EPHESIANS 1
10 Outlines
Ephesians 1:1-2
RICH!
In their commentaries on Ephesians, both John
MacArthur and Warren Wiersbe talk about Hetty Green,
who was known for a long time as the "America's greatest miser."
Worth over $100 million when she died, she would eat cold oatmeal to save
heating costs. Her son had a leg
amputated because she spent so much time looking for a free clinic. She died after an attack of apoplexy, which
was brought on by an argument over the value of skim milk over whole milk. She
was for skim milk because it was cheaper.
Hetty Green did not enjoy her riches! The Book of Ephesians is the Bible Book that
shows us our riches in Christ!
Christians need to study this book so they will discover their riches in
Christ and how to use them.
We as Christians are often spiritual misers, because
we don't use our riches in Christ.
Even the salutation in this book shows us our riches
in Christ.
RICH IN STANDING (OR STATUS) - "Saints and
faithful in Christ Jesus." - A
saint is a person who has been set apart for God.
The word "faithful" means believers. Saints
become saints by being
believers in Christ.
RICH IN SERVICE - "Paul, an apostle of Jesus
Christ, by the will of God." - The Lord saved Paul with service for Him in
mind (Acts
God has saved each Christian with service in mind for
Him. What a privilege!
RICH IN SUPPLY - "Grace...and peace..." -
God supplies us with what we need in order to serve Him well. God gives us
grace and peace at salvation, and continues to supply them as we walk with Him.
***************************************************************************
Ephesians 1:1-2
WHAT'S IN AN
INTRODUCTION?
We will have been
introduced to thousands of people of the course of a lifetime. Many, if not
most, of these introductions were so casual that we will forget them. However,
many introductions that we have experienced were important. I was once introduced to a young lady named
Dottie Adams. Twenty-seven years ago she changed her last name to
"Peters". She's my wife. I once met a new pastor in my area named
George Headley. He became my mentor. I
once met a group of people in
As we read the Bible, we
might not think much about the introductions found there, but they do contain
important information and are worthy of our attention. We might quickly read over the introductions
found in Paul's epistles, but there is valuable information contained
there. For instance, let's consider
Ephesians 1:1-2
THE GREETER - Vs. 1
1. "Paul" - A
person - Acts 8:1-3, 9:1-22
2. "An
Apostle" - A position - Paul's position was as one of the Apostles. Each
of us is given a position within the body of Christ, and a Spiritual gift to
carry out that position. Romans 12:4-8
3. "By the will of
God" - A plan - God has a specific plan for each one of our lives. Romans
12:2, Ephesians 5:15-17
THE GREETED - Vs. 1
1. "Saints" -
In the Bible a saint is simply a person who has come to know Christ as Savior.
This means that anyone who is saved is a saint by position. The way a Christian
conducts his life should make him a saint by practice. 1 Peter 1:15-16
2. "Faithful
Brethren" - Paul is talking to the same people. Saints are to be faithful
to their Lord (1 Corinthians 4:2), and are brothers and sisters with other
believers.
THE GREETING - Vs. 2
1. "Grace" -
Paul desired that the Ephesians, who received grace for salvation (Ephesians
2:8-9), would continue to be beneficiaries of God's grace. 2 Peter 3:18
2. "Peace" -
Paul also desired that the Ephesians, who also received peace with God at
salvation (Romans 5:1), would continue to receive the peace of God (Isaiah
26:3, Philippians 4:6-7)
3. Notice the source of
grace and peace is God.
***************************************************************************
Ephesians 1:3-7
RICHES FROM THE FATHER!
Ephesians 1:3-14 is one sentence in Greek. In it we see the riches we have from the God The Father, God The Son, and God The Holy Spirit. Here are
the riches from the hand of God The Father.
THE FATHER'S PRESENT TO US - Vs. 3
We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in
heavenly places in Christ.
THE FATHER'S PLANS FOR US - Vss. 4-5
We are holy and without blame.
We have received the adoption of (adult) children.
THE FATHER'S POSITION TOWARDS US - Vs. 6
We are accepted in the beloved, who is Christ!
THE
FATHER'S PARDON OF US - Vs. 7
**************************************************************************
Ephesians 1:3-7
IN CHRIST
Here is a brief list of
some of the blessings for each Christian who is "in Christ".
In Christ:
I AM COMPLETE - Vs. 3 - I
am blessed with "all spiritual blessings".
I AM CHOSEN - Vs. 4 -
Because I am in Christ, I have been chosen to stand before God as "holy
and without blame before him in love."
I AM GOD'S CHILD - Vs. 5
I AM CONFIDENT - Vs. 6 -
I am confident because I have been "accepted in the beloved."
I AM CLEANSED - Vs. 7
***************************************************************************
Ephesians 1:3-8
BLESSED!
I AM APPOINTED – Vs. 4
I AM ADOPTED – Vs. 5
I AM ACCEPTED – Vs. 6
I AM ACQUITTED – Vs. 7
I HAVE ABUNDANCE – Vs. 8
***************************************************************************
Ephesians 1:7-12
RICHES IN CHRIST
Here are some of the riches we receive when we trust
Christ as Savior:
WE ARE SAVED - Vs. 7
Redemption
Forgiveness
WE ARE SUPPLIED - Vss. 8
Wisdom
Prudence (Understanding)
WE ARE SETTLED - Vss. 9-10
Christ is going to gather all things together under Himself. 2 Corinthians 15:21-28. I believe this well begin
with the millennium and culminate with the eternal state. When Christ takes
over, we will be settled!
