The 4 “E’s” in Ephesians: Evangelizing the World (Ephesians 2&3)
Translation and notes by Nate Wilson for Christ the Redeemer Church, Manhattan, KS, 14 Sept. 2008

In my translations of Ephesians 2&3, I have put my first preference followed by a slash and other word translations from the KJV. ESV, NAS,and NIV translations that seemed fitting, but if I felt one of these translations was inaccurate, I made a note in square brackets [like so]. Greek New Testament with parsing by Westcott & Hort as published by E-sword.com; English translations of other texts besides Ephesians 2&3 are modified from the American Standard Version.

William Carey, a shoemaker in 18 century London, took on the pastoring of a Baptist church in 1785.

This was a time when English Baptists and Presbyterians and Congregationalists all shared a common reformed understanding of the sovereignty of God in salvation.

William Carey read the recently-published book of Captain Cook’s Voyages, and his eyes were opened to the vastness of the world and the needs of heathen peoples all over the world.

In a church meeting he suggested that the church do something to save all these lost people and was met with a stern rebuke, “Young man, sit down. When God pleases to convert the heathen, He will do it without your aid or mine.” If God is sovereign in salvation, why should we bother to do anything?

Read excerpt From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya p.115 – publication of Carey’s Inquiry as a rebuttal to hyper-calvinism.

A proper understanding of the reformation doctrines of total depravity and the sovereignty of God in salvation actually provides a strong foundation for evangelism!

1. The biblical doctrine of the total depravity of mankind, which was brought back to the fore in the reformation, gives us a motivation for evangelism.
1. If no one is really lost, if sin is not a big deal, if all roads lead to God, then there is no need to be involved in evangelism, but if every little sin carries the punishment of eternal death and hell and if everyone is automatically headed for hell because they are descendents of the first sinners (Adam & Eve) and if one of the many roads in life is the only way to escape the punishment of hell, then we have good reason to be involved in pointing mankind toward that only way.
2. But wait, does the Bible really say all this? Although there are many places we could go to establish this, let us look at what Ephesians 2 says: [read Eph. 2]

2:1 και  υμας^2AP  οντας^PAP-APM  νεκρους ^A-APM  τοις ^DPN  παραπτωμασιν^DPN  και  ταις ^DPF  αμαρτιαις^DPF  υμων^2GP

And y’all [KJV, following Tyndale, adds “hath he quickened’] being/were dead in/by the falls/trespasses and in your [KJV & ESV omit “your”] sins

· “He who has small thoughts of sin never has had great thoughts of God” – John Owen

· Ephesians 2:5  …we were dead in sins… cf. Colossians 2:13  And you, being dead in your sins … - by the agency of our transgressions of God’s perfect holy standards and in the context of being mired in the multitude of our sins.

· παραπτωμα/tresspasses could be speaking of outward sins, together with sins of the mind designated by αμαρτια (“miss the mark”), to include all kinds of sin, (Earle) or it could be speaking of original sin from the fall of Adam together with actual sins we commit:

· Romans 5: 12  Therefore, as through one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned… 18  and as by the offense of one [Adam] judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [Jesus] the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

· 2 Corinthians 5:19  God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and has committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

· Eph 1:7 …we have redemption through his [Jesus’] blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

2:2 εν  αις ^R-DPF  ποτε ^PRT  περιεπατησατε^AAI-2P  κατα  τον ^ASM  αιωνα^ASM  του ^GSM  κοσμου^GSM  τουτου ^D-GSM

κατα  τον ^ASM  αρχοντα^ASM  της ^GSF  εξουσιας^GSF  του ^GSM  αερος^GSM  του ^GSN  πνευματος^GSN

του ^GSN  νυν ^ADV  ενεργουντος^PAP-GSN  εν  τοις ^DPM  υιοις^DPM  της ^GSF  απειθειας^GSF
In which once/in time past/formerly [NIV=used to live] y’all walked around [NIV= followed]

according to the age/course [NIV=ways] of this world,

according to [ESV=following] the ruler/prince of the authority/power [NIV=kingdom] of the air,

of the spirit which is now energetic/working in the sons/children [NIV omits] of the unpersuaded/unbelieving/disobedient.

· Sin is the “way of the world,” and all of us have participated in it in some form or fashion.

· “Prince of the power of the air” is found nowhere else in Bible, but is generally thought to be speaking of the Devil, who has some measure of liberty to act and exercise dominion, as I Jn. 5:19b – “the whole world lies in the evil one.”

· “Sons of disobedience”

o may be an allusion to Isa 30:9 For they are a rebellious (LXX uses απειθειας here) people, false sons, children who will not choose to heed the Instruction of Jehovah, 10 who say to the seers, “Stop seeing,” and to the visionaries, “Stop envisioning for us what is right; speak to us about what is pleasant. Envision deceptions. 11 Turn away from the way; turn aside from the path; cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before our faces.”

o It is mentioned again in Eph. 5:5 “… no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience.”

