Principals of Ephesians

Masterpiece in Progress

Today we are finishing our study of the Book of Ephesians written by the Apostle Paul in about 62 AD

Months ago i promised you that our mission was to “know more about our Purpose and the Practice of being In Christ, belonging to Him”

All to serve HIS PURPOSE for our Life

We must live for Him!

Knowledge with Practice is Wisdom

Paul address this letter to the Saints and Faithful in Christ — This is US.

If you are not in Christ this letter would have little to no value to You.

This letter is to Glorify God by Growing Others in Christ

It is my desire for the words that we speak here at Horizon are motivational for you to change your daily walk with God.

I pray that your Bibles are marked with Key verses, favorite verses, references and notes.

In fact, it has been my vision to create a binder for you to have your weekly notes, and even if you miss a week you are able to watch online to keep a complete set of sermon notes that you can use for years to come.

I love to see a well worn, well used Bible, at help others change their life IN CHRIST.

Just this morning i read this verse in my devotional time 1 john 2:6

Whoever claims to live in Him, must live as Jesus did.

you know my love of history (even though there is no future in it)

When Cortez disembarked his five-hundred men upon the eastern coast of Mexico, he set fire to the ships.

As his warriors watched their means of retreat burn, they knew they were committed with their lives to conquer the new world for Spain.

Similarly, everyone who sets foot on the shore of discipleship is called upon to burn his own ships in the harbor.

We Christians cannot spend our days looking back.

We must move forward.

Jesus said: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).

There is no compromising center, no relaxed position.

The Christian life is one of tension and triumph.

We are here to live like Him ——— and i for one think that Ephesians was a win to help us do that

Position

We are HIS

We are HIS adopted Children

We are HIS inheritance

He Predestined us for His kingdom (Eph 1:5)

We are Holy and Blameless in His sight (Eph 1:4)

We are redeemed, and made NEW in and through Christ work on the Cross (Eph 2:1-6)

We were made for a Purpose - so you are never to feel worthless - For you are HIS.

We are sealed and given an inheritance in Christ for eternity --- To Live in Heaven with Him.

This is a simple truth of our Christian Life

We loves us with an unconditional love

We provides, protects, and provisions us for HIS Work

We receive His reconciliation with God the Father

John 14:27 “27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

This peace is from and through Christ alone, the more we embrace and live for our walk with Him, the more our every thought comes through Him — THE MORE PEACE WE KNOW.

We are sealed by the Spirit

We are given access to His Wisdom (Eph 1:18)

and may have the EYES of our HEART opened to see HIS will in us and through us to others.

The Lord reigns in Heaven and on Earth, and we have the fullness in Him (Eph 1:23)

Practice

We do HIS Work

We do His work because it is our Ultimate Purpose our reason for living

we all too often fall in to the schemes of Satan, that we are to live our lifes — build our career, our marriage, our finances, and enjoy

all good things but NOT THE ULTIMATE THING

we need to REMEMBER THE PIECE CHART.

Ch 2 through the beginning of Ch. 6 is all about LIVING FOR HIM

not making Him a increasing piece of that life pie chart, but making certain to put Him at the Center

and increase it outwards with the GOAL of having him in all areas at all times in all things.

Ch 2 opens with YOU WERE DEAD

that is a wake up call !!!’

HEY YOU you are DEAD. ---

But the reality is IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED, living in CHRIST DAILY, then you are DEAD because of your sin, because of the Fall, because of the CURSE

WHY to we call the Gospel the GOOD NEWS

because you are ALIVE in CHRIST by putting your Faith in Him and Him alone

not a Sunday Christian faith, but a living change, eternity bonding with CHRIST

Ephesians 2:8–10 (ESV)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

This should be core to your Christian Theology

Saved by Faith

Because of His Grace

Not because of Us, but because of Jesus

Not by our works

We love and serve because of His Work, not for His Love

We are HIS Masterpiece in Progress

We have been chosen by Him

and THEREFORE He is our Ultimate

He is the Way, the truth and the LIFE

John 14:6 “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

That is centered on us, but then Paul INCREASES the Circle

we MUST BE part of the New Nation, Christ follower is our Identity

The Church:

Remember we are now a NEW Creation, we have a NEW LIFE, a New Mission, and a NEW FOCUS

Eph 2:20 “20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,”

We are ONE church, One foundation, One Body build on Christ the Cornerstone, the direction, the WAY,

He is what holds us UP.

Rooted and Ground in LOVE

Growing into a HOLY TEMPLE

Build together, Joined together, bonded in love and Peace

Let me read the prayer of Paul for us today:

Eph 3:14-21 “14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Unity of the Body:

What does it take to walk in unity

Common goal

Common unity

Common training

Common purpose - Love God Love Others

Common operating procedures -

Common identity

Ephesians teach us a few easy to remember things

Walk in a manner worthy of your calling

We are to be part of Equipping the Saints

We are to put the time in to grow in our wisdom - so not to be “tossed to and fro”

We must understand that all Christian are joined — One Body, One Mind, One Voice

We must walk as Christ Followers - honoring our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ

Col 3:17 “17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

We must work on our mind, our thought process, and allow the Spirit to change us

We must PUT ON THE NEW SELF - in the Likeness of God

We must be CHANGED — Dead to the Old and ALIVE in the New

We have the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures and our Church so that we can learn to be IMITATORS of CHRIST

THIS ALLOW US TO WALK in WISDOM

SUBMITTING TO EACH OTHER IN CHRIST Eph 5:21

Ephesians 5:21 ESV

21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

We have studied:

Marriage is our earthly example for ONENESS — are the bride of CHRIST

We are to be joined at the Marriage Supper on the NEW Earth — after all the Book of Revelation is completed

We are to see the Children in the faith and not provoke them to anger, or slow their walk

We are to be grower, disciple maker, leaders, encouragers of the Way

We are to walk and WORK in the manner of our calling

FINALLY — we are to PREPARE DAILY.

Protection

We are Protected by His Power

we are to PUT ON, FASTEN UP, STAND AGAINST, and HOLD UP the

ARMOR of GOD

Friends i want to close today and close this series the same way that Paul closes letter

Eph 6:21-24 “21 So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. 23 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.”

We are HIS Masterpieces in PROGRESS

Lets Pray.