The Book of Ephesians
Taught verse-by-verse by Greg Kedrovsky
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By "exposition" we mean "expository preaching." We plan on working through the book, verse by verse, from beginning to end in its proper, biblical context.. (Click here for written outline.) |
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Ephesians is a book about our lives "in Christ," and that phrase ("in Christ") is key to Ephesians. "In Christ" we have life: Spiritual life, new life, abundant life. We are no longer dead in sin. "In Christ" we are called to live a life that is different--a life that is worthy of the name we carry. Ephesians is going to teach us about that new life we have in Christ and about that new life we should live because we are in Christ. And we begin in our study of the Book of Ephesians with chapter 1, with the first two verses of greeting. (Click here for written outline.) |
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With this message we start the second major passage of Ephesians 1: Our Blessings in Christ (v3-14). Here we look at what Ephesians 1:3-6 has to say about the glory of God the Father in the blessings we have received in Jesus Christ: Our Election in Christ: We Have Security (v4); Our Predestination in Christ: We Have Hope and Purpose (v5); Our Acceptance in Christ: We Have Liberty and Confidence (v6). (Click here for written outline.) |
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Ephesians is a book about our life in Christ. It speaks of both what we have in Christ (the new life in Him) and how we should live in Christ. In chapter 1 of Ephesians Paul reminds us of the New Beginning we had (and have) in Christ. In the moment we are saved (placed in Christ), we receive all spiritual blessings. In this message, we take a look at two of the blessings that glorify Christ: Our forgiveness and our redemption. (Click here for written outline.) For questions and answers on this sesson, Click here. |
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What's the "key" to making right decisions in order to live for the right things in the "here and now"? Much of the time we get caught up in the things we have to do just to make a living in this world. What can help us live above all of that? What can motivate us to live for the Lord? I think one of the most important keys to right living in the here-and-now is a knowledge of the future. (Click here for written outline.) |
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The one final blessing that Paul mentions in Ephesians 1 is the blessing that glorifies the Spirit. It is the seal of the Spirit in the believer. What is this "seal" and what does it mean for our lives today in Christ? We look at what the Bible says about the seal of the Spirit and how it indicates a finished transation in the past, the security of our salvation in the present. amd the full redemption of our bodies in the future. (Click here for written outline.) |
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In our study of Ephesians, we've come to one of the two great prayers in this book: Ephesians 1:15-23. The second is found in Ephesians 3:20-21. These two great prayers of the Apostle Paul are like two big fingers pointing out two big problems we have today. 1. We don't think big enough. 2. We don't believe God wants to do great things ... through us. (Click here for written outline.) |
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Paul finishes Ephesians 1 with a prayer. He prays, not that God would give the Ephesian saints what they do not have. He prays that God would show them what they already have in Christ. This is because our new beginning in Christ is just that: It is just the beginning! God has much more in store for the Christian than just salvation (and salvation is grand!). (Click here for written outline.) |
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We are not going to attempt great things for God until we know what we can expect from God. There is much more to the Christian life than salvation (and salvation is grand!). And we need to know three specific things if we are going to grow beyond just the beginning. (Click here for written outline.) |
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Sin is the greatest evil and therefore calls for the greatest hatred and the greatest punishment. This is where Paul starts in Ephesians 2: We were born in sin and we have sinned, therefore in time past (before knowing Christ), we were the the objects of God's hatred and punishment. Yet God in Christ took the greatest evil and through the greatest sacrifice brought forth the greatest good: His glory in our salvation. (Click here for written outline.) |
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We see that, before our salvation in Christ, we were condemned to suffer God's wrath. We condemned ourselves to wrath by the wicked things we have done. And we were condemned to wrath by our very nature (we were wicked people). The problem is that every sinner has deceived himself into thinking that sin is not so bad and that he, the sinner, is relatively good. What we need is a clear understanding of ourselves so that we will look to God for salvation. (Click here for written outline.) |
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We laid down the black cloth (and it could not be any more black), and now we get to set the diamond of God's goodness on that black background and see just how good He is. We have spent the time looking at ourselves in the mirror of God's word, and now it's time to turn our focus to God. Ephesians 2.4 starts with, "But God..." and I don't think there is any other phrase in the Bible that conveys as much hope for lost, sinful man as this one. (Click here for written outline.) |
