Manly Luscombe Commentary on NT
Ephesians 3:1-21
CHAPTER 3
Paul describes himself as:
The ____________ of Jesus Christ
For the ____________.
We are living in the _________________ of the grace of God. A dispensation is a period of _______ given to certain events.
The ________ which saves has been reveled to Paul to share with others. ______________ means to make known. The grace of God is a ___________ until it is explained. Then we _______________ and have _____________.
In previous ________, or dispensations, this information was not made known. Through Paul, and the ____________ and ___________, it has been revealed. The work of revelation is a task that belongs to the _________.
This revealtion is not limited to one nation. The ____________ can:
1. Share as __________ - ________.
2. Be members of the same ________.
3. Partake of the ____________ in Christ.
This is why Paul was made a ____________. He had a _______ to share the grace of God. This work was given by the _____________ working of God's _________.
Paul demonstrates his ____________ by realizing that he is the ________ of all saints. His ability is not from himself. It was _________ to him from God. His work: Preach to the ___________. His message: The unsearchable _________ of Christ.
He wanted to help all men see the _____________ of the ___________. Since the ______________ of the world, this mystery has been hidden. God, who __________ all things, knew what the plan of salvation was.
It was the __________ of God to make known the ____________ wisdom of God through the __________. God wanted all to know:
1. ___________________.
2. Powers in _____________ places.
3. To both Jews and _____________.
NOTE: The only _________________ authorized to preach the gospel of grace is the church. All evangelism is to be done thorugh the church.
This is part of the ___________ of God. This plan was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. It was in the __________ plan. God had already decided to send Jesus Christ.
In Christ we have many rich blessings, including:
1. ______________.
2. ___________.
3. ______________.
4. And _________.
With all these _____________, we should not ________. These _________________ should not cause our faith to be weak.
Paul explains his reason for rejoicing. He states that there is a ________. He describes worship as bowing the _________.
The __________ is a family. Families wear the _______ of the Father. This is the name of all in the ___________ of God, both those in __________ and those on _________.
Our Father is ______. He will __________ to us:
1. The riches of his _________.
2. Strengthened with __________.
3. Indwelling of his ____________.
4. An __________ _______ of strength.
To those who are in God's family, _________ dwells in our hearts. This dwelling is by ________. The purpose of this indwelling is two-fold.
1. That we might be ____________.
2. That we might be ____________ in love.
Paul prays that we might be able to _______________ the four directions of love.
1. _____________. 2. _______________.
3. _____________. 4. _______________.
Also, we must _______ the love of Christ. His love ___________ our knowledge. Christians will be ___________ with the fulness of God.
Here is a __________________, a closing prayer. God is able to:
1. ____________. 2. _____________.
3. ________________. 4. _____________.
5. All we ________. 6. All we __________.
All of this is done _____________ to the power that is at _______ in us.
All our praise and ________ belong to God. This praise is to be found in the _________. This is the plan of God for all ________. Even when the _________ ends, the glory of God will continue.