Ephesians 1:1-3

Ephesians

Chapter 1

   1  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:

          Concerning “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ”, see my comments on Romans 1:1-6.

          Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, (1 Corinthians 1:1)

          Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: (2 Corinthians 1:1)

          Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, (Colossians 1:1)

          Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, (2 Timothy 1:1)

          “The will of God” first appears in Mark 3:35. This is a reference to Jesus saying “do the will of God”. The next reference, Acts 13:36, says, “David served his own generation by the will of God”. In fourteen verses Paul is usually specific about a certain thing being the will of God, like a journey in Romans 1:10; 15:32. Then in Hebrews 10:36, Paul speaks like Mark.

          For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (Hebrews 10:36)

          Then Peter speaks like Paul and John speaks again like Mark 3:35 and Hebrews 10:36.

          And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:17)

          Paul gives a list of things that are especially the will of God for every Christian. We are to give our own selves to the Lord, and unto fellow Christians by the will of God (2 Corinthians 8:5). Our deliverance from this present evil world is according to the will of God and our Father (Galatians 1:4). Sanctification and honour are the will of God in 1 Thessalonians 4:1-5. It is the will of God for you to give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

          This is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (1 Thessalonians 5:18) :

          In every thing give thanks

          Rejoice evermore

          Pray without ceasing

          Quench not the Spirit

          Despise not prophesyings

          Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Abstain from all appearance of evil.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

These things are the will of God for you.

Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

Peter’s list is that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, and that ye suffer for well doing.

Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; (Ephesians 6:6)

If you are wondering what the will of God for your life is, check this bible list.

For “saints”, see my comments on Romans 1:7.

“the faithful”

God is called “the faithful God” in Deuteronomy 7:9. Then it is stated in Psalm 12:1 that “the faithful fail from among the children of men”.

Jerusalem is called “the faithful city” in addition to “the city of righteousness”.

And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness. (Isaiah 1:26-27)

The word is called “the faithful”.

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. (Titus 1:9)

And Jesus Christ is called “the faithful witness”.

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:5)

“in Christ Jesus”

Our redemption is in Christ Jesus. That redemption is as follows.

Romans 3:24-26 

   24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

   25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;  

   26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Romans 8:1-2 

   1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

   2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

          The law of the Spirit of life in redemption frees one from the law of sin and death and removes condemnation from them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk after the Spirit.

          The love of God is in Christ Jesus. Saints are sanctified in Christ Jesus. In Christ Jesus, we have wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

          Paul said, “for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel”.

          For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. (1 Corinthians 4:15)

          When a person believes the gospel (Ephesians 1:13-14) and is converted, he is begotten in Christ Jesus. There is a birth, a spiritual birth. The dead spirit becomes alive. Just as a physical birth produces a physical baby, so also the spiritual birth produces a spiritual babe. 1 Corinthians 3:1 

          And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:1)

          We have liberty in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:26-28 

   26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

   27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

   28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

          There are 76 verses with the phrase “in Christ”. They make a good study. “In Christ”, “in Christ Jesus”, and “in the body of Christ” are all the same thing. This is clear from reading and comparing all 76 verses.

          So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.(Romans 12:5)

          Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. (Romans 16:7)

          All born again Christians are presently sitting together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

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

          If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1)

          We are created in Christ Jesus, rejoice in Christ Jesus; eternal life is in Christ Jesus. We have grace and purpose in Christ Jesus.

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

          To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:7)

          Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:3)

          This is Paul’s standard greeting in his epistles, grace and peace. Then only in the epistles to Timothy and Titus, he adds mercy.

          Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Timothy 1:2)

          To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (2 Timothy 1:2)

          To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. (Titus 1:4)

   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:

bless (v.)

Old English bletsian, bledsian, Northumbrian bloedsian "to consecrate by a religious rite, make holy, give thanks," from Proto-Germanic *blodison "hallow with blood, mark with blood," from *blotham "blood" (see blood (n.)). Originally a blood sprinkling on pagan altars.

This word was chosen in Old English bibles to translate Latin benedicere and Greek eulogein, both of which have a ground sense of "to speak well of, to praise," but were used in Scripture to translate Hebrew brk "to bend (the knee), worship, praise, invoke blessings." L.R. Palmer ("The Latin Language") writes, "There is nothing surprising in the semantic development of a word denoting originally a special ritual act into the more generalized meanings to 'sacrifice,' 'worship,' 'bless,' " and he compares Latin immolare (see immolate).

The meaning shifted in late Old English toward "pronounce or make happy, prosperous, or fortunate" by resemblance to unrelated bliss. Meaning "invoke or pronounce God's blessing upon" is from early 14c. No cognates in other languages. Related: Blessed; blessing.

blessing (n.)

