EPHESIANS:

RICHES AND

RESPONSIBILITIES

By Manly Luscombe

APRIL, 2024
 

 EPHESIANS:

RICHES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

INTRODUCTION AND OUTLINE

1. Author

          It was the custom in the first century to begin a letter by identifying the author. Paul begins most of his epistles in this way. "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ" is the phrase that begins this letter. There is little dispute that this letter is genuine. The vocabulary, style of writing and the kind of arguments made are Pauline in character.

2. Date

          It is not easy to determine an exact date for the letter to Ephesus. It was written at a time when Paul was a prisoner (6:20), so it had to be written from either Caesera or Rome. It is the general view of most writers that it came from Rome. Tychicus was the messenger (6:21) who carried both this letter and the letter to the Colossians (Col. 4:7).

          This information leads to a date between 60 and 64, with 62 or 63 being most likely.

3. Outline

          1. DOCTRINE: OUR RICHES IN CHRIST - Chapters 1-3

                    A. Our spiritual possessions in Christ - 1:1-14

                              1. From the Father - 1:4-6

                              2. From the Son - 1:7-12

                              3. From the Spirit - 1:13-14

                    B. First prayer - for enlightenment - 1:15-23

                    C. Our spiritual position in Christ - 2:1-22

                              1. Raised and seated on the throne - 2:1-10

                              2. Reconciled and set into the temple - 2:11-22

                    D. Second prayer - for enablement - 3:1-21

          2. DUTY: OUR RESPONSIBILITIES IN CHRIST - Chapters 4-6

                    A. Walk in unity - 4:1-16

                    B. Walk in purity - 4:17 - 5:17

                              1. Walk not as other Gentiles - 4:17-32

                              2. Walk in love - 5:1-6

                              3. Walk as children of light - 5:7-14

                              4. Walk carefully - 5:16-17

                    C. Walk in harmony - 5:18 - 6:9

                              1. Husbands and wives - 5:18-33

                              2. Parents and children - 6:1-4

                              3. Masters and servants - 6:5-9

                    D. Walk in victory - 6:10-24

4. Theme

          The believer in Christ has the RICHES of "all spiritual blessings" (1:3) and the RESPONSIBILITY to "walk worthy" (4:1) of our life in Christ.

5. Location

          The city of Ephesus is located on the western edge of modern Turkey. The ancient city was a "safe port" for ships. The city sat on a long harbor (about 4 miles inland) which was protected by mountains on each side.

          It was a great city for commercial trade, a shipping port and educational center. The facade of the great library still stands. The greatest distinction at the time of Paul was the temple of Diana. This temple was known as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

          The city has not been inhabited since the fourth century when a plague broke out and the city was wiped out. Even though there are several earthquakes each year in this area, many of the magnificent buildings remain - the library, the temple of Diana, the large theater, and the marketplace.

Doctrine: Our Riches in Christ – Chapters 1-3

CHAPTER 1

Our spiritual possessions - 1:1-14

 (Eph 1:1)  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:

1.   Paul was an apostle, not like the original 12, or Mathias, chosen to replace Judas. Paul was an apostle (one sent) to the gentiles.

2.   Jesus sent the 12 apostles to the house of Israel. Paul was chosen to cover all the non-Jewish world. Gentile means “all the nations”. It is from a Greek word for “nation” in the plural form.

3.   By the will of God – see also 1 Corinthians 1:1. He was not chosen by a group of men. He was chosen by God.

4.   The letter is addressed to two groups:

a.   To the saints at Ephesus – We are to be pure and morally blameless before God.

b.   And to faithful saints in Christ Jesus.

5.   This letter was intended to be copied and shared with other churches. See also 1 Corinthians 1:2 “all in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ.”

6.   It is addressed to “saints.” Albert Barnes writes, “The word “saints,” ἅγιοι  hagioi, means those who are holy, or those who are devoted or consecrated to God.”

(Eph 1:2)  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1.   “Grace and Peace” was a common greeting.

a.   Grace here means “favor”.

b.   Paul uses this expression often in his writing. See Romans 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 1:3; Galatians 1:3; Colossians 1:2 and others.

(Eph 1:3)  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

1.   Verse 3 begins a sentence that ends in verse 12. This style of writing makes it difficult for us to explain or understand.

2.   God has blessed us –

a.   Every spiritual blessing

b.   In heavenly places

c.    In Christ

(Eph 1:4)  just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

1.   God chose us in Him – Before the foundation of the world, God had a plan. He would send Christ to save those who believe and obey Him.

2.   God is able to know the future – He is able to see what needs to be done BEFORE a problem arises.

3.   How should we respond?

a.   Be holy – pure, morally blameless. The same Greek word is also translated “saint.”

b.   Without blame – if your sins are forgiven, you are blameless.

(Eph 1:5)  having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

1.   Predestined – Predestination is a greatly misunderstood concept. This word means to determine before.

2.   If you see 2 cars speeding toward each other on a curve. You might say, “Those cars are going to crash.” You determined before what would happen, because you had a view that the drivers did not have. God has the knowledge of what we will do in some situation. He does not cause us to behave that way, but He, in his infinite wisdom, knew what we would do.

3.   God chose to adopt us into His family. God set the guidelines and the parameters for who would be adopted. When we meet the guidelines, we are adopted into the family of God.

(Eph 1:6)  to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

1.   All we can do is praise God for his grace toward us.

2.   God chose ME to be accepted into His family. We can do no less than praise and glorify God for loving us, accepting us, saving us.

3.   In the Beloved = in Christ. See the next verse.

(Eph 1:7)  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

1.   In Him – that is in Christ we have:

a.   Redemption

b.   Forgiveness of sins

c.    The wealth of God as our inheritance.

(Eph 1:8)  which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,

1.   God has shown great wisdom in His plan to save us from sin.

2.   Prudence – thinking, understanding

3.   Barnes writes - The meaning here is, that, so to speak, God had evinced great “intelligence” in the plan of salvation.

(Eph 1:9)  having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,

1.   Mystery – means to accept something before it is fully known. Some things remain hidden, concealed or unknown.

2.   God has made known to us His will. We could not guess what God had in mind. It was hidden, unknown – UNTIL God reveals it to us.

3.   God knows better than we do. He knows what is best for us. We often do stupid and foolish things that harm us. God knows what is good and best for us. We must learn to trust God and His knowledge better than our limited understanding.

(Eph 1:10)  that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.

1.   Dispensation – Administration or arrangement of things; a plan or a scheme.

2.   We use this word to describe the three major periods of Bible history – Patriarchal, Mosaic, and Christian. Three separate arrangements of how God dealt with man.

3.   No matter what dispensation one might live under – God has a way to put all men together “in Him.” Those who live before Christ and those who lived after Christ – All will be saved by the blood of Christ.

(Eph 1:11)  In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

1.   We can be in the family of God. God chose to let me into His family, live in His eternal home and inherit all that He has.

2.   God decided who would be accepted. He set the rules. He gave us the guidelines in a book, the Bible.

3.   Everything God does is according to His will.

(Eph 1:12)  that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

1.   We who trust in Christ will be part of the family of God. We will be adopted into His family. We will be His children.

2.   How can you do anything except praise, worship and adore God for deciding to take you into His home?

(Eph 1:13)  In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

1.   You heard the word of truth. Some Bible teacher, preacher, parent or other relative taught you the truth, the gospel.

