Ephesians 1-3

Ephesians 1

Author: Paul 

To: The church in Ephesus, a major port city in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).

When: Likely AD 60-62 during Paul’s imprisonment in Rome.

Paul greets the believers in Ephesus

Verses 3-14 are one sentence in the Greek!

We are blessed in Christ

• God chose believers before the foundation of the world
  • To be holy and blameless 
• Believers are adopted as God’s children
  • According to His will 
• Redemption comes through Christ’s blood
• Forgiveness is according to God’s grace 
• God reveals His plan to us
  •  unite all things in Christ- heaven and earth 
• Believers receive an inheritance
• The Holy Spirit guarantees our inheritance 

 Paul’s Prayer 

• Paul thanks God for their faith and love
• He prays for wisdom and revelation
• He wants them to know:
  • The hope of God’s calling of them
  • The riches of His inheritance
  • The greatness of His power
• Christ is exalted above all authorities and dominions 
• Christ is head of the church, His body 

Ephesians 2

From Death to Life

• We were all spiritually dead in sin
  • We followed the world and Satan
  • Fulfilling our fleshly desires 
• God is rich in mercy and love
• Believers are made alive with Christ
• Salvation is by grace through faith
  • For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast
  • Salvation is God’s gift to us
• Believers are created for good works
  • For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

One in Christ

• Gentiles were once separated from Israel
  • They were without hope and without God
  • Christ’s blood brings them near
• Jesus breaks down the wall between Jew and Gentile
  • Christ creates one new people
  • Both groups have access to the Father

Believers are fellow citizens and family members

• The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets
• Christ is the cornerstoneBelievers together form God’s dwelling place

Ephesians 3

The Mystery Revealed

• Paul is a prisoner for Christ
  • Paul is currently under house arrest
• God revealed a mystery (previously hidden) to Paul
  • Gentiles are now fellow heirs with Jews
  • Gentiles share equally in promise of Jesus Christ
• Paul was called to proclaim this message to Gentiles
  • So that God’s wisdom is displayed by the church to the heavenly authorities (?) 

 Paul’s Prayer 

• Paul prays that believers would
  • Be strengthened through the Spirit
  • Have Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith
  •  be rooted and grounded in love
• They would comprehend:
  • The breadth
  • Length
  • Height
  • Depth
    of Christ’s love
• They would be filled with the fullness of God

God can do far more abundantly than we ask or think

Glory belongs to God in the church and in Christ forever

Application

Our identity is found in God- who has had an eternal plan for us. Salvation is not of works but completely by grace. Jews and Gentiles alike are now adopted into His family. Paul encourages us to grow in love for one another and be strengthened.