Ephesians 1:15–23 (ESV)

15For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Ephesians 1:17

…remembering you in my prayers, 17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him…

Ephesians 1:18

…having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you…

Our identity cannot be individual. It has to be relational. The one who created us, the one who knows us, the one who loves us tells us who we are, not apart from Him but in relationship with Him. (Pierce Taylor Hibbs)

How Do We Know That We Know Him?

1. The evidence of knowing Him

Ephesians 1:15

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you…

Ephesians 1:15

…because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus

…and your love toward all the saints…

2. The education of knowing Him

Ephesians 1:16-18

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened…

Romans 1:18-20

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

John 3:19

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Luke 24:27

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

Luke 24:31

And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.

3. The encouragement of knowing Him

Ephesians 1:18

…having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you,

“Assurance is a believer’s confidence that he or she is in right standing with God, and this will issue in ultimate salvation.” (D.A. Carson)

Romans 8:16

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

For this week’s sermon application guide, click this URL: https://storage2.snappages.site/QG8D8X/assets/files/sermon-application-guide-Eph-1_15_18-62.docx