EPHESIANS 2:1-7 - SPIRITUALLY DEAD MADE ALLIVE IN CHRIST

Ephesians 2:1-7

SPIRITUALLY DEAD

MADE ALIVE IN CHRIST

Ephesians 2:1 (KJV) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Paul was still addressing the saints, the believers, the saved. God has made us alive. We were spiritually dead because of our sin nature and incapable of pleasing God through works. Dead men cannot do anything unless they are made alive again. Since we started out dead spiritually, the Lord does not “Resuscitate” us but “quickens” us by breathing the life of the Holy Spirit into us. Before we could come to Him, the Holy Spirit had to make us alive by drawing us to the Lord. Only then would we be capable of surrendering our lives to Jesus which in turn enabled us to do good works.

Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Before they were saved, they were enslaved to Satan and his ways, the ways of the world apart from the Lord. Therefore, by walking in the way of God’s enemy Satan, they were enemies of God. This is true of all who have not been made alive, quickened, in Christ.

Matthew 12:30 (KJV) He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Lest we think Paul was above everyone else, he lumps himself in with other people as they were before being saved. In short, before we were in Christ, we were all deserving of God’s wrath. That way of life is the way of dysfunction, chaos, disorder. Anything that is counter to God creates all of this. It is the way that leads to all kinds of sin and evil. Since we were spiritually “dead,” we could not pull ourselves up out of the quicksand of the world. The Lord, in His grace, had to reach down and pull us up! Can a corpse bring itself up out of the grave? Not unless God breaths vitality into him or her. The same that is true of our mortal bodies is true of our spiritual beings.

Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Jesus was resurrected after the crucifixion, and those of us who have trusted Him, have been made alive by God’s mercy and grace. When we enter into that trust relationship with Christ, we are immediately adopted into God’s family and are alive, not only physically, but spiritually. God chose to do this, not because we earned or deserved it, but strictly because of His mercy and grace to those who believe. Jesus died for us while we were still the enemies of God and helplessly entangled in sin:

Romans 5:6-11 (NASB) For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified [b]by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, [d]but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

We are able to love God because He first demonstrated His love to us by sending Jesus to die for us and having His Holy Spirit draw us near to Him.

1 John 4:19 (NASB) We love, because He first loved us.

Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

After the Father raised Him from the dead, Jesus ascended back to Heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. What has been done for Christ will eventually be done for all those who are “in Him.” God sees the future as already done, so Paul says “he has made us sit together in heavenly places.” After Jesus took His place alongside the Father, He became our chief Advocate, interceding for all who have accepted the great gift of salvation by trusting in Him. His purpose in the incarnation was to die for us, which He fulfilled. His purpose in Heaven is to be our High Priest interceding on our behalf, and He is now fulfilling that purpose.

Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Our salvation, sanctification, and future inheritance are intended to display the grace of God through Jesus. God’s mercy, grace, and kindness to us are still for the purpose of bringing glory to Himself. Because of what Jesus did and is doing, we are able to glorify God. The Father enjoys His adopted children and lavishes His grace, love, and gifts on us. We, in turn, praise Him and glorify Him among others. He allows the joy of being a part of guiding others He has chosen to surrender their will to His.

Question: Do you feel dead inside? Do you feel completely incapable of changing for the better? Is a desire to know Jesus and live a fulfilled, God-honoring life, growing in you? Surrender to that nudge from the Holy Spirit by agreeing with God that you are a sinner and cannot do anything worthy of His love. Then trust Jesus completely to do inside you what you cannot do for yourself. When you have given up the quest to be good enough and reached up to grasp the hand of Jesus pulling you to safety, tell someone else. Find a Bible teaching church and grow closer to Jesus by studying His word, praying, and spending time with others who believe in Him. 

EPHESIANS 1:15-23 - REDEEMED, RICH, AND RECALIBRATED

Ephesians 1:15-23

REDEEMED, RICH, AND RECALIBRATED

Ephesians 1:15-23 (KJV) Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

The prayers of Paul are an excellent example of how we, as believers, should pray for one another. When he heard that many in Ephesus had become Christians, he thanked the Lord for their salvation and prayed for them on a regular basis. Paul extolled their faith in Jesus and the excellent way they demonstrated God’s love one to another.

Ephesians 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

God and Jesus are equally deity, and are in a family relationship as Father and Son. God is glorious, in fact the angels at the throne of God declare this truth!