2:3 εν  οις ^R-DPM  και  ημεις^1NP  παντες ^A-NPM  ανεστραφημεν^API-1P  ποτε^PRT  εν  ταις επιθυμιαις^DPF  της^GSF  σαρκος^GSF  ημων^1GP ποιουντες ^PAP-NPM  τα θεληματα^APN  της σαρκος^GSF  και  των διανοιων^GPF  και  ημεθα^IAI-1P  τεκνα^NPN  φυσει^DSF  οργης^GSF  ως ^ADV  και  οι  λοιποι^NPM

Among whom also we all ourselves once revolved/lived/had conversation in the passions/lusts/cravings of our flesh, doing/carrying out [KJV=fulfilling, NAS-indulging, NIV=following] the wills/desires of the flesh and of the mind/its thinking, and we, like the rest [KJV=others, ESV adds “of mankind”], were being by nature children [NIV=objects] of wrath.

• “All” without exception – and that includes every infant ever born – all of us have organized our lives around our own fleshly cravings. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:23) “There is none righteous; not even one”
• “lived/revolved” 2 Pet 2:9 “the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment; 10 but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise authority… 14 having eyes full of lust, and that cannot cease from sin; enticing unstedfast souls; having a heart exercised in covetousness; children of cursing... 22 It has happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog turning to his own vomit again…”  Quoting Prov. 26:11 “as the dog turns to its vomit, so the fool returns [same word in LXX as lives/revolves in Eph 2:3] to his folly.”
• Every man, woman, and child on this planet therefore stands guilty of idolatry and rebellion against God and is therefore a “child of wrath.” This “wrath” is the “wrath to come” on the judgment day (Job 21:30; Matthew 3:7; Mark 3:5; Luke 3:7; Romans 2:5; 5:9; 9:22; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Revelation 6:16-17; 14:10; 16:19; 19:15)
  Revelation 19:11-15 “I saw the heavens opened; and behold, a white horse, and He that sat thereon called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and makes war…  15  And out of His mouth proceeds a sharp sword, that with it He may smite the nations: and He will rule them with a rod of iron: and He treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.”
  1 Thessalonians 1:9b tells us that it is the “…Son… of God… whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath that is coming.”
• John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.  17  For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him. [this is speaking of Jesus’ first coming 2,000 years ago] 18  He that believes in Him is not judged: he that doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God… 36  He that believes in the Son has eternal life; but he that does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
• “No one comes to the Father except through me” - John 14:6
• Acts 4:12 – “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved”
• The concept of Total Depravity which was recovered in the reformation, together with the news that there is one way to escape the wrath of God against sinful mankind provides the motivation we need to evangelize – spread the good news.
• But if we stopped there, we would not be much different from the Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormons or Roman Catholics who teach that we have to work to earn that salvation, so there is more good news:

As I stated at the beginning, “A proper understanding of the reformation doctrines of total depravity and the sovereignty of God in salvation provides a strong foundation for evangelism!” Let’s look at what this passage has to say about the sovereignty of God in salvation:

2:4 ο δε  θεος^NSM  πλουσιος^A-NSM  ων^PAP-NSM  εν  ελεει^DSN  δια  την πολλην ^A-ASF  αγαπην^ASF  αυτου^GSM  ην^R-ASF  ηγαπησεν^AAI-3S ημας^1AP
But God, being rich in mercy through/on account of His [ESV=the] great love with which he loved [NIV omits] us

• God’s love is based on His love and mercy, not on us.
• He has plenty of love and a wealth of mercy to give.
• This passage in Ephesians is the #1 proof text for the doctrine of sola Gracia popularized by Ulrich Zwingli, the Swiss reformer – salvation being solely motivated by God’s grace.
• a.k.a. “Unconditional Election” popularized by the Canons of Dordt – the fact that God does not chose to save us because we earn it or because we have any special merit. We don’t control whether or not we get saved, God just chooses to save us just because He wants to.

2:5 και  οντας^PAP-APM  ημας^1AP  νεκρους ^A-APM  τοις παραπτωμασιν^DPN  συνεζωοποιησεν^AAI-3S  [εν=P⁴⁶, B] τω χριστω^DSM  χαριτι^DSF  εστε^PAI-2P  σεσωσμενοι^RPP-NPM 2:6 και  συνηγειρεν^AAI-3S  και  συνεκαθισεν^AAI-3S  εν  τοις ^DPN  επουρανιοις ^A-DPN  εν  χριστω  ιησου^DSM

and we being dead in the [ESV, NAS add “our”] falls/transgressions [KJV=sins]

He made alive together in/with Christ, by grace y’all are in the condition of having been saved.

(6) and He raised together [ESV,NAS,NIV add “with Him/Christ”]

and He seated together [ESV,NAS,NIV add “with Him”] in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus

• Contrast between God with riches of mercy and love in v.4 and us in death in v.5
• God is the one doing the action in salvation. Verses 4-5 list 3 things He did to save us: “He made alive together,” “raised up together,” and “seated together”
• We were dead in our sins, but when Jesus died on the cross He quickened His people so that we are no longer dead in sin but alive to God. When Jesus rose from the dead, we were raised with Him spiritually into the heavenly eternal life. When Jesus ascended into heaven and sat at the right hand of God to begin ruling the universe, we are spiritually and legally with Him there.
• Colossians 2:12ff, the only other place where these verbs “made alive together” and “raised together” occur in the Bible, explains these things a little more: “… you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, I say, did He make alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses”
• συνεκαθισεν – seated together:
• Revelation 20:4 speaks of faithful people who have died and gone to heaven and worked as judges and governors with Christ there.  “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived and reigned with Christ 1,000 years.”
• Jesus also promised His disciples in Matthew 8:11 and 19:28 that they and other believers from all over the world will likewise serve as judges in what appears to me to be the new heavens and the new earth.  “And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall be seated together with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven…” 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, “Verily I say unto you, that y’all who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of His glory, you also will sit upon twelve thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.” (cf. Rev 3:21)

2:7 ινα  ενδειξηται^AMS-3S  εν  τοις ^DPM  αιωσιν^DPM  τοις ^DPM  επερχομενοις^PNP-DPM  το ^ASN  υπερβαλλον^PAP-ASN  πλουτος^ASN  της ^GSF  χαριτος^GSF  αυτου^GSM  εν  χρηστοτητι^DSF  εφ  ημας^1AP  εν  χριστω^DSM  ιησου^DSM

in order that, in the coming ages, He might show/demonstrate/display the hyperbolic/ exceeding/ immeasurable /surpassing/ incomparable riches of His grace in kindness upon/toward us in/through Christ Jesus.

• Here is the reason why God quickened, raised, and seated us with Christ: it was to show how great His grace is by being kind to us!
• As we saw in chapter 1, the repetition of “in Christ Jesus” underscores the centrality of Christ in our existence and the importance of organizing our lives and worship around Him and what He wants rather than around us and what we want.
• 1 Timothy 1:15-16  Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief:  16  howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as chief [of sinners] might Jesus Christ show forth all his longsuffering, for an example of them that should thereafter believe on him unto eternal life.
• God intends for His grace and kindness to be demonstrated forever in heaven (the ages to come) by having us there with Him!
• χρηστοτητι kindness: The bumper stickers tell us to “practice random acts of kindness,” but Romans 3:12 tells us that no human is capable of practicing kindness – not even one! It is the kindness of God who leads you to repentance (Rom. 2:4)
• Titus 3:3-7  For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Saviour, and His love toward man, appeared,  5  not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,  6  which He poured out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour;  7  that, being justified by His grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

2:8 τη ^DSF  γαρ  χαριτι^DSF  εστε^PAI-2P  σεσωσμενοι^RPP-NPM  δια  πιστεως^GSF  και  τουτο ^D-NSN  ουκ  εξ  υμων^2GP  θεου^GSM  το ^NSN  δωρον^NSN 2:9 ουκ  εξ  εργων^GPN  ινα  μη  τις ^X-NSM  καυχησηται^ADS-3S

For in grace y’all are in the condition of having been saved through faith,

and this gift is God’s;

it is not from you –

(9) it is not from works, in order than no one may boast.

• Perfect passive participle “having been saved” – indicating past action with continuing results into the present. You who believe in Jesus – who are otherwise a child of wrath – continue to be saved from the wrath of God by Jesus’ singular death in history.
• The word “this” (also translated “that” in some versions) only matches the word “gift” in case, gender, & number.
• Galatians 2:16  …a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, and we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
• According to v.10, “good works” are created in us by Christ, not manufactured by ourselves.
• There is no room for boasting because it is God who called us and acted to save us and place us in Christ, not ourselves: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31  For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:  27  but God chose the foolish things of the world… and God chose the weak things of the world… 29  that no flesh should boast before God.  30  But it is from Him that y’all are in Christ Jesus…  31  that, according as it is written, He that boasts, let him boast in the Lord.
• Galatians 6:14  But far be it from me to boast, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

2:10 αυτου^GSM  γαρ  εσμεν^PAI-1P  ποιημα^NSN  κτισθεντες^APP-NPM  εν  χριστω^DSM  ιησου^DSM  επι  εργοις^DPN  αγαθοις ^A-DPN  οις ^R-DPN  προητοιμασεν^AAI-3S  ο ^NSM  θεος^NSM  ινα  εν  αυτοις^DPN  περιπατησωμεν^AAS-1P

For we are His workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus upon/unto/for good works

which God prepared ahead/beforehand/in advance [kjv=before ordained],

in order that we might walk around in [NIV=do] them.

• Emphatic position of “His” emphasizes that it is not from ourselves or our works that we are saved, but from God.
• You used to “walk around” in sins and trespasses v.2 but now you are to walk around in good works; this is what you were created for!
• These good works were prepared ahead of time by God and He expects us to conduct ourselves in those good works which He has prepared for us to do.
• The only other instance of “prepared ahead” is in Rom. 9:23-25  …he would make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he prepared ahead for glory,  24  even us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles,  25  As he also says Hosea, I will call my people that which was not my people...

* The sovereignty of God is also displayed in the unfolding of the “mystery” that Paul discusses in 2:11-3:11. We don’t have time to go into depth with this concept of the mystery and the plan of God, so at this point I have to refer you to more in-depth treatments I’ve given in previous sermons on Acts and Isaiah. But briefly:

• God’s plan for history – stated at least as early as the Abrahamic covenant in Gen 12:3 – is to save people out of every family and ethnic group.
• This is a Divide and conquer strategy – like a virus, not like Nazi [master race] strategy.
• The “both” mentioned in the last half of chapter 2, the “near” and the “far” are the two classes of Jew and Gentile, the Jews were chosen to receive God’s good news directly from God; the Gentiles were ordained to be indirectly evangelized by the Jews who were saved first; no other major distinction can be made.
• This means good news is not just for Jews but for Gentiles as well. (Now we think of the USA as being God’s people so I could paraphrase the same message today: the Gospel is not just for church-goers, it is not even just for Americans, it is for all mankind!)

