Perspectival outlines of the epistle to the Ephesians
| THE STANDARDS FOR THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY | back to top |
The Complete Work of God: Adoption, Redemption, and Empowerment of the Saints back to top
- Saints Have Been Chosen by God to be Holy and Blameless (1:1-4)
- The Predestination and Adoption of the Saints are in Accordance with God's Pleasure and Will (1:5)
- The Redemption Lavished upon the Saints is by God's Free Grace (1:6-8)
- The Mystery of Christ is Revealed to the Apostles (1:9,10)
- The Apostles and the Saints Alike are Chosen by God (1:11-14)
- The Ressurection Power is Available for the Saints (1:19-21)
- The Authority of Christ in Heaven is for the Saints (1:22,23)
From Death to Life: The Unified Church is the Living Temple of God back to top
- All were Once Dead in Transgressions and Sins, Following the Enemy (2:1,2)
- All were Once Objects of Wrath (2:3)
- All were Made Alive in Christ and Seated in the Heavenlies (2:4-9)
- All have been Saved by Grace through Faith, the Gift of God (2:8,9)
- All are God's Workmanship Created to Do Good Works (2:10)
- Those Who were Without Hope and Without God have been Brought Near by the Blood of Christ (2:11-13)
- Christ is the One Who has Established Peace for His Body (2:14-18)
- Those Who were Aliens and Strangers are Now Citizens (2:19)
- The Church is the Holy Temple of God, Built on the Apostles and Christ the Cornerstone (2:20-22)
- Gentile Believers and Jewish Believers are Part of One Body (3:1-6)
- The Unified Church is a Revelation of the Wisdom of God (3:10)
- The Saints Have Access to God in Freedom and Confidence (3:12)
- The Family of God, In Heaven and Earth, Derives Its Name from the Father (3:14,15)
The Nurturing of the New Humanity: The Militant, Vigilant Bride of Christ back to top
- There is a Fundamental Unity to the Church (4:4)
- There is a Functional Distribution of Gifts within the Church (4:7-11)
- The Function of Diversity is to Strengthen the Unity of the Church (4:12-15)
- Speaking the Truth in Love is the Means by which the Church Grows in Christ (4:15,16)
- Pagans are Blinded by the Futility of Their Minds (4:18,19)
- The New Man is Created to be Like God in True Righteousness and Holiness (4:24)
- The Impure and Idolatrous will Not Enter the Kingdom (5:5-7)
- The Saints were Once Darkness, but Now They are Light (5:8)
- The Marriage Relationship is a Metaphor Of Christ's Relationship with the Church (6:25ff)
- Our Wrestling Match is with the Powers of Spiritual Darkness (6:10-12)
| APPLYING THE STANDARDS FOR THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY | back to top |
Be Aware of Your Spiritual Heritage and Vast Spiritual Resource back to top
- The Ephesians' Faith and Love for the Saints (1:15)
- The Prayer of Paul for the Saints' Wisdom, Hope and Power (1:15-23)
- Prayer for Power, the Indwelling of Christ, and Knowledge of God's Love (3:14-19)
Live a New and Dignified Life back to top
- Live a Life Worthy of Your Calling (4:1)
- Be Humble and Gentle, Striving to Keep the Unity (4:2,3)
- Do Not Live in the Futility of Pagans (4:17)
- Put Off the Old Man, Put On the New Man (4:20-24)
- Put Off Falsehood and Speak Truthfully (4:25)
- Do Not Sin in Your Anger and Give the Devil a Foothold (4:26,27)
- The Theif Must Work in Order to Have Something to Contribute (4:28)
- Speech Should Not Be Unwholesome, But Edifying (4:29)
- Do Not Grieve the Holy Spirit (4:30)
- Abandon the Emotions Which Lead to Quarrels for Those Which Lead to Unity (4:31,32)
Follow the Leader back to top
- Be Imitators of God (5:1)
- There Should Be No Hint of Sexual Impurity (5:3,4)
- Live as Children of Light and Find Out What Pleases the Lord (5:8-10)
- Have Nothing To Do with the Fruitless Deeds of Darkness (5:11)
- Make the Most of Your Time (5:15-17)
- Do Not Be Drunk but be Filled with the Spirit (5:18)
- Edify One Another with Speech and Song (5:19,20)
- Submit to One Another in Various Relationships (5:21-6:9)
- Be Strong and Put on the Armor of God (6:10-18)
| THE SAINT AND CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY | back to top |
An Intense Knowledge of Love and Power in Christ back to top
- Prayer for the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation to Know God Better (1:17)
- The Freedom and Confidence with Which We May Approach God (3:12,13)
- The Spirit is the Source of the Power of the Inner Man (3:16)
- Christ Dwells in the Believer's Heart through Faith (3:17)
- Prayer to Know the Incomprehensible Love of God in Christ (3:18)
- Being Filled to the Measure of All the Fullness of God (3:19)
- The Power of God is at Work in Us (3:20)
A Renewed Mind after the Image of God back to top
- Pagan Thinking is Futility (4:17,18)
- Be Made New in the Attitude of Your Minds, and Put On the New Self (3:23,24)
- Be Filled with the Spirit, Speaking and Singing Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs (5:18-20)
Vigilence against the Oppressive Powers of Darkness back to top
- Take Up the Sheild of Faith to Quench Enemies Darts (6:16)
- Take Up the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit (6:17)
- Pray in the Spirit on All Occasions (6:18)
| DIACHRONIC OVERVIEW | back to top |
Christ, the Reigning Head of the Church back to top
- Presently Blessed in the Heavenlies with All Spiritual Blessings in Christ (1:3)
- Presently Have Redemption through Christ's Blood (1:7)
- Presently Marked with a Seal, the Promised Holy Spirit (1:13)
- Christ is Now Raised and Now Seated above All Rule and Authority (1:19-23)
- The Power of the Ressurection is Currently Available to the Church (1:19-23)
- God Made Us Alive and Seated Us in the Heavenly Realm (2:4-7)
- We Have Been Created in Christ for Good Works (2:10)
- Gentiles Have Now Been Brought Near by the Blood of Christ (2:13)
- He Has Established Peace Between Jew and Gentile Believers (2:14ff)
- We are No Longer Aliens, but Present Members of God's Household (2:19)
- This Mystery Has Been Revealed by Apostles and Prophets (3:5)
- The Eternal Purpose of God Has Been Accomplished in Christ (3:11)
The Hope of Inheritance for the Church Being Built back to top
- The Mystery will be Put into Effect when the Times will have Reached Their Fulfillment (1:10)
- The Holy Spirit is the Deposit Guaranteeing Our Inheritance (1:13,14)
- The Redemption of God's Possession Yet Future (1:14)
- Our Hope Includes the Riches of Our Inheritance as Saints (1:18)
- Christ Exalted over Powers in the Age to Come (1:21)
- God Shows the Incomparable Riches in the Age to Come (2:6,7)
- TheChurch is being Built into a Holy Temple (2:22)
- TheChurch is being Built up in Anticipation of Unity (4:11,12)
- The Full Measure of the Fullness of Christ is Anticipated (4:13)
- The Body Builds Itself Up as Each Part Does Its Work (4:16)
- The Holy Spirit Seals Believers for the Day of Redemption (4:30)
- Make The Most Of Opportunities Because the Days are Evil (5:15,16)
- Our Present Struggle is with the Powers of Spiritual Darkness in High Places (6:12)