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EPHESIANS — THE HIGH CALLING OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST

OVERVIEW

God has revealed His glory in the church of Jesus Christ which unites both believing Jews and Gentiles into one body by His grace. The understanding of the riches of the blessings which all saints enjoy should motivate us to live a transformed life that conforms to our high calling. By the power of the Holy Spirit we can now walk in unity, in love, in wisdom, in holiness and in the light. But we need the full armor of God to protect us from the attacks of Satan.

BIG IDEA

SINCE GOD DESIGNED THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST FOR HIS GLORY AND BLESSED IT WITH THE RICHES OF HIS GLORY, LET US WALK WORTHY OF OUR HIGH CALLING

Ephesians 3:21 “to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus

Ephesians 4:1 “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

BASIC OUTLINE

(1:1-2)  AUTHOR / RECIPIENTS / GREETING – OUR MANDATE IN LIFE

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

 

I.  (CHAPS 1-3) THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH — OUR WEALTH —

OUR SPIRITUAL POSITION IN CHRIST — FOCUS ON OUR SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS

(3:21)  Theme Verse: “to Him be the glory in the Church

A.  (1:3-14) THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH — CHOSEN / PREDESTINED / REDEEMED – THANKSGIVING FOR OUR SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS

(:3)  Introduction: God Deserves Our Blessing Because He Totally Blessed Us

  1. (:4) First Spiritual Blessing = Election —

God Is Sovereign in Both the Process and Goal of Election – Which Is Holiness Expressed in Love

  1. (:5-6) Second Spiritual Blessing = Predestined to Adoption as Sons —

To Magnify His Grace, God Determined Those He Chose Would Be Authentic Sons with Full Rights and Privileges

  1. (:7) Third Spiritual Blessing = Liberated by Redemption —

Redemption Frees Us from the Bondage of Captivity to Joyfully Serve Christ

  1. (:8-10)  Fourth Spiritual Blessing = Insight into the Mystery of God’s Will —

God Has Blessed Us with Insight into the Myster of His Will = that Christ Should Have the Preeminence

  1. (:11-12)  Fifth Spiritual Blessing = Inheritance —

Our Sovereign God Predestined Us to an Inheritance that Magnifies His Glory

  1. (:13-14)  Sixth Spiritual Blessing = Sealed with the Holy Spirit —

The Holy Spirit Secures the Saints’ Future – Secures It for Us and for God

B.  (1:15-23) THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH — WHICH IS HIS BODY

  1. (:15-19a)  Thanksgiving and Prayer for Spiritual Enlightenment —

We Need the Enlightening Work of the Holy Spirit to Fully Understand and Relate to God

  1. (:19b-22a)  God’s Power Working for Us —

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)

  1. (:22b-23)  The Gift of Christ to the Church as Head Over His Body –

The Living and Reigning Christ Rules Over All as Head of His Church

C.  (2:1-10) THE SALVATION OF THE CHURCH — BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH –

GOD’S POWER HAS CHANGED OUR POSITION AND OUR PRACTICE

  1. (:1-3)   God’s Power Dealt with Our Old Position = Death

(:4)         Transition – Mercy Instead of Wrath

  1. (:5-7)   God’s Power Provides a New Position = Life
  2. God’s Power Has Changed Our Old Practice =Sinful Behavior
  3. (:8-10)  God’s Power and Grace Have Given Us New Life Leading to New Practice = Good Works

D.  (2:11-22) THE COMPOSITION OF THE CHURCH — ITS UNIVERSAL SCOPE –

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

  1. (:11-13)  The Inclusion of the Gentiles Is a Big Deal
  2. (:14-18)  The Reconciling Work of Christ Made It Happen
  3. (:19-22)  The Church (Believing Gentiles United with Believing Jews) Continues to be Built Together and Indwelt by the Holy Spirit

E.  (3:1-13) THE REVELATION OF THE CHURCH –

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

  1. (:1-5)   The Revelation of the Church (a Precious Treasure) Has Been Entrusted to

Faithful Stewards (the Example of Paul – Stewardship of the Grace of God)

  1. (:6)     The Content of the Revelation Emphasizes the Equal Access and Privileges