Isaiah 6:3 (KJV) And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

What does Paul ask the Lord to give these newer believers? He wants the Father to give them wisdom and revelation about the Lord Jesus. Seasoned believers need this layer by layer as well because we will never arrive until we see Him face to face.

Philippians 3:12-14 (NASB) Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on [h]so that I may lay hold of that [i]for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Even in Heaven, I believe we will continually be learning new things. How could we ever exhaust the vastness and richness of God?

Ephesians 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Jesus had promised that the Holy Spirit would teach the disciples and help them remember His words.

John 14:26 (NASB) But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

Paul is praying this same understanding will be evident in the Ephesians’ lives. He wants them to have a clear understanding of exactly what they have in Christ, because of their relationship to Him. He wants them to be informed of what Christ purchased on their behalf, their certificate of inheritance, the guarantee they have because of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Oswald Chambers addressed our calling in this way:

My Utmost for His Highest, May 15th:

“The only aim of the life is that the Son of God may be manifested, and all dictation to God vanishes. Our Lord never dictated to His Father, and we are not here to dictate to God; we are here to submit to His will so that He may work through us what He wants. When we realize this, He will make us broken bread and poured-out wine to feed and nourish others.”

Ephesians 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

God extends to believers the same power that quickened Jesus’ mortal body after His death on the cross. The same power that resurrected our Savior will resurrected us at His return, but is available to us each day even now. God not only raised Jesus from the dead but restored Him to His rightful place of honor at the right-hand of the Father.

Ephesians 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

After Jesus obedience to the Father in all things, including death on the cross, He has been restored to the highest position.

Philippians 2:8-11 (NASB) Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Everyone will eventually bow to Jesus, but how blessed are we who surrender to His will and honor Him now rather than by force at the end of the world!

Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Paul quoted from the Psalms:

Psalm 8:6 (NASB) You make him to rule over the works of Your hands;

You have put all things under his feet…

Christ is over all things as the Psalmist prophesied concerning the Messiah. Therefore, He is head over the church which is referred to as the body of Christ. Just as our bodies are controlled by our brains and when working properly obey its commands, so the church is led by Jesus and will only function well when its members live in obedience to Him. Jesus recalibrates our minds as we study His word in order to prepare us for His service.

Romans 12:2 (Phillips) Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.

APPLICATION:

1.       We should thank the Lord for and pray for new believers in our sphere of influence.

2.       Are we fully surrendered to the service of Jesus? Are we willing to be broken bread and spilled out wine in order to minister to others?

3.       Are we fully surrendered to Jesus, recognizing and submitting to Him as the highest authority, the ruler over all?

EPHESIANS 1:7-14 - MYSTERY - CHRIST IN YOU! (Glorious Hope)

Ephesians 1:7-14

MYSTERY – CHRIST IN YOU!

(Glorious Hope)

Ephesians 1:7 (KJV) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Redemption is the act of paying the ransom to buy someone out of slavery, in this case the price paid to “redeem” us from slavery to sin. The price paid was Jesus’ life-blood as He was dying on the cross, spilled out as He served as our substitute, condemned to the death we deserved even though He Himself was completely without sin. Our freedom was made possible by the extravagant gift of the grace of God. Mercy is withholding the punishment deserved. Grace is more than that. It is giving us something we could never deserve or earn out of His love for us. God could not violate His holy nature by forgiving sin unless atonement was made. The only acceptable payment for our sin was the death of the sinless God-Man, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. He is our Lord and Savior, High Priest and King, the One who offered the sacrifice as He offered Himself on the cross.

Hebrews 7:27 (AMPC) He has no day by day necessity, as [do each of these other] high priests, to offer sacrifice first of all for his own [personal] sins and then for those of the people, because He [met all the requirements] once for all when He brought Himself [as a sacrifice] which He offered up.

Ephesians 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

The word translated “abounded” in the King James Version is often translated “lavished.” It means God has given us a superabundance of grace, more than enough. His grace toward believers is unlimited, ongoing, perpetual. He has not been stingy in blessing those who are adopted into His forever family. Through the instruction of His Holy Spirit in us, God gives us wisdom and understanding of His word. Prudence means “intellectual or moral insight.” God places the insight of how to live rightly with Him and our fellow human beings within us through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instruction found in His word.