WE ARE SATISFIED - Vss. 11-12
We have our inheritance in Him.
**************************************************************************
Ephesians 1:13-14
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY
SALVATION – Vs. 13a - In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the
gospel of your salvation:
SEALING – Vs. 13b - …in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
SECURITY – Vs. 14 - Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the
purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
**************************************************************************
Ephesians 1:13-14
RICHES IN THE SPIRIT
Imagine getting a new computer, taking it out of the
box, assembling all the components, and then letting it sit on your desk
without doing anything else. "Nonsense!",
you say, "If I get a new computer
and assemble it, I won't stop there. I'll turn on the power and use it!"
Ephesians 1:3-14 shows us the riches that we have at
salvation coming from The Trinity. The
work of the Holy Spirit at salvation can be viewed as God "turning on the
power" in our lives! There are
three things mentioned here that are the result of the work of the Holy Spirit
when we are saved. (Check web site for other 2 outlines on riches.)
THE NEW BIRTH - "In whom ye also trusted, after
that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation..." -
Although the Spirit is not mentioned here, Paul is talking about the Ephesians'
new birth or being born again by the Spirit of God. See John 3:1-8 and John
1:12-13.
THE SEALING - "...in whom after that ye believed,
ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise," - In Scripture sealing
speaks of security, authenticity, (Romans
THE DOWN PAYMENT - "Which is the earnest of our
inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession..." -
"Earnest money" is a down payment to show that someone will finish a
transaction, such as the down payment on a house. Although we are redeemed when we trust Christ
as Savior, God will finish the transaction with the redemption of our bodies at
the resurrection.
**************************************************************************
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Ephesians 1:15-23
Have you noticed that at
the beginning of every professional sports season, that
every manager or head coach talks like he is expecting his team to go all the
way to win the championship? There are
great expectations.
As parents we have great
expectations for our children, expecting them to go further in their lives than
we have in ours.
The apostle Paul also
had great expectations for the Ephesian
believers. That's why he prayed for
them. As Christians, we should have the
same great expectations for other believers and pray for them.
Paul prayed for the
Christians that they would
1. KNOW HIM, THE PERSON
OF GOD Vs. 17
2. KNOW HIS HOPE, THE
PROMISES OF GOD Vs. 18
3. KNOW HIS HELP, THE
POWER OF GOD Vs. 19-23
(Be sure to comment on
Paul's thankfulness and regular prayers for the Ephesians in Vss. 15-16)
**************************************************************************
Ephesians 1:15-23,
HELPING YOUR CHURCH GROW
Most people would like
to see their church grow in numbers and Spirituality.
The average person may
wonder, "How can I help my church grow." Very few people feel capable of assisting
when it comes to church growth.
In the texts listed
above we find the Apostle Paul praying for four prayers for three
churches. Each one of these prayers is a
prayer for Spiritual development. I am convinced that if we pray for the
pastors and people in our own church and other churches, God will answer. As we grow Spiritually
we will grow physically.
Please note that Paul
gave thanks for each church before making requests for them. Ephesians 1:15-16,
Philippians 1:3-8, Colossians 1:3-8.
Also note that some of
the requests are repeated for each congregation, but there seems to be a
special theme for each prayer. Let us pray for each other as Paul prayed for
those he loved in Christ.
PRAY FOR PERCEPTION -
Ephesians 1:15-23
We need to pray that
other Christians will have a "spirit of wisdom and revelation in the
knowledge of Him" (Vs. 17) and that they will grasp:
1. "...the hope of
His calling..." - Vs. 18
2. "...the riches
of the glory of his inheritance in the saints..." - Vs. 18 - Just think!
We are His inheritance!
3. "...the
exceeding greatness of his power..." - Vss. 19-23 - We need to grasp just
how much power is available for us in Christ.
We will not appropriate the power unless we understand its availability.
PRAY FOR POWER -
Ephesians 3:14-21
After praying that
Christians perceive the availability of Christ's power, we need to pray that
appropriation of that power would be a reality in their lives.
1. Power of the Spirit -
Vs. 16
2. Power of Christ's
control - Vs. 17a
3. Power to love - Vss.
17b-19a
4. Power of God's
fullness - Vs. 19b
PRAY FOR PERFORMANCE -
Philippians 1:9-11
I see this prayer as a
prayer for action!
1. Abounding in love -
Vs. 9
2. Abounding in choice
and Godly living - Vs. 10
3. Abounding in
fruitfulness - Vs. 11
PRAY FOR PERSEVERANCE -
Colossians 1:9-14
The Christian life is
not a sprint but a marathon. We need to pray that other Christians "hang
in there".
1. Knowing His will -
Vs. 9
2. Walking worthily -
Vs. 10a
3. Being
fruitful - Vs. 10b
4. Knowing God - Vs. 10c
5. Enduring with
patience, longsuffering, joyfulness and thanksgiving - Vss. 11-14
If you like, this
message could be broken down into four devotionals delivered four weeks in a
row. Used this way, this series would be especially appropriate for Prayer
Meeting.
RETURN TO EPHESIANS – PHILEMON INDEX