March 18, 2018 Pastor Kenton Rahn
“The Infinite Love of Christ” Ephesians 3:17-19 Context of Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians City of Ephesus • In Paul’s day it was the third largest city in the Roman Empire, with a population of about 250,000. • Emperor Augustus made it the capital of the province of Asia Minor. • Major commercial port on the Aegean coast – in the southwestern corner of modern day Turkey. • Famous for its Temple of Artemis – one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Paul’s Time in Ephesus • Paul spent a total of three years ministering in Ephesus (Acts 20:31). He visited briefly at the end of his 2nd missionary journey (Acts 18:19-21), and the city became his headquarters during his 3rd journey (Acts 19:1-20:1, 31). • Paul lectured daily at the Hall of Tyrannus and a great number of people heard the word of the Lord (Acts 19:9-10). • Paul clashed with the artisans who manufactured shrines of Artemis, and he left the city when mobs began attacking Christians. (Acts 19:23-41) Date of the Letter • Paul wrote Ephesians during his first Roman imprisonment between AD 60-62 (Eph 3:1, 4:1). • This is one of Paul’s four “Prison Epistles” – along with Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon. • Ephesians was written around AD 61 or 62. Recipients of the Letter • The words “in Ephesus” are not in some of the oldest and most reliable manuscripts. • Ephesians was probably a “circular letter” that was written to Ephesus and several other churches in the province of Asia. • Support for that theory = (1) No personal greetings, (2) No specific references to historical circumstances in Ephesus, (3) No salutations to believers in Ephesus. Purpose of the Letter • General in character, universal in scope • Great theme = the nature & unity of the Church • Emphasis on our position in Christ. “In Christ” used at least 20 times. • Emphasis on knowing and walking in God’s love. Over 1/6 of Paul’s references to love occur in the Book of Ephesians.
The Infinite Love of Christ Ephesians 3:17-19… “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.” Pray that God would show you His love. • Rooted and established in love – God’s love for you is the foundational truth upon which all other truths must build! • See also 1 John 4:7-8, 19 Meditate on the nature of God’s love. 1. How wide is God’s love? (It is infinite and sacrificial.) “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12) 2. How long is God’s love? (It is eternal and intimate.) “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” (Jeremiah 31:3) 3. How high is God’s love? (It is unconditional and priceless.) “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him.” (Psalm 103:11) 4. How deep is God’s love? (It is emotional and delightful.) “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17) Conclusion: “The greatest sorrow and burden you can lay on the Father, the greatest unkindness you can do to Him, is to not believe that He loves you.” (John Owen) Discussion Questions 1. How did the sermon help give you a better understanding of the Book of Ephesians? 2. Why do you think so many people have a hard time feeling God’s love? 3. Has God ever revealed his love for you in a special way that helped you understand and experience it more deeply? 4. In your own words, how would you describe God’s love?
Gleanings from Paul’s Epistles -- Next Week’s Reading: The Book of Philippians © 2018 Campus Bible Church, Fresno, CA 93726 | www.campusbiblechurch.com
