 So the first section that we're going to look at is called the economy of salvation administered in him and we're going to be looking at Ephesians chapter 1 verses 3 through 14 that big Chunk the next section is union in Christ's exaltation which is going to involve his Resurrection his ascension and his session at the right hand of the father and then being created a new in Christ That's in Ephesians chapter 2 verses 1 through 10 and then the rest of chapter 2 is the next section a wall torn down to build one temple in him Following that in section 4 we're going to look at the dwelling place of Christ He dwells in our hearts by faith and you'll see that in Ephesians chapter 3 verses 14 through 19 that little chunk at the end of Ephesians chapter 3 and then we're going to look at the fifth section the growth Of the body and that's in Ephesians chapter 4 14 through 16 that little section there and then we're going to look at the sixth section, which is Ephesians chapter 5 22 through 32 and that of course is on the meaning and purpose of God's ordinance and marriage so let's look at the first section here and I want to try and stick really close to this outline that I've created so Let's read together Ephesians chapter 1 verses 3 through 14 So if you have your Bible open up to Ephesians chapter 1 and we're going to start at verse 3 and I'm reading from Nazb 95 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before him in Love he predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to himself according to the kind intention of his will to the praise of the glory of his grace Which he freely bestowed on us in the beloved in him We have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of our trespasses According to the riches of his grace which he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of his will according to the kind intention Which he purposed in him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times that is the summing up of all things in Christ things in heavens and the things on the earth in Him also We have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to his purpose who works all things after the counsel of his will To the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of his glory In him you also you see how many times is saying in him in Christ through him these are This is diction that revolves around this topic of union with Christ in him verse 13 You also After listening to the message of the truth the gospel of your salvation having also believed we hope that that's gonna happen this morning You were sealed in him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance With a view to the redemption of God's own possession to the praise of his glory so let's think about an outline for Ephesians chapter 1 verses 3 through 14 and As I was thinking about this it struck me that really the outline is in verse 3 Paul gives us an outline of this paragraph so verse 3 Blessed be the God and father that's verses 4 through 6 of Our Lord Jesus Christ That's verses 7 through 12 Who has blessed us with every spiritual now spiritual is that word should be capitalized in your Bible? It has it means of or pertain pertaining to the work of the Holy Spirit so Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ and that's in Verses 13 through 14 and that in Christ at the end of that verse Describes what he's gonna be talking about throughout the entire paragraph everything is about being blessed in Christ the work of the Father Son and Holy Spirit does that make sense? Yes, okay, cool So if you look at your first point under section number one salvation Chosen by the Father in him we're gonna learn about what each person of the Trinity is responsible for in our salvation what each person's role was so Let me read a little Excerpt to you out of this really awesome book. It's called from heaven. He came in solder This is um one of the first book books that I read as a as a newly saved Christian might have might have even been Responsible for my salvation this book awesome book It's about the atonement of Christ and listen to what he says on page 334 this book. He says Soteriology often referred to as the economy of salvation may appear to be a systematic category But it has biblical roots The word economy is used in Ephesians 110. He quotes it as an economy and the word is Oikonomion that's the Greek word so clearly we get our word economy from this Greek word oikonomion As an economy of the fullness of time to unite all things in Christ He says the verse is a high point of Paul's paragraph in chapter 1 through 3 through 14 The word oikonomia Describes the manner in which God's plan is being worked out in human history as Fred Sanders writes When Paul talks about God's economy his point is that God is a supremely wise administrator Who's arranged the elements of his plan with great care in other words? God has a plan for salvation and here's his plan in Ephesians chapter 1 3 through 14 makes sense So we're gonna look at God's plan for our salvation and we're gonna find out that it's not only involving Jesus Christ It does involve the father and it does involve the Holy Spirit so verse 4 Just as he That he is referring to God the father just as He chose us in him Before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before him In love he predestined us to adoption as sons Through Jesus Christ to himself According to the kind intention of his will to the praise of the glory of his grace Which he freely bestowed on us in the beloved. Who's the beloved? Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is the beloved so What role does the father take in our salvation? the father chooses In other places he said to for ordain He predestines. He sets us apart in love. You see the father's work is Before the foundation of the work of the world Choosing a people for his own possession. That's what the father does. That's what the father is responsible for in our salvation and He does it in the beloved so in what sense can I say that I'm united to Jesus Christ Before the foundation of the world. I didn't even exist at that time So how in the world does Paul say that he chose us in the beloved before the foundation of the earth? He's able to say that because in the mind of God He chooses us to be united to Jesus Christ makes sense Union with Christ is something that takes place in time before I was saved when I was a fornicator and when I was a Habitual liar when I was a thief When I wouldn't when my life was characterized by these things I was not united to Christ. I got united to Christ in time When the Holy Spirit caused me to be born again and Yet before the foundation of the earth the father set me apart to be united to his son make sense Okay, let's look at verse 7 and for the sake of time. We'll just look at this one verse for the work of the son in him in Christ We have redemption Through his blood the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace Which he lavished on us So the work of the father is a predestining work. It's a setting apart work before the foundation of the earth The work of the son then the second person of the Trinity He was sent by the father to do what to die for his people Which people did he die for? He died for the people that God set apart. He died for the people that that God the father chose Make sense. So God the father chooses a people out of the world out of history He chooses a certain group and he sends Jesus Christ to be a propitiatory sacrifice on behalf of that group We have redemption through his blood. We're redeemed by the blood of Christ. Okay? The third person in the Trinity the Holy Spirit his work is seen in verse 13 in In him you also after listening to the message of the truth the gospel of your salvation having also believed You were sealed in him with the Holy Spirit of promise Now to be sealed can mean several things in the Bible to be sealed can mean It can be like marked as one's own possession It can mean like sealing a letter so that you're ensuring that something isn't tampered with from the outside It can be a pledge a down payment all of these things are spoken of in reference to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives so What does the father do the father? predestines He sends the son to die on behalf of those people that the father predestines and both the father and the son send the Holy Spirit to Regenerate the hearts of those same people. Does that make sense? Do you see how God isn't like a cavalier flippant like oh, I'll just you know sweep all their sins under the rug And I'm not gonna have a plan. I'll just you know flippantly. I'm gonna save a people That's not the way that the God works He had a systematic plan before the foundation of the earth as to how he was particularly Going to save a people the father predestines The son dies for those people and the Holy Spirit Regenerates and seals them. He's given as a pledge for their inheritance. Does that make sense? Yes. Okay, cool Let's move on to the second section Union in his exaltation now in Ephesians chapter 2 verses 1 through 10 We could talk about all kinds of things all kinds of things in reference to union with Christ But I wanted to look at something that maybe we haven't really thought about much as Christians and our Christian walk So as I'm teaching through this book, I want to hit on points that we might not think about very deeply because We need to be thinking about God's plan for salvation at a new level We need to be growing in our understanding. Does that make sense? So Ephesians chapter 2 Let's look at verse 4 But God But God being rich in mercy Because of his great love, you see how the love of God the God's love is a work of the father The love of God I'm sorry because of his great love with which he loved us Even when we were dead in our transgressions Made us alive together with Christ When was Christ made alive? You can say it. When was he made alive? I'm sorry He was made alive at his resurrection, right? Jesus died on the cross three days later. He rose again, and that's when he was made alive and Yet look at look at the next section of this verse He made us alive together with Christ by grace you've been saved and raised us up with him So then when was Christ raised up? What's the difference between Christ being raised up and him being made alive? What's the difference between those two things? They are talking Paul is talking about two different things To be made alive That's referring to Christ's resurrection To be raised up isn't referring to his resurrection. It's referring to his ascension. Yeah, that's right it's referring to his ascension and and Seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus So that in the ages to come he might show the surpassing riches of his grace and kindness toward us in Christ Jesus So I'm gonna like I said, I mean we could talk about all kinds of things in Ephesians chapter 2 1 through 10 but I'm gonna specifically look at the way in which we're united to him in the likeness of his resurrection a ascension and Session at the right hand of God makes sense so we know the We know the the what Paul is referring to when he says Christ was raised ascended and seated at the right hand of God But what are the corresponding truths? What are the counterparts in the Christian