Introduction: A Real Christmas Gift (Available to Gentiles)

We all have received Christmas cards with pictures of family and friends. As we move through these verses today, picture this on a Christmas card. What does your card look like?

Ephesians 2:19-22 NLT

A Temple for the Lord
¹⁹ So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. ²⁰ Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. ²¹ We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. ²² Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.

 Examine the scriptures:

Ephesians 2:19-22 NLT
A Temple for the Lord

¹⁹ So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners.

Strangers and foreigners have no rights or privileges, or limited rights and privileges.

• There are no strangers, foreigners, or second class citizens in God’s family.

You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people.

Note:  As citizens …

1 Peter 1:3-4 NLT
³ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, ⁴ and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 

You are members of God’s family. 

Romans 8:15-17 NLT
¹⁵ So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”  ¹⁶ For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.

• Believing Gentiles are members of God’s family and are heirs of God’s glory. 

²⁰ Together, 

Jew and Gentile believers. 

we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets.

Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets teaching, not the apostles and prophets personally.

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 NLT
¹⁰ Because of God’s grace to me, I (Paul) have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

At this point in time the New Testament had not yet been completed.

Today we could say, built on the foundation of the scriptures (God’s Word). 

And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.   (Merry Christmas)

The cornerstone is the most important stone in a building’s foundation.

This stone set the foundation and squared the building.

The building is aligned with Christ.  Everything points back to the cornerstone.

• Jesus is the cornerstone of his holy temple. 

²¹ We are carefully joined together in him,

• Every believer is a stone in Christ’s temple, the church, Christ’s body of believers.

1 Peter 2:5 NLT
⁵ And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple.

Scripture is all about community.

1 Corinthians 12:27 NLT
²⁷ All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

Believers form a community

Acts 2:42 NLT
⁴² All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

Galatians 6:2 NLT
² Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

Romans 12:5
⁵ so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

Romans 12:10 NLT
¹⁰ Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Hebrews 10:25 NLT
²⁵ And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Proverbs 27:17 NLT
¹⁷ As iron sharpens iron,
so a friend sharpens a friend.

• As believers, we are carefully joined together in Christ.

becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 

“Becoming”

• The church is a living and growing organism.

1 Peter 2:4-5 NLT
⁴ You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.
⁵ And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.

Matthew 18:20 NLT
²⁰ For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

Matthew 28:20 NLT
²⁰ Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

1 Corinthians 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in (or among) you?

• The church is meant to be a community of people in whom the Holy Spirit dwells.

Belonging to the visible church is not optional for followers of Christ.

• Living in isolation, separated from believers, is not an option for followers of Christ. 

²² Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.

• The Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence in the vast spiritual body of all of the redeemed. 

Individually

1 Corinthians 6:19 NLT
¹⁹ Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, ²⁰ for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

Corporately

2 Corinthians 6:16 NLT
^16 … For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:
“I will live in them
and walk among them.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people. 

 

 What does your Christmas card look like?

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction:

Another “before” and “after” picture.

From “Outsider” to “Heir” and the Benefits That Go with It.

Ephesians 2:11-18 NLT
Oneness and Peace in Christ
¹¹ Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. ¹² In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. ¹³ But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
¹⁴ For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. ¹⁵ He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. ¹⁶ Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
¹⁷ He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. ¹⁸ Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

Examine the scriptures:

Ephesians 2:11-18 NLT

Oneness and Peace in Christ

¹¹ Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders.

• Gentiles used to be “outsiders”.

You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 

Socially:
Gentiles were considered outsiders. 

Genesis 17:9-14 NLT
The Mark of the Covenant
⁹ Then God said to Abraham, “Your responsibility is to obey the terms of the covenant. You and all your descendants have this continual responsibility. ¹⁰ This is the covenant that you and your descendants must keep: Each male among you must be circumcised. ¹¹ You must cut off the flesh of your foreskin as a sign of the covenant between me and you. ¹² From generation to generation, every male child must be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth. This applies not only to members of your family but also to the servants born in your household and the foreign-born servants whom you have purchased. ¹³ All must be circumcised. Your bodies will bear the mark of my everlasting covenant. ¹⁴ Any male who fails to be circumcised will be cut off from the covenant family for breaking the covenant.” 

Gentiles were cut off from the covenant family. 

• Gentiles were “excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel” (verse 12). 

