Sermon Tone Analysis

Greeting (1:1-2)

Observation

Author: Paul

“An apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God” (v. 1).

- Similar Identification

- Similar identification

Audience: Ephesian Church

“to the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus” (v. 1).

Some manuscripts omit “in Ephesus”

Purpose: Grace and peace to the saints

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 2).

- Similar Greeting

Summary: Paul, an Apostle of Jesus, is writing a letter to the church at Ephesus (?) to provide instruction that will result in grace and peace within the church.

Interpretation

Paul

Paul is declaring that he is an apostle, not by self-appointment, but through the authoritative decree, the sovereign will of Almighty God

Ephesus

The majority viewpoint today is that, in all probability, the epistle to the Ephesians was written originally as a circular letter.

The book of Revelation contains messages to seven cities of Asia Minor.

Asia Minor was, in Paul’s day, the Roman province of Proconsular Asia.

The book of Revelation speaks of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

These seven cities were arranged around the urban hub of the province, with Ephesus occupying a strategic point.

If Ephesians was a letter intended for all the churches in the area, it may have followed a circular route round these cities.

The scene at Ephesus was that of the triumph of the gospel over pagan idolatry

Paul

Grace and Peace

So are we.

What can keep Christian people faithful to God in such environments?

What can enable them to be saintly continually?

There is only one answer.

It is what Paul speaks of in his greeting: “grace and peace,” and particularly grace, from God the Father.

As the book goes on we are going to learn what we should be in this world.

But from the very beginning there is no mystery about how we are to be it—by the will and strength of God, who alone can help us.

We have no other strength, but by his grace we can triumph.

Application

Paul’s Conversion/Apostleship

Paul’s emphasis does not lie so much on the fact that he was an apostle, as wonderful as that was, but on how he became one.

It was not by his own will but “by the will of God.” Indeed, if it had not been for God’s sovereign and efficacious will, Paul would not only not have been an apostle, he would not even have been a Christian.

Left to himself apart from the grace of God, he fought against God and attempted to destroy his church.

This is true of all of us.

The gospel is a wonderful thing.

It is the word of life in Christ.

But however wonderful the gospel may be, we would never have responded to it or have become a part of that marvelous new creation the church, about which Paul is soon to speak, if God had not first called us from sin to Christ, as in the days of his flesh Jesus called the decaying Lazarus from the tomb.

Paul’s conversion reveals the incredible power of the gospel to save sinners.

His authority as an Apostle of Christ means that I can trust what he teaches in this letter.

Christians are Saints

In the Bible to be a saint means to be set apart.

It is something God does quite apart from human merit.

Every Christian is a saint, and every saint is a Christian.

Moreover, every true Christian is in some sense separated from the world.

It does not mean that we are taken out of the world.

That is not the way God operates.

But it does mean that we are removed from it in the sense of not really belonging to the world any longer.

If we are truly Christ’s, we have a new nature, a new set of loyalties, and a new agenda.

We belong to a different kingdom.

In my own life, I must remember that as a Christian, I am called to be a saint - set apart from the world to serve a heavenly kingdom.

This title does not set me above the world, but places me in the world to make more saints until God calls me home.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ (1:3-14)

Observation

Key Words

Blessing

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 3)

God is blessed - He is both the receiver and the giver of blessing

“who [God] has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (v. 3)

We are blessed by God in Christ

Predestination

“he [God] predestine us for adoption” (v. 5)

God is the initiator of predestination - we are predestined for adoption to himself as sons

“having been predestined according to the purpose of him [God] who works all things according to the counsel of his [God’s] will” (v.

11)

We are predestined according to God’s will alone

God’s Will

“according to the purpose of his will” (v. 5)

our predestination for adoption to himself is according to his will

“mystery of his will” (v.

9)

the mystery of God’s will has been made known to us, which is redemption through the blood of Christ according to the riches of his grace

“according to the purpose of him [God] who works all things according to the counsel of his will” (v.

11)

God’s will is the purpose of our predestination

Inheritance

Questions

What does it mean to be chosen “in him” (v.

4)?

What are the “all things” that are united in Christ (v.

10)?

What is our inheritance (v.

11)?

Who is the “you” in v. 13-14 - is it the same as we?

Future believers?

What does it mean to be “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” (v.13)?

Interpretation

Spiritual Blessing (v.

3-4)

Christ’s victory over death has won believers a series of benefits (“every spiritual blessing”) for which Paul blesses the Father.

Versus 4-14 are a list of the spiritual blessings that Paul refers to here.

The blessings come to us by means of the Holy Spirit

Paul rejoices that God chooses people for a relationship with Himself (Rom.

8:29–33; 9:6–26; 11:5, 7, 28; 16:13; Col. 3:12; 1 Thess.

1:4; 2 Thess.

2:13; Titus 1:1).

“In him” means that God’s choice always has had in view a fallen people in union with their Redeemer (2 Tim.

1:9).

Cf. 1 Pet.

1:18–21; Rev. 13:8.

Adoption (v.

5-7)

Redemption (v.

8-10)

Inheritance (v.