"OVERVIEW OF EPHESIANS"
Notes
Transcript
What do you know about the book of Ephesians?
Background Info –
Author – Paul (Prison Epistle)
Written from Rome
Date – 60-61 A.D.
Audience – Church at Ephesus
Theme – Practice your Position
The book of Ephesians can be divided into two sections.
1. The Position of the Christian 1-3
2. The Practice of the Christians 4-6
I invite you to engage your mind as we uncover both the position and the practice of the believer as see throughout the book of Ephesians.
Let’s look at man’s condition –
Ephesians 2:1–4 (NASB95)
1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
Prior to Salvation we were all enemies of the cross of Christ. We had one goal in life and that was to live for ourselves.
Ephesians is written to believers -
1. The Position of the Christian - chapters 1-3 -
1. The Position of the Christian - chapters 1-3 -
Adoption –
Ephesians 1:5 (NASB95)
5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
The idea is that He (God, Messiah, King of Kings has adopted us)
Citizens -
Ephesians 2:19 (NASB95)
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,
Redeemed -
Ephesians 1:7 (NASB95)
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
Forgiven -
Ephesians 1:7 (NASB95)
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
Wisdom -
Ephesians 1:17 (NASB95)
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.
Inheritance -
Ephesians 1:11 (NASB95)
11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,
Ephesians 1:14 (NASB95)
14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1:18 (NASB95)
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
The seal of the Holy Spirit -
Ephesians 1:13 (NASB95)
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Grace –
Ephesians 1:7–8 (NASB95)
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 on us. In all wisdom and insight
Ephesians 2:5 (NASB95)
5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
Ephesians 2:7–9 (NASB95)
7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Now, we are going to talk about what we should do as a result of the blessings of Christ.
2. The Practice of the Christian - chapters 4-6 -
2. The Practice of the Christian - chapters 4-6 -
The Call to be Christ like -
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,
As believers we have been called to Christ. In order for us to walk in a manner worthy of our Salvation we must become Christ like in our actions.
Unity in the Church -
16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Believers are to exercise their spiritual gifts within the church. As we do this the body of Christ grows and is built up in love.
Forsake Old Man/Put on the New Man -
22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Control your Anger -
26 Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil an opportunity. 28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.
Is it possible to be angry and not sin? It is very unlikely that we has humans can have a righteous anger. We need to be able to control our anger.
Watch your words -
29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
Do you ever get in trouble with your words? Are words are to be used for building up and they give grace to those who hear.
Husband/Wife Responsibilities -
22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
Children’s Responsibilities -
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Armor of God -
Ephesians 6:10–19 (NASB95)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
The question that we must ask ourselves is why did Paul write this epistle? I believe that the church in Ephesus was struggling with the basics of Christianity. Maybe they did not fully understand how faith and works go together.
Is Paul saying that you must live a good life in order to be saved?
“Behavior does not determine blessing; instead, blessing should determine behavior.”
SO WHAT??
Do you understand how blessed you are to know Christ?
When was the last time you thanked the Lord for you position in Christ?
Does your life demonstrate your faith?