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What must a sinner do to be saved? Can he "do" anything? Or is it God who does it all for him? We have seen our need for God to intervene in our lives to save us: In time past, before Christ, we were dead in sins and condemned to suffer God's wrath (v1-3). But God, because He is kind, intervened in human history and in our lives personally, and He saved us (v4-7, esp. v7). We are going to see just how God wrought that change in us. (Click here for written outline.) |
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When God gave us life, he also gave us an eternal purpose for which to live. God has changed us (made us new in Christ) in order to give us the privilege of making an eternal difference with our temporal lives. We look at three things: 1. God's Purpose in Us: Created for Works. 2. God's Purpose for Us: Works Ordained for Us. 3. What God's Purpose Requires of Us: Preparation and Diligence. (Click here for written outline.) |
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We need to remember how it was in time past, before God changed us in Christ. Why...? So we will always draw near (and stay near) to God, and so that we will love Him fervently. (1Jn 4:10, 19) We need to remember our "good ol' days" before Christ so that we remember just what we have in Christ now and what awaits us in Christ in the future. There is one word that describes our life before Christ (a life without God and salvation): Despair. (Click here for written outline.) |
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The great change (our peace and nearness with God vs. enmity and distance from him) is brought about by Christ Jesus, our "Peace Offering." Before Christ we had no hope, we lived in despair: deprived of hope (v11-12) but now (v13) in Christ Jesus our relationship to God and our eternal destiny are very different. (Click here for written outline.) |
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We have come to a passage in Ephesians that shows us how God has brought about the great change we have in Christ Jesus. Remember: We who were dead in sin have been made alive in Christ. ... How? By God's grace appropriated through faith in Jesus Christ. Now we are going to see that we who were in time past far off -- separated from God by sin -- have been made nigh to God in Christ. God ends our separation by abolishing the law and then by preaching the gospel. (Click here for written outline.) |
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God has changed us in Christ. In time past we were far from God, without hope in this world. But now it's different: Now, because of Christ's sinless life and sacrificial death we have been reconciled to God (made near, now no longer His enemies). God has changed us in Christ and that means: Life is now different. What does that mean...? If we are different (changed, made new in Christ), then we will (we ought to) live differently. (Click here for written outline.) |
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An introduction to Ephesians 3 and a study on biblical dispensations. We find out what dispensations are, what they teach us and how to apply them to our study of the Bible. |
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We take a look at the dispensation that was given to Paul and his primacy to us in the Church Age. |
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Paul defines the revalation given to him. That mystery is most specifically about Jew and Gentile now being equal in the Body of Christ. We get to participate in it by the gospel given to Paul. We look at two things -- The mystery of the Body of Christ and the gospel given to Paul. (Click here for written outline.) |
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Paul's ministry was God's grace given to him to make us (Gentiles) wise. Ministry -- A gift of grace. Ministry today -- Revealed through Paul. When Israel rejected Jesus as their Messiah and King, God started something new: The Church Age. What you personally do with that knowledge and understanding is totally up to you. Paul has primacy for us today: It is wise to learn from him and then follow him. (Click here for written outline.) |
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God's purpose in the Church is His glory, so live for His glory (and you will find yourself enjoying God both now and forever!). God is glorified by the Church. Why did God allow Satan to sin? Adam to sin? Israel to sin? ... us to sin? The Church glorifies God by manifesting his wisdom. The Church glories God by manifesting his kindness. God is glorified by the church members. We can glorify God on earth by finishing the work he gave us to do. We can glorify God by following Paul's example. (Click here for written outline.) |
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Exercise yourself unto godliness -- diligence and effort are required on your part. (Click here for written outline.) |
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If you desire to be filled with the fullness of God, and to glorify him and enjoy him forever, Christ must dwell in your heart. (Click here for written outline.) |
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Paul's exhortation and example of a worthy walk in our new job. (Click here for written outline.) |
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The essentials of a worthy walk in our new vocation. (Click here for written outline.) |
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Be filled with God so that your diversity as a member of the Body of Christ can bring unity in the mission of the Body of Christ. (Click here for written outline.) |
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To labor in unity we need to follow God-given, godly leadership. (Click here for written outline.) |
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To labor in unity we need to follow God-given, godly leadership in the mission. (Click here for written outline.) |
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Our church will invest in men, ministry, and the mission. What will you invest in? (Click here for written outline.) |
