Ephesians Live Alive Intro Ch 1
Part of Ephesians: Live Alive
January 2, 2022

EPHESIANS: LIVE ALIVE
Introduction and Chapter 1

Historical Background

  • Traditionally associated with the city of Ephesus, but possibly a letter circulated to all churches in Asia Minor
  • Paul visits Ephesus and leaves Precilla and Aquila (Acts 18:18-21)

  • This city was the commercial center of Asia Minor and very religious as the home to the temple of Diana (Artemis in Greek) considered one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world.

  • On Paul’s third missionary journey he stays in Ephesus for nearly 3 years (Acts 19; 20:30)

  • Probably written during Paul’s first imprisonment AD 60-62 as he refers to his imprisonment (3:1; 4:1; 6:20)

Ephesians Breakdown
1-3 Spiritual Wealth for Believers
4-6 Wealth Management (how to invest and protect spiritual wealth)

1-3 What God had done for you
4-6 Who you should be because of it

1-3 Belief
4-6 Behavior

1-3 Position
4-6 Practice

1-3 Privileges of the Christian
4-6 Responsibilities of the Christian

1-3 No imperatives
4-6 35 imperatives

Who you are in

changes who you are in

Eph 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

WHAT IS THE CALLING YOU HAVE RECEIVED?

Eph 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called

1 Thessalonians 2:12 urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

1 Peter 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

The

of our Calling

Ephesians 1:4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

Ephesians 1:5 He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

Ephesians 1:13-14 When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Your Calling Is for the

of His Glory

  • The book was written to praise God 1:3
  • You were adopted in order to praise His glorious grace 1:6
  • The first believers were purposed to bring praise to God’s glory 1:12
  • All believers were redeemed to bring praise to His glory 1:14
  • The purpose of the Church and the purpose of Christ are to bring God glory 3:20-21

Ephesians 2:7 [God made us alive in Christ] in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Prayer Challenge:

Ephesians 1:18-19 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Pray Ephesians 1:18-19 for yourself everyday this week.