¹² In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 

• Gentiles:

Were living apart from Christ.
Did not know God’s covenant promises.
Lived in this world without God.
Lived without hope.

Colossians 1:21 NLT
²¹ This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.

We really were outsiders, lost and without hope, heading straight to hell. 

¹³ But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

Brought near to God.

Jesus restored a broken relationship. 

• Gentiles were brought near to God through the blood of Christ.

The Old Testament discusses this in some detail in Isaiah 56. 

Isaiah 56:8 NLT
⁸ For the Sovereign Lord,
who brings back the outcasts of Israel, says:
I will bring others, too,
besides my people Israel.” 

¹⁴ For Christ himself has brought peace to us.

• We can have peace with God because of what Jesus has done for us.

Romans 5:1 NLT
^5:1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 

united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.  

• Christ made peace between Jews and Gentiles possible.

Galatians 3:26-28 NLT
²⁶ For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. ²⁸ There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

¹⁵ He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. 

• The Mosaic Law included many commandments that served to separate Israel (the Jews) from the other nations (Gentiles).

Deuteronomy 20:16-18 NLT
¹⁶ In those towns that the Lord your God is giving you as a special possession, destroy every living thing. ¹⁷ You must completely destroy the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, just as the Lord your God has commanded you. ¹⁸ This will prevent the people of the land from teaching you to imitate their detestable customs in the worship of their gods, which would cause you to sin deeply against the Lord your God.

Jesus changed all of that.

Romans 10:4 NLT
⁴ For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given.   As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.

Romans 6:14 NLT
¹⁴ Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

Romans 7:6 NLT
⁶ But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

• We have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power.

He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 NLT
¹⁷ This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
¹⁸ And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. 

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 NLT
¹² The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. ¹³ Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

¹⁶ Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. 

• Christ’s death on the cross reconciled humans to God, and also Jews and Gentiles to each other. 

¹⁷ He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 

John 14:27 NLT
²⁷ “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 

¹⁸ Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

The gift of the Holy Spirit.

We have access to God through the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:44-45 NLT
The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit
⁴⁴ Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. ⁴⁵ The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. 

Galatians 4:6-7 NLT
⁶ And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” ⁷ Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. 

Romans 8:15-17 NLT
¹⁵ So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. 

Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT
¹⁴ So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. ¹⁵ This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. 

Ephesians 3:12 NLT
¹² Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. 

• Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.

 

A Gift from God

A nine word sentence everyone needs to understand.

Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT
⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. ¹⁰ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

 Romans 10:9-10 NLT
⁹ If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

 Examine the scriptures:

Review a “before” and “after” picture.

• The unsaved are in the clutches of Satan and follow in his opposition to God and are doomed to an eternity in Hell.

• God raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms.

How do we get from “the clutches of Satan” to “seated with him (Christ)”?

Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT

⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed.

• God saved you by his grace when you believed.

Ephesians 2:8 is a concise summary of how a person is saved.

Some additional important details:

Romans 6:23 NLT
²³ For the wages of sin is death, …

Romans 1:16-17 NLT
¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. ¹⁷ This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Romans 3:24-25 NLT
²⁴ Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. ²⁵ For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,

Galatians 2:16 NLT
¹⁶ Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”

Where does this faith come from?

Romans 10:13-17 NLT
¹³ For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
¹⁴ But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? ¹⁵ And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
¹⁶ But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?” ¹⁷ So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. 

• Faith comes from hearing the Good News about Christ.

Scripture transforms our lives. 

And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  

• Salvation is a gift from God. 

A gift belongs to you after you accept it. 

⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  

Romans 9:16 NLT
¹⁶ So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.

Romans 3:20 NLT
²⁰ For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

2 Timothy 1:9 NLT
⁹ For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.

Titus 3:5 NLT
⁵ he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 NLT
³⁰ God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. ³¹ Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” 

• Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done. 

¹⁰ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. 

Psalm 139:13-16 NLT
¹³ You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
¹⁵ You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
¹⁶ You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed. 

• God gives purpose and meaning to our lives.

Philippians 2:13 NLT
¹³ For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

• God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Assurance of your salvation: 

Romans 10:9-10 NLT
⁹ If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 

John 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 

• We can also know we are truly saved.             

