God’s grace transforms lives, producing vibrant faith and love, inspiring prayer for a Spirit-given revelation of the confident hope of His calling, the riches of His inheritance, and the power of Christ’s exaltation.
1. Grace Received (vv. 3-14): Christ’s spiritual blessings transform us
Recap of spiritual blessings in Christ
- God chose us/you (vs4)
- In love, God adopted us/you (vv5-6)
- God redeemed us/you (vv7-10)
- By Christ, we have obtained an inheritance (v13)
- Holy Spirit sealed us/you when you heard the gospel and believed in Christ
- Holy Spirit guarantees our/your inheritance
Paul hears about the Ephesians responding to Grace Received
- Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
- Love for Christians
2. Grace Responded (vv15-16): Faith and love as evidence of transformed lives
- The Ephesians' faith in the Lord Jesus
- Love for all the saints
- Scripture connects faith and love
- Key Point: Grace produces vibrant faith and love, showing the world God's work in us
- Paul gives thanks for their transformed lives, seen in repentance, reverence, and spreading the gospel
3. Grace Deepened (vv17-23): Praying for a Spirit-empowered revelation to know the confident hope of His calling, the riches of His inheritance, and the power of Christ’s exaltation
- Paul petitions God for Spirit of wisdom and of revelation (v17)
- Opening the "eyes of our hearts" (v18a)
- What does Paul want the Ephesians (you) to know?
- What is the hope (v18a)
- What are the riches of his glorious inheritance (v18b)
- What is the immeasurable greatness of his power (vv19-23)
What is the Hope?
- Confident hope - Believers know they have an inheritance in Christ, guaranteed by the Holy Spirit
What are the riches of his glorious inheritance?
- God's redemptive plan - His Gospel
Power of Christ's Exaltation
- Christ's Resurrection (v20a)
- 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead...
- Christ's Enthronement (v20b)
- ...and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
- Christ's Supremacy (vv21-22a)
- 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet...
- Christ's Headship (vv22b-23)
- 22 ...and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
God's grace has transformed us, How do we respond?
- Reflect on God's Grace
- Vibrant Faith and Love
- Pray for Spiritual Insight
