Introduction / Proclamation of the Gospel

Driving home: In Romans, the great theme, of course, is the gospel providing a righteousness from God by faith plus nothing. However, here in Ephesians, the perspective is, as Bishop Mool has so beautifully said, the gospel viewed fro…

Martin suggests that Ephesians, while written to Ephesus, was intended for widespread circulation among other churches in Asia Minor, like 'little baby churches' of Ephesus, to explain its unique nature.

the letter, usually considered as the letter to the Ephesian church, was indeed written to the Ephesian church, and after spending some hours in investigating the subject, I am satisfied in my own mind that this was, written to the church at Ephesus, but it was also written with a view to having a widespread circulation amongst the other churches that have been established in Asia Minor, probably as little baby churches of the church at Ephesus. Now there are several things that make this letter completely unique amongst the letters of the New Testament. Along with the book of Romans,

0:45 - 1:27 Read in full sermon

Driving home: In Romans, the great theme, of course, is the gospel providing a righteousness from God by faith plus nothing. However, here in Ephesians, the perspective is, as Bishop Mool has so beautifully said, the gospel viewed fro…

Bishop Mool's description of Ephesians as 'the gospel viewed from the standpoint of the life of believers in union with their redeeming head and the consequent oneness of the true church' is quoted to highlight the book's unique perspective.

it is unique in that it is the most comprehensive translation of the whole gospel as we find that gospel expounded in the letters of the Apostle Paul. In Romans, the great theme, of course, is the gospel providing a righteousness from God by faith plus nothing. However, here in Ephesians, the perspective is, as Bishop Mool has so beautifully said, the gospel viewed from the standpoint of the life of believers in union with their redeeming head and the consequent oneness of the true church in time and in eternity.

1:27 - 2:10 Read in full sermon

Driving home: In Romans, the great theme, of course, is the gospel providing a righteousness from God by faith plus nothing. However, here in Ephesians, the perspective is, as Bishop Mool has so beautifully said, the gospel viewed fro…

Another writer's statement that 'the theme of Ephesians is the glory of the church as the society which embodies in history the eternal purpose of God revealed through Christ' is quoted to further define the book's central message.

Whereas we have the gospel primarily from its legal aspect in Romans, we have it from its personal, intimate aspect in Ephesians, namely, union with Jesus Christ in the individual and in the total church as one of the greatest, great, and dominant themes. Another writer has said, the theme of Ephesians is the glory of the church as the society which embodies in history the eternal purpose of God revealed through Christ. The theme is the church, that body which embodies in history

2:11 - 2:54 Read in full sermon

Driving home: In Romans, the great theme, of course, is the gospel providing a righteousness from God by faith plus nothing. However, here in Ephesians, the perspective is, as Bishop Mool has so beautifully said, the gospel viewed fro…

The household of Chloe reporting problems in Corinth is used as an example of how specific issues often provoked Paul's letters, contrasting with Ephesians' apparent lack of such provocation.

the eternal purpose of God revealed in Christ. Another thing, that makes the book unique is that it seems as though there were no particular problems at the church which provoked Paul to write this particular letter. The household of Chloe came to Paul and told him of a number of problems in the church at Corinth and so he sits down to write a letter. Many of the letters of the New Testament were provoked by specific problems.

2:54 - 3:23 Read in full sermon

Driving home: In Romans, the great theme, of course, is the gospel providing a righteousness from God by faith plus nothing. However, here in Ephesians, the perspective is, as Bishop Mool has so beautifully said, the gospel viewed fro…

Paul's desire for the Roman church to send him to Spain is cited as a partial motivation for writing Romans, again contrasting with Ephesians' unique motivation of establishing believers.

Even the book of Romans, which wasn't provoked by a problem, was, at least in part, provoked by Paul's desire to have somebody send him on his way as a missionary to Spain. And so he tells them in the 14th or 15th chapter, he said, I'm writing to you now hoping to be brought on my way by you as I go unto Spain. But there's nothing of that nature in Ephesians. It would seem that the exclusive motivation behind the writing of this letter was the Apostle's desire to establish the people of God more fully.

3:23 - 3:59 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin describes Ephesus as the capital of pro-consular Asia, renowned for its temple to Diana, a grotesque goddess, and its deep involvement in sorcery and magic. This cultural…

The role of the Ephesian town clerk in quelling the riot in Acts 19 is compared to a modern-day mayor to help the audience understand his authority.

clerk, or recorder, was an officer in charge of the archives of the city, the promulgator of the laws, and was clothed with great authority. You remember in Acts 19, 24 to 40, when they had a riot, the man who came in and quelled the riot was this particular town clerk. He would be like our mayor. That would be the closest parallel we would have in our day. The city was principally

8:00 - 8:24 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin describes Ephesus as the capital of pro-consular Asia, renowned for its temple to Diana, a grotesque goddess, and its deep involvement in sorcery and magic. This cultural…

The statement 'Oxford in England is no more Oxford on account of its university than Ephesus was Ephesus on account of the temple of Diana' is quoted to emphasize how central the temple was to Ephesus's identity.

