The Strength ofthe Church

The Benefitsof “in”

How Do I Get “in”

The Mystery of “in”

The Strength of “in”

Strength “in” Walking

Strength “in” Marriage

Strength “in” Battle

The Benefits of Being “in” Christ

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places...”

(Ephesians 1:3, ESV)

What Being “in” Christ Means

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God...”

(Ephesians 2:19, ESV; emphasis mine)

The Mystery of Christ

“This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

(Ephesians 3:6, ESV; emphasis mine)

The Strength of “in”

“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

(Ephesians 4.15-16; ESV)

The Strength in Walking

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

(Ephesians 5.1, 2, NKJV)

The Strength in Marriage

“This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

(Ephesians 5.32-33, NKJV)

Strength in Marriage - Submission

• Submission is the humble obedience to another’s will.

• The submission of the wife is to be as her submission to the Lord (Ephesians 5.22).

Strength in Marriage - Submission

• Each person is to submit themselves to God (James 4.7).

• This submission is as a result of the head (Ephesians 5.23)

• The wife’s submission is as the church submits to Christ (Ephesians 5.24)

Strength in Marriage - Love

• Husbands are to love their wives in the same manner that Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5.25, 28).

– Christ gave himself for the church (Ephesians 5.25).

– Christ made the church a priority (Ephesians 5.25-27).

– Christ did whatever it took to make the church glorious (Ephesians 5.28, 29)

Strength in Marriage - Love

• There is sacrifice in leaving father and mother and joining with another (opposite gender, of course) to become one. (Ephesians 5.31)

– The leaving and cleaving has to do with dependence.

Strength in Marriage - Love

• Paul’s proclaims the mystery of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5.32)

– Marriage is strengthened by Christ and the church and the marriage can strengthen the church. (one body and one flesh)

• Love and respect take physical, emotional, mental and spiritual sacrifice. (So does following God!)

The Strength in Marriage

“This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

(Ephesians 5.32-33, NKJV)

The Strength ofthe Church