Afforded to the Gentiles in the Body of Christ

  1. (:7-11)  The Purpose of the Revelation Is to Make Known the Riches of Christ –

Unfolding the Wisdom and Purpose of God’s Plan for the Church

(with Special Emphasis on the Role of the Gentiles)

(:12-13)     Conclusion: Two Applications

F.  (3:14-19) THE ENABLEMENT OF THE CHURCH —

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

(:14-15)       Prelude – The Desire for Spiritual Growth Should Motivate Us to Pray to Our Spiritual Father

  1. (:16)     The Request: Holy Spirit Power
  2. (:17-19a) The Reason: Connection to the Love of Christ
  3. (:19b)    The Result: Experiencing All that God Has for You

(3:20-21)  DOXOLOGY — “to Him be the glory in the Church

 

II.  (CHAPS 4-6) THE DUTY OF THE CHURCH — HOW WE SHOULD WALK IN CHRIST– YOUR LIFE SHOULD MATCH YOUR CALLING

(4:1)  Theme Verse: “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

A.  (4:1-16) WALK IN UNITY, DIVERSITY AND MATURITY —

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

(:1)          Major Transition – Theme Verse of Chaps 4-5 – The Duty of the Church – How We Should Walk in Christ

  1. (:2-6)    Unity – Promote and Preserve the Unity of the One Body of Christ
  2. (:7-12)   Diversity – Promote and Appreciate the Diversity of the Varying Spiritual Gifts for the Equipping of the Body
  3. (:13-16)  Maturity – Keep Focused on the Goal of the Maturity of the Entire Body

(Which Requires Mutual Love in Word and Deed Throughout the Entire Process)

B.  (4:17-24) WALK DIFFERENTLY —

THE CHRISTIAN WALK MUST BE RADICALLY DIFFERENT:

– THAN THE UNSAVED

– THAN OUR OLD SELF

C.  (4:25 – 5:2) WALK IN LOVE AS A NEW PERSON IN CHRIST —

– THE CHRISTIAN MUST REJECT HARMFUL BEHAVIOR

     (WHICH DESTROYS COMMUNITY)

– AND IMITATE THE LOVE OF GOD

     (WHICH BUILDS COMMUNITY)

D.  (5:3-14) WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT – ABSTAINING FROM IMPURITY —

KEEP YOURSELF PURE AS YOU WALK IN THE LIGHT  AND EXPOSE DEEDS OF DARKNESS

(ESPECIALLY SEXUAL IMPURITY, GREED AND SHAMEFUL SPEECH)

E.  (5:15 – 6:9) WALK WISELY

  1. (5:15-21)    Boundaries for Walking Wisely Defined:

– In the Will of the Lord

– Under the Control of the Holy Spirit

  1. (5:22 – 6:9) Behavior for Walking Wisely Defined –

Walking Wisely Involves Fulfilling Your Role in Relationships of Submission and Consideration

a.  (5:22-23)  Wives to Husbands

b.  (6:1-4)     Children to Parents

c.  (6:5-9)     Servants to Masters (Application: Employees to Employers)

F.  (6:10-20) WALK STRONG IN THE ARMOR OF GOD

    1. (:10-17)  Spiritual Warfare

a.  (:10-13) Spiritual Warfare Requires God’s Strength and God’s Armor

b.  (:14-17)  Put on the Whole Armor of God and Stand Firm

  1. (:18-20) Supporting Prayer = the Foundation and Essence of Spiritual Warfare

a.  (:18)     The Protection of the Saints Depends on Intercessory Prayer that is All Encompassing

b.  (:19-20) The Forward Progress of the Gospel Depends on Intercessory Prayer for Boldness of Proclamation

 

(6:21-24)  CLOSING REMARKS AND BENEDICTION

A.  (6:21-22) CLOSING REMARKS — MISSIONARY REPORTS FROM THE FIELD ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO ARE PARTNERS IN THE GOSPEL

B.  (6:23-24) BENEDICTION — GOD’S BEST FOR THOSE WHO LOVE THE LORD

 

WHY STUDY THIS BOOK?

