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Through the Bible with Les Feldick
LESSON 1 * PART 3 * BOOK 36
EPHESIANS 1:13-23
Now let's look at the next verse in Ephesians chapter 1. Here the apostle Paul is going to utter a prayer on behalf of the believers. The prayer starts out with "Wherefore..." Ephesians 1:15a
I want to make people aware, when you read Paul's letters, how he's always referring to believing and faith. Ephesians 1:15
"Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints." Now that reminds me of a verse in I John chapter 3. I John 3:11-12
The unbelieving world hates the believer. Verse 13.
I John 3:13
"Marvel not my brethren, if the world hate you."
"Marvel not my brethren, if the world hate you. 14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, (from an unsaved state to a saved state) because we love the brethren."
John is speaking of fellow believers. Now back to Ephesians chapter 1.
Ephesians 1:15-17
"Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit (the Pneuma) of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:"
Paul prays that we might have such a God given wisdom and knowledge. Now I've learned from my class people here in Oklahoma that they were always afraid to share the Gospel with people because they just didn't have enough knowledge of the Scriptures to be able to answer questions, or confront, rebuke, and so forth. But after they've been in our class for a while and get skilled in the Scriptures, they love to witness, they love to talk about the Scriptures. Verse 18.
Ephesians 1:18a
"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;..."
It's a continuous growth in our Christian experience, and in our knowledge of the Scripture. We've also got to put some time into the Word of God. Ephesians 1:18
Now again I dare say if we ask the average believer, "What's in store for you after this life?" We're going to have a glorified body, like Christ's glorified, resurrected body. Never again an ache or pain, never again an injury, illness, or disease. I Corinthians 2:9
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."
Now coming back to Ephesians chapter 1, and now verse 19 as Paul continues his prayer. Ephesians 1:19a
Keep Peter's teaching and the Law separate from Paul's teaching and Grace. You know we've got some pins or buttons that say, "Faith + Nothing = Salvation!" Well we had several experiences like that all over Israel, those people have never heard of such a thing. So looking at the verse again.
Ephesians 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, 20. Had Christ, as Paul says in I Corinthians 15, not been raised from the dead, we'd be as lost as dogs. Romans 1:1-4
"Paul a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2. 3. Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh. 4. And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by (what event?) the resurrection from the dead."
That as Christ was resurrected from His earthly tomb, we have been resurrected from our deadness in transposes and sins. Well let's just take a quick look see right there in verse 1.
Ephesians 2:1
"And you hath he quickened, (made alive) who were (past tense) dead in trespasses and sins:" Well what kind of power did it take to make us alive from being dead? Resurrection power. The same power that raised Christ from the dead. Look at Romans 8 for moment to compare. Now this is Bible study. Romans 8:10-11
"And if Christ be in you, (by the person of the Holy Spirit) the body is dead because of sin; (we were born in sins, and we're sons of Adam) but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (or make alive) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."
The indwelling Holy Spirit is the mark, the ownership of God. It's also that power that raises us out of our lost condition, and gave us life. Now back to Ephesians chapter 1.
Ephesians 1:20a
"Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead,..."
In order for God to raise Christ from the dead, what powers did God have to over come? If Satan could have kept Christ in the grave, then he would have finally gotten what he wanted, and that is to be God. But Satan couldn't hold a candle to God, because all the power of heaven was released for you and I when God raised Him from the dead. Let's look at the second part of that verse.

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