A summary of the Book of Ephesians
The Epistle to the Ephesians, attributed to the Apostle Paul, is a rich
source of Christian doctrine. Let's look at some of these important
doctrines and the supporting scripture from the Amplified Bible:
1 The New Birth - Reconciliation.
Ephesians 1:4-5 
, "Just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually
selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world,
so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him,
purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined and
lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children
through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good
pleasure of His will." God knew from the foundation of the world that
we would need Jesus to die for our sins.
This is confirmed in 2 Corinthians 5:19 God through Christ, reconciled
the world unto Himself. Also in Ephesians 2:4-5 from the Amplified
Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC): "But God—so rich is He in His mercy!
Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense
love with which He loved us, Even when we were dead (slain) by [our
own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in
fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ
Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by
grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are
saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s
salvation)."
2. Salvation by Grace: The second chapter of Ephesians addresses
salvation by grace through faith, not through works. It is important for
every believer to receive and understand God’s stance towards human
sin. Jesus paid the ultimate price. Jesus took upon Himself the sins of
the world so that we can believe with our hearts and accept the free gift
of Salvation.
Ephesians 2:8-9, "For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and
favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually
delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this
[salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is
the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; not as a result of [your] works
[nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to]
boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation]."
3. Ephesians 3. Paul’s prayer. : Click here for a full explanation.
4. Unity in the Body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:4-6, "There is one body [of believers] and one Spirit—just
as you were called to one hope when called [to salvation]—one Lord,
one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all who is [sovereign]
over all and [working] through all and [living] in all."
, "Just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually
selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world,
so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him,
purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined and
lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children
through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good
pleasure of His will." God knew from the foundation of the world that
we would need Jesus to die for our sins.
This is confirmed in 2 Corinthians 5:19 God through Christ, reconciled
the world unto Himself. Also in Ephesians 2:4-5 from the Amplified
Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC): "But God—so rich is He in His mercy!
Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense
love with which He loved us, Even when we were dead (slain) by [our
own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in
fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ
Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by
grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are
saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s
salvation)."
2. Salvation by Grace: The second chapter of Ephesians addresses
salvation by grace through faith, not through works. It is important for
every believer to receive and understand God’s stance towards human
sin. Jesus paid the ultimate price. Jesus took upon Himself the sins of
the world so that we can believe with our hearts and accept the free gift
of Salvation.
Ephesians 2:8-9, "For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and
favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually
delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this
[salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is
the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; not as a result of [your] works
[nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to]
boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation]."
3. Ephesians 3. Paul’s prayer. : Click here for a full explanation.
4. Unity in the Body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:4-6, "There is one body [of believers] and one Spirit—just
as you were called to one hope when called [to salvation]—one Lord,
one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all who is [sovereign]
over all and [working] through all and [living] in all."
5. Living a New Life in Christ: Paul stresses the importance of
turning away from the old self and putting on the new self
created to be like God in righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:22-24, "That, regarding your previous way of life,
you put off your old self [completely discard your former nature],
which is being corrupted through deceitful desires, and be
continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh,
untarnished mental and spiritual attitude], and put on the new
self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s
image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth
[living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your
salvation]."
5. Marriage and Christ-Church Relationship: In Ephesians 5,
Paul introduces the analogy of Christ's relationship with the
Church and the relationship between husband and wife.
Ephesians 5:22-25,
•
Vs. 22. "Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as [a
service] to the Lord.
•
Vs. 23. For the husband is head of the wife, as Christ is head
of the church, Himself being the Savior of the body.
•
Vs.24. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives
should be subject to their husbands in everything [respecting
both their position as protector and their responsibility to God
as head of the house].
•
Vs.25. Husbands, love your wives [seek the highest good for
her and surround her with a caring, unselfish love], just as
Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her"
6. Armor of God: In the final chapter, Paul shows the believer
how we can live free from satanic and demonic influence. The
devil has no power over the believer who has put on the WHOLE
armor of God.
Ephesians 6:10-17,
Vs.10 "Finally, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from
Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the
power of His [boundless] might.
Vs.11 “Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the
splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be
able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the
strategies and the deceits of the devil…"
In summary, Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 emphasizes the vital role of the Holy Spirit in strengthening believers, making the love of
Christ real in their lives, and enabling them to experience the fullness of God's presence. It underlines the fact that the Holy Spirit is
instrumental in our spiritual growth and our understanding and experience of God's love and power.
