Ephesians 4:1-6

A1 Scripture—I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [There is] one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:1-6, NKJV)

A2 Outline

B1 Beseech

C1 Walk

D1 Walk has the idea of living our daily life. Walking in Scripture is to live the Christian life as outlined in the New Testament. We live a Christian life because we love God, not to earn our salvation.

E1 Old Testament example

F1 Version 1 using the word walk: Leviticus 18:3-5 KJV After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. 4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. 5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.

F2 Version 2 using other words: Leviticus 18:3-5 GW You used to live in Egypt. Don't live the way the Egyptians do. I am bringing you to Canaan. Don't live the way the Canaanites do. Never live by their standards. 4 Follow my rules, and live by my standards. I am the LORD your God. 5 Live by my standards, and obey my rules. You will have life through them. I am the LORD.

E2 New Testament example

F1 Version 1 using the word walk: Ephesians 4:17 KJV This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind.

F2 Version 2 using other words: Ephesians 4:17 GNB In the Lord's name, then, I warn you: do not continue to live like the heathen, whose thoughts are worthless.

D2 Some characteristics of walk in our passage:

E1 Walk worthily of the calling with which you are called. We are Christians and are expected to talk and live like Christians. Truly, the Christian life must be in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds.

E2 Walk in all lowliness (humility, not arrogantly)

E3 Walk in all gentleness

E4 Walk with longsuffering (patience)

E5 Walk forbearing one another in love (showing some tolerance)

E6 Walk to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace

C2 One (a description of that unity spoken of here)

D1 Body

E1 The church

E2 This is not an organization. This is all the believers from Pentecost to the Rapture.

E3 It has members who are Jews or Gentiles, but they all are believers.

E4 Being in the body does not mean:

F1 Church membership

F2 Holding to a particular theology.

F3 Growing up in a so-called Christian country.

F4 Just identifying as a Christian.

D2 Spirit

E1 This is the Holy Spirit.

E2 All believers have the Holy Spirit at the moment of conversion.

F1 Romans 5:5 GW We're not ashamed to have this confidence, because God's love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

F2 1 John 4:12-13 GW No one has ever seen God. If we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 We know that we live in him and he lives in us because he has given us his Spirit.

F3 Romans 8:9 NRSV But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

E3 He enters the “heart” of a person at conversion. There is no ceremony or act that accomplishes this.

F1 2 Corinthians 5:5 NRSV He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

F2 1 Thessalonians 4:8 NRSV Therefore whoever rejects this rejects not human authority but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.

F3 Galatians 4:6 NRSV And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

F4 Ephesians 1:13-14 GW You heard and believed the message of truth, the Good News that he has saved you. In him you were sealed with the Holy Spirit whom he promised. 14 This Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will receive our inheritance. We have this guarantee until we are set free to belong to him. God receives praise and glory for this.

D3 Hope

E1 Hope is confident expectation.

E2 It is a one hope for the future promises to believers of a new heavens and new earth,

F1 2 Peter 3:13 KJV Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

F2 Revelation 21:1-8 WEB I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. 2 I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.” 5 He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.” 6 He said to me, “I have become the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son. 8 But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

G1 A place to live.

G2 A fellowship to enjoy (God with us)

G3 A place of comfort (God will wipe away)

G4 A place of life, not death.

G5 A place where the King of the universe lives.

G6 A source of life (the Lord Jesus and His salvation).

G7 A promise of grace to overcome.

G8 A promise to have no evil people.

D4 Lord

E1 Lord as in boss, king.

E2 Jesus is Lord of lords and Kings of kings.

F1 Deuteronomy 10:17 NRSV For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe.

F2 Psalms 136:3 NRSV O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever. (All of Psalm 136 is great to read).

F3 1 Timothy 6:14-15 NRSV To keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

F4 Revelation 17:13-14 NRSV These are united in yielding their power and authority to the beast; 14 they will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.

F5 Revelation 19:16 NRSV On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, "King of kings and Lord of lords.

D5 Faith

E1 Believing God.

E2 Believing the Bible in its plain, normal sense.

E3 Believing God’s evaluation of sin.

