Chap 2: (Forgive the formatting issues, this author is still learning how to use WordPress.com)

Thoughts given at the bottom of the outline.

Outline:

Eph 2: 1 – 3

1. What believers were before they were saved by the Grace of God through Faith.
   1. Before accepting Christ they were dead in sin as transgressors
   2. Following, “the ruler of the kingdom of the air,” – Satan (Eph 2: 2)
   3. Everyone at one time has lived among sinners and been one.
      1. Author’s question: Justify how Jews would also fall into this category, perhaps the message here, that by being saved by faith, they were freed from the law which kept them captive to death. As sin is called death in Eph 2: 1.

Eph 2: 4 – 10

• God’s mercy made us alive
• It is by God’s grace that we are saved – God’s mercy works through God’s grace.
• We were raised up in our salvation to sit under Christ
• It is for God’s glory that we were raised up in order that we may be an example of, “God’s incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Eph 2: 7)
• It is a gift of God that we have been saved through His grace by our Faith, not by works.
• All were created by God

Eph 2: 10 – 13

• Important distinction: “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands”
• The distinction is important because they were Gentiles until they answered the call of the Holy Spirit and accepted God as Lord by Faith through Jesus Christ, now are called believers.
• Before being a believer, unbelievers were separate from Christ and excluded from citizenship in Israel, without hope.
• In their faith of Jesus Christ the believers have been brought near and made part of the covenant God had with Abraham. This idea is also expressed in Galatians.

Eph 2: 14 – 22

• Christ became the law and was sacrificed in order to complete the law
• Upon completing the law he created a new humanity out of two groups (uncircumcised & circumcised)
• Both groups have access to the Father
• Jesus is the chief cornerstone of the Church
• Vs 22 is awesome because it says, “And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.” We are God’s Temple.

Thoughts:

Ephesians is a great book because it relates how God’s promise works, it brings both Gentiles and Jews together in one body as part of Christ, and explains how salvation works, for first a person must have Faith and answer the call of the Holy Spirit to accept Jesus as their savior and way to God the Father. We see the Trinity each playing their specific roll in the life of believers, Jewish and Gentile alike.

After a little thought this author believes he worked out the answer to his first question in the outline.

It is awesome to think of the rewards we will have in Heaven. Though rewards are great, having eternal life is the best gift.

A lot of symbiology is going at the closing of the second chapter. Christ is the cornerstone, a cornerstone is hugely significant. It is what the rest of the building rests on, we are the building, we are the Temple for the Spirit of God to reside in.