Ephesians – basic outline

• Ephesians 1:3-14 – God’s eternal purpose in Christ
• Ephesians 1:15-3:21 – God’s eternal purpose in the church. We (the church) are the called and chosen of God in Christ.
• Ephesians 4:1-6:20 – Therefore walk worthy.
• Ephesians 6:21-24 – Final greeting

Unity and growth

Relationship

• Ephesians 4:1-16

Attitude

• Ephesians 4:2-3 – We must have the right attitude to produce unity.
• Lowliness – Considering other higher than self; humbleness of mind
• Meekness – Basic idea is humble submission to God’s will. Toward man, the idea seems to be humble service to one another.
• Longsuffering, forbearing – To bear with, put up with one another in love. See Colossians 3:13. If we truly one another, we will have tender affections for, or be devoted to one another.

Foundation of the unity of the spirit

All unity and growth must be built on these seven truths (Ephesians 4:1-6):

1. One body or church of Jesus Christ – Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18
2. One Spirit, one of the three divine beings of the Godhead
   1. Matthew 3:16-17; Mark 1:10-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34
3. One hope of entering within the veil where Jesus has entered as high priest – Hebrews 6:19-20
4. One Lord, the Master of all, with all authority in heaven and on earth
5. One faith, the one gospel once delivered to the saints – Jude 1:3; Acts 6:7; Galatians 1:6-9, 11-12, 23
6. One baptism
   1. There were two on Pentecost but Jesus fulfilled his promise of administering Holy Spirit baptism and now there is just the “baptism in Jesus’ name,” which is baptism in water for the remission of sins. Acts 2:38; 8:12-16; 10:47-48
7. One God and Father of all

Gave works (offices)

• Ephesians 4:7-11

Conclusion

• Ephesians 4:2 – For the perfecting of the saints … unto the building up of the body of Christ.

Why are we separated from God?

• God has always been here.
  • Genesis 1:1-2
  • Exodus 19:10-11, 16-20 – God spoke to Moses.
  • Matthew 3:16-17 – God was present when Jesus was on earth.
  • I Timothy 3:16
  • Matthew 18:20

Sin has separated us from God.

• Matthew 5:3
• We forget that we need God.
• Psalm 86:1

We must have a commitment to serving Christ.

• This is our bridge back to God.
• Luke 9:23
• Some claim to know a lot about Jesus, but are nothing like Him.

Luke 9:23

• Let him deny himself.
  • Galatians 2:20
• And take up his cross daily
  • II Timothy 3:12
  • Romans 12:12
• And follow me
  • John 8:31
  • Hebrews 10:25
  • We must plan if we are going to meet our commitment to serving Christ.

• II Peter 2:5-8 – Noah was a preacher of righteousness. Righteousness was something he did. Sadly, he was not able to save anyone except his own family.
  • II Peter 2:6 – See Genesis 19. Like Noah, Lot was not able to positively influence anyone except his own family, and even his wife was then lost as they escaped the city.
• II Peter 2:9-10 – God knows how to deliver us from temptation and he has shown us how through His word. Instead of yielding to temptation, we must go to God’s word and pray.
• II Peter 2:15-16 – See Numbers 22-25 for the story of Balaam. Balaam repeatedly said he would do only what God told him to do, while he was doing exactly what God told him not to do!
• II Peter 2:20-22 – This is a horrible image, but it shows what it looks like to God when someone returns to sin after becoming clean.

• Abortion
  • Nearly a million abortions are performed legally in the United States each year.
• Homosexuality and transgenderism
  • Marriage is between one man and one woman.
  • James 4:6 – God opposes the proud!
• The Bible has many examples of slippery slopes.
  • I Samuel 8:10-18 – There were 43 kings. Only seven were good!
  • Genesis 25:28; 37
• Drugs, alcohol, and tobacco are all slippery slopes!
• Romans 14:11 – Society tries to lie and tell us we are not accountable for our actions.
• Mark 10:15
• Matthew 15:18
• II Peter 2:20
• Hebrews 10:22

Pistis – faithfulness

God is faithful (reliable)

• Deuteronomy 7:6-9; Joshua 21:43-45 – God promised to bring the people to the land of Canaan and He did!
• Numbers 23:19-20
• Romans 3:1-4 – God is faithful even when no one else is.
• I Thessalonians 5:23-24
• II Thessalonians 3:1-3 – You can count on God’s plan happening!
• I Corinthians 1:7-9; 10:13-14 – God is faithful in providing a way for us to escape sin.
• II Corinthians 1:15-20, 23; 2:1

We must also be faithful (reliable)

• I Corinthians 4:1-2 – We must be good, faithful stewards.
• Philippians 1:27; 2:14-16
• Matthew 5:33-37; 23:16-22 – When you say something, mean it! Don’t be deceptive or play word games.
• James 5:12
• Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 – Be careful what you promise!
• Matthew 25:14-30