by Gary L. Evans
(revised 7/30/23)
Ephesians — Part 1
Ephesians is the second of Paul’s three most important doctrinal epistles. The first is Romans and the third is Thessalonians. These teach the ABC’s of all Christian education. Romans shows how the sinner who is in Christ has died and risen with Him, and how our Father chose His servants before this Second Earth Age for special missions in this world. Ephesians continues to expound on the Revelation of the Mystery of Election set forth in Romans, and then it shows how Christians are spiritually seated with Christ in Heaven to continue our Lord’s ministry on earth in His Name.
Eph 1:1 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:
The word “apostle” is from the Greek “ap-os’-tol-os” which means “a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (‘apostle’), (with miraculous powers).” It is from “ap-os-tel’-lo” which means “set apart, that is, (by implication) to send out (properly on a mission) literally or figuratively.”
God separated Paul from others and sent him on a special mission.
The word “saints” is from the Greek “hag’-ee-os” which means “sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated).” So it means “set-apart” and thus is synonymous with “Elect.”
Paul is writing to The Elect of Christ who are faithful at Ephesus.
Eph 1:2-3 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from 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:
The word “spiritual” is from “phyoo-mat-ik-os’” which means “non-carnal, that is, (humanly) ethereal (as opposed to gross), or (daemoniacally) a spirit (concretely), or (divinely) supernatural, regenerate, religious.” It is from “pnyoo’-mah” which means “a current of air, that is, breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively a spirit, that is, (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, daemon, or (divine) God, Christ’s spirit, the Holy spirit.” In this context, the word means “mental.”
Our Father has blessed us with mental blessings, or gifts, in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Eph 1:4 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:
The word “foundation” is from “kat-ab-ol-ay’” which means “a deposition, that is, founding; figuratively conception.” It is from “kat-ab-al’-lo” which means “to throw down.”
Our Father has chosen us in Him since the “casting down” or “overthrow” of The First World on earth, that we would be blameless in His sight and remain in His love.
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
The word “predestinated” is from “pro-or-id’-zo” which means “to limit in advance, that is, (figuratively) predetermine.”
Our Father predestined us to be adopted as His children in this Second World by Jesus Christ according to His Will. Our Lord is The Only Begotten of The Father, and we are sons by adoption.
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
The phrase “he hath made us accepted” is from “khar-ee-to’-o” which means “to grace, that is, indue with special honor.”
Our Father has given us a special honor to be part of The Only Begotten Son of God, that is, that we would be in Him. How can we be “in” Christ? By being members of His Body on earth, where He is The Head, The Holy Mind of The Body.
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
The word “redemption” is from “ap-ol-oo’-tro-sis” which means “(the act) ransom in full, that is, (figuratively) riddance, or (specifically) Christian salvation.”
Our Father has purchased us with The Blood of Christ and forgiven our sins according to His unmerited favor toward us.
Eph 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Our Father supplies us with Wisdom.
Pro 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
All true wisdom comes from God, and our Father has given us of His Wisdom and Discretion through His Word.
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Our Father has made known to us The Mysteries of His Divine Plan, for example, The Three World Ages. The First Age is past, this is The Second Age, and The Eternity will be The Third Earth Age when our Father will rejuvenate the heavens and the earth.
Mat 13:9-10 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
The disciples wanted to know why Jesus spoke in parables when He taught publicly.
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Jesus explained that He spoke in dark sayings so that the general public would not understand. But to His disciples, He spoke plainly about the Mysteries so that they would understand. We are our Lord’s disciples today, and therefore He reveals to us His Word.
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
The word “dispensation” is from “oy-kon-om-ee’-ah” which means “administration (of a household or estate); specifically a (religious) ‘economy’.” It is from “oy-kon-om’-os” which means “a house distributor (that is, manager), or overseer, that is, an employee in that capacity; by extension a fiscal agent (treasurer); figuratively a preacher (of the Gospel).” It refers to the dispensing of The Truth over time through successive administrations.
Mic 4:1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
“Mountains” symbolize nations, therefore the “mountain of the house of The Lord” is The Lord’s Nation which will be above all other nations.
Mic 4:2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
During The Millennium, The One-Thousand Year Reign of Christ, all nations will be taught The Truth of God’s Word. And then in The Eternity, all of the over-comers of Satan’s deception will be One in Christ, The King of kings and Lord of lords.
Joh 17:9-11 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
Our Lord prayed that we, who were reserved out of all other people to trust in Him, would be One in The Father and The Son.
Rev 21:1-3 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
The Promise of The New Covenant is that we would be God’s People and He would be our God.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
The “former things” are The First and Second Earth Ages, which will seem like dreams that grow faint in our memory and fade away. This is God’s Divine Plan, and we are all part of it.
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
We all have been given an inheritance with Christ, because we were predestined by God to this purpose.
Psa 37:18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
Our inheritance is Eternal Life.
