Ephesians: Intro

The city of Ephesus was one of the most important cities of Asia Minor and under the Romans was the capital of the region known to them as Asia. It was celebrated for its temple to the goddess Diana, considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

The letter from Paul to this church is accepted to have been written around 62-63 A.D. and was one of the four letters thought to be written from his prison time in Rome. The others are Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Second Timothy, while claiming a prison setting is better known as a "pastoral epistle".

Unlike other writings of Paul, this letter was not written to correct some errors or misuse of doctrine, but for the confirmation of the church of Jesus Christ (the professing church not a single church) in its spiritual unity as the body of Christ, having on the, whole armor of God to withstand the works of evil that have always made war against her.

The oldest copies of the letter do not include the words "in Ephesus" in verse 1: 1, leading some to conclude that a blank was inserted there by Paul so that the name of any church could later be filled in and the letter used for more than one specific church.

The letter seems clear to have been intended to be understood in two sections:

DOCTRINES OF CHRISTIANITY (Chapters 1-3)

• The believer's election and adoption

• Person and work of Christ

• The Gentile's sharing equally in the Gospel's blessing

• Paul's commission to establish these truths

EXAMPLES OF THESE DOCTRINES (Chapters 4-6)

• The unity of the church and the body of Christ

• The church as spotless in Christ

• The church protected by the whole armor

During the days of the writing of this letter, Ephesus held over 200,00.0 people, and had an open air theater that held 25,000. It was a port city, allowing for the flow of many traders and many different types of people.

Paul had worked in the city for some time (Acts 19) and had therefore come to know the city and its people well. Acts 20 teaches us that he called for the elders of this city to visit him one last time as he journeyed to Rome.

There is a remarkable correspondence between certain books of the New Testament back toward related Old Testament books. Romans relates in principle to Exodus and Hebrews relates to Leviticus in principle taught. Ephesians relates back to the OT book of Joshua. In Joshua we have the people of Israel entering upon the possession of their inheritance. In Ephesians believers are called upon to enter by faith now into the possession of our own inheritance which we who believe and trust shall enjoy in the fullness of the promise to be kept by God, just as He kept the promise to His chosen people.

Paul seems to want us to know that even though the Gentile peoples came later into the position of grace, that their acceptance by God was not inferior to the spiritual position before God of the Jews ..

At the same time he also seems to teach us that the Gentiles cannot be intolerant of their Jewish brethren nor forgetful of the Jewish past of salvation history. In this letter he will teach us the true meaning of Christ's relationship to His church. He is its head and Lord, so requiring loyal obedience and service; He is the bridegroom, seeking a pure bride; and He is both the Messiah of Israel and the hope of the Gentiles, so uniting in Himself a new people, based upon grace through faith of both Gentiles and Jews.

Thirteen NT books begin with the name of the man who wrote Ephesians, and one more may also have been his writing but it begins with the word "God" (Hebrews). Paul was not his original name. His original name was Saul, the name of the first king of Israel, anointed by Samuel. Like Saul the king he was a Benjamite and for many years he was a haughty and self-righteous Pharisee u1:til one day he had a meeting with Jesus and all things in his life were forever changed.

The book of Ephesians is, iii its own way, a story for us of such change.

It teaches us what we were, what we are, and what we can be.

Ephesians: Grace & Mercy Election

EXODUS 33:

11: "AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES FACE TO FACE, AS A MAN SPEAKETH UNTO HIS FRIEND ... "

13: (MOSES SPEAKING)

" ... I PRAY THEE, IF I HAVE FOUND GRACE IN THY SIGHT, SHOW ME NOW THY WAY, THAT I MAY KNOW THEE ... "

14: (GOD SPEAKING)

" ... MY PRESENCE SHALL GO WITH THEE, AND I WILL GIVE THEE REST".

15: (MOSES SPEAKING)

" ... IF THY PRESENCE GO NOT WITH ME, CARRY US NOT UP HENCE ... ".

17: (GOD SPEAKING)

"I WILL DO THIS THING ALSO THAT THOU HAST SPOKEN: FOR THOU HAST FOUND GRACE IN MY SIGHT, AND I KNOW THEE BY NAME".

19: (GOD SPEAKING)

" ... I WILL PROCLAIM THE NAME OF THE LORD BEFORE THEE,

... AND WILL BE GRACIOUS TO WHOM I WILL BE GRACIOUS, AND WILL SHOW MERCY ON WHOM I WILL SHOW MERCY".

In Ephesians 1 :4-5 we are taught that God the Father predestined His people "in love". It was our Creator's great love that moved Him to call us out (one by one) from the passion we had for Satan and the kingdom of darkness. The One who is too holy to look upon sin (Hab 1: 13) set His loving gaze upon us in the misery of our own impurity and willful profaning of all that is good in order to make us new. He adopted us unto holiness even though we were unholy. This is a great mystery but we know it is not because we are in ourselves better than those not chosen in His love. Scripture (verse 5) says only that His choice to love His people is according to the purpose of His will.

We have many passages of scripture which teach us that the Lord makes choices within His own will and purpose for the application of His grace & mercy.

Deut 7:6-8.teaches that the Hebrew people were chosen not because of anything they had done, but only chosen because the Lord set His love on them.

Psalm 47:4 teaches that" ... He chose our heritage for us ... ".

Malachi 1 :2-3 teaches that He loved Jacob but did not love as much Esau the twin. (KJV says He hated). Paul teaches this lesson again in Romans 9:10-13.

Ephesians 2:8-10 teaches clearly our own choosing is by His grace, with nothing possible done by ourselves to merit or arrange it.

John 1:13 teaches that our salvation is not of blood (inherited), nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ·,

Acts 13 :48 teaches that those Gentiles who were ordained by God to eternal life then believed.

