Weathering the Norm: Thoughts on Ephesians

By Xlibris US

Weathering the Norm,Thoughts on Ephesians is unique because it ties the apple-of-God's-eye, Israel, to the Church, while including non-Jews in the common-wealth of Israel. Paul buries-the-hatchet, so-to-speak, between Jews and Gentiles and expects his readers to do the same.

Predestination is explained in such a way, hermeneutically, so as to give Israel its rightful place as the "elect" of God, chosen to bring the world to the God who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, so His eternal plan could be fulfilled.

Ephesians also explains the privileges of husbands, wives, and children, employees, and employers in the joy of a right relationship with God and one another.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 30, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499042290

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 by Hubbard Smith.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2014913337

ISBN:      Hardcover         978-1-4990-4228-3

               Softcover            978-1-4990-4230-6

               eBook                  978-1-4990-4229-0

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

All Scriptural quotations are from the King James Authorized

Version Bible of 1611

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Rev. date: 07/25/2014

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CONTENTS

Ephesians

Chapter 1 The Talk Of God’s Children

Chapter 2 Ephesians

Chapter 3 All Of God’s Children (The Church Universal)

Chapter 4 Called Of God, Children (Walk)

Chapter 5 Called Of God, Children (Walk)

Chapter 6 Called Of God, Children (Walk)

Survival Or Revival

Ephesians Outline

Chapter 1

The Talk of God’s Children

Observation: The knowledge of God’s will preceded Jewish conversion, but follows Gentile conversion.

Chapter 2

The Path to Perfection

Or

Knowing our way to the abundant life (effectiveness)

Chapter 3

All of God’s Children (The Church Universal)

Chapter 4

Called of God, Children (Walk)

Chapter 5

Called of God Children (Walk)

Chapter 6

Called of God Children (Walk)

EPHESIANS

(General Introduction)

Hubbard Smith

Ephesians, which was written from Rome about 64 A.D. has its counterpart in Joshua written in the 1400’s B.C. As Joshua dealt with the physical world of Canaan and the conquests thereof, so Ephesians deals with the spiritual world of Canaan as a type of foe to be conquered. Just as the Hebrew warriors were victorious through obedience to the Lord’s chosen leader Joshua, so Ephesians explains how believers can be victorious through God’s chosen leader, Jesus. The difference for the Church today is explained in 1 Corinthians 10:4 where Paul wrote:

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down strongholds; casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

So Paul concludes his letter to the Ephesians in Chapter 6, Verse 12 with these words of enlightenment:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

One of the purposes of Ephesians is to equip the church with these weapons of war. Paul’s method is to make the believers aware of God’s arsenal of weapons, yet, he knew that soldiers’ morale should be high to keep up the esprit de corps.

In John’s gospel, the Lord Jesus makes a statement that would serve as an introduction to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. At the conclusion of Christ’s three years with His disciples, He said this, as recorded in John 16:25: "These things have