Introduction to Ephesians

Well, we had another recording malfunction on Jan. 6, and the first 20 min or so were not recorded.  In order to help fill in the gaps, here is the manuscript.  Of course, not everything is here, but the really important stuff is.

INTRODUCTION TO EPHESIANS

THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF MESSAGES ON EPHESIANS FOR BBCMP, DELIVERED 1/6/13 PM

EPHESIANS 1:1-2

INTRODUCTION: GENERAL INFORMATION

I can’t promise you that we’ll be looking at Ephesians every Sunday till we finish, but I can tell you that we are starting it today, and, time permitting and God allowing, we will finish eventually. 

It is a brief book of only 6 Chapters, 155 verses, 3,039 words, but it is as heavily loaded with deep truth as it can be.

The author is of course, Paul the Apostle.  It follows the same structure as most of Paul’s epistles, beginning with greetings and thanksgiving, followed by a substantial doctrinal section, and then a section of similar length dedicated to the practical application of that doctrine, and ending with concluding personal remarks. 

The purpose of Ephesians is to deepen our appreciation of the limitlessness of our blessings in Christ.

A key concept would be The Christian’s Life in the Unseen World

The date of writing is estimated to be about 60-61 AD.

TITLES, THEMES AND PROMINENT SUBJECTS

Different titles, or maybe a better word would be sub-titles have been offered.  I happen to like this one – The Church Which Is His Body.

Another major them that could provide a title is In Heavenly Places  (See  1:3,  1:20,  2:6,  3:10,  6:12);

Some of the key words are Sit, Walk, and Stand, which was developed by Watchman Nee in a series of lessons with that title, later published into a book.  It is a wonderful little commentary on Ephesians, and possibly the best and easiest way to grasp the major lessons.  I’m sure we’ll be looking at what he has to say, and probably cover entirely the contents of that book.

      This is a great and sublime Epistle.  It has been described as; " The crown and the climax of Pauline theology", and "The distilled essence of the Christian religion, the most authoritative, the most consummate compendium of our holy Christian faith."

These are not exaggerations.  Dr. M. L. Jones attempted to described the epistle by working in some of the prominent words or expressions, and this is what he hammered out -

“In this epistle, the apostle exults in and marvels at the glory and the mystery and the riches of God’s way of redemption in Christ.”

As Romans sets the standard in Soteriology, instructing us that we are “dead and risen in Christ”, Ephesians sets the standard in Ecclesiology, informing us that we are “seated in the heavenlies”.  1Thessalonians sets the standard in Eschatology, explaining how we will be “caught up by Christ”.  You may remember that the epistles that follow each of those is dedicated to correcting some error in that area. 

Ephesians is the first of the “Prison Epistles” in the canon.  The others are Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  All of them were written while Paul was confined, or in chains. Each of these letters make reference to this (Eph. 3:1; 4:1; 6:20; Phil. 1:7, 13; Col. 4:10, 18; Philemon 1, 9, 10).

The person of Jesus Christ is inescapable in this book.  There are places in the Bible where we have to look for Him more deliberately, but here we come across Him continually.  Most of the time, it is with regard to our position in Him.  Phrases like “in Christ” or “with Christ” appear some 35 times (1:1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13-14,  2:5-6, 10,  3:6, 12).

The Church is revealed repeatedly.  The first half of the book is committed to the Church

-  Her Origin (1:3-14)

-  Her Glory (1:15-23)

-  Her Positioning (2:1-10)

-  Her Progress (2:11-22)

-  Her Purpose  (3:1-13)

-  Her Provision  (3:14-21)

It is Ephesians that gives us these three main analogies together

• A Building      2:20-22
• A Body           4:12-16
• A Bride           5:25-27

Now, because we can only understand the particulars if we have an adequate grasp of the whole, let’s look a little more closely at the arrangement of the book.  What I just gave you is good, but not enough.

