Why Ephesians

Intro

Wow! The summer is such a busy time in ministry, travels, vacations, VBS, Youth events, etc. We are all worn out! But, we are still here ready to worship! As we move through the summer, I want to shift gears when it comes to preaching and spend some time in one of the shortest yet most power-packed books in Scripture. Ephesians!

Ephesians serves us by showing us “who we are in Christ” which is the title of this series.

We are going to spend a few weeks learning that from the inspired view of Paul.

This book is only 6 chapters

Exalting Jesus in Ephesians Introduction to Ephesians (Ephesians 1:1–2)

Yet we find divine beauty and power in this little book. To paraphrase Klyne Snodgrass, “Pound for pound, Ephesians may well be the most influential document in history” (Snodgrass, Ephesians, 17). What makes it so influential? Why should we study it?

Today, we are going to examine just the first two verses and answer the question “Why Ephesians?”

Why are we taking time to study this great text?

Ephesians 1:1–2 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”

You Need the Gospel Everyday!

The most obvious reason is the universal reason why we study through any text in Scripture, you need the gospel everyday!

2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

All Scripture is given to us to be used for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, all of which you need on a daily basis to continue walking in the newness of this life with Christ.

We talk about this often but if you want to be sustained by Jesus, you have to be deeply involved in His word!

This book is very practical (something we will talk about next), so it shows us just how the gospel works in our lives everyday!

Paul, the author of this book and “an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God” wrote this book “to the saints (Christians) who are at Ephesus)” inspired by the Father wrote this letter to provide just that instruction!

Exalting Jesus in Ephesians Why Study Ephesians?

Lives have been forever changed by the exploration of this little book. John Mackay, former president of Princeton Seminary, recalled how, at the age of 14, he took his Bible into the hills of Scotland and studied the book of Ephesians. He wrote these words: “I saw a new world … everything was new … I had a new outlook, new experiences, new attitudes to other people. I loved God. Jesus Christ became the center of everything.… I had been ‘quickened.’ I was really alive” (in Stott, Ephesians, 15). May a whole new world be opened up to you also!

Exalting Jesus in Ephesians Why Study Ephesians?

Ephesians provides grace-filled encouragement. If you feel tired, discouraged, beat up, lonely, or confused, then welcome to Ephesians! Our souls need to see this description of the glorious grace of God. We need the gospel every day. Yes, Christians need the gospel every day. Remember, Paul is writing this letter to Christian churches, yet he devotes three chapters to telling them what the gospel is. Paul is writing to ordinary people just like us. Some were wealthy. Some were simple employees. Some worked at the port. Some were servants of masters. Some worked in the small villages. They were Christians living in the world. They first needed to understand who they were and then how to live in that reality, just like us.

Lamentations 3:22–23 “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

Daily God’s mercies are new, and daily you need to be refreshed by them. Daily you need the gospel in order to keep going.

Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

The Christian life is one of total transformation. You have to remember, a transformed life is changed — forever. Not changed today and changed back tomorrow. Ephesians teaches us what that daily transformation looks like as we receives God’s grace as new creatures.

Answers Practical Questions

Another reason we need to look to Ephesians is that it answers practical questions.

The gospel doesn’t exist to be high and lofty — nor does it exist to be privatized into a club. It exists to bring us to repentance and then lead us with real answers to our real and practical questions.

What are some of these practical questions?

Exalting Jesus in Ephesians Why Study Ephesians?

Why worship? (1:3–14)

• What should we pray for? (1:15–23)

• What is so amazing about grace? (2:1–10)

• Who are we? (2:11–22)

• Why is the church a big deal? (3:1–13)

• What should we pray for? (3:14–21)

• How can we be unified? (4:1–16)

• How do “new” people live? (4:17–32)

• How can we imitate God? (5:1–14)

• What is God’s plan for marriage? (5:15–33)

• How should we parent? (6:1–4)

• How should we see our vocation? (6:5–9)

• How do we fight? (6:10–24)

Through this study, we may not hit on each of these in depth, but the point is: The scriptures are practical for every day life, and if they are practical for everyday life, shouldn’t we look to them … everyday?

One could argue that Scripture is more full of doctrine rather than practice. I would say doctrine exists to be practiced! This is what Scripture teaches, this is what we will learn in Ephesians.

