But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (Ephesians 4:15)

Question to an Archeologist's wife: How do you like being married to a man who studies antiquities?

Makes a good husband: the older I get, the more he is interested in me.

Little boy: Grandpa, were you on the ark? Of course not Then why were you not drowned?

The city of Ephesus is, by Pliny {a}, called the other light of Asia; Miletus was one, and Ephesus the other: it was the metropolis of the lesser Asia, and one of the twelve cities of Ionia, and the first and chief of them: it is said to be built by the Amazons {b}: it was famous for the magnificent temple of Diana; and the inhabitants of it were very much given to superstition and idolatry, and even to devilish arts, [ Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.] (Acts 19:19 AV)

It abounded with orators and philosophers, and men of great wisdom and learning {c}; and was formerly a very rich, trading, flourishing city,. Hither the Apostle Paul first went after he had been at Corinth, though he then made but a short stay; when he came thither again, he found twelve disciples, and was the instrument of making a great many more: here he continued two or three years and formed a Gospel church, very large and flourishing, to whom he writes this epistle; and which was written by him when he was a prisoner at Rome, as appears by several passages in it, Eph 3:1 4:1 6:20, and seems to have been written much about the same time as were the epistles to the Philippians, and to the Colossians, and to Philemon. Dr. Hammond thinks it was written about the year 58, and Dr. Lightfoot places it in 59, and the fifth year of Nero. The occasion of it was the foresight the apostle had of false teachers that would spring up in this church, after his death, and spread their pernicious doctrines, and draw away disciples after them, and do great mischief in the church; wherefore the design of this epistle is to establish the saints in the doctrines of the Gospel, that so they might not be carried away with the errors of the wicked: the subject matter of it is most excellent; it treats of the most sublime doctrines of grace, of divine predestination, and eternal election, of redemption by Christ, and of peace and pardon by his blood, of conversion by the power of efficacious grace, and of salvation by the free grace of God, in opposition to works: it also very largely treats of the nature and usefulness of the Gospel ministry, and of gifts qualifying for it, and of the several duties of religion incumbent on Christians; and the method which is used is exceeding apt and beautiful, for the apostle first begins with the doctrines of the Gospel, which he distinctly handles and explains, and then proceeds to enforce the duties belonging to men, both as men and Christians. (Courtesy OLB)

PROPOSITION:

The doctrines dealt with in the Book of Ephesians flow from God's purpose for man in redemption to man's practical life styles and ultimately man's victory in life.

The idea of spiritual maturity flashes before our eyes every time we open this wonderful book.

Let us examine it and seek the Lord's blessings in our lives as we enjoy the journey of dynamic spiritual growth.

I. THE PRELIMINARIES Eph 1:1-3

In this chapter are contained the inscription of the epistle, the salutation of the persons to whom it is written, the apostle's thanksgiving for blessings received by him, and them; in which the efficient, moving, procuring, and final causes of salvation are taken notice of, and the several parts and branches of it observed; and the whole is concluded with prayers for the Ephesians; in which mention is made of various things to the comfort of the saints, and to the glory of Christ.

a) The source of blessings God.
b) The scope of blessings All blessings.
c) The sphere of blessings In Heavenlies.

When Queen Victoria discovered she would be the next monarch of England, she exclaimed,

Then I will be good

When we are confronted with the magnitude of God and His blessings to the saints, we too should feel humbled and seek to live in light of what He has done for us.

II. THE PROGRAM Eph 1:4-5

Three great words.

a) Chosen. God's plan for man is His choosing man's destiny depends on God's program for man.

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13)

John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. (John 1:15-16)

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. (Romans 3:10-11)

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)

His choosing shows two things:

1) The importance of man

2) The potential for man holy blameless.

b) Predestinated v.5 God's intent for man is that he might be like Jesus. Anything less than a committed Christian life is to walk short of God's intent for us. Please note that the fact of predestination is clearly stated in Scripture. Theologians have disagreed with its scope and sequence. The verses where the word appears always deal with God's design for man- that he should be like Christ. It is the heart of God that fallen man should be restored by the means of His provision and conform to the holy Person of Jesus Christ.

c) Adoption explained When we are born again we are also adopted standing complete as an adult. Gal. 4:1-7. It is awesome to know and believe that not only were we born again and regenerated by His power, but by His love and will we were adopted. He received us as sons and daughters. Praise the Lord for this act of love!

III. THE PURPOSE Eph 1:6

a) To glorify the grace of God 6a

I found free grace and dying love I am newborn again. Been a long time a talkin about my trials here below. Free grace, free grace free grace sinner free grace I am new born again So glad So glad I am new born again Been a long time a talkin about my trials here below. (Negro Spiritual)

Every sinner saved is an exercise of the grace of God Eph. 2:89

b) To show we have been accepted v. 6b

We are in Christ Thus God has accepted us as He has accepted His own Son.

We are in Christ and accepted may that give us a measure of maturity and stability in our walk.

CONCLUSION:

1. You and I are special in the eyes of God it matters not who we are.

2. The fact that we are special does not indicate an automatic salvation Salvation is God's gift to man, but it is to the repenting/believing man.

3. God's choice is that you might be saved. What is your choice?

Sirs, what must I do to be saved? was a questioned posed by a panicking prison guard in Acts 16:30

The answer of the apostles was simply Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house, vs. 31

Salvation is universally offered but effective only to those who repent and believe the gospel.

Step #1 Admit you are a sinner and far away from God. Rom 3:10-13, 23

Step #2 Realize the penalty for sin, Rom 6:23a; Rev 21:8

Step #3 Thank God that Christ took the penalty of all our sin when He died on the cruel cross of Calvary. The purpose of His suffering and ignominious death was so that we could be set free from our sin Rom 6:23b says the gift of God is eternal life Rom 5:6-10, 6 ¶ For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Step #4 Call on the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ to save you and forgive your sin, Rom 10:9-13, 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12 ¶ For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Emphasis mine)

May God bless you as you act on the truth you have heard or read.

© Copyright 2004 Neil Sawatzky