Inductive Study: Ephesians 2:10

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

Personal Mission - Be a man of God

Personal Vision - Lead like Christ, Walk with Christ, Love my wife and children in a way that they understand

As we continue today to examine the word, "walk," we'll find another word that may be difficult for us to understand.  The word is "beforehand."  In this passage, the Greek word is proetoimazó or predestine, ready because prepared, made ready in advance thus ready, already prepared.  Remember, when we conduct our inductive study, we must understand the context in which the word is used.  So, hopefully, we won't go too far down the rabbit hole on "predestine."  We'll continue to use the inductive study W.O.R.D. acrostic: Worship, Observe, Reveal, and Determine.

Dear heavenly Father, as I close out another day saved by your grace and mercy, please help me to stay open and alive for your Word.  Please help me understand this passage and how I should incorporate it into my daily life.  In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Ephesians is broken into two sections.  Chapters 1 to 3 focus on what Christians should believe showing grace in Christ.  Chapters 4 to 6 show the implications of grace.  Paul wrote this letter while in prison, probably in Rome around 60 A.D.  Prior to this time during his third missionary journey, Paul stayed in Ephesus for three years.  Paul cared for the people who became part of life during that time.  Paul is instructing us to live our life in good works, happy with the change in our life that grace allows, delivered from guilt in sin.

The Scripture starts with "For" or in the Greek, epi, or on the basis of.  This refers to the previous passages 8 and 9 that also start with "For."  So, we are referred all the way to the beginning of Chapter 2.  Paul tells us that we once lived according to our flesh, but God rich in mercy and love saves us from our flesh through Christ, a gift not generated by our own effort.

Understanding the context of the passage, let's delve deeper into the specific words looking at other translations than the New King James Version (NKJV).  In this case, I used the New International Version (NIV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), English Standard Version (ESV), New Living Translation (NLT), and the Amplified Bible.

"Workmanship" is replaced with handiwork, masterpiece, and work of art.  The Greek word is poiema which means thing made, a work that has been made, works of God as creator.  We are God's masterpiece, His best work.

"Created" in the Greek is kitzo which means form, shape, make, always of God, build, begin, found what is habitable and useful, God alone can make something that wasn't there before.  We are shaped into what is useful in Christ.

"Good Work" is made up of two Greek words.  Agathos means intrinsically good, inherently good, originates from God empowered by Him through faith, generous, kind, upright, honorable, useful.  Ergon means labor, action, deed, wrought, made, accomplish, deed that completes intension/purpose, noble action.  We are empowered by God to accomplish intrinsically good deeds for His purpose.

"Prepared beforehand" is replaced with prepared in advance, prepared long ago, prepared taking paths He set.  The English word, predestine, is defined as to determine outcome in advance by divine will.  God already prepared the good works for us to do.

Paul tells us that God built us in Christ as His masterpiece, that we should live doing the good works that He prepared.  So, don't go back to the past lusts, don't listen to evil, live like God's greatest accomplishment.  Conduct your life with actions that are noble, generous, kind, honorable to God.  This life is only possible in Christ.  Admit your sins, believe in Him, confess Christ as your savior.  Be free from the prison of sin.

10 For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].

Amplified Bible

W.O.R.D. Worksheet

Inductive Study: Ephesians 4:17-18

17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of[a] the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

Ephesians 4:17-18

Personal Mission - Be a man of God

Personal Vision - Lead like Christ, Walk with Christ, Love my wife and children in a way that they understand

We continue today to examine the word, "walk," one of the active words from my personal vision statement.  In this passage it is still the Greek word is peripateo which means conduct my life, regulates one life, make progress, make use of opportunities, be occupied with.  We'll continue to use the inductive study W.O.R.D. acrostic for this study: Worship, Observe, Reveal, and Determine.

Dear heavenly Father, please take away any distractions from my study today.  Help me to focus on You and Your scriptures.  Help me not to taint my understanding of this passage with what I want it to say.  Let the Scripture speak to me.  In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

For this study, we are in the book of Ephesians.  Ephesus was a center of culture in the Asian world during Roman times.  They're pride was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Temple of Artemis.  Artemis was considered a goddess of fertility and most of the priests in the temple were women.  In this letter to the churches of this region, Paul is talking to the Gentiles about how to live their lives.

The passage starts with "therefore" instructing us to examine the preceding paragraph(s).  In Ephesians 4:11-16, Paul points out that the Gentile believers should "no longer be children" fooled by "the trickery of men."  Paul "speaking the truth in love" that they may "grow up" in all things Christ.  They believe so their lives should reflect a change.

Understanding the context of the passage, let's delve deeper into the specific words.  Remember, the Bible was written in Greek not English.  By understanding the depth of key words and phrases, we can discover more about the passage.  The Bible translation that I use for my blog is the New King James Version (NKJV).  Other translations may use different words. 

Looking at different translations (NIV, NASB, ESV, NLT, Amplified) of the key words that I identified, only one word really used different words.  Alienated was also excluded, separated, wander, and banished.  The Greek word is apallotrioo which means estranged, excluded, shut out.

Let's examine some of the Greek words for deeper meaning.  First, let's understand Gentiles.  The Greek word is ethnos meaning a race, people, heathen world, unbelieving, common culture, foreign nations not worshipping God.  Gentiles are common, more abundant than believing Christians.  The word identifies the fallen, sinful, blinded world.

