The Epistle to the Church

“The Epistle to the Church”

Eph. 1:1-2

Shows us how God creates Christians and therefore

the Church…….the consequences of sin severed the

life cord of man from God……sin separated man from

God and man from man……this epistle reveals how

man is reconciled to God and to man……the Christi-

an church has her calling and consummation in

Christ……there is no way for man to be right with

God, himself, or his fellow-man except thru

Christ……here God is seen creating a saint out of

a sinner,thus making him fit for divine and

human society………2 main divisions:the call of the

church (chs.1-3)-the welfare of the Christian………

the conduct of the church (chs.4-6)-the walk of

the Christian…………

I-The Penman of the Epistle (v.1)

A-the seal of his authority as penman

(“Apostle”)

1-written from a prison cell

2-he was Christ’s possession and representat-

ive

3-saved and sent!

4-became God’s minister to the Gentiles

B-the sphere of his activities as penman

(“will of God”)

1-his words and work were in the realm of the

will of God

2-mentioned 4 times in this chapter(1,5,9,11)

3-reaches far back into eternity past,long

before the foundations of the earth were

laid

4-motivated by God’s will!!!****

II-The People of the Epistle (v.1)

A-the local saints of God

1-their location at Ephesus

a-a sea-coast city…………city of great sig-

nifiance………one of Asia’s great religious

political, commercial centers………center of

the worship of Diana,the goddess of ferti-

lity………heard the gospel

2-their position in Christ

a-“saints” are those who are set apart

B-the larger saints of God(“in Christ

C-the loyal saints of God (“faithful”)

1-true to their faith because of their

believe in Christ

2-our vital union and fellowship with Christ

III-The Promise of the Epistle (v.2)

A-a purifying promise (“grace be to

you”)

1-sanctifying grace

B-a unifying grace (“peace”)

C-an edifying promise (6:21-22)

Close:give inspiration and instruction

Encourage others in the Lord

Freedom:4-17-02 w.n.