This will help us to grasp the context of Ephesians and help to open up its meaning. The author goes on to say, Oxford in England is no more Oxford on account of its university than Ephesus was Ephesus on account of the temple of Diana. The highest title the city could have assumed was that which was impressed on its coins. It was called, the Neo-Koros, the Greek word for temple sweeper, servant of the great goddess.

10:28 - 11:02 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin describes Ephesus as the capital of pro-consular Asia, renowned for its temple to Diana, a grotesque goddess, and its deep involvement in sorcery and magic. This cultural…

Ephesus's role as the chief seat of necromancy, exorcism, and magic arts for Asia is compared to 'what certain parts of California are for the new occult and the new mystical religions' to make it relatable.

That again was all tied in with this matter of the worship of Diana. The so-called Ephesian letters, mystical monograms used as charms or amulets are spoken of frequently by heathen writers. Ephesus was therefore the chief seat of necromancy, exorcism, and all forms of magic arts for all Asia. What certain parts of California are for the new occult and the new mystical religions, that's what Ephesus was to that section of Asia Minor.

11:34 - 12:08 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin briefly recounts Paul's missionary work in Ephesus, including his companions Priscilla and Aquila, Apollos, and the establishment of the church through two years of…

A line from a Wesley hymn, 'long their imprisonment and spirits lay fast bound by sin and nature's night,' is quoted to summarize the spiritual state of the Ephesians before the gospel.

of them we could say with Wesley long their imprisonment and spirits lay fast bound by sin and nature's night that was Ephesus now very briefly what about the labors of Paul and his companions in that city well if you want the details just read Acts 18 18 through to the end of Acts 20 I'm not going to do that this morning we did that a few weeks ago as we were working through Acts but again a good summary of what happened I give you a good summary of what happened and I'll see you next time I give you now in just a few minutes after remaining 18 months in the city of Corinth at the conclusion ...

18:48 - 19:33 Read in full sermon

Driving home: everything that has transpired in their midst in time is but the unfolding of what God had purposed for them in eternity

An extended analogy of an automobile graveyard where battered cars are miraculously restored to brand new condition is used to illustrate the profound and inexplicable transformation of the Ephesian people by the gospel.

of the people of Israel who were concerned about our natural resources and the rest is the ugliness of the American countryside and landscape and one of the objects most frequently focused objects of this campaign to clear up our countryside are these graveyards for our automobiles and they are an ugly sight many of you have seen them some of you may have them smack right out in front of your picture window I don't know but they're an ugly sight here you see cars that once shined here you see cars that once shined and people polished and fawned over them and there they lie all battered and bea...

23:56 - 24:40 Read in full sermon

Driving home: if you've rightly come to Christ Christ has taken you taken you to the Father to bow to his government to embrace his laws to submit to his ways to reverence his person no man comes to the Father but by me but all who co…

A lengthy quotation from a commentator clarifies the distinct yet interconnected nature of 'repentance toward God' and 'faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ' as the core of practical religion.

just a couple of sentences that were most helpful to me in clarifying it is not intimated that repentance can be exercised without regard to Christ and his salvation nor can faith in Christ and his salvation be exercised without regard to God the Father repentance toward God or with respect to God is that change of heart in life which every sinner owes to God as his rightful sovereign irrespective of any offered mercy although never really experienced till this has been revealed and laid hold of faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ is that belief or trust

40:47 - 41:29 Read in full sermon

Driving home: if you've rightly come to Christ Christ has taken you taken you to the Father to bow to his government to embrace his laws to submit to his ways to reverence his person no man comes to the Father but by me but all who co…

John Bunyan's sermon on Hebrews 7:25 is recounted to illustrate the two errors: trying to deal with God directly without Christ, and coming to Christ without being led to the Father and His law.

and to his law and to his law and to his government John Bunyan has a most powerful sermon on Hebrews 7.25 that text which says Christ is able to save to the uttermost those that come unto God by him and he takes the little phrase those who come unto God by him and he says the mark of all deflections from biblical Christianity are these number one you have those who try to deal directly with God without coming by Christ he's able to save all who come unto God by him you try to have direct dealings with God apart from Christ you have something less than Christianity you can't deal with him

42:56 - 43:39 Read in full sermon

Driving home: if you've rightly come to Christ Christ has taken you taken you to the Father to bow to his government to embrace his laws to submit to his ways to reverence his person no man comes to the Father but by me but all who co…

Martin critiques modern evangelistic movements like Campus Crusade for focusing solely on 'Jesus Christ' and a 'personal relationship with Jesus Christ' without mentioning God the Father, creating a 'Jesus only cult' that is out of biblical balance.

and this is the heresy of much of the modern evangelistic movement I don't say this to be throwing out terms but you listen carefully and read carefully the literature and the programs put out by movements like Campus Crusade and the rest and you notice what all the talk is about I introduce someone to Jesus Christ I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and I have listened and read sometimes pages and listened many many minutes and never hear God mentioned never the Father it's all Jesus, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ, Christ becomes a Jesus only cult and it's out of whack with the bib...

44:21 - 45:03 Read in full sermon