 

 

Made Alive with Christ

Ephesians 2:1-7 NLT^2:1 
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. ² You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. ³ All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
⁴ But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, ⁵ that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) ⁶ For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. ⁷ So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

Examine the scriptures:

Ephesians 2:1-7 NLT
Made Alive with Christ

^2:1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 

Romans 3:23 NLT
²³ For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 

Romans 5:12 NLT
¹² When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

Romans 6:23 NLT
²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

• When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

Sin separates us from God

Sin is like a wall between us and God.

We have no way to get over, under, or through this wall.

We were all spiritually dead with no inclination toward God.

This is a picture of total sinfulness and total lostness. 

² You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.  

2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT
⁴ Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. 

1 John 5:19 NLT
¹⁹ We know that … the world around us is under the control of the evil one. 

• The unsaved are in the clutches of Satan and follow in his opposition to God.

Satan dominates his human subjects.

• We are surrounded by Satan’s evil forces.

Ephesians 6:12 NLT
¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

³ All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

Psalm 51:5 NLT
⁵ For I was born a sinner—
yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

Romans 2:5 NLT
⁵ But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

• By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger. The wages of sin is death. 

⁴ But 

God is so rich in mercy,

Mercy:

kind and forgiving treatment of someone (who deserves punishment),
showing forgiveness and compassion to those in need,
the withholding of a just condemnation,
compassion and love expressed in tangible ways,
compassionate treatment of those in distress,
compassion, lovingkindness, and pity.

Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT
²² The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
²³ Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.

and he loved us so much, 

• God is rich in mercy.

⁵ that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

When we were dead, God gave us life.

Romans 5:8-10 NLT
⁸ But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. ⁹ And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. ¹⁰ For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 

• ⁸ But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. ⁹ And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 

John 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 

Romans 10:13 NLT
¹³ For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

• Since unsaved people are dead, they have to be made alive before they can believe. This is why salvation can only be by grace alone.

1 Peter 1:3 NLT
³ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, ⁴ and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.

 ⁶ For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.  

Colossians 1:13 NLT
¹³ For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 

Philippians 3:20 NLT
²⁰ But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 

• God raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms. 

⁷ So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

 

Ephesians 3:20 NLT
²⁰ Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 

Revelation 7:10-12 NLT
¹⁰ And they were shouting with a great roar,
“Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne
and from the Lamb!”
¹¹ And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. ¹² They sang,
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and strength belong to our God
forever and ever! Amen.”

• Our salvation is for God’s glory.

 

Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom

A great prayer to pray for your students, your own family, coworkers, other believers, or anyone else you relate to.

Ephesians 1:15-23 NLT
¹⁵ Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, ¹⁶ I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, ¹⁷ asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. ¹⁸ I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
¹⁹ I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power ²⁰ that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. ²¹ Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. ²² God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. ²³ And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

Examine the scriptures:

Ephesians 1:15-23 NLT
Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom

Verses 15-23 are one sentence in the Greek.

¹⁵ Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, 

Paul had spent some time in Ephesus a few years earlier, but he would not have known the newer believers or others who may have read his letter.

Paul made similar statements to other churches.

Colossians 1:4 NLT
⁴ For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, 

2 Thessalonians 1:3 NLT
³ Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. 

Paul’s description of the Ephesians:

The Ephesians had faith in the Lord Jesus – a right vertical relationship.

The Ephesians had a love for God’s people everywhere – a right horizontal relationship.

• A proper relationship with God should lead to a proper relationship with other Christians.

Matthew 22:37-39 NLT
³⁷ Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 

Galatians 5:6 NLT
⁶ For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.

Remember – Faith and love come from God.

Ephesians 6:23 NLT
²³ Peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters, and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. 

1 John 4:7 NLT
⁷ Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. 

Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT
… And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. ² We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith…

• Faith and love come from God. 

Paul’s prayer: 

¹⁶ I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly,  

• Paul begins his prayer giving thanks to God.

Because of the Ephesians’ faith and love, Paul continues to give thanks for them. 

¹⁷ asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Paul’s request.

to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.  

Praying for spiritual wisdom and insight.

To know God personally, not just to know about Him intellectually.

We can know God.

John 14:7 NLT
⁷ If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” 

1 John 2:3 NLT
³ And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 

To know God we must know His Word.

• Paul prayed that the Ephesians would know God personally and intimately. Paul wanted them to have the spiritual understanding to grasp the full significance of all that God had done for them. 

¹⁸ I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—

Paul prayed that the Ephesians would have a spiritually enlightened mind.