2.   Your salvation from sin is because you believed and obeyed the will of God.

3.   When you obey God, He seals you with the Holy Spirit. Seal = a mark to show that you are genuine, not a fake. Seal here is like the seal on some official documents, notary public, deed to your house, etc. The seal shows that the document can be trusted as genuine.

(Eph 1:14)  who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

1.   The seal is the guarantee that our inheritance is for real.

2.   The seal is the assurance of the future possession.

3.   We are not home yet. But we have the deed in our hand and have the guarantee that the home is ours.

First prayer - for enlightenment - 1:15-23

(Eph 1:15)  Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

1.   When you see the word “Therefore” you need to look back and see what it is there for.

2.   God has offered to adopt, forgive, save, redeem, and take us home with Him for eternity.

3.   It starts with our faith. Do you believe? Has you faith led you to obey the simple commands of God?

4.   Do you love Jesus? Do you love all who love Jesus?

(Eph 1:16)  do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

1.   The rest of this chapter is a prayer that more will come to this knowledge and understanding of God and His commands.

2.   Paul makes mention of the saints in Ephesus.

3.   NOTE: There is power in telling people that you are praying for them. We pray for the sick, the hurting, the bereaved and the lost. BUT, do you tell them that you are praying for them?

(Eph 1:17)  that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

1.   Paul is specific in his prayer.

2.   He not only tells them he is praying for them; but he tells them what he is asking God on their behalf.

3.   He prays that God will give them:

a.   A spirit of wisdom

b.   Revelation

c.    Knowledge of God

(Eph 1:18)  the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

d.   Eyes open to understanding

e.   Know the hope you have

f.     The riches that you will inherit

(Eph 1:19)  and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

g.   Know the exceeding greatness of His power

h.   Anticipate His mighty power

(Eph 1:20)  which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

i.     Faith that God raised Jesus from the dead

j.     Knowledge that God placed Jesus at His right hand

(Eph 1:21)  far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

k.   A place above all earthly power and might and dominion

l.     This prayer will be answered in this life AND the age to come.

(Eph 1:22)  And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,

1.   God has ALL things under His control. He is over all things. This means all things are under Him.

2.   God gave Christ to be head of all things about the church. Why?

a.   He purchased the church with his blood.

b.   He died for those in His body, the church.

c.    He was given all power and authority.

(Eph 1:23)  which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

1.   The church is His body. The body is the church.

2.   The church is all in all – It is EVERYTHING we need.

3.   If the church is everything, one out of the church has nothing.

CHAPTER 2

Our spiritual position in Christ - 2:1-22

 (Eph 2:1)  And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,

1.   Paul is not thinking about our physical life on earth. He is mentioning our spiritual life in Christ.

2.   We were dead in sin, separate from God. It was in the death and resurrection of Christ that we can be raised out of our spiritual death and have the hope of life eternal with Christ.

(Eph 2:2)  in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

1.   Before you became a Christian, you lived your life, made decisions, treated other people, and acted and spoke like the rest of the world.

2.   The “prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” is Satan and his workers.

3.   If you are disobedient to God, you are following the work of Satan.

(Eph 2:3)  among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

1.   How do we live, conduct ourselves, before we become Christians? Here is the answer.

a.   Lust of the flesh

b.   Fulfill desires of the flesh

c.    Fulfill desire of the mind

d.   By nature,

e.   Children of wrath

f.     Just as the others

2.   Lust of the flesh – Lust is the “desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden.” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

3.   Desires of the flesh – This phrase describes what we wish or determine to do. It describes our will, choice, pleasure, desire, inclination.

4.   Desire of the mind – While flesh is outward and physical, the mind is internal. With our mind we think, deal with emotions, our will. Until we act on these thoughts, they remain a desire of the mind.

5.   By nature – This describes how we think and act without God in our life. Without God we begin to do what is natural. Thayer says that this word includes “a mode of feeling and actin which by long habit has become nature.”

6.   Children of wrath – This is our normal reaction which can lead to impulse, violence, indignation. We must learn to control these responses to what is going on around us.

7.   Just as the others – Without God in our life, we act like everybody else in the world.

(Eph 2:4)  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

1.   But God – Here is the sharp contrast that Christians should have in their lives.

2.   Rich in mercy – God sees our weakness to sin. He has mercy (compassion, kindness, good will) toward us.

3.   Three words that we need to understand: Justice, Mercy, Grace.

a.   Justice – We get what we deserve.

b.   Mercy – We don’t get what we deserve.

c.    Grace – We get what we don’t deserve.

4.   Why does God show mercy to us? Because of His great love.

(Eph 2:5)  even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

1.   We were dead – Death means separation. Physical death is separation of the soul from the body. Medical death is separation of the body from functions that keep us alive (brain, heart and lungs). Spiritual death is caused by sin and separates us from God.

2.   Trespass – One of several words to describe sin in our lives. Trespass means “to cross the line.” God tells us things we should not do. When we step across the line that God draws, we sin.

3.   Made alive – To be raised from a state of death to being alive again.

4.   By grace – See comments on verse 4 above. We often use the phrase, “Unmerited favor.” Grace is God giving us blessings which we do not deserve. Faith and obedience is our response to God’s special and free gift of salvation.

5.   Saved – This word means to deliver, to protect, to rescue, to remove from danger.

(Eph 2:6)  and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

1.   Raised up – We were dead. Now we are alive again.

2.   Sit together – We share the honor of being at God’s table, in God’s house. We partake of His glory.

3.   Heavenly places – This phrase only occurs in Ephesians. Paul uses this phrase 5 times in this letter.  Notice: “places” is in italics. In the Bible, some words are supplied by the translators, but are not in the original writing.

4.   Albert Barnes: “The word “places” is here understood, and is not in the original. It may mean heavenly “places,” or heavenly “things.” The word “places” does not express the best sense. The idea seems to be, that God has blessed us in Christ in regard to heavenly subjects or matters.”

(Eph 2:7)  that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

1.   In the ages to come – The ages to come refer to all future times.

2.   Ages – This word refers to some period of time. It could be a short time, (the age of the apostles) or it could have reference to the Christian age (from Pentecost to the end of the world.)

3.   Exceeding riches – We measure wealth and riches by material possessions – money, property, cars, houses, etc.

4.   The riches of God are not measured by things like money and property. The wealth of God is salvation, God’s kindness, compassion, mercy, forgiveness, and love toward us. God’s wealth is seen in God’s home in Heaven.

(Eph 2:8)  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

1.   This is an important passage about our salvation.

a.   By grace – Grace is God’s part. He offers us eternal life when we deserve to be condemned to eternal torment.

b.   Saved – We have been rescued, healed, forgiven. We are delivered from the penalties of sin and death.

c.    Through faith – Grace is God’s offer. Faith is our acceptance of that offer. Heb. 11:6 reminds us that we cannot please God without faith.

d.   Not of yourselves – Grace is still a free gift, even though there are conditions that must apply. A wealthy man might donate millions of dollars to some university, with the stipulation that the money be used for a new science building and that his name be on the building. It is still a free gift, but with some conditions.

e.   Our salvation is still a free gift from God. God has placed some conditions on us. Faith, repentance, obedience in baptism are some of the conditions to receiving this gift.

(Eph 2:9)  not of works, lest anyone should boast.

