Introduction to Ephesians

I remember when I was introduced to my wife for the first time..

funny enough, someone told me about her

mybrother was going to a christian event with 4 girls

and I was absolutely terrified to go with him..

I was shy to say the least..

I heard of this girl who went to first baptist port charlotte

the next time I actually got to meet her I learned a bit more

like her name, Her age, and some of the basic information

this would help me get familiar with who she was so I could start building a relationship with her

I remember that one her first introductions to me was at a young adults bible study...

My first impression to her was that I could freestyle rap....

I joke that when she heard my bars, I stolem her heart

I say this to point out the importance of an introduction

a couple of important aspects of the big picture

that will help you to get a ground work to start building with

today we will be starting our introduction into the book of Ephesians

get your bibles open

Ephesians 1:1–2 NKJV

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

What are some observations from these first two verses?

Paul is author

He is an apostle -

means- one who is sent out - the 12 plus paul

writing to the saints in Ephesus

modern day turkey

paul wrote this from prison in Rome

wrote the letter to circulate the churches in the region of the ephesians

He did ministry as a pastor in Ephesus for 3 years earlier in his life

it has to deal with Gods eternal purpouse for the Church

THIS BOOK IS WRITTEN TO BELIEVERS

He then adresses the readers

Grace --- gift undeserved

and peace - speaking to the peace we have with God through forgivness

where is this grace and peace from?

God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ

TRINITY--- father is fully God , Son Jesus is fully God, Holy Spirit is fully God

all the same God in 3 persons

Philippians 2:5–6 ESV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

Jesus is God who took on human flesh

Paul is now writing this in the authority of God the father and the Lord Jesus Christ

as he continues

ephesians 1:3

Ephesians 1:3 NKJV

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

Paul begins with a blessing to God

and then a proclemation of good news

that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ ..

this is a promise to hold onto

God Has Blessed you overwhelmingly

no matter who you are

where you come from

you have become wealthy in Christ

but your wealth is in the spirit not in the flesh

This means you have blessings in the heavenly places

SPurgeon said

it is better to have a new heart than a new coat

think about it

p- diddy had all the worldly posessions a man could have

and it lead him to death

some people waste their entire life pursuing money, houses, carreers

and wind up with a lifetime of riches

yet spiritually , they are bankrupt…

spirtual blessings have eternal value

abraham was promised

Genesis 22:18 NKJV

In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

all of the nations have recieved the gospel

and in the gospel

we have the highest blessing available

1 John 5:11 NKJV

And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

the eternal value of a relationship with Christ determines your eternity

think on that

not only eternal life,

but peace with God,

relationship with your creator,

prayer,

His words and promises,

and God himself

He is our treasure and our great portion

I want you to focus on the spiritual life as we continue...

Ephesians 1:4–6 NKJV

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

we read that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world

this points to the fact that God had a plan for His people

before He even created the world

He had a great plan to send Christ to earth

and for men and women to repent from their sin

and come to faith in Christ.

God chose us individually and as a church

to be holy and blameless before Him

this happens through faith in Christ

this is part of the blessing that goes beyond measure

Colossians 1:22 NKJV

in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—

God has chosen you to a new life that

(Practical application)

includes a life that is changed and desires to grow in righteousness

meaning you want to do the right thing…

but also a spiritual blessing

of becoming the righteousness of God by faith

this makes you blameless before Him

now dont miss the last part of this verse…

He does this in Love

by Love He predestined

meaning He made the plan before creation

to adopt us as sons and daughters

through sending Jesus Christ to

die in your place

the cross was an adoption application

and all you need to do is sign it by faith

It was Gods plan all along

to have a family of believers

and He has invited you to be in this family.

we even see that there is blessing beyond measure

to be a member of this family

Partake the family of God

This is Huge

you must grasp this

you belong at the family dinner table

even if you dont feel like you fit in

or if you arent good enough

or if you dont feel like you belong

if you have faith in Christ as your savior

you supernaturally become a member of the kingdom of God

and in this kingdom we are family members

John 1:12 NKJV

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

as children we are also co heirs with Christ

this means all that is given to Jesus is something we get to take part in

and this is all according to the good pleasure of Gods will

His will is that You would come to Him and be an orphan no more

I want you to picture the life of an orphan in Jerusalem AD 20

always hungry

sleeping on the street

no parents to help them

dirty clothes, smell, disease , no dentist, dr.

no love..

this is us spiritually

and it is Gods good pleaseure

to cloth us in Christ, to feed our spirit, to give us all things in the heavenly places

to give us a hope and a future… to give us a heavenly family..

Q. will you partake in this family life

this is your family here

is this family important to you?

are you praying for astra, and Andrew, and eachother…?

Family is everything right

let us look at eachother as family

and let us put our trust in God as our father the same way we trusted our own dads when we were 3 years old..

in adopting us

HE has not only done it because it makes Him happy,

but also because He is displaying His attributes of Grace

in doing so He is showing that He is a good God

in making us accepted in the beloved…

means we were unacceptable in our sin

and through the gospel

the work of Jesus perfect life

and sacrafice on the cross

through faith in Him

we were made sinless before Him

we are now able to be transformed into

men and women who are blameless, sinless before Him in Christ ,

and holy acceptable to be Children of God

He has predestined you to be a son and a daughter

He has filled out the adoption papers

and offered you all of the spiritual blessing of being His kid

will you sign the adoption papers by faith?

lets pray