February
February 1
Chapter 1, Verse 11, “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,”
In the first 13 verses of this chapter, “in him” and in Christ are used 8 times. Immediately, the take away should be that we focus the entirety of our lives on the Lord Jesus Christ, becoming more like him, living closer to him, and sharing him with the world. “In him” reminds us that Jesus in the One Source of our inheritance from God and without Jesus the only alternative is eternal separation from God. The verb ἐκληρώθημεν, ἐκληρώθημεν, is a form of κληρόω, kléroó, = “obtain an inheritance.” The aorist derived form, most often translated “we have obtained an inheritance,” can also be rendered “we have become an inheritance” as reflected in the Legacy Standard Bible and three other versions. So which is correct? Both. The passive voice of the verb allows either and both depictions. The idea of “obtained” is made clear in Romans 8:12-17. We are “heirs, heirs of God and fellow (joint) heirs with Christ” (vs. 17). “Made” an inheritance is just as clear as reflected in John 10:27-30, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” The aorist passive means an action completed in the past for our benefit. But we must not forget that we already have the benefit of God’s Spirit living in us every day. We who believe are blessed beyond measure.
February 2
Chapter 1, Verse 11, “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,”
This is a very difficult passage for a lot of people. I am not one of them. The biblical doctrine of predestination is all through Scripture and still some deny it or try to twist its meaning. I believe they do so because they cannot stomach the idea of a completely sovereign God, a God who knows everything possible and actual inside and outside of time. Paul wrote that all of us who are heirs of Christ can claim that inheritance προορισθέντες κατὰ πρόθεσιν τοῦ, prooristhentes kata prothesin tou, “having been predestined according to [the] purpose of the [One].” The verb προορίζω, proorizó, combining pro = before, and horizo’ = to determine, means to determine beforehand, to predetermine, or to decide in advance. True believers in Christ need to know that what God did — his choosing — was apart from human merit or chance. God chose us before anything was created. He did so for his glory. And he did it according to the purpose. “Purpose,” πρόθεσις, prothesis, is from protithemi, a setting forth or display of an advance plan. It shows intention and is akin to going over a finished set of blueprints before building an actual structure. God know beforehand what he was going to do, and without any change, doubt or exception, set about carrying out his plan. He providence is every bit as comprehensive as his divine decrees.
February 3
Chapter 1, Verse 11, “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,”
This is God’s plan in action. His purpose is carried out according to his will which results in his works. So God works. . .but not as we understand working. We toil for a payday and hopefully for a “job well done.” “Work” in this verse, is actually “working,” ἐνεργοῦντος, energountos, from energeo’, which adds en = “in” to ergon = work, which is properly “engaged in; hence, working. It means to effectively work to cause something to happen, to energize that which is done, to power it along. And it is only used to describe superhuman power, that which always produces what it set out to do. That is what God does in a believer’s life and it is why Paul could say, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Work, here, is present tense and active voice indicating it is God who initiates and carries out the action continuously. He never lets up, he is always “on the job,” no surprises. The noun βουλή, boule’, “counsel,” is volition (will), properly, a resolved plan. It is Sovereign God purposefully arranging all physical circumstances, which guarantees every part of life works toward his eternal and immutable purpose.
February 4
Chapter 1, Verse 12, “so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.”
In Greek, three words are commonly translated “so that:” hina, which is actually a conjunction but often introduces phrases that mean “in order that,” pros, an article that sometimes means “for the purpose of,” and eis, the one used in this verse that carries the idea “with the result that,” or “to the end,” Here, Paul was using it to show the result of purpose (vs. 11). The question that follows is who are we which is directly connected to “first to hope in Christ.” At first glance, it might seem he was talking about the Gentiles to whom he was sent with the gospel and who were the primary target of his preaching. It is more likely that he was speaking of Jewish believers, those who had looked for Messiah in the Old Testament, people like Job and Abraham and others. And in the immediate context, they would be the converted Jews who heard Jesus speak and the many who were saved at Pentecost. It is a mistake to believe that only New Testament believers, Gentiles, were the first to trust in Christ, the Messiah. Everyone, of all times, who put their trust in God for salvation and have/had a living hope were ultimately trusting the redeemer, goali, (Job 19:25). God has only ever had one plan for the salvation of mankind. . .and his name is Jesus.
February 5
Chapter 1, Verse 12, “so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.”
