Paul were told that they were Romans, but they were not sure if that was the case. Their job, their culture, their feelings and life experiences told them otherwise.
THE most fundamental question each man and woman must answer is this: Who Am I?
Paul gives God’s answer, and it’s a magnificent one!
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,
Blessing: eulogías: to bless. A commendation, blessing.
Principle: We share intimate familial relationship with Jesus and possess great privileges and benefits as a result.
Hermes - The Messenger
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us.
The Greek words help us understand the scope of this statement.
Chose: eklégō; to select, choose. To choose, select, choose for oneself, not necessarily implying the rejection of what is not chosen, but giving favor to the chosen subject, keeping in view a relationship to be established between the one choosing and the object chosen. It involves preference and selection from among many choices. In the NT found only in the middle voice eklégomai, meaning God did it Himself.
Predestined: proorízō; to determine. To determine or decree beforehand; predestination is used of God's actions in eternally decreeing both the objects and goal of His plan of salvation; The objects of predestination are those whom He foreknew. Predestination does not involve a predetermined plan only but also includes the individuals for whom the plan is devised. The goal of predestination is expressed in the phrase, "to be conformed to the image of his Son."
Adopted: huiothesía;. Adoption, receiving into the relationship of a child. In the NT, figuratively meaning adoption, sonship, spoken of the state of those whom God through Christ adopts as His sons and thus makes heirs of His covenanted salvation.
Freely Bestowed: charitóō; To grace, highly honor or greatly favor; charitóō is in Eph. 1:6 where believers are said to be "accepted in the beloved," i.e., objects of grace. In charitóō there is not only the impartation of God's grace, but also the adoption into God's family in imparting special favor in distinction to charízomai (G5483), to give grace, to remit, forgive.
Redemption: apolútrōsis; to let go free for a ransom; The recalling of captives (sinners) from captivity (sin) through the payment of a ransom for them, i.e., Christ's death.
Forgiveness: áphesis; to cause to stand away, to release one's sins from the sinner. Forgiveness, remission. This required Christ's sacrifice as punishment of sin, hence the putting away of sin and the deliverance of the sinner from the power of sin, although not from its presence, which will come later after the resurrection when our very bodies will be redeemed.
Lavished: perisseúō; abundant. To be in excess, exceed in number or measure. In the NT, to be or have more than enough. (I) To be left over, remain, exceeding a number or measure which marks fullness; (II) To superabound, to abound richly.
Principle: God determined before He created this Earth that we humans would be given the opportunity to become sons and daughters of His family with all the rights and privileges thereof. We would become greatly favored and honored individuals who would reflect God character and personality, and He would always see us as such. These gifts were given through Jesus, the Beloved, and his sacrifice on the cross, which would be the ransom necessary to free us from the power of sin on our lives. All this God did with great pleasure!
Did you ever take discarded cans and bottles to the recycling center and receive cash money for what was considered garbage? This is figuratively what God has done with us, only we are the recipients of the cash reward!
Ephesus Harbor Area
In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. Eph 1:9-10 NASB
The New Living Translation renders the Greek thus:
9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. Ephesians 1:9-10 NLT
Will the Earth burn and turn into a cinder because of climate change?
Will a virus wipe out humanity?
Will nuclear war destroy the entire earth?
These are some of the fears of our current society. However the Bible says that God has a plan, that it is moving forward, everything is happening as He planned, and soon it will all come together under the kingship of Jesus, who will restore the Earth to its original pristine form. Hear Jesus announce this regeneration:
And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:28
Regeneration: paliggenesía; restoration, renovation, rebirth. Occurs in Matt. 19:28, which refers to the coming state of the whole creation, equivalent to the restoration of all things of Acts 3:21 which will occur when the Son of Man shall come in His glory.
John saw this results of the Regenertion:
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4
Principle: God has a plan He put into motion before He created this universe, and it includes us as family members who play a role in the celestial drama that last for eternity. We are in the middle of this plan, and soon, God will send Jesus back to place every thing in order (Shalom), administer justice, restore the Earth to is original glorious form, and reign here with us.
In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.
Inheritance: klēróō; To cast lots, determine by lot, i.e., to determine something, choose someone. In Eph. 1:11, it means, "in whom the lot has fallen upon us also, as foreordained thereto . . . to be". The idea expressed here is that Christians have become heirs of God due to the fact that God predestined them according to His purpose. In a manner of speaking, the "lot" fell to believers not by chance but solely because of the gracious and sovereign decision of God- Almighty to select them to be His heirs.
Principle: On the dice table of Creation, we always roll “Sevens”.
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:3-14
Listening: akoúō; (I) To hear in general (II) To hear with attention, hearken or listen to (Ill) To obey.
Believed: pisteúō; To believe, have faith in, trust. Particularly, to be firmly persuaded as to something, to believe, with the idea of hope and certain expectation.
Sealed: sphragízō; (I) To seal, close up and make fast with a seal signet such as letters or books so that they may not be read; (II) Generally, to set a seal or mark upon a thing as a token of its authenticity or approvedness; used of persons; So also of Christians whom God attests and confirms by the gift of the Holy Spirit as the earnest, pledge, or seal of their election to salvation.
The process of salvation begins when we clearly hear with attention the Good News of Jesus inviting us into His family and removing all barriers to our personal relationship with God through His sacrifice on the cross. After hearing we process that extraordinary concept. Usually, we consciously ask whoever is out there if this is indeed the Truth, and somehow in our spirits and soul we suddenly are persuaded that it is! God has convinced us, and we accept it! He then begins the transformation process by connecting our consciousness to His, by placing His Holy Spirit inside us. Now we can know God’s thoughts as He knows ours. These initial changes in our thinking and behavior are only the beginning of what God has in store for us in the future.
Principle: God reveals Himself to us and we have the opportunity to accept Him and His plan for us. It is a process that has a point where it becomes instantaneous and we are completely saved from the curse of sin. He connects us to Himself by giving His Spirit to us, and tells us there is much more glorious things to come.
For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.
These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:15-23
In light of everything in verses 3-14, Paul is specifically asking our Heavenly Father through His Holy Spirit to give us:
A spirit of wisdom- supernatural understanding in how to handle life situations;
A revelation of experiential knowledge of God;
Knowledge: epígnōsis; knowledge, because it expresses a more thorough participation in the acquiring of knowledge on the part of the learner. In the NT, it often refers to knowledge which very powerfully influences the form of religious life, a knowledge laying claim to personal involvement; experiential knowledge not learned from a teacher or book, but through personal experience.
An understanding of what lies ahead for all the members of the family of God;
A comprehension of the richness of our relationship with God and all that awaits us;
The magnitude of God’s awesome power that is among us, applied for us, and with us;
This is a persuasive exhortation for all followers of Jesus to press into the reality of our relationship with God that will be coupled with the power of God to make it all happen!
It is all true?
Paul seals his argument by mentioning a historical fact that eyewitnesses who were alive at the time of this letter all testified to: That Jesus of Nazareth was brutally crucified by the Romans and three days later was seen eating fish with his friends, and over the next days and weeks was seen by over 500 witnesses. Jesus confirms all these statements and promises by his resurrection.
“There is more historical-legal evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ than any other event in history.” Dr. Simon Greenleaf, Harvard University
