Introduction to the Book

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S The Overview

• Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians from prison sometime in AD 60–61, around the same time he wrote Colossians and Philemon

• Ephesians deals with topics at the very core of what it means to be a Christian—both in faith and in practice

• The book of Ephesians hits on a wide range of moral and ethical behaviors, designed to make sure believers are living up to our heavenly calling.

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• This is one of 3 major churches that we are to pattern our church after.

(Philadelphia, Antioch, and Ephesians)

• This is 1 of 2 churches that God said that he had given them an open door.

• This church was praised for there work and stance against false teaching.

• This church was scolded for their leaving of their 1st love.

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S The Divisions

1. Chapters 1-3 Doctrine • Our position in Christ (1:1- 3:21)

2. Chapters 4-6 Practical • Our Life in the world (4:1- 6:9)• Our attitude to the enemy (6:10-24)

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S The Divisions Just like in the Book of Rev. with the two events of the opening of a door, divides the book, we have a similar situation here.

Sit (2:6)• Our position in Christ

Walk (4:1)• Our Life in this world

Stand (6:11)• Our attitude to the enemy

(Eph 1:1) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints

which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

I. Christ has given us a new Character.

(Eph 1:1) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints

which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

A.The ALTERATION of our name

(Gen 32:26) And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except

thou bless me.

(Gen 32:27) And he said unto him, What is thy name? And

he said, Jacob.

(Gen 32:28) And he said, Thy name shall be called no more

Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God

and with men, and hast prevailed.

(Gen 17:5) Neither shall thy name any more be called

Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many

nations have I made thee.

(Gen 17:15) And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife,

thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name

be.Sarai: means head strong contentious Sara means princess

(Act 7:58-59) And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the

witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was

Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord

Jesus, receive my spirit.

(Act 9:4-5) And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him,

Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And

the Lord said, I am Jesus …Saul means (to inquire, by implication, to request;

(Act 13:9) Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes

on him,

Paul means (little one)

(2Co 5:17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a

new creature: old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

A.The ALTERATION of our name

B.The ATTITUDE connected with our name

1. (Rom 1:1) Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ…2. (1Co 1:1) Paul, called to be an apostle…3. (2Co 1:1) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ …4. (Gal 1:1) Paul, an apostle…5. (Eph 1:1) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ ..6. (Php 1:1) Paul and Timotheus…7. (Col 1:1) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ…8. (1Th 1:1) Paul, and Silvanus, and

Timotheus…9. (2Th 1:1) Paul, and Silvanus, and

Timotheus…10.(1Ti 1:1) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ…11.(2Ti 1:1) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ …12.(Tit 1:1) Paul, a servant of God…13.(Phm 1:1) Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ…

I. Christ has given us a new Character.

II. Christ has given us a new Command

(Eph 1:1) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to

the faithful in Christ Jesus:

A. We are all called to be an APOSTLE

(Joh 13:16) Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

"a delegate, a messenger; one sent forth with orders. It is one on a mission”

It is where we get our word postmen

A. We are all commanded to be an APOSTLE

B. We are to have the right APPROACH to the command

(Eph 1:1) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to

the faithful in Christ Jesus:

(Eph 4:1) I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye

walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

(2Co 3:6) Who also hath made us able ministers of the new

testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth,

but the spirit giveth life.

I. Christ has given us a new Character.

II. Christ has given us a new Command

III. Christ has given us a new Condition

(Eph 1:1) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the

saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

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S The Divisions

1. Chapters 1-3 Doctrine (saints)• Our position in Christ (1:1- 3:21)

2. Chapters 4-6 Practical (faithful)• Our Life in the world (4:1- 6:9)• Our attitude to the enemy (6:10-24)

A. The ACTION that Christ took

(Eph 1:4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the

foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame

before him in love:

(Eph 1:6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us

accepted in the beloved.

(Eph 5:27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not

having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and

without blemish.

(Col 1:12) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the

inheritance of the saints in light:

(Col 1:22) In the body of his flesh through death, to present you

holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

A. The ACTION that Christ took

B. The ACCOUNTABILITY that we are to have.