A Picture of Peace……God dwelling in His people… HIS BUILDING

WE ARE HIS WORKANSHIP (Eph 2:10)HE IS OUR PEACE (2:14)

And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. (Eze 47:12 )

“WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP”

“HE IS OUR PEACE”

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.(Rev 22:1-2)

“FASHIONED IN CHRIST BY THE

GOD OF ALL GRACE”

FITLY FRAMED

(JOINED) TOGETHER

BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED

FOR AN HABITATION OF GOD

“HOLY TEMPLE”Eph 2:21

God’s Building

HIS “WORKMANSHIP” TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSE FROM THE BEGINNING

He created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. (Isa 45:18)

But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. (Num 14:21)

To fulfill these objectives:• ALL INHABITANTS MUST

GLORIFY GOD!!

HIS WORKMANSHIP• WE ARE GOD’S CHILDREN • CHOSEN...PREDESTINED

BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD (Ephesians 1:4-5)

Raised up into heavenly places together

Making in himself one new man so making peace (Eph 2:15)

I WILL BE MANIFESTEDI WILL DWELL IN MY

PEOPLE….IN A HOLY TEMPLE (A HABITATION… (Eph 2:19-22)

CHILDREN (JOINED) FITLY FRAMED

TOGETHER IN GOD’S BUILDING

God manifested.. dwelling in His people… peace on earth (Isa 32:17)

Many Types:• Burning Bush• Tree of Life• Ezekiel’s UFO• Good/wild Olive trees• Vine• One Body

• Natural Israel

• Gentiles (Aliens)

CHILDREN FROM TWO TOTALLY DIVERSE CULTURES

And to make all men see

what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (Eph 3:9)

That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (Eph 3:3-6)

This framing together kept a MYSTERY for ages

Astray from their hope

Prone to idolatry

Letter of Law mentality

Traditions of the Elders

In need of repentance

Hearts /eyes closed

John, (Elijah)sent to turn hearts

Then… at Pentecost (3000 baptized)

THE PRIMARY GROUP:

NATURAL ISRAEL

Strangers, without

hope….Dead in trespasses/sin

Pagan beliefs

Idolatry (Diana)

They turned to God (burned their books)

Raised up with Jews to heavenly places

Became One body with Jewish converts

The other group:

Gentiles (Aliens)

City of Ephesus was large,

wealthy (30,000?)

Ephesians had a notable presence in the NT

• Acts 18 thru 20• Timothy’s ministry at

Ephesus• Beasts at Ephesus?( 1

Cor.15:32, cp Tit 1:12)

• Ecclesia (Rev. 1:11) “left their first love”

• Tree of life to him that overcomes! (Rev 2:1-7)

Ephesians (Gentiles)

HOW DO YOU JOIN (FITLY FRAME) THESE TWO GROUPS TOGETHER?

The whole body fitly joined together, compacted by that which every joint supplieth…. (Eph 4:16)

Joined into one body, glorifying God together? (Their future role Zec 4)

IT SOUNDS SIMPLE …Both Wild and Good Olive trees made into “all one in Christ Jesus” (Rom 11, Gal 3:27-29)

FITLY FRAMED BUT NOT WITHOUT PROBLEMS Acts 15 conference/Judaizers

And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.(Act 15:1-2)

FITLY FRAMED

BUT WITH PROBLEMS

IN EPHESUS

PAUL EXHORTS EPHESIANS (Acts 20:28 -32)-Take heed therefore unto yourselves…after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. ..Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

Problems(even

among the leaders)

But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face…(respect of persons-Gal. 2)

O foolish Galatians: perverting the gospel, justified by law or faith?

Corinth: Divisions (I am of Paul); feasting at memorial table

Romans: judging one another, letter of law; circumcision of heart not flesh

Colossians: beware of philosophy, vain deceit, traditions of men

3 John: Diotrephes (loveth preeminence..refusing brethren

Christadelphian problems??

Ephesians had their

own struggles

Pagan influence/Idolatry/lust!This I say therefore, and testify in the

Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, (Eph 4:17)

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts (Eph 4:22)

Put on the whole armor of God..For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Eph 6:12)

Timothy (Ministry

at Ephesus)

His advice to the Ephesians (and us)

Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.(2 Tim 2:14)

But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth (2 Tim 2: 23-25)

FITLY JOINED: One body, many parts!

“Fearfully and wonderfully made” (Spiritual/Natural- Psa. 139:4)

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling (Eph 4:1-4)

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.(1Co 12:12-14)

FITLY FRAMED: Co-dependent!

A SIMPLE ILLUSTRATION WITH PROFOUND IMPLICATIONS

• If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

• And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? (1Co 12:15-16)

We can learn from these examples!

FITLY FRAMED into one body by the God of all grace

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him (1Co 12:18)

And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. (1Co 12:23)

FITLY FRAMED- Caring!1Co 12:25 -26 That there should be no

schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

1Co 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

God has fitly joined us together…we should appreciate, respect and cooperate with the other members in His arrangement

FITLY FRAMED:

many gifts!

Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led (captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men…..And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers (Eph 4:8,11)

The earnest of our inheritance (Eph 1:13-14)

“For the perfecting of the saints..for the edifying (building) of the body (Eph 4:11-12)

But(YOU) strive for the greater gifts. And(BUT) I will show you a still more excellent way(1Co 12:31 NRSV)

FITLY JOINED….bound by love

There is one body (Eph 4:4)Till we all come in the unity of the

faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Eph 4:13)

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Eph 4:16)

EDIFYING OF ITSELF IN LOVE LOVE is the more excellent

way (1 Cor.13)_______ is kind?_______ seeketh not its own?To LOVE one another:• Commandment• DoctrineGod is love (He hopes His love

will be manifested in us!) GOD MANIFESTATION!

(requires developing THIS characteristic)

FITLY JOINED….bound by love in the bond of peace

WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP..HE IS OUR PEACE!

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph 4:3)

To maintain peace we need the whole armor of God ..using only one weapon “the sword of spirit” (Eph 6)

“God of peace..through the blood of covenant”(Heb 13:20)

“perfect peace”(Isa 26:3)Have salt, peace one with another

(Mark 9:50)

HE IS OUR PEACETHE BOTTOM LINE IS PEACE

AND REST FOR GOD’S PEOPLE AS PART OF THE HOLY TEMPLE THAT IS TO BECOME AN HABITATION OF GOD BY THE SPIRIT

In our next session we will discuss the importance of GRACE

Lesson 1 Questions???

How was the “mystery” revealed?• Which Apostle?• Who was the first beneficiary?When were the Ephesians first chosen?• When were we?Which prophetic image shows the whole

body working together and yet as separate parts?

What was the purpose of the Holy Spirit gifts as related to the Ephesians?

What are the two of the most essential bonding elements for the body?