Titus 3:5 teaches that our salvation is not of works we have done, but by His mercy are we saved.

Jesus himself teaches two strong lessons in John 6:

Verse 37 teaches all the father gives Him shall come to Him.

Verse 44 teaches that no man can come to Him except by the Father's drawing.

Jeremiah 1 teaches that he was known and ordained by God before he was conceived and formed.

So Paul helps us to understand in his letter to Ephesus these teachings by making sure we grasp that salvation is by the choosing of God for each believer to become part of the elect family in Christ.

Further Paul helps us to understand that this election ( choosing) becomes more effective through sanctification led by the Lord's gift of His Holy Spirit.

All chosen will come through Jesus and none who do shall ever again be lost.

Ephesians: Election by God

The doctrine of God's sovereign and elective love has several practical benefits:

It crushes human pride since God receives all the credit for salvation. (Titus 3:5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

It exalts God as He receives praise for His love.

(Psalm 115: 1) Not unto us, 0 Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.

It produces joy as believers rejoice in their salvation.

(1 Peter 1 :2 & 6 & 8) Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:

Grace unto you and peace be multiplied.

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations.

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

It grants unimaginable privileges.

(Ephesians 1 :3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.

It promotes holiness in the lives of the elect.

(Colossians 3:12-13) Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Fore bearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

It provides security.

(Philippians 1 :6) Being confident of this very thing, that which he hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

God's election becomes effective in the life of the believer through sanctification by the Spirit with the only human factor being faith in the truth. All called will come and none shall ever again be lost.

Ephesians 1:1-14: The Riches of His Grace

The letter opens on a magnificent note of jubilation with much praise.

The writer's name is given first and then his official authority assured by the office he holds, "an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God". The greeting extends "grace" and "peace" which Paul uses consistently in his writing (1st Thess 1/1st Cor 1/Gal I/Phil 1) with "grace" being the saving action of God to redeem and restore His creation which has moved in error from His purpose, with the effect coming in "peace" which is harmony and wholeness as a new order reflected in Jesus.

GOD'S PURPOSE IN ETERNITY AND TIME

There are several approaches, to these initial verses.

One is historical, looking at the Father's purpose proceeding through human time, worked out, through the ministry of His Son. By this one act in time (verse 7), the forgiveness of sins was secured for all believers (verse 13) who were brought to faith by their hearing the Gospel and responding to it.

Second, there is the praise of God approach. It is the Father who chooses His people in love (verses 3-5). The one in whom the church is elected is Christ the Son, who is also the redeemer at the cost of His sacrificial death (verse 7). It is the Holy Spirit who applies the work of Christ to His people and so makes real the eternal purpose of the Trinity.

Third, there is an approach to remove the claim by Jewish believers that they were in some way superior to Gentile believers. Gentiles are assured in verses 13& 14 that they too are included in Christ, even though they were not first to hope in His coming. God's final goal in history is to sum up all things in Christ.

The church now lives "in Christ" (verse 3) because of God's previous choosing. This is a mystery and to some a stumbling block. Yet it is absolutely the teaching of the New Testament. The negative aspects of election (sometimes said to be the "doom of the damned") are not found at all in this writing. Here we are taught that God's electing mercy is a call to our praise and a lesson that our lives always have been, are now, and always will be in God's hands.

This choosing is not an excuse for carelessness in spiritual matters but is coupled with a strong reminder that we Christians have a moral responsibility to accept the highest moral standards. We are chosen to be holy (set aside) and blameless in the sight of the Lord.

THE FATHER'S CHOICE

Election is closely connected to adoption (verse 5), and both are expressions of His love. His intention is that there should be many sons and daughters in His family, all of whom share the likeness of their elder brother.

CHRIST'S ACHIEVEMENT

Becoming and being a Christian depends on what Christ has accomplished. Romans 3:22: " ... the righteousness of God, which is by the faith of Jesus

Christ…”.

The immediate benefit is the forgiveness of sins, with the promise that, since the burden of the past is removed, a new start to life is begun. Redemption and pardon are a part of the entire work of Christ.

The nature of the plan is now stated. It has its grand objective as the summing up of all things in Christ (verse 10). The secret of the divine purpose is in Christ and it is an "open secret" accessible to all believers.

It remains a mystery in that no person could have guessed what God would choose to do but it is now revealed by Paul, as given him by the Holy Spirit. Its content is that Gentiles as well as Jews are united in a common hope and blessing with all barriers broken down.

God made the earth and man to reflect His image. In doing so He bound heaven and earth together into a unify. There is no aspect of human life residing outside of this unity and no hostile force can frustrate His eternal purpose. (Ephesians 6: 11-18).

GOD AT WORK IN HUMAN LIFE

Paul now turns his mind and writing to the process by which His saving design touches lives. He joins himself to the Jewish people who had long been sustained by the hope of the coming of the Messiah. In verse 13 Paul expands his teaching toward the Gentiles by the words "you also". Now he teaches that both Jews and Gentiles are "members together of one body", to form a worldwide church, even if they came into the body from far different cultures.

The Jewish people had an inheritance and were a special possession of God. The Gentiles had no such privilege or place, but in Christ both groups gain together a new destiny. The way into the church is the same for both groups. Verses 13-14 outline the steps, hearing the Word of truth and responding in faith.

The prospect Paul teaches is one of final redemption, already begun in the offer of forgiveness and a new life which places us in a unique position of "already but not yet".

God's saving purposes in Christ have already appeared in the life of the church, but the final end to all things under God is "not yet".

Christ has been exalted and the church has been raised to be with Him but there is still conflict to be faced, because the days are evil. Yet the end i_s not in doubt, since the Spirit lives in the church through each believer as a guarantee that the final inheritance is assured.

Deut 32:9:

"For the Lord's portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance".

