Ephesians 1:1-2 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Friedrich "Fritz" Kreisler (February 2, 1875 - January 29, 1962) was an Austrian-born violinist and composer. One of the most famous violin masters of his or any other day, and regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time, he was known for his sweet tone and expressive phrasing.

Ephesians 1:1-2 Paul’s Authority (1a) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God “apostle” – one who is sent out; a representative; an ambassador

Acts 1:21-22 21 Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us — 22 beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us — one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.

Ephesians 1:1-2 The work of an Apostle includes: Paul’s Authority (1a) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God The work of an Apostle includes: preaching the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:17), teaching and praying (Acts 6:4), performing miracles to authenticate their message (2 Corinthians 12:12), building up other leaders of the church (Acts 14:23), and writing the Word of God (Ephesians 1:1).

2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Matthew 28:19-20 19 Go [having been sent out] therefore and make disciples [learners/followers of Jesus] of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit [your authority], 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you [your mission]; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age [your confidence].

Ephesians 1:1-2 Paul’s Authority (1a) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God “by the will of God” – God’s idea, God’s choice, God’s purpose, God’s intent; God’s desire Note 1 Timothy 1:12-16

Ephesians 1:1-2 “Saints” – holy ones; set apart ones Paul’s Audience (1b) …To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus “Saints” – holy ones; set apart ones To be a saint is about who God sees you as (holy) but also what God expects (holiness)

Sanctified – made holy… By God’s eternal decree Ephesians 1:4 - just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him…   By the blood of Christ’s atonement Hebrews 10:14 - For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. By the grace and power of God the Holy Spirit in the new birth 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 - 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Ephesians 1:1-2 “Saints” – holy ones; set apart ones Paul’s Audience (1b) …To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus “Saints” – holy ones; set apart ones “Faithful in Christ Jesus” – living out what they believe. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Ephesians 1:1-2 “grace” – God’s undeserved, unmerited favor Paul’s Acknowledgement (2a) Grace to you and peace…. “grace” – God’s undeserved, unmerited favor Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. (Colossians 4:6)

Ephesians 1:1-2 “grace” – God’s undeserved, unmerited favor Paul’s Acknowledgement (2a) Grace to you and peace…. “grace” – God’s undeserved, unmerited favor “peace” – well-being from God. “grace is the fountain of which peace is the stream…” - MacArthur “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Romans 5:1)

Ephesians 1:1-2 God our Father The Lord Jesus Christ Paul’s Agent (2b) …from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. God our Father The Lord Jesus Christ “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)

How Do I Live Like A Rich Man In Christ? Remind yourself daily that you are a sinner saved by God’s life-transforming, saving grace. Ephesians 2:4-7 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

How Do I Live Like A Rich Man In Christ? Wash yourself daily in the Word of God. Make sure you are spending adequate time filling your mind with the truth of God. Ephesians 5:25-26 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word…

How Do I Live Like A Rich Man In Christ? Intentionally speak to others of the work and glories of Christ. Ephesians 4:24-25 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. 25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.