E4 Believing God’s Gospel.

E5 Believing His promises.

D6 Baptism

E1 This mainly refers to Holy Spirit baptism.

E2 This baptism is right after conversion. There are no lights, lightnings, or experiences.

E3 There are 8 baptisms in the New Testament. This is but one, but the most important.

E4 1 Corinthians 12:13 NRSV For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

E5 John 1:33 NKJV I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

D7 God

E1 There is only one God―Yahweh.

E2 Deuteronomy 6:4 WEB Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one.

D8 Father

E1 Above all (in authority, in everything, in authority and care of believers)

E2 Through all (sovereign, assigns gifts)

E3 In you all (dwells in believers: 2 Corinthians 6:16 WPNT Further, what agreement can a temple of God have with idols? Because you are a temple of the living God, just as God said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them; I will be their God and they will by my people.)

A3 Notes

B1 Definitions

C1 Walk =

D1 Conduct, that is, following, obeying God's laws. There are over 1,000 laws in the New Testament.

D2 Spiritual life, that is, with a worldview of pleasing God, who is Spirit, and not the fleshly desires.

C2 Lowliness = not being proud. Pride manifests itself often as "I'm right; you're wrong."

C3 Meekness = not being pushy, bullying over others to get "my" way.

C4 Longsuffering = patience towards others, not expressing anger too soon, too long, too violent

C5 Bearing = putting up with one, enduring, another, overlooking mistakes and faults that are not Scriptural.

D1 For example, driving a Ford instead of a Chevy, using the NASB instead of the KJV.

D2 Chrysostom defined longsuffering as the spirit that has the power to take revenge, but never does. It is characteristic of a forgiving, generous heart.

C6 Endeavoring = working hard to

C7 Unity of the Spirit = the opposite would be to have splits in the church.

D1 Sometimes there must be a split as for wrong doctrine or plain disobedience to New Testament laws. To be one in unity just for the sake of being one leads to corruption—eventually one corporation under one boss.

D2 God makes the unity, not us. The unity is because of those who having been convicted of their sins have repented and placed their trust in Jesus Christ alone.

D3 We keep the unity with the help of God.

D4 It is not that we are one because of a common interest; we are one family.

C8 Body = the group of Christians, that is, all true believers of all ages of the New Testament period.

C9 Spirit = the Holy Spirit. Maintaining not experiences but truth to the plain, normal understanding of the Scriptures.

C10 Hope of your calling = forgiveness of sins and the resurrection to heaven. A happy contentment.

C11 Lord = Jesus Christ who is head of the church

C12 Faith = body of doctrine

C13 Baptism = into the body, church, of God. A testimony of a clear conscious and its guilt by the grace and mercy of God.

C14 God = the one and only ultimate authority

C15 Father of all = especially those who are adopted into the family of God. In a very general sense it would include the idea that God creates all people.

C16 Above all = highest authority that exists

C17 Through all = giver of life

C18 In all = Christians

B2 Paul, through the Holy Spirit, is

C1 Giving instructions of how we should

D1 Act as Christians

D2 Believe as Christians

C2 These are

D1 Practical doctrine

D2 Theological doctrine

D3 Not optional

D4 Not just for the early Ephesian church

D5 Not a nice standard, but the required standard

D6 Not for salvation but because of salvation

Ephesians 3:14-21

A1 Scripture

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what [is] the width and length and depth and height to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21, NKJV)

A2 Outline

B1 He bows

C1 He acknowledges God’s superiority. God does not bow, which would mean humans are superior. He does not stand, which would mean they are equals. People bow because God is the superior.

C2 We bow because He is father. We profess His greatness.

C3 This does NOT mean we are to bow before our earthly fathers or any priest.

B2 He prays

C1 Paul bows his knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

C2 Of whom the whole family

D1 The believers, the church, are the family of God.

D2 Named

E1 This is a verb and means assigned a name.