1.   Even when we meet all the conditions, we have earned salvation. It is still a free gift.

2.   Boast – To brag, glory in our accomplishment, draw attention to ourselves and what we have accomplished – is wrong.

3.   Even when we meet the conditions, salvation is still a gift from God, not what we earned or deserved.

(Eph 2:10)  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

1.   His workmanship – We are that which God made. He created us. We are a work of His hands.

2.   Good works – This is the purpose for our existence. Our purpose in this life is to do good.

3.   Walk in them – This phrase is borrowed from the Hebrew language. It means to live, to conduct your life. We must live as God has given us the guidance and instructions. Strong’s defines this word: “figuratively to live, deport oneself.”

(Eph 2:11)  Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—

1.   Remember – Think about where you were before you became Christians.

2.   Gentiles – In the Jewish world, there were Jews and Gentiles. The word for Gentiles is a plural form of the word nations. There were Jews and there were all the other nations. Jews and everybody else.

3.   Uncircumcision – The Jews, under the Law of Moses, were in covenant with God when they were circumcised. All the other nations did not practice circumcision.

4.   In the flesh by hands – Their relationship with God a fleshly act. They did not think of this in spiritual terms.

5.   NOTE: Sometimes we make the same mistake about baptism. Yes, it is a physical action we take. But our relationship with God is more than just being buried in water. Baptism should be in response to our seeking a good conscience before God. Baptism is not just an act of buried in water. It is washing away sin. It is forgiveness and salvation. It is adoption into the family of God. It is eternal life.

6.   Covenant with God is a contract, an agreement. God promises to do certain things AND we promise to do certain things. God keeps His end of the contract. (2 Corinthians 1:20) We must keep our end of the agreement.

(Eph 2:12)  that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

1.   We are reminded of what our condition was before we became Christians.

a.   Without Christ – We were without the blood of Christ to save us from sin.

b.   Aliens from the Israel – We are not citizens. Spiritual Israel is the nation of God’s people. An alien is not among the people of God.

c.    Strangers from the covenant – A covenant is a contract that one can make with God. I will obey God’s will and commands. God will adopt me into His family and take me to live with Him for eternity.

d.   No hope – Hope is desire AND expectation. Desire without expectation is a wish. Expectation without desire is a dread.

e.   Without God – What can one expect when they are living without God? Without a relationship and connection to deity; we can do nothing. (See John 15:5)

f.     In the world – Just living in this world, the world of sin, evil and depravity, we have nothing. We live in this world, but we are not of this world.

(Eph 2:13)  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

1.   While verse 12 shows us our condition if we are outside of Christ, this verse shows the contrast for those in Christ.

2.   Afar off – Away from God. Away from salvation. Away from the blood of Christ. Away from all the promises of God. Away from eternal life.

3.   Brought near – If you are a Christian, if you are in Christ – the gap is closed. All that we were away from – are now ours, in our reach, and promised by God.

4.   Blood of Christ – Without the blood of Christ we do not have the forgiveness of our sins. (Hebrews 9:22)

(Eph 2:14)  For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

1.   He is our peace – Christ is the answer to our spiritual problems. In sin, we are facing the wrath of God. In Christ we have peach with God.

2.   Made both one – This relates to the previous statements (vs. 11-12). There was a separation between Jews and Gentiles. Christ has made a way for Jews and Gentiles to be saved.

3.   Middle way of separation – The Law of Moses was only for the Jewish nation. It had become a wall that separated the Jews from the rest of the world. This phrase makes reference to the outer wall of the temple in Jerusalem. Jews could go inside this wall. Gentiles were not allowed beyond this wall.

(Eph 2:15)  having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,

1.   Enmity – This word means, “The cause of hatred.” Jesus took away that which is the source of animosity and hatred.

2.   Abolished – Jesus put an end to the Law of Moses. He removed its force and power. Abolish does not mean annihilate. It means to remove its power, like turn off a light. The bulb remains but it has no power. Jesus “unplugged” the law, removed its force.

3.   Commandments contained in ordinances – The 10 Commandments are recorded in two places in the Bible, Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. When do dispose of the container, the contents are thrown away. Jesus removed the force of the law when contained the 10 Commandments.

4.   One new man – There is no longer this division of Jew and Gentile. Jesus removed the wall that divided them. Now all (Jew and Gentile) are under the same law. All are saved by obedience to the same law.

(Eph 2:16)  and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

1.   Reconcile – Another work of Christ on the cross; He removed the wall that divided. He also put them back together again. Two groups that were at odds with each other, can now be friends.

2.   One body – The body of Christ is the church. See Eph. 1:22-23.

3.   Ending the enmity – The hatred is gone. The wall is down. The Jew and the Gentile can worship together in the church. This includes the church at Ephesus.

(Eph 2:17)  And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.

1.   Jesus preached peace – To all men, Jews and Gentiles.

2.   Afar off and near – The afar off is a reference to Gentiles. Those near refers to the Jews. Study Acts 2:39.

(Eph 2:18)  For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

1.   Both had access – With the wall torn down, both Jew and Gentile can have access to salvation in Christ. The Greek word translated “access” is the word for when one who has an audience with a king.

2.   By one Spirit – The Holy Spirit, in guiding men to write the New Testament, gave us the instructions for how to enter the body of Christ, the church.

3.   To the Father – We have access to Christ. We have access to the Holy Spirit. We also have access to the Father.

(Eph 2:19)  Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

1.   Therefore – When you see the word “therefore” you must back up and see what it is “there for.” This is a conclusion based on the information already given.

2.   No longer strangers and foreigners – Gentiles are not excluded from the family of God. Gentiles can now be part of the kingdom of Christ.

3.   Fellow citizens – All can now enter the kingdom of Christ.

4.   Saints – This word is often used to describe some “super holy Christians.” In the New Testament Christians are saints, even when they are not living or teaching as God commands. Look at the “saints” in Corinth. 1 Corinthians is full of errors in doctrine and morals that needed to be corrected. But they were still saints.

(Eph 2:20)  having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

1.   Build on the foundation – In building a house, one does not start with the roof. You begin with the foundation.

2.   Apostles and prophets – The 12 apostles on Pentecost and Paul, the 13^th apostle in the early church. Prophets are inspired teachers. We often think only of prophecy of future events. In addition to the apostles, guided by the Holy Spirit, there were also others, men and women, who were guided in teaching the will of God.

3.   Chief cornerstone – Isaiah 26:16 and quoted in Romans 9:33 shows that God planned for Jesus to be that chief cornerstone of the church.

4.   Cornerstone – today it is just a block that inscribes the name of the building and when it was built. Here it is a “foundation stone” that helps support the outer walls of the building. Remove it, and the building will collapse.

(Eph 2:21)  in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,

1.   Remove the cornerstone (Christ) and the whole building will fall down.

2.   The whole building is the temple of the Lord.

(Eph 2:22)  in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

1.   If you are part of the Lord’s church, you are a part of the building. Every Christian is a part of the building.

2.   This building is the dwelling place of God. God promised to be with us and to be our God.

a.   God is with us. Romans15:33

b.   Christ is with us. Romans 16:24

CHAPTER 3

Second prayer - for enablement - 3:1-21

 (Eph 3:1)  For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—

1.   The prisoner – This indicates that Paul was in prison at the writing of this letter. See “Date” on page 3.

2.   For you Gentiles – Paul was chosen to preach to the Gentiles, while the original apostles preached primarily to the Jews.

