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EPHESIANS

BNT-232

BY

PETER M. NJENGA

PRESENTED TO:

REV. LABAN NDURUMO

I.G.O (K) BIBLE COLLEGE

THIKA, KENYA

JULY 2023
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Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
BELIEVERS POSITION IN CHRIST............................................................................................3
THE KEY OF THE AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER..............................................................4
OUR POSITION AND CONDITION IN CHRIST........................................................................4
OUR VIRTUAL INDWELLING....................................................................................................8
OUR AUTHORITY IN CHRIST....................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
BIBLIOGRAPHY..........................................................................................................................11
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INTRODUCTION
The believers are saints they are a plan of God and they are called according to their purpose of
God the Holy Spirit indicate that the church is not an after thought of God every believer was
chosen from eternity God had predetermine salvation of each.

As he says in Jeremiah before I formed you in the womb I knew you before you were born I
sanctified you I ordained you a prophet to the nation Jeremiah 1:5.

Believers have a special place in God they have been ordained to fulfill a certain purpose in the
world and in a given time when they' life. the letter define the Christian church as composed of
all who believe and belong to the body of Christ

Believers are in Christ and Christ is in them and Christ in them they died with Christ and raised
with him they were crucified together therefore they don't belong to the adamic nature. They
have being changed and they are new creatures in Jesus Christ. Christ has transformed them from
the old to new now there is no condemnation to those who are living in Christ the old has gone
they serve according to the power of God who will live in them the holy spirit and empower
them to do the work of God they are not under the law it is through the grace of God that enable
them to have faith in God and trust him in everything they do they don't walk by sight but by
Faith it is not through seeing but trust in God that they can do greater things to their mind and
body. They depend on help of the holy Spirit to do the work of God who sent them until the end
of the age

BELIEVERS POSITION IN CHRIST

Believers are in the position of Saint in Christ. A saint is one who has trusted Christ and is set
aside for the sole use of God

We have been made saints through salvation it is the act of being saved, it means to be in Christ,
the believer is in Christ- Christ is in the believe.r saints are faithful to Christ Ephesians 1:1 Paul
States he is the least of apostles 1st Corinthians 15:9 the name Paul means small in looking at
ourselves in the natural we must be like Paul and see ourselves as small we can do all things
through Christ and we are more than conquerors but this is only through the greater one living in
us we ourselves are small

Paul says he functioned as an apostle the Greek word of apostles is apostolos ad means sent one
this is someone who is going with a particular mission to a particular destination. Jesus is called
the apostle and high priest of our confession.

Every faithful believer has life only in Christ Jesus the terms in Christ Jesus and in the Lord in
him e t c or cars 160 x in Paul's writing 36 times in Ephesians in Christ means that the believer
now lives and acts in the sphere of Christ Jesus Union with Christ is the redeem Christians new
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environment. “in Christ” believers have conscious communion with the lord and in this
relationship, their very lives are seen as the life of Christ living in them ( Galatians 2:20) I have
being crucified with Christ it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me this personal
fellowship with Christ is the most important thing in Christian experience Union with Christ
come as a gift of God through Faith

The Bible contrast our new life in Christ with our old unregenerate life in Adam where as the old
life is characterized by disobedience, sin, condemnation and death our new Life in Christ is
characterized by salvation, life in the spirit, abundant Grace, righteousness and eternal life
(Romans5:12-21, 1st Corinthians 15 21,22).

THE KEY OF THE AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER

(Quoted from Shepherd staff key 2 spiritual authority by Leo Harris page 42 45/section 2B)

“We retired to our beds I soon found that instead of sleeping my mind became alert to certain
truth in the word of God hours after hour the entire book of Ephesians came to my memory the
great truth in that thrilling book were powerful impressed upon me

I knew Ephesians well and loves to preach from it but this time old truths came with a new
significance. New truth leapt into my heart mind under the inspiration of the holy Spirit

Next morning my friends who had slept in another room asked me what had happened to me
during the night apparently my frequent prayers and praises had disturbed them.

Next Sunday when we met in our service I said to the people many of you know that we have
been away seeking the Lord through the past week you expect me to open my bag and bring out
a revival that is exactly what I intend to do

I produced a bag opened it and pull out my Bible and a declared it's all here here is the secret of
revival and victory and power with God all we need to do is receive it believe it and act upon it
we need to know who we are what God says about us and what our authority is it Jesus Christ

Let us briefly survey some of these precious truths the Lord burned Into my soul that night.
these truths have characterized my ministry ever since prove it to be another key 2 revival and
Christian victory”.

OUR POSITION AND CONDITION IN CHRIST

The epistle of Paul to the Ephesians falls naturally into two sections: the first three chapters is a
positive presentation of the believers position in Christ. This section concludes with this
inspiring promise of blessing. "Now to him who is able to do exceeding abundantly behold all
that we ask or within us. To him be the Glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations
forever and ever amen" (Eph 3:20,21)
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The second three chapters deal with practical consideration in the believer's Life.

