Hearing a sermon is not like hearing a lecture. It is your meeting with the living Christ. It is you seeing His glory, so that you can feel it and be changed by it. Let’s pay attention to Him and what He means a sermon to be, lest we miss Him.
Ray Ortlund

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians

{1:1} Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, tothe saints that are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus: {1:2}Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.{1:3} Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, whohath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places]in Christ: {1:4} even as he chose us in him before the foundation ofthe world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him inlove: {1:5} having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through JesusChrist unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, {1:6}to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on usin the Beloved: {1:7} in whom we have our redemption through his blood,the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of hisgrace, {1:8} which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom andprudence, {1:9} making known unto us the mystery of his will, accordingto his good pleasure which he purposed in him {1:10} unto adispensation of the fulness of the times, to sum up all things inChrist, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; inhim, [I say,] {1:11} in whom also we were made a heritage, having beenforeordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all thingsafter the counsel of his will; {1:12} to the end that we should be untothe praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ: {1:13} inwhom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of yoursalvation,– in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with theHoly Spirit of promise, {1:14} which is an earnest of our inheritance,unto the redemption of [God’s] own possession, unto the praise of hisglory. {1:15} For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in theLord Jesus which is among you, and the love which [ye show] toward allthe saints, {1:16} cease not to give thanks for you, making mention [ofyou] in my prayers; {1:17} that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, theFather of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation inthe knowledge of him; {1:18} having the eyes of your heart enlightened,that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches ofthe glory of his inheritance in the saints, {1:19} and what theexceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according tothat working of the strength of his might {1:20} which he wrought inChrist, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at hisright hand in the heavenly [places], {1:21} far above all rule, andauthority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, notonly in this world, but also in that which is to come: {1:22} and heput all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be headover all things to the church, {1:23} which is his body, the fulness ofhim that filleth all in all.

{2:1} And you [did he make alive,] when ye were dead through yourtrespasses and sins, {2:2} wherein ye once walked according to thecourse of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air,of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience; {2:3} amongwhom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desiresof the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath,even as the rest:– {2:4} but God, being rich in mercy, for his greatlove wherewith he loved us, {2:5} even when we were dead through ourtrespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye beensaved), {2:6} and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him inthe heavenly [places], in Christ Jesus: {2:7} that in the ages to comehe might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward usin Christ Jesus: {2:8} for by grace have ye been saved through faith;and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; {2:9} not ofworks, that no man should glory. {2:10} For we are his workmanship,created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared thatwe should walk in them. {2:11} Wherefore remember, that once ye, theGentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which iscalled Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands; {2:12} that ye wereat that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth ofIsrael, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hopeand without God in the world. {2:13} But now in Christ Jesus ye thatonce were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ. {2:14} For heis our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall ofpartition, {2:15} having abolished in the flesh the enmity, [even] thelaw of commandments [contained] in ordinances; that he might create inhimself of the two one new man, [so] making peace; {2:16} and mightreconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, havingslain the enmity thereby: {2:17} and he came and preached peace to youthat were far off, and peace to them that were nigh: {2:18} for throughhim we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father. {2:19} Sothen ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye arefellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, {2:20}being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, ChristJesus himself being the chief corner stone; {2:21} in whom each severalbuilding, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in theLord; {2:22} in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation ofGod in the Spirit.

{3:1} For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalfof you Gentiles,– {3:2} if so be that ye have heard of thedispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you-ward; {3:3}how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrotebefore in few words, {3:4} whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive myunderstanding in the mystery of Christ; {3:5} which in other generationwas not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealedunto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; {3:6} [to wit], thatthe Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, andfellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,{3:7} whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of thatgrace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.{3:8} Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this gracegiven, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;{3:9} and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mysterywhich for ages hath been hid in God who created all things; {3:10} tothe intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in theheavenly [places] might be made known through the church the manifoldwisdom of God, {3:11} according to the eternal purpose which hepurposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: {3:12} in whom we have boldness andaccess in confidence through our faith in him. {3:13} Wherefore I askthat ye may not faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory.{3:14} For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father, {3:15} from whomevery family in heaven and on earth is named, {3:16} that he wouldgrant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may bestrengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; {3:17}that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye,being rooted and grounded in love, {3:18} may be strong to apprehendwith all the saints what is the breadth and length and height anddepth, {3:19} and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge,that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God. {3:20} Now unto himthat is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,according to the power that worketh in us, {3:21} unto him [be] theglory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for everand ever. Amen.

