Ephesians Overview

Children, you are now dismissed to go learn about this guy named Jonah

and what happened in the stomach of a big fish.

Salvation belongs to the Lord, is what Jonah discovered, in the stomach of a big fish.

We're going to be hitting the book of Jonah next week.

We're going to do the book of Jonah in the month of June.

And so four sermons in Jonah in the month of June.

And today, of course, marks the last sermon out of the book of Ephesians.

We've been in this book for about a year and a half.

We started in October 2013.

And there was a very specific reason why we started our life together as a church in the book of Ephesians

because the book of Ephesians is all about unity.

If you would turn in the book of Ephesians to Ephesians chapter 6,

Ephesians 6 · chapter mention

to the last two verses of the chapter, the last two verses of the book.

In verses 23 and 24, Paul writes to these Ephesians a benediction.

In verse 23, he says,

Peace be to the brothers.

And then in verse 24, he says,

Grace be with all.

Now if you would flip in your Bible in Ephesians to Ephesians chapter 1 verse 2,

Ephesians 1:2

you're going to notice something.

Paul starts the book with an introduction with the same two words.

Grace to you and peace from our Father and Lord Jesus Christ,

you saints who are in Ephesus.

So here we have a book that starts with grace and peace and ends with grace and peace.

And in between this grace and peace is a whole book about unity.

If I were to summarize the entire book of Ephesians with just one word,

it would be the word unity.

Oneness.

Togetherness.

We-ness.

And that's why we started with this book in our life together as a church.

To unite us together around what God has done for us in Christ.

It's no wonder then,

that Paul in the very last words of this book on unity,

closes with love.

So if you notice in verse 24,

Grace be with all who love.

Our Lord Jesus with love.

Incorruptible.

Peace be to the brothers in love with faith.

Love is at the heart of unity.

So to close our study of the book of Ephesians this morning,

I want to remind you afresh of all that God has done for us in Christ.

He has united us together in Christ so that we would live united for Christ.

United in Christ in order to live united for Christ.

So this morning, six unifying truths from the book of Ephesians.

Oh God, open our eyes.

Show us Christ.

In his name we pray.

Amen.

Unifying truth number one.

It's found in Ephesians chapter 1 verses 3 through 14.

Ephesians 1:3–14

We've been united by God's sovereign plan.

We are united by God's sovereign plan.

In 1.4 we read this,

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world,

that we should be holy and blameless.

He chose us in him before the foundation of the world.

The plan that unites us is an eternal plan.

It was a plan that was in God's mind before the foundation of the world.

And this sovereign plan, not only is it eternal, but it's Christocentric.

I know you don't say that word that much.

Will you say it with me?

1, 2, 3.

Christocentric.

It's got some great kind of feel to it, doesn't it?

Let's say it one more time together.

1, 2, 3.

Christocentric.

Christocentric.

What that means is that Jesus is at the middle of everything.

He's the focus of it all.

It's a plan for the fullness of time that's focused on Christ.

And we see that in chapter 1, verses 9 and 10.

He says,

Making known to us the mystery of his will according to his purpose,

which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time

to unite all things in him.

Christocentric.

We're united by a sovereign plan that's eternal and Christocentric.

It's a plan that, through the Gospel, makes known a mystery.

God all along, from before the foundation of the world,

had a plan to unite a people for himself.

Made up of Jews and Gentiles.

It's crazy.

It's a mystery.

It was a mystery.

Revealed through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

More on that later.

This plan, this sovereign plan of God is salvific.

It's a rescue plan.

It's an eternal Christocentric rescue plan.

A plan that prioritizes the redemption of sinners.

The rescue of men and women whose sin has separated them from God.

You know what?

God has addressed our greatest problem as human beings.

In Christ.

He's addressed it.

From before the foundation of the world,

God had the greatest answer, solution to our greatest problem.

In Christ.

We were redeemed by His blood.

And I just want to add to you,

salvation is just not just a rescue from.

It's a rescue to.

God called us out of darkness and sin

and brought us into light and life.

Before the foundation of the world,

He chose us to be holy and blameless before Him.

