THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS, PART 1

Pastor Brandon Cross

Woodland Church

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS:

Ephesus was the capital of the Roman province of Asia. It was a vital commercial and religious center of the Roman Empire. It was the site of the famous temple for the fertility goddess Diana. It served as Paul’s base for missionary work in the region. In Acts 19, during his 3rd missionary journey, Paul spent over 2 years there and had a lot of success converting Jews and Gentiles. His ministry was so successful that it caused a riot from so many people having turned from worshipping Diana, hurting the silversmiths’ trade.

The letter was written to the many congregations that had sprung up in the region and appears to have been intended to circulate among them rather than just to a single congregation with the intent to strengthen and guide the believers in living out the faith.

In the First Half (Eph. 1-3), Paul explores the Gospel story, how all history came to its climax in Jesus, and his creation of a multiethnic community of followers.

The Second Half (Eph. 4-6) is where Paul explores our story, how the Gospel should affect the way we live our lives personally, in our community, and within our families.

THE BIG IDEA:

The Gospel should affect the way we live our lives personally, in our communities, and with our families.

EPHESIANS 1: SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN CHRIST
Believers are chosen, adopted, redeemed, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. Paul prays that they understand the hope of their calling and Christ’s authority over all things.

PART 1

Verses 3-14

A POEM of DOXOLOGY or “WORDS OF PRAISE” that serves as a highlight to God’s redemptive plan for mankind. Paul is praising God for His plan and encouraging us to do the same as we appreciate His plan for us.

Verses 3-6 

The Father’s Role: Believers were chosen before the foundation of the world to be holyand adopted as His Children.

(Ephesians 1:3-6) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”

QUESTION:

Does that mean that God already picked who would be saved and that we really do not have a choice?

Verses 7-12

The Son’s Role: Through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we receive redemption and the forgiveness of sins.

(Ephesians 1:7-12) “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.”

QUESTIONS:

What does it mean that we have been redeemed by Jesus’ sacrifice? How would you explain that to someone who does not know Jesus or does not profess to be a Christian?

Verses 13-14

The Holy Spirit’s Role: The Holy Spirit acts as our “seal” and a “guarantee” of our eternal inheritance.

(Ephesians 1:13-14) “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”

QUESTION:

What is your understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit as our “seal” or “guarantee”?

PART 2

Verses 15-23

A PRAYER for SPIRITUAL WISDOM

Verses 15-18

The Request for Spiritual Wisdom

(Ephesians 1:15-18) “Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints”

Paul thanks God for their faith and love, and then transitions into specific petitions:

• Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation: He prays that God would grant them a deeper, experiential knowledge of Him.

• Enlightened Hearts: Paul asks God to open the “eyes of their hearts” so they can truly understand three foundational truths:

1. The hope to which God has called them.
2. The glorious riches of His inheritance in the saints.
3. The immeasurable greatness of His power available to believers.

QUESTION:

What is the hope of His calling (ref. v.18)?

Verses 19-23

The Revelation of Christ’s Power

(Ephesians 1:19-23) “and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

To help them grasp this power, Paul points to the ultimate example: the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus. He highlights that God’s power toward believers is the exact same power He used to:

• Raise Christ from the dead and seat Him at His right hand in heavenly places.

• Place Jesus far above all earthly and spiritual rulers, authorities, and powers.

• Put all things under His feet and make Him the supreme head of the Church (which is His body).

QUESTION:

What does this revelation of Christ’s Power mean for us as believers?