The Word that Compels Grateful Sacrifice

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Apostles are given revelation not given to other men Eph 3:4-5

Ephesians 3:4–5 NKJV

by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

Apostles have special authority - though they only used it for others 1 Thess 2:6

1 Thessalonians 2:6 NKJV

Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.

Apostles are the first of the leaders Jesus gave to the church so we could grow Eph 4:11-13

Ephesians 4:11–13 NKJV

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

An Apostle is an eyewitness of Jesus’ resurrection Acts 1:22; 2:42; 4:33

Acts 1:22 NKJV

beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

Acts 2:42 NKJV

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 4:33 NKJV

And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

How did Paul become an apostle? Acts 9:3-5, 15-16

Acts 9:3–5 NKJV

As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

Acts 9:15–16 NKJV

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

Why would Paul use the title?

Paul used the title because he was claiming the proper authority to speak his message.

The message of the apostles didn’t perish. They entrusted it to others who weren’t apostles 1 Cor 11:2; 2 Thess 2:15; Luke 1:2-4

1 Corinthians 11:2 NKJV

Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 NKJV

Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

Luke 1:2–4 NKJV

just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

Guard your thinking and actions Col 2:8; 2 Thess 3:6

Colossians 2:8 NKJV

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 NKJV

But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.

Application - The Authority of the Word of God is what matters. God has entrusted that message to you, and he expects you to live it and tell it.

II. Paul, A Steward of God’s Grace

Paul was a steward (οἰκονομιας) or "minister” (διάκονος) of God’s Grace. Eph 3:2-3

Ephesians 3:2–3 NKJV

if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,

Paul was overwhelmed with gratitude for the great privilege of preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ Eph 3:7-9

Ephesians 3:7–9 NKJV

of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;

Application: The Christian life is a life of gratitude for God’s great grace poured out on you to give you this great message of wealth and power to enjoy and to spread to others. If you don’t feel the immensity of that grace, meditate on the greatness of our privileges in Christ.

III. Paul, A Prisoner of Jesus Christ

Eph 3:1; 4:1

Paul was controversial to both Jews and Gentiles Acts 13:44-45; Acts 19:23-27 (Jews in Antioch of Psidia; Gentiles in Ephesus)

Acts 13:44–45 NKJV

On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.

Acts 19:23–27 NKJV

And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.”

Paul’s controversial message made him a prisoner

Jesus is the Messiah Act 9:22-23

Acts 9:22–23 NKJV

But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him.

Jesus was crucified and rose again so that those who believe him could receive eternal life 1 Cor 1:23; Gal 5:11

1 Corinthians 1:23 NKJV

but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,

Galatians 5:11 NKJV

And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.

Jesus rose again Acts 17:30-32

Acts 17:30–32 NKJV

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.”

How did Paul’s imprisonment happen?

Became a prisoner because of Jewish hatred about Paul’s Gentile Mission Acts 21:20-21, 27-29

Acts 21:20–21 NKJV

And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.

Acts 21:27–29 NKJV

Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

Stayed a prisoner because of Gentile Corruption Acts 24:24-27; 25:7-12

Acts 24:24–27 NKJV

And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him. But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.

Acts 25:7–12 NKJV

When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove, while he answered for himself, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all.” But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?” So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.” Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!”

Now a prisoner in Rome Acts 28:30-31

Acts 28:30–31 NKJV

Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

How was Paul a prisoner of Jesus Christ for the Gentiles? Eph 3:1

Ephesians 3:1 NKJV

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—

Why is his imprisonment a motive for living like a Christian? Eph 4:1

Ephesians 4:1 NKJV

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,

Application: Christianity is a life of sacrifice by necessity Luke 9:23-27. Paul sacrificed his freedom to proclaim a very unpopular message. It is still unpopular and controversial to this day. We teach that God defines what is objectively right and wrong; We teach that sex is for marriage and that marriage is one man for one woman for life; We teach that the church is responsible to obey God even if the government says otherwise. We teach that we are responsible to obey the government whenever the government doesn’t contradict God. We teach not only a heaven but a hell; not an excuse but grace.

Luke 9:23–27 NKJV

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”

IV. The Ephesians: Saints and Faithful

Ephesians 1:1 NKJV

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:

Ephesus the city

Location of the city (Map)

Culture (Image of Temple of Diana)

Center of a great pagan temple to Diana (Artemis) - The Temple of Diana was one of the seven wonders of the world. It took 220 years to build. It was made of marble, and the building was a third larger than a football field, supported by 127 columns of marble 56 feet high and full of lavish treasure. It was also a house of prostitution in the name of worship. A craft of making little copies of Diana in silver had grown up. The temple was destroyed in AD 262 by the Goths. (New Manners and Customs, 530-31; Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, 622)

Large Jewish community

Many practitioners of magic and sorcery

The book of Ephesians is oddly impersonal for a book written to Paul’s most established ministry. A few manuscripts lack the name “Ephesus.” This isn’t because the letter was written to any other church, but because it was designed from the beginning as a circular letter that the Ephesians could distribute to other places in Asia Minor. So the letter is addressed not just to the Ephesians, but also to the saints and faithful in other places. Also, the letter was carried by Tychicus, who was planning to tell them all the personal stuff directly (Eph 6:21-22)

The Ephesians are saints because God chose them Eph 1:4, despite once living a pagan lifestyle Eph 2:3. An example of this in Ephesus Acts 19:17-20

Ephesians 1:4 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,

Ephesians 2:3 NKJV

among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

Acts 19:17–20 NKJV

This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

The Ephesians are faithful - Christian doctrine of perseverance.

V. Grace and Peace from God

Variation of the Jewish (Shalom = Peace) and Greek (“greetings” is related to the word for grace χάρις) greetings.

Thus a reminder of the unity of the church - Jew and Gentile, and therefore all ethnic groups, are united in one body in Christ.

Christian twist - Grace and Peace, ultimately can only come from God

God is coequal with Jesus Christ = Trinity.

Conclusion

It’s not the messenger that is important, it’s the message. The Christian lives under the authority of the Word of God. It really doesn’t matter who is the one speaking that Word, what matters is this - Are they telling me what God says? If yes, then you will be held accountable for what you hear. If you hear the Word, and you believe it, you will obey it. If you obey it you will experience great blessing. If you believe the Word, you should be filled with gratitude that God has been so gracious to you. If you focus on how much God has been gracious to you, you will realize how greatly you are blessed. The Blessing of the Word of God is so great, that whatever sacrifice must be endured fades into insignificance. How much will you sacrifice in order to do what is right? In order to live by Faith in Son of God? In order to live the life of a Christian in a hostile world? A life set apart for God is what you are destined for, Christian. Your Christian birthright is to be holy and blameless. Are you?

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