James 2:14–17 “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

What will it profit us to know all about Scriptural doctrine without knowing how to put it to practice?

As we work to understand the practicality of Scripture, we must also be willing to put it to work! Take what you know, take the answers to your questions, and put them to work as James teaches us in this short passage.

Problems Faced

As we talk about the reason why we would study this text, and as we learn about how practical this book is, we should also note how relatable it and it’s context is to the 21st century.

Exalting Jesus in Ephesians The Struggle in Ephesus

What made this a difficult region in which to minister? Consider first, the size of Ephesus. Ephesus is in modern-day western Turkey. It was a busy port city, the fourth or fifth largest city in the world at that time (Chapell, Ephesians, 10). Its massive amphitheater held about 25,000 people. The city hosted athletic events similar to the Olympics. It was at the junction of four major roads in Asia Minor. Several villages surrounded it. It was the gateway of Asia that became the gateway of the gospel, as Paul’s ministry in the city reached out into “all … of Asia” (

Exalting Jesus in Ephesians The Struggle in Ephesus

Second, consider the spiritual warfare in Ephesus. If the size of this city alone was not enough to overwhelm a missionary, there was also tremendous spiritual warfare in Ephesus. The city was known for different forms of paganism. Some were more sophisticated, others quite sleazy. The sophisticated types embraced the Greek notion of true enlightenment, which involved rising to high levels of mysterious knowledge. This knowledge was obtained not just by learning but by experience, through both erotic and ascetic practices (cf.

While there are some differences to note between ancient Ephesus and modern day America, the underlying issues are the same! Greed, pride, sexual immorality, and secularism/paganism.

Paul is working hard in this short letter to show believers how to live for Christ instead of for their culture and sin.

Is that not what the church needs to hear today?

The church in Ephesus faced problems identical to the problems we face today! So, we need to take it seriously and take a long and deep look at what Paul wrote in order to understand our responsibility in an increasingly secular culture.

Overall Message

Finally, why study Ephesians? Let’s look at the overall message.

The primary key thought throughout the book is “in Christ.” And, as we study through this book, that is exactly what we are going to see. We are going to see things through the lens of Christ and we are going to see who we are in Christ.

There is no better way to fight paganism and secularism than with a proper understanding of who we are because of the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Exalting Jesus in Ephesians The Message

Ephesians shows us that God is forming a new humanity through Christ, by the Spirit. It describes how Jesus Christ died for sinners, was raised, is exalted above all His competitors, and is now the head of the cosmos and the church. Through our union with Christ, we share in these same events—we are raised with Christ and seated with Him (2:5–7). This great salvation is owing to the grace of God (2:8–10).

Observe also these “formerly … but now” expressions:

• We were dead in sin, but now we are “alive with the Messiah” (2:4).

• We were separated from Christ, but now in Christ Jesus we “have been brought near” (2:13).

• We were “foreigners,” but now we are “fellow citizens” (2:19).

• We were darkened in understanding, but now we have “learned about the Messiah.” We have put off the “old self” and put on the “new self” (4:20–24).

• We were “darkness,” but now we are “light in the Lord” (5:8).

The message that God sent to us through Paul is this: You were dead. Now you are alive.

You were all of these lousy things, but only in and through Christ, you are something new and better.

Be transformed in Christ

Be made new in Christ

Be changed forever … in Christ.

Church, the theme of Ephesians, and you should argue, the whole of Scripture, is that in Christ all creation is made new. Brought back to the order in which it was created. Made new and alive in Christ. Reunited with the Father of all.

Know this morning that you need the gospel every day, not just on Sunday’s and Wednesday’s. Realize how relatable Scripture really is. See the problems they faced are genuinely problems that you face. And trust that in Christ, you must be made new.

SONG

As we go through this study, I want to challenge you to listen closely, take it seriously, and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit in your life. Let Him renew you. Let Him strengthen you. Allow Him to move in your life.

Conclusion

Why Ephesians?

2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

Do you trust all of Scripture? Then you must trust Paul’s inspired letter to the Ephesians.

In this letter you will find who you are in Christ. So I ask, who are you today?

Are you in Christ? Have you been transformed?

Salvation plea*

Maybe you have forgotten who you are in Christ and need that renewal, that reminder. Would you come pray?

Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”