Ephesians

#19 – How the Church Reaches the Fullness of Christ Riches Beyond Measure: Lessons from Ephesians

November 8, 2020 By Richard Cravy in Ephesians, Pages, Series, Teaching & Study

We now look at Paul’s writing in Ephesians 4:7-16. He has already spoken of walking worthy of our calling as reflected in our character (4:1-2); and of making every effort to be united in the Holy Spirit as reflected in our fundamental doctrine (4:3-6).

Now his next words are, “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” (4:7) This section, then, is going to be about the gifts that Christ Jesus has richly given His church and the purposes for which those gifts are given.

#18 – Keeping the Unity of the Spirit, Part II Riches Beyond Measure: Lessons from Ephesians

November 3, 2020 By Richard Cravy in Ephesians, Pages, Series

Last lesson we heard Paul say that real unity in Christ’s church begins with love and right relationships. Today we see the second requirement for real unity in the church: unity in doctrine and belief. Paul makes it clear the right fundamental beliefs are essential. This passage is unique in the New Testament as it speaks of the “Ones” of Christian doctrine. We must believe in: one body (place for all the saved in Christ), one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God.

#17 – Keeping the Unity of the Spirit, Part I Riches Beyond Measure: Lessons from Ephesians

November 1, 2020 By Richard Cravy in Ephesians, Pages, Series, Teaching & Study

In order for us as the church to continually bring glory to God generation after generation, we must be united. Remember that His purpose was that all be one in Christ. In God’s Great Plan, we are not only reconciled to God, but are reconciled to each other! To not live that unity out in our “faith communities” is to be demonstrating the opposite of what we are to be. According to Paul, this unity is accomplished in two ways: (1) by the way we live together in community, and (2) by being united in the doctrine provided by the Holy Spirit. In this article we will look at how the fruit of the Spirit in believers makes and maintains unity.

#16 – Living Worthy of Our Calling Riches Beyond Measure: Lessons from Ephesians

October 29, 2020 By Richard Cravy in Ephesians, Pages, Series, Teaching & Study

God’s purpose and plan from before the beginning of time is that the church, both as individuals and as a body, be to His glory (honor and praise) and to display His glory through out all generations. That can only happen if every one of us lives worthy of the calling we have received. As we begin Chapter 4 of Ephesians, Paul’s emphasis changes; he moves from presenting God’s Great Plan to discussing how believers live out that Plan.

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love…” (Ephesians 4:1, ESV)

#15 – More Than We Can Imagine (II) Riches Beyond Measure: Lessons from Ephesians

October 25, 2020 By Richard Cravy in Ephesians, Pages, Series, Teaching & Study

The immeasurable riches which we have already experienced in Christ are not the limit of what God will do for us. He is able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think!” And it is His desire that He is praised, honored, worshiped and glorified through the church and Christ for ever and ever!

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” – Ephesians 3:20-21

#14 – More Than We Can Imagine (I) Riches Beyond Measure: Lessons from Ephesians

October 20, 2020 By Richard Cravy in Ephesians, Pages, Series

In Ephesians 3:14-21 Paul returns to the thought he began in chapter 3, verse 1. After his parenthesis about his ministry and God’s plan to demonstrate His Great Plan through the church, he now prays that the Ephesians will experience even more of the “glorious riches” of the Father. He prays that they will be strengthened, that Christ will permanently dwell within them, and that they will be able to fully grasp how great God’s love for them is.

Every epistle by Paul except II Corinthians and Titus contains one or more explicit prayers by him. One such list can be found here. Our present passage is the second of three prayers found here in Ephesians (1:15-23; 6:19-20). He will then complete his “theological” teaching, and begin the next chapter with how the believers should live out God’s Great Plan in their lives and in His church.

#13 – The Mystery Revealed Riches Beyond Measure: Lessons from Ephesians

October 17, 2020 By Richard Cravy in Ephesians, Pages, Series

It was important that the Ephesians (and us along with them) understand exactly what Paul’s ministry was about. He was entrusted along with others (3:5) with declaring God’s revealed mystery. This secret (Gk. musterion) is that in Christ all become one people redeemed by God’s grace in Christ. According to Ephesians 3:10, God’s “intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known,” not just to all mankind, but even to all those in the heavenly realms (spiritual world).

#12 – The Place Where God Lives Riches Beyond Measure: Lessons from Ephesians

October 13, 2020 By Richard Cravy in Ephesians, Pages, Series, Teaching & Study

Ephesians 2:11-22 now reveals the great mystery that God had kept hidden even from the Jewish people as He foretold the coming of their Savior. In Greek thinking and language, a “mystery” was a “divine secret,” something that only a divine being could reveal. And this secret of God was that the riches of His salvation through Christ was not only the forgiveness of sins, but the making of two completely different peoples – Jews and Gentiles – one new people shaped into a holy temple where God is worshiped.

“In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.” – Isaiah 2:2

#11 – A Salvation That Is by Grace Riches Beyond Measure: Lessons from Ephesians

October 10, 2020 By Richard Cravy in Ephesians, Pages, Series

In Ephesians 2:1-10, Paul reminds us that we were in desperate straits before God by His grace saved us through the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus Christ. “For by grace have you been saved through faith” should be the amazing hymn of every believer!

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. – Ephesians 2:8-10

At this point in his epistle, Paul presents the core of God’s great plan. He also presented these ideas in his letter to the Romans, but in much more detail and with the Jewish people more in mind.

#10 – Having the Eyes of Your Heart Enlightened Riches Beyond Measure: Lessons from Ephesians

October 5, 2020 By Richard Cravy in Ephesians, Pages, Series, Teaching & Study

Having presented God’s purpose and plan to bless us beyond measure, Paul now prays (1:15-23) that our eyes be opened to see what God has and is doing on our behalf! Otherwise, we have riches beyond measure, but will continue think and live like paupers. Today we will also learn just how great Jesus is, and our vital connection to Him as His “body” on earth.

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.” – Ephesians 1:18-19

#9 – The Plan & Purpose of God Riches Beyond Measure: Lessons from Ephesians

October 4, 2020 By Richard Cravy in Ephesians, Pages, Series, Teaching & Study

Today we finally begin our study of the actual text of Ephesians. The first section, covering 1:3-14, presents Paul’s premise for the entire book. Here we discover that our salvation is the culmination of the purpose and plan of God from before the Creation. Nothing was by chance with Him; all had been been foreseen and provided for. And it was all for our us!

“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.” – Ephesians 1:11-12

Paul uses some wonderful words in our text that really illuminate and emphasize his point about God’s eternal plan. Here’s a list of some of those words: predestined, purpose, will, riches, grace, lavished, praise, seal, and pledge.

#8 – God’s Glory: More of the Story Riches Beyond Measure: Lessons from Ephesians

September 30, 2020 By Richard Cravy in Ephesians, Pages, Series, Teaching & Study

We have already observed that Paul emphasizes God’s glory in his letter to the Ephesians. I believe this was an intentional contrast/comparison to the praise often lavished on Artemis and her temple by her worshipers. Her temple was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The riches stored within her chambers were probably unmatched anywhere else in their world. And the legend of her ancient visitation to Ephesus in the form of a powerful meteor led many to seek her help and favor even into the 1st Century.

But Paul had taught the believers in Ephesus that Artemis was not a real god, and in fact was not real at all (Acts 19:23-27)! Likely he is now also reminding them of what he had previous taught them in person: that at the power, riches and glory really resided in the One True God in which they now believed.