Paul prayed that the Ephesians would be able to understand the confident hope God has given to those he called.

The assurance of eternal life.

• Paul prayed that the Ephesians would understand the hope he gives to those he has called. 

his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

Understand that we are a part of God’s family.  We belong to God.

Romans 8:17 NLT
¹⁷ And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.

¹⁹ I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him.

Paul prayed that the Ephesians would be able to understand God’s great power.

God’s power for us who believe him.

The power of God’s Spirit at work in and through His people.

This is not our power, rather it is the power at work in us.

• Paul prayed that the Ephesians would understand the incredible greatness of the power of God’s Spirit at work in and through His people.

This mighty power: 

This is the same mighty power ²⁰ that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. ²¹ Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 

²² God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 

²³ And the church is his (Christ’s) body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

This mighty power:

Power over death.

Jesus’ power and authority transcend all rival powers, in this world and in the world to come.

The church is made full and complete by Christ.

 

Inheritance in Christ

God saved you (us) for a reason.

Don’t forget God’s reason for saving you (us).

Ephesians 1:12-14 NLT
¹² God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. ¹³ And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. ¹⁴ The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

Examine the scriptures:

Ephesians 1:12-14 NLT
Inheritance in Christ

¹² God’s purpose was that we Jews (this was written by Paul) who were the first to trust in Christ

Romans 1:16 NLT
¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.

Chronologically many Jews became believers before Gentiles became believers.

would bring praise and glory to God. 

This verse: God’s purpose was that Jews who put their trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God.

Verse 13-14: God’s purpose was that Gentiles purchased by God would bring praise and glory to God.

Westminster Shorter Catechism

1. 1. 1. 1. What is the chief end of man? A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

• God’s glory is the supreme purpose of redemption. 

¹³ And now you Gentiles

• God’s plan includes salvation for Gentiles.

Acts 9:15 NLT
¹⁵ But the Lord said (speaking to Ananias), “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.

Acts 28:28 NLT
²⁸ So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it.”

1 Corinthians 12:13 NLT
¹³ Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you.

Heard the truth.

Romans 10:14-15 NLT
¹⁴ But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? ¹⁵ And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

Romans 10:17 NLT
¹⁷ So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

• Faith comes from hearing the Good News about Christ.

The ministry at Redeemer Day School is to tell the students about Jesus.

And when you believed in Christ,

And believed in Christ.

John 1:12 NLT
¹² But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

 

Romans 10:9-15 NLT
⁹ If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. ¹¹ As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” ¹² Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. ¹³ For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

¹⁴ But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? ¹⁵ And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

• If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

How God’s sovereignty and human responsibility work together is a mystery no one fully understands. 

he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 

Acts 2:38 NLT
³⁸ Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 1:22 NLT
²² and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us. 

Ephesians 4:30 NLT
³⁰ And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (NIV)

• The Holy Spirit in our life (in a believer’s life) identifies us as one of God’s own children. 

¹⁴ The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised 

and that he has purchased us to be his own people.

2 Corinthians 1:22 NLT
²² and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.

Galatians 3:29 NLT
²⁹ And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.

Galatians 4:7 NLT
⁷ Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

Colossians 1:12 NLT
¹² always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

Titus 3:7 NLT
⁷ Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.

• The Holy Spirit living in us is God’s guarantee that He will give us the inheritance He promised. 

He did this so we would praise and glorify him. 

Ephesians 1:6 NLT
⁶ So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.

Colossians 1:12 NLT
¹² always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 

David does this well. 

Psalm 108 NLT
A song. A psalm of David.
¹ My heart is confident in you, O God;
no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!
² Wake up, lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn with my song.
³ I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
I will sing your praises among the nations.
⁴ For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
⁵ Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
May your glory shine over all the earth. 

This is something done well at Redeemer Day School where the students memorize Psalm 100 each year at Thanksgiving. 

Psalm 100 NLT
¹ Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
²     Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
³ Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation. 

• Scripture instructs us to praise and glorify God. 

Remember:

God chose us.
Jesus redeemed us.
The Holy Spirit protects (seals) us.

