Sunday School Lesson

1. Ephesians 3:14-21
Residence
The Love of Christ in Us
October 6, 2019
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
What’s the number one thing?
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The Glory of God!
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1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of
God.
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2. References
• MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Study Bible (Nashville, Nelson Publishing,
1997).
• Palmer, Edwin H., The NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 1985).
• Missler, Dr. Chuck, Ephesians, Session 5, Koinonia House Ministries, YouTube
Channel.
Outline of Ephesians
• Chapters 1-3:
‒ Emphasis on the doctrine of Christianity.
‒ What we are in Christ; our position in Christ.
• Chapters 4-6:
‒ Our duty and responsibilities of Christian behavior.
‒ Our response to Christ living in us.
Introduction to Ephesians 3:14-21
• Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus was written from a prison in Rome.
• Paul wrote to describe to the Jews and Gentiles how they are now “One”
in Christ.
• This “one body of believers” is called the church with Christ as the
cornerstone.
• Christ lives in them through the power of the Holy Spirit.

3. Ephesians 3:14-15 NKJV
14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from
whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
• Paul is writing a prayer to the church, “I bow on my knees…”
“For this reason” (Verse 14)
• Because of their new identity in Christ, believers are…
- Spiritually alive. (Ephesians 2:5)
- Unified into God’s household. (Ephesians 2:19)
- As a church, they are the dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians
2:19-22)
• Paul has revealed a mystery in Christ.
- Ephesians 3:6 NKJV
6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and
partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,
- The gospel of Christ has made Gentile believers the heirs of the
promises of God to Israel and the unsearchable riches of Christ.
• Paul explains a purpose for the church.
- Ephesians 3:10 NKJV
10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made
known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly
places,
- The church (believers in Christ) display the wisdom of God to the
angels (both holy and unholy).
- The fallen angels see the glory of God in the salvation and
preservation of the church.
“whole family in heaven and earth” (Verse 15)
• Referring to believers from every era of history.
• Those who are physically dead, but their spirits are in heaven and those of
us who are alive on earth.
Paul will now pray for 4 spiritual traits for the believers and the church (Verses 16-
19)
1. To be strengthened.
2. That Christ may dwell in your hearts.
3. To comprehend.
4. To be filled.
Ephesians 3: 16-17 NKJV
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened
with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts
through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

4. “to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man”
• Paul is describing the process of “sanctification”, where our faith becomes
stronger as we grow in Christ.
• The Holy Spirit guides this growth and strengthening as we read the Bible
and focus on living for Christ.
• The contrast of life is that as our outer body grows weaker with age, our
inner spirit becomes stronger.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NKJV
Sanctification
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet
the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is
but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things
which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things
which are not seen are eternal.
“that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Verse 17)
• Every believer is indwelt by Christ at the moment of salvation.
• Christ is “at home” in our hearts after cleansing from sin and filled with His
spirit.
• Romans 8:9a NKJV
9a But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God
dwells in you.
Ephesians 3:17b-18 NKJV
17b that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend
with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—
“being rooted and grounded in love,” (Verse 17b)
• Paul describes the foundation that holds when the storms of life come to
believers.
• The foundation is love.
• Matthew 22:37
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind.’”
• 1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is
love.

5. “to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and
height” (Verse 18)
• Paul uses geometric terms of 4 dimensions to try to describe the expanse
of God’s love.
• Can man fully comprehend the vastness of God’s love?
• John 3:16 and Romans 5:8 best describe the measure of God’s love for
man.
- John 3:16 NKJV
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
- Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us.
Ephesians 3:19 NKJV
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with
all the fullness of God.
• The paradox: “to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge”
• Our human knowledge is limited, but God wants us to experience the
fullness of Him and His love.
The love of Christ is… (Only a few examples.)
• Unconditional – Romans 8:38-39.
• Inclusive – John 3:16 “whosoever.”
• Forgiving – 1 John 1:9.
• Providing – Matthew 6:33.
• Caring – Matthew 11:28.
• Comforting – 2 Corinthians 1:3.
• Everlasting – John 17:3-4.
Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV
The Doxology (Praise) in Paul’s Prayer.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask
or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church
by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
• Ephesians 3:20 NIV
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or
imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
Closing Thoughts
• God may have a purpose for our lives that we cannot think or even
imagine to bring glory to Him.
• The power of the Holy Spirit lives and works in us to carry out these
purposes both individually and as a church.

6. Closing Scripture
Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask
or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church
by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
John 3:16-17 NKJV
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not
send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him
might be saved.”
John 14:6 NKJV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through Me.”
Romans 3:23 NKJV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a NKJV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to
pay the penalty for our sin.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the “second death” explained in
Revelation 21:8.
Revelation 21:8 NKJV
8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with
fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
• Anyone who’s lifestyle is one or more of the sins listed in Revelation 21:8,
will experience the “second death,” if they do not repent.
• To Repent means to turn around, to go in the opposite direction, to turn
away from sin and to come to Jesus.
Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
Romans 6:23b NKJV
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

7. Revelation 21:7 NKJV
7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be
My son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explain to us how to be overcomers.
Romans 10:9-10 NKJV
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that
God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one
believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.
Romans 10:13 NKJV
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Do you have questions?
Would you like to know more?
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or
http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/