Jacob, of course, is the original name of the man whom God decided to rename Israel. Just as Paul teaches here, he reminds us in Romans 9:6-7 that" ... they are not all Israel which are of Israel. .. " meaning that the Gentiles are considered Israel as well as the Jews who believe on Jesus, all in one body, the body of Christ.

Ephesians 1:15-23: Prayers that Please the Father

The title for the new Christian society is the body of Christ. This designation goes back to 1st Chron 12 & Romans 12 which teach of the original body of the chosen people under the tribes and then concerning the character of believers.

The church is like a body to carry out the tasks Christ appoints for it and.in that instrument of service each member plays a part as a portion of the body.

Verse 15 notes that Paul did not know his readers personally (yet). The news of their faith in Christ and its evidence in active love of the members for each other has reached him while he is distant. Paul is known to have a sustained devoted ministry of prayer for his congregations, both those he knew personally and those known from a distance.

Now his prayer is that these readers may be given the insight to see the truth as Paul teaches it and to remain firm in a time when rival teachers will try to sidetrack them, as we will later see in chapters 4 & 5. The supreme teaching is the raising of Jesus from the dead, seen in verse 20 as the perfect display of divine power.

The raising of the crucified Jesus was followed by His elevation to God's right hand in the heavenly places (verse 20) where He is seated. This picture language is taken from Psalm 110: 1 ( where David testified to this seating of his Lord) and this text gave early Christians their confidence to believe that their Messiah is a full partner in the divine court. The power from this time forward was well described in Hebrews 1 :3 where we are taught that Jesus upholds all things by the word of His power.

God has given Christ the position as head of all things concerning the church on earth. The church, as "Christ's body" is the natural compliment to Christ as the head, and verse 13 teaches ·us that after we are saved we are sealed by the Holy Spirit for service.

Paul is not asking the Father to give the Ephesian Christians the Holy Spirit as it is already indwelled within them from the moment of salvation of each one but he asks for a greater spirit of fuller understanding of God and His grace. The goal of wisdom and revelation requested in verse 17 is "knowledge of Him".

Until the Lord opens them, the eyes of our heart are blind. Scriptural proof is given to us in Acts 16: 14 concerning Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened so that she might attend to the words of Paul. After conversion the Lord continues to work to give us insight into His revealed Word and to deepen our personal relationship with Him.

As Paul continues his prayer for the Ephesians in verses 18-20 he adds that he is praying for the Lord to give them knowledge of the hope to which He has called all believers in addition to knowledge of the divine character.

In scripture, hope is not a reference to uncertainty or lack of confidence in what the future will bring, rather it is another word used for confident anticipation. We have a hope that exists outside ourselves which is that Christ will surely return, as promised, and will reign over all in the sight of all. Inwardly, hope is the confidence that we will participate in the benefits of this eternity. These are the things Paul seeks for the believers in the church at Ephesus.

While we as believers do remain in hope, we also are aware that humanity violates the moral law of God consistently throwing creation at times into disorder and confusion and thinks arrogantly that this spiritual darkness will prevail.

Paul is clear in these verses that this state of affairs will not last forever. The Lord contains all things inside the boundaries of His divine rule, which is sovereign over all. Paul speaks here of the fullness of Christ filling all in all in verses 22 & 23.

God directs all things to their appointed ends in His eternal plan to make His reign evident over all things, uniting earth and heaven in one in submission to Jesus when every knee bows and every tongue confesses.

Until that moment, this reign of God is acknowledged in a special way in His church, which is the body of Christ until He returns bodily and glorified to rule here.

Because the faithful church bows to Christ willingly and now, it receives special graces and gifts not found in the outside world. Churches faithful to God's revealed Word enjoy the blessings of discipline, growth in servant love for others, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and many added gifts. These are the kinds of churches Jesus called into existence for our lives to prosper until His day of return.

Ephesians 2: Summary

As we study the three main points of Paul's writings to Ephesus, what we were, what we are, and what we will be, we should be careful to think about how he presents our identity to us. This thought allows much to ponder.

First, New Testament writers such as Paul saw humanity as part of either the first Adam, or the second Adam (Jesus Christ), as explained in Romans 5:12-21).

Paul calls the Ephesian believers by many names:

saints (1:1 5:3 6:18)

adopted sons (1 :5)

those who hope in Chtist ( 1 : 12)

God's workmanship (2: 10)

fellow citizens of God's household (2: 19)

heirs and partakers of the Gospel (3 :6)

the body (3:6 4:16)

imitators of God ( 5: 1)

children of light (5:8)

slaves of Christ ( 6: 6)

servants of Christ ( 6 :21)

Do any of these terms describe you?

When we cannot decide whether we are sinners who are forgiven or saints who sin, we must focus upon the fact that our identity in Christ is first and foremost grounded in Jesus graciously coming to be identified with the helpless. He humbled Himself and became an earthly servant to inspire our heart and will to do the same.

Each of us is now in union with the Father through our acceptance in the righteousness of the Son (as we have none whatsoever on our own). Our knowledge of these things remains imperfect and incomplete because we are all still unfinished works in progress under the guidance of His Spirit indwelt in us. He continues daily to sanctify us.

Remember that this sanctification process is the slow but sure work of bending our human will to His divine will. Our perfect day is coming so rejoice and show that joy to the world. We are His.

Ephesians 2:1-10: Amazing Grace

This passage is among the most powerful and most quoted and preached among all Baptists. It allows a broad look at the very heart of the meaning of our study of the letter to Ephesus.