(Eph 3:2)  if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,

1.   Dispensation of Grace – You often hear this word in reference to the 3 major areas of God dealing with man. Patriarchal, Mosaic, and Christian. The word means “administration, economy.” In the 3 major areas above – this word refers to how God governed the people

a.   Patriarchal – God spoke to the older man, father of the extended family.

b.   Mosaic – God spoke through the written Law of Moses.

c.    Christian – God speaks through His Son.

2.   Grace – Here Paul sees how God extended grace to him and gave him the mission to preach to the Gentiles.

(Eph 3:3)  how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,

1.   Revelation – God revealed His will to Paul. Revelation is about giving man a message from the mind of God. Inspiration is God guiding man to write and record the words to be copied and read by many.

2.   Mystery – The unknown until God reveals it. God explained things to Paul so he could “solve the mystery” that many did not understand.

(Eph 3:4)  by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),

1.   Now Paul is writing to them (inspiration) what God has shown and explained (revelation).

2.   Now, 2,000 years later, we can read and understand what was a mystery but now revealed.

3.   For many, reading the Bible is easy. But trying to understand it is more difficult. It is not enough for us to just read the Bible.

(Eph 3:5)  which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

1.   You can learn, know and understand things that people in the time of the Old Testament did not know or understand.

2.   God had a plan, but it was not revealed to men. Now it has been revealed. The curtain has been opened and we can see what was not visible before.

(Eph 3:6)  that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

1.   Gentiles are fellow heirs – Even though you are not a Jew, you are in the will. You are an heir of all that God has.

2.   Same body – There are not two churches. There was not a Jewish church and a Gentile church. Jews and Gentiles are in the same body, the church.

3.   Same promise – Gentiles have the same faith, the same hope, the same promise of salvation and eternal life.

4.   If you obey the gospel of Christ, you have the same promise, the same forgiveness, the same hope, the same eternal life as the Jew.

(Eph 3:7)  of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

1.   Paul became a minister – God called him. He obeyed. God sent him. He went. God have him the power. He used the power to preach to the Gentiles.

2.   With all of that – Paul knows it was the “effective working” of the power of God, through the Holy Spirit, that made him effective.

(Eph 3:8)  To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

1.   Humility – The ability to see others better than themselves. Put others first. Put yourself last. JOY = Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last.

2.   Paul was given to opportunity to preach among the Gentiles. Paul took advantage of that and was effective in converting many.

3.   Are we taking advantage of the many opportunities that God has given to us to preach, teach, share the Gospel with others?

(Eph 3:9)  and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;

1.   Paul’s job was to help people see:

a.   Fellowship of the mystery

b.   What was hidden from view

c.    God the Creator of all things

2.   Our job is exactly the same today.

a.   Help people see things they don’t understand

b.   Open their eyes to hidden things

c.    Show them God the Creator

(Eph 3:10)  to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,

1.   HERE IS THE PURPOSE IN PREACHING / TEACHING THE GOSPEL

a.   To teach the manifold wisdom of God – Manifold = multifaceted, variegated – There is more to the wisdom of God than just one or two ideas. God thinks and plans deeper and more directions than we do.

b.   Make known by the church – The church is the primary source of spreading the gospel around the world.

c.    To principalities and powers – Take the Gospel to common people, to kings, governors, powerful people, rich and poor, black and white, no matter social status, education, age. See Eph. 1:21.

(Eph 3:11)  according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

1.   Eternal purpose – God thinks farther ahead than we do. He is able to look far into the future.

2.   Before the world began – Before there was Adam or Eve, God knew that He would send His Son.

3.   And He accomplished His purpose in Christ.

(Eph 3:12)  in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

1.   In Christ we have - - -

a.   Boldness to preach Christ

b.   Access to reach the lost (radio, TV, internet, mail)

c.    Confidence – God is with me. I will not fear what man may do.

d.   Faith – Our faithful life will result in eternal life with God.

(Eph 3:13)  Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

1.   Do not lose heart – Don’t faint. Don’t quit. Don’t

2.   I have tribulations – Persecutions, hardship, troubles

3.   Result = your glory – You praise, honor and worship God.

(Eph 3:14)  For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

1.   Give thanks – Not that I am in prison. Not glad for my troubles.

2.   But Paul thanks God that many are remaining faithful to Christ in Ephesus.

(Eph 3:15)  from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

1.   The family is named – The church wears the name of Christ.

2.   Some of God’s family (Paul, early Christians) are in heaven.

3.   Some of God’s family (Christians today) are on earth.

(Eph 3:16)  that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,

1.   Paul prays that God would give them:

a.   Riches of His glory

b.   Strengthened with God’s might

c.    Strong Spirit in inner man

(Eph 3:17)  that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

d.   Christ dwell in your hearts

e.   Be rooted and grounded in love

(Eph 3:18)  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—

f.     Understand the full measure of God

(Eph 3:19)  to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

g.   Know the love of Christ

h.   Filled with the fullness of God

2.   May we seek the same for our lives.

(Eph 3:20)  Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

1.   The power of God is beyond our ability to measure.

a.   Able

b.   To do

c.    Exceedingly

d.   Abundantly

e.   Above

f.     All

g.   That we ask

h.   Or think

2.   This is God’s power at work in us.

(Eph 3:21)  to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

1.   Pray to this all-powerful God:

2.   Give Him the glory and praise.

3.   In the church – Personally and in the church assembly

4.   By Christ – Christ died to give us the church

5.   To all generations – this includes us!

6.   Forever and ever – Literally, to the ages of the ages of the ages

7.   Amen.

DUTY: OUR RESPONSIBILITIES IN CHRIST - Chapters 4-6

WALK IN UNITY – 4:1-16

CHAPTER 4

 (Eph 4:1)  I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,

1.   Paul now begins the second section. He discusses the duties and the responsibilities of Christians.

2.   He mentions again that he is a prisoner.

3.   Walk worthy – See 2:10 This is not about taking steps, putting one foot in front of the other. This means how you live your life.

4.   Worthy – Live your life in a manner worthy of being a Christian.

5.   Calling – You call yourself a Christian. Live like one.

(Eph 4:2)  with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

1.   Lowliness – Humility is a challenge for most of us. See Philippians 2:3; Colossians 2:23; 1 Peter 5:5

2.   Gentleness – Meekness (KJV) – How do you handle injury or insult. Do you seek revenge? We must have a mild and forgiving spirit.

3.   Longsuffering – Bearing with patience

4.   Bearing with – Endure, Manly’s definition: Put up with

5.   In love – AND do all the above with a loving spirit.

(Eph 4:3)  endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

1.   Endeavor – Make diligent effort, try really hard, your best effort

2.   Unity – John 17:21 There is always a danger of discord and disagreement when people come together. We all have our ideas of what should be done, how to do it, etc.

3.   Peace – The way to survive the disagreements is to seek the bond of peace. The word “bond” refers to a ligament in a joint. Ligaments hold the knee together. The church needs some ligaments to hold us together.

(Eph 4:4)  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;

1.   One body – Clearly this is the church. See 1:22-23 Jesus did not die to purchase multiple churches, teaching conflicting doctrines.