E2 Some have interpreted family as

F1 The church

F2 Family in the sense of order

F3 Family in the sense of hierarchy

F4 The idea of what a family is

B3 His prayer

C1 To

D1 Grant you (give you)

D2 According to the riches of His glory (He is rich in ability, authority, and mercy)

E1 Riches that are not good

F1 Deceitful because they cannot meet the deepest needs of any human: Matthew 13:22 (WEB) What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

F2 Earthly riches cannot and often prevent someone from truly believing in Jesus Christ for salvation: Mark 10:23 (WEB) Jesus looked around, and said to his disciples, “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into the Kingdom of God!

F3 Riches do not have a guarantee to help us: 1 Timothy 6:17 (WEB) Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

F4 Do not last forever: James 5:2 (WEB) Your riches are corrupted and your garments are moth-eaten.

F5 Some believe that earthly riches indicate God’s blessing; they are wrong: Revelation 3:17 (WEB) Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.

E2 Riches that are good

F1 God’s goodness: Romans 2:4 (WEB) Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

F2 Our source for wisdom and knowledge: Romans 11:33 (WEB) Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!

F3 God’s grace for our salvation. Everything from initiation to completion is His grace. Ephesians 1:7 (WEB) in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.

F4 Christians are adopted daughters and sons to whom God gives inheritance: Ephesians 1:18 (WEB) having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.

F5 His kindness: Ephesians 2:7 (WEB) that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

F6 To give strength in discouragement, trial, and everyday life: Ephesians 3:16 (WEB) that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man.

F7 The blessing of knowing Messiah Jesus and His truth: Colossians 2:2 (WEB) that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ.

F8 Moses suffered for believing in Messiah but judged that Messiah is better than all the riches of Egypt: Hebrews 11:26 (WEB) accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

C2 For (Paul prays)

D1 The people of God to be strengthened

E1 With might (strength of ability and will)

E2 Through His Spirit (the source)

E3 In the inner man (the place of motivation)

E4 Note that this is grace. It is not something earned or deserved. It is a gift from our father.

D2 That Christ may live in your hearts through faith

E1 We are already Christians, believers.

E2 Live in the sense of being obviously a Christian to us and all others.

D3 Since we are rooted and grounded in love, we may be able to understand—along with all the people of God—His love

E1 The width, length, depth, and height

E2 Christ's love

E3 Which is greater than anything we can understand

D4 That we may be filled (to the brim) with all the fullness of God (everything that He stands for, not to be what He is. We are not God, nor do we become gods. We are to be in His image, so that all we do in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds are His way—like Him).

C3 His blessing/prayer for them

D1 To God

E1 Who can do more than anything we can think of (ability, authority, and mercy).

E2 According to the power in us (not some presence or ability in our own, but instead this refers to the Holy Spirit, who lives in us).

D2 For us

E1 To praise God (We, the church—the people of God—in all generations praise Him for His goodness to us).

E2 To remember that it is Christ Jesus who is our Savior for all these things that we do not deserve.

A2 Applications

B1 God is always supreme.

C1 The Bible teaches us that it is His will, not ours. We must yield to His will always.

C2 It is His timing, not ours.

C3 It is His results, not ours.

C4 We must recognize this and be content.

C5 It is for our peace and safety.

B2 His order and organization is always best.

B3 He wants us to be strengthened in our inner selves, our heart. We must read and study the Scriptures.

C1 James 1:2-4 NKJV My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

C2 Romans 5:3-4 NKJV And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

C3 2 Peter 1:5-8 NKJV But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, [you will be] neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

B4 He wants us to live an obvious Christian life as taught in the New Testament. This is an active faith, not a passive faith. Passive faith is the emergent church, progressive Christianity, and any other group, belief, or teaching that uses mysticism, silence, contemplative, bypassing the brain, etc.

C1 Matthew 7:15 NKJV “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

C2 Colossians 2:8 NKJV Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

C3 1 Peter 5:8 HCSB Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.

C4 Even IN prayer: Colossians 4:2 HCSB Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.

B5 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 HCSB May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.

Ephesians 3:8-13

A1 Scripture

Ephesians 3:8-13 NKJV To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

A2 Past and present life

B1 Before salvation

C1 Pharisee

D1 Studied under Gamaliel

E1 Acts 22:3 NKJV I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.

