Notes on Ephesians

Ephesians 

Ephesians 1: 9 making known[c] to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

As a posed to the Tower of Babel, where humanity seeks to unite themselves together in spite of God - to be like God

20 that he worked 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 above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things 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.

What is his age to come? Revelation 20:1-6

2: 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances,

(This is not talking about the 10 commandments - which he fulfilled - but the  sacrificial and ceremonial laws - which unlike the commandments, were expressed in ordinances- and having been also fulfilled by Jesus, have now been abolished: There is no further need for them.

These were the ordinances for Israel (including circumcision) and the main thing separating Israel from the gentile nations  - which is why: …that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

Colossians 2:16-17

Ephesians 4: 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Link to Romans 10: 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 

Ephesians 1:22-23

Original Word: πλήρωμα
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: pléróma
Pronunciation: play'-ro-mah
Phonetic Spelling: (play'-ro-mah)
Definition: Fullness, completion, that which fills
Meaning: (a) a fill, fullness; full complement; supply, patch, supplement, (b) fullness, filling, fulfillment, completion.

Word Origin: From πληρόω (pléroó), meaning "to fill" or "to make full"

Not that we are in any way either God or like God, but that somehow, in some mysterious way - we “complete” him (in the same way that a wife completes a husband: Otherwise, why else would he have created us?

This is also connected to the mystery of the marriage supper of the Lamb and our union being likened to a marriage.

Link Ephesians 2:3-6 with Romans 8:10-11

 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

We are in effect, an illustration and a demonstration of God’s mercy and grace in this world 

6 This mystery is[a] that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

In order to fully grasp the magnitude of this, we must realize who the “circumcision of the flesh” were, how they viewed the gentile nations - and how the gentiles viewed them: across a great chasm.

Romans 8:4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

Ephesians 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,

Different to the moral Law and commandments given to Moses, which we are by the grace of God, still required to keep today

Ephesians 3:9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in[b] God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

This was to put an end to tribalism, elitism and one group of people lording it over another - so prevalent to man in every generation. We are ALL sinners saved by the unsearchable riches of the grace and mercy of God: At his cross is where we all find an equal footing.