EPHESIANS

Doctrine of Salvation, Sanctification and Service

AUTHOR:      Paul

THEME:         Unity of the Church

KEY WORD:   IN –  93 x                 GRACE – 12 x            BODY – 8 x                WALK –  8 x

DATE:     62 A.D.

INTRODUCTION:

Ephesians is the first letter of the prison letters. The other prison epistles are Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. The similarities of Ephesians and Colossians are quite obvious, but Ephesians and Philippians complement each other through doctrine and instruction. Ephesians focuses upon the doctrinal content of salvation, sanctification, and service, while Philippians focuses upon practical instruction of the same. An overabundance of doctrine can produce a dry dullness in teaching, but in overbalance of instruction can produce a shallow selfishness. A balance in doctrine and instruction produces complete understanding (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

The first work in Ephesus is recorded in Acts 18:18-20:38. Aquilla and Priscilla had a great influence in the work at Ephesus. Ephesus had an extravagant temple of Diana that influenced the people greatly. The wealthy leadership of the temple caused a great uproar about the truths that exposed their deception and fraud (1 Tim. 6:10). Paul was forced to leave Ephesus and he went to Jerusalem where he was arrested and imprisoned.

Paul used the time in prison life to write a detailed and doctrinal viewpoint of salvation and its glorious benefits. Paul revealed two vital outlines of prayer for learning and living the truth (1:15-23; 3:14-19). He disclosed the mystery of the spiritual body of Christ (3:1-8; 5:32). Positionally, we are in Christ but practically we attend the local New Testament Baptist Church. He also wrote practical truth for sanctification and service through the fullness of the Holy Ghost and the full armor of God (5:18-21; 6:10-20). Vital instruction for the family was also written (5:22-6:4).

Two major false doctrines place their roots in Ephesians. Hyper–Calvinism sinks its roots in Ephesians 1. Hyper–Dispensationalism sinks its roots in Ephesians 3. Both systems produce a smug, self-satisfied superiority that will destroy the soldier of Jesus Christ. These two heresies claim to focus upon Paul’s writings, but they do not show any work similar to Paul’s ministry. Both systems slight the practical instructions of the last three chapters of Ephesians.

In our study of the book of Acts Paul went from Corinth to Jerusalem. He went to Caesarea, where he was held a prisoner for two years.  Here he exercised his rights as a Roman citizen and appealed to Caesar.  That brought him to Rome, where for two years he was a prisoner in his own house under a Roman guard. Luke tells us that Paul spent this time preaching the Gospel.  While Paul was here as a prisoner, he wrote four of his epistles–Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon.

The church at Ephesus was founded by Paul following his 18 month ministry in Corinth.  It was at Ephesus that he stayed longer than in any other city, a total of 2 ½ to 3 years.  While here in Ephesus, Paul received his visitors from Corinth which prompted him to write I and II Corinthians.  During his residence of three years in Ephesus, Paul had made many friends; in fact, this was one of his dearest and closest relationships with people.  The church at Ephesus was one of the most spiritual churches in the Bible, owed primarily to the length of Paul’s stay.  Because this letter was written from Rome during Paul’s imprisonment to such a spiritual people, it is obviously written on a more difficult level than most of Paul’s other writings.  When one reads the book of Acts, he finds that when Paul left Ephesus, the people fell upon his shoulders and wept and tried to keep him from leaving.  However, it is quite unusual that this epistle of Ephesians contains no salutations or personal references, as do his other letters.  He does not refer to any personal experiences in Ephesus, and there is nothing here to indicate that the letter is to a specific church.  Because of this, it is believed that this epistle was not written exclusively for the one church at Ephesus, but rather, for the churches in Asia Minor and that it was to be taken from church to church and read in each place.

This letter does not deal with prevailing errors of the churches, such as the letters to the Corinthians, Galatians, Colossians, etc. Therefore, it does seem that this was a letter written to many churches rather than to one church.  There are people that think the letter ought to be called “The Letter to the Church of Laodicea,” but as one reads Revelation 2 and 3 he finds several churches in Asia Minor to whom John wrote.  John lived in Ephesus during his later years and it is not unusual that he would, while on the Isle of Patmos, write letters to the churches in Asia Minor which were near Ephesus.  It is also interesting that his first letter in Revelation 2 and 3 is to the church at Ephesus.

