Knowing Christ Series

Ephesians Series - #2 - Knowing Christ

Ephesians 1:15-23

Knowing Christ. What does that look like? And What is it that we need to know so that we can continue on in growing in Him and being used by Him?

Love – Evidence of Knowing Christ (v. 15-16)

Know Him More (v. 17)

Know more of His Hope (v. 18a)

Know more of His Riches (v. 18b)

Know more of His Power (v. 19-23)

Intro

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So glad to be enjoying some nice weather finally! We started our summer series through Ephesians last week and we talked about all of the blessings we have in Christ.

We saw that we have been blessed with

a New Identity,

a New Freedom,

a new Purpose and

a new Power.

God has provided all of these to us who are “in Christ.”

We are going to jump right in today and take a look at the rest of chapter 1 and we are going to see how excited Paul is that the Ephesian saints are “in Christ” and we are going to take a look at what Paul prays for these saints who are in Christ.

And even as Paul prays this for the saints in Ephesus, this is a prayer that does not only apply to them, but is a prayer for every believer in Jesus Christ through the millennia even to today for you and I!

So turn with me to Ephesians 1:15-23

Slide

I want us today to learn what Paul has to say and to pray and so that we too might live out our faith in the Lord now and forever as we continue to know Christ better and learn what it means to know Him more.

Now Paul has just finished telling the Ephesian Christians about all the blessings they have in Christ and he goes on beginning in Ephesians 1:15 and says…

Ephesians 1:15-23

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Pray

Ok Paul starts out this passage saying, “For this reason.” He is going back to what he previously spoke to them about which was the blessings they have in Christ and He is confident that they have been included in Christ.

Question

How can Paul, or anyone for that matter, be confident about someone else’s faith?

I mean, isn’t faith invisible? Is there some sort of mark that would tell us who is of faith and who is not?

Well, for starters it is important to understand that real faith isn’t invisible.

Real faith in Christ is visible in a person’s life.

How is it visible? What is the evidence that someone knows Christ? - Love

Love is the evidence of knowing Christ

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Ephesians 1:15…ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints

The Ephesians love for the saints is evidence of their faith.

Their visible love for others is the evidence that they know Christ.

This is not the only place we read about this. It is the clear teaching of Scripture throughout the Bible.

Jesus says in

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John 13:35 - By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

It is the Ephesians love for people that Paul is excited about and the reason he cannot stop giving thanks for them.

Love is the first fruit of the Spirit and should be evident in our lives.

Apply

Let me ask you, would Paul be able to stop giving thanks for you?

Is your love for others visible?

I am sure that some of you may have heard this before, but if someone were to look at your life, would they be able to identify you as a Christian by your love for people?