A reflection upon Ephesians 1:1-6

[Samson2020]

Eph 1:1-6 Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God to the saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
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 predestinated us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Just this introduction says about all that needs to be said concerning who what and why, don't you think?

 

[Charlie24]

Eph 1:1-6 Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God to the saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
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 predestinated us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Just this introduction says about all that needs to be said concerning who what and why, don't you think?

Been in the hospital for a few days, glad to be back!

The predestination in vs 5 is NOT referring to God choosing who will be saved, but rather the method He has chosen in which man would be saved.

There is only one way to be saved from God's wrath and that is through Jesus Christ. This is what man was predestined for, His plan of salvation which was chosen by God for man before the foundation of the world. In other words, this is a look at His foreknowledge.

 

[lentz]

Been in the hospital for a few days, glad to be back!

The predestination in vs 5 is NOT referring to God choosing who will be saved, but rather the method He has chosen in which man would be saved.

There is only one way to be saved from God's wrath and that is through Jesus Christ. This is what man was predestined for, His plan of salvation which was chosen by God for man before the foundation of the world. In other words, this is a look at His foreknowledge.

Exactly,the plan of salvation is what was predestined,not the person who accepts it. Those who accept it are the Elect

 

[Samson2020]

Exactly,the plan of salvation is what was predestined,not the person who accepts it. Those who accept it are the Elect

That would require a work on the elects part in becoming an elect.
Why is it that the grace of God cannot simply be acknowledged as a gift and thank Him for choosing us? Why do we always frustrate the grace of God by interjecting our own works of acceptance?
Sure God is humored by your acceptance of His gift but not so much your mandating the acceptance is why you have it.

When I re read the verse it says nothing about the actual plan, it just says He decided to adopt us as sons according to the good pleasure of HIS WILL.
And that is according to grace. Not anything required on our part except hanging on to the faith He graced us with.

 

[Charlie24]

That would require a work on the elects part in becoming an elect.
Why is it that the grace of God cannot simply be acknowledged as a gift and thank Him for choosing us? Why do we always frustrate the grace of God by interjecting our own works of acceptance?
Sure God is humored by your acceptance of His gift but not so much your mandating the acceptance is why you have it.

When I re read the verse it says nothing about the actual plan, it just says He decided to adopt us as sons according to the good pleasure of HIS WILL.
And that is according to grace. Not anything required on our part except hanging on to the faith He graced us with.

If you can't see the plan in "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children BY JESUS CHRIST" then no one can help you understand.

It is by and through Christ that we are adopted into His family. This is the plan He chose for man, being predestined for us.

 

[lentz]

That would require a work on the elects part in becoming an elect.
Why is it that the grace of God cannot simply be acknowledged as a gift and thank Him for choosing us? Why do we always frustrate the grace of God by interjecting our own works of acceptance?
Sure God is humored by your acceptance of His gift but not so much your mandating the acceptance is why you have it.

When I re read the verse it says nothing about the actual plan, it just says He decided to adopt us as sons according to the good pleasure of HIS WILL.
And that is according to grace. Not anything required on our part except hanging on to the faith He graced us with.

A person has to accept the plan and accept Christ as Savior. If you call that a work,so be it.
However you make it sound as though God chooses you and you have no choice,but to accept.
That’s wrong thinking

 

[Samson2020]

A person has to accept the plan and accept Christ as Savior. If you call that a work,so be it.
However you make it sound as though God chooses you and you have no choice,but to accept.
That’s wrong thinking

Tell that to Paul, A CHOSEN vessel, who was jailing the elect in his day, at the time of his visitation.
Have you never heard of the remnant being "according to the ELECTION OF GRACE?" Rom 11:5
If I can't do anything to earn grace then why must I insist everybody accept what I was GIVEN according to His unearned favor?

If you can't see the plan in "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children BY JESUS CHRIST" then no one can help you understand.

I see it just fine. I'm the one who quoted the stuff. And gave full credit to the one who did it all, and it wasn't me. He chose us before the foundation of
the world? Nothing of this world even existed when He made the decision of us.

It is by and through Christ that we are adopted into His family. This is the plan He chose for man, being predestined for us.

I agree 100% as long as you don't try to add something else to it. He is the giver of the faith necessary to believe, then He gives the HG.

Can you tell me why it is considered an adoption?

 

[Charlie24]

Tell that to Paul, A CHOSEN vessel, who was jailing the elect in his day.