E2 Acts 23:6 NKJV But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!

E3 Acts 26:5 NKJV They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

D2 Zealous (this is a partial list from Torrey Topical)

E1 Zealous for Law

E2 Zealous for tradition

E3 Outwardly moral

E4 Fasting

E5 Proselytising

E6 Self-righteous

E7 Cruel

E8 Believed in the resurrection

E9 For the most part hated Jesus

D3 Tent Maker

C2 Accomplice: Acts 7:58-60 NKJV And they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

B2 After salvation

C1 Apostle

D1 Called by God: Acts 9:15 NRSV But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel.

D2 Commissioned by God: Acts 13:2 NRSV While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.

D3 Gifted by the Holy Spirit: Acts 9:17 NRSV So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

D4 Witness of the resurrected Son of God, Jesus: Acts 9:4-5 NRSV He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" 5 He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

D5 Signs of an Apostle

E1 Seen the resurrected Jesus

E2 Signs and miracles: 2 Corinthians 12:12 NKJV Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.

E3 Anointed preaching (this is NOT the so-called anointed preaching today which is just a compliment, not reality): 1 Corinthians 9:1-2 NRSV Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

E4 God’s strength to do this work (by application, we can do what God calls us to): Philippians 4:13 WPNT I can handle anything through Christ who strengthens me.

C2 Missionary

D1 To Jews: Acts 22:1-5 NKJV Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now." 2 And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. Then he said: 3 "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, 5 as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.

D2 To Gentiles (primarily)

E1 Acts 13:2-4 NKJV As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

E2 Romans 11:13 NKJV For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry.

A3 Plan

B1 Mystery: Salvation/redemption

C1 Hidden and need to be revealed: Matthew 11:25-27 NKJV At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

C2 Hidden from teachers of Israel: John 3:8-10 NKJV The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." 9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?

C3 The future blessings for believers: 1 Corinthians 2:6-9 NRSV Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. 7 But we speak God's wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him.

C4 Salvation, fellowship, and indwelt by God: Colossians 1:25-27 NKJV Of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

C5 The suffering Messiah: 1 Peter 1:10-12 NKJV Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

C6 The finish of the mystery: Revelation 10:7 NKJV But in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.

B2 Purpose: to show the plan which was unknown (and cannot be known) by wisdom or search.

A4 Persecutions

B1 His did

C1 Stephen: Acts 7:58-60 NKJV And they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

C2 Christians: Acts 22:4 GW I persecuted people who followed the way of Christ: I tied up men and women and put them into prison until they were executed.

B2 He received

C1 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 NKJV Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

C2 As all Christians do: 2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

A5 Application

B1 What God calls us to, He will give the strength and ability to accomplish it. Philippians 4:13 WPNT I can handle anything through Christ who strengthens me.

B2 Boldness to pray: Hebrews 10:19 NKJV Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.

B3 Comfort and encouragement

C1 Romans 8:35-36 NRSV Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.

C2 John 16:33 NKJV These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Ephesians 3:1-7

A1 Scripture

Ephesians 3:1-7

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles  (2) surely you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God that was given to me for you,  (3) how that by revelation He made known to me the ‘secret’ (as I have written briefly already, (4)  with reference to which, when you read, you can understand my insight into Christ’s secret), (5) which in different generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: (6)  that the Gentiles are joint-heirs, of the same body, and fellow partakers of His promise in the Christ through the Gospel, (7) of which I became a servant according to the gift of God's grace, the gift given to me according to the outworking of His power. Ephesians 3:1-7 WPNT

A2 Outline

B1 God's blessing to understand His "secret." 1-2

C1 Ephesians is one of the prison letters along with Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon.

C2 Paul was in prison because he was a Christian.

C3 Paul is not bragging or wanting sympathy. He is simply telling a fact.

C4 The word dispensation in KJV is the Greek word οἰκονομία oikonomía. That word means a steward, the household manager. God has given responsibility to Paul as the “Apostle to the Gentiles.” Romans 11:13 WEL For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I hold my ministry in honor.

D1 NRSV uses the word commission.

D2 WEB uses the word administration.

