The document outlines a sermon given at First Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi on Ephesians 3:14-21, discussing how Paul prays that believers would be strengthened by the Holy Spirit, have Christ dwell in their hearts through faith, comprehend God's vast love, and be filled with God's fullness. It also provides references, an outline of Ephesians, background on the passage, and explanations of key verses before closing with encouragement to know God's salvation through faith in Christ.

1. Ephesians 3:14-21
Residence
The Love of Christ in Us
October 6, 2019
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

2. What’s the number one thing?
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3. The Glory of God!
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4. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you
do, do all to the glory of God.
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5. References
•MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Study Bible
(Nashville, Nelson Publishing, 1997).
•Palmer, Edwin H., The NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids,
Zondervan, 1985).
•Missler, Dr. Chuck, Ephesians, Session 5, Koinonia
House Ministries, YouTube Channel.

6. Outline of Ephesians
•Chapters 1-3:
‒Emphasis on the doctrine of Christianity.
‒What we are in Christ; our position in Christ.
•Chapters 4-6:
‒Our duty and responsibilities of Christian behavior.
‒Our response to Christ living in us.

8. Introduction to Ephesians 3:14-21
•Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus was written from
a prison in Rome.
•Paul wrote to describe to the Jews and Gentiles how
they are now “One” in Christ.
•This “one body of believers” is called the church with
Christ as the cornerstone.
•Christ lives in them through the power of the Holy
Spirit.

9. Ephesians 3:14-15 NKJV
14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in
heaven and earth is named,
•Paul is writing a prayer to the church, “I bow on my
knees…”

10. “For this reason” (Verse 14)
•Because of their new identity in Christ, believers are…
- Spiritually alive. (Ephesians 2:5)
- Unified into God’s household. (Ephesians 2:19)
- As a church, they are the dwelling place of God in the
Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)

11. “For this reason” (Verse 14)
•Paul has revealed a mystery in Christ.
- Ephesians 3:6 NKJV
6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the
same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ
through the gospel,
- The gospel of Christ has made Gentile believers the
heirs of the promises of God to Israel and the
unsearchable riches of Christ.

12. “For this reason” (Verse 14)
•Paul explains a purpose for the church.
- Ephesians 3:10 NKJV
10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God
might be made known by the church to the
principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
- The church (believers in Christ) display the wisdom
of God to the angels (both holy and unholy).
- The fallen angels see the glory of God in the
salvation and preservation of the church.

13. “whole family in heaven and earth” (Verse 15)
•Referring to believers from every era of history.
•Those who are physically dead, but their spirits are in
heaven and those of us who are alive on earth.

14. Paul will now pray for 4 spiritual traits for the
believers and the church (Verses 16-19)
1. To be strengthened.
2. That Christ may dwell in your hearts.
3. To comprehend.
4. To be filled.

15. Ephesians 3: 16-17 NKJV
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of
His glory, to be strengthened with might through His
Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your
hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and
grounded in love,

16. “to be strengthened with might through His
Spirit in the inner man”
•Paul is describing the process of “sanctification”,
where our faith becomes stronger as we grow in
Christ.
•The Holy Spirit guides this growth and strengthening
as we read the Bible and focus on living for Christ.
•The contrast of life is that as our outer body grows
weaker with age, our inner spirit becomes stronger.

17. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NKJV
Sanctification
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our
outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being
renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but
for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the
things which are seen, but at the things which are not
seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the
things which are not seen are eternal.

18. “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through
faith” (Verse 17)
•Every believer is indwelt by Christ at the moment of
salvation.
•Christ is “at home” in our hearts after cleansing from
sin and filled with His spirit.
•Romans 8:9a NKJV
9a But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if
indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.

19. Ephesians 3:17b-18 NKJV
17b that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may
be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the
width and length and depth and height—

20. “being rooted and grounded in love,” (Verse
17b)
• Paul describes the foundation that holds when the storms
of life come to believers.
• The foundation is love.
• Matthew 22:37
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with
all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’”
• 1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the
greatest of these is love.

21. “to comprehend with all the saints what is the
width and length and depth and height” (Verse 18)
• Paul uses geometric terms of 4 dimensions to try to
describe the expanse of God’s love.
• Can man fully comprehend the vastness of God’s love?
• John 3:16 and Romans 5:8 best describe the measure of
God’s love for man.
- John 3:16 NKJV
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life.”
- Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that
while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

22. Ephesians 3:19 NKJV
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge;
that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
•The paradox: “to know the love of Christ which passes
knowledge”
•Our human knowledge is limited, but God wants us to
experience the fullness of Him and His love.

23. The love of Christ is… (Only a few examples.)
•Unconditional – Romans 8:38-39.
•Inclusive – John 3:16 “whosoever.”
•Forgiving – 1 John 1:9.
•Providing – Matthew 6:33.
•Caring – Matthew 11:28.
•Comforting – 2 Corinthians 1:3.
•Everlasting – John 17:3-4.

24. Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV
The Doxology (Praise) in Paul’s Prayer.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according to the power
that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by
Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
•Ephesians 3:20 NIV
20 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,

25. Closing Thoughts
•God may have a purpose for our lives that we cannot
think or even imagine to bring glory to Him.
•The power of the Holy Spirit lives and works in us to
carry out these purposes both individually and as a
church.

26. Closing Scripture
Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according to the power
that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by
Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

27. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
John 3:16-17 NKJV
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His
Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the
world through Him might be saved.”
John 14:6 NKJV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through Me.”

28. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 3:23 NKJV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a NKJV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this
life to pay the penalty for our sin.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the “second death”
explained in Revelation 21:8.

29. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Revelation 21:8 NKJV
8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns
with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
• Anyone who’s lifestyle is one or more of the sins listed in Revelation 21:8,
will experience the “second death,” if they do not repent.
• To Repent means to turn around, to go in the opposite direction, to turn
away from sin and to come to Jesus.
Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us.

30. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 6:23b NKJV
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
Revelation 21:7 NKJV
7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will
be his God and he shall be My son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explain to us how to be overcomers.

31. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 10:9-10 NKJV
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and
believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto
righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.
Romans 10:13 NKJV
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

32. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Do you have questions?
Would you like to know more?
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900
or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/