Ephesians: Walk Worthy of Your Calling

Themes in Ephesians The believer’s position Christ The mystery of the church Christ’s headship of the church Spiritual gifts & equipping the saints to use them. How to deal with temptation and sin Marriage & family Spiritual warfare

Prayer for Enlightenment vs 15 “For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you, and your love for all the saints,”

“For this reason…” Vs 3-6 Blessings from the Father: Vs 3 “He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing...” Vs 4 “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world” vs 5 “He predestined us to adoption as sons” vs 6 “He has made us accepted in the Beloved.”

“For this reason…” Vs 7-12 Blessings from the Son: vs 7a He redeemed us through His blood 7b-8 He forgave us our trespasses Vs 9-10 He revealed the mystery of God’s will to us vs 11-12 He gave us an inheritance

“For this reason…” vs 13-14 Blessings from the Spirit After hearing and believing the Gospel He sealed us with the Holy Spirit of promise Vs 14 He has given us a pledge, (deposit, down payment)

Vs 15 “…having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you, and your love for all the saints,”

Our love for other believers is an indicator of our salvation. 1 John 3:14 “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.” 1John 4:7,8 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 5:1 “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.”

Our love for one another is not an option, it is commanded by the Lord Himself John 13:34,35 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." 1 John 3:18 “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”

vs16 “do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;”

vs 17 “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.” *What does the Father of glory mean? 1. The Source or Originator of all glory 2. The One to whom all glory belongs 3. The Father of the Lord Jesus, who is the manifestation of God’s glory William MacDonald

vs 17 “…may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.”

vs 18 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints”

How is a person truly enlightened? - The source of enlightenment is God. - The content of enlightenment is the Word of God - The means of enlightenment is the Holy Spirit

How is a person truly enlightened? - The target of enlightenment is the heart. Paul prays that we would have a heart that sees the hope and riches of our calling.

Vs 18 “…so that you may know what is the hope of His calling”

Vs 18 “…so that you may know what is the hope of His calling” 1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

What is our calling? 2 Tim. 1:9: “who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity”  1 Peter 5:10 “And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”   Romans 8:29 “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son”

1:18 “…what are the spiritual riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints”

1:18 “…what are the spiritual riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ”

“Until we comprehend who we truly are in Jesus Christ, it is impossible to live an obedient and fulfilling life. Only when we know who we really are can we live like who we are. Only when we come to understand how our lives are anchored in eternity can we have the right perspective and motivation for living in time.” John MacArthur

“One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time!” John Piper