Ephesians 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

What exactly is the “mystery of his will”? Paul explains this a bit more in his letter to the Colossians:

Colossians 1:27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

MacArthur Study Bible comment on Colossians 1:27

1:27 Gentiles…Christ in you. The OT predicted the coming of the Messiah and that the Gentiles would partake of salvation (cf. Is. 42:6; 45:21, 22; 49:6; 52:10; 60:1–3; Pss. 22:27; 65:5; 98:2, 3), but it did not reveal that the Messiah would actually live in each member of His redeemed church, made up mostly of Gentiles. That believers, both Jew and Gentile, now possess the surpassing riches of the indwelling Christ is the glorious revealed mystery (John 14:23; Rom. 8:9, 10; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 1:7, 17, 18; 3:8–10, 16–19). the hope of glory. The indwelling Spirit of Christ is the guarantee to each believer of future glory (Rom. 8:11; Eph. 1:13, 14; 1 Pet. 1:3, 4).

The Jews were expecting a Messiah, but had no understanding that the through the Holy Spirit, He would actually indwell believers and be with them at all times. Another part of the mystery was that the Gentiles would be partakers of this salvation gift as well for even though the promise was that through Abraham ALL nations would be blessed, many Jews neglected that point. Ultimately, the Messiah was promised to the Jews first, but we as Gentiles are grafted in to the family when we receive Jesus. Both Jewish and Gentile believers in Jesus receive the gift of the Holy Spirit living in them, illuminating the scripture for them, and empowering them to do all God has called them to do.

Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Jewish and Gentile Christians are to be unified. At the end of time, God will gather us all together as one family. There will be no cliques in Heaven, no prejudice, no alienation of person due to race, creed, gender, or socio-economic level. There will be no generation gap. True unity in Christ will finally be completely achieved. What a glorious day that will be!

Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Paul speaks of our inheritance through Christ, our being made to be like Him and live with Him forever as if it has already happened, because in God’s eyes it is a “done deal.”  God fashions everything to the design of His will. The word “worketh” comes from the word to energize. God energized, invigorates, revitalizes each believer to complete his or her purpose according to His will and for His glory.

Philippians 1:6 (AMPC) And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Once we have trusted in Jesus for our salvation, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is God’s promise, His guarantee that we have received His gift of salvation and He has received our heart in trust. The Spirit is like a certification seal in indelible ink, marking us as God’s possession, the royal seal of the Father stamped into our hearts by the Holy Spirt because we are in Christ Jesus, the Son. We can never be snatched away from God’s grip.

John 10:27-30 (VOICE) My sheep respond as they hear My voice; I know them intimately, and they follow Me. 28 I give them a life that is unceasing, and death will not have the last word. Nothing or no one can steal them from My hand. 29 My Father has given the flock to Me, and He is superior to all beings and things. No one is powerful enough to snatch the flock from My Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.

His presence in our lives is like earnest money put down on a contract, the guarantee that He will fulfill His promise to receive us unto Himself that we may dwell with Him forever.

John 14:1-3 (ESV) “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Ponder This: The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a crucial ingredient of our salvation. It is the Spirit who illuminates the Scripture that we may understand it. It is the Spirit who enables us to obey God’s will. It is the Spirit who serves as our guarantee that our redemption will be completely manifest when the Lord returns and we dwell with Him for eternity. “Holy Spirit, you are welcome in this place” we sing sometimes on Sunday mornings. Is He welcome in your life? If you have surrendered your life to Jesus, He is there, living in you. Each day begin by being aware of His presence and welcoming Him to direct your steps. 

EPHESIANS 1:1-6 - GRACIOUS ADOPTION INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD

EPHESIANS 1:1-6

GRACIOUS ADOPTION

INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD

Ephesians 1:1 (KJV) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Apostle is a word meaning “messenger.” Paul, along with the twelve disciples including Matthias who replaced the betrayer, Judas Iscariot, was Jesus’ messenger and was allowed to use the word apostle as a title.

The Apostles preached and taught the Gospel of Jesus, and some of them were used of the Holy Spirit to write the New Testament. The Apostles were all witnesses of the resurrected Jesus. Paul is in this category because Jesus Himself appeared to him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). Paul made clear that he was writing to believers by calling them saints and faithful in Christ Jesus. As stated in the introduction, this letter may have been read to the church at Ephesus and then sent on to other churches in Asia Minor, so they, too, could benefit from Paul’s teaching.