It first covers the state of those who live life untouched by the Gospel (1-3) and then in verse 4 it goes on to celebrate Christ's corning by stating the changes that have come to mankind because of the action of God. - ·

OUTSIDE CHRIST

As in most of the writings of Paul,· sin and death are closely linked to each other. His teaching in Romans 8 & 1st Cor 15 expand this area of understanding for us. But here we see also the mention of the .way demonic powers rule us while we are outside of Christ. Here the sorry condition of those outside is given in stark terms. We see how deeply Paul understood this matter by his use of such terms as "prince of the power of the air" (Satan) and "the spirit now at work". Here we are shown what we were as the sad fruit of disobedience is brought to our attention. Our nature itself is warped and bent to the will of spiritual darkness before we come to Christ.

IN CHRIST

That dark hopelessness and desperate need serve initially to make the love and grace of God shine brighter in these verses. Here is revealed the evidence of God's loving concern which does not leave mankind to perish as seen in action of two parts. God has BOTH made alive the spiritually dead and has raised up those who were held down by their slavery to spiritual death as a result of sin. God has done for believers what He has already done for Jesus. The church of all believers is now seen to be raised to sit with Christ in heavenly places. We cannot leave this moment without understanding that by His work, the church is hereby already saved.

The entire process is God's doing only and it comes to us as a freely offered gift and we cannot ignore the road which brings it to our hearts, the road of "grace alone" by "faith alone". No person is allowed to contribute to his own salvation, for if we were so allowed, that contribution would grant us the right to boast. Our Old Testament leads this teaching in both Isaiah 42: 17 & Psalm 97:7 which teach us that boasting of idols marks believing in them.

It cannot be overlooked that the words "hath he quickened" in verse 1 were not in the original writing of the verse in Greek, but were added by the translators to gain understanding, which seems accepted as the very same words do indeed exist originally in verse 5. This term means made alive. Those who were dead in their past are made alive by God when they come to be in Christ.

Such a miracle is given to us several times in our New Testament. The daughter of Jarius was dead only a few minutes when Jesus arrived but she was made alive again by his word. The young man in the village ofNain had been dead at least one and possibly two days and was being carried to his grave when Jesus arrived and brought him back to life, restoring him to his widowed mother. Lazarus had been dead four days and his own sister said he had come to stink in death in the tomb but was made alive by the call of Jesus. So it does not matter how long death has lasted, life is available through Jesus. Spiritual death is the same principle. Those long dead spiritually are quickened, made alive, by the Word of God. He made -this point clearly to the sister of Lazarus when He told her, " ... I am the resurrection ... ". His power quickens (bringing life from death).'

Also we should note that these mentioned are dead both in trespasses and sin. There is a difference in these two things. Sin is missing the mark, while trespass is a willful violation of the law of God. We are both sinners and trespassers for we knew better but still went our own way. Why were these violations in our lives? The answer is given us here," ... according to the prince of the power of the air ... ". He was our master and we served his will until grace arrived.

The entire human race was so afflicted until Jesus of Nazareth was given. The Jewish part of the human race had been given special revelation and position but clung to the improper notion of salvation 'by flesh (being children of Abraham) and of works which they could never satisfy (the law).

This new concept was almost completely rejected by the Jews. It removed any possible notion of merit and replaced it with humility and repentance. Earnest prayer, turning over a new leaf, giving greater animal sacrifice, revival of effort to obey the law, none brought salvation. There was little acceptance of a teaching that said that grace is given freely to those who deserve it least.

Verse 6 teaches us that not only is eternal life granted by grace but so also is our being presented before God in the perfection of His Son. We notice we are not taught we are so presented WITH Christ. When the rapture happens we will be caught up with Him above, while until that moment we remain IN Him here to serve.

Here also is a most interesting moment concerning good works (verse 10). These works are not works that bring salvation (for none can) but are the works that arrive as a consequence of salvation (a portion of sanctification after we are saved). We notice the call that we are "His creation" created IN Christ for good works. This was God's plan from the foundation as he arranged the delivery of the Holy Spirit to guide us in the sanctification process.

Three words were granted to Paul to deliver to each believer to underscore the power of grace over our deliverance from sin's grip: "not of yourselves".

We see that how we lived before ("you walked") is set in contrast to how we come to live after salvation (what we were vs. what we are) and grace is the hinge of that door, opened by the Lord, not by ourselves.

It should have been clear to us from our reading and study of verses 1-7 that the Lord owes us nothing but justice and wrath. This fact is taught consistently in the Bible (Gen 6:5-7 & Deut 7:6-11 & Ps 51:4 & Romans 1:18-3:20 & James 2:10-11).

But just in case we may have missed it along our study of scripture Paul in these few verses tells us one more time that we bring nothing with us to our redemption which results only from our being chosen ( drawn) and gifted with salvation.

Here is a view of our future ( what we will be) which is a future that does not depend upon our own faithfulness but on His who saved us by His grace in order that we might show His glories in us forevermore. Our best proof in scripture of this blessed work by God in us is given in Paul's letter to the Romans, chapter 3, verse 22:

" ... the righteousness of God, which is by faith OF Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all them that believe ... "

Ephesians 2:11-22: The Mystery of Unity in Christ

THE GENTILES BEFORE AND AFTER CHRIST'S COMING

These verses recall that the first readers of this letter were likely Gentile believers in Asia minor (modem Turkey). They were classified by the Jews as "uncircumcised", and were thought to stand outside God's covenant with Israel. '.

What was the state of the non-Jews as seen in scripture?

They lacked any hope of a Messiah.

They had no citizenship within the .. elect of Jewish nation.

They were, sadly, described in verse 12 as having "no hope" and

"without God in the world".

Now, after the rejection of the Messiah_by most all of the Jews, Jesus had turned His Gospel toward the Gentile peoples and by His own example brought His message of repentance and salvation to Gentiles and even Samaritans ( considered half-breeds of low birth by Jews). Further, after the work of Jesus at Calvary, and the temple veil tom from top to bottom, direct access to God was now open to all peoples.

