Ephesians 5:3-21

Paul warns Christians of behaviors.

Not a hint of sexual immorality

Matthew 5:32

1 Corinthians 5:1

Evil behaviors have bad consequences.

God’s way is better.

Living together/playing house

Marriage is God’s perfect answer to sexual sin. The good news about marriage is God calls us to cleanness. Romans 1:24; Matthew 23:27-28

Greed isn’t the way. Jeremiah 22:17

Vulgar speech is prohibited. Divisive and foolish talk should be removed. Titus 3:8- 11 Coarse jesting is wrong. Awake, Oh Sleeper!

What will you choose?

You can be wise and ready or foolish and unprepared.

Put Off the Old Self (Eph 4:17-19)

Paul warns believers not to live like the Gentiles, whose thinking is futile and whose hearts are hardened. Their lifestyle is marked by having a darkened understanding, ignorance, insensitivity, and moral corruption that is driven by selfish desires.

Be Renewed and Put on the New Self (Eph 4:20-24)

Paul claims that the old way of life is not how believers have learned Christ. Rather believers are to:

Practical Instructions for New Life (Eph 4:25-32)

Paul lists specific ways to live out this new self:

Imitate God and Walk in Love (Eph 5:1-2)

Believers are called to be imitators of God as His children. We should walk in love, following the example of Christ, who gave himself as a sacrificial offering for us.

Ephesians 4:1-3 Here we find five important behaviors that all Christians should cultivate in their lives: humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance, and seeking unity. Each of these takes intentionality and sustained effort. Unity, in particular, requires serious effort. In fact, Jesus himself prayed for our unity (John 17:20-23).

Ephesians 4:4-6 The basis of our unity is what we hold in common with each other: one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God over all. The Moravian motto said it well: “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things love.”

Ephesians 4:7-10 When he died and was buried, Jesus descended into the grave. When God raised him from the dead and brought him up to heaven, he ascended. His death, resurrection, and ascension together defeated spiritual evil in high places with the result that he led captivity captive. Additionally, his victory brought into reality new structures both in heaven

Ephesians 4:11-13 The various positions in the local church exist to equip the saints for the work of ministry with the goal of developing maturity in individuals and as a group. Christ is our forerunner and prototype. We want to grow into his full stature over time.

Ephesians 4:14-16 As you develop in your faith, you should not be easily deceived by the many winds of doctrine blowing in our time, especially through social media. Rather, the goal is to grow and mature such that we not only remain connected to the body but also build it up in love.

The Apostle Paul prays for Christians to be strengthened that Christ may dwell in their hearts with the result that they may be rooted and grounded in love. He prays that they would be able to comprehend Christ’s love so that they may be filled with all God’s fullness. Thus, as we continue pursuing love, we understand not only what has already been done for us, but we also show to others that love which is paramount in the life of the Christian.

Ephesians 3:14-15 To name is to exert power over, often as the creator. The Father is the supreme source of everyone on earth as well as the spiritual powers in heaven. It’s always helpful to remember to whom you’re praying at the start of your prayer.

Ephesians 3:16-17 Here God’s spirit strengthens so Christ can dwell in our hearts with the result that we become rooted and grounded in love. God’s love shown through Christ is the most powerful redeeming force in the universe, capable of turning enemies into family (John 3:16; Rom 5:6-8). As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Love is the absolute power” (Love Your Enemies Sermon, March 7, 1961, Detroit, MI).

Ephesians 3:18-19 Paul prays that Christians would be able to grasp a truth so deep and profound that it surpasses knowledge—the love of Christ. Loving others when they’ve given you reason to hate them doesn’t make sense, but it follows Christ’s example and can result in total transformation. When we finally experientially know the love of Christ, we can be filled

Ephesians 3:20-21 God is capable of doing so much more than we can ask or even imagine. He is worthy of our devotion and dedication. In fact, our lives are to bring Him glory, not only individually, but also as a group. Is your life bringing glory to God?

The great mystery was hidden throughout the ages until revealed to the Apostle Paul. If it was known, the evil rulers

Ephesians 3:1-9. What Christ accomplished for humanity was kept secret until Paul received it by revelation.

Luke 9:44-45. God wanted the information concealed.

Luke 18:31-34. Many things are written in the OT foretelling what Jesus would do and accomplish; however, much of it was hidden until Paul.

Mark 8:31-33. Not only did Peter not understand what Jesus said, he also thought he was wrong.

1 Corinthians 2: 6-8. Had they understood, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Ephesians 3:2. The word “stewardship” and “administration” in verse 9 are the same Greek word oikonomia.

3:4-5. Before, no one understood; now, we can understand.

1 Corinthians 2:6-16.

Ephesians 3:6. Gentiles were now fellow heirs, members, partakers of the promise.

Ephesians 2:12-22.

3:8. The riches are so deep, vast, and profound they can never be fully discovered until Christ returns. They are infinitely rich and abundant.

Colossians 1:27. Christ in you

Ephesians 3:10. Rulers and the authorities – 1:19-21; 6:12

3:11. The mystery explains God’s purpose of the ages.

3:12. Only the high priest once a year had access to God. Now every disciple has direct, bold, and confident access to God.

3:13. Do not be discouraged I am in prison; rather, accept it is actually a glorious thing

Ephesians 2:11-12. Before Christ, the nations were hopeless because they had no Messiah and no real, solid hope for the future. Because of this, sin reigned and darkness increased in these nations. We too were lost. Those who had no Jewish

Ephesians 2:13-14a. Christ has brought us near to God. He is our peace and the source of our hope.