{4:1} I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walkworthily of the calling wherewith ye were called, {4:2} with alllowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another inlove; {4:3} giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in thebond of peace. {4:4} [There is] one body, and one Spirit, even as alsoye were called in one hope of your calling; {4:5} one Lord, one faith,one baptism, {4:6} one God and Father of all, who is over all, andthrough all, and in all. {4:7} But unto each one of us was the gracegiven according to the measure of the gift of Christ. {4:8} Whereforehe saith, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, And gavegifts unto men. {4:9} (Now this, He ascended, what is it but that healso descended into the lower parts of the earth? {4:10} He thatdescended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens,that he might fill all things.) {4:11} And he gave some [to be]apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastorsand teachers; {4:12} for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work ofministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ: {4:13} till weall attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Sonof God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of thefulness of Christ: {4:14} that we may be no longer children, tossed toand fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleightof men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; {4:15} but speakingtruth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head,[even] Christ; {4:16} from whom all the body fitly framed and knittogether through that which every joint supplieth, according to theworking in [due] measure of each several part, maketh the increase ofthe body unto the building up of itself in love. {4:17} This I saytherefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as theGentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind, {4:18} being darkenedin their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of theignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart;{4:19} who being past feeling gave themselves up to lasciviousness, towork all uncleanness with greediness. {4:20} But ye did not so learnChrist; {4:21} if so be that ye heard him, and were taught in him, evenas truth is in Jesus: {4:22} that ye put away, as concerning yourformer manner of life, the old man, that waxeth corrupt after the lustsof deceit; {4:23} and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind,{4:24} and put on the new man, that after God hath been created inrighteousness and holiness of truth. {4:25} Wherefore, putting awayfalsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbor: for we aremembers one of another. {4:26} Be ye angry, and sin not: let not thesun go down upon your wrath: {4:27} neither give place to the devil.{4:28} Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor,working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have whereofto give to him that hath need. {4:29} Let no corrupt speech proceed outof your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be,that it may give grace to them that hear. {4:30} And grieve not theHoly Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption.{4:31} Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, andrailing, be put away from you, with all malice: {4:32} and be ye kindone to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God alsoin Christ forgave you.

{5:1} Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; {5:2}and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself upfor us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweetsmell. {5:3} But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, letit not even be named among you, as becometh saints; {5:4} norfilthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting:but rather giving of thanks. {5:5} For this ye know of a surety, thatno fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is anidolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. {5:6}Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these thingscometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience. {5:7} Be not yetherefore partakers with them; {5:8} For ye were once darkness, but arenow light in the Lord: walk as children of light {5:9} (for the fruitof the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), {5:10}proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord; {5:11} and have nofellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather evenreprove them; {5:12} for the things which are done by them in secret itis a shame even to speak of. {5:13} But all things when they arereproved are made manifest by the light: for everything that is mademanifest is light. {5:14} Wherefore [he] saith, Awake, thou thatsleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee.{5:15} Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but aswise; {5:16} redeeming the time, because the days are evil. {5:17}Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lordis. {5:18} And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filledwith the Spirit; {5:19} speaking one to another in psalms and hymns andspiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;{5:20} giving thanks always for all things in the name of our LordJesus Christ to God, even the Father; {5:21} subjecting yourselves oneto another in the fear of Christ. {5:22} Wives, [be in subjection] untoyour own husbands, as unto the Lord. {5:23} For the husband is the headof the wife, and Christ also is the head of the church, [being] himselfthe saviour of the body. {5:24} But as the church is subject to Christ,so [let] the wives also [be] to their husbands in everything. {5:25}Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, andgave himself up for it; {5:26} that he might sanctify it, havingcleansed it by the washing of water with the word, {5:27} that he mightpresent the church to himself a glorious [church], not having spot orwrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and withoutblemish. {5:28} Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives astheir own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself: {5:29}for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it,even as Christ also the church; {5:30} because we are members of hisbody. {5:31} For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother,and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.{5:32} This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and ofthe church. {5:33} Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one hisown wife even as himself; and [let] the wife [see] that she fear herhusband.

{6:1} Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.{6:2} Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment withpromise), {6:3} that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest livelong on the earth. {6:4} And, ye fathers, provoke not your children towrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord.{6:5} Servants, be obedient unto them that according to the flesh areyour masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, asunto Christ; {6:6} not in the way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers; butas servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; {6:7} withgood will doing service, as unto the Lord, and not unto men: {6:8}knowing that whatsoever good thing each one doeth, the same shall hereceive again from the Lord, whether [he be] bond or free. {6:9} And,ye masters, do the same things unto them, and forbear threatening:knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, andthere is no respect of persons with him. {6:10} Finally, be strong inthe Lord, and in the strength of his might. {6:11} Put on the wholearmor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of thedevil. {6:12} For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, butagainst the principalities, against the powers, against theworld-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] ofwickedness in the heavenly [places]. {6:13} Wherefore take up the wholearmor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and,having done all, to stand. {6:14} Stand therefore, having girded yourloins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,{6:15} and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel ofpeace; {6:16} withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shallbe able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil [one]. {6:17} Andtake the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is theword of God: {6:18} with all prayer and supplication praying at allseasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance andsupplication for all the saints, {6:19} And on my behalf, thatutterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known withboldness the mystery of the gospel, {6:20} for which I am an ambassadorin chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. {6:21}But that ye also may know my affairs, how I do, Tychicus, the belovedbrother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you allthings: {6:22} whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that yemay know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts. {6:23} Peacebe to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and theLord Jesus Christ. {6:24} Grace be with all them that love our LordJesus Christ with [a love] incorruptible.

The American Standard Version of the Holy Bible is now in the Public Domain. Feel free to copy it for your friends, give it away, sell it,and publish it. http://www.ebible.org/bible/asv