Bible Survey: Ephesians
The theme of Ephesians is Christ as head of the church. God gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body (Ephesians 1:22–23). Paul wrote it from prison in Rome to a church he knew well. He had spent three years in Ephesus, a city famous for its temple of Diana, and he reminded the elders there that he had taught you publickly, and from house to house (Acts 20:20), preaching repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). Where churches stop preaching repentance, careless Christianity follows.
In Ephesians the church is a body, a building, a bride and a family, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone (Ephesians 2:20). A foundation is only laid once, and there are no apostles or prophets in the church today. What God does give is evangelists, pastors and teachers, For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:12). The members are to do the work, not sit and watch the pastor do it.
The book can be summed up in three words: sit, walk and stand. We sit, because God hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). We walk, not as fools, but as wise (Ephesians 5:15), understanding what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:17). And we stand in the whole armour of God, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12).
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). That is not a suggestion. It is a command.
Paul's prayer in chapter three closes with praise to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). When Spurgeon's mother told him she had prayed for his salvation but never that he would become a Baptist, that was the verse he answered her with.
Next in the series: Philippians.
Taught by Brother James Barker in Sunday School at Naples Independent Baptist Church, March 28, 2021. Watch the lesson.