life? How are we united to Christ in the likeness of those things? Anybody got a mic to pass around how are we united to Christ in the likeness of his resurrection? What's the corresponding Christian truth? What is it that happens in my life as a result of my union with Christ in his resurrection? That's that's a question. Okay. We are sanctified So where you're going or that that's absolutely true. So we are sanctified like Like an Ephesians chapter 6 Our sanctification is a result of our resurrection with with Christ There's one very particular Noel. There's one very particular Truth in the Christian walk related to this We're made born again. We are Regenerated we are brought back from the dead Spiritually and eventually there will be a bodily resurrection as well. Yeah, that's exactly right It's both of those things. So the first if you caught what Noel said is we're Regenerated now it's called a resurrection Because a death took place When we're united to Christ we're united in likeness likeness of his death as well The old man is said to be crucified with Christ and What happens that at our conversion is we're raised with him and by what power Are we raised again to newness of life? It's by the same power that rose Jesus Christ from the dead Now at the consummation will receive a a new glorified body and our adoption to sons will be publicly demonstrated in receiving that glorified body and that's also considered the resurrection of the dead. Yeah, Tom Could you please expand on that a little bit more for us when you said that when you when you Connected Christ's resurrection with our regeneration Which comes first our union with him or regeneration That's a really really good question. So like I said There is a sense in which we're united to Christ before the foundation of the earth But our union with Christ happens at the time of conversion. So If I'm if I'm thinking about it rightly Because I wasn't really when I'm when I was looking at Ephesians 2. I'm not really thinking about the Ordo Saludus at that time I'm thinking about our union with him and the likeness of his resurrection I believe that we get regenerated and Logically following our regeneration is our union with Christ. It's but they all happen simultaneously in time. Does that make sense? Yes, okay. All right, let's look at So, how are we raised up with him? How are we ascended with Christ? What's the corresponding Christian truth to that? We never think about that. In fact, I was um, I was uh While I was studying this text pacing around trying to What in the world does that mean we're raised up with him? We are ascended with Christ. What does that mean? Look at Colossians chapter 3 really quick And verse 1 if you can keep up with my flipping Therefore if you have been Raised up with Christ. I think he's referring to the same thing if you've been raised up with Christ Keep seeking the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God Now if you don't know, um, what corresponding Christian, um, what corresponding truth Is to that? In your Christian walk, that's okay Um, what it what I was struck with was how unworthy I was of it um, it's a matter of status and stature like um When when Christ was ascending What he was actually doing was he was approaching the throne of God to take his rightful place His place of authority And his place of intercession at the right hand of God um We ascend with Christ um That should humble you as a Christian You know you ascend with Christ in status um, why why in the world me, you know, um When I've plumbed the depths of sin Um, the fact that God would condescend so low to unite me to his son and cause his son to ascend to the throne um And I ascend with him that is a um Whatever it is, it's breathtaking Right, it's breathtaking. It is amazing um so He causes us to be resurrected with Christ and to ascend with Christ and lastly He causes us to be seated with him in the heavenly places Jesus Christ is sitting on a throne right now and he's sitting down. Why is he sitting down? Because the work that he accomplished on this earth when he became incarnate is finished now. Um He was given a place of authority When he sat down at the right hand of God and yet he said to be waiting for his enemies To be made a footstool for his feet, right? So have all of christ's enemies enemies yet been subject to not underneath his feet No, that happens at the second return of christ That happens at the second return of christ when he establishes his um millennial reign. You see um In uh in colossians chapter two. He said to uh, what is the verbiage that's used? He said Flipping all over the place here Gentiles eat pork chops. Okay colossians comes last um It says when he had disarmed the the rulers and authorities This is colossians 215. He made a public display of them having triumphed over them through him um christ, uh He overpowered he overcame Several enemies at his death. He overcame the world the flesh and the devil Um Spiritually at first and then it'll be consummated when he returns. You see So with christ my flesh is subdued Jesus christ subdued and subjected my flesh The old man he became an authority um, and he Conquered my flesh He also conquered this world the powers of this world And he conquered the work of um the devil in my life And I reign with christ in those ways. Does that make sense? Yes um That should be uh, that should be your consideration When you're thinking about your battle against your sin, you're seated with christ in the heavenly places This sin doesn't have any dominion over you okay Let's look at the next section for the sake of time I hope that's um refreshing to you Think about