Ephesians Sermons

THE AUTHORITATIVE WORD FROM GOD DEFINES THE HIGH CALLING OF BELIEVERS WHO ENJOY HIS GRACE AND PEACE

OUR SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS AND PRIVILEGES ARE IDENTICAL TO THOSE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

GOD IS SOVEREIGN IN BOTH THE PROCESS AND GOAL OF ELECTION – WHICH IS HOLINESS EXPRESSED IN LOVE

TO MAGNIFY HIS GRACE, GOD DETERMINED THOSE HE CHOSE WOULD BE AUTHENTIC SONS WITH FULL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES

REDEMPTION FREES US FROM THE BONDAGE OF CAPTIVITY TO JOYFULLY SERVE CHRIST

GOD HAS BLESSED US WITH INSIGHT INTO THE MYSTERY OF HIS WILL = THAT CHRIST SHOULD HAVE THE PREEMINENCE

OUR SOVEREIGN GOD PREDESTINED US TO AN INHERITANCE THAT MAGNIFIES HIS GLORY

THE HOLY SPIRIT SECURES THE SAINTS' FUTURE -- SECURES IT FOR US AND FOR GOD

WE NEED THE ENLIGHTENING WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO FULLY UNDERSTAND AND RELATE TO GOD

THE GUARANTEE FOR SUCCESS IS GOD'S POWER WORKING FOR US -- THE SAME POWER THAT RESURRECTED AND EXALTED CHRIST TO HIS POSITION AS HEAD OVER ALL (BOTH IN THE UNIVERSE AND IN THE CHURCH WHICH IS HIS BODY)

THE LIVING AND REIGNING CHRIST RULES OVER ALL AS HEAD OF HIS CHURCH

GOD'S POWER HAS CHANGED OUR OLD POSITION (DEATH) TO OUR NEW POSITION (LIFE);
GOD'S POWER HAS CHANGED OUR OLD PRACTICE (SIN) TO OUR NEW PRACTICE (HOLINESS: GOOD WORKS)

GENTILES ARE NOW UNITED WITH JEWS IN THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD ON THE BASIS OF THE RECONCILING WORK OF CHRIST

GRANTING THE GENTILES EQUAL ACCESS AND PRIVILEGES IN THE BODY OF CHRIST MANIFESTS THE MANIFOLD WISDOM AND ETERNAL PURPOSE OF GOD

THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN CONNECT US TO THE LOVE OF CHRIST SO THAT WE CAN EXPERIENCE ALL THAT GOD HAS FOR US

IN HUMILIY AND LOVE, PROMOTE UNITY IN A CONTEXT OF DIVERSITY WITH THE GOAL OF MATURITY

THE CHRISTIAN WALK MUST BE RADICALLY DIFFERENT --
- THAN THE UNSAVED
- THAN OUR OLD SELF

THE CHRISTIAN WALK AS A NEW PERSON MUST REJECT HARMFUL BEHAVIOR (WHICH DESTROYS COMMUNITY) AND IMITATE THE LOVE OF GOD (WHICH BUILDS COMMUNITY)

KEEP YOURSELF PURE AS YOU WALK IN THE LIGHT AND EXPOSE DEEDS OF DARKNESS (ESPECIALLY SEXUAL IMPURITY, GREED AND SHAMEFUL SPEECH)

WALK WISELY
- IN THE WILL OF THE LORD
- UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

WALKING WISELY INVOLVES FULFILLING YOUR ROLE IN RELATIONSHIPS OF SUBMISSION AND CONSIDERATION

WALK STRONG – DEFEND AGAINST THE ENEMY WITH THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD

THE PROTECTION OF THE SAINTS AND THE FORWARD PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL DEPEND ON ALERT INTERCESSORY PRAYER

GOOD COMMUNICATION FOSTERS FELLOWSHIP IN THE GOSPEL