I see it just fine. I;m the one who quoted the stuff. And gave full credit to the one who did it all, and it wasn't me.

I agree 100% as long as you don't try to add something else to it. He is the giver of the faith necessary to believe, then He gives the HG.

Can you tell me why it is considered an adoption?

It's an adoption because we are not His Son's, we are made His son's through and by His Only Son.

But you did say in post #4 you seen "no actual plan", so I was just helping you with that.

 

[Samson2020]

It's an adoption because we are not His Son's, we are made His son's through and by His Only Son.

In what way? How?

 

[Charlie24]

In what way? How?

God only has one Son (capitol S) we are made son's/co-heirs with Christ upon receiving His as our Saviour.

This makes us adopted.

 

[lentz]

Tell that to Paul, A CHOSEN vessel, who was jailing the elect in his day, at the time of his visitation.
Have you never heard of the remnant being "according to the ELECTION OF GRACE?" Rom 11:5
If I can't do anything to earn grace then why must I insist everybody accept what I was GIVEN according to His unearned favor?


I see it just fine. I'm the one who quoted the stuff. And gave full credit to the one who did it all, and it wasn't me. He chose us before the foundation of
the world? Nothing of this world even existed when He made the decision of us.

I agree 100% as long as you don't try to add something else to it. He is the giver of the faith necessary to believe, then He gives the HG.

Can you tell me why it is considered an adoption?

“Tell that to Paul, A CHOSEN vessel,”
Yes Paul was chosen,but he could have said,No
Is that how you got your wife,by choosing? And she had no say in the matter?

 

[Samson2020]

“Tell that to Paul, A CHOSEN vessel,”
Yes Paul was chosen,but he could have said,No

My point was/is that God does the choosing. We both know that Paul/Saul was all about God but didn't know about who Jesus really was, when the revelation of
what he had heard became plainly understandable to him, he was more than fine with Gods decision of him. Can we agree on that?

And how then is Paul any different than any other elect in the fact he was a chosen/elect of God?

 

[lentz]

My point was/is that God does the choosing. We both know that Paul/Saul was all about God but didn't know about who Jesus really was, when the revelation of
what he had heard became plainly understandable to him, he was more than fine with Gods decision of him. Can we agree on that?

And how then is Paul any different than any other elect in the fact he was a chosen/elect of God?

You honestly can’t see the difference?
How long have you been a Christian?

 

[Samson2020]

You honestly can’t see the difference?
How long have you been a Christian?

More than 20 yrs ago I received the HG and Have been a student of His ever since.

And no I see no difference in Paul and any other elect of God as all of the elect of God are just that, Gods elect. Now there may be differences in what functions they
perform Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Evangelists etc.... but still they are Gods elect.

“Tell that to Paul, A CHOSEN vessel,”
Yes Paul was chosen,but he could have said,No
Is that how you got your wife,by choosing? And she had no say in the matter?

Thats hardly worthy of a comparison to Gods grace. If I remember correctly it was God that said to Eve that her desire would be to her husband and that the husband
would rule over her. Where was her choice?

As I recall Paul was told what great things he must suffer for the Lords names sake and still He did not say no.
And furthermore Jonah did say no but what did God do with Him? Wheres the free will in that one?
And to tell you the truth Paul as a chosen vessel that was not appointed to fall away IMO couldn't. How could anybody that the Lord speaks to, after they
lived separated from Him, ever run from Him knowing He is there? I cannot fathom that idea as it just boggles the mind.

Remember God does the vessel making not us. Some to dishonor and destruction and some to honor and mercy. It's all about Him not me.

 

[Samson2020]

God only has one Son (capitol S) we are made son's/co-heirs with Christ upon receiving His as our Saviour.

This makes us adopted.

Pretty good answer. The term His seed is used by God, in the Spiritual sense in Isa 59:21
This verse also mentions His seed having their own seed, a mystery to be solved is that verse.
As the Sons seed we are then adopted, but I would look at it more like grand children in the physical sense, but God looks at it as His sons period. For
they all will possess the fullness of God and will be practically impossible to differentiate when it comes to ability and understanding as well as love.
Seeing that the spirit in the man came out from God and was a part of God, then the spirit of the overcoming Son was fused with that spirit in the man
to create the new creature, both sides of the spiritual genetics are of God.
Similar to Abraham and Sarah being half brother and sister and having a child Isaac. We are also in that category as the Father is the Father of us all
including Jesus but Jesus is the one who provides life unto us just as the Father provided it to Him.

