The Strand Study Bible

Written From Rome During Paul’s First Roman Imprisonment

EPHESIANS 2:7 - 3:8

1965

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved 1 through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the 2 gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Jews and Gentiles are now equal heirs within the body of CHRIST 11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called 3 Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being 4 aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the 5 blood of Christ. 14 6 For he is our peace, who hath made both 7 one, and hath broken down the 8 middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having 9 abolished 10 in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one 11 new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might 12 reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, 13 having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached 14 peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through HIM we both have

1. Rom 4:16 2. Rom 5:15-18 & 6:23 & Jn 4:10 3. Rom 2:24-29 & 3:29-30 4. Colo 1:21 5. I Pet 1:18-19 & Acts 20:28 6. Colo 1:20 & Rom 5:1 7. Jn 10:16 8. or, “the wall that separates the Court of the Jews from the Court of the Gentiles in the Temple” 9. Colo 2:14 10. Colo 1:22 11. Gal 3:28 & 6:15 & Eph 4:24 & Colo 3:10 & II Cor 4:16 & Rom 7:22-25 12. II Cor 5:18 & Colo 1:20-22 15. I Cor 3:10-11 16. Psa 118:22 & Zech 4:7 & Lk 20:17-18 17. I Cor 3:9 & I Pet 2:5 18. Phile 1,10 & Phil 1:12-13 & Colo 4:10 13. Rom 6:6 14. Isa 57:19

access by one SPIRIT unto the FATHER . 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, 15 JESUS CHRIST himself being the 16 CHIEF CORNER STONE ; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Ephesians 3 The Jewish/Gentile Church - (See - Acts 7:38) Date Written - c. AD 62 1 For this cause I Paul, the 18 prisoner of Jesus Christ 19 for you Gentiles, 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God 20 which is given me to youward: 3 How that by 21 revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now 22 revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be 23 fellow- heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8 Unto me, 24 who am less than the least

19. Colo 1:24 20. Acts 9:15 & 22:17-21 21. Acts 22:17 22. I Cor 2:10 23. Gal 3:23-29 24. I Cor 15:9

2:7 Paul, as it were, foresaw the ages to come, as they succeeded each other in a grand procession, and in each age the glorious purpose of God was to be exhibited. What God is now doing (saving people) is not a subordinate part in some larger plan. It is the plan. Other plans He has, no doubt, but none of them will overshadow this plan or render it an insignificant part. One day, in the ages to come, God plans to demonstrate the overflowing wealth of His marvelous grace by placing certain saints on display so that all the creatures of the universe might see the wonder of it. J. Vernon McGee in Ephesians notes:

Someday I am going to be on exhibit. Angels will go by and say, “See that fellow McGee. He was lost and wasn’t worth saving, but he’s here in heaven today. It is only through the grace and kindness of God that he was saved and brought here. 1

It is out of a sinful world that the greatest examples of Divine power and love shall be forthcoming, for God is rich in mercy and grace. How rich, only sinners will illustrate. Every soul that is saved by grace and then lives by grace (Gal 3:1-3) is intended to be a fresh example of the exceeding riches of God’s amazing grace. NOTE - There are two prerequisites to becoming God’s “poster child” for grace for all eternity future: 1. You have to “experience” His grace (Eph 2:5,8-9) If God plans to demonstrate the overflowing wealth of His marvelous grace to the rest of His creation throughout His universe, then common sense tells us that one has to become a product of grace before he can become an object of grace. Meaning: One