The Westminster Shorter Catechism begins with the question, “What is the chief end of man?” The answer is, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” In 1 Corinthians 10:31-33, Paul wrote, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.” Praise and glory are the focus of the end of verse 12. “Praise, ἔπαινος, epainos, from epi = over, and aineo = to laud; hence, to give applause or to declare enthusiastic approval of someone. When a soldier salutes a higher ranking officer, they show respect. When they see ribbons stacked on their chest over their heart, they know their superior earned gratitude and adulation. “Glory,” δόξα, doxa, from dokeo = exercising personal opinion which determines value in the mind; hence, to give a proper opinion of someone, to estimate a person or thing to be of great value. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” True believers, who are seeking after God diligently [KJV], have no trouble praising him and giving him honor because they understand what he had done on their behalf and what he will do in the future. Nonbelievers might call that being gullible; followers of Christ call it freedom.
February 6
Chapter 1, Verse 13, “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,”
The longer I walk with God, by faith, and the deeper I dig into the Bible, the more I realize how important the phrase “in him” really is. In Exodus 18:18, God said all the nations of the world would be blessed “in him,” referring to Abraham. In Hebrews 11:8-13, we see the connection to Abraham is about obedience and faith. In 2 Samuel 22:1-31, David penned a song of deliverance saying “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer” (vs. 2) and “This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him” (vs. 31). Like Abraham, David knew faith “in him” was the key to salvation. These two, and all the Old Testament saints were looking forward to Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. In him and in Christ appear 20 times in Ephesians, alone. In verse 12, Paul talked about “the first to hope in Christ,” Jewish believers. Now, in verse 13, he refers to “you also,” Gentile believers. Being in him is one of Paul’s main theological themes. Every believer, from every generation, every nation, and every tongue, is securely in the domain of Christ. We are no longer simple “in Adam” because we were born into the world; now we are in Christ” because we have the new birth. Everything that has to do with eternal matters is part of our reality. This should be a confidence builder, a call-to-arms against the powers of darkness, as we take the gospel to a world in dire need of a Savior.
February 7
Chapter 1, Verse 13, con’t, “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,”
ἀκούσαντες τὸν λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας, akousantes ton logon tēs alētheias, “having heard the word of truth.” God gave us language to communicate ideas, to elucidate specific intent. In English, two usage changes have made that difficult: slang that often clouds the meaning of words, and the cultural havoc that has reversed well-established meanings. Isaiah saw this in his own culture centuries ago, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light
and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20). The verb ἀκούω, akouo’, “to hear,” here, an aorist active participle indicates a completed action with ongoing affect. Later in Isaiah 55:11, speaking about the compassion of God, the prophet wrote, “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Paul’s clear explanation of hearing is in Romans 10:8-17, “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); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” The word, λόγος, logos, is used 3 times by John to refer to Jesus in John 1:1 and in John 1:14, he wrote, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Paul called it the word of truth, ἀλήθεια, aletheia. It means “true to fact,”. . .reality. Many ideas seem true but sometimes are full of tainted illusion, dreams from the minds of men who desperately want something to be true when it is not. The word of God is always true and we must handle it carefully so as to not be confused or confuse others. Words are important.
February 8
Chapter 1, Verse 13, con’t, “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,”
τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς σωτηρίας ὑμῶν, to euangelion tēs sōtērias hymōn, “the gospel of the salvation of you.” Gospel, euangelion, adds eu = “good” to aggelia = “message,” hence, good news. The good news from God is the entire bible, his word he has shared that we might know about him and then know him personally. Specifically, the gospel, good news Paul is talking about here can be summed up on his words to the church at Corinth, “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). First, the gospel must be shared, “And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Romans 10:14c), then it must be heard, “And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?” (Romans 10:14b), and then it must be believed, “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed?” (Romans 10:14a). When the gospel is shard, heard, and believed, and the hearer, having been drawn to God by the Holy Spirit, with a repentant heart, receives Jesus into their life as Savior and Lord, that person is given eternal life. . .salvation. That word σωτηρία, soteria, “salvation,” means to be rescued or delivered and specifically means to be delivered out of destruction and into God’s safety. The safest place in the world is in the middle of God’s will.
February 9
Chapter 1, Verse 13, con’t, “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,”
ἐν ᾧ καὶ πιστεύσαντες ἐσφραγίσθητε τῷ Πνεύματι τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τῷ Ἁγίῳ, en hō kai pisteusantes esphragisthēte tō Pneumati tēs epangelias tō Hagiō, “in whom also having believed you were sealed with the Spirit of promise Holy.” Having believed, a form of πιστεύω, pisteuo’, “believe,” from pistis, “to have faith,” refers to both intellectual ascent (understanding) and willful submission (acceptance) of the truth of the gospel that leads to a change of conduct. A person who is truly/actually saved will change the way they act and what they do as a matter of habit. No change, no salvation. This does not hint at perfection but, rather, a purposeful change in lifestyle that leads to godliness as over against worldliness. In this, we must not be deceived into believing that doing good is what saves us. The which saves us, accepting Christ, is what directs us toward good works. It is this writer’s conviction that those who claim Christ but never walk in the truth have deceived themselves and are simply not saved.
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