What does it mean to be “in Christ”? What does it look like to live in unity with God and all believers?
Often called the Mount Everest of the New Testament, the book of Ephesians reveals God’s grace – exalting Jesus Christ above all. In this 4-week course, climb chapter by chapter to the mountaintop of God’s purposes in Christ. From this heavenly perspective, God decrees who believers are and how they fit into His divine plan – the plan of God the Father, through Christ the Son, by the Holy Spirit.
God reveals through Paul: In Christ, believers have received a glorious inheritance, and, together, are to live a life worthy of their calling.
In chapters 1-3, Paul describes our calling as believers in Christ. By His grace, God chose to redeem us from Adam’s sinful offspring and raise us to the highest place, adopting us as His own in His beloved Son. The unimaginable inheritance believers enjoy in part today will one day be their complete delight.
In chapters 4-6, Paul moves from doctrine to practice, directing believers to live up to their calling every day. We digest truths given for the Church – for members of the Body of Christ in all times and places. Individually and in relationship, Christian living means putting off our old nature and putting on our new nature in Christ.
Paul is clear: We cannot earn God’s favor or make up for what we lack in our own strength. The only righteousness God recognizes is the perfect righteousness of His Son. God’s grace alone in Christ alone accomplishes our reconciliation. The believer’s life as part of God’s new humanity flows from receiving Christ’s life through faith.
Paul concludes by sending believers out, suited in God’s armor and surrounded by prayer. We wrestle daily with God’s enemy and the sin that seeks to undo us. But in Christ, the battle is already won: In all things, He reigns supreme, enabling His people to stand firm for His glory and others’ good.
From your study of Ephesians, how will you praise God for the gifts of His grace found in Christ? Will you put on Christ’s example, stand firm, seek the unity of His Church, and build up your brothers and sisters no matter the circumstance?
In Christ, believers live as one to glorify God and enjoy His presence forever.
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Passages
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Questions
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Notes
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Teaching
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Gathering
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