Ephesians 2:14b-16. Christ has made something entirely different out of the two groups. He did this through his death on the cross. His body dying gave life to us gentiles and Jews in God. He destroyed the hostility between the two groups. He did

Ephesians 2:17-18. Jesus preached to Jews and gentiles alike while he was on the earth but integrally after he left through his followers. He gave access to God to all who believe both Jews and gentiles.

Ephesians 2:19-21. Gentiles are fellow partakers of the promises of God. This was something planned long ago and was built upon the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone.

Ephesians 2:21-22. In Christ, we are the new temple of God. We are being built into something new, God’s new temple on earth. God dwells in human hearts, especially when we gather together in the name of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:1-10 is a master text for understanding our need for salvation, God’s gracious offer of salvation, and how to live out our salvation in deed and truth. Living out of a grace narrative rather than a moral performance narrative makes it possible to avoid religious judgmentalism and persevere with joy.

Ephesians 2:1-3. Paul’s description of humanity is startling and offensive but true. A quick glance at the last two weeks in the news easily confirms that we are broken. There’s something wrong with us. By nature, we follow the ruler of the power of the air, living according to the passions of our flesh. We murder, rape, assault, steal, lie, and deceive each other. The Bible’s diagnosis is that we are already dead. Our trespasses and sins have killed us. We who are spiritually dead cannot save ourselves.

Ephesians 2:4-7. Because of his mercy and love, God makes the first move. Astoundingly, he looks at fallen humanity, mired in selfishness, despicable in character, hopelessly dysfunctional—he looks and says, “I want you!” By bringing us back to life in union with Christ and seating us in the heavenly places, he has saved us and given us a bright hope (Titus 3:3-7). If you have not yet believed in the gospel, today is the day. Don’t say no to God’s invitation to salvation!

Ephesians 2:8-10. Salvation is God’s free gift to you. He reaches down in grace, but you must reach up in faith. When you do, he pulls you out of the quicksand of sin and sets you on solid ground. Remembering who you were before Christ and how God saved you makes it possible to live out of a grace narrative rather than a moral performance narrative. God has prepared work for you to do. Are you doing it? If not, go to him in prayer and ask him to reveal what work he has for you to do

God desires that we know Him in a way that enlightens the eyes of our hearts, transforming how we see Him, ourselves, others, history, and our eternal hope. The prayer in Ephesians 1 centers on God’s calling, His glorious inheritance, and the immeasurable greatness of His power toward those who believe. While God wants us to walk in this deep understanding, many remain unaware or disconnected from it.

Why is there so much emphasis on prayer in this very important and short epistle?

Acts 19 Break from pagan prayer to new covenant Christianity prayer

15-16 God-inspired prayers written in the Church Epistles reveal what God deems important to include in our petitions and intercessory prayers.

17 The prayer is addressed to God our Father. Ephesians 1:2, 3, and 17; 3:14 and 15; Matthew 6:9; Luke 11:1; John 14:13; 16:23

If we see what God wants us to see, our perspective of Him, humanity, history, and the hope will change. God wants us to know Him and His desires for His human family.

18 “Enlightened” is the difference between hearing the truth and having it come alive inside you, where it changes how you see and live. The prayer is not about knowing our calling, inheritance, and power, but His.

Genesis 1:26-28 God’s original plan has not changed. This is what He wants. Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3 In Jesus, we see what God wanted and still wants all humans to be.

His inheritance – Inheritance: 1:11, 13, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Hebrews 9:15; Romans 8:16-17; Deuteronomy 32:9; Jeremiah 7:23; Ezekiel 36:28; Revelation 21:23

Ephesians 1:19-23 We have the evidence of God’s power because He raised Jesus from the dead and ascended him to His right hand. That mighty power will do the same for us. Ephesians 1:13-14

Beginning our series on Ephesians, we’ll cover the first half of the first chapter (Eph 1:1-14). What emerges are three main

Ephesians 1:1-2 Since, the words “in Ephesus” are missing from several of our earliest manuscripts and the letter lacks any specifics about the recipients, Paul likely wrote Ephesians to be read by multiple churches right from the start. It is a comprehensive and masterful summary of Christianity and is well worth your time.

Ephesians 1:3-6 From our creation, God blessed us (Gen 1:28). Then after humanity’s initial rebellion, our world became cursed, and our flesh became fallen. God chose Abraham and then Israel so that through them He could bless the world. In Christ—the quintessential Israelite—we receive the blessings that result in holiness, adoption, and an inheritance (Gen 1:28; 12:2-3; Deu 7:6-14).

Ephesians 1:7-10 In Christ we have redemption through his blood, resulting in forgiveness of our sins. Grace may be freely available, but it is not cheap. It cost something: Christ was the price. To be redeemed is for a captive or slave to be set free. This was all part of God’s plan to unite all things in heaven and earth in Christ.

Ephesians 1:11-14 In Christ we have an inheritance. Guaranteeing God’s promise of this bright future, He’s sealed us with His spirit. In their world, a seal meant possession, like a rancher’s brand. The idea s not that you can live however you want and you will still be saved. Rather, it’s that God has marked you His own, giving you a new identity in Christ that you should live out joyfully.

This was the greatest promotion a man ever received.