 

[Charlie24]

Pretty good answer. The term His seed is used by God, in the Spiritual sense in Isa 59:21
This verse also mentions His seed having their own seed, a mystery to be solved is that verse.
As the Sons seed we are then adopted, but I would look at it more like grand children in the physical sense, but God looks at it as His sons period. For
they all will possess the fullness of God and will be practically impossible to differentiate when it comes to ability and understanding as well as love.
Seeing that the spirit in the man came out from God and was a part of God, then the spirit of the overcoming Son was fused with that spirit in the man
to create the new creature, both sides of the spiritual genetics are of God.
Similar to Abraham and Sarah being half brother and sister and having a child Isaac. We are also in that category as the Father is the Father of us all
including Jesus but Jesus is the one who provides life unto us just as the Father provided it to Him.

Like I have said before, no man can understand the relationship between the Father and the Son.

We know from Scripture that who we know now as Jesus of Nazareth/The Christ, was with God before the foundation of the world. We also know from Paul and John that this Christ is the Creator of everything in the universe and beyond.

We tend to see Christ on a level much less than who He really is. This is because we only know Him in His humanity on this earth where He lowered Himself and became a servant for the cause of man's redemption.

But in heaven we see that every knee will bow to Christ, not the Father. Just before Christ takes the Seven Seals out to the right hand of the Father on the Throne, everyone in heaven falls on their faces and praises the Father. Then we see Christ take the Seals out of His hand and everyone falls down before Him in praise, equally with the Father.

I was given this analogy many years ago, it's given in construction terms and I think, gives us even more light as to the relationship of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

"God the Father is the owner of everything in the universe and whatever is beyond that.

God the Son is the architect of everything in the universe and beyond.

God the Holy Spirit is the contractor of everything in the universe and beyond, and is the One who actually made it appear."

In this analogy we can see the Godhead at work for the cause of God's greatest creation, mankind.

 

[Samson2020]

Like I have said before, no man can understand the relationship between the Father and the Son.

We know from Scripture that who we know now as Jesus of Nazareth/The Christ, was with God before the foundation of the world. We also know from Paul and John that this Christ is the Creator of everything in the universe and beyond.

We tend to see Christ on a level much less than who He really is. This is because we only know Him in His humanity on this earth where He lowered Himself and became a servant for the cause of man's redemption.

But in heaven we see that every knee will bow to Christ, not the Father. Just before Christ takes the Seven Seals out to the right hand of the Father on the Throne, everyone in heaven falls on their faces and praises the Father. Then we see Christ take the Seals out of His hand and everyone falls down before Him in praise, equally with the Father.

I was given this analogy many years ago, it's given in construction terms and I think, gives us even more light as to the relationship of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

"God the Father is the owner of everything in the universe and whatever is beyond that.

God the Son is the architect of everything in the universe and beyond.

God the Holy Spirit is the contractor of everything in the universe and beyond, and is the One who actually made it appear."

In this analogy we can see the Godhead at work for the cause of God's greatest creation, mankind.

Your analogy isn't bad really but it isn't complete and it isn't accurate.

In Eph 1 Paul clearly states that God is the God AND Father of Jesus Christ. God is not His own Father nor is He his own Son, God is the God AND Father of JC.
This statement clearly does not make them co-equal, which some have already admitted to.
The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ gave Jesus life to have within Himself thus He was not a self sustaining entity until that happened. John 5:26
Why did God give Jesus that life? So that He could be the single entity in the universe from which we could obtain eternal life, which was the plan from before the
world began. Tit 1:2, Eph 1:5
By man(Adam) came condemnation and death, so also by man(Jesus) came the resurrection of the dead.

Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord, not God, to the glory of the Father.
Even Jesus acknowledges that He is not the only TRUE GOD John 17:3
He refers to God as His Father just as Paul does in Eph 1 intro.
We can agree to disagree and be fine if necessary it does not change who we are to God just our understanding as to His preeminence.

The reason I brought up Eph 1 intro was to try to show a few things that should create a better vision of Gods plan from before the founding of the world.
1-He chose us from within Him prior to a world being made. And to what end?
2-An adoption as sons of His
3-He promised eternal life prior to the world being formed Tit 1:2 And unto whom was that promise made?
4-All whom He predestinated to be embroiled in this world of good and evil in order to become like Him, all humans.