Now let us notice things about the Ephesian letter.

THE THEME OF THE EPHESIAN LETTER IS “WEALTH AND WALK OF THE BELIEVER.“

Some have said that the theme is unity but you must be careful about unity.

UNITY AND TRUTH

When the cause is unity, then there is compromise.

When the cause is truth, then there is unity.

Unity is not a tenant of our faith.  It is not man generated.  It is Spirit generated.  You cannot contend for the unity.  You contend for the faith.  Contending for the faith creates unity.

A football team does not create victory by committing to unity.  It creates unity by committing to victory.  Even though every soldier was unique, during WWII the soldiers created unity by fighting a costly battle for a worthy cause, not by fighting for unity.

Those who fight for unity have no greater cause.  Those who fight for a greater cause find a genuine unity.  Unity is not a gathering of agreement.  If we gather to agree, we will accentuate our disagreements.  If we fight arm in arm, we will have a spirit of unity in the midst of our disagreements.  Beware of those who cry for unity, for their cause is that you agree with them, not that you fight for truth.

In Ephesians 1-3 he deals with the wealth of believer or all that we have been given in Christ. In Ephesians 4-6 he deals with how to walk according to our spiritual calling.

Look at the Wealth of the Believer

Ephesians 1:1-3    Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

 

Let’s take a rabbit trail for a minute and answer a false doctrine.

This is the great stumbling block for the Calvinists. Hyper Calvinism teaches that the Lord chooses the candidates for salvation and the candidates will be automatically converted. The Calvinist focuses upon the words chosen us rather than the words in him meaning in Christ. Hyper Calvinism tends to produce a self-centered egotist because God must have seen something special and him in order to choose him for salvation. He foolishly believes he was placed in Christ before the foundation of the world. The actual choice of God before the foundation of the world was that salvation and the spiritual blessings were to be given through the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus was present at the foundation of the world, but no Calvinist was placed into Jesus Christ until the new birth. Somehow a Calvinist fell out of Christ and into Adam at the fall of Adam, but fell out of Adam and back into Christ at salvation. The proper interpretation is cleared up by the simple English of 2 Timothy 1:9-10. Before the foundation of the world God decreed that no one would become holy and without blame until he or she was placed into the Lord Jesus. Hyper Calvinism denies the truth that an unsaved sinner can exercise his sovereignty over his free will in the acceptance or rejection of Christ. A Calvinist must exercise his free will in order to believe the false doctrines of the TULIP (Total depravity or inability of the sinners, Unconditional election of the Saints, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, and the Preservation of Perseverance of the Saints).

Calvinism is a “rabbit-hole” of intellectualism that feeds the ego and flesh but wrestles many scripture. Many who go down this “rabbit-hole” never come out.

When dealing with the heresy of Calvinism you must observe Titus 3:

Titus 3:9-11   But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

Heresy always contradicts itself. A Bible believer may personally expose the boldfaced lies of the heretic on two occasions. After the two confrontations the Bible believer is to reject the heretic. The heretic and his heresy servant great benefit for the vigilant teacher because truth is easier understood by its contrast to error (Matt. 15:14; Rom. 16:17; 1 Tim. 6:5). The genuine is revealed by its contrast to the counterfeit (Lev. 10: 10; Ezek. 44:23).

Ephesians 1:4-5    According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

PREDESTINATED means Predetermined

Now we can get back to the lesson on studying the wealth of the believer.

Eph. 1:6 means more if you read Isaiah 64:6 and you see what you were before you were saved.

Ephesians 1:6    To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

By nature and by practice far

How very far from God!

Yet now by grace brought nigh to Him.

Through faith in Jesus blood.

 

So nigh, so very nigh to God,

I cannot nearer be;

For in the Person of His Son

I am as near as He.

 

So dear, so very dear to God.

More dear I cannot be;

The love wherewith He loves the Son,

Such is His love to me!

