Bible Study Outlines
Book of Ephesians

Introduction: General Information

Writer: Paul (Ephesians 1:1) from a Roman Prison. In 64 A.D.

Theme: The Wealth, walk and Welfare of the Christian.

Key Thought: "In Christ," which occurs 27 times.

Key Verse: Ephesians 1:3.

Special Designation: Ephesians has been called "The Grand Canyon Of The Bible."

I. Paul's Greeting - Vs. 1-2: Three important things to notice:

1. The identity of the writer - Vs.  1.
2. The identity of the people - Vs. 1.
3. The blessing of "Grace" and "Peace" upon all believers - Vs. 2.

II. Paul's Description Of The Believer's Position - Vs. 3 - 14

A. The believer is placed "In Christ" - Vs. 3. The placement "In Christ" comes as a result of the New Birth, which is experienced when the sinner, of his own accord, receives Christ as Savior (John 1:1 2; John 3:3).

B. The believer  "In Christ" is shown by God to be holy and blameless in his relationship to Christ - Vs. 4. This choice, which was made "before the foundation of the world," was made according to God's foreknowledge" (Romans 8:29). Those whom God knew would accept Christ as Savior, He predestined (marked out ahead of time) to be made in the image of His Son.  This process of being conformed to the image of His Son begins at the New Birth and is completed at Christ's return, at which time we shall be like Him (1 John 3:2).

C. The believer "In Christ" is predestined to be adopted as a full - grown son, thus becomes an heir with Christ of all God posses - Vs. 5. {See} Galatians 4, where the transaction of adoption is described as the act of God in making full - grown sons out of believers in order to appoint them heirs (Romans 8:16-17).

It is unthinkable that predestination means that God "marked out" some for Heaven and others for hell.  God is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). However, only those who receive Christ will be saved, and those are the ones who are predestined to enjoy the full status of sonship In Christ.

D. The believer is accepted in The Beloved - Vs. 6. Christ is the "Beloved"; therefore, the believer is given the same status In God's economy as Christ (John 17:23).

E. The believer is redeemed by the blood - Vs. 7.

F. The believer is given wisdom - Vs. 8.

G. The believer will share in the Kingdom Age with Christ - Vs. 9-12.

H. The believer is sealed by The Holy Spirit until the time of his bodily redemption - Vs. 13-14. The gift of the Holy Spirit, at the time of our conversion, is God's "down payment" (earnest) on our full inheritance, which shall be completed during the days of His Kingdom when we rule and reign with Him (Revelation 20:6).

III.  Paul's Prayer - Vs. 15 - 19. In these verses, Paul says that the believer might have an understanding by the Holy Spirit of the wonderful things God has reserved for all who are "In Christ".

IV. Paul's Description Of The Exalted Position of Christ - Vs. 20 - 23. Paul describes Christ as being exalted above all powers and Kingdoms at the right hand of God, as the Head of all things on earth and in Heaven.      In this age, His Headship of the church is acknowledged, and in the Kingdom Age, His Headship of all things will be acknowledged.

Introduction: In chapter one, we were taught how God ordained each of us as believers to be conformed to the image of His Son, which is the ultimate Purpose Of all believers. In chapter two, Paul relates the Jew and Gentile as members of the Body of Christ the "Church of the living God". In God's economy, there are three groups: (1) The Jew (circumcision), (2) The Gentile (uncircumcision), (3) The Church of God (both Jews and Gentiles who are saved). (Read: 1 Corinthians 10:32).

I. The Creation of the Christian In Christ vs. 1-10.

It is here that God begins His work of redemption with the "raw materiel" of sinful nature and performs a New Creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

A. The Condition of the Sinner - Vs.  1-3.

1. The sinner, who is dead in sin, is made alive in Christ - Vs. 1.

2. The sinner is governed by Satan, the "prince of the power of the air" - Vs. 2.

3. The sinner is by nature a child Of wrath - Vs. 3.

B. The Grace of God - Vs. 4-10.

1. The Grace of God motivates God to love the sinner even in his sinful state - Vs. 4-5.

2. The Grace of God elevates the sinner to a Heavenly position in Christ - Vs. 6.

3. The Grace of God will continue - Vs. 7.

4. The Grace of God is the sinners only hope - Vs. 8-9.

5. The Grace of God results in a New Creation in Christ -Vs.  10.

II.The Creation Of The Church In Christ - Vs.11-22.

Here Paul uses the pronoun "ye" when referring to the Gentiles and the pronoun "we" in referring to the Jews.