This was the plan of His prior to the world even being formed. So lets look at the reality of what God has done with us all. He lowered us into human
dust bodies and gave us a carnal mind because of the expected failure of Adam. We did not do what Adam did but because the knowledge of good and evil
is a prerequisite in becoming like God it was necessary to allow sin.
God always had a solution for sin and that was the spirit we call Jesus who was dropped into a mortal body of a human same us all in all regards except
carnality, that occurred in the garden of Gethsemane. The sin of the world was placed on Him and He took it to the cross and killed it.
God perfected Him and Him only to start the process and gave Him life that is self sustaining and now whomsoever the Father draws to Jesus and
reveals who Jesus is to them are His selection of the elect in this last 2000 yrs. Those whom He chose beforehand to be the first group.
Jesus- I am the life. Why because God made it so.
Jesus- I am the resurrection. Unto whom? Whosoever the Father shall reveal Him to and as that life eternal was promised to all that were predestinated
to be sons then that applies to all human beings.
Jesus- I am the way. To what? The original promise of life eternal and the adoption as sons of the living God.
Jesus- I am the truth. Huh? There is no other way to your place in the heavenlies and the adoption unto a son except through me.

My post was intended to show these things to the reader of Pauls introduction to the Ephesians but often we read it over thinking we know what it actually
says already and gravely miss the implication of the glorious things he made plain and clear.

Who but our God could devise such a plan and pull it off?
Who but our Father could ever love us so much that He would put Himself through what we have done to Him through our blasphemy of Him and our
cruel actions toward one another?
We indeed owe Him a great debt that can never be paid and all He asks is be ye faithful unto death, and strive to be Holy as I am Holy.
Love your neighbor as yourself for you are part of one another for you all came out from Me. ALL things are of God!
Love the Lord thy God with all that you have for you are part of Me and to return to Me in glorious splendor.

Isa 54:8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

Mic 4:10 Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth of the city (God), and thou
shalt dwell in the field (earth), and thou shalt go even to Babylon (fallen carnal state of man); there shalt thou be delivered; there the Lord shall
redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.

 

[complete]

My point was/is that God does the choosing. We both know that Paul/Saul was all about God but didn't know about who Jesus really was, when the revelation of
what he had heard became plainly understandable to him, he was more than fine with Gods decision of him. Can we agree on that?

And how then is Paul any different than any other elect in the fact he was a chosen/elect of God?

'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:​

(Ephesians 1:1)​

Hello @Samson2020,

This letter is addressed to the, 'saints', and the, 'faithful' - in Christ Jesus. They have been saved by grace, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and had proved themselves not only to be set apart unto God, but to also be faithful.

'Grace be to you, and peace, ​

from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.'​

* Paul, as an Apostle of the risen Christ, was speaking on behalf of God the Father, and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ​

who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:'​

* Paul wants God to be blessed (happy), having blessed, 'us,' with ALL spiritual blessings, in heavenly places in Christ.
Not blessed in, 'basket and store,' as Israel had been, but with, 'spiritual blessings', not just one or two, but 'all'. Not here on the earth, but, 'in heavenly places', and, 'in Christ'. Therefore to be enjoyed now by promise, but to be entered into in resurrection - in Him.

'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:'​

* By His foreknowledge, He had chosen 'us', 'in Him', 'before' the foundation of world. While the world was still in the planning stage.

'Having pre-destinated 'us' unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, ​

according to the good pleasure of His will,'​

* This predestination was unto the adoption, by God, through Jesus Christ. of, 'us' : because that was what God wanted; How wonderful is that!

'To the praise of the glory of his grace, ​

wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.'​

* Knowing beforehand all that would take place in the ages before Him, God chose to make us the recipients of His grace, and did all that was required to make us, 'accepted,' by a holy and righteous God, by placing us, 'in Christ': covered by His atoning sacrifice, and thereby, 'accepted in the Beloved'. 'To the praise of His glory and His grace!'

Blessed indeed be God!​

* All is, 'of,' and, 'in,' Christ, never apart from Him.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[Samson2020]

This letter is addressed to the, 'saints', and the, 'faithful' - in Christ Jesus. They have been saved by grace, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and had proved themselves not only to be set apart unto God, but to also be faithful.

I agree but as we were not around then it is also written unto us who are part of the elect as is every book. Written so that we/they can comprehend what is the
breadth, depth, and height of the calling wherewith we have been called. Everyone that is given grace (faith) to believe and sealed with the Holy Ghost is the
elect lady.