He called us to something.

This is a rescue plan from sin to Him.

God.

But it's just not about saving sinners.

This plan is a comprehensive plan for the fullness of time.

Look at verse 10.

Verse 10.

Chapter 1.

As a plan for the fullness of time to unite all things in Him in heaven and on earth.

Sin messed things up royally.

It separates sinners from God.

And then it separates a sinner from a sinner.

It has internal effect.

It throws us, doesn't it?

And then it separates us from others.

And then it brings hostility with our creation.

Sin is made a comprehensive problem of things.

But the gospel of Jesus Christ,

God's plan for the fullness of time,

is a comprehensive solution.

A solution that gets us right with God.

That brings peace within ourselves.

Peace with others.

And one day, peace with creation.

Jesus comes back and He makes all things right.

He recreates the heavens and the earth.

No more threats.

This sovereign plan which unites us is comprehensive.

I'm not sure if you noticed this.

This is a sovereign plan worked out by the triune God.

God the Father ordained it.

Verse 4.

Christ the Son accomplished it.

Verse 7.

The Spirit, verses 11-14, applies it.

If you just look at verse 3.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There's two of the three

who has blessed us in Christ

with every spiritual blessing.

That word spiritual,

you can say spirit blessing.

As in the Holy Spirit.

This sovereign plan

is a sovereign plan of the triune God.

And it's a plan that brings about blessing.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

who has blessed us in Christ

with every spiritual blessing

in the heavenly blessings.

Blessing upon blessing upon blessing upon blessing.

In Christ.

Blessing upon blessing upon blessing.

This plan for the fullness of time

is a plan of blessing

for all who would receive.

So here's what I want you to walk away with.

When we think about being united by

God's sovereign plan.

God doesn't fit into our plans.

God has fit us into His eternal plan.

And He's fit us into His plan

for the fullness of time

by uniting us to Christ.

That's who we are.

We are people united

by God's sovereign plan

for the fullness of time.

The second unifying truth

that I want you to see

is in chapter 2, verses 1-10.

We are united together.

We're united to Christ

by God's grace.

We were once dead.

Dead to God.

Last year,

almost to the day,

I was walking by Southport Beach House

and I saw a body in the water.

I ran down.

As soon as I touched the body,

I knew that this man was dead.

He was cold.

I dragged him out on the beach.

People ran.

Multiple people tried to perform CPR

to resuscitate this man.

He was dead.

No life.

No one on the face of the planet

was able to resuscitate him.

Dead.

Dead.

No life.

Apart from Christ,

we are dead

to God.

No life.

We cannot resuscitate ourselves.

We cannot give ourselves life

to God.

We can't manufacture

from within ourselves

that which is pleasing to God.

You know what?

Chapter 2, 1 through 3

is not a pretty picture

for us apart from Christ.

Not only were we dead,

we were rebels.

Following the prince

of the power of the air,

the course of this world,

we were living for our passions

and desires.

We were by nature

children of wrath.

We were under God's just penalty

for our sin.

And then,

verse 4,

two words,

two little words.

It's like,

it's like the dawning

of the sun,

the darkest part of day,

of night.

Two little words.

But God.

But God,

being rich in mercy

because of the great love

with which He loved us,

even when we were dead

in our trespasses,

He made us alive.

He made us alive together

with Christ.

Christ,

for by grace

you have been saved.

God,

in His grace,

gave us life

to Him.

None of us could earn this grace.

None of us deserve this grace.

None of us solicited this grace.

None of us in this room

could merit the grace.

None of us in this room

could meet a condition

so that this grace

would then be poured out on us.

None of us.

God's grace is unconditional.

It's incomprehensible.

It's incomparable.

As Chris Tomlin would sing,

it's indescribable.

It's amazing grace.

Amazing grace.

Amazing grace of our great God.

And what He did for us

is that He made us alive

with Christ.

He united us to Christ.

He bound us to Him

and so His resurrection life

was granted to us.

And we were made new creations,

fully forgiven,

completely and forever,

accepted,

adopted,

liberated,

redeemed.

Objects of God's grace

for eternity.