We might say the first section sets forth our legal standing's before God. The second the actual
state (condition) of our Christian life.

The first deal with our wealth, the second with our walk. The past shows us our rights the second
our responsibilities. The first is doctrinal of the second practical

a) there is a divine order

It is important that we observe the Divine order. First our standing, then our state. So many
Christians are trying to perfect their state in order to gain a right standing with God. This is
contrary to God's method.

First he gives us a right standing and asks us to be believe it. then he gives us power to live
accordingly.

Our standing, our position our wealth our rights our privileges in Christ are all the grace of God
alone. They represent the favour of God upon all believers.

b) we must accept our position

if we want to care for our state, our walk, our responsibilities in our daily life, we must first
accept what we have become when we were placed in Jesus Christ.

We must truly believe this divine revelation as sets forth in the first three chapters in Ephesians.

This will give us the power to "walk worth of our vocation to which we are called" (Eph 4:1), as
required of us in the second three chapters.

Friends this is the way God always encourages and helps us. First he shows us what we are in
Christ. He gives us the bold declarations of his grace (enabling power). Then He tells us, "if you
will believe then what I have declared will become a practical reality in your life. This is the way
Faith works. We believe before we see.

Sanctification and holy living by any other means becomes a natural law of works. Even the
good works of the flesh are freshly. The only works that are pleasing to God are those that spring
forth as a fruit of His grace (divine enabling) operating through our faith in his word.

Let us see how this truth shine forth in (Ephesians 1:3) "blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who hast blessed us with all spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ."

There is a deep truth hidden in this verse. The words blessed and blessing come from a Greek
word which we get our word eulogy.
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These same Greek word is in Romans 15:29 where Paul says: "I shall come in the fullness of the
blessings of the Gospel of Christ." Or literally, "the fullness of the good utterance of the Gospel
of Christ."

In Romans 16:18 we have the same word used but this time in insincerity. Will speak of those
who buy good works and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."

However God's fair speeches concerning us are genuine and sincere.

Now read Ephesians 1:3 with a better translation of its meaning.... "Well spoken of be the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has spoken well all highly of us with every good
utterance in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

Yes right this is the startling truth! God eulogizes (speaks complimentary words of) us as He sees
us in Christ. He speaks highly of Us. He makes good at utterances concerning us.

1) God speaks well of us

God does not eulogize us in our unregenerate Adamic state; but in as much as we have accepted
Christ god sees us in his son and speaks highly of Us.

a) Adamic nature dead. He declares that our Adamic nature is dead, crucified with Christ. (Rom
6:6-11)

b) New creature in Christ. He declares that we are new creatures in Christ. Old things have
passed away and all things have become new. (2 Corn 5:17)

c) Raised with Christ. He declares that we are raised with Christ and enthroned with him in
heavenly places. (Eph 2:6)

d) Complete in Christ. All that Christ did was not for himself but for us. God now sees us
complete (whole, perfect, without blemish) in Christ.

2) God encourage and help us.

This is God's method of encouraging and helping us. It has always been the same. He gives his
word and calls upon us to believe it and act upon it.

a) Don't be deceived by the devil. The devil borrowed this method. We see him using this
approach in Genesis 3 when he gave his lying word to Eve, he enticed her to believe it and act
upon it. If Eve had believed God's word and acted upon it she would not have fallen nor dragged
the human race into her ruin.

b) Follow God's way. God still approaches man in this way.

(1) He gives us his good word; and

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(2) Calls on us to believe it with all our hearts; and

(3) Act accordingly.

c) God's word has power. In fact if we do believe God's word sincerely he gives us power to act
accordingly. God's word contains life in itself and has power to materialize (become what has
been spoken).

A seed that is planted in the ground will spring forth with life and form as God designed it. The
seed of God's word received into our hearts will also bring forth life and form in us.

That is why God eulogizes us as He sees us in Christ. He knows that if we will receive and
believe his word it will materialize (be seen in invisible ways) in our lives. This is the Divine
formula for Christian victory.

Our Union with Christ

Apart from Christ we are dead in trespasses and sins. However God calls upon us to picture
(envision) ourselves as being in His son.

He then asks us to believe that we are crucified with him. This union of the believer with Christ
is seen in two aspects: our legal position (as a relative of his) and our vital indwelling.

Our legal position

This is our legal standing before God. The moment you accept Christ our Savior and lord, we are
justified. We are given a judicial position, a legal standing before a holy God.

In Ephesians 1:15-23, Paul prays that we might be spiritually enlightened concerning our legal
standing in Jesus. Paul prayed. "I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great his
power is to help those who believe him. It is that same mighty power that raised Christ from the
dead and seated him in the place of honour at God's right hand in heaven far far above any other
King or ruler or dictator or leader. Yes, his honour is far more glorious than that of anyone else
either in this world or in the world to come. "

Then in chapter 2, Paul declares that God has "quickened us (raised up from the dead) together
with Christ, and has taken us up to heaven and enthroned us together in the highest heaven in
Christ Jesus" (verses 4-6).