2.   One Spirit – The Holy Spirit is a part of the Godhead.

3.   One hope – Hope is desire AND expectation. God calls us by the gospel to be united in all of these “ones”.

(Eph 4:5)  one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

4.   One Lord – Jesus Christ is our only Lord. Lord means ruler, master, the one in charge

5.   One faith – We have faith in many things. But there is only ONE faith that saves, that pleases God; that obeys the commands of Jesus.

6.   One baptism – Many denominations teach 3 baptisms – sprinkle, pour, immerse. Many teach various purposes for baptism – join church, sign you are already saved, to be saved. In the NT there is only one baptism. There are 3 important parts to baptism.

a.   What constitutes baptism in the New Testament?

                                         i.    Water

                                       ii.    Burial in water

                                      iii.    Symbolic of the death, burial and resurrection

b.   Who should be baptized?

                                         i.    Not the infant

                                       ii.    Not on behalf of another

                                      iii.    Obedient to the commands

1.   Believe in Jesus as the Son of God

2.   Decide to turn away from life of sin (repent)

3.   Willing to admit your faith in Jesus

c.    What is the purpose of baptism?

                                         i.    Not to join a church

                                       ii.    Not because you are already saved

                                      iii.    Baptism is for the purpose of:

a.   Wash away sins – Acts 22:16

b.   Remission of sins – Acts 2:38

c.    Forgiveness of sins – Ephesians 1:7

d.   Cleanse from sin – Ephesians 5:26

e.   Added to the church Acts 2:47

f.     To be saved from sin – 1 Peter 3:21

(Eph 4:6)  one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

7.   One God and Father – A difficult subject is the trinity. Are there THREE Gods or just ONE God? How can three different and distinct persons form one God?
Here – The one God is the Father of all. This is God the Father. The One Lord is Jesus and the One Spirit is the Holy Spirit.

(Eph 4:7)  But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.

1.   To each one of us – The same grace given to Paul is given to every Christian. This gift is not miraculous gifts given to the early church. Romans 8 gives a detailed list of the gifts given to all Christians.

2.   According to the measure – All gifts (miraculous or not) are given in kind and amount as each person can use or handle the gift.

3.   Christ’s gift – Christ had all the gifts in full measure. John 3:34

(Eph 4:8)  Therefore He says: "WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE, AND GAVE GIFTS TO MEN."

1.   Paul quotes from Psalm 68:18.

2.   Albert Barnes explains, “The “point” of the argument here is, that Christ, when he ascended to heaven, obtained certain “gifts” for people, and that those gifts are bestowed upon his people in accordance with this.”

3.   We often connect the word “gifts” with the spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12. God gives other gifts.

a.   Righteousness – Romans 5:17

b.   Justification – Romans 5:18

c.    Eternal life – Romans 6:23

d.   Salvation – Ephesians 2:8

e.   Each has his own – 1 Corinthians 7:7

f.     Cup of cold water – Mark 10:42

g.   Teaching

(Eph 4:9)  (Now this, "HE ASCENDED"—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

1.   He Ascended – For Christ to ascend, He had to first Descend.

2.   Christ descended into the tomb.

(Eph 4:10)  He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

1.   After Christ went down to the grave, He ascended to Heaven.

2.   It was in His resurrection and ascension that the final prophecies about Christ coming to earth were fulfilled.

(Eph 4:11)  And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

1.   Some special gifts were given. There are two groups.

a.   Temporary gifts

                                         i.    Apostles – A group of 12 men at Pentecost and Paul

                                       ii.    Prophets – Early Christians were given the ability to receive messages from God to give to the local church.

b.   Permanent gifts

                                         i.    Evangelists – those who proclaim the Good News

                                       ii.    Pastors – One of the terms for elders / bishops

                                      iii.    Teachers – Those who teach a group in a class or individually teach the lost

(Eph 4:12)  for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

1.   Paul explains the purpose of these gifts (abilities)

a.   Equip the saints for ministry – show them how to minister to others. This can be done in class, individually or by taking them with you and learn be example.

b.   Edify the body of Christ – to strengthen the faith of the church

(Eph 4:13)  till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

1.   These permanent gifts were to continue UNTIL:

a.   There is unity of the faith

b.   We have the knowledge of Jesus

c.    We are a perfect (mature, full grown) man

d.   We measure up to the fullness of Christ.

(Eph 4:14)  that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

1.   The result of using these gifts:

a.   Stop being children

b.   Not carried away by every doctrine

c.    Not fooled by trickery, craftiness or deceit

(Eph 4:15)  but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

1.   Our task is to use our gift (whatever gift you have; in whatever measure you have that gift) to advance the cause of Christ.

2.   Here are some guidelines to follow:

a.   Speak the truth IN LOVE

b.   Grow up (mature) as a Christian

c.    Remember that Christ is the head

(Eph 4:16)  from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

1.   Christ is the head of the body, the church.

2.   We fit someplace in the body. Find your place and work.

3.   The body is held together by ligaments and tendons.

4.   I may not me a great powerful speaker, but I can encourage, visit the sick, teach a class, give food to the hungry, give a cup of water to a thirsty person, help people in an auto accident or house fire.

5.   God gives us good gifts. The amount is what we can use and handle.

6.   It is our job to use what gift we have in the ministry of Christ.

WALK IN PURITY 4:17 – 5:17

(Eph 4:17)  This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,

1.   Paul has told us how to walk. Now he discusses how we should NOT walk in this life.

2.   As the Gentiles walk – We should not live like the world lives. We are not life the rest of the world. We do not think like they think. We do not behave, act or talk the way the world does.

3.   The world is living with a futile (vanity – KJV) mind. Adam Clarke explains: “In the foolishness of their mind; want of genuine wisdom is that to which the apostle refers, and it was through this that the Gentiles became addicted to every species of idolatry; and they fondly imagined that they could obtain help from gods which were the work of their own hands! Here their foolishness was manifested.”

(Eph 4:18)  having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

1.   Understanding darkened – Many can not see, because the don’t want to know the truth.

2.   Alienated from the life of God – They are not part of God’s family.

3.   Ignorance and blindness of heart - Albert Barnes writes, “A man who is avaricious or covetous, has no just views of the beauty of benevolence. A man who indulges in low vices, will weaken his mental powers, and render himself incapable of intellectual effort. Indulgence in vice destroys the intellect as well as the body, and unfits a man to appreciate the truth of a proposition in morals, or in mathematics, or the beauty of a poem, as well as the truth and beauty of religion.
   Nothing is more obvious than that indulgence in sin weakens the mental powers, and renders them unfit for high intellectual effort. This is seen all over the pagan world now - in the stolid, stupid mind; the perverted moral sense; the incapacity for profound or protracted mental effort, as really as it was among the pagans to whom Paul preached.”

4.   Jesus talked about those whose eyes they have closed and ears they have stopped. This is the blindness mentioned here.