Ephesians 3:14-15 - Recognizing God as the ultimate source:
"For this reason [grasping the greatness of this plan by which Jews and
Gentiles are joined together in Christ] I bow my knees [in reverence]
before the Father [of our Lord Jesus Christ], From Whom every family
in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all
fatherhood takes its title and derives its name]."
Here, Paul shows his reverence to God as the ultimate source of all,
and the one from whom every family in heaven and earth is named.
This is the foundational truth that sets the stage for the role of the
Holy Spirit in the lives of believers.
Ephesians 3:16 - Praying for inner strength and spiritual power
through the Holy Spirit:
"May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be
strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the
[Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and
personality]."
Paul's prayer here is for believers to be strengthened with might
through the Holy Spirit's indwelling in their inner being. This
underlines the Holy Spirit's role as the source of divine power and
strength in a believer's life.
Ephesians 3:17 - Christ indwells our hearts through faith:
"May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide,
make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in
love and founded securely on love,"
Paul prays for Christ to dwell in believers' hearts through faith.
Paul through this prayer, is exhorting the believer to allow Christ by
their faith, to dwell in them, settle down, abide, make a permanent
home in them. This is not just knowledge but experiential through
the power of the Holy Spirit, as it's through the Holy Spirit that
Christ is revealed to us and makes His love real in our lives.
Ephesians 3:18-19a - Comprehending and knowing the love of Christ:
"That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp
with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love]
what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you
may really come] to know [practically, through experience for
yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge
[without experience];"
Paul prays for believers to comprehend and know Christ's love,
which surpasses mere knowledge. He expresses the extent of
God’s love in the words, “the breadth and length and height
and depth”.
The Holy Spirit’s role in this revelation to our heats, is crucial.
1 John 2:27 tells us that the Holy Spirit will teach us of all things,
even how to abide in Christ.
Ephesians 3:19b - Being filled with God's fullness:
"that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of
God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become
a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!"
Paul's prayer here is for believers to be filled with all the fullness of
God. This speaks to the Holy Spirit's role in making God's presence
real in us. The Spirit fills us, flooding every part of our being with
God's presence, the richest measure of the divine Presence.
Ephesians 3:20-21 - Acknowledging God's power and glory:
"Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that
is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do
superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think
[infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or
dreams]—To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout
all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it)."
Paul ends his prayer by recognizing the unlimited power of God that
works within us, carried out by the Holy Spirit to fulfil God’s purpose
in us and through us. He is trying to get us to realize that God is a
lot bigger than the limits our thoughts and understanding have
placed upon Him. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit in us that
enables us to do far beyond what we can ask, think or imagine. To
Him, then, belongs all glory.
Ephesians Three Prayer : The Apostle Paul prayed daily for the Church
Ephesians 3:14-21 This daily prayer by Paul for the Ephesians, gives us insight into the depth of the revelation
he received from the Holy Spirit regarding the finished work of Christ on the cross and how all the He did
through His death, burial and resurrection, can and will change and impact our lives, when we yield to the Holy
Spirit’s work within us. This revelation is of vital importance to all of the Body of Christ as he shares profound
spiritual truths about the Holy Spirit's role in the lives of believers. He uses this prayer to reveal the revelation
he received from the Holy Spirit.
Let's break down each part of this prayer using the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC):
The Armor of God
10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and
be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His
[boundless] might.
11 Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor
of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand
up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with
physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the
world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of
wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.
13 Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to
[successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and
having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your
place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious].
14 So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of
truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put
on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart),
15 and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to
face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the
good news].
16 Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can
extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is
the Word of God.
A full explanation of Eph. 6:10-17
Our lives in Christ are victorious,
full of light, not darkness.
Many believers have taken this scripture to mean that
we have to daily do battle with the devil. But if that is
true, then …
•
Jesus work on the cross a waste of time.
•
It would make our salvation and victory dependant
on us and our daily effort.
•
It would minimise the power and the action of the
Holy Spirit within us and render it of no effect.
•
It would bring into question God’s promise in 1
John 4:4 " Little children (believers, dear ones), you
are of God and you belong to Him and have
[already] overcome them [the agents of the
antichrist]; because He who is in you is greater
than he (Satan) who is in the world [of sinful
mankind]."
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The Apostle Paul’s daily prayer for the Church