Now, those who accepted Jesus became "in Christ" and came to share with Israel the covenant of fellowship with God. Now, there began a fellowship still valid today of Jews and Gentiles who believed considered one body in Christ. Among the titles that prophecy provided for the Messiah (in Isaiah 9:6) was Prince of Peace. Verse 15 allows our teaching on this matter: ,,

" ... to make in himself of twain, one new man, so making peace".

The long understood divide was broken and access to God stands open to all.

What had kept them at a distance was the Torah, sacred Jewish OT law, which in commandments and regulations defined Israel's status and had made it impossible for Gentiles to enter. Verse 15 teaches that he abolished in His own flesh commandments of ordinances.

Through this change brought by Jesus the new fellowship of Jews and Gentiles discover their unity and oneness in a mutual and free access to God by the Holy Spirit who is the author of unity within the church. From this time forward, there. is one church on one foundation with all members equal with equal rights and privilege and all holding the same title of "member".

The church rests on a single foundation. After Jesus, it is considered to be the place that God desires to inhabit but it is not a temple built of human hands but is rather a spiritual body composed of men and women in whom God's Spirit dwells.

So the ancient promise made to the chosen people long ago in Genesis 15 was kept. The same keeping was made a new promise to Gentiles who had no ancient promise but were now accepted and made equal to Jewish believers. No Jewish believer could take issue with the new covenant that included both because the Lord's prophet Jeremiah had foretold this exact change in chapter 31 of his writing. He said the new covenant would be put in their inward parts and written in their hearts.

This is precisely what Christ arranged by His ministry and death and resurrection and His sending the Holy Spirit to make it so. This is precisely what Paul taught to all who would listen, that the circumcision so long held to be holy was forever now to be of the spirit, not of the flesh. Consider-Romans 2:29:

"But he is a Jew which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God".

Our study verses near the end of chapter two are clear on this teaching:

2: 19: "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God"

2:22: "In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit".

So now there is perfect unity not based upon birth or nation or race. Unity is forever based only upon faith allowed as His gift through His grace ( and nothing else), uniting us in His house by uniting us to His Son in the power of His Holy Spirit. Our salvation is glorious and accomplished through the eternal plan of God, set from the foundation of the world.

Ephesians 3: Summary

The hidden mystery, that the Gentiles should be saved, and become full members of the body of Christ, was made known to Paul by revelation from God.

Here we experience, with Paul, the wonder of the Lord's amazing grace. The joy of these verses seems to fill Paul with wonder as he reveals to us what has been revealed to him. This wonder brings us to be most in tune with the power and the love of God.

As Paul prays for these believers in the wonder of God's way, he also prays for us that we might be filled with such wonder.

Paul's prayer in this chapter is clear in showing the presence of God's Spirit in our lives. Paul prays that God might grant his readers inner strength through the power of that Spirit. The source of this power is the indwelling of that third person of the Holy Trinity.

The key for us here is that we should recognize that it is God who grants the power of our faith through His grace, thereby arranging our eternal life in His wholeness, which fills us each moment after we are His.

It is when we know Christ through the Spirit that we are "filled with ALL the fullness of God", with as much height, depth, breadth, and length of divinity that our human self can contain.

Ephesians 3: The Power and Love of Christ

Now in this chapter, the Apostle Paul unfolds the great secret that had been held in the heart of God from eternity past, but in the glorious gift of grace had now been revealed to this converted believer to allow him to give it to the world. This concept of the body of Christ revealed to Paul is found nowhere else in the New Testament. There are other clues on this matter given but it was left to Paul to extend the full explanation of the matter to all believers then and to come.

Jesus had mentioned that He had "other folds" of sheep to which He must attend. Peter had been granted a vision by God of the lowering of the heavenly sheet to assure Peter that he had been truly called to go and witness to the Gentile Cornelius, who was saved with all his family at Peter's visit. The granting to Paul of this plan to include Gentiles into the kingdom was a powerfully humbling thing. We see how Paul begins his explanation by telling his readers"

"Unto me, who am less that the least of all saints, is this grace given ... ".

Paul sends two prayers in this letter. In chapter one we have the prayer for knowledge, and now in chapter three we study his prayer for love.

Chapter two had assured us that those who trust in Jesus alone will show a life of discipleship as they are knit together with other believers and made God's holy dwelling. Now Paul gives us a view of his ministry in verses 1-13 and then we see his prayer as verse 14 begins.

Paul describes himself as a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the Gentiles. We must remember that Jews of his time found the gospel itself offensive as it taught that a messiah had come and died on a cross. They also strongly felt that for a Gentile to come to God, he must first become a Jew and only then could he enjoy the covenant relationship with Yahweh. These thoughts were the basis of the arrest of Paul described in Acts 21 as he spread what they perceived to be false teaching.

Paul defends himself in verse 3 by saying that the mystery given him to share was by revelation from God. Acts 9 testifies to this truth when the Lord send Ananias to attend to Paul, saying Paul was a chosen vessel to declare the gospel to all nations.

God, and God alone had chosen Paul for this service and the Holy Spirit had come to Paul to open his eyes and heart to accept the grace of the mystery and understand it. This same work is done in every convert who is chosen and whose eyes and hearts are opened for understanding and service. Paul says in verse 4 that this mystery given him is the mystery of Christ. This mystery is a larger view of the gospel, the good news of salvation, that it is to include all those who believe, Jews and Gentiles. We know there was grace extended in the Old Testament as Noah was said to have found grace in the eye of the Lord and Abraham was considered righteous as he was called and believed. But this understanding was slight when compared to the gospel message brought by the appearance of the Lord himself in the person of Jesus under a new covenant. They saw in part, but now the Lord's plan could be seen in full.