D3 GW uses the word responsibility.

D4 ESV uses the word stewardship.

D5 Coverdale uses the word office.

B2 God's blessing to reveal the "secret." 3-5

C1 The are some interpreters who believe this passage refers to the Church Age Gospel, which is different from other Gospels, including the Gospel that the Lord Jesus preached.

D1 There is only ONE Gospel. Peter and Paul preached the same Gospel, so did the Lord Jesus to Adam.

D2 The Gospel you and I believed is the same Gospel Adam and Eve believed as well as Able, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Mr and Mrs Isaiah, Joseph and Mary, Peter, Paul, Polycarp, and down to us and the future.

D3 Galatians 1:8-9 NRSV  But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed!  9 As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed! What if someone tells the Gospel that Peter was preaching at that time or one who had heard the Lord Jesus?

D4 Dr Randy White, the last I knew, still taught that the Gospel that the Lord Jesus preached was the Gospel of the Kingdom, which is understood to be believe that He is Messiah and keep the Law. This is false. Consider the teaching of the Lord Jesus and the tax collector: Luke 18:13-14 NKJV  And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'  14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." The Lord Jesus declared that this man was justified by believing God.

D5 Abraham believed God and was considered a believer by God.

E1 Genesis Genesis 15:6 NRSV  And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness.

E2 Romans 4:3 NRSV For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."

E3 Galatians 3:6 NRSV Just as Abraham "believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,"

E4 James 2:23 NRSV Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," and he was called the friend of God.

C2 Even though the Gospel was known, how it provided justification was not known, at least completely. After the Lord Jesus died, buried, and raised to life (the resurrection), the Apostles and believers knew. Because of God’s Law they knew the penalty, but did not understand the idea of someone must be punished for my sin. It is either me or a substitute, that substitute was Messiah Jesus.

D1 Blood of animals was only a covering. It cannot take away sins. Hebrews 10:4 NRSV  For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

D2 The blood of the Lord Jesus was the atonement, the cleansing. Hebrews 9:12-14 NRSV  He entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.  13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified,  14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!

B3 The "secret." 6-7

C1 Before the Lord Jesus, there were Jews and Gentiles, now there are Jews, Gentiles, and Christians. Christians are one.

C2 One

D1 In inheritance: Romans 8:16-17 NRSV  It is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,  17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

D2 In eternal life: John 3:15-16 EMTV That everyone who believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

D3 In salvation: Hebrews 1:14 NRSV  Are not all angels spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

D4 The unbelieving do not inherit the Kingdom of God; believers do inherit the Kingdom of God: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 WEL Don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Don't be deceived, for neither fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, active homosexual partners, 10 Thieves, covetous, drunkards, verbal abusers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you, but now you are washed, but now you are sanctified, but now you are made righteous in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

D5 The Lord Himself

E1 First translation: Psalms 73:26 NRSV  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

E2 Second translation: Psalms 73:26 GW  My body and mind may waste away, but God remains the foundation of my life and my inheritance forever.

C3 Grace

D1 Is defined as receiving what we do not deserve or earn.

D2 The Greek word for grace is χάρις charis. Its underlying meaning is joy. Further, it implies sympathy and kindness even favor. That sense of unmerited favor is how we use this here.

E1 The noun and verb are used in this passage: Acts 11:23 WEB who, when he had come, and had seen the grace [noun] of God, was glad [verb]. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord.

E2 A gift: Romans 3:24 NRSV  They are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

D3 Blessings of grace

E1 Justified: Romans 3:24 NRSV  They are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

E2 More grace: James 4:6 NKJV But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

E3 Sufficient in trials and service: 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NRSV  Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me,  9 but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

E4 Comfort, hope, and strength: 2 Thessalonians 2:16 NRSV  Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope.

E5 Let us be sure we do NOT fall from grace. Human effort cannot please God: Galatians 5:4 NRSV  You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

A3 Application

B1 God wants to bless people to know and believe the Gospel.

B2 Believing Christians are not Jews and Gentiles, we are Christians—one body in Christ.

B3 God’s grace, not us, is sufficient for believers then and today.