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God has a plan for your life (Eph 4.11-12): He wants to perfect you -- conform you to Christ's image. In Ephesians 4.13-16, Paul finishes out this thought by showing us the goals of the Christian life. There is one ultimate goal (the "finish line" of the Christian life) and there are daily goals (those steps we need to make an effort to take each day in order to reach the ultimate goal and "win the prize"). What is it that God expects of us Christians as we strive to follow Christ? (Click here for written outline.) |
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Walk not as other Gentiles, in mindless vanity and self-centered behavior. Lost people (the "other Gentiles") don't want Scripture and prayer in the schools ... they don't want the Ten Commandments in the Supreme Court ... they don't want people to "invade their privacy" and "shove their religion down their throats" (so they come with "no soliciting" laws to keep the religious fanatics a good distance away). (Click here for written outline.) |
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Your new lifestyle is a result of deliberately learning Christ. In Christ, we are risen from the dead. That means that there is -- or should be -- a change of lifestyle (our walk) because we have had a change of life (our salvation in Christ). (Click here for written outline.) |
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God has called us to walk differently than the other (lost) Gentiles (Eph 4.17). He wants us to walk worthy of the mission he has given us to do on this earth (Eph 4.1, 12). What, exactly, do we need to do in order to change our walk? Well ... it's a lot like changing your clothes. You put off the old, dirty garments, wash yourself, and then put on the new, clean ones. We examine what Paul teaches about how to practically change our lifestyles so that we live more and more like Christ each day. |
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We look at four specific areas where Paul tells us we need to "put off" the old way of doing things and "put on" the new, Christ-like way of doing things: lying, anger, stealing, and the tongue. We take a quick look at two (the first and the last) and then spend a good amount of time on the other two. The two we spent the most time on were anger (which is not the problem, but rather what you do after you get angry is the problem) and stealing (and we took the opportunity to talk about ... tithes and offerings! Oh, no! Run away! Run away!). |
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We finish up our study of Ephesians 4, the first practical application chapter of the book. Our new life in Christ ought to affect our walk (our life and lifestyle). How is that? |
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The central theme of Ephesians 5 is seen in verse 8. Since we are light in the Lord (what He made us at salvation), we ought to live (walk) like it in the world. (Click here for written outline.) |
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You are a child of light, so walk like it. Wake up and separate from darkness! In Ephesians 5 Paul exhorts us to walk as children of light. We need to walk in a way that is worthy of our vocation (Eph 4: our "job" to be and make disciples). And that means we need to walk as the children of light that we already are in Christ (Eph 5:8). (Click here for written outline.) |
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The entire first half of Ephesians 5 is about the Christian's relationship to the lost world around him. The chapter itself deals with us walking as the children of light that we are in Jesus Christ. And that means we should live sanctified lives, separated unto the Light. Christian, wake up and be light in the darkness of this world! (Click here for written outline.) |
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Do not underestimate the influence of the world in which we live. This world exerts a tremendous influence on us daily (constantly!). If you are not watchful, sober, careful, vigilant ... you will find yourself carried away by the world system, living for things that have no eternal value. Open your eyes and pay the price to redeem the precious little "free time" you have! (Click here for written outline.) |
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Because the days in which we live are evil (v16b), we need to live wisely and that means living spiritually -- filled with (controlled by) the Spirit, not anything else. We took advantage of Paul's mention of drunkenness in this passage to take a quick run down the rabbit trail of what the Bible says about alcohol. How very important for a Christian to understand his liberty (and/or lack therefore) with regard to booze! (Click here for written outline.) |
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Our days are evil ... our time is limited ... and our mission is urgent. Wherefore, we need to live wisely, and that means being spiritual (v17-18). Ephesians 5.18 contains the only commandment given to Christians regarding the Holy Spirit. God commands us to be filled with the Spirit! What does that mean? How do we do that? Is this something mystical for the super-spiritual? Or is this something very practical for each and every one of us? (Click here for written outline.) |
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Ephesians 5.21 is a verse that serves as a bridge from the filling (v18) we saw before and the instructions about key relationships that follow (Eph 5:22---6:9). The filling of the Spirit will result in mutual submission among the brethren (and the submission of Christians to others in key relationships). (Click here for written outline.) |
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Marriage pictures the relationship between Christ and the Church, therefore a proper understanding of that relationship is essential for a proper understanding of marriage. (Click here for written outline.) |
