The book of Ephesians reveals various aspects of the church. In this message we shall consider seven aspects: the Body, the new man, the bride, the family, the kingdom, the dwelling place of God, and the warrior (Lee, Witness. Life Study of Ephesians. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1979, Print).1. Seeing the Church as the Body of Christ - Ephesians 1:22-23: Just like our physical body is under the authority of our brain, in the same way the Apostle Paul reveals that the Lord is the Head of His spiritual Body, and that every regenerated believer is a member of this Body (1 Corinthians 12).
2. Seeing the Church as the new man -Ephesians 2:15: On the cross the Lord destroyed all the separating ordinances that divide people so that the believers could be both spiritually and practically one.
3. Seeing the church as the bride of Christ - Ephesians 5: The church as the bride of Christ shows that the believers are His counterpart, and that we have a loving relationship with our Lord.
4. Seeing the church as the family (household of God) - Ephesians 2:19: Because all the believers have been reborn with God's life, they are also all members of God's family! All the brothers and sisters in the church enjoy sweet fellowship and mutual care.
5. Seeing the church as the kingdom of God - Ephesians 2:19: Witness Lee shares that the phrase "fellow citizens with the saints" implies God's kingdom. Every life on earth is part of a kingdom, and in the same way when we're regenerated, we spontaneously become a part of the kingdom of God. As citizens in God's kingdom, we are under His inward rule and authority.
6. Seeing the church as the dwelling place of God - Ephesians 2:22: This verse opens up the amazing truth that the believers together become God's dwelling place.
7. Seeing the church as the warrior - Ephesians 6: Because God has an enemy, He needs the church to be the warrior to defeat Satan.
I've heard it said many times that the biggest prophecy in the New Testament is in Matthew 16:18 where the Lord said, I will build My church. In Chapter 74 of the Life-
Study of Ephesians brother Lee shares that Lord has to get this testimony on earth before His return. When I read the Life Study of Acts, I was touched again with how the Lord's disciples carried out the Lord's commission in Matthew 28:19. As ones got saved and baptized after Peter's preaching of the gospel in Acts 2, they just began to meet as the church in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1). It really helped me years ago when I heard that the Greek word used in the New Testament for church means the called out assembly; it does not refer to the place of meeting.
And as the believers scattered and as the gospel was continued to be preached, other churches were raised up. In all these cities the believers simply called themselves the church in their city. Many of the New Testament books were written to these churches--Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, and Thessalonians. In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul underscores the seven major features of this church on earth. Through this ministry all these truths have been opened up for all of God's people around the earth.
You can listen to excerpts of these Ephesians Life Study messages on Life Study of the Bible with Witness Lee.
What is the Subject of Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians?
What is the Mystery of God's Will Revealed in Ephesians 1:9?
How Does God Head Up All Things in Christ in Ephesians 1:10?
How Does the Spirit Seal us in Ephesians 1:13-14?
What is the Surpassing Greatness of His Power in Ephesians 1:19?
From the Life Study of Ephesians: How Electricity Illustrates God's Purpose to Reach Man
What is the One New Man in Ephesians 2:15?
What is the Stewardship of the Grace of God in Ephesians 3:2?
What is the Multifarious Wisdom of God For in Ephesians 3:10?
What's God's Calling for in Ephesians 4:1?
What Does It Mean to Learn Christ in Ephesians 4:20?
Seeing the Church as the Bride of Christ in Ephesians 5:32
Seeing the Church as the Warrior in Ephesians 6
How Do We Apply the Armor of God in Ephesians 6?
What are the Seven Aspects of the Church Seen in Ephesians?
Why Did God Abolish the Ordinances in Ephesians 2:15?
Why is the Spirit Mentioned in Every Chapter of Ephesians?
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