Introduction to Ephesians

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Introduction to Ephesians
24 September 2006
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Basic Background Questions

• Who?
• Where?
• When?
• What?
• Why?

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Who?

• Who wrote Ephesians?
• Whom was Ephesians written to?

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Where When?

• Where were the Ephesians?
• When did Paul visit Ephesus?
• Where and when did Paul write the letter?

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Paul-1st Missionary Journey
A.D. 45-47
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Paul-2nd Missionary Journey
(short time)
A.D. 50-54, Acts 15-18
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Paul-3rd Missionary Journey
Pauls 3rd Journey
(2 years)
A.D. 54-58, Acts 18-21
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Paul- Journey to Rome
Pauls Journey to Rome
A.D. 60, Acts 27,28
INDEX
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Pauls Letters to Churches
INDEX
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7 Churches of Asia (Revelation)
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What?

• What does the letter say?
• What are the important truths we find in this
  letter?

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Important Truths

• Election
• Sealed
• In Christ
• Significance
• Wealth
• Glory of God
• Prayer

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Election

• Paul begins with a heavy emphasis on election,
  because it is foundational to everything else he
  has to say in the letter
• Election is essential to security in Christ
• My position in Christ is 100 dependent upon
  whether God elected me or not.
• Therefore, when I experience pain and suffering,
  I know it is for correction, not justice

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Sealed

• 113 says, we were sealed with the Holy Spirit
  of promise.
• This means that the validity of the seal depends
  on the trustworthiness of the one making the
  seal, not the quality of the item being sealed
• Ex a king sealed official documents
• Thus, the recipient can trust that the document
  is not fake

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In Christ

• This phrase appears 26 times in the epistle
• Those who are in Christ are very special and
  privileged

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Significance

• As followers of Christ, we must allow the Bible
  to define what is significant in life, not what
  culture or peers say is significant.
• Paul says that our significance is found by being
  faithful in Christ
• No mention is made of significance coming from
  achievement or material wealth or worldly status

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Wealth we have in Christ

• 12 grace and peace
• 13 every spiritual blessing in the heavenly
  places
• 14 chosen to be holy and without blame
• 15 adoption as sons
• 16 acceptance
• 17 forgiveness of sins
• 17 the riches of His grace

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Wealth we have in Christ

• 18 wisdom and prudence
• 19 the mystery of His will
• 111 an inheritance
• 112 predestined
• 113 the Word of truth
• 113 sealed with the Holy Spirit

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Glory of God

• A lot of people seem to think we have to bring
  God glory
• But actually, God already has glory
• His predestining us and sealing us is to the
  praise of His glory (3 times in chapter 1)
• Thus, the purpose of our being predestined to
  follow Christ is to draw attention to Gods glory
  (that already exists)

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Prayer

• Paul includes two prayers in the letter.
• 117-23 314-21
• We can learn how to pray for others from these

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Why?
Why did Paul write the letter?
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Book Overview

• Chapters 1-3 Position in Christ
• Chapters 4-6 Practice of the Christian

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Chapters 1 3Position in Christ

• 11-14 Praise for redemption
• 115-23 Prayer for revelation
• 21-313 Position of the Christian
• 314-21 Prayer for Realization

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Chapters 4 6Practice of the Christian

• 41-16 Unity in the Church
• 417 521 Holiness in Life
• 522 69 Responsibilities at Home
  and Work
• 610-24 Conduct in the conflict

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Bibliography

• Special thanks goes to the following
• EBibleTeacher.com for their maps
• NASA for their Satellite images
• Bruce Wilkinson Kenneth Boa for their
  information in Talk Thru the Bible
• Walt Henrichsen for his wisdom and insight shared
  during Bible studies he has led and in books,
  articles and e-mails he has written