Revisiting The Basics Series

Paul wrote the letter to the church and the faithful believers at Ephesus sometime after his third missionary journey during which he spent three years teaching and nurturing them in the things of God. Many believe wrote it from a Roman prison. Ephesus was a major Roman city in the area called Asia Minor along the Kings Highway. Today we will look at some of Paul’s views regarding the origin and purpose of the church of Jesus Christ.

1. All Spiritual blessings emanate from God

A. All knowledge is given to man from the mind of God. Paul had no power of his own but he received “power

from on high” (Luke 24:49).

B. Paul was drawn into God’s service when he was pursuing and persecuting believers. His testimony of his experience on the road to Damascus is a powerful witness to the call of God.

C. God made a way for people to return to Him before He made the world. He knew that man would fall, but “it(was) not His will that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2Pet. 3:9).

2. We are offered salvation by the death of Christ

A. Our salvation is only available because “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that

whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

B. Jesus became the sin offering in our place. Under the Law one person could pay the fine to satisfy the debt of

another. Servants, prisoners, and soldiers were saved from service in this manner.

C. Christ can stand in the office of redeemer because He is not only a man like us, but He is the perfect Son of

God. He became our Passover offering. Those who do not receive Him will perish in their sin.

3. We are restored to God’s likeness in Christ

A. The great mystery is why should God care what becomes of us. God’s ways are far above our ways. His

reasons are beyond our ability to understand. Some things are left for Him alone to know.

B. God put His trust in His Son Jesus Christ to fulfill the purpose for which He was sent into the world. He alone

makes it possible for our restoration to the Edonic state of fellowship with God.

C. John 1:14 says, “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the

only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

4. We may only receive our heritage through Christ

A. When we chose to live for Christ we are no longer our own but His. The Holy Spirit only enters those who’ve

decided to make Jesus the Lord of their lives.

B. We choose to follow Christ only when we fully believe the testimony of God’s Word and make a real personal

choice. Salvation is by faith alone in Christ Jesus and not by anything we can do (see Eph. 2:9).

C. Christ’s blood is the down payment on our souls and the souls of every person who hears and responds to the

Gospel.

Have you heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ? The good news is that because Jesus died and rose again you and I can trust Him. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” God became a man so that He could show us first hand the kind of life we need to aspire to as we become His instrument for reconciliation in this world. Will you heed the call and make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life as is the will of God? Amen.