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Dan Shelley: Ephesians

Ephesians 1 Outline
Ephesians & First Love
Ephesians 1
What happened to the church at Ephesus and the faithful saints in Christ Jesus? A church taught because Paul stayed there for three years and a young pastor named Timothy? A church commended by Christ for their first love.
Eph. 1:1 speaks to the power, authority, and positive purpose of God. 1. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus.
a. Not just any apostle or church leader—but one made by Jesus Himself. b. By the will of God.
i. God was willfully involved in Paul’s apostleship.
2. To the saints in Ephesus.
a. Paul is positive about the members in his letter
b. Eph. 6:21-22 this is a letter of encouragement sent to the church from Rome during Paul’s imprisonment around 60 A.D.
3. Ephesians is a letter first devoted to doctrine in first 3 chapters and the next 3 the applications of those doctrines.
First, let’s jump ahead 30 or so years to see what Jesus had to say about this church.
Rev. 2:1-7 words of Jesus about this church.
1. Positive points: hard work, perseverance, can not tolerate wicked men, false apostles, endured hardships and not grown weary. 2. Negative points: you have forsaken your first love
a. Their first love must have been exemplary!
i. Repent and DO the things you did first.
b. Or, I will remove your lampstand from its place.
3. Encouragement: you do hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans. a. Rev. 2:14-16 Nicolaitans appear to be those who have teachings of Baalam. i. Teaching Israelites to sin by foods sacrificed to idols, sexual immorality. Denying God as creator.
ii. Numbers 25:1-2 Israel’s leading into immorality.
iii. 2nd Peter 2:1-3, 9-10, 12-20 summation of those who follow Baal. Acts20:17-38 Paul’s words of warning to elders of Ephesus.
1. Vss. 18-20 Paul’s example of serving in humility.
2. Vs. 26-27 proclaimed to you the whole will of God/counsel of God
3. Vs. 28 keep watch over yourselves and the flock, being shepherds of the Church of God.
4. Vss.29-31warnings against false teachers “wolves” who are drawing disciples away after them.
5. Vss. 32-35 Paul’s mention of inheritance, not coveting others silver or gold, supplying his own needs, helping the weak, blessing of giving. a. Ephesus was 4th largest city in Roman kingdom and had great wealth. i. A New York City, Las Vegas kind of place.
ii. Obtaining and maintaining wealth and appearances important. 1. Belonging with the in crowd had its peer pressure.
b. The sharing and caring for others may well have been the first love they lost.
i. Still believed in Jesus and doctrines but failed in actions toward the body of Christ.
ii. Busy with everyday life of success, image, present at church but out immediately after the amen.
Main evidence is that lost experience of Jesus Christ and knowing Him personally.
Paul is about to lay a foundation in his letter that will speak to all the concerns Jesus had in Revelation 2 about the church at Ephesus. Eph. 1:3 Paul starts with God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1. What the Father has done to bring about our salvation.
2. Blessings in the heavenly realm.
a. Contrasted with the “blessings of the earthly realm.”
b. Heavenly realm blessings are untouchable to men or corruption of the material world.
3. Every spiritual blessing in Christ.
a. Not every physical or material blessing.
i. John 6:63 flesh counts for nothing, my words are spirit. b. These blessings are in Christ.
i. Not about the apostle or any human.
ii. Can’t get them anywhere else.
iii. Christ Himself is a great blessings to all.
1. Hebrews 2:9-15 Jesus’ part in blessing us into salvation of His glory.
2. Mat. 11:25-29 Jesus’ praise of the Father and the sovereignty of His purpose. Humility of Jesus and easy yoke.
Vs. 4 FATHER CHOSE us IN HIM BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD. Now we are beginning to see the fuller definition of grace.
Is it possible to God to do good and gracious things for His children long before they are even born?
1. Gen. 1:26-27 let us make man in our image and God blessed them.
Father’s Choice
sermon notes
Father’s Choice
Ephesians 1:2-6

How involved is God the Father in our salvation?
Sometimes Christians only have eyes for Christ and believe that God (Father) is distant and has hands off approach to our present and future. As a Jew Paul had a history focused on God and the hope of the “coming Messiah.”
Eph. 1:2 Paul’s salutation doesn’t overlook God the Father, and Paul doesn’t overlook the grace and peace that comes from God to us through Jesus. It is important to a Gentile world familiar with “gods” to come to know the one and only true God and the Son whom He has sent.
Eph. 1:3 praise be to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1. It is important that Jews in Ephesus connect the gift of God’s Son to their salvation.
a. Jn. 3:16-18 it is the Father who sends His Son into the world. b. God & Father is a huge statement about Jesus.
2. Blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. a. Where do these blessings dwell?
i. Blessed is past time and stored in heaven.
ii. How much is “every” spiritual blessing?
b. Difference between physical and spiritual blessings.
i. Jn. 6:63 spirit gives life the flesh counts for nothing. 1. This would challenge the “blessed” members of the Church at Ephesus. c. In Christ.
i. There are no blessings outside of Christ.
1. Not one human being is worthy of God’s blessings.
2. Father has given “all His blessings” to Jesus and nothing remains. a. Jesus inherits it all!
i. Jesus shares His blessings with the saints.
ii. Heb. 1:2 appointed heir of all things.
ii. Rewards of this life cannot be compared to the eternal rewards Christ will bring with Him at His coming.
1. Faith requires us to believe in God’s rewards.
a. Heb. 11:6 faith requires that we must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
iii. Heb. 2:9-15 Jesus became one of us to shepherd us into salvation. Vs. 4 For He “chose us” in Him before the foundation of the world. Question: What came first? Mankind in the image of God or the creation? 1. Suggest God had us in mind before the creation of the universe. a. The universe made for us and Jesus inherits it all!
2. Chose us “in Him” before the creation of world to be holy and blameless in His sight.
a. What did we have to do with that?
i. Anymore than us having any part in God creating heaven and earth, mankind. b. There is no point when our good deeds or works obligated God to give us salvation.
i. Salvation and our glorious present, past and future is all about God! ii. God gave us grace before the foundation of the world.
Vs. 5 In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons THROUGH Jesus. 1. In accordance with His pleasure and will.
a. Col. 1:9-14 thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in an inheritance. Rescued us from darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His dear Son.
2. 1st Cor. 1:26-31 God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the wise so no one boasts.
3. Jn. 6:66-70 Peter thinks he & we chose Jesus but Jesus corrects that doctrinal error. I chose you and one of you is of the devil. Vs. 6 to the praise of His glorious grace.
1. This is a greater definition of God’s grace.
2. Rom. 8:28-32 if God is for us who shall be against us?
a. Grace is God choosing us in Christ before the foundation of the world! 3. Does God have the right to do that?
Every Christian is the beneficiary of the incredible grace of God. Gen. 1:26-27 let us make man in our image and God blessed them!

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