In the mind and purpose of God, when Christ died, we died in him, when he was raised, we were
raised in him, and when he ascended to the father's right hand, we also has ascended and sat
down with him on the throne at the right hand of God the Father.
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These are some of the good utterances of God concerning us. They represent a divine declaration
of our legal Union and privilege because of being with Jesus Christ. Paul urges us to "reckon
(count it is done) I want to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our
Lord." (Rom 6:11)

The natural mind rebels against such supernatural revelation. It is only as we partake of the mind
of Christ that we can grasp these truths then they become the way to power and personal victory
over problems, sins, diseases and demons

OUR VIRTUAL INDWELLING

God has given us Legal standing in Christ (which we must accept by Faith). He has also
produced a virtual experience in us by his spirit.

Writing to the Galatians, Paul says, "because ye are sons, God hath sent for the Spirit of his son
into your heart, crying, Abba Father" (Gal 4:6).

Our Adamic nature is dead to God. But since our new birth, we are indwelt by spiritual divine
sonship. Paul says, " He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit" (1Corn 6:17). Again the
apostle Paul testified in Galatians 2:20 " I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live; yet not I
but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the fresh I live by the Faith of the son of
God who Loved me and gave himself for me."

Paul did not live his day by day life nor conduct his tremendous ministry by personal power or
wisdom. He functioned by the divinely inspired concept that Christ lived inside him by his spirit.

The apostle John also understood these truth; "greater is he that is in you than he that is in the
world" (1 John 4:4). The same apostle wrote in John 1:16; "of his fullness have we all received,
and Grace for Grace." This means that we believers are indwelt by the full potential of the life of
Christ. He puts His love, His joy, His peace, His long suffering, His gentleness, His goodness,
His Faith his meekness and His temperance (or self-control) inside us. (Gal 5:22,23). All these
are the fruit of his indwelling spirit.

By Faith, we accept the legal standing that is reckoned to us by God (that is, our legal standing in
Christ.) The indwelling spirit of Christ responds to our faith and produces the nature of Christ in
us.

In these two ways: 1. Our believing and 2. The spirits enabling. Our Union with Christ interacts.
These empower us to live in such a way that others see Christ in our lives.

In the midst of the turmoil and pressures of this let us never forget that we have within us an
"inner sanctuary". Christ dwells there. From him we derive resources that are more than adequate
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for every need and every situation. Thus "in all things we are more than conquerors through him
that loved us." (Rom 8:37).

OUR AUTHORITY IN CHRIST.

Because we are declared by God to be in Christ, all that is said concerning Christ is also said
concerning us.

In eulogizing Christ, the father eulogizes (says very complimentary things about) us in Christ.

Authority over the power of the enemy. Christ has all authority (Math 28:18). Therefore we have
authority (Luke 10:19). "Behold I give unto you power (authority) to tread on serpents and
scorpions and over all the power (ability to do damage) of the enemy; and nothing by any means
hurt you".

Authority over Satan. Satan was bruised (fatally wounded) beneath the feet of Christ (Gen 3:15).
Satan is also bruised beneath our feet. "The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet
shortly" (Rom 16:20). Satan is legally placed beneath the feet of Christ. That is subject to His
authority (Eph 1:22). And Satan is legally placed beneath our feet too. The psalmist declare,
"Thou shalt tread upon the lion and the adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample
under feet" (Ps 91:13).

Authority as Christ's ambassadors. As Christ was sent into this world, so are we. Jesus said to the
father "As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world" (John
17:18).

Thus we are ambassadors of Christ going forth with His authority, speaking and acting in His
behalf (2Corn 5:20).

There is given unto us the power of attorney. That is, the authority to act in behalf of Jesus Christ
with his authority we preach the gospel. With his authority lay hands on the sink. With his
authority to cast out devils.

Authority in God's Kingdom. Jesus's heir of all things, and we are "heirs of God, and joint heirs
with Christ" (Rom 8:17). We share his throne rights here and now and shall rule with Him in His
Kingdom in the coming age.

CONCLUSION
The first three chapters is the positive presentation of the believers position in Christ. The last
three chapters deals with the practical consideration in the believers life. The first section set
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forth our legal standing before God. The second our responsibilities. The first is doctrine, the
second is practical.

Believers are the sent ones, to preach the gospel on behalf of Christ, as Jesus was also sent by
God to the world. In our daily life should be demonstrating Christ in us. Everything we should be
doing should be for the benefit of the Kingdom of God. Ambassador does not represent himself
but the country he comes from and the King who sent him to that country. Believers who belong
to the kingdom of God and we fight for the kingdom of God until the rapture takes place to be
taken by the Lord.

Our daily life should always be model to the others to come to Christ our Savior.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Keys to spiritual authority by Leo Harris

2. New Kings James Bible

3. The I.G.O manual