Ephesians Series
Sunday
February 8th, 2026
Paul was literally in prison.
We are supposed to be captivated by God’s grace.
God says: “I could tell you how great I am, but I’d rather show you.”
Salvation is not our doing.
It is God’s eternal purpose.
Paul said that God “has saved us” not by “our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” (2 Tim. 1:8-11)
Without this purpose, salvation would be impossible.
Jesus said that "with men” salvation is “impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matt. 19:25-26)
Read Ephesians 3:1-12
11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh-- who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands-- 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Pray
The Gift of Grace
The Dispensation - verses 1-2
The Revelation - verses 3-5
The Gift - verses 6-7
Συγκληρονόμα - {soong-klay-ron-om'-ah} - Fellow Heirs
Σύσσωμα - {soos'-sow-mah} - Fellow Members (of the body)
Συμμέτοχα - {soom-met'-okh-ah} - Fellow Partners
The Purpose of Grace
The Riches of Christ - verse 8
Unsearchable - ἀνεξιχνίαστος - untrackable, un-step-out-able
But yet Paul will preach it, and we are to know it through the Spirit.
The Fellowship of Mystery - verse 9
The Wisdom of God - verses 10-11
Manifold - πολυποίκιλος - much variety, like a garment with lots of different colors
The English word ‘manifold’ is a beautiful illustration of the concept by its use in mathematics and engineering.
Jesus “disarmed principalities and powers” and “made a public spectacle of them . . . , triumphing over them” by means of His cross. (Col 2:15) These “principalities and powers” are “spiritual hosts of wickedness” which are “the rulers of the darkness of this age.” (Ephesians 6:12)
The Boldness of Christians - verse 12
Boldness - free and fearless
Access - approach
Confidence - trust, reliance (in Christ)
Captivated by Christ
Next Week
Free and Fearless
“by the church”
verse 10
Chained and Afraid
“mystery of Christ”
verse 4
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the NKJV.