Part of the point which I believe you picked up on is that it is God who decides WHEN each individual becomes part of the beloved. And as 1 Co 15:22-23 states
"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But EVERY man in his own order"
The Ephesians then 2000 yrs ago, us now within the 21st century. So the election continues and never actually stops until 1 Co 15:23 is fulfilled "EVERY MAN"
There will be pauses in the election of up to 1000 yrs-The Kingdom age.
But to explain would require Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of TIMES He might gather together in one all things in Christ.........which agrees with
Col 1:20 And having made peace by the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself................ which agrees with
Rom 5:18 Therefore as by the offense of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men
to justification of life.

This then is the good news that all are to be reconciled unto the Father through making them alive unto God and the Son in Christ(the anointing) as sons
of the Father. For we all came out from the Father and as the above verses show all will be reconciled unto Him. There is indeed a first fruits group according
to election but there must of necessity be a second fruits for so many have passed prior to this knowledge being given to man, and in order to fulfill
the EVERY man and ALL portions of the above scriptures.

* This predestination was unto the adoption, by God, through Jesus Christ. of, 'us' : because that was what God wanted; How wonderful is that!

And us includes ALL as I have shown. That makes it even more wonderful. The truth shall set you free.

* Knowing beforehand all that would take place in the ages before Him, God chose to make us the recipients of His grace, and did all that was required to make us, 'accepted,' by a holy and righteous God, by placing us, 'in Christ': covered by His atoning sacrifice, and thereby, 'accepted in the Beloved'. 'To the praise of His glory and His grace!'

Couldn't agree more. He did it, nothing we can do to deserve it. He did it for us according to His own will, before time began.

Some want to pollute the gift in saying they accepted so they deserve which is self righteousness period. This simple idea is what has created the thinking that
man somehow needs to help God save the world for God is to weak to bring about His own will. And this concept is the rampant work of todays organized
Christianity. Simple misunderstanding of Gods will, or lack of understanding.
I would have to agree that the name of Jesus is still being preached and I have no problem with that. But it makes disciples unto the Organizations and slaves
to the Religion. For they preach another Jesus. For no man can bring another into the elect group now, if God has them marked out for the second dispensation.
The Potter still has the power over the clay.

 

[complete]

I agree but as we were not around then it is also written unto us who are part of the elect as is every book. Written so that we/they can comprehend what is the
breadth, depth, and height of the calling wherewith we have been called. Everyone that is given grace (faith) to believe and sealed with the Holy Ghost is the
elect lady.

Part of the point which I believe you picked up on is that it is God who decides WHEN each individual becomes part of the beloved. And as 1 Co 15:22-23 states
"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But EVERY man in his own order"
The Ephesians then 2000 yrs ago, us now within the 21st century. So the election continues and never actually stops until 1 Co 15:23 is fulfilled "EVERY MAN"
There will be pauses in the election of up to 1000 yrs-The Kingdom age.
But to explain would require Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of TIMES He might gather together in one all things in Christ.........which agrees with
Col 1:20 And having made peace by the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself................ which agrees with
Rom 5:18 Therefore as by the offense of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men
to justification of life.

This then is the good news that all are to be reconciled unto the Father through making them alive unto God and the Son in Christ(the anointing) as sons
of the Father. For we all came out from the Father and as the above verses show all will be reconciled unto Him. There is indeed a first fruits group according
to election but there must of necessity be a second fruits for so many have passed prior to this knowledge being given to man, and in order to fulfill
the EVERY man and ALL portions of the above scriptures.


And us includes ALL as I have shown. That makes it even more wonderful. The truth shall set you free.

Couldn't agree more. He did it, nothing we can do to deserve it. He did it for us according to His own will, before time began.

Some want to pollute the gift in saying they accepted so they deserve which is self righteousness period. This simple idea is what has created the thinking that
man somehow needs to help God save the world for God is too weak to bring about His own will. And this concept is the rampant work of todays organized
Christianity. Simple misunderstanding of Gods will, or lack of understanding.
I would have to agree that the name of Jesus is still being preached and I have no problem with that. But it makes disciples unto the Organizations and slaves
to the Religion. For they preach another Jesus. For no man can bring another into the elect group now, if God has them marked out for the second dispensation.
The Potter still has the power over the clay.

Hello @Samson2020,

When you refer to, 'ALL', are you referring to all who have been saved by God's grace, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris