Ephesians
By H. A. "Buster" Dobbs



Quote:
I. Introduction.
A. The object of the letter was to confirm the Ephesian disciples in
the one faith by affirming the universal nature of the one church.
1. The book has two parts:
a. The doctrinal part (1:1 to 3:21).
b. The practical part (4:1 to 6:24).
B. Salutation and greeting (1:1-2).
1. Written by Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ to the saints at
Ephesus and the faithful in Jesus (1:1).
2. Paul wishes for them grace and peace (1:2).
II. Doctrinal Part of the Letter.
A. The blessings of salvation--every spiritual blessing is in Christ
(1:3-14).
1. Holiness, signifying a separation to God (1:4).
2. Adoption as sons to the praise of God's gift (1:5-6).
a. Paul says the saved are foreordained to adoption as sons.
b. If this means individuals are predetermined to be sons by
an arbitrary appointment, it would amount to divine
prejudice and contradict Acts 10:34-35.
c. The only other possibility is that God predestined the
conditions upon which sinners could be born of water and
spirit into the spiritual family of God, making them
adopted sons "according to the good pleasure of his will."
d. This sonship comes by birth, but not natural birth. It is
adoption and, in this case, God has a choice and so does
the sinner. In courts of law a mature child gives his
consent to be adopted, but the adoptive father must also
be willing to accept the child.
e. We praise God for the radiant show of his goodness, by
which he has favored us, because of his Son.
3. Redemption through the blood of Jesus (1:7).
a. The slave of sin is redeemed (bought back).
b. The cost of redemption is the blood of the Son of God
(1 Cor. 6:19-20).
4. Forgiveness of trespasses--every false step and blunder is
dismissed, released, and remitted, according to the fullness of
his favor or boundless gift (1:7).
5. The sum of God's blessings (1:8-12).
a. God's great gift of salvation overflows in keeping with his
practical understanding and knowledge in the management
of affairs (1:8) .
b. The purpose of God in Christ is to completely forgive all
sin, according to his good pleasure--this was concealed (a
mystery) in the Old Testament but is now revealed (the
terms and conditions of such forgiveness are disclosed) in
the New Testament (1:9).
c. The plan of God for accomplishing the salvation of all
obedient believers, both Jews and Gentiles, by bringing
them into one body, church, or society under the rule of
Jesus is now unveiled (1:10).
d. We have received the blessing promised to Abraham that
in him and his seed all the nations of the earth may be
sanctified--the offer of salvation to every creature in all the
earth was the predetermined purpose of God (1:11).
e. The Jews hoped in the Christ because they were given the
promise of his coming, and should praise God for boasting
of his intention to bless all the nations of the earth (1:12).
6. Gentiles received the hope of salvation through Jews (1:13-
14).
a. The gospel of salvation sounded forth from Jerusalem
(1:13).
b. The Gentiles heard the word of the gospel and believed it
(1:13).
c. Gentiles were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise as a
result of believing the gospel (1:13). The seal was hearing
and believing the word of the gospel. "The firm foundation
of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them
that are his: and, Let every one that nameth the name of
the Lord depart from unrighteousness" (2 Tim. 2:19). The
seal is accepting the authority of the living God by
conforming to the requirements of his revealed will--the
gospel is God's power to save (Rom. 1:16); it makes us
complete (2 Tim. 3:16-17); it is able to save our souls
(James 1:21); and it is able to build us up and give us an
inheritance among all the sanctified (Acts 20:32) (1:13).
d. The seal of the Holy Spirit of promise is the earnest of
our inheritance (1:14). The seal is hearing, believing, and
obeying the gospel. This makes us a new creature in Christ
Jesus and gives us peace, joy, and hope. The contentment
of discipleship is a foretaste of future bliss--the seal of the
Spirit and the earnest of our inheritance (1:14).
B. Paul's prayer for the saints (1:15-23)
1. The apostle, having heard of their faith and love, gave thanks
and prayed for them (1:15-16).
2. Paul prayed they might have a full understanding of the plan
of salvation and have the wisdom to know something of
what is in store for the Christian (1:17-18) .
3. He also prayed the saints would understand the power of
God as he works in the believer through his saving word
(1:19).
a. It is the same power that brought Jesus out of the tomb in
a mighty resurrection and glorious ascension (1:20).
4. Jehovah gave Jesus rule and dominion (1:21).
5. Jehovah put all things in subjection under the feet of Jesus,
and gave him to be head over all things to the church (1:22).
6. The church is the body of Jesus and the fullness of him who
fills all his members with spiritual favors, according to the
position in his body (the church) assigned to them (1:23).
C. Paul reviews blessings already received (2:1-10).
1. They were dead in sin and servants of Satan. Walking in the
lusts of the flesh, they were rebellious children, deserving
wrath and punishment (2:1-3).
2. God, in his goodness and rich mercy, made them alive
together with Christ (2:4).
a. In the water of baptism the contrite believer dies with
Christ and is raised to live with Christ (2:5, Rom. 6:8) .
b. The resurrected believer is to walk in newness of life,
accounting himself to be dead to sin and alive to God in
Christ (2:6-7, Rom. 6:4,11).
c. All future generations may have forgiveness and the hope
of eternal life (2:8) .
3. Salvation is by grace through faith (2:8-9).
a. Grace is the favor of God. It is God's unspeakable gift of
his own Son, that whosoever believes on him should not
perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).
b. Faith is man's acceptance of God's free gift and includes
obedience to God's commands. Faith is a work of God
that man must do (John 6:28-29).
c. Salvation is not of works. Man cannot keep the moral law
of God perfectly. All sin and fall short of God's glory. No
mortal can live in sinless perfection, and therefore, has
nothing to boast about. He sins and must receive pardon
by God's mercy, love, and grace (2:9).
4. As new creatures in Christ, the saved are to display good
works, according to the appointment of God (2:10).
a. In Christ, we are new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17).
b. Men are to see the goods works of the saved and glorify
God (Matt. 5:16).
D. The law of Moses is taken away so Jew and Gentile could be
one new man in Christ (2:11-22).
1. The Gentiles, in times past, were without God, strangers from
the covenants of the promise, and without hope (2:11-12).
2. In Christ, Gentiles are made close by the blood of Christ
(2:13).
3. Christ is our peace and has removed the partition (2:14).
4. Jesus abolished the partition--law of Moses--so he might
bring both Jew and Gentile together, making peace (2:15).
5. Jesus' cross removed the enmity--the law of Moses that had
been a barrier between Jew and Gentile--and reconciled both
Jew and Gentile in the one body unto God (2:16).
6. Jesus preached peace to Jew and Gentile (2:17).
7. Through Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles have access to God
through the Spirit (2:18) .
a. Rapprochement to God is by the word of reconciliation (2
Cor. 5:18-19). The word of reconciliation is revealed,
confirmed, and protected by the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:13).
Therefore, we have access to God through the Spirit, or
through the word revealed by the Spirit.
8. Gentiles may now be reconciled to God and members of his
household (2:20-22).
a. They are built upon the foundation of the teaching of
apostles and prophets about Christ, who is the chief
corner stone (2:20).
b. In Christ each saved person grows into a holy temple in
the Lord (2:21).
c. The holy temple made of living stones is the dwelling
place of God in the Spirit, or by means of the teaching of
the Spirit (2:22).
E. Gentiles are partakers of the gospel (3:1-13).
1. Paul was given the work of teaching Gentiles (3:1-2).
2. It was revealed to Paul that God's offer of forgiveness is for
all nations (3:3-4).
a. He has previously mentioned that which was once
concealed, but is now revealed--the mystery of the Old
Testament (3:3).
b. By reading Paul's words, they could know his
understanding in the mystery of Christ (3:4).
3. Previously this was not made known, but is now revealed to
the apostles of Jesus and the prophets by the Spirit (3:5).
4. The New Covenant is for all nations, and believing Gentiles
are acceptable to God (3:6).
5. Paul was appointed to preach to the Gentiles the gospel of
salvation--the unsearchable riches of Christ (3:7-8) .
6. Paul was given the task of making all men see what had
been previously concealed (3:9).
7. Through the church--the one body--angels are taught the
multiplied and diverse wisdom of God in reconciling men to
himself by the blood of his Son (3:10).
8. It has always been the intention of God to make salvation
worldwide (3:11).
9. Confidence of acceptance is the effect of faith, and all
believers can boldly approach God in prayer (3:12-13).
a. Paul suffered because he taught that Gentiles had a right to
salvation in Christ, but he did not want them to be
dejected. His affliction was for their triumph (3:13).
F. Paul's earnest wish and prayer is that they might understand the
glory of the plan of salvation and be partakers in the divine
nature (3:14-19).
G. Praise to God for his goodness (3:20-21).
III. The Practical Part of the Letter.
A. An exhortation to unity (4:1-16).
1. Believers are to walk worthily of their high calling (4:1).
2. They are to be lowly, meek, longsuffering, bearing with
each other in love (4:2). They are to be indulgent of each
other.
3. They are to maintain unity and peace (4:3).
4. There is to be a oneness of body (church), hope, faith, and
baptism, because there is one Spirit, one Lord, and one God
(Eph. 4:4-6).
5. Jesus, who came from heaven to earth and has now
returned to an exalted station in heaven, has given gifts to
men (4:7-10).
6. Jesus put various offices in the church (4:11).
7. The purpose of evangelists, apostles, prophets, elders, and
teachers (4:12-16).
a. Perfect and edify the saints (4:12).
b. Attain to unity of faith in the knowledge of the son of
God (4:13).
c. Believers may grow up into the fullness of Christ (4:13).
d. May be stable and deeply rooted in the truth and not be
mislead and deceived by cunning and smooth talking false
teachers (4:14).
e. Speak the truth in love (4:15).
f. Every member of the church works in close harmony and
accord with every other member to build up and
strengthen the body, which is the church (4:16).
B. The saved are to be holy and not ungodly (4:17-31).
1. They must not live as do Gentiles (heathens) in foolishness
of mind, darkened in understanding, unable to tell truth from
error, strangers to the life commanded by God, without
restraint, indecent, wanton, in all uncleanness and greed
(4:17-24).
a. They had not so learned Christ (4:20).
b. They were to put on the new man in righteous and
holiness of truth (4:23-24).
2. They are to put away lying, anger, theft, corrupt
conversation, grieving the Holy Spirit, bitterness, evil-
speakings, and malice (4:25-32).
a. They were to be kind and tenderhearted (4:32).
b. Having received mercy, they were to be merciful (4:32).
C. Various admonitions (5:1-21).
1. Imitate the heavenly fathers as beloved children; walk in
love in gratitude for the sweet-smelling sacrifice Jesus made
for us (5:1-2).
a. Avoid fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness,
foolish talking, jesting that is not befitting, and idolatry
(5:3-5).
b. Watch for and do not be deceived by false prophets (5:6-
7).
2. Walk as children of light (5:8-14).
a. Follow after goodness and righteousness and truth (5:8) .
b. Have nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness
(5:11).
c. Reprove evil and every false teaching (5:12).
3. Be careful, walk as wise and not unwise, buy back the
opportunities, because the days are evil. Understand the will
of the Lord (5:15-17).
4. Stay away from strong drink and riot (wastefulness) (5:18) .
5. Be filled with the Spirit by letting the word of Christ dwell
in you richly in all wisdom (5:19; Col. 3:16-17).
6. Delight yourself in worship of God, singing to each other
spiritual songs (5:19).
7. Be thankful to God and respectful of each other (5:21).
D. Domestic duties (5:22-6:9)
1. Relationship between husbands and wives (5:22-33).
a. Wives must be in subjection to their own husbands (5:22-
23).
b. Husbands must love their own wives, seeking for the
wife's happiness and being considerate of her (5:24-33).
2. Parents and children (6:1-4).
3. Servants and masters (6:5-9).
E. Final exhortations (6:10-20).
1. Be strong in the Lord and put on the whole armor of God
(6:10-20).
F. Conclusion and blessing (6:21-23).
Shain1611

"SANCTIFY THEM THROUGH THY TRUTH: THY WORD IS TRUTH
(John 17:17)

And Jesus Speaking; " He that rejecteth me, receiveth not my words, hath one that, judgeth him:the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in
( John12:48 KJV)