Gentiles are now to be considered on equal footing with Jews and all who are chosen come under faith, gifted by grace, with no part of the salvation caused by them. Chapter two was very clear on this matter: " ... not of yourselves ... " Gentiles are full heirs and are not required to become Jews to be Christian. Paul is teaching that not only is salvation by grace, but his position and his knowledge was given by grace, granted by the power of the Lord. His own conversion may have been the finest example of irresistible grace in all of scripture. This grace is given not only for conversion but also for equipping those converted for specific tasks to expand the kingdom on earth.

We also were once enemies of God (like Paul) and each ofus was chosen and equipped to serve.

Paul now tells in verses 11-12 that he realizes this mystery was according to the eternal purpose of God and it was realized and made clear through Jesus Christ. In verse 13 Paul teaches that he is suffering but his suffering in prison is for their glory, just as the horrible suffering of Jesus was for the glory of all who would later come in faith, with sins erased on the cross.

Now Paul begins the prayer as Paul intercedes with God for the believers in the church at Ephesus and first makes known the fact that every family in both heaven and earth are named for the Savior.

He appeals to the riches of divine glory to assist his readers. Paul knows the storehouse of grace is never empty and always remains in rich measure to grant those in need. (John later confirms this teaching in 3:34 by teaching that the Father" ... gives the Spirit without measure ... "). Paul asks for strength for these believers so that they may grow in faith and in holiness. There is never a time in the life of faith where such a request is not needed.

So the true message is that the perfect work of Jesus destroys the hostility that once existed between Jews and Gentiles, enabling God's plan to make one family of people from all nations. Here was the fulfilling of the Lord's plan noted in Genesis 12, where the first three verses said so. But ancient Israel failed to serve its God given role in the plan. Instead of living according to the law of God, as a light to draw all nations most of the first chosen people lived pridefully and used the law sinfully such that others could never find acceptance by them into the Old Covenant.

Jesus atoned for this sin and broke the power of divisiveness showing Jewish believers that they must come to full unity under the Lord's Messiah in the New Covenant Jesus initiated, which is His church.

Although Jesus broke the power of sin to compel us to set up divisions among believers, sin remains present among us. Only the practice of Christian love, which Paul is praying for in chapter 3 can prevent us making the same mistake the Jews made. Jesus reconciled all under faith given in grace but it is up to us to practice this love to properly show we are His.

How did Jesus teach us this most important fact?

John 13:34-35:

"A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another".

Ephesians 4: Summary

Paul moves from praying to getting strongly personal. He moves from inspiration in the first three chapters to transformation now in chapter four.

1-3 A Worthy Life

What could makes us more worthy of Christ's call to us? lt is likely the one thing that could do so is unity. Our living "in Christ" should promote harmony in His church.

4-6 A Common Life

There is one.and only one God. Jews were supposed to recite twice a day that belief, called the Shema, which is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5. Paul teaches that there is one Spirit, one God, one Messiah. The··unity of the-church begins with the unity of its creator, three persons in one Godhead.

We come to Christ in different ways, at different ages, and while we may express our love for Christ in different gifts given us, we all share one faith. We all worship one God, revealed to us in one Spirit and we are all joined in one baptism.

Christians who live worthy of their calling will not foster division but will nurture unity inside the church.

7-16 A Gifted Life

We all serve the church in different ways, according to our ability. The grace that brings us into fellowship with Christ in His church is a gift, but is not His only gift. He has blessed each of us with unique gifts to enable us to better serve. The goal of our use of these gifts is to become more 'spiritually mature, more like Christ.

The result is the building up of the body of Christ "in love". When we work in unity, we learn to love. When we truly love, we will strive for unity.

THE HARDEST QUESTION (VERSES 9-10)

Ephesians 4:1-16: God’s Pattern for the Church

Under the divine work of Jesus the church was established to carry the gospel until His second coming. Overall, the requirement placed upon church members is that we are to reflect Jesus in our lives and to build the kingdom while we remain here. This is the reason we are not transferred to heaven at conversion. Expectations are arranged for us and in order to do His work, we are to display His virtues, to our best ability. Those virtues are revealed to us in the fruits of the Spirit commanded of us to show as we walk with Him and work for Him.

These are:

LOVE, JOY, PEACE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, AND SELF-CONTROL

We see quickly the exceptional way ,Paul places focus upon humility and gentleness and encourages us to preserve the unity of the church under those efforts. Unity is a divine gift, but it must be cultivated and cherished as Christians live together in harmony.

Jesus himself tells us that to all whom much is given (spiritual gifts), much is required (Luke 12:48). The greater the gifts, the greater the duty to use them to benefit others. Our deeds cannot justify us or make us righteous in the Father's sight. They do display how strongly we remain in closeness to the Lord. As chapter 4 begins, Paul urges us to "walk in a manner worthy" of our calling. This is exactly the same thought Paul will later give us in 5: 1 describing how we are to imitate God.

We must live in gratitude for our salvation always and make no excuses when we fail to obey the Lord in love. We must confess the failure, repent of it, and begin again. Our walk with Him is a constant walkway of newer beginnings.

The effort Paul teaches is for unity of all believers to rule with all in submission to the Lord in our lives and worship. This unity will not become a full reality until the Lord returns because until then there will always be some part of humanity in rebellion. The second coming will resolve those matters once and for all.

Jesus has done the work to establish a unified church and Christians have the important duty of maintaining this oneness. Verse 4 speaks of one body, one Spirit, and one hope. The body is the unified community of believers. The Spirit is the Holy Spirit which indwells each one, and the hope is the reality of resurrected life in glory, which is given each believer who trusts Christ alone for salvation into eternity.

Christianity encourages and celebrates the contributions of all its members to the one true church. Different graces ( same as different gifts) are given by the Lord to fulfill His purpose (not ours). These varied gifts make it possible to advance the kingdom here.

