Ephesians 3 Part 1
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
I.Ephesians 3:1-13
Outline – The theme of Ephesians 3 is the Mystery of Christ.
1. (v1-7) The Mystery revealed.
2. (v8-13) Purpose of the Mystery.
3. (v14-22) Paul’s prayer.
A. The Mystery of Christ
1. (v1) Paul, a prisoner of Christ for you Gentiles.
a. Paul is writing from prison in Rome because of what he is preaching to the Gentiles.
~Pauline prison epistles: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, & Philemon
~(Acts 21:27-36) Paul arrested in Jerusalem
2. (v2) The dispensation of the grace of God was given to Paul to preach to the Gentiles. (ref. Gal. 2:7)
a. Dispensations in the Bible
1. Innocence – from creation to the fall
2. Conscience – from the fall to the flood (1650 yrs.)
3. Government – flood to tower of Babel (423 yrs.)
4. Promise – Abraham through the Exodus (430 yrs.)
5. Law – Exodus to the Cross (1500 yrs.)
6. Grace – the resurrection to the Tribulation
7. Tribulation – 7 years of God’s Judgment
8. Millennial Kingdom – 1,000 years
9. All Things New (Rev. 21-22)
3. (v3-7 AMPC) God’s plan from the beginning was to unify everything in Christ by His grace.
a. (Col. 1:15-27 NIV)
4. (v8) who am less than the least of all the saints.
a. The longer Paul walks with the Lord the wiser yet more humble he becomes.
~(1 Cor. 15:9-10 NIV) least of the apostles
~(ref. Eph. 3:8) least of the saints
~(1 Tim. 1:12-16 NIV) worst of all sinners
b. (Tit. 2:11-14 NIV) the grace of God
5. (9-13 AMPC)
