4g Family

Our study in Ephesians continues today with a look at the verses from 4:25 - 5:2.  Paul continues the earlier work in chapter 4 by working out the implications of the new life for the individual Christian.   As Klyne Snodgrass in his Ephesians volume of the NIV Application Commentary observes, many of these commandments follow a formula of:  stop doing a negative, start doing a positive because of a certain motivation. This is easily seen in the first verse of the section:  25 Therefore, having [put away falsehood], let each one of you [speak the truth] with his neighbor, [for we are members one of another].(ESV, brackets mine)

In Ephesians 4:17-24 Paul continues to explore the implications of Christ's work and blessings. This time, the corporate implications give way to a more personal, individual message.  The culmination is in verse 24 where he describes the equation for authentic Christianity: "and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." (ESV) Breaking down the passage into a couple of "equations" provides a memory device: Soul Arithmetic Good presuppositions + Good logic → Good conclusions Bad thinking + Bad walking (habits) → Bad Practice [(Good teaching – Bad Habits) + Renewed “in the Spirit of your minds”] + Good Habits → Authentic Christianity  (We apologize as this recording is less than optimal: it is marred by brief pops and intermittent dropouts of a second or two )

In this lesson Ephesians 4:11-16 is explored.  The concept of spiritual gifts is covered. Spiritual gifts are given to individual Christians. Seen another way, these individually gifted Christians are part of Christ's gifts to the church. Spiritual gifts are given for a variety of reasons. Interestingly, part of the reason is to keep us on track during changing and challenging times: 4 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. (ESV)

Rich teaching on the concept of Spiritual Gifts can be found in several key areas of Paul's letters: Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12-14 and today's passage in Ephesians 4.   These gifts are "given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift." (ESV)

In this lesson Bill reviews the redemptive history from the viewpoint of the Jews and carried forward to the work of Christ for us. This is yet another of the spiritual blessings of being "in Christ".

6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 

In Ephesians 2:19-22 Paul uses three metaphors to describe our relationship with God now that we are "in Christ". A sermon by Pastor Ray Stedman is the source of the observation that each metaphor shows God drawing us closer and closer to Him until we, as a body of believers -- still under construction and being fitted -- become His dwelling place.

The focus on this lesson is Ephesians 2:11-17. While still reviewing many of the blessings we have "in Christ", Paul begins to move from an emphasis on the individual blessings toward the new positions we enjoy as a group of likeminded believers.  Dr. Wiersbe offers this helpful outline in understanding our the passage regarding our position before Christ: The one word that best describes the Gentiles is without. They were “outside” in several respects. Without Christ. The Ephesians worshiped the goddess, Diana, and, before the coming of the Gospel, knew nothing about Christ. Those who claim that pagan religions are just as acceptable to God as the Christian faith will have a problem here, for Paul cites the Ephesians’ Christless state as a definite tragedy. But then, keep in mind that every unsaved person, Jew or Gentile, is “outside Christ” and that means condemnation. Without citizenship. God called the Jews and built them into a nation. He gave them His laws and His blessings. A Gentile could enter

In this lesson from Ephesians 2:5-10, the focus is on the grace of God to save us from death and to save us for a life of service.  Verse 10 makes the point that we are God's workmanship. We are a result of his creativity.  Amazing!

Reviewing Ephesians 1:16-2:3 Art Morris notes that one of the great desires of Paul for his people is that they really know some things. Jesus, of course, said in John 8 that "the truth will set you free". There are some liberating truths Paul wants us to embrace:Because we've been called, we can have hope (God will finish what He started) Because we have been promised an inheritance we can begin to lay claim to it by faith Because of the power of the resurrection we can know that God can be powerful in our lives today -- He is FOR us! In case they (we) didn't get it, Paul goes on in Chapter two reminding us of who we were before Christ and then drives home the point: You Aren't that Person Anymore! This is the knowledge that sets us free!

The key verse in this passage is Ephesians 1:19 where Bill Morris encourages us to understand "what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe." During the lesson, Bill references an article by Dane Ortlund that presents some concepts gleaned from Jonathan Edwards' writings.  The main points are listed below but check out the full article (it's brief!). Here are five things Edwards teaches us about the Christian life—your Christian life. 1. If you’re a Christian, you don’t realize how radically different and freshly empowered you now are. 2. Even if you’re a Christian, you don’t realize how radically fallen and blindly dysfunctional you remain. 3. Authentic discipleship to Jesus Christ calms and gentle-izes (not radicalizes and excites) Christians. 4. Christianity is gain, and only gain. 5. Revival is not what you think it is. By Dane Ortlund 12/26/2014

In this lesson Bill Morris reviews some additional content from Ephesians 1: Considering our mind, will and emotions in the context of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (check out the chart used in this post on Galatians 5). "At salvation we get all of God that we're gonna get but how much will He get of us?" An overview of what we've learned so far in Ephesians through verse 14. New content beginning with verse 15 Below is the outline of verses 1-14: Ephesians Chapter 1 The Blessings of Redemption 1:1-2 God at Work Paul speaks with authority and holds this office “by the will of God” The Church is a society of the “Saints” and “faithful in Christ Jesus” Divine blessings of Grace and Peace 1:3-6 The Work and Blessings of the Father The blessing of redemption, God is the giver of these blessings The medium through which blessings come—Christ The blessings are in harmony with eternal purpose The election of grace, which is the foundation of all spiritual blessings The election is

the 4g class studies Ephesians 1:11-14. We closed out the class with this version of Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.

Ephesians 1:7-10

Ephesians 1:3-6 looks at the work of God the Father in choosing us to be part of his family before the creation of the world.

Even the opening verses of Ephesians are rich with the gospel . . . Ephesians 1:1-2

Ephesians Paul wrote it from Rome around 64AD 8 years (56AD) from Acts 19 John wrote Revelation 2 around 96AD Much like Galatians it was written for more than one church but our Bibles today say “at Ephesus” All scripture is “God breathed” but the book of Ephesian “is special”. Most modern of all of Paul’s writings Unlike Galatians who’s audience was in the most part saved Jews. Ephesians was written to the more general audience of the Gentiles 32 years later (96AD) in Revelation Jesus said they had “left your first love”

In this lesson Art Morris covers the last 12 verses in Galatians 6.  The highlight is when Paul says in verses 14-15: " 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation." Circumcision simply doesn't make any difference. The ONLY thing that matters is whether or not you're a new creation. We closed out the class with this video of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross".   

This 4g lesson on Galatians 5:1-16 opens with emphais on the first verse “For freedom Christ has set us free”. But, Paul takes it further and says we have freedom FOR a purpose. Commentator Scott McKnight offers this useful observation on this passage as well:  For the apostle, freedom involves “slavery to God and his will,” while for moderns freedom means doing whatever one wants; for Paul, freedom begins only in a relationship with God through Christ and in the Spirit, while for moderns freedom means being alone; for Paul, individual, social, and psychological freedom is the glorious outworking of what God can do in a person through Christ and in the Spirit, while for moderns these forms of freedom are the determining goal of life; for Paul, freedom was interdependence, while for moderns it is independence. Put differently, we cannot apply freedom in Paul to our society until we see that the two are at odds with one another. This forces us to decide: “We have only to choose between bondage to the Father,