In verse 11 Paul lists five specific offices, apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers. Since the foundation of the forever church has been established, there is no need, and there will be no more prophets or apostles.

Evangelists. are needed to spread the Word, and shepherds (pastors) are greatly needed to preach it and help believers to understand it and apply it to their lives. The main duty of the pastor is soul care.

As we view the entire church we must admit that the Christian ministry is basically an "every member ministry" as indicated in chapter 4; verses 12-13. God provides evangelists and pastors to equip the saints for the work of the ministry for building up the body of Christ.

Our goal is to produce nothing less· than a body of believers conformed to the image of the glorified Christ as we see in verse 13. This goal is a great one for sure and would be impossible to attain if we were not already, in some measure, filled with the fullness of Jesus which is His Holy Spirit indwelling. Still, we are not yet in full conformity to His perfection, and we must strive toward that great goal until He returns.

We must not forget that while we look back with admiration to the early church and its growth, we have many advantages they never had. We have access to the entire inspired writing of the messengers of God, inspired by His Spirit. We also have centuries of teachings that have visited the very depth of those writings and have given us better understanding of revealed doctrine. Until the second coming we cannot neglect those gifts and think we have little left to learn, for at every step of our study and learning, we have a strong and steady adversary.

The attempts of Satan to darken, by his falsehoods, the pure doctrine of Christ, are at no time interrupted and it is the will of God that these struggles should continue as the consistent trial of our faith.

Ephesians 4:17-32: Principles of a New Life

17-24 HOW NOT TO LIVE

Intellect without light

Hearts without sensitivity

Actions without purity

HOW WE ARE TO LIVE

You have learned Christ Himself

You have heard the call of Christ to faith and repentance

You have been taught the truth in Jesus

To lay aside the old self

To be renewed in the spirit of your mind

To put on the new self

25-28 VIRTUES MUST REPLACE VICES

Truthfulness must replace falsehood

Righteous anger must replace sinful anger

Hard work must replace theft and we are to share with those in need

29-30 TALK BY THE SPIRIT

Choose words that build up

Choose words for fulfilling a need

Choose words for blessing

Know and remember who walks with you every step

31-32 PUT AWAY BITTERNESS AND FORGIVE

Banish every trace of bitterness

Surrender all wrath and sinful anger

Silence clamor and slander

Let go of all malice

Be kind one to another

Be tenderhearted to one another

Be continuously forgiving

Think on God's continuous forgiveness

Live by His grace and remember to forget

The last portion of chapter 4 in Ephesians has been generally referred to as "A Statement of Christian Conduct" and it is another in the several steps throughout the New Testament which call the believer to holy living. These believers in the church at Ephesus had before lived the life common to most Asian (now the country of Turkey) people which was a pagan outlook and practices whose dark side is presented in 17-19.

At conversion they exchanged these lifestyles for a new life and in this portion of chapter 4 they are strongly advised not to go back to the older ways. One way many writers have described this passage is to consider what we were in Adam (living in sin of disobedience) versus what we become in Christ (spiritual obedience which is evidence of a changed life).

These former pagans who were once ignorant are now enlightened with the true knowledge of God. Once dead in sin, they are now forgiven and raised up to new life. This new nature requires them to change the daily patterns to reflect love of truth, honesty in purpose of daily work, and a caring and compassion for others, sincere speech, no falsehoods, and a recognition that they are no longer their own people, as they were purchased by the Lord and now are "sealed" in His Spirit. These are all parts of the sanctification process where converts become more and more like Jesus as they grow in faith.

God's sovereign grace is seen clearly in Ephesians. The teaching is strong that apart from Christ, we are dead in sin, unable to save ourselves. God bestows His grace upon His elect so that we then work for His glory. When we live like unbelievers live, we deny the law God writes in our hearts and sadly choose the darkness of moral ignorance over the light of His loving and holy salvation.

Eternal punishment awaits all those who refuse to accept Jesus and the wrath of eternity first in hell and then in the lake of fire is the end of those sad souls. Jesus has broken the power of this lust for evil and worldly things and has arranged the narrow path away from such things that deny His Lordship. Ultimately those who are saved come to understand salvation is submission to His rules for life. Discipleship then is a lifelong process of relying on the grace of God to enable us to put our sin to death only by the power of the Holy Spirit working within us.

True Christian living requires mind and heart to work together in obedience to the Holy Spirit. The first three chapters of Ephesians focuses on the heart aspects of the Christian life. As we recall what our Savior has done, we grow in our affection for Him, becoming more eager to do His will, not our own. So we take off sin, and then put on Jesus willingly as verses 17-24 teach. We are then "in Christ" who is truth itself and so truth must be our highest goal.

Having been justified by the imputing of His righteousness in us through grace given in faith, we are sent forth to do good works and live unto the glory of God. Paul explains in 4:28 that glorifying the Lord means honest labor, generosity, and the refusal to take from others.

Scripture recognizes how our words can be used as weapons. The emphasis of word weapons here is how they may hurt other people. Putting off our old selves in favor of Christ means putting away vulgarity, spiteful speech, mocking the flaws of others, and other corrupt talk which may disparage other people. Paul's warning about this needed change does not mean harsh words are never proper. Sometimes only a harsh conversation ( especially in times of witness) will help others tum from sin and toward Jesus and the gospel. Our words are.to give encouragement that will advance spiritual growth. We are surely commanded by the Lord and the apostles to do all we can to help others come to salvation and we must obey that instruction as we seek to live for Him.