Old English bletsunga, bledsunge, verbal noun from bless. Meaning "a gift from God, temporal or spiritual benefit" is from mid-14c. In sense of "religious invocation before a meal" it is recorded from 1738. Phrase blessing in disguise is recorded from 1746. [Online Etymology Dictionary]

          And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher. (Genesis 30:13)

          Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. (James 3:9)

          “Bless me father, for I have sinned.” (Catholic)

“all spiritual blessings”

Spiritual Things, the Words of God

1 Corinthians 2:12-15

   12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

   13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

   14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

   15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

The Spiritual Man

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:24)

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (Colossians 3:10)

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. (Galatians 6:15)

But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:17)

The Spiritual Body

1 Corinthians 15:44-46

   44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

   45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

   46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

          For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)

          Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. (Luke 24:39)

          Spiritual Songs

          Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (Ephesians 5:19)

          Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16)

          Spiritual Understanding

          For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (Colossians 1:9)

          Spiritual House

          Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)

“heavenly places in Christ”

This is mentioned again in verse 20 and verse 6 of chapter 2. We have all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ because God raised Christ from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

There are principalities and powers in heavenly places (Ephesians 3:10).

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. (Ephesians 6:12)

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:15)

Heavenly Things

If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? (John 3:12)

It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. (Hebrews 9:23)

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, (Hebrews 12:22)

John 14:2

In my Father's house (1 Peter 2:5) are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 

Commentary on Romans 1:1-7

Romans

So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. (Nehemiah 8:8)

Chapter 1 – Without Understanding

   1  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

Paul was a servant of Jesus Christ. Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ. He was these things in order to be separated unto the gospel of God.

   2  (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

[afore (adv.)

Middle English, from Old English onforan, contraction of prepositional phrase on foran "before in place, at the beginning of, in front of," from on (prep.), see a- (1), + foran (adv.) "in front," dative of for. In some cases probably it represents Old English ætforan "at-fore."

Early 14c. as a preposition, "before in time," and as a conjunction, "earlier than the time when, before." Once the literary equivalent of before, it now has been replaced by that word except in nautical use, colloquial dialects, and in combinations such as aforesaid, aforethought.]

          The spiritual aspect of deliverance was never an emphasis in the old testament, and especially under the law of Moses. However, that would have been a part of the redemption of Israel had they received Jesus Christ (John 1:12; 3:1-13). In addition to countless prophecies before, Moses predicted Christ in Deuteronomy 18:15. Moses called him a Prophet. Early in the Psalms “the LORD’s anointed” is mentioned and Isaiah prophesies of the coming Messiah in no uncertain terms.

Isaiah 9:6-7 

   6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

   7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

The fall of Adam and Eve would have been still well known up to the time of Christ. Jesus even spoke of them as if his audience should have known them. Old testament saints knew that their flesh was corrupt. They knew they were in need of redemption.

Psalms 34:22 

   22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

          Jesus instructed his people to seek first the kingdom of God, and God’s righteousness (Matthew 6:33). John Baptist and the Lord Jesus Christ came preaching “the kingdom of heaven is at hand”.

          The gospel of God, as you see from Paul’s summary in verses 3-4, includes the spiritual birth and all spiritual blessings and the redemption of the body and the coming King of Kings to rule the earth on the throne in Jerusalem.

   3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

          The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1)

          Here is the physical presence of the King of Kings, the good news of the LORD ruling the earth in righteousness.

          Notice that Matthew names Jesus Christ as being the son of David and of Abraham. It is significant that these two and only these two of the Lord’s fathers are named. King David would represent the saints under the law of Moses. Abraham represents a group of saints not under the law.

          Abraham believed in the resurrection. He had already believed in the Lord on foran when the Lord promised him seed to tell the stars. Now to carry that faith further and believe that God would raise his son Isaac from the dead was not much of a stretch.

          Under the law of Moses, the drudgery of the many laws to remember and enforce and keep was obviously tedious.

Ezekiel 18:6-9 

   6 And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,

   7 And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;

   8 He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,

   9 Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.

          Under the faith of Abraham righteousness and justification were in closer view. Faith alone could account you righteous and just an act of obedience got your justification.

          Thank God that now through the Lord Jesus Christ we got righteousness, justification, spiritual life, and “all spiritual blessings” simply by faith.

   4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

          Here is the spiritual redemption.

          Eternal life is usually thought of as only pertaining to one or the other of the two of which both need the utmost attention. That is, eternal life pertains to the spiritual and the physical. Adam and Eve were shunned from the garden to keep the way of the tree of life from them. If they had eaten of the tree of life in their fallen state and lived forever, it would be disastrous. Only after the quickening of the spirit can a man then obtain eternal life that is in Jesus Christ.

          As I said afore, verses 3 and 4 are a summary of the gospel. It is the good news of the coming Lord to redeem us spiritually and physically, to give us spiritual life and a spiritual body like unto the Lord’s glorious body.

          The evidence that Jesus Christ is the Son of God is his resurrection. He is “declared to be by the resurrection from the dead”. The evidence that the Holy Bible is the words of the living God is the preservation of its purity. The 1611 Bible is pure. It is the pure words of the Lord.

          We believe that because we have been raised in the likeness of his resurrection spiritually we now should hope for the redemption of the body and the resurrection from the dead.

   5  By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

          By Jesus Christ we have received grace and apostleship. Who is the “we” people he is referring to?

