Because of the Resurrection

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians was written when Paul was in prison. This was an imprisonment that began when he was arrested at the Temple, recounted in Acts 21 and 22. When Paul is questioned he asserts two things – first, that he has a clean conscience (Acts 23:1), and second, that he believes he is actually being arrested because of his belief in the resurrection of the dead (Acts 23:6).

Pharisees Versus Sadducees

This appeal to the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead revealed a division between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, a division which Paul seems to be
exploiting. The Sadducees only received the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament, and rejected the oral tradition which was received by the Pharisees. Because of this, the Sadducees did not believe in angels, miracles, or the resurrection of the dead. The question is, when Paul appealed to the doctrine of the resurrection, was he bringing up the subject merely to exploit the difference between the two parties? Or was Paul really convinced that the doctrine of the resurrection was the reason for his persecution?

A Good Conscience and the Resurrection

Paul links a good conscience and the resurrection again in the next chapter, when he testifies before Felix, the Roman governor, where again maintains that it is because of the resurrection that he has been arrested (Acts 24:15-16, 21). In fact, throughout his letters, Paul regularly connects his message to the idea of the resurrection. But he does this most pointedly in his letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 15:12-19). Here Paul explains the close connection between the concept of a resurrection, the resurrection of Jesus, and the hope that we all can have of a good conscience.

Made Alive

This brings us to Paul’s letter to our text from Ephesians. In the previous chapter, Paul has just explained how the power that is at work in us is the same power that raised Christ from the dead (1:19-20). We have what Christ has because he is the head and we are the body (1:22-23).

2:1-3 Now, we who were once walking in death, have been made alive in Christ. This is true of both Gentile and Jew.
2:4-6 This resurrected life is made possible by the mercy of God, which flows from his eternal character.

2:7 And, lastly, this mercy is poured out on us with the purpose of preparing us for more grace.

Thankful

1:15-16. Paul blesses God in 1:3 for every spiritual blessing, which is enumerated in 1:3-14. And then Paul thanks God in 1:15, once again for what will be enumerated in the following verses. But specifically, he is thanking God for what has happened to the Ephesians.

Enlightenment

1:17-19. Paul describes what he is praying for when he prays for the Ephesians–a spirit of wisdom and revelation, enlightened understanding, and to know the hope, riches and glory that God has in store for us. This all describes a new frame of mind, a realization of what God has already done, not a set of steps in order to get God to do something

The Power Which God Worked in Christ

1:20-23. This power, which Paul says is at work in the Ephesians, is the same power that was at work in Christ, when he rose again from the dead and ascended into heaven. That the Messiah would conquer his enemies and then be enthroned, everyone knew. The Old Testament foretold it – Ps. 110:1.

Jesus conquered sin and death. That this is why he took on flesh, so that he could fight this fight on our behalf. He rose from the dead and then he ascended into heaven. And in heaven he now sits, with all of his enemies under his feet – Heb. 2:7-12.

What happened to Jesus is what happened to you (1:19-20). The power that was on display when Jesus rose from the dead (the Holy Spirit) is the power that is working in you now. The great victory that he won, you have won.

In the incarnation, when Jesus took on a body, he connected himself to us. Because of this union that we have with him, we are considered to be “in him.” This means that what Jesus has received, we receive, because we are in him. Everything that Jesus now has, you now have. That is why Paul has been saying that you were chosen, adopted, accepted, and beloved. The Son has come so that all the bless ings that he has from the Father are now yours.

And this is why Paul wants us to meditate on these things. The news is far, far better than what you think.

Intro to Ephesians

Ephesus had been a great Greek city going back as far as 1000 BC. It’s on the western coast of modern day Turkey. Under Rome, it was the capital of its province and a very magnificent city. Had a theatre that seated 30,000.

Paul first came to Ephesus in Acts 18:19. He experienced especially fruitful ministry here, along with excessive opposition. He leaves Ephesus to go to Jerusalem, where he is arrested and eventually taken to Rome. It is from Rome, where he would eventually be executed, that Paul probably wrote this letter to encourage the saints that he left behind.

When Paul first came to Ephesus, he preached to the Jews in the synagogue. But only a few of them received his teaching. So he withdrew and preached to the Gentiles in a place called the school of Tyrannus (19:9).

Some Terminology

Apostle

This letter is from Paul, who has been called to be an apostle, by the will of God.

Jesus

Paul is an Apostle of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name Joshua, or literally “salvation.”

Christ

Christ is the title that Jesus was given. The Hebrew word for Christ is “Messiah,” Christ is the title that Jesus was given. The Hebrew word for Christ is “Messiah,” meaning someone who has been anointed with oil to set them aside for a particular office. This was done for Kings (1 Sam. 16:13); Priests (Ex. 28:41; 29:7, 21, 29; 30:22-33); and Prophets (1 King 19:16).

This anointing with oil usually corresponded to an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, gifting someone in a way that related to the office that they were to fulfill.

All of these Old Testament offices, however, were pointing forward to one man, who would perfectly embody them all – namely, Jesus Christ, Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the Anointed One. This is why, when Jesus begins his official ministry, his baptized and the Holy Spirit falls upon him (Mat. 3:13-17).

Saints

The letter is to the saints. The word saint means “holy one.” All Christians are saints, because we are all holy in Christ. However, he further defines what he means by “saints.” He says that they are the “faithful,” that is, those that believe in Christ Jesus.