Ephesians 3:14-21

(Audio: English)

SUMMARY: The book of Ephesians can be seen as having two parts: the first three chapters deal with the grandiose concepts of God's work in the universe, particularly as it relates to the human race, while the last three chapters focus on the down-to-earth implications and consequences of this work for behavior and relationships. The first 14 verses of chapter 1 explain the choosing of the church and God's investment in bringing it into existence. Chapter 2 describes the condition of a person before they know Christ and how God's saving work changes that. Chapter 3 reveals the mystery that the gentiles are also chosen to be part of God's saved humanity.

Paul, in Ephesians 3:6, speaks about the mystery of the gospel that unites gentiles and Jews as heirs together in Christ. He goes on to pray for believers to be strengthened in their inner being by the power of the Holy Spirit so that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith. Paul emphasizes the importance of worship and seeing ourselves as part of a redeemed family. He also highlights the abundance of God's love and power for believers to grasp and utilize in their lives.

Christ dwells in us through faith, not emotions. Our power must be rooted and established in love. We must know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge and be filled with the fullness of God. We should never settle for a mediocre experience of the gospel. We should worship and glorify God for all he has done for us.

I want to go back to our study on Ephesians and I know that we have had different people touching on different aspects of the book of Ephesians, but what I’d like to do today is just make a quick summary, a recap of what we have been reading and studying until now . But I’d like to concentrate on verses 14 through 21 of chapter 3 tonight, after I give that recap of the book until this point.

So, in chapter 3 verse 14 it says, “…..for this reason I kneel before the Father from whom his whole family, in heaven and on earth, derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches, he may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you being rooted and established in love may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. And to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 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, to him be glory in the church and in Jesus Christ throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.”