 

Then you have the forgiveness of sins through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ

Ephesians 1:7   In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

 

These verses show that when you believed the gospel you were sealed with the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:12-14    That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

The sinner first hears the gospel of Jesus Christ. Personal belief in the gospel leads to the faith and trust in the Lord Jesus as personal Saviour through the act of one’s freewill. At the moment of the new birth God circumcises and seals the new child (Eph. 1:13; Col. 2:11-12). The believer’s soul is redeemed instantly, but his body becomes God’s possession until it will be redeemed at the Rapture (Rom. 8:23; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; Eph. 4:30; 1 John 3:2).

The Apostle Paul is our example and notice how he prays for the Christians in Ephesus to have enlightened eyes in order to learn the truth (Acts 26:18). God opens spiritual eyes according to the openness of one’s heart.

Ephesians 1:15-19    Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

The Lord is using the Apostle Paul to show us how to pray for each other.

Ephesians 2 gives God’s picture of the natural man and then in verse 13 shows how after salvation we become the habitation of God.

Ephesians 3:4-8 shows the mystery of Jews and Gentiles in one spiritual body of God was first revealed to Paul.

Ephesians 3:14-19 teaches the prayer request to live in the fullness of the Spirit of God and the word of God (Rom. 12:3; Heb. 4:16). Growth in grace accomplishes growth in knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and His written word (2 Cor. 3:17; 2 Peter 3:18).

Ephesians 3:14-19    For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

 

Ephesians 1-3 teaches of the Wealth of the Believer

Ephesians 4-6 teaches the Walk of the Believer

 

Ephesians 4:1-3    I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4 speaks about putting on the NEW MAN

Ephesians 5 speaks of walking as God’s children in love and fullness of the Holy Ghost.

Ephesians 5:18-21    And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

In Ephesians 5:18 a contrast is made between the person who is under the influence of alcohol and the person who is under the controlling influence of the Holy Spirit. We as Christians are not to be drunk with the wine that comes from any earthly vineyard but with the new wine of the Kingdom which comes from the heavenly vineyard, from Him who is the True Vine, John 15:1. There is a purpose in setting these two commands in contrast. It was a pagan belief that God dwelt in the blood of the grape, so that in drinking wine man was drinking God into himself.  Drunkenness was therefore held to be a sacrament in which a man was supposed to be under the control of the god who filled him. Paul reminded the Christians at Ephesus of this pagan belief, and then he pointed them to the true way of being God possessed.

Ephesians 6 reminds us of our relationships at home and to put on the full armor of God.

Ephesians 6:10-20    Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

As the war at Calvary was invisible (Isaiah 50:5-9; Col. 2:9) so the war of the Christian is invisible. As unclean spirits manipulated men to crucify the Lord so the believer will wrestle with unclean spirits while ministering to men. The two major areas for the work of Satan are religion and politics (Matt. 4:8-9). The devil rewards worship to him with power and wealth in the kingdoms of this world (Ezek. 28:1-5). Many high governmental officials, international banking executives, and global religious leaders make agreements with friends in high places in order to establish global control (Dan. 10: Eph. 2:2-3; Phil. 3:18-19). Mind manipulation is accomplished through control of the media and subliminal advertisements. Ultra mind control is accomplished through terrorizing people. The principalities and powers are powerful unclean spirits to manipulate people and society, but they can also appears people (Ezek. 32:23-27; 1 Peter 3:14). The principalities and powers are powerful unclean spirits that manipulate people and society, but they can also appear as people (Isaiah 14:9-21). The rulers of the darkness may be men of renowned that appear as men, but they may be strange flesh (Gen 6:1-4; Ps. 82:6-7; Dan. 2:43; Jude 6-7). These evil beings terrorize, sacrifice, and eat children without emotion as beast of prey (Isaiah 13:13-21). The sacrifices are conducted in secret groves like the Bohemian Grove. The Greek legend of Pan, the strange goat footed god, reveals a being that terrorizes and rapes little girls. The Talmud (Niddah 44b; 45a) discloses the perversion of apostate priests who allowed fornication with girls of the age of three years and one day. Unclean spirits believe they gain energy from the panic and death of the victims. The international technique of terror is disclosed by the Latin words (Ordo Ab Chao), which means Order Out of Chaos. The rulers secretly create chaos and disorder through their minions so that people will demand order, but the price for order entails a loss of personal liberty. The ilk of Satan gain control when the deceived masses demand security. A religious priest is the ideal lackey to promote the sacrifice of the scapegoat for the sake of the people (Amos 7:10-17; John 11:47-50; 16:2). Religious control is the most powerful form of control over the people (Rev. 13:11-18). Economic control will enslave the world to the evil eye of the Illuminati and the international banks (Prov. 23:6; 28:22; Zech. 11:17). The deceived ones of the Illuminati believe they are the illuminated ones who should rule the world with Lucifer (2 Cor. 11:14). The conspiracy of the Novus Ordo Seclorum with the all seeing eye plans to control the earth. The major area of focus in the realm of spiritual wickedness is casting doubt upon the words of God (Gen. 3:1; Jer. 23:26; 2 Cor. 2:17).

