I. CHAPTER ONE - The Church As The Body Of Christ

Paul introduces us to himself and then to the Ephesian church in East central Anatolia, which we now know as Turkey. In his self-introduction we find that He has been chosen by Jesus Christ personally as chosen directly by The God’s will.

The Ephesian church is recognized as a “Chosen, set apart people.” His address is to Believers. He first tells them that they are blessed with Grace and Peace from God the Father and Jesus Christ the Lord.

“Let God the Father be highly praised” for God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit has given them every asset and blessing available in the Heavenlies.
 
Paul continues to tell them of the Work of the Father. He tells them that they have been Elected by God the Father before the foundations of the world – so don’t forget to praise and acclaim Him for it.

Then… The Son of God, Jesus, is to be praised for His work of Redemption – and this too will bring Praise to the Father.

The Sealing work of God the Holy Spirit brings an eternal guarantee of our Inheritance In Christ.

We should see this new Body of Christ, the Church, as a developing mirror image of the Christ, and therefore Paul’s ministry was for the development of spiritual Insight, Revelation, and a clear perception of Our Father. And in that perception we would gain Hope and an understanding of the Wealth of God’s Glory.

Paul continues with telling them that the Power that is to be found in and through the Church members is as a mirror image to the strength shown through the Father power to Resurrect Jesus from the Dead. That power is gifted to each believer and a clear reminder of it’s effectiveness should be seen in God’s Word. That power can be seen there especially through its fullness and through the unequaled Power of God the Father.

II. CHAPTER TWO - The Church As The Temple Of Christ
 

The letter continues using a metaphor based upon the architecture of the biblical Temple. Paul speaks of the materials God used to build this “Temple.”

First he starts off with the Raw Materials as being “Spiritually Dead People”; “Spiritually Disobedient People”; and “Spiritually Desirous People.” That pretty well describes the people of the world without God in their lives through Faith.

Next he speaks of The contractor as being God, and He’s wealthy, and totally Powerful. God’s efforts will end in a Great Temple. Those who will do the work become elevated, and their abilities will be excelling. God the Father Guarantees the building of this temple because it is being built through His Grace – and not the work of any individual man or woman (far be it for anyone of us to Boast of our own part in this work).

This work is all brand new and has no background in the covenants or laws of the Old Testament. Jesus is the New Mediator, The Church members are the new Grouping. The New Temple is filled with a New Set-Apart people, no longer considered Jew or Gentile, but a new creation and a brand new Access to God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Our new Temple is Secure, Substantial, Set-Apart, and Spiritual.

III. CHAPTER THREE - The Church As God's Top Secret

As this new Temple is made up of a new Set-Apart people… it begins a new period of Time, a Special Time, a New Dispensation, and it’s record in the Scriptures now begins a new Special Revelation. It was unforeseen in the Old Testament – it is to be known as “Christ’s Special Secret.” Even the Holy Spirit of God is revealed as having a new Ministry in working with God’s Church. All of this Newness is brought about as the revelation of the Promised Messiah has been revealed, lived, rejected, died, and raised again to life by His heavenly Father as a New Beginning.

Over the ages to come this new Church, is also meant to teach us, the world, and all those in the heavens… of the Brilliance of God’s workings.

In all of these workings God the Father has jurisdiction. The Son has been made King and absolute administrator over this new Temple. The Holy Spirit is the ultimate dynamic exhibiting His Power.

Paul goes on to talk about the amazing dynamic of the indwelling Holy Spirit and person who is now indwelt. The Spirit is now the believer’s “God Contact.” He is the enabler for all contact with God the Father and Jesus – God the Son. The Spirit now provides everything you spiritually need. His operation is as God living in the believers body and he brings enablement of all those things the believer learns from God’s Word and encouragement about your own inner life. He there for your every need and brings calm and settlement to your heart. He places Himself in unbelievers while you talk with them. He motivates your heart and soul to learn and achieve things Biblical and practical for your life. Dr. MacCorkle calls Him, “the Soil of Godly Love to stand in.”

When the believer allows it the Holy Spirit is the driving force in grasping the dimensions of this new collection of “Set-apart-people,” and specifically in educating us about the Father’s Divine Grace that has been given to us freely – based on the finished work of Jesus.

He bring strength to the believer because, in this failed world, the need to be Strong is Great! Paul tells us of the four dimensions of that grace – It is wide, it is long, it is deep, and it is certainly high.

It is the Father’s wish for you to be gilled up with the fullness that He can provide. The Love of Christ is part of that fullness. Paul says that Christ’s love for you is “knowledge-excelling.” Just when you think you know loves His power on you… He comes to you in times of need and pushes past your knowledge and proves His love even more.

As Paul closes his third chapter he says about the Father, “To Him be the glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus into all the generations of eternity. Amen!”

IV. CHAPTER FOUR - The Church As The New Mankind

Paul now makes a big change in the focus of his letter. Now he begins talking about the Church (the ser-apart-ones) as individuals who have a common problem – even though changed at our new birth, we are still human, now fighting with, as Paul puts it, the Old Man VS the New Man. Who we were before conversion to Christ VS after this wonderful and changing experience.

He divides his thoughts here into 3 problems and an answer. First, our problem is that we have the tendency to rely upon our old-self nature when things don’t go smoothly in our everyday walk. He reminds you to “Walk Worthy of Your Calling!”

The second problem is that we often don’t like putting up with each other – but that is part of our calling as well. He tells us to remember to be humble.

Third we also tend to not be reliant upon the indwelling Holy Spirit. We are called to be kind, gentle, humble with all and every other member of the Body of Christ – sometimes a very difficult process, but it is God’s request.

Paul spends some time reminding us that because we are a “New Mankind,” we need to remember that it is Jesus who is the one who is now the King of this new mankind, and we are to structure our lives to be like, act like, love like, forgive like Him. In order to help us do this, He, the gift-giver, has given us Apostles, Prophets, Missionaries, and Pastor-Teachers to teach, guide, and encourage us to become like Jesus.

In doing this He has also given us goals – we are to use His resources and Spirit to learn to Serve the Body. We are to help train each other to become as Christ Himself, and we are to be like body weight lifters… and “Tone up” our Spirituality.

Paul then gets really pointed. YOU are to STOP living like the WORLD lives around you. YOU, STOP IT! NOW! The way they live continues to prove that they are spiritually corrupt and living according to the lies of the evil one. We are not to do that – Ever!

As Paul closes chapter four, he tells us to:
Speak the Truth.
Stop Sinful Anger.
Stop the devil’s influence upon you.
Start working hard on developing your life for Christ.
Start working hard on developing the Saints around you.
STOP grieving the Holy Spirit of God with your thoughts and actions.

ALWAYS love your brothers and sisters in the Lord with Christ’s standard of Forgiveness. Not 7 x 7, but 70 x 70. Forgive them and Love them as they are being loved and forgiven by Christ, His heavenly Father, and the indwelling Holy Spirit.