Ephesians 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance

Charis – graciousness of manner or act: lit. fig., or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life

The grace of God in the salvation process is emphasized in Ephesians, so we will be making it jump out for you by making the word red and bold. “Grace and peace to you” was a greeting used by Paul in all his letters. Grace as defined above was asking the Lord to effect change in their lives. With the word peace, Paul was indicating his desire that the Lord set their lives in order, make them whole, and give them rest.

John MacArthur Study Bible

1:3–14 This passage describes God’s master plan for salvation in terms of the past (election, vv. 3–6a), the present (redemption, vv. 6b–11), and the future (inheritance, vv. 12–14). It can also be viewed as emphasizing the Father (vv. 3–6), the Son (vv. 7–12), and the Spirit (vv. 13–16).

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?

A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

Man’s purpose is to bless God, to praise Him and bring glory to Him through our perpetual surrender to His will and the life resulting from His grace. In his praise of the Father, Paul asserts the deity of Jesus by referring to Him as the Son of God. Paul uses “in Christ,” “in Him,” and “in Whom” as a repeated theme emphasizing the many benefits of abiding in the Lord. These will also be printed in bold red. Because of our relationship with Jesus, our surrendering our will to His, we are blessed. All blessings, all good gifts, originate with God and are distributed by Him as He chooses.

James 1:17 (KJV) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

God, in His heaven, imparts to us many things we do not deserve, the most important of which is salvation from sin and death which guarantees the richness of dwelling with Him eternally.

Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

I wonder if Paul’s sentences are this long in the original Greek? I seem to remember that they were from when I took Greek in seminary. Okay, back on task. These verses indicate that we were “chosen in Him from the foundation of the world” and were predestined to adoption by Jesus by “his will.” Whoa, what happened to my responsibility to choose? The gift of salvation was not cheap: it cost the Lord Jesus his life, death on the cross. The Giver should have the choice to whom He offers the gift. Where our will comes in is the moment we accept that gift, activate it, realize it is ours because the Holy Spirit has drawn us and given this expensive gift to us freely.

John 6:44 (ESV) No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

I can quote many verses indicating that God chose us, predestined us to be saved. I can quote an equal number that show that man, although he cannot in any way earn salvation, has a responsibility to respond to the Lord’s wooing of him.

Romans 10:8-10 (ESV) But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

One might point out that there would be no belief had Father not given us the faith to believe which we will see in Ephesians 2:8-9. We will not easily settle the debate between predestination and free will, nor is that our intent. Susan and I believe that it is not either/or but both/and. That is mind boggling, but I fall back on this:

Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

You may see this as a “cop-out,” but I firmly believe that if I could understand everything about God, He would not be God because I would be His equal. Since He is far more intelligent than anyone He created, there will be things that are mind-boggling to us.

God extends His grace to those He has chosen to enjoy relationship with Him through Jesus Christ in order to bring glory to His name. As His grace changes us from the inside out, we will reflect His glory to the world. As we will see in chapter two, we are His workmanship, His masterpieces.

Question: Have you experienced the drawing, the wooing of the Holy Spirit, nudging you toward believing the Gospel? If so, have you placed your trust in Jesus alone to wash away your sin and bring you into His forever family? All the benefits we will study, all the blessings from the Father, are only for those who are His children, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. 

EPHESIANS - INTRODUCTION

For the next six weeks, we will be studying Ephesians, posting verse by verse Bible study lessons on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of each week. On Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday of each week, we will post devotional thoughts from Ephesians at www.susiesmusings-ksh.blogspot.com with occasional bonus posts. It is our sincere hope you will take the time to read both the Bible study and the devotionals as this will give you a well-rounded perspective and help you to internalize the word of God by repetition. You may wish to choose a key verse each week to memorize. We are excited to begin our journey through the rest of the Prison Epistles with Ephesians (We have already studied Philippians which is in our archived lessons on this blog). After Ephesians, we plan to study Colossians and Philemon, wrapping up the entire study of the Prison Epistles sometime in April or May.

Ephesians – Introduction

Author: The Apostle Paul wrote this letter while imprisoned in Rome somewhere around 60-62 AD. It may have been a letter circulated around all the churches in Asia Minor beginning with Ephesus since some manuscripts do not refer to Ephesus or the Ephesians directly. Ephesians along with Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon are known as “The Prison Epistles” since all four were written during Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome.

Recipients: As stated before this letter may have gone to all the churches in Asia. The church at Ephesus was most likely established by Priscilla and Aquila but was also led by Paul for a time and then after that by Timothy, Paul’s son in the faith. It was at Ephesus that Paul was accused of destroying the business of those who made idols honoring their goddess Artemis (Diana) (Acts 19).