A spiritual soldier discerns the spiritual war inside of men. The shield of faith with the blood of Jesus Christ guards the soldier when he sincerely wields the sword of God against the dragon (2 Cor. 4:1-4; 10:3-6; Heb. 4:12-13; Rev. 12:11). The weapon of resistance hinders the work of devils (Matt. 12:28-29; James 4:7). Prayer and fasting empower the work of God (1 Chron. 21:14-27; Mark 9:29). The name of Jesus Christ creates fear in unclean spirits (Mark 1:23-27; Acts 19:13; James 2:19). The vital ministry of this soldier as an ambassador is proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-20).

 

THE CITY OF EPHESUS WAS A FAMOUS CITY OF LYDIA IN ASIA MINOR.   It was the capital of Proconsular Asia.  It was a free city, much like our Washington, D. C.  It operated itself, had its own government, etc.  In other words, it was a city that could be used to reach people around the world.  (This is like the Dallas or New York area.  Our soul winning can spread all over the world because people come here from all over the world and leave here to go all over the nation.)  Because of this, Ephesus became one of the chief fortresses of Christianity, but it was also a great stronghold of idolatry.  At the head of the harbor was the great temple of Diana, the outstanding divinity of the city.  The temple was one of the Seven Wonders of the World.  The inhabitants of Asia contributed to the building of this temple, and its magnificence was a proverb throughout the civilized world.  It was sixty feet high and was supported by 126 columns.

A large manufacturing of portable shrines grew out of this worship of Diana.  These shrines were purchased by strangers who carried them on journeys or set them up in their homes, much like our Catholic friends do with statues of their St. Christopher, etc.

While Paul was there, the increasing number of conversions greatly depressed the business of the craftsmen engaged in the manufacture of these shrines or silver images of Diana.  Because of this, insurrection rose against Paul.  Paul and Timothy were protected by the town clerk.  Later, however, it grew necessary for them to leave the city.

 

CONCLUSION:        The church at Ephesus was large, influential, and located in a metropolitan, human melting pot.  Yet from it preachers went out to start churches all over Asia Minor.  This, no doubt, is why this book is called “Ephesians,” because of the fact that Ephesus was the major church.  Therefore, it was necessary for the church at Ephesus to stay strong.

 

OUTLINE OF THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS

Here in the letter, Paul likens the church to 6 various items.

THE CHURCH IS A BODY. Ephesians 1

1. Notice the involvement of the Trinity in the creation of this body.
2. The church was planned by the Father.

Eph. 1:3 – Blessed be tile God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

It was the Father’s idea to create us and to give us infinite blessings by allowing us to be “in Christ.”

    3. The church was purchased by the Son.

Eph. 1:7 – In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

The Father established the price of the church to be the body of Christ – including the shedding of His blood.

4.  The church is protected by the Holy Spirit.

Eph. 1:13-14 – In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard tile word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

1. In those verses, we are told 2 important things about the security of our salvation.

#1 – Every Christian has been sealed or marked by the Holy Spirit to eternally show WHO we belong to.

#2 – Every Christian has been given a down payment of heaven by receiving the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The only way a person can believe that salvation can be lost is to com­pletely ignore the plain teachings of the Bible.

God the Father planned that we would be placed “in Christ” when we got saved!

God the Son purchased our souls and paid our sin debt. When our sins were forgiven at Calvary, all of our sins were still future since we had not yet been born. When the debt was paid, all sins were settled and forgiven!

God the Holy Spirit sets His seal of ownership upon every believer and takes up residence in the Christian.

