Untitled Sermon

Ephesians

Chapter 1

Introduction

Ephesians (ESV): The apostle Paul wrote Ephesians to the churches around Ephesus (Acts 19) to display the scope of God’s eternal plan for all humanity—for Jews and Gentiles alike. This is the mystery of God, hidden for ages but now made known in Jesus Christ. The first three chapters focus on what Christians should believe, unfolding the glorious riches of God’s grace in Christ. Dead sinners are made alive and gain eternal salvation “by grace … through faith” (2:8). The last three chapters explain the implications of God’s grace for the church, for individuals, and for families. This second section comes to a climax with a command to stand with the armor of God against the devil. Paul wrote this letter while in prison, probably in Rome about a.d. 60.

Vs. 1-2:

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul greeting the people of Ephesus

His usual typical greeting - name, proof of being an apostle, grace and peace

Ephesians 1:2 (BKC): “Grace” expresses God’s steadfast love toward man and “peace” shows the relational state as a result of that grace.

Grace was a typical Greek style (greetings in Greek), peace was traditionally Jewish. So marrying them together shows how the letter is for both

What do the terms “grace” and “peace” mean?

Grace and Peace both refer to the Gospel message. Grace is the term receiving something that we didn’t deserve (the saving grace of Jesus). Peace is the peace we receive when Jesus has settled our debt and we are no longer called sinners.

Why is it significant that Paul uses those words to open the letter?

Paul always opens with “Grace” and “Peace” to remind the readers of what Jesus has done for them

Vs. 3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

Paul then moves from his greeting to a lengthy discussion on why God should be praised

Vs. 3-14 is one sentence in original Greek!

He tells us that we should bless God

That we should bless God or praise God - the Greek word means to speak well of

Why bless God? – He has blessed us in Christ

Why should we praise God? Because he has blessed us

It means to benefit or prosper

This is significant because in classic Greek literature of the day it was never said that you were blessed by a deity. They said Zeus would bestow goodluck on you, never bless yet.

Yet God just in the Old Testament is said to have blessed people over 400 times.

Luke 1:42 - Mary was blessed

What blessings has God given every person?

Jesus - life - anything good

What blessings has God given you?

Jesus - life - anything good

Vs. 4-6

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

The first reason we should praise God is because He chose us!

Paul answers the question of what spiritual blessings God has given us

He gave us salvation through Jesus

He says that we were chosen before the world was created. Predestined means “marked out beforehand.”

That we were chosen and marked out before the world was created

This all happened so that we may be called sons and daughters of God through Jesus

God did that all according to “his glorious grace” or undeserved favor, so that we would worship and bless God

If God has chosen us, what role do we play in salvation?

The question is really one of pre-knowledge or foreknowledge. Did God know that we would be saved, or did God “force us” to be saved. If he forced us we play no part in salvation. If he knew that we would be saved we still play the part in being saved, just He knew it would happen.

Personally I believe it is more of a foreknowledge - obviously God knows everything about everything. But we have the freewill to choose God or not

Vs. 7-10

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

The second reason Paul lays out for us to praise God is because He Redeems us

Redemption: the practice of reclaiming some property by purchase

The way we are redeemed is through the forgiveness of our sins, which only comes from the blood of Christ

This is by grace and nothing else

Paul also points out that the “mystery of God” that was taught in the OT was really just the plan for Christ to come with salvation from the beginning of time

His plan was to send Jesus to bring all of Creation back to Himself

What does it mean that God redeemed you?

What does it mean to be saved by Grace?

Vs. 11-12

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

The Third reason we are to praise God is because He gives us an inheritance

Paul tells us that the inheritance we will be receiving is because God is giving it to us, and we put our trust in God

What is the inheritance God gave us?

Heaven and a place as sons and daughters in Christ

Vs. 13-14

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Paul then lays out the last reason we should be praising God, He seals us with the Holy Spirit

He says that since we heard the truth and been saved, the Holy Spirit seals us

Paul uses the word guarantee when talking about the Spirit

Guarantee is only used 3 times in NT - all by Paul

It functioned as a down payment given to someone with the expectation of a full payment coming later

Thus Paul is saying we have the Spirit now, but will have greater glory later

What does it mean that the Holy Spirit seals the believer?

Once saved, always saved. The Spirit is what “seals” or “keeps” us, that way even when we sin, we still are children of God.

Vs. 15-16

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,

Paul then, after telling the Ephesians why they should be praising God, proceeds to bless them by telling them he is praying for them

He affirms in them their faith in Jesus, and how they always show love to each other

He tells them that he is constantly giving thanks for them, he said “I do not cease” - showing it is a daily, consistent praising and praying for them

Is there anyone in your life that you are consistently praying for?

Vs. 17

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

Paul then gives the contents of his prayer for the Ephesians

The first thing he says he prays for is that they would have wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus

Wisdom is something that we are promised to receive if we pray for it

God says he will give it freely (James 1:5)

Revelation refers to knowing if things are from God or not

Ultimately Paul is praying that they would be wise, knowing what is from God and what is not from God

Then doing it

Is wisdom something that you are praying for?

Vs. 18-23

18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

The second thing that Paul prayed for was that they would know God’s grace

This first comes from verse 18 where he is praying they would know the calling that is on every believers life

Rather that is a calling of ministry, or a calling of reaching their friends

The second way was knowing the inheritance God has given you

He prays that we would know the inheritance God has given

The third way Paul prays for us to know God’s grace is by knowing God’s power

From vs. 19-23 Paul tells all about God’s power

He raised Jesus from the dead

He has all authority and power and dominion

He is far above all

Paul is praying that they would fully know God

Do you ever struggle with knowing God better?

Is knowing God a priority to you?