          Grace:

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:24) 

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2) 

For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17) 

That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:21 

We saved born again sons of God have received grace, the grace of God in redemption.

“and apostleship”

We saved born again sons of God have received grace and apostleship. Every Christian is an apostle. Verse 6 says, “Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:” “Called of Jesus Christ”. Called what? Well, Paul just mentioned apostleship in verse 5, and the other time he used the word “called”, it is “to be an apostle”. An apostle is “one sent forth” as is clearly seen in scripture.

“Now the names of the twelve apostles are these;” of Matthew 10:2  matches “These twelve Jesus sent forth” of Matthew 10:5.

“for obedience to the faith”

Obedience to the faith is not salvation. Obedience to the faith is simply the walk of your talk, the evidence of the faith that you claim. We have received grace for obedience to the faith for his name. As Paul told Timothy, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Obedience to the faith is obviously the exercise of your faith, the actions and results of what you believe about salvation and the Christian life.

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (Romans 6:16)

2 Corinthians 10:5-6

   5 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;

   6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Obedience to the faith is trusting God in the midst of trouble. And obedience to the faith is obeying the commands of our loving Father and Saviour because we love him.

“Obedience for his name”

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. (Psalms 29:2)

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. (Psalms 34:3)

The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein. (Psalms 69:36)

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. (John 2:23)

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (John 20:31)

6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

It seems from this verse and my previous comments that all Christians are called to be an apostle at least somewhat like Paul.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

   17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

   18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

   19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

   20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

   21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

It is possible that “the called of Jesus Christ” is all Christians and merely some are “called to be an apostle”, only leaving the fact that there should be a little apostleship in all of us.

7  To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

          This epistle is addressed to all beloved saints that be in Rome.

Romans 11:26-28 

   26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

   27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

   28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (Colossians 3:12-13)

Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. (1 Thessalonians 1:4)

Paul addresses several people as beloved in 29 verses.

beloved (adj.)

late 14c., past-participle adjective from obsolete verb belove "to please; be pleased with" (c. 1200), from be- + loven "to love" (see love (v.)). Noun meaning "one who is beloved" is from 1520s, first in Biblical language. [Online Etymology Dictionary.]

          So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:8-9)

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1 Corinthians 1:21)

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. (1 Corinthians 12:18)

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; (Colossians 1:10)

Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. (1 Thessalonians 4:1)

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. (2 Timothy 2:4)

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:5-6)

For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (2 Peter 1:17)

1 Corinthians 1:2 

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

          “The expression in verse 7, “called to be saints,” can be read with or without the italics, and both statements are true. All Christians are “called...saints” by God (Eph. 2:19). That is your position, your standing in Christ. At the same time, all Christians are “called to be saints.” They are to live what they are. So Paul has a whole two chapters in Ephesians on living “as becometh saints” (Eph. 5:3). So both statements are true.” [Ruckman, Dr. Peter S.. Romans Commentary (The Bible Believers Commentary Series) (Kindle Locations 581-583). BB Bookstore. Kindle Edition.]

          A saint is simply “a person who is sanctified”. In the old testament, Israel is the saints. The word first appears in Deuteronomy 33. Israel is God’s chosen people since when he called Abraham out of his country. When Israel rejected God, he set them aside temporarily. At the present time, the body of Christ is the saints.

          God’s plan was to give the spiritual birth and the kingdom of God to his chosen people, Israel, and therefore to afterward include the Gentiles in the kingdom of heaven. The kingdoms of heaven (Jesus Christ ruling the Earth) and of God (the spiritual kingdom) would reign together on Earth with Jesus Christ ruling on David’s throne in Jerusalem.

          Because he set aside his chosen people, he offered the kingdom of God to the Gentiles. The Jews are included, of course, individually (like us) if they will receive Jesus Christ by believing on him. But now God’s chosen people, his elect, includes Gentiles in the kingdom of God where they are equal (1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:28). In the coming kingdom of heaven, Israel will be the one chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people. The Gentiles will be inferior or secondary to Israel. The King of Kings will reign in Jerusalem, the capital city of Israel, the land promised to God’s people, ruling with David forever over the entire earth.

          ““From Ur of the Chaldees.” It looks like all the outlaws and in-laws went along, and yet in the original commission (see Gen. 12:1), which was given in Ur (see Acts 7:2–3) of the Chaldees, Abram was told to take a solo flight. The flight winds up solo in the end, for his daddy dies in Haran without completing the trip, and Lot is segregated from Abram in Genesis 13:11 by a providential “cattle war” which crops up between the herdsmen (Gen. 13:6–7). Abram’s first obedience, then (mentioned in Heb. 11:8), is a “partial obedience.” “He went out, not knowing whither he went” is true, but he went out with mommy, daddy, and his nephew; and by the reading of Genesis 24:15, it is apparent that he also took his brother with him and his brother’s wife, plus Iscah and Milcah! What began as a missionary calling winds up as a family vacation tour.” [Ruckman, Dr. Peter S.. Genesis Commentary (The Bible Believer's Commentary Series) (Kindle Locations 6402-6405). BB Bookstore. Kindle Edition.]