Ephesians # 10 Eph 2-18 thru 3-6
We’re going to continue on the book of Ephesians. Last time we left off at (EPH 2:17), but let’s start reading from EPH 2:14-18.
I. EPH 2:14-18
A. Last time we said that Jesus never came Himself to the Gentiles and preached the Word of God, but in (V 17) it says that He came and preached peace to you which were afar off.
1. Meaning the Gentiles.
2. Back in Jesus day, when someone was sent in your name, it was as good as you going.
a. In (MARK 16:15) Jesus said to the disciples, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
b. If you continue reading Jesus great commission in (Mark 16 and in MATT 28) you find out that we are to go into all the world and preach the Gospel IN HIS NAME.
B. When the disciples went to the Gentiles and preached the Gospel to them, they went in the NAME OF Jesus.
1. According to their customs it was as good as Jesus coming.
2. The message that was preached to them was the message of PEACE.
a. But the word “Peace” here means “Peace with God.”
C. In (V 18) he says, “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father”
1. (Hebrews 4:16) Says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” KJV
a. We now have access to the father, to the Throne of Grace.
b. We can go to the Father for fellowship, to obtain mercy, and to find grace to help in time of need.
i. Now we can go to the Throne of God and experience His blessings.
2. (James 1:17) Says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” KJV
a. It’s God’s plan that you have His very best and He tells us where to receive it, at the Throne of Grace.
II. EPH 2:19
A. Before receiving Jesus as Lord and Saviour we were strangers and foreigners to the Household of God.
1. But now we are fellowcitizens with the saints. Part of the family of God.
B. EPH 2:20
1. The “Apostles and Prophets” spoken of here are NT apostles and prophets.
a. Some have said that they feel that the “Prophets” mentioned here in this V are the OT and NT Prophets.
i. It doesn’t make a whole lot of difference, but there is a V in Romans that leads me to think that the Apostles and Prophets that laid the foundation are only NT apostles and prophets.
b. Let’s look at it. ROM 15:20
i. In other words, what Paul is saying is that where Christ was not named, there was no foundation laid.
ii. Whether it was where the OT Prophets preached on not, if Christ was not named there, there was no foundation laid.
2. Let’s go back to EPH 2:20 (read)
a. Jesus Christ is the chief corner stone to this foundation.
b. You can’t build this foundation without the Chief Corner Stone being in place 1st.
i. After Jesus came then the Apostles and Prophets could lay the foundation.
C. EPH 2:21-22
1. When Jesus was crucified, the veil that separated the very presence of God from man was ripped in two from the top to the bottom.
a. Not necessarily to let man in, but actually to let the spirit of God out to dwell in the hearts of man.
b. In the OT the Spirit of the Lord lived in a man made temple, but now Paul refers to us as being that temple that contains the very presence of God.
III. EPH 3:1-2
A. 1st of all as we said before, Paul wrote this letter from a prison in Rome.
1. It’s interesting that Paul said that he was a prisoner OF the Lord Jesus Christ.
a. He was in prison because of preaching about Jesus. Doing what God had him to do.
b. There is no greater fulfillment than doing what God has told you to do.
2. In (V 2) Paul talks about “The Dispensation of the Grace of God.”
a. The Bible talks about 7 different dispensations.
b. 1st was the Dispensation of Innocence which started with Adam.
The 2nd Dispensation which came after the fall was Conscience. This Dispensation ended with the Tower of Babel.
The 3rd Dispensation was that of Human Government and that ended with the Flood.
4th was the Dispensation of Promise which started with Abraham.
The 5th Dispensation started with Moses and it was the Dispensation of the LAW.
The 6th Dispensation is the AGE of GRACE or the Church age, which we are living in now.
The 7th Dispensation is the age to come and that is the Millennium.
3. During the different dispensations, God has approached man in different ways, but the way that man reached God has always been the same, BY FAITH.
a. Turn with me to HEB 11
i. In these Vs here that were going to read, each person represents a different Dispensation.
b. HEB 11:4a, 5a, 7a, 8a, 24a,
i. Then in HEB 11:6 it says… (read)
ii. The way that we come to God is always BY FAITH.
iii. Now of course we are in the New Covenant, we can’t live by the Old Covenant or even in the Gospels.
c. The New Covenant basically starts with the book of ACTS and goes through the EPISTLES.
i. Once we begin to receive the revelation of the New Covenant, we’ll begin to receive a revelation of the OLD, and that the New Covenant is a fulfillment of the OLD.
B. EPH 3:3
1. The revelation that Paul talks about here, he also brings up the subject in the book of Galatians.
a. (Galatians 1:11-12) Says, “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. (12) For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” KJV
2. EPH 3:4
a. Again, when we see the word “Mystery” it refers to something not known in the past, but now revealed.
b. The Mystery Revealed is Salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ and that now we have been make the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
3. EPH 3:5-6
a. Paul makes it very clear that the plan of salvation was not revealed in other ages (generations).
i. This plan of salvation was 1st revealed to the Apostles and Prophets and then to us.
ii. 1 of the things revealed to the Apostles and Prophets was that Salvation was also for the Gentiles.
b. Next week we’ll look more into the Mystery that has been revealed.
i. It goes into more than salvation.
Ephesians #10 Eph 2:18-3:6.docx
WOLCC Thurs. 4/25/96