Ephesians

FOUNDATIONS YEAR
“The Epistle to the Ephesians is a complete Body of
Divinity. In the first chapter you have the doctrines of the
gospel; in the next, you have the experience of the
Christians; and before the Epistle is finished, you have the
precepts of the Christian faith. Whosoever would see
Christianity in one treatise, let him ‘read, mark, learn, and
inwardly digest’ the Epistle to the Ephesians.” (Spurgeon)
Background

 Most important city in western Asia minor (now Turkey)

 Major trade route

 Pagan temple dedicated to Artemis (Acts 19)

 Melting pot of cultures

 Strategic location for Ministry

Date

Because Paul mentions his imprisonment (Eph. 3:1; 4:1; 6:20), this letter should be dated to c. A.D. 62 when Paul was held in
Rome (Acts 28). Critics who date Ephesians later in the first century do so from doubts about Paul’s authorship rather than from
strong evidence against the earlier date.
Purpose of Ephesians

• God’s rich grace and desire to be exalted through the church.

• The high calling on us as a church to demonstrate God’s grace and

glory.
Structure

I. The calling of the church (1-3:21)

II. The conduct of the church (4:1-6:24)

See what you are in Christ Be what you are in Christ

Doctrine Practice
Truth Application
Provision Usage
I. The Calling of the Church

 Prologue (1:1-2)

 Recognizing authority

 Saints

 ”Passover” : Grace and peace to you…...

I. The Calling of the Church

 A. Spiritual Blessings for the Praise of His Glory

 PTL ! (Why?)

 Words matter:
…who has blessed us in Christ Jesus with every spiritual blessing.....
I. The Calling of the Church

 A. Spiritual Blessings for the Praise of His Glory

 Predestination in Christ
- when? Why? Basis?
- purpose?
- the destiny you are chosen for is to exalt him as his child.

 A word on ‘predestination’
I. The Calling of the Church

 A. Spiritual Blessings for the Praise of His Glory

 Redemption

 Trinity

 Eternal inclusion in Christ.

1:1-14: The Praise of His Glory
Praise be to God (vs 3)

1. For Who He is (His Nature)

2. For What His Purpose is
3. For what He has done for us
1:1-14: The Praise of His Glory
Praise be to God (vs 3)

1. For Who He is (His Nature)

1:1-14: The Praise of His Glory

Blessed us abundantly

His Pleasure and will

Freely gave us

His rich Grace

1:1-14: The Praise of His Glory

2. What His Purpose is

1:1-14: The Praise of His Glory

…...to the Praise of His glorious grace (vs 6)

….........for the Praise of His Glory (vs 12)

….........to the Praise of His Glory (vs 14)

1:1-14: The Praise of His Glory

3. What He has done

1:1-14: The Praise of His Glory

chose us
predestined us

Adopted us
Redeemed us
Forgave us

Hope
Saved us through the gospel

Promise of Eternal assurance

1:1-14: The Praise of His Glory
Blessed us abundantly
Chose us. predestined us.
His Pleasure and will…....Freely gave us
to the Praise of His glorious grace.
Adopted us. Redeemed us. Forgave us.
His rich Grace
to the Praise of His glorious grace.
Saved us through the gospel.
Promise of Eternal assurance
to the Praise of His glorious grace.
1:1-14: The Praise of His Glory
Praise God for who He is:
God in Christ has Blessed us abundantly. This was His will and it gave Him Pleasure.
In his rich grace, He Freely gave us so much.

Praise God for His purpose:

He has called us to partake of His nature. For there is nothing greater He can give us than Himself. A God
who has no need, in His love and grace, calls us to share in that which is of utmost worth and of utmost joy.

Praise God for what He has done:

What kind of love? And how zealous is he for this purpose?
The sacrifice of His son, to make us sons too.
Introspect

1. I Praise God always (His nature is unchanging)

2. Exalting God is my key focus and joyful
pursuit
3. I am his joyful slave
I. The Calling of the Church
 B. Prayer for Wisdom and Revelation (1:15-23)

 “For this Reason”…...(vs 14).