A. The "Before" and "After" of the Gentile believers - Vs. 11-13.

1. The Gentiles by nature had no covenant relationship to God - Vs.  11. Because the Gentile was outside the realm of the Jewish Law and tradition regarding circumcision, he was looked upon by the Jew as having no covenant relationship to God.

2. The Gentile "Before" Conversion - Vs. 12.

a. Without Christ.
b. Alien from Israel 's commonwealth.
c. Stranger to the Abrahamic Covenant.
d. Without Hope.
e. Without God.

3. The Gentile "After" salvation - Vs. 13. The Gentile believer is brought into covenant relationship by the blood of Christ.

B. The Jew and Gentile are members of One Body - Vs. 14-18.

1. The Jew and Gentile are no longer "two" but "One" in Christ, and both are members of the same Body, The Church - Vs. 14-15.

2. The Jew and Gentile are both reconciled to God by The Cross. - Vs. 16.

3. The Jew and Gentile both have access to God by the Holy Spirit - Vs. 17-18.

C. The Gentile is equal with the Jew as members of the body of Christ - Vs. 19 - 22.

1. The Gentile is a fellow-citizen and Saint in God's family - Vs. 19.

2. The Gentile has the same foundation as the Apostles and Prophets - Vs. 20.

3. The Gentile and the Jew are framed together in the "building of The Church" - Vs. 21, 22.
 
 

Introduction: In chapter 2, Paul dealt with the information of the Christian as a New Creation in Christ and with the formation of the Church in Christ as His Body composed of Jews and Gentiles.

I. Paul's Proclamation of a Mystery - Vs. 1-12

A. Paul explains his imprisonment - Vs. 1-2. The Book of Ephesians was written while Paul was a prisoner in Rome.  In verses 1 and 2 he makes it clear that he was a prisoner because of his Apostleship to the Gentiles (Acts 21:27-40).

B. Paul explains the mystery of the Gentile status in the Church - Vs. 3-6.

1. Paul received the mystery by revelation - Vs. 3-4.

2. Paul declares that the mystery was not known in ages past - Vs. 5.

3. Paul states the mystery - Vs. 6.

What is this mystery?  Is it that the Gentiles should be saved? No!!!  The fact that the Gentiles would be saved was not a mystery. In fact, it was prophesied in The Old Testament that the Gentiles would come to the knowledge of Christ - Isaiah 42:6. The mystery then is this: That the Gentiles would become fellow heirs with the Jews, become members of the same Body, and share the promises a made to the Jews in Abraham.  Paul touched upon the mystery in chapter 2, where he showed how God had made of the Jew and Gentile one new man in Christ, that is, in the Body of Christ, which is the Church - Colossians 1:18.

C. Paul enlarges upon his Apostleship - Vs. 7-12

1. He was a Minister of the Gospel by God's gift - Vs. 7.

2. He considered himself unworthy of the privilege to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles - Vs. 8.

3. He was given the privilege of revealing the mystery which has been hidden from creation -Vs. 9.

4. The Church is God's agent for making known divine wisdom - Vs.  10.

5. God's purposes are all worked out through Jesus Christ. - Vs. 11-12.

II. Paul's Prayer For The Believer - Vs. 13-21

A. Paul expresses his concern for the believers - Vs. 13-15.

B. Paul's prayer - Vs. 16-19.

1. He prayed that the believers might be strengthened by the Spirit - Vs. 16.

2. He prayed that Christ might dwell in the believer, bringing knowledge of His love - Vs. 17-19.

C. Paul's conclusion - Vs. 20 - 21.

1. Paul acknowledges God's power and ability - Vs. 20.

2. Paul praises God in view of His creation of the Church in Christ - Vs. 21.

Introduction: In chapter 3, Paul revealed the "mystery" of the "New Body" of Christ, composed of Jewish and Gentile believers. Now in chapter 4, we shall see the position and conduct of the believer as a New Creation in Christ.

I. Paul describes the position of the believer - vs. 1-6

A. The believer's position should govern his life - Vs. 1-2. The believer's life should be characterized by the following:

1. Lowliness - opposite of pride.

2. Meekness - opposite of arrogance.

3. Long-suffering - patience.

4. Forbearance - endurance of the actions and attitudes of which can be expressed only through love.

B. The believers position has a seven - fold unity - Vs. 3-6. Seven Solid Facts:

1. One Body - the Body of Christ comprised of all believers.

2. One Spirit - the Holy Spirit of God who came on the day of Pentecost to Jewish believers and in the house of Cornelius upon Gentile believers - Acts 2:1-13; Acts 10:44-48; and I Corinthians 12:13.