it like when do we talk about uh our union with christ in the likeness of his resurrection? Ascension and session at the right hand of god. We should be thinking about those things and I don't really think we do I say that because I don't but that um, that's encouraging that should that should Make you rejoice Yeah, ryan I was just thinking how I don't either And I noticed paul like in verse five of clausians chapter three says therefore put to death your members Which are on the earth? So you can see his mentality is that he's seated in the heavenly places So when he looks at fornication unclean his passion evil desire, he thinks of it is on the earth It's like uh, how many of us say I'm putting to death that my uh my sins are my my flesh, which is on the earth You know like because we don't think of ourselves as as seated spiritually with christ Amen, that's very encouraging. Thank you All right third section I titled this a wall torn down To build one temple in him. Yeah, brianna Is there a categorical difference between union with ascension and session? Yeah, yes. So like can you kind of explain that a little bit more? um Yeah, and and to be perfectly honest with you like, uh, I was racking my brain over this and I couldn't find any material on it so um When I was thinking about it like uh when the bible speaks of his ascension It's uh, it's the period of time between his resurrection and his session so um And yet all three of those periods are identified by theologians as all all three are identified as his exaltation So if you look at a flippians chapter two if you're looking at um, uh, Psalm chapter 16 psalm chapter 22 um The ascension of christ, I I believe is referring to um like uh The way that after a coronation ceremony a king would um This is just a picture a king would climb the steps to the throne. That is essentially what his ascension was um, it's so in my mind um in my mind Uh the way that I'm supposed to apply that to my life is um, it's a it's an ascension of status Like I'm ascending to the throne um Uh, so that's why it was humbling to me now. Um, I'm uh willing and open and uh ready to receive instruction on that because I don't think that I fully understand it So does that make sense? Okay, cool Ephesians chapter two And uh, I've I've blocked out Ephesians two and three sec, uh three different sections The second half, um versus 11 through 12 is um describing the context. So it's an exclusive Covenant community that would be the jews And it's called exclusive because the Gentiles are outside Versus 13 through 18 Is referring to how the barrier between those two groups is broken down in christ And then verses 19 through 22 as a result one people one temple of god in christ make sense Yes, okay. Thank you. Ephesians two. Let's look at the context 11 through 12 Therefore remember that formerly you he's talking to Ephesians here Greeks Therefore remember that formerly you the Gentiles in the flesh He speaks of in the flesh because spiritually they were Jews But in the flesh they were Gentiles Who are called the uncircumcision by the so-called circumcision? Which is performed in the flesh by human hands? Paul is hitting on the point that the work of circumcision is a temporal fleshly shadowy picture of a Spiritual reality. That's why he's kind of like repeating himself. He says it's performed in the flesh by human hands Because there is a circumcision that's not performed in the flesh and that is not performed by human hands That's called the circumcision of the heart regeneration Verse 12 remember that you were at that time separate from christ excluded from the common wealth of israel and strangers to the covenants of the promise Having no hope and without god in the world. That's the context of what paul's about to say to these uh Ephesians to these Greeks he's saying um under the old covenant There was one people of god Which were a biologically related people the jews the nation of the jews And you ephesians were at that time during the old covenant Dispensation you were at that time separate from christ excluded from the common wealth of israel. Why? Because you weren't included in the people of god under that uh administration under that covenant Does that make sense? That's what paul's saying. So Uh, what is the solution? Verse 13 but now In christ jesus you who formerly were far off Have been brought near by the blood of christ Amen, that's very encouraging. How are we brought near to god? Not in proximity. He's everywhere How are we brought near to god in relation by the blood of christ? Verse 14 for he himself is our peace who made both groups who were the two groups? The jews and the gentiles he made both of these groups the jews and the gentiles What did he do do with them? He made both groups into one And broke down the barrier of the dividing wall by abolishing in his flesh the enmity Which is the law of commandments contained in ordinances So that in himself he might make the two jews and gentiles into one new man Thus establishing peace and might reconcile them both in one body to god through the cross By it having put to death the enmity. So what's paul talking about here? He says you Ephesians Gentiles were excluded from the commonwealth of israel. You weren't recipients of the promises of god under the old covenant So what did jesus christ do when he came? jesus christ made both groups into one We should always be willing to put aside our presuppositions when we come to the word of god always Because what do i want to know? What theological position do i need to hold to? This one Ephesians 2 verse 13 But now in christ jesus you who you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of