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Viewpoints of the Church in Ephesians #3Introduction:
I. Two weeks ago, we looked at three viewpoints of the
church in the book of Ephesians.
A. The church is the body, the fullness of Christ.
1:15-23
B. The church is the New Creation of God. 2:1-10
C. The church is the Body of the Reconciled. 2:11-18
II. Last week, we noticed three more viewpoints of the
church in the book of Ephesians.
A. The church is the Kingdom of Christ – Made up of
fellow-citizens. 2:19
B. The church is the Household (family) of God. 2:19
C. The church is a Holy Temple – A Habitation of God.
2:19-22
III. Tonight, we will look at two more view-points of the
church in Ephesians.
Body:
I. The church is the Manifestation of God’s wisdom.
Ephesians 3:1-13
A. All about us are unseen hosts of angelic beings and spirit creatures that we cannot see.
1. Those that are good. 2 Kings 6:15-17
2. Those that are bad. Ephesians 6:12
B. God has shown His wisdom to the principalities and
powers through the church.
1. “Faithful church members are a constant testimony
that God was wise in sending His Son to die for
us.”
2. “God can say to the Devil, ‘In spite of all your
lies and temptations, these people in the church
have accepted My Son Jesus as Lord and Savior.”
3. “This proves I was wise to send Christ to die for
them.” Fields, Bible Study Textbook Series p. 90
C. There were angels that sinned. 2 Peter 2:4
1. They were casted into Tartaus to await the
judgment day.
2. Man has sinned.
3. Yet, not men have gone to torment when they die.
Why?
a. It must have been “hard for them to understand
how a just and holy God, who was too pure to
behold iniquity, could pardon and accept
sinful men, who were under the just sentence
of eternal death.”
b. “But now these angels can see the wisdom of
God demonstrated in the church made up of men
pardoned through the blood of Christ. Fields,
Bible Study Textbook Series, p. 90
D. This has been God’s eternal plan.
II. The church is the Bride of Christ.
A. Discuss the marriage customs of the times.
B. Verses 22-24
1. Christ and his bride.
a. Christ
(1) Christ is the head of the church.
(2) He is the Savior of the church.
b. The Bride. Therefore the church is to be
subject to Christ.
2. Husband and wife.
a. Husband
(1) The husband is to be the head of the wife.
(2) He, also, is to protect (take care of) his
wife.
b. Therefore, the wife is to submit to the
husband.
C. Verses 25-29
1. Christ and His bride.
a. Christ
(1) Christ loved the church.
(2) Christ gave Himself for the church (paid
the dowry – Acts 20:28).
(3) He has sanctified and cleansed it.
(a) Washing of water by the word.
(b) 1 Corinthians 6:11; Acts 18:8; 22:16
(4) He nourishes and cherishes it.
b. Therefore, the church is to keep itself
unspotted form the world.
2. Husband and wife.
a. Husband
(1) The husband is to love his wife.
(2) So much, that if necessary, he willing to
give up his life for his wife.
b. Therefore the wife is keep herself pure.
D. Verses 30 – 31
1. Christ and His bride.
a. We are the members of the body of Christ (the
church).
b. Only one church.
2. Husband and wife
a. Leave his wife.
b. shall be joined (joined – cleave – to glue to)
c. shall be one flesh.
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