EPHESIANS 1

Paul opens his letter to the church in Ephesus by likening the church to a body.

THE CREATION OF THIS BODY (1:1-14):

The entire Trinity was involved.

It was planned by the Father (1:1-6).

He blessed us (1:1-3).

He selected us (1:4).

When this occurred (1:4a):

"Before he made the world."

Why this occurred (1:4b):

That we might be "holy and without fault in his eyes."

He adopted us (1:5-6).

It was purchased by the Son (1:7-12).

What Jesus did (1:7-10)

He redeemed us by his blood (1:7-8).

He will someday gather us in his name (1:9-10).

Why Jesus did it (1:11-12):

That we might give praise to God.

It is preserved by the Spirit (1:13-14).

What the Holy Spirit does (1:13):

His presence serves as a special seal on our heart.

Why the Holy Spirit does it (1:14):

His presence guarantees our eternal security.

THE CONSECRATION OF THIS BODY (1:15-23):

Paul prays that God will allow his church to understand four things about himself.

Concerning his person (1:15-17):

"So that you might grow in your knowledge of God."

Concerning his promise (1:18):

"So that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called."

Concerning his power (1:19-20a):

"That you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power.... This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead."

Concerning his position (1:20b-23)

Christ's position in heaven (1:20b-21):

He occupies the exalted place at the right hand of the Father himself.

Christ's position on earth (1:22-23):

He has been appointed head of the church.

EPHESIANS 2

Paul likens the church to a temple. He reviews the what, why, and how concerning this spiritual temple of salvation.

WHAT WE ONCE WERE (2:1-3, 11-12)

Dead in sin (2:1)

Influenced by Satan (2:2)

Controlled by lust (2:3a)

Under God's wrath (2:3b)

Pagans without God (2:11)

Separated from Christ (2:12a)

Without hope in this present world (2:12b)

WHAT GOD DID (2:4-6)

He loved us (2:4).

He liberated us (2:5).

He lifted us (2:6).

WHY GOD DID IT (2:7):

He did it so that he might display us as trophies of his grace.

HOW GOD DID IT (2:8-9,13)

Through his special favour (2:8a)

Through faith (2:8b-9)

Through blood (2:13)

WHAT WE ARE NOW (2:10,14-22)

We are the products of grace (2:10).

The task (2:10a):

We have been created in Christ to do good works!

The time (2:10b):

This was planned before the foundation of the world.

We are the partners of Israel (2:14-18).

The reconciler (2:14):

Christ has destroyed the barrier separating Jews from Gentiles.

The results (2:15-18):

He has joined into one body, a new person, both Jews and Gentiles.

We are the people of God (2:19).

We are the pillars of the temple (2:20-22).

The foundation (2:20a):

It is the apostles and prophets.

The cornerstone (2:20b-22):

It is Jesus Christ himself.

EPHESIANS 3

Paul likens the church to a mystery.

PAUL'S EXPLANATION TO THE EPHESIANS (3:1-13):

Paul talks about a special mystery.

The recipient of this mystery (3:1-4, 7-9, 13):

Paul has been given the details of this mystery.

The mistreatment of the apostle (3:1a, 13):

Even though guilty of no crime, Paul is in prison.

The mission of the apostle (3:1b-4, 9)

In regard to the divine Scriptures (3:1b-4):

He is to preach God's Word to the Gentiles.

In regard to the divine secret (3:9):

He is to explain it to all people.

The meekness of the apostle (3:7-8):

He looks upon himself as "the least deserving Christian there is."

The time of this mystery (3:5)

This mystery was once concealed in the Old Testament (3:5a).

This mystery is now revealed in the New Testament (3:5b).

The nature of this mystery (3:6):

The secret is that both Jews and Gentiles have been joined to the body of Christ.

The reasons for this mystery (3:10-12)

That God's wisdom be experienced by the church (3:10b-12)

That God's wisdom be exhibited to the angels (3:10a)

PAUL'S SUPPLICATION FOR THE EPHESIANS (3:14-21):

The apostle offers a threefold prayer for these believers.

In regard to the Spirit of God (3:14-16):

He prays that the Spirit will strengthen their inner beings.

In regard to the Son of God (3:17):

He prays that Christ might be more and more at home in their hearts.

In regard to the love of God (3:18-21):

He prays that they might be able to grasp the full dimensions of God's love.

EPHESIANS 4

Paul likens the church to a new creation.

THE POSITION OF THIS NEW CREATION (4:1-16)

The unity (4:1-6):

Paul appeals for Christian unity based on seven wonderful scriptural facts.