We should praise God for choosing us.  (Ephesians 1:3-6)
We should praise Jesus for redeeming us.  (Ephesians 1:5-13)
We should praise the Holy Spirit for protecting (sealing) us.  (Ephesians 1:13-14)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

God’s Mysterious Will

Ephesians 1:9-11 NLT

⁹ God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. ¹⁰ And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. ¹¹ Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

Examine the scriptures:

God’s Mysterious Will
Ephesians 1:9-11 NLT

⁹ God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—

• His (God’s) mysterious will revealed to us. A previously hidden divine truth, now revealed by God.

Ephesians 3:9 NLT
⁹ I (Paul) was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. 

which is to fulfill his own good plan.  

God’s mysterious will (God’s plan) is multifaceted.  It has many different parts. 

• God has a good plan, from the beginning of time, which He will fulfill.

Psalm 33:11 NLT
¹¹ But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever;
his intentions can never be shaken. 

Proverbs 19:21 NLT
²¹ You can make many plans,
but the Lord’s purpose (plans) will prevail. 

Ephesians 3:9 NLT
⁹ I (Paul) was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.

One part of God’s plan:

Ephesians 2:10 NLT
¹⁰ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

A major part of God’s mysterious will:

¹⁰ And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.  

Since we have the New Testament, much of it written by Paul, we know as much of God’s mysterious will that we need to know. 

• Christ is the center of God’s plans.

1 Corinthians 15:27 NLT
²⁷ For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under his(Christ’s) authority.” 

(Of course, when it says “all things are under his authority,” that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.) 

Philippians 2:10-11 NLT
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

 1 Timothy 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith:

Christ was revealed in a human body
and vindicated by the Spirit.
He was seen by angels
and announced to the nations.
He was believed in throughout the world
and taken to heaven in glory. 

Christ, as described in Scripture:

Colossians 1:16-20 NLT
¹⁶ for through him (Christ) God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
¹⁷ He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
¹⁸ Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body.
He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.
So he is first in everything.
¹⁹ For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
²⁰ and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

1 Timothy 6:15 NLT
¹⁵ For,

At just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

Revelation 19:16 NLT
The Rider on the White Horse
¹¹ Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. ¹² His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. ¹³ He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. ¹⁴ The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. ¹⁵ From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. ¹⁶ On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

• Jesus Christ is the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

Repeat: God’s mysterious will (God’s plan) is multifaceted.  It has many different parts.

Other aspects of God’s mysterious will:

Ephesians 3:3-6 NLT
³ As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. ⁴ As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. ⁵ God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.

⁶ And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. 

Ephesians 6:19 NLT
¹⁹ And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News (the Gospel) is for Jews and Gentiles alike. 

Colossians 1:26-27 NLT
²⁶ This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. ²⁷ For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.

Colossians 2:2 NLT
² I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself.

¹⁹…For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.

Mark 4:11 NLT
¹¹ He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, 

• Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.

¹¹ Furthermore, because we are united with Christ,

we have received an inheritance from God, 

• Those who are united with Christ, those adopted into God’s family, have received an inheritance from God. 

Romans 8:17 NLT
¹⁷ And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.

Galatians 3:29 NLT
²⁹ And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.

Salvation.

Eternal life in heaven and all that goes with this. 

for he chose us in advance,

Review Ephesians 1:5
⁵ God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.  

Romans 8:29-30 NLT
²⁹ For God knew his people in advance … 

Colossians 3:12 NLT
¹² Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves …

1 Thessalonians 1:4 NLT
⁴ We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.

• God chose us in advance.

and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

A brief summary of God’s plan for his people.

Romans 8:28-30 NLT
²⁸ And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. ²⁹ For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

• God is firmly in control of history. 

 

Quick review:

God chose us.

Jesus redeemed us.

The Holy Spirit protects us.

 

Praise God for His Amazing Grace

Ephesians 1:2-8 NLT
² May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Spiritual Blessings
³ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. ⁴ Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. ⁵ God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. ⁶ So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. ⁷ He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. ⁸ He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

Examine the scriptures:

Ephesians 1:2-8 NLT
Praise God for His Amazing Grace.

² May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

These words are more than just a “greeting”.

• Grace and peace are major themes in the book of Ephesians.

Paul uses the word “grace” 12 times and “peace” 7 times in Ephesians.

Grace:

In Christianity, God’s grace and God’s mercy are often confused. Although they are similar expressions of God’s favor and love, they possess a clear distinction. When we experience God’s grace, we receive blessings from God that we do not deserve. When we experience God’s mercy, we are spared from punishment that we do deserve.