(Eph 4:19)  who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

1.   Past feeling – Many have hardened their heart for so long, it is past feeling.

2.   Lewdness – Lasciviousness is “unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence” (Thayer)

3.   Uncleanness – “In a moral sense: the impurity of lustful, luxurious, profligate living, impure motives.” (Thayer)

4.   Greediness – “Greedy desire to have more, covetousness, avarice.” (Thayer)

(Eph 4:20)  But you have not so learned Christ,

1.   This is not what you learned from Christ.

2.   Christ taught against these immoral behaviors.

(Eph 4:21)  if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:

1.   Have you learned what Jesus taught about moral behavior?

2.   If you have learned Christ, you know these actions are sinful.

3.   The truth is in Jesus. Who are you listening to?

(Eph 4:22)  that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,

1.   There are things that must stop when you become a Christian.

2.   Put off – shed the old garments of sin and immoral behavior.

3.   Many have been corrupted by deceitful lusts.

(Eph 4:23)  and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

1.   Be renewed – Start over with the spirit of your mind, like you had when you first became a Christian.

(Eph 4:24)  and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

1.   Put on – After you put away, take off the garments of sin, now, put on the new, clean garments of what is right.

2.   New man – Baptism symbolizes the old man dying to sin, buried in baptism and raised to walk as a new man, living a new life.

3.   The new man lives in righteousness – Righteousness is “integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting.” (Thayer)

(Eph 4:25)  Therefore, putting away lying, "LET EACH ONE OF YOU SPEAK TRUTH WITH HIS NEIGHBOR," for we are members of one another.

1.   Now Paul mentions some specifics that we should put away as we become Christians.

2.   Put away lying. Lying is in the list of sins in Revelation 21:8. God does not break lies into categories – white vs. black, little vs. big, harmless vs. harmful.

3.   Speak the truth – see 4:15 Do not speak the truth in anger or harshly. Speak the truth in kindness and love.

(Eph 4:26)  "BE ANGRY, AND DO NOT SIN": do not let the sun go down on your wrath,

1.   Anger – The sin is not anger itself. Sin enters the picture when the anger leads to sinful words or actions.

2.   Jesus got angry, but He did not sin. Control your anger. Control how you express your anger.

3.   Do not let your anger linger.

(Eph 4:27)  nor give place to the devil.

1.   Christians don’t have room for the devil.

2.   Don’t listen to that voice that urges you to temptation.

3.   Fill your heart with God and there will be no room for the devil.

(Eph 4:28)  Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

1.   Stop stealing – Stealing can be more that taking an item from a store. People steal the identity of others. They steal time. They rob others of their reputation. Some steal honor or glory from others.

2.   The opposite of stealing –

a.   Labor – work with your hands

b.   Do something good

c.    Have to share / give to those in need.

(Eph 4:29)  Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

1.   Our speech must:

a.   Be for edification

b.   Be uplifting

c.    That which edifies

d.   Impart grace

2.   Christians must stop using corrupt language.

a.   Profanity

b.   God’s name in vain

c.    Filthy talk

d.   Gutter language

e.   Gossip / talebearing

(Eph 4:30)  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

1.   God, Christ and the Holy Spirit can be grieved by our sin.

2.   The Holy Spirit guided the Bible to be written.

3.   He is responsible for you being a Christian.

4.   You were sealed (stamped, marked) as a Christian.

5.   Do not turn away from the Word of God which the Holy Spirit inspired to be written.

(Eph 4:31)  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

1.   Some more things to put away (put off) as a Christian.

a.   Bitterness – extreme wickedness, bitter hatred

b.   Wrath

c.    Anger

d.   Clamor

e.   Evil speaking

f.     Malice

(Eph 4:32)  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

1.   On the other hand – Add these to your life:

a.   Kindness – In our harsh and cruel world, we could use more people who are gracious and kind.

b.   Tenderhearted – Compassionate, tender feeling for the less fortunate

c.    Forgiving – willing to forgive graciously, freely, to pardon

CHAPTER 5

 (Eph 5:1)  Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

1.   REMINDER: The original text was not divided into chapters and verses. Read the last verse in chapter 4. Then read this verse to see the connection.

2.   Rule of Grammar: When you see “Therefore” back up and see what it is there for.

3.   Be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving. Therefore – Be imitators of those who live according to 4:32.

4.   Christians are children of God. Act like it.

(Eph 5:2)  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

1.   Christ loved us with the sacrifice of His life on the cross.

2.   We should live our life in recognition of His love for us.

3.   An offering and a sacrifice – Christ offered His life for you – What have you given for Him?

4.   What have you sacrificed for the cause of Christ? Did you miss the opening kickoff of a football game?

5.   Sacrifice – More than a minor inconvenience. What did you treasure but give up for Christ? Your life, your freedom, your right arm, your car, TV, cell phone?

6.   A chicken and a pig were discussing giving farmer Brown a nice breakfast. The chicken suggested that she would give him some eggs for breakfast and the pig could give some bacon. The pig replied, “For you it is a small gift. For me, it is a REAL sacrifice.”

7.   It is the SACRIFICE that is the sweet-smelling aroma. God seeks our sacrifice, not just a tip.

(Eph 5:3)  But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;

1.   On the other hand – While you sacrifice to God, you also need to stop doing some things.

a.   Fornication – all forms of sexual activity outside of a proper marriage is fornication.

b.   Uncleanness – “In a moral sense: the impurity of lustful, luxurious, profligate living; of immoral motives.” (Thayer)

c.    Covetousness – “Greedy desire to have more, avarice.” (Thayer)

2.   These are not proper conduct, even among heathens. Why would a Christian participate in such sinful behavior?

(Eph 5:4)  neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

1.   Add to the list in verse 3:

a.   Filthiness – obscenity,

b.   Foolish talking – our speech should have purpose

c.    Course jesting – crude, suggestive humor

2.   Why not worship and give God thanks instead of these things?

(Eph 5:5)  For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

1.   As Christians, there are some things you know and understand:

a.   Fornicator

b.   Unclean person

c.    Covetous

d.   Idolater

2.   Conduct like this means they will not have any part in the inheritance in heaven with Christ and God.

(Eph 5:6)  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

1.   Don’t be fooled or tricked. We must be alert to wiles of Satan.

2.   Those who participate in these things has nothing to look forward to except the wrath of God. They are sons of disobedience (sons of Satan).

(Eph 5:7)  Therefore do not be partakers with them.

1.    Do not participate in their evil deeds.

2.   Do not support or encourage them in these things.

3.   Study Romand 1:32.

(Eph 5:8)  For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

1.   Remember: This is where you USED TO BE. In the darkness of sin and evil.

2.   But NOW you are:

a.   Light

b.   In the Lord

c.    Living (walking) as children of light

(Eph 5:9)  (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),

3.   You should produce the fruit of the Spirit:

a.   Goodness – “Uprightness of heart and life, kindness” (Thayer)

b.   Righteousness – Thayer writes, “In a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, the condition acceptable to God. The doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God.”

c.    Truth – “General sense – What is true in any matter; the truth as taught in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of His purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man, opposing alike to the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians.” (Thayer)

(Eph 5:10)  finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

1.   Find out what God expects of you.

2.   Learn what is acceptable to Christ and do that.

(Eph 5:11)  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

1.   Do not – Paul forbids the Christian from participation in things that are sinful, wrong, works of darkness.

2.   Fellowship – joint participation; partake together

3.   Instead – Do not participate; instead expose the error. Thayer defines this word as: To find fault with, to correct, admonish, reprove.

(Eph 5:12)  For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.

1.   Have we lost our sense of shame? Many not only engage in sinful acts, but the proudly announce it.

2.   Today, people are doing things with no sense of shame or embarrassment. The ought to be embarrassed, but they proudly announce their acts of sin.

(Eph 5:13)  But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.

