Ephesians

If a picture paints a thousand words, then Paul's 3,000-word letter to the Ephesian believers depicts three lovely aspects of the Church—the bride of Christ—in all her pristine glory and beauty.

First, Paul described the glorious characteristics of the Church, the sum total of the mystery of the gospel and all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: predestination, election, adoption, redemption, sanctification, inheritance in glory, and sealed by the Spirit of promise. Paul followed up with a prayer for all saints to know the hope of our calling and the extent of the glory of God's inheritance in us.

Next, Paul stated the privileged position of the Church from the individual to the corporate standpoint, emphasizing how God had made possible for Jews and Gentiles to share a common access to God through Christ. He then uttered a second prayer for the realization of this heavenly vision.

Last but not least, Paul foresaw how this identity in Christ will not only unify and equip the believers for life as a community and an individual through obedience and godly living, but also permeate and transform every human relationship. This new entity, however, will experience enmity from the godless world and hostility from dark spiritual forces. Paul therefore urged all believers to put on the armor of God to wage this spiritual warfare in the power of the Lord.

Christ loves His bride—the Church, and sacrificed Himself to cleanse and sanctify her, so that He might present her as a glorious Church, without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish. Paul understood it well by echoing Adam's words to Eve in the garden of Eden:

5:30 For we are members of Christ's body, of his flesh and of his bones.

OUTLINE OF EPHESIANS

1. Greetings (1:1-2)

2. God's Purpose for the Church (1:3-23)

        a. Chosen by the Father (1:3-6)

        b. Redeemed by the Son (1:7-12)

        c. Sealed by the Spirit (1:13-14)

        d. Heavenly Blessings in Christ (1:15-23)

3. Position of the Church (2:1-22)

        a. Individually (2:1-10)

        Alienation to Adoption

        b. Corporately (2:11-22)

        Foreigners to Fellow Citizens

4. Privilege of the Church (3:1-21)

        a. Mystery of Reconciliation (3:1-13)

        Jews and Gentile are Finally One

        b. Prayer for Realization (3:14-21)

        Fully and Abundantly in Christ

5. Performance of the Church (4:1-6:17)

        a. Corporate Lifestyle (4:1-16)

        Unity and Gifts

        b. Individual Lifestyle (4:17-5:21)

        Holiness and Obedience

        c. Family Lifestyle (5:22-6:9)

        Husband-Wife Relationship

        Parents-Children Relationship

        Master-Servant Relationship

        d. Warfare Lifestyle (6:10-17)

        Putting on the Armor of God

6. Personal Request (6:18-20)

7. Parting Words (6:21-24)