He's going to pour it out on you

for eternity,

Christian.

He's lavish with His grace.

So here's what all this means.

In Ephesians 2.10,

we read this,

for we are His workmanship.

Literally,

poema

is the Greek word.

You hear the word poem?

Poetry?

We are His craftsmanship.

We are His workmanship.

For we are His workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

for good works.

Created,

made alive,

regenerated

in Christ Jesus

for good works.

Here's the walk away.

Good works

does not save us.

We were saved

for good works.

Good works

could never save us.

But God in His grace

did save us

in order to

walk in the good works

that He has prepared

for us

in advance.

So if you're not a Christian,

today's the day.

God is offering you

this fullness

and wonder

of salvation

freely.

And all you need to do

is receive it by faith.

take it.

Take it.

And if you are a Christian,

do you know how

we respond to this?

We rejoice.

We say,

Amen.

I was dead

and now I'm alive.

I was blind

but now I see.

I was lost

but now I'm found.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

We are in darkness

and He brought us

into light.

We were dead in sin

and He made us

alive with Him.

We are united

by God's plan,

sovereign plan

and we are united

to Christ

by God's grace.

It's who you are,

Christian.

It's your identity now.

Unifying truth number three.

We are united

to each other.

Look around.

Look around.

We are united

to each other

by the blood

of Christ.

We are bound

to one another

by the blood

of Jesus.

In chapter 2,

verses 11

through chapter 3,

verse 21,

Paul makes

a seriously,

seriously crazy claim.

It's incredible.

See, up to this point,

a good Jew like Paul

would kind of

consider all of humanity

in one of two camps.

Everybody's either,

you're either a Jew

or you're not.

It's that basic.

You're either Jewish

or you're not Jewish.

You're a Gentile.

But God's plan in Christ,

this Gospel

about Jesus

makes known

a mystery

from before

the foundation

of the earth.

God has always planned

to do something amazing.

And His plan

was to take

sinners from the Jews

and take sinners

from Gentiles

and unite them together

into one new people group.

Christians.

The church.

That's His plan

for the fullness of time.

The mystery made known.

It's incredible.

He's made us

a new people.

chapter 2,

verse 22.

We are the new dwelling place

of God

by the Spirit.

The church is not a building.

I mean,

if like

an army of bulldozers

came one day

and just plowed

this building down,

you know what?

We wouldn't be over.

We would just find

another place to meet

and glorify Jesus.

Jesus.

The church is not a building.

The church is a blood-bought

people.

We the church.

And we've been united together

through the blood of Christ.

You see,

what God did

in order to unite a people

is to unite them

through something

of incredible value.

And that's the precious

blood of Jesus.

We read this

in chapter 2,

verses 13 and 14.

But now in Christ Jesus,

you who were once far off

have been brought near

by the blood of Christ.

For He Himself

is our peace

who has made us

both one

and has broken down

in His flesh

the dividing wall

of hostility.

And He did it all

through the cross.

God unites a people

of various backgrounds

together

through Jesus.

through His blood.

If Jesus' blood

was able to unite

Jews and Gentiles

who really didn't like

each other,

His blood is able

to unify

black and white,

rich and poor,

the haves and the haves-nots,

Republicans and Democrats,

Packer fans and Bear fans,

men and women,

older generations

and younger generations,

the blood of Jesus

is able to unite us all.

All.

All.

God purchased our unity

through Christ

and so our unity

as a church

is precious.

it's blood-bought.

We can't take it

for granted.

It's something

we've got to be

working at.

It comes through

the cross.

It's God's gift

to us.

So let me try

to help us

think about this.

Each of us,

before we became

a Christian,

we probably thought

of ourselves

through a particular lens.

kind of a primary way

of saying

this is who I am.

You know,

this gives me worth.

This gives me meaning.

This way of thinking

about myself

is the way

that I define myself.

When you become

a Christian,

that thing

that once defined you

now takes a back seat

because Christ

now defines you.

He is the primary

definition

and definer

of who we are

as people.

Everything else

takes a back seat.

So let's get specific.

Think about your

ethnic heritage.

Hey, there's no denying that.

