Ephesians 3:1-21 Whose foundation are you built upon?

Summary: A verse by verse examination of what the book of Ephesians in the Bible teaches. This message covers Ephesians 3:1-21 discussion of the foundation upon which faith is built.

Bible References:

Ephesians 3:1-21 ( KJV ) ¹For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,  ²If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:  ³How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,  ⁴Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)  ⁵Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;  ⁶That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:  ⁷Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.  ⁸Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;  ⁹And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:  ¹⁰To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,  ¹¹According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:  ¹²In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.  ¹³Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. ¹⁴For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  ¹⁵Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,  ¹⁶That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;  ¹⁷That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,  ¹⁸May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;  ¹⁹And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.  ²⁰Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,  ²¹Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ( KJV ) ¹⁶All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  ¹⁷That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Romans 8:28-31 ( KJV ) ²⁸And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ²⁹For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  ³⁰Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. ³¹What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 

1 John 5:7-8 ( KJV ) ⁷For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.  ⁸And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 

John 3:5-6 ( KJV ) ⁵Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  ⁶That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

Acts 10:1-48 ( KJV ) ¹There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,  ²A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.  ³He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.  ⁴And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.  ⁵And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:  ⁶He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.  ⁷And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;  ⁸And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. ⁹On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:  ¹⁰And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,  ¹¹And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:  ¹²Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.  ¹³And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.  ¹⁴But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.  ¹⁵And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.  ¹⁶This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.  ¹⁷Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,  ¹⁸And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. ¹⁹While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.  ²⁰Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.  ²¹Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?  ²²And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.  ²³Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.  ²⁴And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.  ²⁵And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.  ²⁶But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.  ²⁷And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.  ²⁸And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.  ²⁹Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?  ³⁰And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,  ³¹And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.  ³²Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.  ³³Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. ³⁴Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:  ³⁵But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.  ³⁶The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)  ³⁷That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;  ³⁸How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.  ³⁹And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:  ⁴⁰Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly;  ⁴¹Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.  ⁴²And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.  ⁴³To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. ⁴⁴While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.  ⁴⁵And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.  ⁴⁶For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,  ⁴⁷Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?  ⁴⁸And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.