Grace can even be defined by the acronym God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense.

Grace is undeserved blessing that comes from God’s kindness.

Grace expresses God’s steadfast love toward man.

In the next chapter of Ephesians:

Ephesians 2:4-5 NLT
⁴ But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, ⁵ that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

 Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT
⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

Peace:

Peace is a sense of well-being and contentedness rooted in the Good News and brought about by the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 2:14 NLT
¹⁴ For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people …

Ephesians 6:15 NLT
¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News …

Other writings from Paul:

Galatians 5:22 NLT
²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Both are gifts from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1-2 NLT
5 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. ² Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

• Grace is undeserved blessing that comes from God’s kindness.

• God’s saving grace is a theme found throughout the book of Ephesians.

• The Good news of God’s saving grace in Jesus Christ is for the Gentiles as well as for the Jews.

• Peace is a sense of well-being and contentedness rooted in the Good News and brought about by the Holy Spirit.

Note: In Greek, verses 3-14 are one sentence.

³ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. NIV

God’s superabundant blessings are given to all of His adopted children.

We are able to be called His children because of what Christ has done for us.

The words “Christ” or “Son” appear, or are implied, in verses 1-7.

2 Peter 1:2-4 (Peter an apostle expands on this thought.)
² May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. ³ By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. ⁴ And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

• God has equipped us with everything we need to live the life he has planned for us. 

⁴ Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us (see verse 5)

This form of the Greek verb “chose” indicates that God not only chose by Himself but for Himself to the praise of His own glory. 

in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

Colossians 1:22 NLT
²² Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

Titus 3:5-7 NLT
⁵ he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. ⁶ He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. ⁷ Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.

Jude 24 NLT
²⁴ Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. 

• As a result of what Jesus did for us, God sees us as holy and blameless.

 ⁵ God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.  

Ephesians 1:11 NLT
¹¹ … he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

 Romans 8:29-30 NLT
²⁹ For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. 

Colossians 3:12 NLT
¹² Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves …

1 Thessalonians 1:4 NLT
⁴ We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.

Titus 1:1 NLT
¹ This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen …

John 6:44 NLT
⁴⁴ For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. 

• God decided in advance to adopt us (believers) into his own family, and it gave Him great pleasure. 

⁶ So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.  

• Praising God is an appropriate response for all He has done for us.

1 Chronicles 16:34 NLT
³⁴ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.

Revelation 5:12 NLT
¹² And they sang in a mighty chorus:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—
to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and blessing.”

What did God do for us?

Colossians 1:13 NLT
¹³ For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness (destination – Hell) and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, (destination – Heaven)

Praise God.

Psalm 150:6 NLT
⁶ Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!

Praise the Lord! 

• Praise God for His amazing grace. 

⁷ He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 

• God is rich in kindness and grace.

We read about God’s kindness and grace throughout scripture.

Ephesians:

Ephesians 1:14 NLT
¹⁴ The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

Ephesians 2:13 NLT
¹³ But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 4:30 NLT
³⁰ … Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

Other scriptures:

Romans 3:24 NLT
²⁴ Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

Mark 10:45 NLT
⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

1 Peter 1:18-19 NLT
¹⁸ For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. ¹⁹ It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 

• God purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

⁸ He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

We can ask God for wisdom and understanding.

Colossians 1:9 NLT
⁹ So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Proverbs 2:6 NLT
⁶ For the Lord grants wisdom!
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Colossians 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.  

• God has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

 

This thought continues in verse 9

Disclaimer
There is a big difference between Scripture and commentary.
Scripture is God’s Word.  Commentary is man’s word.
Most of the content in this lesson is from the Scripture.  Some of the content is from commentaries.

Introduction to Ephesians.

Ephesians 1:1-2 NLT
Greetings from Paul¹ 
This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.
I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus,
who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.
²May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Examine the scriptures:

Ephesians 1:1-2 NLT

Greetings from Paul 

¹ This letter is from Paul,

Also Ephesians 3:1 NLT
When I think of all this, I, Paul, …

• Written by Paul – about 60-62 A.D. – while in prison in Rome – one of the Prison Epistles (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon)

There are some differences in dates and locations in other commentaries. (5 of the commentaries I used support the above bullet point.) 

chosen by the will of God

A sovereign God fulfilling His plan.

God’s sovereignty, a theme throughout the book of Ephesians.