I'm a Paisan.

I'm Italian.

Hey, yo.

Hey, yo.

Maybe you're Italian.

Or maybe your

ethnic heritage

is Mexican

or Nigerian

or Kenyan.

Or maybe it's

Chinese

or Korean

or Irish

or German.

Scottish.

Whatever that is,

there's no denying it.

But you know what?

Now that you're in Christ,

you've got a different

heritage

that trumps it.

that puts it

in its place.

That brings

definition to that.

That prioritizes that.

Your spiritual heritage

in Christ

frames your

ethnic heritage.

It puts it

in its right place.

So we don't deny it,

but we don't elevate it

above Christ.

Think about your

financial status.

Hey, there's no denying it.

Maybe you're loaded.

Maybe you've got nothing.

Maybe you're like

the rest of us,

somewhere in between.

But the immeasurable

riches

of God

in Christ Jesus

that are ours

in Christ,

you know what that's like?

That's like a shared

bank account

that we all have

unlimited access to.

It's all ours.

It's all ours.

It protects us

from being defined

by money.

Whether you've got it

or you don't,

we're defined by Christ.

He is our peace.

So here's what

Ephesians is teaching us.

What unites us

in Christ

is far more

greater than

and glorious

than all the

combined differences

we have between us.

We are a people

united to

and united by

Christ.

It's all according

to His unifying plan.

That's who we are.

We're a new people group.

And our Jesus heritage

trumps everything.

It changes the way

you live your life.

We have been united

to Christ

so that we would

live united

for Christ.

The first three points

that we've covered

are all about

who we are in Jesus.

The next three points

move towards

how we live that out.

This is who you are

in Christ

united

by a plan

united

in Christ

united

together

by Christ

and now

we move towards

being united

for Christ.

This is how we walk.

In chapter 4

we read that

we are united

as a body.

It's one of Paul's

favorite ways

to describe the church.

A body.

Christ is our head.

He's got all the authority.

We're dependent on Him.

He directs us.

We're accountable to Him.

Let me just be very clear

and frank.

I'm not the head

of this church.

Samir is not the head

of this church.

Daniel is not the head

of this church.

Any elder brought on

is not the head

of the church.

Even the elder team

is not the head

of the church.

Jesus is the head

of the church.

He's the head

of this church.

And so God

gives elders

to the church

in order to equip

the saints

to build them

up into the head.

Jesus.

We're not commanded

to build them

into us.

We build

into Christ.

We are members

one of another.

Jesus is our head

and we are members

one of another.

In chapter 4,

verse 7,

we see that

each of us,

each of us

has been given

a measure

of Christ's gift.

Each of us.

Christ is the head

and He's gifted

each of us.

And He's gifted

each of us

for the common good.

When we talk

about unity,

we've got to be

very clear

about something

and what we mean

by unity.

When we talk

about unity,

biblically speaking,

we're not talking

about uniformity.

We're not talking

about everybody

being the same

because that's not

how God

has designed it.

We are not

interested

in producing

clones

unless they're

of Jesus,

of course.

God has made

each of us

unique

and gifted

each of us

with a particular

gift

and this glorious

design of the body

is that there

are distinct

and diverse

members

with unique

functions

that work

together,

united

for the common

good.

So,

brothers and

sisters,

don't feel

like you've

got to be

something you're

not.

Don't feel

like you've

got to measure

up to something

you're not.

Diversity

is part of

God's design

for the body.

So,

I mean,

seriously,

we celebrate

diversity around

here

under the

headship of

Jesus.

God is

uniquely glorified

when diverse

members

are humbly

working together

for the

common good.

So,

brother,

sister,

in Christ,

what you need

to hear is

this,

God has

uniquely

gifted you

as a

Christian.

And so,

the question

is,

how and where

can you

contribute to

the common

good of

Christ's

body,

the truth?

God grows

in chapter 4,

verses 15

and 16,

when we're

rightly

positioned to

each other,

when we speak

the truth and

love to one

another,

and we're

living humbly

with each

other,

you know

what happens?

Growth.

God grows

us.

He matures

us.