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
We trust Christ Jesus now while we dwell in flesh bodies, but many will not believe until our Lord returns and all are changed into their spiritual or angelic bodies.
Isa 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
Christ Jesus is The Eternal, our Lord and Savior.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
The Gospel is The Good Message about The New Covenant our Lord has made available to all men through His Blood, whereby we are given a new Heart and Mind, The Holy Spirit of Christ.
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
The word “earnest” is from “ar-hrab-ohn’” which means “a pledge, that is, part of the purchase money or property given in advance as security for the rest.” When making an offer to purchase real-estate for example, the “earnest money” is a down payment to secure the offer to the seller, which shows the sincerity of the buyer to follow through on the purchase. The Holy Spirit given to us in Christ Jesus now is that “down payment” of our inheritance until our full redemption takes place at The First Resurrection which will be when our Lord returns.
Psa 74:2 Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
We were purchased since “old times.” We are The Lord’s inheritance, and The Lord is our inheritance.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.
Ephesians — Part 2
Eph 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
Faith is belief coupled with action. We believe that only Christ Jesus is righteous, and we love one another as He commanded us.
Eph 1:16-17 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
The word “spirit” is from the Greek “pnyoo’-mah” which literally means “a current of air, that is, breath (blast) or a breeze,” but figuratively understood to mean “the rational soul” or “mind.”
The word “revelation” is from “ap-ok-al’-oop-sis” which means “disclosure.” So it means “to reveal.” Don’t listen to the antichrists who teach that the apocalypse is scary and horrible, because that is a lie. It simply means the revealing of The Truth.
Isa 11:1-2 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
Paul prayed that we would receive The Spirit of Wisdom and that The Holy Spirit would reveal to us The Knowledge of God.
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Paul prayed that we would become enlightened in our understanding, so that we would know what it is that we hope for and would know what is our promised inheritance.
Luk 24:44-46 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Where was it written that Christ would be crucified?
Psa 22:14-16 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
It is implied that Jesus recited all of Psalm 22 while on the cross, where they had driven nails through His hands and feet.
Luk 24:47-49 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Our Lord opened the understanding of His disciples, and so also The Holy Spirit opens our understanding.
Eph 1:19-20 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Our Lord ascended into Heaven.
Psa 110:1-3 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
It was written that our Lord would sit at The Right Hand of God, which is The Hand of Power.
Psa 16:8-11 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
It was written that our Lord would not remain in the grave, that His body would not decay, but that He would resurrect and ascend into Heaven to sit at The Right Hand of God’s Throne.
Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
The World that is to come is The Eternity, but on The Last Day of this Earth Age, the last one thousand year period, our Lord will return and establish His Millennial Kingdom.
Dan 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
It was written that Christ, The Messiah, would rule as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
The word “church” is from “ek-klay-see’-ah” which means “a calling out, that is, (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both).”
This word does not mean some kind of building, but instead refers to God’s Elect who have been called out from this Satanic world to God’s service. One cannot “go” to church since it isn’t a thing. We can only “be among” our Lord’s Called-Out Ones, His Body.
Psa 8:4-6 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
It was written that The Son of Man, Jesus The Christ, would be exalted and given dominion over all things
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
We are The Called-Out Ones and members of Christ’s Body on earth, and He is The Head or Holy Mind of His Body.
Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
We were destined to die because of our rebellion against God, not just in the flesh but also in The Second Death or death of the soul.
Joh 5:24-25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Christ raised each one of us, His Called-Out Ones, from the dead.
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Satan is The Prince of The Power of The Air, and influences the minds of all who have not been redeemed.
Joh 12:31-33 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.
In the past we lived in this world doing what we observed other people doing and thinking like they do in their ignorance of God and in their disobedience to His Law. But we have now learned about our Lord and His Crucifixion on a Roman cross, and have been drawn to Christ by The Holy Spirit urging us.
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
The word “lusts” is from “ep-ee-thoo-mee’-ah” which means “a longing (especially for what is forbidden).” It simply means “covetousness,” which is unlawful when we covet what belongs to someone else.
Gen 6:5-6 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Most people in this world continually covet unlawful things, and do unlawful things, and therefore are under The Wrath of God. We were among them also before our conversion.
Eph 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
After we repented from our transgressions, our Father forgave us our sins because of His Divine Love for us.
Psa 51:1-2 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Our Father has raised us from the dead (spiritually) so that we could become One with Christ Jesus.
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
We are saved by our Lord’s unmerited favor toward us, not because we deserve salvation.
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
We have been given newness of Life. And in our Hearts and Minds by The Holy Spirit within us, we are now seated with Christ Jesus in Heaven.
Luk 22:28-30 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Our Lord promised His disciples that they would sit on thrones in His Kingdom. So also will we who are His disciples today.
Luk 17:20-21 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
We are already seated with Christ in The Kingdom of God.
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
In The Millennium, our Father’s unmerited favor and kindness toward us will be shown to all others who do not overcome the deception of Satan while dwelling in the flesh.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.