christ For he himself is our peace who made both groups into one and broke down the dividing wall What jesus christ did when he died when he united a people to himself is he made two groups into one Who are the people of god? Everyone who's united to christ Under the old covenant There were jews who were lost You know like sol sol was a king of israel. He was lost He was circumcised. He was of the tribe of benjamin. He was lost You're telling me Somebody who was in covenant with god was lost was not a recipient of all these promises That's exactly right like um, uh, not a recipient of the prompt the eternal promises the spiritual promises The spiritual inheritance that we have the the inheritance of a christian sol The old testament king who was lost was not a recipient of those why because he wasn't united to christ So what jesus christ does when he unites the people to himself is he breaks down a barrier he breaks down a dividing wall, which is The old covenant system Of um entering into relationship with god There's a new covenant A new covenant and what hebrus chapter 8 says is when the new comes in with better promises it makes the old Obsolete that's right It's um, it's a grafting Into the tree of god Some branches were taken out When they were not fruitful when they were uh unbelieving Some branches were taken out even though they were branches. They were the people of god Those branches were taken out. They were pruned off And then other branches were grafted in who weren't originally a part of this tree That's uh, that's a picture of the covenant of god of god described in romans chapter 11. So Let's keep keep going. What's the result? So then verse 19 you are no longer strangers and aliens praise god But you are fellow because all of us are Gentiles. Okay, praise god You are no longer strained strangers and aliens, but you're fellow citizens with the saints and are of god's household Okay, introducing a new topic household. What are you talking about? Having been built built On the foundation foundation He's using construction type of terms right of the apostles and the prophets christ jesus himself being the the cornerstone That's what we're named after In whom in christ in the cornerstone the whole Building you see how he's using construction terms the whole building being fitted together and growing into a holy temple in the lord So what does christ do? At the ratification of the new covenant He makes this old covenant obsolete and everyone in the new covenant is considered The temple of god There's nothing about this temple Um, no there is no brick that has been placed on this temple that doesn't belong there Um God's building a temple right now you ever think about like why is this world still turning? Why doesn't god just you know Be done with it and start the new heavens and the new earth and it's because he's building a temple That's the reason that all of this is happening right now That's the reason that the world is still turning that reason Because he's still building his temple He's still adding it brick by brick and who are the bricks? What are the bricks? We are Each one of us in this room if you're a genuine believer in christ if you're really united christ, you're a brick I'm not calling you a brickhead. I'm just saying you're a part of the temple of god Okay, that should be encouraging you you are the temple of god. I'm the temple of god awesome Okay, let's look at ephesians chapter three go to um verse 14 There's so much to be said, you know, we're really blazing over this Okay, the vision is chapter three Verse 14 for this reason. I bow my knees before the father. What's he talking? He's To bow your knees. It's just a figure of speech. He doesn't mean really like I you know bow my knees and I You know do my little rosary, you know, he's not talking about that He says for this reason I bow my knees before the father because it's a figure of speech implying prayer This is why I pray that's what Excuse me. That's why that's what paul's saying verse 15 Before the father From whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory To be strengthened with power Through his spirit in the inner man Verse 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith And that you being rooted and grounded in love May be able to comprehend with all the saints. What is the breath? And the length and the height and the depth and to know the love of god which surpasses knowledge That you may be filled up to all the fullness of god um Real quick What it means for god to dwell some like, uh, let me let me ask you. What is it? Um, what is paul implying? When he says, uh, when he uses this word dwelling Christ dwells in your heart by faith What's he implying? Is that like, um, is that like Uh, this where's my bottle of water? Is that like this bottle of water like, um Like this vessel like i'm a human being in the way that that christ dwells in my heart is by filling me up physically Like he occupies the same space as my blood and my veins and my bones and my muscles and my tendons and my ligaments No, that's not what it means by dwelling. So what does he mean? What's he referring to when he says that christ dwells in our hearts by faith Somebody take a shot at that well, we were we remember I remember from um The last book we did can't remember. Um, that god is everywhere and nowhere in particular So it can't mean what you were saying, but um in that last book it pointed out him dwelling with us covenantally Um in a personal way with his people Amen, that's exactly right. Um, so it doesn't mean spatially Okay, I I thought that for so many years That that's what it meant to