For a person to lose their salvation, one would have to get “out of Christ,” remove the payment made at Calvary, and remove the seal of the Holy Spirit and evict Him from our hearts!

THE CHURCH IS A TEMPLE. Ephesians 2

Eph. 2:21-22 – In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

1. The church is here likened to a temple built for the sole purpose of becoming the residence of God.
2. Notice 3 aspects concerning the construction of this temple.
3. The materials of construction.

Eph. 2:10 – For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The temple is made up of believers who have been specially created to do good works.

 

2. The method of construction.

Eph. 2:13 – But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

How does a person who was once at war (enmity) with God become a part of God’s church? Through the shed blood of Christ!

 

3. The motive for construction.

Eph. 2:22 – In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The very purpose of our being saved is that we would become an actual dwelling place (tabernacle) for God. We become His Temple!

 

III.       THE CHURCH IS A MYSTERY.      Ephesians 3

1. In the Old Testament.

Eph. 3 :5a – which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men

The church was not revealed to the O.T. prophets nor was it directly taught, though it was alluded to in symbolism (bride of Isaac). The mystery of Jews and Gentiles in one spiritual body of God was first revealed to Paul. This mystery reveals some obvious differences between the OT and the NT.

1. In the New Testament.

Eph. 3: 5b – Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;   The great blessings of the permanent indwelling of the Holy Ghost, eternal security, spiritual circumcision, and justification by grace through faith are given to the believer upon faith in Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:24; 5:1; Eph. 1:12-14; 2:8-9).

 The materials of construction.

Eph. 2:10 – For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The temple is made up of believers who have been specially created to do good works.

The method of construction.

Eph. 2:13 – But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

How does a person who was once at war (enmity) with God become a part of God’s church? Through the shed blood of Christ!

The motive for construction.

Eph. 2:22 – In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The very purpose of our being saved is that we would become an actual dwelling place (tabernacle) for God. We become His Temple!

THE BELIEVER IS A NEW MAN. Ephesians 4

Eph. 4:24 – And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

1. The believer is represented by the new man which is given at the time of salvation. As such, this new man will be characterized by certain things.
2. His Walk.

Eph. 4:1 – I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

Our new man is the same nature as that of Christ; therefore, we ought to walk as He would walk – worthily!

2. His Words.

Eph. 4:29 – Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

3. His Works.

Eph. 4:28) – Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give him that needeth.

Our new man must be allowed to fulfill the purpose of his creation – good works!

THE CHURCH AS A BRIDE. Ephesians 5

1. She is to be separated.

Eph. 5:3 – But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

1. She is to be serving.

Eph. 5:16-17 – Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

1. She is to be Spirit-filled.

Eph. 5:18 – and be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

1. She is to be singing.

Eph. 5:19 – Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

THE CHURCH AS A SOLDIER. Ephesians 6

1. As a soldier, the church is being trained for combat duty through proper Christian relationships.
2. Children and parents.

Eph. 6:1 –  Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

If a child will not obey an earthly father who is visible, there is no way that child can be obedient to an invisible Father – and obedience is critical in combat!

2. Servant and masters.

Eph. 6:5 – Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

Once again, the emphasis on our relationships with flesh and blood is obedience!

As a soldier, we can only realize victory as we learn 3 vital things:

1. Who to fight.

Eph. 6:12 – For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We need to quit chasing rabbits and fighting each other and recognize our true enemy – the devil!

2. When to fight.

Eph. 6:11 – Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Because of the destructive and powerful enemy that we face, we must be careful to be properly dressed for combat. We have been given equipment for 1 purpose – to fight the devil.  Our failures in this battle can only be traced to those times when we weren’t properly clothed or armed.

3. How to fight.
4. We are to stand.

Eph. 6:14 – Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

1. We are to pray.

Eph. 6:18a – Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,

1. We are to watch.

Eph. 6: 18b – and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

The spiritual armour for the spiritual soldier is like the armour of a Roman foot soldier of the first century (2 Timothy 2:3-5; 4:7). The Captain of this tough infantryman is Jesus Christ the Lord (Joshua 5:14; Hebrews 2:10). There are seven pieces to the armour, but the leg-greaves are not mentioned because the soldier kneels to pray for the battle. The surest place to experience the battle of a foot soldier is by preaching and witnessing in public areas (Acts 20:20-21).