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We look at the role of the wife as a picture of the Church. The wife is to submit to her husband (v22), to be subject unto him (v24), and to reverence him (v33b). (Click here for written outline.) |
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Husbands, love your wives in a way that reflects a proper and biblical theology of Christ's love for his Bride, the Church. (Click here for written outline.) |
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Ephesians 6 is a chapter that deals with our daily spiritual warfare. When we hear "spiritual warfare," we often think of Satan, demons, and scary things that happen in the spirit world (and we'll talk about all this later). But, the main focus of this chapter (the main focus of our spiritual battles) is on our daily lives -- how we live day to day. (Click here for written outline.) |
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We talk about the spiritual warfare that parents have to face as they raise their children. (Click here for written outline.) |
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The first of two messages on "servants" -- a lesson on what we ought to be like as employees. We may not be perfect, but we should strive to adorn the gospel we preach. |
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As we go to work each and every day, we need to remember that God expects us to do our jobs in a way that adorns the Gospel and brings glory to the name we wear as Christians. We examine the expectations God has for the Christian in the workplace: (v6-7) God expects us to work with prudence. (v8) God expects us to work with perspective. (Click here for written outline.) |
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In the instructions God gives to masters, we can see his expectations for the "boss" in the modern day workplace. |
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In order to be victorious in the daily spiritual battles of the Christian life, we must obey the commands to be strong and put on the whole armour of God. |
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Most of God's people today don't care about the Mission. People are not involved in rescuing the perishing; they are those who quit. They failed to stand fast. They were deceived by the wiles of the devil. They are out of the warfare. As we continue our study on spiritual warfare, we need to be aware of two essential elements to survival in our daily battles -- two elements that are ultimately essential to our fulfilling of the Mission. 1. We must know our enemy (who he is and what he does). 2. We must know our objectives (both defensive and offensive). (Click here for written outline.) |
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Truth is vital in our spiritual warfare against the devil. We must receive the truth of God in Scripture alone and rest on Scripture alone as the truth of God. (Click here for written outline.) |
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God has given us his righteousness as a breastplate. His righteousness is imputed to us (fully, completely, permanently) at the moment of our conversion and salvation. Now, having received that righteousness legally and positionally, we need to live like it practically and personally! |
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What can we learn from a pair of shoes? What can we learn about our preparation in the gospel of peace? The Roman soldier wore what we might call "sandals" ... They were tied on to the soldier's feet with numerous straps. They had thick leather soles embedded with hobnails or bits of rock for increased traction. And, because they were leather, they would become more and more comfortable with constant wear. (Click here for written outline.) |
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The shield of faith can quench all the enemy's well-aimed, personal attacks against you but you must raise up that shield to block each fiery dart. We look at the fiery darts of the enemy and the faith that protects us like a shield. (Click here for written outline.) |
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Our minds are where the spiritual battle is fought and the helmet of salvation is what we have to protect our minds. We look at the fact that the enemy will attack the minds of both the lost and the saved and at the need for Christians to learn and use scripture to protect themselves. (Click here for written outline.) |
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We are never to "keep back the sword" (Jer 48:10). We look at how we are to allow the Spirit of God to wield the word of God and how we are never to let anyone take the sword out of our hands or tell us to put it away. (Click here for written outline.) |
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We continue our study on the sword of the Spirit focusing on how the enemy seeks to take the sword out of our hands through pragmatism and intimidation. (Click here for written outline.) |
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We are looking at the seventh piece of our armor -- prayer. We look at three different aspects of prayer: the description of Biblical prayer, the defensive aspect of Biblical prayer and the ultimate direction of Biblical prayer. (Click here for written outline.) |
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Tychicus is a good example of the "Christian soldier". We look at how we should be like Tychicus -- a faithful minister in the tasks we've been given to do in the ministry. (Click here for written outline.) |
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In this last sermon on Ephesians we look at three things that Paul mentions in his benediction -- peace, love and grace. (Click here for written outline.) |
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