THE UNIFYING POWER OF CHRIST

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Ephesians 1:1-2 NASB

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To the saints who are at Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

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

For the next 12 weeks → the book of Ephesians

Why the book of Ephesians?

This is the gospel.

I want us to be a people that love God & love others

Ephesians 3:14-19 ESV

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family[c] in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

CONTEXT → The city of Ephesus

Location

Ephesus was located on the west coast of modern day Turkey

Roman province of Asia

A port city on the Aegean Sea

At the mouth of the Cayster river

A prosperous city

Modern.

Wealthy

The Temple of Artemis was located in the city of Ephesus

Ephesus had many other wonderful structures →

Elaborate Public baths

A stadium for athletic games / gladiator games

Many agoras & marketplaces

A large theater located on the western slope of Mt. Pion

475 feet wide

98 feet high

3 bands of rows each having 22 rows of seats

12 stairways (aisles) that went up from the orchestra to top of theater

Seating capacity of 24,000 people

The same theater where Demetrius, the silversmith, started a riot (Acts 19:23-41)

Mt. Pion is where the temple of Artemis was located

The Temple of Artemis

425 feet long x 225 feet wide

127 columns

Each column → 60 feet tall and 6 feet in diameter

Made entirely of marble

Cyprus wood paneling

Cedar beams used for the roof

It was the largest building known in antiquity

Was considered 1 of the 7 wonders of the ancient world

The cult worship of Artemis was the most prominent religion

Many other cults & religions

Emperor worship was common

Ephesus may have been a center for the study of magic (Acts 19:18-19)

Sorcery

Demonic practices

Ephesus was the 3rd-largest city in the Roman empire

Senatorial capital

Largest trading center in Asia Minor

Politically & economically influential

Think Los Angeles

Estimated population during Paul’s day → between 200,000 and 250,000

This is the context

Paul chose strategic cities so that the gospel could spread

In Ephesus, he proclaimed the gospel forcefully

Ephesians 19:8-10 ESV

8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.

10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

Paul remained in Ephesus for 2.5 years on this 3rd missionary journey

But this wasn’t the first time that he had visited the city

Paul’s First Visit to Ephesus

Early in his 2nd missionary journey, Paul wanted to go to Asia, probably Laodicea then on to Ephesus…

Acts 16:6-10 ESV

6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul[c] had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Troas

Philippi

Thessalonica

Berea

Athens → Paul preaches at the Areopagus (Acts 17:22-34)

1.5 years in Corinth → Priscilla and Aquilla

Acts 18:18-21 ESV

18 After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers [and sisters] and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow. 19 And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. 21 But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus.

So Paul was well-received on his first visit to Ephesus

Acts 18:22-23 ESV

22 When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. 23 After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

Paul’s return to Antioch was the end of his 2nd missionary journey

He leaves Antioch & travels west thru the Roman provinces of Galatia & Phrygia

This is the beginning of his 3rd missionary journey

Paul’s Second Visit to Ephesus

Acts 19:1 ESV

1 And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland[a] country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples.

These disciples only knew the teachings & baptism of John the Baptist

So Paul preached the gospel to them & instructed them in the ways of Jesus

They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus & they received the Holy Spirit with power

Acts 19:7-10 ESV

7 There were about twelve men in all.

8 And he [Paul] entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

Paul was in Ephesus for almost 2.5 years

Acts 19:11-12 ESV

11 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.

Acts 19:17 ESV

17 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.

God was doing amazing things thru Paul during this time

The gospel was spreading

The church was growing

People were repenting & believing in Jesus

Acts 19:18-20 ESV

18 Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. 19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

The ministry of Paul had a massive impact in Ephesus

He experienced great success

Along with success comes opposition

Acts 19:23-27 ESV

23 About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. 25 These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. 26 And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”

Demetrius is upset bc his livelihood is in jeopardy

If this message of Jesus keeps spreading, it’s going to affect their economy!

Acts 19:28-29 ESV

28 When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's companions in travel.

Remember the theater?

The whole city of Ephesus poured into this place & basically started rioting

Acts 20:1 ESV

1 After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia.

This was Paul’s experience in Ephesus

Jews & Gentiles were both converted

One of the main themes of the letter is the unity of all believers

Jews and Gentiles into one church → the family of God

Ephesians 4:4-6 ESV

4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians matches well with what Paul experienced in Ephesus

Paul’s Meets with the Ephesian Elders

After Paul leaves Ephesus

He traveled through Macedonia…then Greece…then Macedonia again

Then south down the west coast of Asia

And he lands at Miletus

Acts 20:17-24 ESV

17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them:

“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.[c] 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by[d] the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Paul then tells them that he won’t see them again (v25)

He warns them about false teachers (vs29-30)

He commends them to God

He reminds them of his ministry among them

He prays with them

Acts 20:36-38 ESV

36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

These are some of the experiences of Paul with the people of Ephesus

The context will inform how we interpret the letter

This letter is 1 of 4 prison epistles:

Philippians

Ephesians

Colossians

Philemon

WHY did Paul write this letter?

WHAT is the purpose of this letter?

No particular problem or issue

Not answering any specific questions

There are several themes throughout this letter, but one stands out: UNITY

The specific word for ‘unity’ is used twice in Ephesians (nowhere else in NT)

The term ‘one’ is used 14 times → expresses unity

The phrase ‘in Christ’ & similar expressions → 38 occurrences

Indicates that Jesus is the means by whom & for whom we attain this UNITY

Paul teaches us much about the man, Christ Jesus

In addition to UNITY, the dominant theme of Ephesians is LOVE

Verb & noun form of ‘love’ occurs 20 times

The numerous occurrences of this term ‘love’…

Especially when compared to other letters written by Paul…

Is phenomenal

The frequent use of ‘love’ seems to be the key to understanding the purpose of the letter:

Paul speaks of God’s love for His people

And the believer’s love for one another within the new community (the church)

This love in action creates unity

“Unity without love is possible, but love without unity is not. Love is the central ingredient for true unity, laying the foundation for internal and external unity.” – Harold W. Hoehner

God’s love for us

Our love for God and one another

Structure of the letter to the Ephesians →

There are 2 parts

Chapters 1-3

Chapters 4-6

1-3 → God’s story

4-6 → Our story

His story + Our story

What God has done + What we are to do

How God has loved us + How we are to love God & one another

The gospel + Our response to the gospel

God’s response to our rebellion & sin + Our response to his love & salvation

Ephesians 3:14-21 ESV

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family[c] in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.