3. One Hope - to be eternally with Christ and to be like Him - 1 John 3:1-3.

4. One Lord - Jesus Christ, the Lord over all believers.

5. One Faith - the revealed body of Christian truth, once for all delivered to the Saints - Jude 3.

6. One Baptism - immersion in water, and outward manifestation of an inward transaction, therefore identifying the believer with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.

7. One God - the Sovereign Ruler of the universe, manifest in three Persons: Father, Son, and Spirit.

C. The believers position is enriched by spiritual gifts - Vs. 7-16.

Paul describes the various offices of the ministry as gifts given by Christ to His Body.  These are given to insure the spiritual maturity of the body - Vs. 12-16.

II. Paul Describes The Conduct Of The Believer - Vs. 17-32.  Note: The word "walk" is used for Christian conduct.

A. The believer should not live his life as the unbeliever -Vs. 17-21.

B. The believer should live as a new man, having "put off" the old man - Vs. 22-29.

C. The believer should live a Spirit filled life - Vs . 30-32.

Introduction: In chapter 4, the Apostle Paul set forth the believers position and conduct. In chapter 5, Paul continues to enlarge upon the walk (conduct) of the believer, setting forth the believers relationship to others believers and to Christ. This chapter is so constructed that we have entitled it, " A Beautiful Life", and we point out the things that should be in the daily life of the believer:

I. The Christian Life Is A Life Of Purity And Must Be A Separated Life -Vs. 1-7

A. The Christian should "follow after" (manifest) God -Vs. 1.

B. The Christian should live (walk) in view of God's revelation of His Love toward us - Vs. 2.

C. The Christian should refrain from evil and separate himself from evildoers - Vs. 3-7.

II. The Christian Life Must Be Lived In A Manner Acceptable To The Lord - Vs. 8-21

A. The Christian, once in darkness, is now "the light of the world," and should reprove the works of darkness by letting his light shine - Vs. 8-13.

B. The Christian should be alert, conduct himself wisely (circumspectly), and should make good use of his time in the midst of evil days - Vs. 14-16.

C. The Christian should discover God's will for his life by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in order that he might enjoy a wholesome relationship with fellow Christians -Vs. 17-21.

III. The Christian Life Should Produce Family Relationships Like Those Between Christ And The Church - Vs. 22-23

A. The Christian husband should love his wife as Christ loved His Church (Bride) and likewise the wife should be in subjection to her husband as the Church is unto Christ - Vs. 22-25.

B. The Christian, as a member of Christ's body, will be sanctified, cleansed, and presented to Christ - Vs. 26-27.

C. The relationship of the Christian family is the nearest thing to that of Christ and the Church, which is the great mystery (secret) that Paul reveals - Vs. 28-33.

Introduction: Paul does this Book of Ephesians with some carefully chosen words of instruction in two of most important areas of the believers life: (1) The Christian Home and (2) Christian Warfare.

I. The Domestic Life Of The Believer - Vs.  1-9. These areas of the Domestic life:

A. Paul's instruction to children - Vs. 1-3.

1. Children are to obey their parents - Vs. 1

2. Children are to honor their parents - Vs. 2. (Exodus 20:12).

3. This brings blessings and rewards - Vs. 3.

B. Paul's instruction to parents - Vs. 4.

1. Father (head of home) is to refrain from those things that deliberately cause children to rebel.

2. Father is to bring up the children to fear God and follow Divine instructions.

Note: Harmony must prevail between parents and children in the Christian home.  In many cases, this harmony is broken by two things: (1) Lack of discipline on the part of the parents, and (2) disobedience on the part of the children.

C. Paul's instruction to employers and employees - Vs.6 - 9.

II. The Warfare Of The Believer - Vs. 10-24

A. The believers power: Christ - Vs. 10.

B. The believers armor: Vs. 11-17. The Armor consists of:

1. The Loincloth of Truth - Vs. 14.

2. The Breastplate of Righteousness - Vs. 14.

3. The Shoes of the Gospel - Vs. 15.

4. The Shield of Faith - Vs. 16.

5. The Helmet of Salvation - Vs. 17.

6. The Sword of the Spirit - Vs. 17.

C. The believers resource: Prayer - Vs. 18-24

Note: These verses contain Paul's instruction for the believers prayer life.  His benediction is verses 23 and 24.