 Paul’s gratitude & prayer

 Prayer
 to know him better
 Hope
 Inheritance
 Power
I. The Calling of the Church

 C. Redemption of Individuals to Christ (2:1-10)

 The Bad news – your bio…. (1-3)

 The Good news (2:4-6)

 The Grand Purpose (2:7-10)

I. The Calling of the Church
 D. Reconciliation and Union of those Redeemed (2:11-2:22)

 Christ died to put reconciliation with God and people on a different foundation, namely,
himself and his own blood

as long as the Old Testament Law — specifically “the law [understood as] commandments
expressed in ordinances” (verse 15) — was the foundation of how people are reconciled to
God;
a. the Gentiles would always be on the outside,
b. and the Jews themselves would be alienated from God, because even for them by the
works of the law no flesh will be justified (Romans 3:20).
I. The Calling of the Church

 D. Reconciliation and Union of those Redeemed

 Household of Faith

 Christ, the Apostles and us.

“The Church rests on the total unique Event of which Christ is the center, but in
which the apostles and prophets, filled and guided by the Spirit and doing their work
in unique closeness to Christ, had an indispensable and untransmissible part”.
I. The Calling of the Church

 E. Revelation and Purpose of the Mystery (3:1-13)

 The manner of the mystery’s disclosure (3:3)

 The time of the mystery’s disclosure (3:5)

 The content of the mystery (3:6)

 The purpose (3:10-12)

I. The Calling of the Church

Same great central theme :

Behind all events in world history, there is an eternal purpose being worked out.

“A plan conceived in eternity and eternal in it’s scope”.

I. The Calling of the Church
 F. Prayer for the church to Comprehend God’s love and be filled with God’s fullness.
Note: pattern:
Wealth of blessings of God – prayer (Ch. 1).
Purpose of God - prayer (Ch 2-3).

 Goal: that readers maybe equipped with power that enables them to stand firm in Christ,
live and work for him.

“every ambition and achievement must bow to the Lordship and glory of the Lord Jesus
Christ”

 True knowledge is unattainable without love

 Truth is not sought in isolation, but with all the saints.
II. The Conduct of the Church

 A. Walk in Unity (4:1-16)

 Gospel foundation for all relationships in the church (shaped by chapters 1-3)

“the gospel will humble you because it requires you to confess that the greatest
dangers in your life live inside you and not outside you. The gospel calls you to run
to God for rescue because your greatest problem is you”
II. The Conduct of the Church

 Walk in Unity (4:1-16)

 Christ’s ascension and grace to the church (4:7-11)

Gifts are people.

His former foes, who he leads In triumph, like Paul himself, are gifts to the church

 Purpose of God’s gifts to the church in Christ (4:13)

II. The Conduct of the Church

 Walk in Unity (4:1-16)

“being given a gift tells me about me in that I am not self sufficient but rather needy
and dependent. It tells me I have no ability to do God’s work without God’s gifts. I
can’t take credit for my gift precisely because it is a gift”.

Those that are named here (vs12) exercise their ministry in such a way to help other
members to exercise their own respective ministries
- “to equip you (saints)”…
II. The Conduct of the Church

 Walk in Unity (4:1-16)

 The ultimate purpose: to grow in maturity and unity (4:13-16)

 B. Walk in Holiness (4:17-32)

 The old person (4:17-19)

 The new person (4:20-32)

II. The Conduct of the Church

 C. Walk in Love (5:1-6)

 Positive (5:1-2)
 Negative (5:3-6)

 D. Walk in the Light (5:7-14)

 Command: Do not get involved (5:7)
 Reason: Christians are changed persons (5:8a)
 Command: Walk as children of the light (5:8b-10)
II. The Conduct of the Church

 D. Walk in the Light (5:7-14)

 Command: Do not get involved but expose (5:11-13)

 Reason: Their works are shameful (5:12)
 Explanation: Light shows true character of works (5:13)
 Conclusion: Enlightenment of Christ (5:14)
II. The Conduct of the Church
 E. Walk in Wisdom (5:15-6:9)

 Admonition (5:15-21)

 In thought (5:17)
Negative: Do not become foolish (5:17a)
Positive: Understand the Lord’s will (5:17b)

 In life (5:18-21)
Negative : do not be drunk with wine (5:18a)
Positive : Be filled with the Spirit (5:18b-21)
The consequences (Speaking, Singing, Thanking, Submitting)
II. The Conduct of the Church
 E. Walk in Wisdom (5:15-6:9)

 Application (5:22-6:9)

 Wives and Husbands (5:22-33)

 Children and Parents (6:1-4)

 Servants and Masters (6:5-9)

II. The Conduct of the Church

 F. Stand in Warfare (6:10-20)

 Put on the Armor (6:10-13)

 Stand with the Armor (6:14-16)
 Receive the Final Pieces of Armor (6:17-20)

 G. Conclusion (6:21-24)