1.   There will come a time when all the secrets things are exposed.

2.   They will not remain hidden in the darkness. The light will make it clear to all.

(Eph 5:14)  Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."

1.   Many are asleep – Not alert, indifferent to their relationship with God

2.   As Christians, we need to wake them up to the error in their ways.

3.   They are dead in sin. Christ will give them light (understanding and knowledge of their wrong).

(Eph 5:15)  See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,

1.   Circumspectly – Strong’s defines this word as “exact, perfectly, diligently”

2.   Not a fools – The Greek word is for wisdom with a negative; Unwise, foolish

Wise – Part of Thayer’s definition is: “forming the best plans and using the best means for their execution”

(Eph 5:16)  redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

1.   Redeem – payment to recover, ransom, buy off

2.   Thayer says that here it means “to make wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good, so that zeal and well doing are as it were the purchase money by which we make the time our own.”

3.   You don’t need me to tell you that the days are evil. Sin is open and rampant in our society.

(Eph 5:17)  Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

1.   Do not think or act like everything in life is OK. We should show more wisdom that that.

2.   Understand – Study the Word of God. STUDY, not just read the words. Seek to understand how it applies to your life.

3.   The Greek word literally means “to bring together, to set or join together in the mind.” Read. Study. Bring it all together in your mind.

Walk in Harmony – 5:18 – 6:9

(Eph 5:18)  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

1.   Not drunk with wine – Wine (alcohol) dulls the senses and impairs our judgment.

2.   Dissipation – The dictionary gives this definition: “Wasteful expenditure or consumption; dissolute indulgence in sensual pleasure; intemperance”

3.   Filled with the Spirit – It is much better to be filled with the Spirit of Christ, rather than the spirit of alcohol.

(Eph 5:19)  speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

1.   Speak to one another – Teach, encourage, motivate, support each other. We can do that in various parts of our worship – singing, prayer and teaching.

2.   3 categories of songs –

a.   Psalms – At the time of the early church, most of their singing was passages of scripture that would be sung. Today we have many songs that are “Scripture set to music.”

b.   Hymns – Songs of high praise to God; they address God; or praise Him or pray to Him.

c.    Spiritual songs – Songs that speak to us; they motivate, encourage and teach us how to live.

3.   Singing – This is the vocal part of speaking to one another. The New Testament clearly and consistently teaches vocal music.

4. Making melody – Here is what Thayer says about this Greek word – psallo –
 “1) to pluck off, pull out

2) to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang

2a) to touch or strike the chord, to twang the strings of a musical instrument so that they gently vibrate

2b) to play on a stringed instrument, to play, the harp, etc.

2c) to sing to the music of the harp

2d) in the NT to sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song

NOTE: The original word means “to pluck, to twang, as the strings of a musical instrument.” But: See part 2d) “In the NT – to sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song.”

(Eph 5:20)  giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

1.   Give thanks – In song, in prayer, in your life.

2.   Always – There is never a time not to give thanks to God.

3.   For all things – All the good things; even the painful things; the dangerous things; including all people.

4.   In the name – This phrase means “by the authority” or “under the direction or command”

a.   This is not just a phrase to end a prayer.

b.   It is in all that we do.

c.    These are not words to be spoken. They express the attitude we must have in all that we do. “Do all in the name of the Lord.” (Colossians 3:17)

(Eph 5:21)  submitting to one another in the fear of God.

1.   Submit – This is difficult for us. We enjoy our freedom to think and speak as we desire. Who can tell me what to do?

a.   In the world – Government, kings, those in authority

b.   In the church – Christ, elders

c.    In the home – parents are over their children

2.   To one another – Sometimes the submitting ones have good ideas that the one in charge had not considered. Elders should submit to members.

3.   Fear of God – Not fear as frightful, quake in fear. This fear is a respect for the power and authority of God. We fear lightening. We don’t stand under a tree or near power lines with lightening. We respect the power of the lightning bolt. If we can respect the power of lightening; how much more should we respect, fear, honor and obey the power of God!

(Eph 5:22)  Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

1.   Paul mentions submission in the home. In every area of society, there must me order. Children submit to parents; Wife submits to the husband; Husband submits to Christ; Christ submits to God the Father.

2.   As to the Lord – This phrase indicates to higher authority under which the husband must lead the home.

3.   Submit to the police as if you were before a judge (higher authority).

(Eph 5:23)  For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

1.   Husband is head of the wife – The question is not about who is smarter, more powerful, stronger. The issue is one of order from God.

2.   In Genesis 3:16, God set the order of the man over the woman.

3.   In Genesis 3:17, God set the weeds over the man.

(Eph 5:24)  Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

1.   The church, including elders and deacons, are subject to Christ.

2.   In that same way wives are subject to the husbands.

(Eph 5:25)  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

1.   Now we turn to the husbands:

a.   Love your wife – Agape love means “seek what is best for another” Love your neighbor, love your children and EVEN love your enemy.

b.   In the same way Christ love the church. He purchased it with His blood. He loved us enough to die for our sins.

(Eph 5:26)  that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,

1.   Concerning the church:

a.   He sanctified her – This word means “to separate, consecrate, dedicate, purify” (Thayer)

b.   He cleansed her – The church is to remain unspotted from the world. The church is to remain clean in the blood of Christ.

2.   “This points to the goal of Christ’s self-sacrificing love. To dedicate the church. The idea is to make holy, to set apart for holy use. By his word. The promise attached to baptism (1Peter_3:21) is like a marriage vow. The washing in water would have no meaning without the authority of his word (see notes on Acts_2:38). After making it clean. The aorist verb form points to the act of baptism by which believers are united with Christ, rather than to continuous Christian growth.” (Rhoderick Ice)

(Eph 5:27)  that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

1.   The ultimate goal of the church is to be the bride of Christ at the marriage feast in heaven.

2.   Our task is to be:

a.   Glorious church

b.   No spot or wrinkle

c.    Holy and without blemish

3.   This is the church that is the bride of Christ.

(Eph 5:28)  So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.

1.   With that comparison of Christ and the church, we now return to husbands and wives.

2.   Love your wives – Seek what is best for them, even about your own personal desires.

(Eph 5:29)  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

1.   No normal or sane person hats his own life or flesh.

2.   We take care of our flesh (body). We get a cut and we clean it, bandage it, take care not to bump it, and let it heal.

3.   God expects us to care for our wife as we take care of our body.

4.   This is how Christ cares for the church.

(Eph 5:30)  For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.

1.   Every Christian is a part of the body of Christ.

2.   The challenge for each of us – Find where we fit and function in the body. Where do you fit? Heart, lungs, left thumb, right little toe. All are important to the total function of the body. We can’t all be the nose, eyes, face of Christ. The body also needs the lesser valued parts.

(Eph 5:31)  "FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH."

1.   This verse is a quotation from Genesis 2:24.

2.   Marriage involves:

a.   Separation from all others

b.   Permanent union with one

c.    Two individuals become, in some ways, as one.

(Eph 5:32)  This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

1.   Paul explains the spiritual application.

2.   “Christ left His home with the Father for the sake of His spiritual bride!” (Rhoderick Ice)

(Eph 5:33)  Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

1.   Husbands should love their wife as they love themselves.

2.   Wives should respect her husband. In the KJV the word is translated “reverence.”

3.   Thayer explains this Greek word in this way: “to reverence, venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience.”