Going back to the story of William Carey that I started the sermon with: Does the fact that God is sovereign mean that we should sit back and watch God do it all? No! In his published Inquiry William Carey proved:

1. from Scripture that the commission to preach the gospel to all the world is still binding on Christians
2. from history that Christians ever since the apostles had been preaching the gospel to the world
3. from current demographics that vast parts of the world were unevangelized
4. from science that the barriers to evangelizing the world could be overcome
5. Then Carey went on to propose the formation of the first missionary organization, the London Baptist Mission Society as a means to recruit and send missionaries into the world

God blessed Carey’s work and India has a significant population of Christians largely as a result of William Carey’s faithfulness.

2:11 διο  μνημονευετε^PAM-2P  οτι  ποτε ^PRT  υμεις^2NP  τα ^NPN  εθνη^NPN  εν  σαρκι^DSF  οι ^NPM  λεγομενοι^PPP-NPM  ακροβυστια^NSF  υπο  της ^GSF  λεγομενης^PPP-GSF  περιτομης^GSF  εν  σαρκι^DSF  χειροποιητου ^A-GSF

Therefore remember:

that once/formerly/in time past, you gentiles in the flesh [NIV=by birth], who are called “uncircumcision” by the one who is called “circumcision” handmade in the flesh

2:12 οτι  ητε^IAI-2P  τω καιρω^DSM  εκεινω ^DSM  χωρις ^ADV  χριστου^GSM  απηλλοτριωμενοι^RPP-NPM  της ^GSF  πολιτειας^GSF  του ^GSM  ισραηλ^PRI  και  ξενοι ^A-NPM  των ^GPF  διαθηκων^GPF  της ^GSF  επαγγελιας^GSF  ελπιδα^ASF  μη  εχοντες^PAP-NPM  και  αθεοι ^A-NPM  εν  τω ^DSM  κοσμω^DSM

that you were in that time without/separate from Christ, alienated/excluded from the citizenship/commonwealth of Israel, and strangers/foreigners from the covenants of the promise, not having hope, and without God in the world.

2:13 νυνι ^ADV  δε  εν  χριστω^DSM  ιησου^DSM  υμεις^2NP  οι ^NPM  ποτε ^PRT  οντες^PAP-NPM  μακραν ^ADV  εγενηθητε^AOI-2P  εγγυς ^ADV  εν  τω ^DSN  αιματι^DSN  του ^GSM  χριστου^GSM
But now in Christ Jesus you who once/formerly [KJV=sometimes] were far off are/have been brought near [KJV=made nigh] by the blood of Christ.

2:14 αυτος^NSM  γαρ  εστιν^PAI-3S  η ^NSF  ειρηνη^NSF  ημων^1GP  ο ^NSM  ποιησας^AAP-NSM  τα ^APN  αμφοτερα ^A-APN  εν ^A-ASN  και  το ^ASN  μεσοτοιχον^ASN  του ^GSM  φραγμου^GSM  λυσας^AAP-NSM
For He Himself is our peace, He who made [ESV adds “us”] both [NIV=two] one and destroyed [KJV, ESV, NAS=broken down] the dividing [KJV=middle] wall of hostility [NAS=barrier, KJV=partition]

2:15 την ^ASF  εχθραν^ASF  εν  τη ^DSF  σαρκι^DSF  αυτου^GSM  τον ^ASM  νομον^ASM  των ^GPF  εντολων^GPF  εν  δογμασιν^DPN  καταργησας^AAP-NSM  ινα  τους ^APM  δυο ^A-NUI  κτιση^AAS-3S  εν  αυτω^DSM  εις  ενα ^A-ASM  καινον ^A-ASM  ανθρωπον^ASM  ποιων^PAP-NSM  ειρηνην^ASF
[ESV, NAS,NIV add “by”] abolishing in His flesh [ESV omits “the enmity”] the enmity/hostility of the law of the [NIV=with its] commandments [KJV, NAS adds “contained”] in [NIV,ESV=and] ordinances in order that He might [NIV=His purpose was to] create [KJV=make] the two in Himself into [NIV=out of] one new man, making [NAS=establishing] peace,

2:16 και  αποκαταλλαξη^AAS-3S  τους ^APM  αμφοτερους ^A-APM  εν  ενι ^A-DSN  σωματι^DSN  τω ^DSM  θεω^DSM  δια  του ^GSM  σταυρου^GSM  αποκτεινας^AAP-NSM  την ^ASF  εχθραν^ASF  εν  αυτω^DSM
and that He might reconcile [ESV adds “us” NAS adds “them”] both in [NIV adds “this”] one body to God through/by the cross, killing [KJV=having slain] the enmity/hostility by it [the cross].

2:17 και  ελθων^2AAP-NSM  ευηγγελισατο^AMI-3S  ειρηνην^ASF  υμιν^2DP  τοις ^DPM  μακραν ^ADV  και  ειρηνην^ASF  τοις ^DPM  εγγυς ^ADV
And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace [KJV omits] to those who were near,

2:18 οτι  δι  αυτου^GSM  εχομεν^PAI-1P  την  προσαγωγην^ASF  οι ^NPM  αμφοτεροι ^A-NPM  εν  ενι ^A-DSN  πνευματι^DSN  προς  τον ^ASM  πατερα^ASM
for through Him we both have [NAS adds “our”] access in/by one Spirit to the Father.

2:19 αρα ^PRT  ουν  ουκετι ^ADV-N  εστε^PAI-2P  ξενοι ^A-NPM  και  παροικοι ^A-NPM  αλλα  εστε^PAI-2P  συμπολιται^NPM  των ^GPM  αγιων ^A-GPM  και  οικειοι ^A-NPM  του ^GSM  θεου^GSM
Now then y’all are no longer strangers and aliens/foreigners, but y’all are [all Eng=fellow] citizens together with the saints [NIV=God’s people] and y’all are [all Eng add ‘of’] God’s household,

2:20 εποικοδομηθεντες^APP-NPM  επι  τω ^DSM  θεμελιω^DSM  των ^GPM  αποστολων^GPM  και  προφητων^GPM  οντος^PAP-GSM  ακρογωνιαιου ^A-GSM  αυτου^GSM  χριστου^GSM  ιησου^GSM
being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, its [KJV,NIV=the chief] cornerstone being Jesus Christ [KJV, ESV, NAS,NIV=himself]:

2:21 εν  ω ^R-DSM  πασα ^A-NSF [η = A]  οικοδομη^NSF  συναρμολογουμενη^PPP-NSF  αυξει^PAI-3S  εις  ναον^ASM  αγιον ^A-ASM  εν  κυριω^DSM

In whom all the household/building/structure being fitted/joined together is growing [NIV=rises] into a holy temple in the Lord,

2:22 εν  ω ^R-DSM  και  υμεις^2NP  συνοικοδομεισθε^PPI-2P  εις  κατοικητηριον^ASN  του ^GSM  θεου^GSM  εν  πνευματι^DSN

In whom also y’all are being built together into a habitation/dwelling of God in/by [KJV,ESV,NAS add “the”; NIV adds “his”] spirit.

Just as a proper understanding of total depravity together with the uniqueness of the Gospel give us a context for evangelism, so a proper understanding God’s sovereignty in salvation together with His call for us to preach provides an effective motivation for evangelism. In Chapter 3 we see the call to preach personally in Paul:

3:1 τουτου^GSN  χαριν ^ADV  εγω^1NS  παυλος^NSM  ο ^NSM  δεσμιος^NSM  του ^GSM  χριστου^GSM  [ιησου]^GSM  υπερ  υμων^2GP  των ^GPN  εθνων^GPN

For this reason [KJV=cause] I Paul, the [ESV=a] prisoner of [ESV=for] Christ Jesus for the sake of/on behalf of you nations/gentiles-

• For what reason? By reason of the fact that God has always planned for His rich grace to be extended to all nations in salvation and by reason of the fact that it is now time to make that message known to Gentiles.
• For this reason, Paul has been entrusted to evangelize Gentiles. Because Paul evangelized Gentiles, the Jews caused him trouble and it landed Paul in jail.

3:2 ει  γε ^PRT  ηκουσατε^AAI-2P  την ^ASF  οικονομιαν^ASF  της ^GSF  χαριτος^GSF  του θεου^GSM  της ^GSF  δοθεισης^APP-GSF  μοι^1DS  εις  υμας^2AP
If indeed/surely [ESV=assuming] y’all heard of the dispensation/stewardship/administration/economy of the grace of God which is given to me unto/for y’all,

• Again, it’s the virus approach; God entrusts His grace to Paul [and also to us] so that Paul [and also we] can spread it to the nations
• The word for “Gentile” is the same as the word for “Nation” in both Hebrew and Greek.
• Ephesians is a general letter which apparently was not written to any one particular church, but was probably intended to be a circular letter for a lot of Gentile churches in Asia to read.
• The oldest manuscripts of Ephesians do not have the place name “Ephesus” in 1:1.
• so when Paul writes the word “you” here, he’s probably envisioning masses of Gentiles who would read his letter, rather than a specific congregation in Ephesus.
• God entrusted the gospel of grace to Paul so that it would get out to those masses of Gentiles in other nations. HOW?
• He Broadcasts by being a preacher (v.8)
• He Brings to light (v.9) the gospel through his actions
• He Bows the knee (v.14) in prayer to acknowledge and support God’s sovereign grace in people’s lives

3:3 [οτι]  κατα  αποκαλυψιν^ASF  εγνωρισθη^API-3S  μοι^1DS  το ^ASN  μυστηριον^ASN  καθως ^ADV  προεγραψα^AAI-1S  εν  ολιγω ^A-DSM

[that] by revelation the mystery was made known to me just as I wrote before/already [ESV omits “before”] in brief [KJV=few words]

• Paul wrote earlier about this mystery of Christ being among the Gentiles in the book of Colossians (1:26-27) as well as earlier in Eph. (1:9, and chapter 2, although he doesn’t use the word “mystery” in chapter 2).

3:4 προς  ο^ASN  δυνασθε^PNI-2P  αναγινωσκοντες^PAP-NPM  νοησαι^AAN  την ^ASF  συνεσιν^ASF  μου^1GS  εν  τω μυστηριω^DSN  του χριστου^GSM

toward which, when you read, y’all can/will be able to understand/perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ

• “which/this” refers to “mystery” at the beginning of vs.4,5

3:5 ο ^R-NSN  ετεραις ^A-DPF  γενεαις^DPF  ουκ  εγνωρισθη^API-3S  τοις ^DPM  υιοις^DPM  των ^GPM  ανθρωπων^GPM  ως ^ADV  νυν ^ADV  απεκαλυφθη^API-3S  τοις ^DPM  αγιοις ^A-DPM  αποστολοις^DPM  αυτου^GSM  και  προφηταις^DPM  εν  πνευματι^DSN

which in other generations [KJV=ages], was not made known to the sons of [NIV omits “the sons of”] men

like it is has now been revealed to His [NIV=God’s] holy apostles and prophets in [the] Spirit:

• This does not deny that there were some people in the OT like David and Isaiah who got the picture that God’s salvation was for all the nations, but Jesus made this plan so much clearer through His teaching in the NT.

3:6 ειναι^PAN  τα ^APN  εθνη^APN  συγκληρονομα ^A-APN  και  συσσωμα ^A-APN  και  συμμετοχα ^A-APN  της ^GSF  επαγγελιας^GSF  εν  χριστω^DSM  ιησου^DSM  δια  του ^GSN  ευαγγελιου^GSN

[NIV,ESV add “the mystery is that”] the nations/gentiles [are] to be heirs together/fellow heirs [NIV adds “with Israel”] and a body together [KJV=same, NAS=fellow, ESV,NAS,NIV add “members of the”] and partakers/sharers together of the promise in Christ Jesus [KJV omits “Jesus”] through the Gospel.

• NIV, although adding a lot of words, explains rightly that this is the explicit statement of what the mystery is, and that the togetherness is gentiles and Israel/Jews.

3:7 ου ^R-GSN  εγενηθην^AOI-1S  διακονος^NSM  κατα  την ^ASF  δωρεαν^ASF  της ^GSF  χαριτος^GSF  του ^GSM  θεου^GSM  της ^GSF  δοθεισης^APP-GSF  μοι^1DS  κατα  την ^ASF  ενεργειαν^ASF  της ^GSF  δυναμεως^GSF  αυτου^GSM

of which [NIV,ESV add “gospel”] I became [KJV,ESV,NAS=was made] a servant/minister/deacon, according to the gift of the grace of God, the one which was given to me according to/by/through the energetic [KJV=effectual] working of His power -

• The singular neuter “mystery” referred to with relative pronouns in vs. 4&5 blends into the singular neuter “gospel” referred to her with a relative pronoun.

3:8 εμοι^1DS  τω ^DSM  ελαχιστοτερω ^A-DSM-C  παντων ^A-GPM  αγιων ^A-GPM  εδοθη^API-3S  η ^NSF  χαρις^NSF  αυτη ^D-NSF  τοις ^DPN  εθνεσιν^DPN  ευαγγελισασθαι^AMN  το ^ASN  ανεξιχνιαστον ^A-ASN  πλουτος^ASN  του ^GSM  χριστου^GSM

to me [NIV,ESV add “although”] the very least of all [ESV adds “the”] saints [NIV=God’s people], this grace was given: to evangelize concerning/preach good news of the unsearchable/unfathomable riches of Christ to the nations/Gentiles

• Why did Paul evangelize the nations? Because God gave him this task. This task was a gift from God.
• Why should we continue evangelize the world? Because God has called us as well to do it in the great commission.

3:9 και  φωτισαι^AAN  [παντας=A] ^A-APM  τις ^I-NSF  η ^NSF  οικονομια^NSF  του ^GSN  μυστηριου^GSN  του ^GSN  αποκεκρυμμενου^RPP-GSN  απο  των αιωνων^GPM  εν  τω ^DSM  θεω^DSM  τω ^DSM  τα ^APN  παντα ^A-APN  κτισαντι^AAP-DSM

and to bring to light [all men, KJV=make all men see, NIV=make plain to everyone] what is the economy/administration [ESV=plan, KJV=fellowship] of the mystery which has been hidden from the ages [KJV=beginning of the world, NIV adds “past”] in God the creator of all things [KJV adds “by Jesus Christ”]

• The singular grace given to Paul in v.8 is broken down into two infinitives: (1) to evangelize/preach good news and (2) to bring to light φωτισαι like “photograph” except more like “photo-live” to portray with actions a picture of God’s grace

3:10 ινα  γνωρισθη^APS-3S  νυν ^ADV  ταις ^DPF  αρχαις^DPF  και  ταις ^DPF  εξουσιαις^DPF  εν  τοις ^DPN  επουρανιοις ^A-DPN  δια  της ^GSF  εκκλησιας^GSF  η ^NSF  πολυποικιλος ^A-NSF  σοφια^NSF  του ^GSM  θεου^GSM

KJV: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
ESV: so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
NAS: so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
NIV: His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,

3:11 κατα  προθεσιν^ASF  των ^GPM  αιωνων^GPM  ην ^R-ASF  εποιησεν^AAI-3S  εν  τω ^DSM  χριστω^DSM  ιησου^DSM  τω ^DSM  κυριω^DSM  ημων^1GP

According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,
This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,
according to his eternal purposewhich he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

3:12 εν  ω ^R-DSM  εχομεν^PAI-1P  την ^ASF  παρρησιαν^ASF  και  προσαγωγην^ASF  εν  πεποιθησει^DSF  δια  της ^GSF  πιστεως^GSF  αυτου^GSM

In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.
In him and through fiath in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

3:13 διο  αιτουμαι^PMI-1S  μη  εγκακειν^PAN  εν  ταις ^DPF  θλιψεσιν^DPF  μου^1GS  υπερ  υμων^2GP  ητις ^R-NSF  εστιν^PAI-3S  δοξα^NSF  υμων^2GP

Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.
I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

3:14 τουτου ^D-GSN  χαριν ^ADV  καμπτω^PAI-1S  τα ^APN  γονατα^APN  μου^1GS  προς  τον ^ASM  πατερα^ASM

For this reason/cause I bow my knees before/unto the Father KJV addes “of our Lord Jesus Christ”],
In bowing the knee before God after preaching and showing the light, Paul acknowledges that God is the one who saves, not man, so all we can do it preach and show, and then pray that God will use our witness.

• What does Paul pray for?

1. v.16 That God would “give” His “spiritual power” into men from His “wealth” of “glory” (and also of mercy mentioned in 2:4&7). This may be parallel to the “making alive/quickening” in 2:5 – to the end that Christ may “dwell in [their] hearts by faith.” Paul is praying that God would choose to make His home in the people he (Paul) was preaching to, by sending the Holy Spirit to them!

2. v.18 That they would “be able to comprehend” and “know the love of Christ.” Paul is praying for a transformation of the mind from considering the preaching of the cross foolishness to realizing the truth and greatness of Christ Jesus’ love which He demonstrated to us by dying on the cross for our sins.

3. v.19b That they would “be filled with all the fullness of God.”

3:15 εξ  ου ^R-GSM  πασα ^A-NSF  πατρια^NSF  εν  ουρανοις^DPM  και  επι  γης^GSF  ονομαζεται^PPI-3S

from whom every [KJV=the whole,NIV=his whole] family in heaven and on [KJV omits “on”] earth is named [NAS, NIV= derives its name],

3:16 ινα  δω^2AAS-3S  υμιν^2DP  κατα  το ^ASN  πλουτος^ASN  της ^GSF  δοξης^GSF  αυτου^GSM  δυναμει^DSF κραταιωθηναι^APN  δια  του ^GSN  πνευματος^GSN  αυτου^GSM  εις  τον ^ASM  εσω ^ADV  ανθρωπον^ASM

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

3:17 κατοικησαι^AAN  τον ^ASM  χριστον^ASM  δια  της ^GSF  πιστεως^GSF  εν  ταις ^DPF  καρδιαις^DPF  υμων^2GP

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;

3:18 εν  αγαπη^DSF  ερριζωμενοι^RPP-NPM  και  τεθεμελιωμενοι^RPP-NPM  (3:18) ινα  εξισχυσητε^AAS-2P  καταλαβεσθαι^2AMN  συν  πασιν ^A-DPM  τοις ^DPM  αγιοις ^A-DPM  τι ^I-NSN  το ^NSN  πλατος^NSN  και  μηκος^NSN  και  υψος^NSN  και  βαθος^NSN

that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height;
that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend w/ all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,

3:19 γνωναι^2AAN  τε ^PRT  την ^ASF  υπερβαλλουσαν^PAP-ASF  της ^GSF  γνωσεως^GSF  αγαπην^ASF  του ^GSM  χριστου^GSM ινα  πληρωθητε^APS-2P  εις  παν ^A-ASN  το ^ASN  πληρωμα^ASN  του ^GSM  θεου^GSM

And to know the love of Christ [NIV omits “of Christ”], which surpasses knowledge, that y’all may be filled to [KJV,ESV=with, NIV adds “the measure of”] all the fullness of God.

3:20 τω ^DSM  δε  δυναμενω^PNP-DSM  υπερ  παντα ^A-APN  ποιησαι^AAN  υπερ  εκπερισσου ^ADV  ων ^R-GPN  αιτουμεθα^PMI-1P  η ^PRT  νοουμεν^PAI-1P  κατα  την ^ASF  δυναμιν^ASF  την ^ASF  ενεργουμενην^PMP-ASF  εν  ημιν^1DP

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
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,
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

3:21 αυτω^DSM  η ^NSF  δοξα^NSF  εν  τη ^DSF  εκκλησια^DSF  και  εν  χριστω^DSM  ιησου^DSM  εις  πασας ^A-APF  τας ^APF  γενεας^APF  του ^GSM  αιωνος^GSM  των ^GPM  αιωνων^GPM  αμην ^HEB

Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.^,  Amen.
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Who are the “Paul’s” in our day that we can support as they broadcast and bring to light the Gospel?

Our steering committee has identified 6 strategic leaders in gospel ministry that we believe our particular congregation should support in a special way:

1. Ray and Michelle Call – With Border Evangelism and Mercy Ministry, church development in Mexicali.

2. Tim and Ranae – Teaching in the Middle East.

3. Jeff and Heather Vaughn – With Border Evangelism and Mercy Ministry in Reynosa.

4. Brad and Patty Wos – College ministry in St. Louis, MO.

5. Life Choice Ministries, Manhattan, KS – for women with crisis pregnancies

6. Shepherd’s Crossing, Manhattan, KS – for people with financial needs

How to support missionaries

· Tithe! (Gen. 14:18-20, Lev. 27:30, Deut. 14:22, Neh. 10:37-39, Mal. 3:8-10) The Old Testament tithes actually totaled well over 20%! Try giving 5% beyond your church tithe to support a missionary. Be sacrificial: "I will not offer to God that which costs me nothing," II Sam. 24:24. "God loves a cheerful giver" II Cor. 9:7.

· Communicate with your missionaries. Missionaries love mail, they need encouragement, and overseas postage is only 60¢ for a short letter, email is even cheaper. In fact, some even have local phone numbers that ring overseas! Every so often, mail some American food, a tape, or pictures; be creative!

· When missionaries are in the U.S., give them your nice clothes or take them to a department store to outfit them. Invite them over to dinner or let a family live with you for a time. Help them raise support by inviting your friends to dinner, letting the missionary share about his ministry, and then asking your friends if they would support the missionary financially. By the way, don’t neglect U.S.-based staff in this.

· Pray for them. Consider their:

˜ Relationship to God: devotional and prayer life, victory over sin, maturity;

˜ Physical and Emotional needs: finances, adaptation to climate, health, safety, freedom from loneliness & depression;

˜ Family: relationship with spouse, children, other people, example to nationals;

˜ Communication: language study, fluency, understanding culture;

˜ Ministry: wisdom and boldness in teaching, witnessing, fruitfulness in winning souls, and in developing leaders.

· Read Serving as Senders by Neil Pirolo – the best book on supporting missionaries

· Arrange to visit these missionaries on their field and offer to help them on-site for a week or more!

But evangelizing the world is not a spectator sport. What Paul was called to do, all Christians are called to do, each in your own various callings and giftings. The needs remain:

• Over 80% of Manhattan, KS is unchurched.
• One in five people in Riley County live a poverty level.
• Only maybe 10% of the students at K-State are engaged with a campus ministry.
• How many people in your neighborhood know the Gospel?
• Half the world’s population has never heard the gospel.
• 25% of the world’s population will never hear the gospel because there is no Christian anywhere near them, and Christians further away have no plans to reach them.

Tips on Evangelism

• Earnest Reisinger once wrote, “The church that does not evangelize will fossilize”
• Don’t wait for the pastor:
• I am not a gifted evangelist, so I will personally not do a very good job at setting the pace.
• In fact, it has been pretty clearly demonstrated that the newer you are to Christianity the more effective you are at evangelism because you don’t have as much social distance from non-Christians as a person who is older in the faith.
• For that reason, it may be good for younger Christians to invite mature believers to help evangelize friends.
• Use friendship:
• Hit and run evangelism occasionally works,
• but in our day and age, nobody buys anything from somebody they haven’t established trust with.
• We all need to take the time to build trust with non-Christian neighbors and friends.
• If they know you love them and you have demonstrated that with your life, and you have been bold to share the gospel with them, you have a strong bond that can carry them through the awkwardness of learning our church culture which we’ve already seen freak out some folks.
• Use your home:
• We don’t have a church building, so in some ways, we have no choice but to use our homes
• But we believe that our homes can be more effective centers for ministry than a church building anyway
• As I explained in my sermon a few months ago, the Bible teaches us to use our homes for hospitality, caring for the sick, providing for the poor, proclaiming the Gospel, and worshipping God.
• Use the Bible:
• God’s word is more powerful than your words.
• Speak Scripture into their lives and do Bible studies.
• Pray using 3:16-19 as a template.
• Read Jeffery Ventella’s “Fog-Clearing Questions” in Thine is the Kingdom p.199
• Do your family devotions contain not only instruction regarding, but also a passion for the lost?
• Do your prayers beckon the Lord to open doors for his word among the unconverted, or is "evangelism" directed predominantly to "converting" the non-reformed?
• Does your mind automatically conceive of "missions" as being an impersonal excursion to the African sub-continenl while your own neighbors have never heard the gospel from your own lips?
• Does your checkbook reflect not only commitment, but sacrifice for the gospel's spread?
• Do you routinely disparage the outreach efforts of other members of Christ’s Body merely because their theological acumen fails to meet your own private convictions or preconceived preferences?
• Do your mission efforts embrace the antithesis or do you spend your efforts seeking to convert fellow covenant keepers?

CLOSING:

• God is calling us at Christ the Redeemer Church to Broadcast to the world the good news that Jesus saves;
• God is calling us to Bring to light God’s saving purposes in all that we do,
• and God is calling us to Bow the knee and pray to Him who is sovereign over salvation that He would grant from His abundant riches of mercy that Christ will dwell in more and more people’s hearts by faith. When we pray this, we know we are praying according to His will because He says right here that this is the eternal plan that He has purposed in Christ Jesus!

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