Ephesians 1:1-2

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Paul's Greeting to the Ephesians

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Believers are saints.

  2. Believers are recipients of God’s grace and peace.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. We, too, are apostles by the will of God.

  2. Do you know God as Father?

QUESTIONS

  1. Under what circumstances did Paul write this letter?

  2. When was the church at Ephesus established?

  3. Were other churches established at this same time?

  4. What is an encyclical letter?

  5. Is Paul writing to two distinct groups of believers – the saints and the faithful?

  6. Define the word “saint.”

  7. Define the word “grace.”

  8. Are the grace and peace of Ephesians 1:2 the grace and peace of salvation?

ANSWERS

  1. Paul was a Roman prisoner under house arrest, awaiting trial before Nero. (See Acts 28:16, 20, 30-31.) Although under arrest, he was able to teach and preach, write letters, and send fellow workers on missions.

  2. Probably during Paul’s third missionary journey in the mid-50s A.D. Possibly the church was started by Aquila and Priscilla, a husband and wife team dedicated to the work of the Lord. (See Acts 18.)

  3. Probably the seven churches that we read of in Revelation 2-3.

  4. A letter addressed to one church in an area, which would be passed along to all the churches in that area.

  5. No. All believers are saints. God sees saints as righteous in Christ, with sins forgiven.

  6. In Greek, the word comes from the same root word as “holy,” meaning “separated from sin.” So all believers are saints or holy ones before God.

  7. Grace means undeserved favor. God’s inexhaustible reservoir of grace is available to all believers.

  8. Yes, but they are also the grace and peace for daily living.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Discuss the full meaning of being a saint, both in salvation and in everyday living. Are you fulfilling the meaning of sainthood in your life? What kind of an impact does your sainthood have on other believers? On those who do not know Christ as Savior?

  2. Discuss what it means to be a believer, a recipient of God’s grace and peace. Are you saved by the grace of God? Do you have peace with God? How do you reflect these qualities in your everyday life?

CHALLENGE

  1. Are you an apostle? (An apostle is a believer sent forth by the great commission) Are you doing what God has called you to do?

  2. Are you in the family of God? What does it mean to you, personally, to be a child of the heavenly Father? Do you have that personal family relationship with God and with the Lord Jesus Christ?

KEY VERSES

  • “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:2

Ephesians, Talks, New TestamentDeb HarmsEphesians 1:1-2