RD 101 – LESSON #67 - Some Observations - Lesser Known Scriptures

by Jack Eberle
   In the world today, even the so-called “religious” world, it appears that much of the Scripture is unread, and perhaps being misunderstood to some of those who should know better.  Ephesians is a Scripture book which comes to mind.  Without putting too fine a point on it, the best antidote to MISinformation and misunderstanding is the “correct” information and the “right division” of the Scriptures, a la II Tim. 2:15. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”    
    This is possibly, in the world of Christendom, the most misunderstood of all Scriptures.  Hopefully, this short column will be informative to the reader.  Ephesians 1:3 begins to peel the veil from widely not understood truth.  To begin, read the last phrase of the verse, “…In the (actual wording) UPON-heavenlies”.
    This is the actual reading.  But, what does that mean to you, His blood-bought one?  Some have concluded that “epi” or “upon” (English) is the same as “super”.  Be that as it may, obviously this is another sphere.  Where is it?  Exactly what it says, ABOVE the heavenlies.
    This is above the heaven we can see and know about from earthly science.  Where is that?  It’s not our atmosphere, but ABOVE it.  Actually, this is particularly God’s realm. “According as He has chosen us (in Him) before the casting down of the world” (Eph. 1:4). This is talking about something which ALREADY HAPPENED. To understand “when” this might have been, we must read Genesis 1:1-2.  Serious Bible and linguistic scholars tell us that the word “was” should read “became”. Presuming this to be truth, there must have been some trouble or turmoil which caused God to start over.  Then, in Gen. 1:3, God begins again by moving “upon the face of the deep”.
   Here the creation, as we know it, actually begins.  As you read the remainder of Genesis 1, you will increasingly recognize your world, the one we live in today.
    The greatness is that according to Ephesians 1:4, the folks He is addressing, were “chosen in Him” before His work was begun, that we should be holy and blameless, in sight of Him, in love. How great it is that our great and loving God is actually rejoicing, reveling in us, we who were bought by Christ’s blood. We see this asfuture.  God sees this as is, present tense.
    Eph. 1:5 speaks of adoption.  Paul, as a Roman citizen, in a Roman prison, was completely aware of the Roman adoption system. The Roman hierarchy especially would be different from Jewish and other nations’ customs.  Their heads of families would adopt the young people they would like to succeed them in their position in the Roman hierarchy.  Thus, as a Roman householder, God would choose those who had sought to know His truth and adopt them as His own children.