be filled with the holy spirit that that's what it meant For him to dwell in me to abide in me It's not what it means. It's not spatial. Okay. God is everywhere You see he dwells in dogs. He dwells in uh the ground He dwells in this air like God is everywhere. All of him is everywhere all at once. That's what his omnipresence is That's what his omnipresence is referring to um So it's not spatial it's um, it's referring to all of this uh uh theology that's undergirding that one statement Covenantly dwelling The temple of god doing a personal work You see that's what he refers to when he says dwelling So what does it mean that christ dwells in our hearts by faith? It means when you exercise faith in christ um He does a he he is doing a personal work in you And he dwells in you as his temple individually um You individually And corporately Are the temple of christ So what's the second point under this? It's involved with our union with him, but um It's a result of it and I cannot look at Ephesians chapter three without looking at this verse. Okay verse um 18 We'll look at verse 17. So uh, he dwells in our hearts through faith. Why? um, so that we may be able verse 18 to comprehend With all the saints. What is the breath? This is a special text What is the breath? and length and height And depth and to know the love of god. I'm sorry the love of christ Which surpasses knowledge that you may be filled up to all the fullness of god What's the result of us being united to christ? um, there is A love of christ which has to it what paul refers to as a breath And the length And the height And a depth The love of christ has these different parameters which extend infinitely and What's the application of that? Well, let me ask you. Let me work backwards to depth Have you ever um in your christian walk? um, experienced your own um, uh sin and um Trespassing against god's law for a period of time that you felt so low low The psalmist in psalm 130 he said the first verse of this of this chapter No context. He says out of the depth. So i've cried to you, oh god Why does he say that because of his sin his sin makes him to feel low And you know what there is a love of god which has a depth that goes even lower to the lowest steps that you could reach That sits under you and holds you up make sense There is a height to the love of god no matter what trial you're going through christian or what persecution you're experiencing No matter how tall it seems you're not able to get over this thing There's a love of god which has a height to it which goes even farther above it There is a length To the love of god no matter how far away you feel from him You feel cold and you feel distant and your arm is just too short to reach out to him His love extends further and he's able to reach out to you And there's a breath there's a breath to the love of christ Which is um when you're experiencing something a trial a persecution whatever it may be which seems so wide that you can't get around it There's a breath There's a breath to the love of christ which goes even around that and can reach you does that make sense Does that not warm your heart and humble you that um the result of our union with christ is he's never gonna let you go And his love for you has a depth and a height and a length and a breath to it his love In union with you is suitable and answerable to any difficulty that you can experience in this life Praise god That right there is the most special thing that i've um that i've read in in the book of Ephesians. Excuse me That and maybe um the ascension with christ Even though i totally uh don't totally comprehend it Let's look at um Ephesians 4 14 through 16 We'll actually start at verse uh Let's start at verse 10 He who descended Is himself also he who ascended far above all the heavens So that he might fill all things And he gave some as apostles And some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as pastors and teachers For the equipping of the saints for the working uh i'm sorry for the work of service To the building up of the body of christ Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of god to a mature man To the measure of the stature which belongs To the fullness of christ that's the background of what we're about to read In other words christ ascended he gave gifts gifts to the church And um the purpose of those gifts is so that he can unite us all together in the body of christ Okay, so that we can grow to a unity of the faith and uh and how does he put it he says So that we may attain To the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of god to a mature man To the measure of the stature Which belongs to the fullness of christ As a result verse 14 we're no longer to be children Tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men by Craftiness and deceitful scheming, but speaking truth. I'm sorry speaking the truth in love Here it is We are to grow up In all aspects into him Who is the head Even christ what's in what sense is he ahead? He's ahead of his body, which is the church From whom from this head from christ the whole body us Being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies According to the proper working of each individual part. We are going to look at that Causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love Who causes the growth of the body? It's the head. It's jesus christ Who is the body? His people the church every saved person Every saved person found in local churches. Okay So let's look at a couple things here Um as you know paul has been he's had this uh this theme of I'm sorry the temple of god in these chapters He's had that theme underlying