Ephesians_ A Fourfold Picture of the Church

Ephesians: A Fourfold Picture of the Church
Ephesians 3.9-11
Ephesians 3.9-11
and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord
The Church
Is Important to God – the FatherEternally planned – V 11 “eternal purpose”Divinely purchased –Ephesians 5:25-27Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish
The Church
Is Important to God – the SonPromised it – Matt 16.18; Mk 9.1Purchased it – Acts 20.28Paul presents the Church in Four Word-Pictures in his letter to the Ephesians…
A BODY Under Christ – Reconciled to God
A. ABODY subjectto Christ is allthings.Ephesians1.22,23“AndHe put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”Ephesians 2:16“andthat He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death theenmity”
A Body Under Christ – Reconciled to God
B. A body that isat peace (reconciled) with God.Ephesians 2:16“andthat He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death theenmity”
A BODY Under Christ – Reconciled to God
Noreconciliation outside the church…To be saved is to be in the BodyActs2.38,41,47Eph5.23 “For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.”To be “in Christ” is to be “in the Body” 1 Cor 12.13; Rom 6.3-4
ABODYUnder Christ – Reconciled to God
2. No reconciliation in separate bodies.Ifso, why bother to break down "wall of division (partition)".Eph2:14-15 “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peaceb. If so, the cross was in vain. (Eph2:16) “and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death theenmity”
ABODYUnder Christ – Reconciled to God
C. A body that is at peace with itself.1. Peace or unity established.(Eph2:14-18)14ForHe Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 havingabolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so asto create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God inone bodythrough the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
ABODYUnder Christ – Reconciled to God
2. Peace or unity maintained.(Eph4:1-6) , therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.a. Not man made unity- but unity based on reconciliation to God.b. "Unity of the Spirit" - SeeEph2:18) “18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”
A BUILDING Resting On A Divine Foundation
Eph2.20 “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone,”Eph3.1-5 “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles — 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (a s I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:”
ABUILDINGResting On A Divine Foundation
A. It must rest on the foundation New Testament Revelation.Spiritsearched God's mind.(1 Cor.2:10-12) “ButGod has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”
ABUILDINGResting On A Divine Foundation
2. Spirit revealed to Apostles and prophets.(Eph3:5) “as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles andprophets”3. Apostles & prophets wrote it, we read it.B. It must NOT rest on human wisdom.(cf. 1 Cor. 2:5)“thatyour faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”Ifcan't read it, don't do it.
A CHURCH Making Known God’s Wisdom
(Ekklesia)Eph3.9-11and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus ourLord
A CHURCH Making Known God’s Wisdom
A. By its existence.B. By its operation.1.God-ordained worship. (John 4:24 “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.")2.God-ordained structure. (Phil. 1:1 “Paul and Timothy, bondservants of JesusChrist,Toall the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops anddeacons”).3. God-ordained work. (Eph. 4:12 “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body ofChrist”).
A Glorious WIFE Married to a Loving Husband
Ephesians 5.22-23Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
A Glorious WIFE Married to a Loving Husband
He loves her –V25 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself forher”B. He saves her - V23C. She obeys Him – vv23,24D. She honors Him in purity and chastity– vv26-27 “that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”
Ephesians: A Fourfold Picture of the Church
Conclusion:A. Are you a member of his body?B. Are you a living stone in His building?C. Are you a part of His called out assembly- the church?D. Are you married to Him?