There is one body (4:1-4a):

Christ's body.

There is one Spirit (4:4b):

The Holy Spirit.

There is one hope (4:4c):

Eternal life.

There is one Lord (4:5a):

The triune God.

There is one faith (4:5b):

The Christian faith.

There is one baptism (4:5c):

The baptism of the Spirit into Christ's body.

There is one God and Father (4:6):

The heavenly Father.

The Unifier (4:7-16):

The work of Christ brings all these things together.

His gifts to believers (4:7-11)

When these gifts were given (4:7-10):

It was after his ascension.

What these gifts were (4:11)

Apostleship (4:11a)

Prophets (4:11b)

Evangelists (4:11c)

Pastors and teachers (4:11d)

His goal for believers (4:12-16)

That they be equipped (4:12)

That they be mature (4:13)

That they be settled (4:14-16)

THE DISPOSITION OF THIS NEW CREATION (4:17-32):

A new life demands a new lifestyle.

Believers are to avoid immoral lifestyles (4:17-19):

Paul describes the unsaved as having:

Confused thoughts (4:17)

Hardened hearts (4:18b)

Closed minds (4:18a)

Impure and greedy thoughts (4:19)

Believers are to adopt a spiritual lifestyle (4:20-32).

They are to have a renewal of spiritual thoughts and attitudes (4:20-23).

They are to put off the old self, including (4:24, 26-28a, 29a, 30-32):

Lying (4:24)

Uncontrolled anger (4:26-27)

Stealing (4:28a)

Corrupt longings (4:29a, 31)

Grieving the Holy Spirit (4:30)

They are to put on the new self, including (4:25, 28b-29, 32):

Truthfulness (4:25)

Honest labor (4:28b)

Helping those in need (4:28c)

Building one another up (4:29b)

Kindness and compassion (4:32a)

Forgiveness (4:32b)

EPHESIANS 5

Paul likens the church to obedient children, husbands, and wives.

OBEDIENT CHILDREN (5:1-21):

Twelve rules for the Father's household:

Follow Christ in love (5:1-2).

Avoid all immorality (5:3).

Refrain from obscene language (5:4-5).

Don't allow others to deceive you (5:6-7).

Walk in the light (5:8-9, 11-14).

Seek God's will and do it (5:10, 17).

Use every opportunity for doing good (5:15-16).

Don't get drunk on wine (5:18a).

Be filled with the Spirit (5:18b).

Use music to encourage each other and to worship God (5:19).

Be thankful for all things (5:20).

Submit to one another (5:21).

OBEDIENT HUSBANDS AND WIVES (5:22-33)

Wives are to submit to their husbands as the church submits to Christ (5:22-24).

Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church (5:25-33).

Christ died for the church (5:25).

Christ lives to make the church holy and clean (5:26).

Christ will someday present the church to himself as a glorious church without stain or wrinkle (5:27).

Husbands are to love their wives as they love their own bodies (5:28-33).

EPHESIANS 6

Paul likens the church to a soldier.

BOOT-CAMP TRAINING (6:1-9)

The example of children and parents (6:1-4)

As soldiers, children are to honor and obey their parents (6:1-3).

As commanders, parents are to discipline and instruct their children (6:4).

The example of servants and masters (6:5-9)

Servants are to serve their masters as they would serve Christ (6:5-8).

Masters are to treat their servants as they would treat Christ (6:9).

FRONTLINE FIGHTING (6:10-24)

The exhortation (6:10-11a, 13, 18-20):

Paul issues a fourfold exhortation.

Be strong (6:10):

Find your strength in God's mighty power.

Prepare yourself (6:11a):

Put on the full armor of God.

Stand firm (6:13).

Pray always (6:18-20).

For yourselves (6:18a)

For others (6:18b)

For Paul himself (6:19-20)

The enemy (6:11b-12): Satan.

His craftiness (6:11b)

His cohorts (6:12): The wicked demons of Satan's kingdom.

The equipment (6:14-17)

The belt of truth (6:14a)

The body armor of God's righteousness (6:14b)

The sandals of the Good News (6:15)

The shield of faith (6:16)

The helmet of salvation (6:17a)

The sword of the Spirit (6:17b): The Word of God

The envoy (6:21-22):

Paul is sending Tychicus, a faithful helper in the Lord's work, to encourage and inform the Ephesians concerning Paul's welfare.

The benediction (6:23-24):

"May God give you peace, dear friends, and love with faith, from

God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May God's grace be upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love."