The Love of God

Better Together - Part 2

Ephesians 4:7-16

Better Together - Part 1

..

The Love of God

The Love of God Ephesians 3:14-21 1. From His Love Comes Spiritual Strength (vs 14-16) a. Paul knows he can go to the Lord because He loves b. Paul knows God can help because He is sovereign c. Paul knows he can ask of the Lord because He loves i. “according to the riches of His glory” vs 16 ii. Isaiah 41:10, “I will strengthen you” 2. From His Love Comes Spiritual Security (vs 17-18a) a. Paul knows that eternal security comes through Christ b. Paul knows that relationships point to our security in Christ. c. Psalm 95:6, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!” 3. From His Love Comes Experiences of His Love (vs 18b-19a) a. Paul wants them to comprehend God’s love b. Paul wants them to experience God’s love i. 2 Types of knowledge 1. Objective: The Bible teaches that God loves me. 2. Subjective: I have experienced God’s love for me. a. The truth doesn’t come from experience. But the truth is, God gives us experiences of His love. b. Psalm 34:8, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! ii. “Paul is not asking that his readers might become more able to articulate the greatness of God’s love in Christ Jesus or to grasp with the intellect alone how significant God’s love is in the plan of redemption. He is asking God that they might have the power to grasp the dimensions of that love in their experience.” -Carson 4. From His Love Comes His Fullness (vs 19b-20) a. Paul wants them to know God fully b. Paul wants them to be in awe of God’s nature 5. From Our Love We Glorify Him (vs 21)

The Man, The Mystery, The Mission

The Man, The Mystery, The Mission Ephesians 3:1-13 1. The Man a. Paul i. “Prisoner” (vs 1) ii. “Apostle” (vs 5) 1. “One who has seen the risen Christ, is a witness of His resurrection, and, is commissioned by Him to preach the gospel.” -ISBE iii. Humble “Minister” (vs 7-8) iv. Shepherd (vs 13) b. Christ Jesus (vs 1) 2. The Mystery a. What is the mystery? i. verse 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.” b. His Word is Sufficient and Final i. “mystery was made known to me” (vs 3) ii. “Has now been revealed” (5) iii. “was given” (vs 7) iv. “might now be made known” (vs 10) v. God’s Word changes people and culture, people and culture don’t change God’s Word. vi. “Accordingly, the establishment of peace between Jews and Gentiles in the church is a signal to all powers in the universe. For Paul, there is no more basic division in the human race than that between Jew and Gentile. That they can be united with each other in Christ and be at peace in the church displays the profound wisdom of God, and it proves even to supernatural powers that Jesus is Lord of the universe.” -RC Sproul 3. The Mission a. Follow God’s Will b. Understand The Word of God c. Be Captivated by His Blessings i. “I am bold to tell you that my Master’s riches of grace are so unsearchable, that he delights to forgive and forget enormous sin; the bigger the sin the more glory to his grace. If you are over head and ears in debt, he is rich enough to discharge your liabilities. If you are at the very gates of hell, he is able to pluck you from the jaws of destruction.” (Spurgeon) d. Tell Others of His Love e. Go to Him in Prayer

The Cross Makes it Possible

Ephesians 2:11-22