OUTLINE AND ANALYSIS

PART ONE – THE CHURCH        (Ch. 1-3)

I.  THE PLACE OF ORIGIN OF THE CHURCH                                    1:1-14

  A.  The Divine Purpose of the Church:                                              1:3-6

• By the Father
• Speaks of Election
• Theological

  B.  The Divine Plan of the Church:                                                      1:7-10

• By the Son
• Speaks of Redemption
• Historical

  C.  The Divine Process of the Church:                                               1:11-14

• By the Spirit
• Speaks of Salvation
• Experimental

II.  A PETITION FOR THE (GLORY OF) THE CHURCH                     1:15-23

This is the first of the two prayers in the epistle.  This one [1:15-23] is for spiritual illumination. The next one [3:14-21] is for spiritual increase.

  A.  The Occasion of the Prayer:                                                        1:15-16

    Paul had heard of their faith.

  B.  The Object of the Prayer:                                                              1:17-19

    1.  Preparative                                                                                     1:17-18a

    2.  Progressive                                                                                    1:18b-19

  C.  The Outlook of the Prayer:                                                            1:20-23

    Immensities and Infinities

    1.  The Resurrection of Christ                                                   1:20

    2.  The Exaltation of Christ                                                        1:21

    3.  The Dominion of Christ                                                        1:22-23

III.  THE POSITIONING OF THE CHURCH                                           2:1-10

  A.  Our Old State – “By Nature” (Past)                                              2:1-3 

    1.  Condition                                                                                        2:1

    2.  Character                                                                                       2:2-3a

    3.  Consequences                                                                               2:3b

  B.  Our New Standing – “By Grace”  (Present)                                2:4-10 

    1.  That God hath wrought                                                                  2:4-5a

    2.  What God hath wrought                                                                 2:5b-6

    3.  Why God hath wrought                                                                  2:7

    4.  How God hath wrought                                                                  2:8-10

IV.  THE PROGRESS OF THE CHURCH                                              2:11-22

  A.  Our Former Alienation:                                                                 2:11-12

    1.  From the "Covenants of Promise"                                                  2:11-12

    2.  From the "Christ of God"                                                                2:12

  B.  Our Present Unification:                                                               2:13-18

    1.  Announced                                                                                     2:13

    2.  Accomplished                                                                                 2:14-16

    3.  Assured                                                                                          2:17-18

  C.  Our Ultimate Destination:                                                             2:19-22

    1.  A NATIONALITY  (Safety, Protection)                                            2:19a 

    2.  A FAMILY  (Love, Acceptance)                                                      2:19B 

    3.  A SANCTUARY  (Purpose, Worship)                                            2:20-22

V.  THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH                                                  3:1-13

Note:  This is a digressive thought, a "parenthesis" in the logic.

  A.  The Mystery of God Made Known:                                             3:1-6

    (Paul's revelation)

  B.  The Messenger of the Mystery:                                                  3:7-9

    (Paul's commission)

  C.  The Manifold Wisdom of God in the Mystery:                           3:10-13

    (God's intention)

·         Note "Christ Jesus our Lord".   (v.11)

   -  Jesus = The humanity of the Savior.

   -  Lord = The Divinity of the Savior.

   -  Christ = The Harmony of the two natures, and mission of the God/Man.

VI.  THE PROVISION (spiritual) OF THE CHURCH                            3:14-21

  A.  The Approach to Prayer:                                                             3:14-15

    1.  Kneeling.

    2.  Unto the Father

  B.  The Appeal of the Prayer:                                                           3:16-19

The FULLNESS of God   Compare Col. 2:10

    1.  The conditions of the fullness of God                                           3:16-17

    2.  The comprehension of the fullness of God                                   3:18

            THE GEOMETRY OF DIVINE LOVE

-       The Breadth of Divine Love: It’s Extent   

o   Universal in Scope

-       The Length of Divine Love: It’s Duration

o   Without beginning, end, or pause

-       The Height of Divine Love: It’s Transcendence

o   Infinite in reach

-       The Depth of Divine Love: It’s Condescension

o   Incomprehensible

  C.  The Ascription of Praise:                                                             3:20-21

God's measurements are measureless