Ephesians 1:5 NLT
⁵ God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

Ephesians 1:9 NLT
⁹ God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan.

Ephesians 1:11 NLT
¹¹ Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. 

Ephesians 2:10 NLT
¹⁰ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. 

Other scriptures:
Psalm 139:16 NLT
¹⁶ You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed. 

to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. 

Apostle: The word means “Messenger” or “send forth” and served as official title for Paul and the twelve disciples, who were eyewitness of the resurrected Jesus and were chosen by God to lay the foundation for the church. 

• It was God’s plan, not Paul’s plan, for Paul to be an apostle.
  • Commissioned and sent by God with the gospel message.
  • Paul’s authority comes from God.
  • 2 Timothy 3:16 (written by Paul) tells us that all of Paul’s writings were inspired by God.

2 Timothy 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 

I am writing to God’s holy people (saints) in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.

God’s holy people described in the book of Ephesians:

Ephesians 1:15 NLT
¹⁵ Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere …

Ephesians 1:18
¹⁸ I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

Ephesians 2:19
¹⁹ So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.

Ephesians 3:18
¹⁸ And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

Ephesians 4:12
¹² Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

Ephesians 5:3
³ Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.

• Paul is writing this letter to God’s holy people.
• God’s holy people (Saints) are set apart for God’s use.
• The recipients of this letter are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.
• The recipients of this letter are “believers” in Christ Jesus. 

1:1 The most ancient manuscripts do not include in Ephesus. 

Because the name Ephesus is not mentioned in every early manuscript, and because there are no personal greetings in this letter, some scholars believe the letter was meant to be circulated and read among all the churches in Asia Minor and was simply sent fist to the believers in Ephesus.

Ephesians may have been a letter intended for other churches in addition to the church in Ephesus.

• To the Ephesians, but may also have been intended to be circulated among other churches. 

• The book of Ephesians is also written for us.

2 Timothy 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us … 

Romans 15:4 NLT
⁴ Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. 

Psalm 119:105 NLT
¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.

Interesting facts about Ephesus:

Ephesus was the capital of the Roman province of Asia.

Ephesus was an important port city.

Ephesus was located at an intersection of major trade routes.

At this time was the 4^th largest city in the Roman Empire, with an estimated population of 500,000 people.

Known for its temple of Artemis, (or Diana to the Romans).

This temple was regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.

Important political, educational, and commercial.

Why is all of this significant?  (Not much different than many cities in America.)

Paul visited Ephesus:

Acts 18:18-23   NLT
Paul Returns to Antioch of Syria (second missionary journey)          A.D. 49-52 (51-53)*
¹⁸ Paul stayed in Corinth for some time after that, then said good-bye to the brothers and sisters and went to nearby Cenchrea. There he shaved his head according to Jewish custom, marking the end of a vow. Then he set sail for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him.
¹⁹ They stopped first at the port of Ephesus, where Paul left the others behind. While he was there, he went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews. ²⁰ They asked him to stay longer, but he declined. ²¹ As he left, however, he said, “I will come back later, God willing.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. ²² The next stop was at the port of Caesarea. From there he went up and visited the church at Jerusalem and then went back to Antioch.
²³ After spending some time in Antioch, Paul went back through Galatia and Phrygia, visiting and strengthening all the believers.

(third missionary journey)^19:1 
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers.
⁸ Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. ⁹ But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. ¹⁰ This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord.
¹⁸ Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices.  

Acts 20:17 & 31 NLT
Third missionary journey A.D. 54-57
¹⁷ But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him.

³¹ Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.

• Paul was very familiar with the believers in Ephesus.

The first three chapters are theological, emphasizing New Testament doctrine,

while the last three chapters are practical and focus on Christian behavior.

• The book of Ephesians challenges the reader to focus on Christ and the Church and teaches practical Christian living.

Example of focusing on the church.
Ephesians 6:18 NLT
¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

• Jews and Gentiles make up the church.

Ephesians is a letter of encouragement and admonition.  The book talks a lot about the church, God’s grace, and who we are in Christ.

Unlike Galatians and Corinthians, Ephesians was not written to address a specific concern or concerns within the church. Instead, it was written to emphasize all that we receive when we become a Christian, and to appreciate the high goals God has for the church.

² May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

These words are more than just a “greeting”.

Grace and peace are major themes in the book of Ephesians.