Themes: The blessings that belong to believers in Christ. Throughout, we will emphasize the words in Christ, in him, in whom, in the Lord by making them red and bold. Another theme is the grace of God and salvation by grace alone. These references will also be made red and bold.  The first three chapters are theological, and the last three chapters give practical guidance for living as believers. The fourth chapter highlights unity of the Spirit, the interdependence among believers and the Lord, and the Christian’s walk with the Lord before men. The fifth chapter is known for discussing the mutual submission of believers to one another and the marriage relationship. In the sixth chapter, there is instruction concerning spiritual warfare and the armor of the Lord.

We hope you will join us each day in learning the wealth of wisdom the Holy Spirit will illumine to all of us as we study together. As always, we would love to read your comments and how the Lord uses Ephesians to impact your lives. 

THE WOMEN OF CHRISTMAS - SUMMARY

WOMEN OF CHRISTMAS

 SUMMARY

Over the last few weeks, we have studied Ten Women of Christmas. Some may think we were “stretching” to include a few of them, and others may be wondering why we left someone out. However, we believe we studied exactly what we should have for this point in time.

We have examined Eve, Sarah, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, Esther, Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna. Let’s recap what makes each of these an integral part of the Christmas story.

EVE – GENESIS CHAPTERS 1-3

1.       As mother of all living, the entire human race, including Mary, the mother of Jesus sprang from Eve.

2.       Eve was the first to receive the hope and the promise of redemption when the Lord told her that the serpent’s seed would bruise the heel, but her Seed (Messiah) would crush His head.

SARAH – GENESIS 17-18, 21-22

1.       Sarah was the mother of God’s chosen people, the nation of Israel, because the Lord insisted that Abraham had to father the child Isaac specifically through Sarah.

2.       Her son, Isaac, was also a “type” of Christ when Abraham was willing to sacrifice him as a burnt offering but God provided a ram for Himself instead.

TAMAR – GENESIS 38

1.       Tamar made sure that the family line of Judah did not end with the death of his two older sons and his unwillingness to give the younger in marriage as he had promised.

2.       The baby she had after posing as a prostitute to deceive her father-in-law Judah would be in the direct line of the Messiah, the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

3.       We also saw God’s grace demonstrated in that she was not killed as an adulteress.

RAHAB – JOSHUA CHAPTERS 2 & 6

1.       Rahab was identified as a harlot, but when she hid the two spies sent by Joshua, by God’s grace, her family was saved from destruction.

2.       After she converted to Judaism, she married a Jewish man named Salmon and gave birth to Boaz who became Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer.

RUTH – BOOK OF RUTH

1.       Ruth was the Moabite widow of a Jewish man whose mother was Naomi. The characteristics listed in Proverbs 31 could have been based on Ruth.

2.       Since she loved her Mother-in-law, Naomi, so deeply, she traveled back to Bethlehem with her and led the life of a poor widow, gleaning in someone else’s field.

3.       In God’s providence, the field belonged to Boaz who, as the kinsman-redeemer, married Ruth and cared for both her and Naomi.

4.       Ruth’s son Obed was the father of Jesse who was the father of King David.

BATHSHEBA – 2 SAMUEL 11 & 12

1 KINGS CHAPTER 1

1.       Bathsheba committed adultery with King David who subsequently made sure her husband Uriah was killed in battle. The child of that adulterous union died as the cost of their disobedience.

2.       However, David repented, and God in His grace, allowed Bathsheba and David to have Solomon through whom the kingship continued.

3.       The Messiah is the final king to sit on the throne of David and Solomon.

ESTHER – BOOK OF ESTHER

1.       Esther was a Jewish girl whom God elevated to the position of Queen of Persia.

2.       She was willing to risk her life to approach the king, and thus, saved her nation from annihilation. Without Esther, the forefathers of Mary and Joseph might have been killed.

ELIZABETH – LUKE 1:1-25,39-80

1.       Elizabeth, like Sarah, gave birth to a very special baby boy in her old age even though she had been barren.

2.       Her baby jumped for joy in her womb when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visited her. An Embryo was one of the first to recognize the Messiah when He, too, was yet unborn!

3.       Elizabeth’s son became known as John the Baptist and was the forerunner of the Messiah that had been prophesied.