He grows

us up into

the head of

our Lord.

God grows

us.

We become

more and

more like

Him.

That's His

design.

But,

what we learn

from Ephesians

is not only

does He

grow us

as a body,

we are a

body in

motion.

We are a

body that's

walking.

And so,

the fifth

point I want

you to see,

the fifth

unifying

truth,

is that we

are a

unified

united body

that walks

in holiness.

In chapter

4,

verse 24,

we are

told to

put on the

new self,

created after

the likeness

of God

and true

righteousness

and holiness.

We are to

walk in the

likeness of

God.

And I'm

not sure if

you remember

if you were

here when we

were preaching

through this,

but this is

a whole passage

about regularly

putting things

off,

things that

aren't true

of us

anymore,

and then

putting things

on that are

like Christ.

And so,

Paul just

hits us with

a flurry of

things that

can't be true

of us anymore.

And then he

says,

when you take

those off,

you've got to

put on these

things that are

like Christ.

So,

you put off

falsehood,

and you put on

speaking truth to

one another.

You put off

sinful anger,

and you put on

being quick to

make peace.

You put off

stealing with

your hands,

and you put on

working hard,

honestly,

with your hands

to be able to

help others

with your hands.

You're to put

off talk that

rots people

out,

and you're to

speak words

that nourish,

that build up.

We're to put

off grieving

the Spirit,

dividing,

disintegrating,

and we're to

put on pleasing

the Spirit,

uniting,

building.

We're to

put off

hardness of

heart,

and all

bitterness.

And we're to

put on

tenderness of

heart,

forgiving one

another,

just as God

in Christ

has forgiven

us.

You know

what?

We really

need to

depend on

our head,

Jesus,

in order to

live this

way.

In order for

us to

personally deal

with these

things,

and then help

each other

out with

these things,

can I just

let you know,

this past

Friday,

I had a

dear brother

and sister

come up to

me,

and they

love me

so well.

They're

helping me

see a

blind spot,

and I

got them.

They love

me.

They're

helping me

to walk

in the

likeness

of Jesus.

We're not

only to

personally

walk in

the likeness

of Christ.

We're to

help each

other walk

in the

likeness of

Christ.

We need

each other.

But not

only are we

to walk

in the

likeness of

God,

we're to

walk in

love.

Chapter 5,

verses 1 and

2.

We're a

body that's

walking together,

walking in

the likeness of

God,

walking in

love.

And in

verses 5,

1 and

2,

we read

that this

kind of

love is

an outward

and upward

kind of

love.

We love

others up

to Jesus.

We're

looking to

look out for

the best of

people,

and the best

for people

is to love

Jesus,

to follow

him and

obey him.

I mean,

that's how

Christ loved

us.

So, would

you just

imagine with

me for a

little bit?

What happens

if more and

more of us

as a church,

we were

loving each

other this

way.

We were

outward

focused,

and we

were loving

people to

Christ,

outward and

upward.

That's a game

changer right

there.

I want

to be a

part of

a church

like that.

Not only

are we to

walk in

love,

we are to

walk in

the light.

Chapter 5,

verse 8,

we are the

light in

the Lord.

We were

lit up by

Jesus to

light up the

world.

Another way

to think

about it is

we're like a

glowing body

of Jesus,

in a

luminescent

body,

in a dark

world.

You know

streetlights

at night?

You know

how they

light up

certain

sections of

the street,

and then if

you see

somebody walking

on the

sidewalk,

they'll walk

in the

light,

and move

in the

darkness,

and walk

in the

light again.

You know

what I'm

talking

about?

We're

like living

streetlights.

Wherever we

go, we

have this

radius of

light around

us.

You know

what happens

as God

adds to

our number?

He's going

to light

up

Kenosha

more.

And then

as God

adds to

numbers of

other churches

in town,

and we

want that,

He's going

to light

up our

city for

Christ.

And then

when we

as a

church

come

together,

there's

going to

be a

concentrated

lightness

in this

room.

But if

we're

kind of

being lit

up as

we're

supposed

to do,

it's

also,

verse

chapter 5,

11,

going to

expose the

unfruitful

deeds of

darkness.