Some other words of interest are futility, mind, understanding, darkened, ignorance, blindness and heart.  The Greek word for futility is mataiotes or aimless due to lack of purpose of anything meaningful, vanity, emptiness, unreality.  Mind is nous or reasoning faculty, intellect, receiving God's thoughts through faith.  Understanding is dianoia or insight, balanced conclusions, moral understanding.  Darkened is skotoo is spiritual obscurity.  Ignorance is agnoia or willful blindness especially of things divine, closed minds.  Blindness is porosis which is obtuseness, callousness, dulled perception, stupidity.  Finally, heart is kardia or inner self, character, capacity of moral preference, inner man, feelings.

Paul instructs us to no longer live like the common, heathen, unbelieving world.  The world is aimless without direction or moral compass due to its lack of purpose.  The world can't recognize evil and is blind to balanced thought, closed minded to the Truth or any other belief that isn't common.

How does this apply to my life?  I need to be opposite of the world.  My purpose is to live for God and not myself.  I need a softened inner self that is open to hear both sides of the story to help determine what is good and what is evil.  Not so much "Fair and balanced" as understanding Truth being compassionate towards unbelievers to come to balanced God-centered conclusions.  How do I accomplish this? By studying His Word and viewing the world through God's eyes.

The Christian’s Walk

17 So this I say, and solemnly affirm together with the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the [unbelieving] Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds [and in the foolishness and emptiness of their souls], 18 for their [moral] understanding is darkened and their reasoning is clouded; [they are] alienated and self-banished from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the [willful] ignorance and spiritual blindness that is [deep-seated] within them, because of the hardness and insensitivity of their heart.

Amplified Bible

W.O.R.D. Study Sheet

Inductive Study: Ephesians 4:1

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called

Ephesians 4:1

Personal Mission - Be a man of God

Personal Vision - Lead like Christ, Walk with Christ, Love my wife and children in a way that they understand

Inspired by the movie, War Room, I started writing selected verses and posting them under my Vision headings in my office. To practice inductive bible study, I've started looking deeper into those posted Bible verses.  Inductive Bible study is an approach to the Bible that moves from a general overview to specifics. Through this study, we apply inductive reasoning, which is defined as using information and examining the details of Scripture to understand its context and to draw a conclusion.  I use the W.O.R.D. acrostic for this type of study's steps: Worship, Observe, Reveal, and Determine.  You can find my W.O.R.D. form and notes attached.

Dear heavenly Father, as I dig deeper into your Word, please give eyes to see and ears to hear.  Remove any preconceived notions and let the Holy Spirit speak to me through your Word.  Remove all anxieties and distractions, help me to concentrate on You and what You have for my life.  In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Our passage today comes from the book of Ephesians.  This is Paul's letter to the churches in western Asia minor near Ephesus, the Roman capital in Asia.  The city was a center of commerce and trade.  Nearly 250,000 people lived there.  It also housed the Temple of Artemis.  The people's belief structure is not so different from today.  What may be truth for you, is not truth to me.  In Ephesians 4:1, Paul, whose life is captive for the Lord, is instructing the Ephesian churches about God.

The passage starts with "therefore" instructing us to examine the preceding paragraph(s).   In Ephesians 3:14, the entire paragraph is predicated on the previous paragraph(s) - "For this reason."  Paul is here to preach to "the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ," which is God's "gift of grace."  By preaching the Gospel, Paul encourages us to be strengthened, have Christ dwell in our hearts, know the love of Christ, be filled with the fullness of God.  From these encouragements, he transitions to Ephesians 4:1.

Understanding the context of the passage, let's delve deeper into the specific words.  Remember, the Bible was written in Greek not English.  By understanding the depth of key words and phrases, we can discover more about the passage.  The Bible translation that I use for my blog is the New King James Version (NKJV).  Other translations may use different words. 

Looking at the following translations - NIV, NASB, ESV, NLT, "beseech" is replaced with urge, implore, appeal, and beg.  The Greek word is parakaleo which means summon, entreat, invite, exhort, comfort, and encourage.  Paul is passionate about what he is about to say, nearly begging but also encouraging.

"Walk" is replaced with live and lead.  The Greek word is peripateo or conduct my life, regulates one life, make progress, make use of opportunities, be occupied with.  Walk is the command in my vision statement, "Walk like Christ."  It will be the focus of future blogs.  Walk isn't a physical activity.  It is how we live our lives.

Worthy, Calling, and Called were used the same in all translations examined, but they are important words to study.  Examining the Greek, "worthy" is axios or suitable, after a Godly sort.  "Calling" is klesis or invitation, divine call, inviting people to receive God's gift of salvation (with all its blessings), embrace salvation.  "Called" is similar as kaleo or invite, appoint one to salvation.

Paul begs us to conduct our lives, making use of all God appointed opportunities, worthily of God's gift of salvation that we have received.  Think about it, Jesus died for your sins.  He took our punishment.  He died and rose again three days later claiming victory over that sin.  For whoever believes in Jesus, will have eternal life.  Live like you cherish that greatest gift.

How does this apply to my life?  I need to be an example of Christ, so people can see that example so when I share the Gospel, Jesus' good news, it will not be hindered by my hypocrisy.  To do this, I'll build confidence and security in my faith by studying the Bible and using that knowledge and the Holy Spirit within me to conduct my life in a manner that glorifies God.

The Amplified Bible expounds on the original text with more descriptions.  I'll use its version of this passage in closing.

So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation]

W.O.R.D. Study Sheet