Lesson 2 Review: God’s Grand, Christ-Centered Plan

 

Introduction

Memory Text: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3, ESV).

Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians with a majestic thank-you note. Neil Armstrong did the same, twenty-five years later after becoming the first person to walk on the moon, he wrote a thank-you note to the creative team who designed the spacesuit and others. Paul’s opening here makes Ephesians especially valuable in modeling how to worship God and to praise God for the many blessings He has provided.

What does a thank-you note usually include?

A thank-you note usually includes a description of the gift or gifts received.

Where does Paul include his received gifts in his letter?

Paul includes a long gift list in Ephesians 1:3-14 as he thanks God for the blessings of the gospel.

What does the phrase “in the heavenly places” and “in the heavens” mean in Ephesians (the only place it is used in the New Testament)?

In Ephesians the phrases “in the heavenly places” and “in the heavens” or “in heaven” point to heaven as the dwelling place of God (Eph. 1:3, Eph. 6:9), to the location of spiritual powers (Eph. 1:10, 20, 21; Eph. 3:10, 15; Eph. 6:12), and to the location of Christ’s exaltation at the right hand of the Father (Eph. 1:20).

What other connection do the heavenly places have?

Though “the heavenly places” have become a place of blessing for believers, they are still the location of conflict from evil powers that contest the lordship of Christ (Eph.3:10, Eph. 6:12).

What does it mean when the New Testament discusses Redemption?

It highlights the costliness of setting the slaves free.

What does it mean to be Redeemed?

“To be redeemed is to be treated as a person, not an object. It is to become a citizen of heaven, rather than a slave of the earth”¾Alister E. McGrath, What Was God Doing on the Cross? (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992), p. 78.

What does it mean that God pays the price of redemption to Satan?

God paid the price of redemption to Satan is a medieval, not a biblical, one. God neither owes nor pays Satan anything.

What other benefits does Calvary include?

“the forgiveness of our trespasses” (Eph. 1:7, ESV).

What three labels does Paul use for God’s plan?

1.       “the mystery of his will,”

2.       “his purpose” and

3.       “a plan for the fullness of time” (ESV)

What is God’s final ultimate plan?

To unite everything, everywhere, in Jesus.

What is the sequence of God’s plan?

God begins His plan to unify all things, rooted in the death, resurrection, ascension, and exaltation of Jesus (Eph. 1:15-2:10), by founding the church and unifying disparate elements of humankind, Jews and Gentiles, in it (Eph. 2:11-3:13).

Who are Believers?

Rather than being ‘victims of haphazard, arbitrary decisions by various deities or astral powers. They are the children of God (Eph. 1:5) and have access to many blessings through Christ based on the deep counsels and eternal decisions of God.’

How does Paul show the value of Christians to God?

Paul shows the value of Christians to God by showing that they not only possess an inheritance from God (Eph. 1:4, Eph. 3:6; compare Eph. 5:5), but they are God’s inheritance.

What two images does Paul use for the Holy Spirit?

He first pictures the Spirit as a “seal,” identifying a sealing presence of the Spirit that occurs from the time of conversion. The second image Paul uses for the Holy Spirit is that of “guarantee.” The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance, which looks toward the moment when the inheritance is to be given in full (compare 2 Cor. 1:22, 2 Cor. 5:5).

Do Believers pay the down payment?

Believers do not pay this down payment but receive it from God with a grateful and submissive heart.

In Conclusion,

God’s eschatological plan is to unite all in Christ. However, we are to have a grateful and submissive heart to accept it. I pray that God grants us this kind of heart in Jesus’ name.