Paul uses the word “grace” 12 times and “peace” 7 times in Ephesians.

Grace can even be defined by the acronym God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense.

In Christianity, God’s grace and God’s mercy are often confused. Although they are similar expressions of God’s favor and love, they possess a clear distinction. When we experience God’s grace, we receive favor that we do not deserve. When we experience God’s mercy, we are spared punishment that we do deserve.

Grace is undeserved blessing that comes from God’s kindness.

Grace expresses God’s steadfast love toward man.

Peace is a sense of well-being and contentedness rooted in the Good News and brought about by the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22 NLT
²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Both are gifts from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1-2 NLT
5 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. ² Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

• Grace is undeserved blessing that comes from God’s kindness.
• God’s saving grace is a theme found throughout the book of Ephesians.
• The Good news of God’s saving grace in Jesus Christ is for the Gentiles as well as for the Jews.
• Peace is a sense of well-being and contentedness rooted in the Good News and brought about by the Holy Spirit.

Overall goal:

Immerse our minds, hearts, and souls in the beauty of God’s Word.

Introduction:

Remember Your Mission, Your Ministry, Your Calling.

When we examine current events:

We see the demise of America as we once knew it.

We are surrounded by moral decay.

It’s easy to become discouraged.

It’s easy to lose focus.

            We read about the rise and fall of nations (God’s people) in the Old Testament.

The outcome for America is predictable.

Don’t lose your focus.

What is something that God has called you to do?

Our ministry (from the scriptures)

Ephesians 2:10 NLT
¹⁰ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. 

Ephesians 4:11-12 NLT
¹¹ Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. ¹² Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

Psalm 78 (NLT)
¹O my people, listen to my instructions.
Open your ears to what I am saying,
²for I will speak to you in a parable.
I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
³stories we have heard and known,
stories our ancestors handed down to us.
⁴We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.
⁵For he issued his laws to Jacob;
he gave his instructions to Israel.
He commanded our ancestors
to teach them to their children,
⁶so the next generation might know them—
even the children not yet born—
and they in turn will teach their own children.
⁷So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
not forgetting his glorious miracles
and obeying his commands.

Actions

¹O my people, listen to my instructions.
Open your ears to what I am saying, (be receptive) 

YOU:

Listen – hear  (God speaks to us!)

Bible study is all important!

I will teach you …

I will speak to you …

• Listen to God’s instructions. Open your ears to what God is saying to you. (be receptive)

Tell:

⁴We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the LORD,
about his power and his mighty wonders. 

Desired outcome:

⁶so the next generation might know them—
even the children not yet born—
and they in turn will teach their own children.

⁷So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
not forgetting his glorious miracles
and obeying his commands.

• Help others

You want them to:

Know God’s Story – Biblical truths.
Trust in God.
Remember Biblical truths.
Obey Biblical truths.

• Repetition is good.

How

• Remember Your Mission.

Deuteronomy 6 (NLT)
⁴ “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. ⁵ And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. ⁶ And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. ⁷ Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. ⁸ Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders.  ⁹ Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Repeat again and again.

• Start with yourself.

YOU: You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.  

⁶ And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 

• Repeat them (Biblical principles) again and again to your children.

Readily available resource.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
¹⁶All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. 

Remember Your Mission.

Remember, Redeemer Day School is a preschool.  We are here to establish a foundation for our students.  We are not building the entire building.

• Building on a Solid Foundation

Luke 6:46-49 NLT
Building on a Solid Foundation
⁴⁶“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? ⁴⁷I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. ⁴⁸It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. ⁴⁹But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

Matthew 7:24-29 NLT
Building on a Solid Foundation
²⁴“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. ²⁵Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. ²⁶But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. ²⁷When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
²⁸When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.

• We want our students to hear and obey basic Biblical principles.

Foundations

Costly to build.
Construction most people do not see.
Rain will come.  Foundations will be tested.

We are not in this alone. (Picture the following.)

Isaiah 41:8-10 NLT
⁸ “But as for you, Israel my servant,
Jacob my chosen one,
descended from Abraham my friend,
⁹ I have called you back from the ends of the earth,
saying, ‘You are my servant.’
For I have chosen you
and will not throw you away.
¹⁰ Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Final comments:

Proverbs 22:6 NLT
⁶Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. (ESV)

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT)
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Psalm 127:1 NLT
Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.