• To learn God’s purposes for the church of Jesus Christ which combines both believing Jews and Gentiles into one body for God’s glory

• To pursue the high calling we have as saints who have been blessed with all spiritual blessings

• To bask in the riches we enjoy by virtue of our relationship with Jesus Christ and inclusion in His church

• To connect to the power of the Holy Spirit who enables us to walk in Christian love

• To put on the whole armor of God so that we can withstand the attacks of the enemy

• To emphasize that both our salvation and sanctification depend on the grace of God by which God receives all the glory

NOTABLE QUOTES

David Malick: His Big Idea for the book – In view of the spiritual blessings with which God has enriched believers, and the deliverance which he has provided for individuals and the Gentiles from their godless position to one of unity with Him and one another, Paul exhorts the Ephesians to maintain their unified position by loving one another, and by resisting demonic attacks in accordance with God’s provisions for them.

Wil Pounds: — “Ephesians: Queen of the Epistles — The Mystical Body of Christ

Ephesians tarries largely among the heavenlies. It is characterized by dignity and serenity which is in harmony with the elevation of its thoughts. There is scarcely even an echo of the great controversies which ring so loudly in the Epistles to the Romans and Galatians.

It is ‘the divinest composition of man,’ wrote Coleridge. It has been called ‘the crown of St. Paul’s writings,’ ‘the Queen of the Epistles,’ and the ‘greatest and most relevant of his works.’ W. O. Carver said, ‘Ephesians is the greatest piece of writing in all of history.’ It may well be the ‘most influential document ever written.’

‘Paul has written nothing more profound than chapters 1 to 3 of Ephesians,’ writes A. T. Robertson. Stalker termed them the profoundest thing ever written. He sounds the depths of truth and reaches the heights. It is a letter written in the atmosphere of prayer. Most Christians have never prayed for some of the things which Paul prayed for in these two prayers.

Expositors observes: ‘It is the grandest of all the Pauline letters. There is a peculiar and sustained loftiness in its teaching which has deeply impressed the greatest minds and has earned for it the title of the Epistle of the Ascension.’”

John MacArthur: “In this book the word riches is used five times; grace twelve times; glory eight times; fulness, filled up, or fills six times; and the key phrase in Christ (or in Him) fifteen times. Christ is the source, the sphere, and the guarantee of every spiritual blessing and of all spiritual riches, and those who are in Him have access to all that He is and has…

Paul’s message throughout this epistle is that believers might understand and experience more fully all of the blessings granted by their heavenly Father and His Son and their Savior, Jesus Christ.”

William Hendriksen: Theme: The Church Glorious

I. Adoration for its

ch. 1 Eternal Foundation ‘in Christ’

ch. 2 Universal Scope (embracing both Jew and Gentile)

ch. 3 Lofty Goal

II. Exhortation describing and urging:

ch. 4:1-16 Organic Unity (amid Diversity) and Growth into Christ

ch. 4:17-6:9 Glorious Renewal

ch. 6:10-24 Effective Armor”

John Stott: The letter focuses on what God did through the historical work of Jesus Christ and does through his Spirit today, in order to build his new society in the midst of the old…

1. The new life which God has given us in Christ (1:3 – 2:10)

2. The new society which God has created through Christ (2:11 – 3:21)

3. The new standards which God expects of his new society, especially unity and purity (4:1 – 5:21)

4. The new relationships into which God has brought us — harmony in the home and hostility to the devil (5:21 – 6:24)

Guthrie: Throughout the letter, Paul insists that God is working out His great purpose for mankind by calling men to Christ and forming in Christ a new, redeemed society. . .

God now has a people in the world who belong uniquely to Him. In them His purpose of grace is being worked out, and through them He plans to effect His intention for the whole universe. Thus, the most comprehensive statement of the theme of Ephesians is this: the eternal purpose of God and the place of Christ and His people in that purpose. This concept is explained in the first three chapters of Ephesians; the last three chapters show its practical consequences for the Christian life.”

John Piper: Outline of Ephesians:

Chapters 1-3 The Glory of God in the Church

Chapter 1 The glory of God of God in Redemption

Chapter 2 The glory of God in reconciliation

Chapter 3 The glory of God in the revelation of the mystery of the church

Chapters 4-6 The Glory and Pleasure of God through the Church

Chapter 4 The glory of God in the unity and growth of the church

Chapter 5 The glory of God in the imitation of Christ by the saints

Chapter 6 The glory of God in victory of Christ