Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Ephesians Chapter 2
Metaphysically Interpreting Ephesians 2:1-10
2:1And you did he make alive, when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins, 2:2wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience; 2:3among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest:-- 2:4but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 2:5even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved), 2:6and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus: 2:7that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus: 2:8for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;2:9not of works, that no man should glory. 2:10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.
May 18, 1919: Ephesians 2:4-10
Why must the Scriptures be given spiritual interpretation? The Scriptures must be given spiritual interpretation because the Spirit is back of the letter. “For the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life” (II Cor. 3:6).
Is God concerned with the changeable things of human consciousness? No. God is Principle and unchangeable.
Explain God as “mercy,” and God as “grace.” God as “mercy” is the constant pouring forth of infinite goodness and riches in all qualities that are Godlike. “Grace” is the expression of God qualities in man.
How does man realize God as mercy and grace? Man realizes God as mercy and grace through faith in his Divine Sonship.
Is God as “Law” lost sight of by one who understands “mercy” and “grace”? No. It is through fulfillment of the Divine Law (right thinking) that “mercy” and “grace” find expression in and through us.
When are we “dead through our trespasses”? We are “dead through our trespasses” when we are blinded by the realm of effects, the appearances of inharmony, and the teachings of sin and death as man's inheritance.
How are we made “alive together with Christ”? We are made “alive together with Christ” by renewing our minds. We must behold the eternal Truth that we may realize our Sonship, put on Christ.
Is salvation the result or reward of “good works”? No. Salvation (complete manifestation of Perfection in man) is the gift of God through “grace.” Good works are a part of the plan of God for man: they are his true expression.
June 4, 1944: Ephesians 2:4-10
What is meant by being “dead through our trespasses”? When the sense nature is allowed full sway over a person, he is for the time being dead to all the attractions of a higher standard of thinking and living.
What power can dispel this lethargy and arouse a man's better nature? Divine love. “God ... for his great love wherewith he loved us ... made us alive together with Christ.” The resurrecting power of love is irresistible.
What are the “heavenly places, in Christ Jesus”? The Christ consciousness “affords” states of joy, peace, and ineffable bliss to those who enter into it. All these are heavenly “places” or conditions of mind and soul.
Is faith a gift, or must we work for it? Faith is an innate faculty and in this sense is a gift of God; but we must develop our gifts, if we expect them to serve us in time of need.
How are we related to Divine Mind? The perfect-man idea is the pattern of our true nature. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.
Metaphysically Interpreting Ephesians 2:11-22
2:11Wherefore remember, that once ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands; 2:12that ye were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 2:13But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ. 2:14For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition, 2:15having abolished in the flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace; 2:16and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 2:17and he came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh: 2:18for through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father. 2:19So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, 2:20being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone; 2:21in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; 2:22in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.
November 6, 1932: Ephesians 2:13-19
Did Jesus bring peace upon the earth? No. Paul is referring to that peace of mind which comes to those who are in close cooperation with the Christ principles in their own consciousness.
Paul says that Jesus abolished in His flesh enmity and created Himself one new man out of two, so making peace. Explain. The enmity that Jesus Christ abolished was the enmity existing between the Spirit and the flesh.
How shall we follow Jesus in establishing peace? First, by making peace among the discords and inharmonies of the mind of the flesh, and raising this state of consciousness to the Christ mind.
In the 16th verse this reconciliation is mentioned as taking place through the cross. Does crucifixion take place in man? Jesus crucified the carnal mind, but resurrected the body through the power of the supermind, or the Christ mind, thus making manifest the Lord's body.
How shall we today attain the peace demonstrated by Jesus? By following Jesus in the regeneration of the mind, we have access to the Father-Mind, and are therefore transformed into the household of God, both mentally and physically.
May 14, 1939: Ephesians 2:19-22
What harmonizes the two? The Spirit of Christ makes of the formless aspect a related activity to the formed (“of the household of God”).
How is the building faculty of desire illustrated in this lesson? The last three verses show desire as the great builder, its final work that of “a holy temple in the Lord” or the regenerate man, body, soul, and mind.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 01-16-2014