Because not

everybody wants

to live in

the light.

A lot of

people just

want to live

in darkness.

And they're

not going to

like it when

we bring our

light to

shine.

But you

know what?

We're just

taking after

Jesus, the

light of the

world.

Lord.

And if we

are to

suffer for

being the

living light

of our

Lord Jesus,

you know

what?

So be

it.

In the

words of

Paul, it's

just light

in momentary

affliction

preparing us

for an

eternal weight

of glory

beyond

comparison.

You know

that is?

When I

see my

Savior face

to face

and he

welcomes

me in.

The only

thing I

would add

is let's

just make

sure we're

picking the

right fight.

You know

what I

mean?

So we're

to walk

in the

light.

We're to

walk in

wisdom.

Chapter

5,

verse 15.

We are

to walk

wisely,

making the

most of

the time.

In order

to walk

wisely,

we walk

under the

influence

of the

Spirit of

God.

We're to

be filled

with the

Spirit.

And when

we're filled

with the

Spirit,

he fills

us with

the fullness

of Christ.

The Spirit

mediates the

presence of

Jesus in

us and

through us

and fills

us with

the fullness

of God.

And when

that happens,

we address

one another

in psalms,

hymns,

spiritual songs,

we sing and

make melody

in our hearts,

we give

thanks always

for everything

and we submit

to one another

out of reverence

for Christ.

And you know

what that is?

Submitting to

one another

out of reverence

for Christ?

That's called

unity.

That's called

unity.

And it's a

fruit of the

Spirit in

us,

filling us.

as a body

we're to

not only

walk in

wisdom but

walk in

roles.

Husbands

leading wives,

wives letting

your husbands

lead.

Remember the

dance?

Remember the

dance?

Parents loving

your children,

children obeying

your parents,

supervisors slash

masters,

exercising your

authority as

unto Christ,

and workers

working as

unto Jesus.

You see, I'm

not sure if

you remember

that but that

passage in

521-69 was

all about

Christ.

Wives submit

to your own

husbands as

to the Lord.

Husbands love

your wives as

to Christ.

Parents,

dads,

raise your

children in the

fear and

admonition of

the Lord.

Children obey

your parents

in the Lord.

Slaves,

workers,

as unto

Christ.

Masters,

remember you

have a

master in

heaven.

We're to be

united in our

walking out the

roles of

Christ.

It really does

separate us,

set us apart in

the way that we

live.

The sixth

unifying truth

and final.

I mean,

seriously, we've

been talking about

a lot of

walking.

Walk in

likeness,

walk in love,

walk in light,

walk in wisdom,

walk in roles,

and then in

chapter 6,

verse 10 and

forward,

Paul says,

stand.

We're united

in our stand

against the

schemes of the

devil.

Our enemy,

Satan,

is seeking to

devour.

But our fight is

not against flesh

and blood.

He will use the

world to tempt

our flesh in

order to bring

about doubt,

distraction,

distortion,

and division.

But Jesus triumphed

over the devil

through his death

and resurrection.

God set all

things under the

feet of Jesus.

Chapter 1,

verse 22.

He's defeated,

but he's on the

run.

And in the

meantime,

we put our

armor on.

And we're

strengthened and

we stand firm

against the

devil.

We are united

in our stand

against the

devil.

That unites

us.

So six unifying

truths this

morning.

Ephesians begins

with the greeting,

grace and peace

to the saints.

Ephesians ends

with the benediction,

peace be to the

brothers, grace be

with all.

And in between

is a book all

about unity.

We've been united

in Christ so

that we could

live united for

Christ.

And we are

united by a

love for Christ

that is a love

that's incorruptible.

Let's pray.

God, we do

thank you for

the book of

Ephesians.

There's a lot

in it.

And it's all

good.

God, we do

pray that the

truths that we

have learned over

the last year and

a half, that

God, you would

just press them

in, that Jesus,

you would be

glorified and that

we would live out

the unity that you

purchased for us

through your

blood.

God, we give

you all praise.

In the name of

Jesus, we pray.

Amen.

Amen.