there It's here too But instead of uh referring to himself as the cornerstone He refers to himself as the head And instead of referring to us as the bricks He refers to us as the body now it's uh It may seem to you as ironic That beforehand He said that we were the temple now. He calls us the body So let me ask you a question is the body of christ and the temple of christ the same thing Yes No, are they two different things? They're the same thing. They're the same thing. Let's look at um And and i'm gonna surprise you right now. Let's look at john chapter two real quick john chapter two if you can Flip there and We're gonna look at verse 18 This is after jesus christ goes into the temple and he's whipping around with a uh Uh, uh, uh, what was it called a whip? Okay. It's a whip And uh verse 18 the jews then said to him what sign do you show as your authority for doing these things? He just went into the temple started whipping because they were making his The house of god a robber's den his house of prayer a robber's den So they say what sign do you show us of your authority to do that? Jesus's response is really interesting. He's gonna. Um, he's gonna give them a sign the sign of jonah. He says Destroy this temple and in three days i'll raise it up now. Let me ask you What's he referring to when he says destroy this temple and in three days i'll raise it up his body Now isn't it interesting That in Ephesians we find that his body is the church And his body the church is the temple and here he's responding to the Pharisees And he's speaking of his body his human nature and he says this body is the temple and it's the body of christ Um, there is so much theology there and it's a theology of union with christ His human nature is the temple of god. Think about it the dwelling place of god um god At the introduction of the new testament god the sun um veiled Himself in a human nature He Dwelled in a human nature He made uh, he tabernacled among us His human nature is the temple. You see yeah, noel I just have a question to clarify In jon chapter two And i want to make sure that i'm understanding you correctly So i'm really what i'm looking for is for clarification Are you saying that in jon chapter two when he says the body he's referring to The body of christ as in us the believers or just his physical body or both Good question. I mean, uh, I think he's talking about his physical body, you know, he's talking about his human nature. He's not he's not He is not talking about the church there and yet by virtue of our union with him. We died with him We did we did die with him destroy this temple. Were we destroyed at christ's death? Yes, because we were united to him. You see but he was talking about his human nature. Okay Um for the sake of time, let's look at um, ephesians five. Let's move on Ephesians five Verse 25 This is the last section and i titled it christ's one flesh with his bride Husbands love your wives. We've got a responsibility husbands Just as christ also loved the church and gave himself up for her So that he might sanctify her having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word That he might present to himself the church in all her glory having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing But but that she would be holy and blameless so husbands Aught also to love their own wives as their own bodies. There it is again Uh, a husband's bride is to be loved like a husband's own body. There's a reason for that Okay, um So husband's also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies Uh, let's skip down for a little bit For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife And the two shall become one flesh What what's that verse referring to that verse is referring To jesus and his bride see This mystery is great, but i'm speaking with reference To christ and the church i'm almost out of time So i'm gonna turn to song of salomon chapter one and verse four The bride is speaking and she says to her husband Draw me after you and let us run together The king has brought me into his chambers um because we're out of time This should be um a point of meditation for you like i said at the beginning We're going to talk about things that we don't normally think about and the bible speaks in unequivocal terms the bible speaks very um Brutally it speaks straightforward. It doesn't hold back things that god designed for our good Intimacy is one of those things. We shouldn't be afraid to talk about intimacy in the church because god's not afraid to talk about it in his word make sense um uh intimacy Is natural revelation or general revelation intimacy Is supposed to teach us something there is a spiritual reality that is the counterpart of intimacy and our special revelation interprets that for us So what does paul say in um first chrithians Chapter five he who's united himself to christ has become one spirit with him union with christ Is the spiritual counterpart to intimacy and um We're out of time, but that should be a something that you meditate on husbands wives um He designed intimacy for a purpose Single men single women you should think about that like um, there's a purpose to it. It's not um purposeless meaningless Um, but god designed it to communicate something to us. Okay? Let's uh, let's pray You are so merciful. Oh god We are so thankful to you for your special revelation How you teach us um from your word about yourself We are um Very far beneath you, but there's a love that reaches down even farther We are so grateful to you We lift up our hearts and praise to you speechless before your word as you tell us of all the wonderful things that you've planned for us