MARY – LUKE 1:39-56

MATTHEW 1:18-25

LUKE 2:8-40

MATTHEW 2:1-23

1.       Mary was God the Father’s chosen vessel to bring God the Son into the world.

2.       Her heart was pure, and she was consecrated and devoted to the Lord as evidence by all the scriptural references in her song of praise known as the Magnificat.

3.       Mary and her husband Joseph were given the tremendous responsibility of parenting Jesus, the Son of the Most High, until He became an adult and began to fulfill His purpose on earth.

ANNA – LUKE 2:25-40

1.       Anna was widowed at a young age, but she decided rather than go man-hunting, she would serve the Lord wholeheartedly in the temple, living passionately for God.

2.       When she recognized Jesus as the Messiah, she was so bursting with joy that she could no longer remain inside the temple but had to take her devotion to God out into the streets and share that the Messiah had finally come.

3.       Anna was a prophetess, intercessor, and evangelist.

In the study of the women of Christmas we find:

·    2 prostitutes -  Tamar and Rahab

·    4 widows – Naomi, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Anna

·    2 Levirate marriages – Tamar & Judah and Ruth with Boaz

·    2 barren women who conceived – Sarah and Elizabeth

·    2 adulteresses – Tamar and Bathsheba

·    1 incident of incest – Tamar and her father-in-law

·    1 murder – David had Bathsheba’s husband Uriah the Hittite killed

·    2 unwed mothers – Judah married Tamar after her pregnancy became known and she identified him as the father. Mary was pregnant with the Messiah before she and Joseph were married

·    1 first woman created and mother of all living – Eve

·    5 virtuous women – Sarah, Ruth, Esther, Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna

They were women from varied walks of life, varying degrees of respectability, and varied amounts of faith; but all of them were shown God’s grace. Five of them were listed in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus – Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. However, I believe we have demonstrated that the other five belong in the Christmas story as well. 

WOMEN OF CHRISTMAS - MARY - OUT OF EGYPT I HAVE CALLED MY SON

MATTHEW 2:12-23

“OUT OF EGYPT I HAVE CALLED MY SON”

Matthew 2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

The wise men obeyed the Holy Spirit’s message to them in the dream, and did not reveal the Baby’s location to Herod. The Magi were truly wise and were not duped into becoming Herod’s henchmen. They went home by another route in order to avoid passing through Herod’s jurisdiction.

Matthew 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

Angels were protecting the Holy Child. The Magi obeyed the dream for his protection. Joseph immediately took the family and fled to Egypt as the angel instructed. Some propose that the expensive gifts from the Magi may have been sold to finance this trip. The way that the Father protected Jesus at every turn should give us great confidence and courage that no matter what we face, if we believe and trust in our God, He will protect us with the same tenacity that He protected His Son. Jesus was here on the mission of the redemption of man. In order to fulfill that, He had to live among us as the perfect God-Man which means He had to grow up! God is as eager and intentional for each of us to fulfill our purposes as He was for Jesus to fulfill His. When God calls us, it is not for our ease but for us to serve Him and bring others into His kingdom as well.

Matthew 2:15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Hosea 11:1 (VOICE) Eternal One: When Israel was a child, I loved him; and out of Egypt I called My son.

Mary, Joseph, and Jesus had to return to the land of Israel’s captivity in order to save the Messiah’s life. Traveling with a young child is difficult even now. Imagine Mary doing it walking or riding a donkey! She’s more of a woman than I am! She and Joseph continued to obey the Lord’s leading.

Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

Herod, seething with anger, commanded that all the boys two and under be slaughtered. He did not care about the innocent lives destroyed. He was intent on killing this One he saw as usurper. His plan was thwarted because Joseph was obedient to the message in the dream.

Matthew 2:17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

Jeremiah 31:15 (KJV) Thus saith the Lord; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.

Imagine the anguish of all those mothers who lost their sons to a murderous annihilator!

Matthew 2:19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. 

Just as an angel had warned Joseph to flee to Egypt, one now informs him that it is safe to return to Israel with Mary and Jesus.

Matthew 2:21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:      23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Joseph and Mary returned to Israel, but not to Bethlehem since Herod’s son was now on the throne. Instead they took Jesus back to their hometown of Nazareth.

APPLY THIS TO YOUR LIFE:

1. Do we seek the Lord’s wisdom as we travel this earth, trusting Him to guide our steps?

2. We need to fully rely on the Lord to fulfill His purposes in and through us as did Mary, Sarah, Rahab, Ruth, and Esther.