CHAPTER 6

 (Eph 6:1)  Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

1.   Paul now discusses the duty of children.

a.   Obey your parents – Parents, whether Christians or not, are responsible for the training and maturing of their children.

b.   In the Lord – This phrase places a limitation to the obedience of children to their parents. IF what the parents teach or command of their children is a violation of God’s will – God’s law is the higher law to obey.

                                         i.    If parents want the child to steal, lie, or lie for them:

                                       ii.    God’s law takes precedence over man’s commands.

c.    This is right – This is the plan of God from the beginning.

(Eph 6:2)  "HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER," which is the first commandment with promise:

1.    Paul quotes from Deuteronomy 5:16: 'Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.

2.   Some commands are absolute. Obey or die. Just do it.

(Eph 6:3)  "THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU AND YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH."

1.   This is the first of the commandments that includes a promise.

a.   It will be well with your life.

b.   Your days may be long on the earth.

c.    Live well in the land God is giving you.

(Eph 6:4)  And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

1.   Fathers must not provoke their children.

2.   Thayer defines this word: “To rouse to wrath, to provoke, exasperate, anger.”

3.   Albert Barnes comments: “That is, by unreasonable commands; by needless severity; by the manifestation of anger. So govern them, and so punish them - if punishment is necessary - that they shall not lose their confidence in you, but shall love you. The apostle here has hit on the very danger to which parents are most exposed in the government of their children.”

This happens when: “(1) When the commands of a parent are unreasonable and severe. The spirit of a child then becomes irritated, and he is “discouraged;” Col_3:21. (2) When a parent is evidently “excited” when he punishes a child. The child then feels:

(a)  That if his “father” is angry, it is not wrong for him to be angry; and,
(b) The very fact of anger in a parent kindles anger in his bosom - just as it does when two men are contending.

4.   Bring them up: Guide them along to maturity.

a.   In the nurture – This is the entire training and education of children. Teach them morals, spiritual values, respect for authority

b.   Admonition – This is a “mild rebuke or warning” (Strongs)

c.    Of the Lord – According to the will of the Lord.

(Eph 6:5)  Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;

1.   Bondservants – Usually we think this word means “a slave.”

2.   Thayer adds: “metaphorically, one who gives himself up to another’s will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men”

3.   Then Thayer says that it also applies to one “devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests,”

4.   Fear and trembling – We obey our boss, master, police, judge, others in a position of authority over us. We do so with:

a.   Fear – Godly reverence for one in authority.

b.   Trembling – Anxiety about our conduct that pleases the one in power and authority

c.    Sincerity of heart – Be sure your heart is free from pretense and hypocrisy.

(Eph 6:6)  not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

1.   Our work and service must not be just “eye candy.” We must not serve and work just to please men.

2.   We are the servants of Christ.  We must do the will of God.

3.   Our work must be from the heart.

(Eph 6:7)  with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men,

1.   Goodwill – Our work, on the job, in the home or in the work of the Lord’s church must be to serve God – Period.

2.   Your work is more important than serving a boss, mate, or elders of the church. Our work is to serve God.

(Eph 6:8)  knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

1.   God rewards – No matter your position on the job, in the home, or in the church;

2.   It is God that rewards your work with eternal rewards. Your job may give you a paycheck that lasts for a week or two. God’s rewards are eternal.

(Eph 6:9)  And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

1.   Masters – The boss, the foreman, the person with authority over you is the intent here. This is the one with the higher authority.

2.   Do the same – This is a reference to the previous verses. How we are to treat the one in authority is how the one with the power is to treat those under his authority.

3.   Those in authority also has one that is over them. There is a Master in heaven.

4.   No partiality – There is no respect of persons with God. See Romans 2:11 and James 2:1.

WALK IN VICTORY – 6:10 – 6:20

(Eph 6:10)  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

1.   As he reaches the end of this letter, Paul gives some general admonitions to the church at Ephesus.

2.   Be strong in the Lord - Strength is more than muscle strength. Our strength is in the Lord. God IS our strength.

3.   Access the power of His might – I don’t have the power and strength that God does. Our strength is in Him.

(Eph 6:11)  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

1.   As Christians, we must always be prepared for the battle against evil, sin, Satan and fleshly lusts.

2.   While we put off sin and evil actions; we must also put on armor to protect us from Satan.

(Eph 6:12)  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

1.   Our battle is not against people (flesh and blood).

2.   Our spiritual battle is against:

a.   Powers – Physical, mental, choice, authority

b.   Rulers of the darkness of this age – This is a reference to the areas of ignorance and sin present on the earth.

c.    Against spiritual wickedness – The battle is more than moral choices, sinful actions and wickedness. It is also a battle against spiritual error in teaching and doctrine.

3.   Our battle is not physical warfare. It is a spiritual battle for the minds and lives of people. Spiritual wickedness involves the false teaching, immoral influence and opposition to the truth.

(Eph 6:13)  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

1.   This is why we must be armed and prepared to defend the truth of God and His Word.

2.   Put on the armor (v. 11) and take up the whole armor are mentioning the same idea.

3.   Why do we need this armor?

a.   To withstand in the evil day

b.   Be able to do all possible

c.    To stand

(Eph 6:14)  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

1.   Here are the parts of the armor that we need.

a.   Truth around your waist.

b.   Chest protected with righteousness

(Eph 6:15)  and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

c.    The gospel of peace on our feet

(Eph 6:16)  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

d.   Have the shield of faith to stop the darts of the wicked one

(Eph 6:17)  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

e.   Protect your head with the helmet of salvation

f.     Your only weapon of offence – the sword of the Spirit. This sword is the Word of God. Read Hebrews 4:12.

(Eph 6:18)  praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

g.   The final protection we have is prayer and supplication. In prayer we must remain constant. We must persevere (keep on praying and do not stop). Our prayers should include all the saints that are in the battle with us.

(Eph 6:19)  and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,

h.   For Paul – Ability to speak, to open his mouth, to speak boldly,
to make known the gospel that many do not know

(Eph 6:20)  for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

1.   Paul describes himself as an ambassador in chains.

a.   Ambassador – a representative of a higher power

b.   In chains – Paul is in prison in Rome.

2.   Even though he is in prison, He believes he should:

a.   Speak boldly – Straight talk, openly, plainly, without fear

b.   Just as he ought to speak – in jail or not

Final Greetings – 6:21-24

(Eph 6:21)  But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you;

1.   Paul wanted them to know his situation.

2.   Tychicus – a brother and minister is the carrier of this letter.

3.   In addition to the letter, Tychicus will speak to you and tell you all the details of the current situation in Rome and with Paul.

(Eph 6:22)  whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts.

1.   Paul is sending Tychicus for this reason.

2.   Paul wants them to know how Paul is doing.

3.   He wants them to be comforted.

(Eph 6:23)  Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1.   Peace to the brethren – Peace is a common expression of greeting and as a farewell.

2.   Love with faith – Paul does not just want them to have faith. He wanted them to have a faith that worked through love.

3.   (Galatians 5:6)  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

(Eph 6:24)  Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

1.   Paul ends with an expression of grace to be given to all at Ephesus.

2.   He limits it to those that love Jesus Christ.

3.   In sincerity – From a Greek word defined by Thayer as “Purity, incorrupt, sincerity.” We often end a letter with “Sincerely yours.”