The Ephesians' Conversion (Reviewed) Series

THE EPHESIANS' CONVERSION

The Ephesians’ Conversion

1. Paul wrote to the Ephesians about their "conversion," Ephesians 1:13-14. Notice how the apostle speaks of their “faith and obedience to the gospel of their salvation.” He penned,

a. “In whom also you trusted, after that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,” Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 4:30; Romans 8:23.

Notice Paul’s words,

1) “In whom they also trusted.”

2) “After that, they heard the word of truth.”

3) “The gospel of their salvation.”

4) “In whom also they believed.”

5) “They were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.”

NOTE: Their “seal” is the assurance and certification that they have believed and obeyed the gospel. [The Holy Spirit and the Holy Ghost are synonymous in the Bible.]

b. “Was this all that the Ephesians had done in their belief and obedience to the gospel?”

c. If not, what else did Paul remind them they had done that was necessary for their salvation? There is one act of faith he does not mention in this text. It was,

d. The Ephesians being “sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,” Ephesians 1:13.

e. We must visit Ephesus to see their final act of obedience, Acts 19:1-7.

Please turn your Bibles to Acts 19:1

2. To witness the Ephesians’ act of obedience and their being sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. They, too, like the Romans, were “planted together in the likeness of Christ’s death, and raised in the likeness of His resurrection,” Romans 6:5-7. See also Colossians 2:11-13.

a. We can read about this act of obedience in Paul’s return to Ephesus.

b. Luke shared, “He (Paul) finds certain disciples” and questions them about their faith.

c. The Holy Spirit guided and allowed him to examine these disciples' hearts.

NOTE: Ask a brother to read this text as you comment. [Give him the text before you preach so he can be prepared to read it confidently]. Paul asks,

Two important questions

3. First, “Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?” Acts 19:1-2. Are your eyes on this text? Stay with me; this is going to get good!

NOTE: Paul asked these disciples: “The Holy Ghost did ye (you) receive, having believed?” Your bible might read: “Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?”

a. Their answer: “We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.”

b. This might be a question you should be asking now!

c. Since I believed: “Have I received that Holy Spirit of promise?”

d. Paul asked his next question, sensing in the Spirit that something was absent in their faith.

4. Second, “To what then were ye (you) baptized?” Acts 19:3. Paul connects these disciples’ “faith and baptism (together) for them to receive the Holy Ghost.” Quote from: “The EGNT Interlinear, Greek Text of Stephens 1550,” Page 370.

Now, someone is undoubtedly saying,

NOTE: Now wait a minute, Brother Freeman; the Ephesians were saved by grace. There was no mention of baptism here! Paul wrote: “By grace, you were saved through faith, and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast,” Ephesians 2:8-9. Don’t you see they were: “Saved by grace?” Yes, I do, and I will not dispute, argue, or disagree with these learned men on this undeniable truth. However, we must,

Witness these disciples’ answer to Paul.

a. Their answer: “And they said, unto John’s baptism,” Acts 19:3. Their answer explains why they had not “received the Holy Ghost since they believed.”

b. They had been “baptized unto John’s baptism,” Acts 19:4. This was John the Baptist.

c. John preached “the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel,” Acts 10:37; Acts 13:24-25. Jesus preached “that the kingdom of God was at hand,” and the people should “Repent, and believe the gospel,” Mark 1:14-15. To their answer,

d. Paul replied: “John verily baptized…saying to the people, that they should believe on Him that cometh after him, that is, on Christ Jesus,” Acts 19:4; Matthew 3:11.

e. “And having heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus,” Acts 19:5.

f. “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them (to empower), and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied,” Acts 19:6-7; Joel 2:28-29. They were empowered to speak in tongues and prophesy!

NOTE: Illustrate Cornelius and his household, Acts 10:44-48.

The only difference was that their empowerment came from heaven, not through Peter's hands. Luke concluded Paul’s work in the Ephesians’ conversion process by inscribing,

g. “And all the men were about twelve,” Acts 19:7. These are undoubtedly the first leaders in the church of Ephesus, Ephesians 4:11-12. See also 1 Timothy 1:3-4; 1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Timothy 5:17.