To put on Christ is to change life into a new pattern that pleases the Lord. As we ourselves seek to grow in faith, violating consistently the new pattern in sin not only grieves the Son who opened the way for us, it also grieves the Holy Spirit. In verse 30 we see Paul's strong teaching on this matter as he warns us not to "grieve the Holy Spirit of God". God's Spirit is especially sensitive to sin because of His close relation with each of us, since He comes to live within us. The Spirit "seals" us for the day of redemption and it is by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit that we are drawn closer and closer to the image of the Son. Conforming to that image has been the goal for man since the beginning. Genesis 1 :26 allows us a glimpse into the creation conversation in the heavenly court:

"Let us make man in our image ... ".

We are created in His image and are intended to live in that image as well, reflecting His character. In that manner verse 32 teaches us that we must (as He does) practice kindness and forgiveness. This call is not optional. It is commanded of us. We each gain His kind forgiveness as we confess and repent each day. Forgiveness of others is a natural outflow of His kind forgiveness toward us. It is a further step toward a loving nature and Jesus himself taught us in John 13:35 that this nature is how we will be seen as His. Forgiveness is to be swift and complete toward others and done in kindness.

Forgiveness is not truly for those forgiven, but far more for the one who forgives, for it cleanses us and opens our hearts such that room is created for more love.

Ephesians 5:1-14: Walking in Love and Light

1-2 LIVING A LIFE OF GENUINE SELFLESS LOVE

Choosing such a life is how we are supposed to live.

3-4 SUCH A LIFE AVOIDS FOUL SPEECH & BEHAVIOR

Thankfulness should fill our lives and lips.

5-7 SONS OF DISOBEDIENCE WILL FACE THE WRATH OF GOD

There are blessings for not living in disobedience (Psalm 1 ).

7-9 WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT

Remember what we were and what we now are in Christ.

10 LEARN WHAT PLEASES THE LORD

Live to please Him in gratitude for His grace.

11-14 AVOID DEEDS OF DARKNESS THAT ARE UNFRUITFUL

Let our lives reflect his light. Let us shun such deeds.

Imitating Christ is how the Christian should live. By this, we bring joy to the Spirit who lives in us, not grief. This is something we cannot do on our own, Because God has blessed us and in Christ has forgiven us, we can respond with love and blessing and forgiveness toward others.

Most people seem to watch their language and behavior in the church building because they think of it as God's house, the place where God is. This was not Paul's thinking. For Paul, each believer is a temple of God's Spirit, dwelling in each. Wherever the Christian is, God is there. So the believer should be aware that the whole life is lived in His presence.

1st Cor 3: 16 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"

We must begin this portion of out study with a passage from the gospel of John.

John 3:19 & 21

" ... light is come into the world ... he that doeth truth cometh to the light. .. "

The Christian life is set forth in a way intended to be a challenge to society. The moral guidelines are constructed on the assumption that it is possible to live the full Christian life in the context of "the world". Some necessary safeguards are given to counter the call of the constant temptation of the world. In verse 7 the call is sounded for us loudly when we are taught "Be not ye therefore partakers with them", which is a stern reminder that our ideals are not theirs and that we are expected to live to a far higher standard.

Paul addresses believers with-some strong phrases to build them ( and us) up to be proud of this higher calling. He calls us children of God, reminding the church that its members are ransomed people, well chosen, exactly like the Hebrew people were chosen. We .are also set apart, defined as holy, and dedicated to His purpose. This privilege is not without cost. Suffering and sacrifice is a part of this directed life.

Another title given us is children of light At conversion believers are brought into the full light of Christ, walking in His light and stirring ourselves and each other to become greater witnesses of that light.

Ephesians 5: 1 is the only scripture to explicitly command us to imitate the Lord. Since we are made in God's image, all humans have the ability to imitate Him. Due to the fall of man into sin, however, only those who belong to Christ can now put this imitation into practice. The ways we imitate God are generally ethical in nature. This point is confirmed in 5 :2 where we are taught to "walk in love", as Christ loved us.

Understanding that we need specific guidance in pleasing the Lord, the apostle continues to reveal the specifics of holy living in 5:3. He focuses on sexual immorality and greed which are both anti-Christian. We should always remember this point when we consider the teachings on the fate of those who live away from the Lord in these particular sins. Only the "sons of disobedience" receive the wrath of God (5:6)

Once we have trusted Jesus and are made His, we are the light in the Lord and must walk in a way consistent with light, in goodness, righteousness, and truth (5:8-9). Paul tells us we are to try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord (verse 10). Our best deeds fall short of our Lord's standards (Isaiah 64:6), so pleasing Him is not a ticket to heaven. But it is not inconsistent to seek to please Him AFTER salvation. In fact, a desire to please God is a necessary and sure consequence of new birth.

Ephesians 5:15-21: Wise Living

15 BE CAREFUL HOW YOU WALK

16 MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY

17 UNDERSTAND THE LORD'S WILL (STUDY THE GOSPEL I SUBMIT YOUR PLAN TO HIS PLAN)

WE MUST NEVER FORGET THE TRUE MEANING OF OUR BEING SANCTIFIED WHICH IS THE CONTINUAL BENDING OF OUR, HUMAN WILL TO HIS DIVINE WILL.

18 WE ARE COMMANDED TO BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

19-21 WHAT CHARACTERISTICS SHOW THAT FILLING?

(MAKING MELODY WITH OUR HEART TO THE LORD/THANKING GOD FOR ALL THINGS IN JESUS' NAME/SUBMITTING TO ONE ANOTHER IN RESPECT FOR CHRIST)

WHY IS OUR ACCEPTANCE OF GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY

OVER ALL THINGS ESSENTIAL FOR GIVING THANKS TO HIM (VERSE 20)?

ROMANS 8:28 IS THE KEY IF WE UNDERSTAND WHICH PURPOSE IS PRIMARY.

We see three contrasts inside chapter 5 of our study in Ephesians. They are:

• LOVE WITHOUT LUST (1-7)

• LIGHT OVER DARKNESS (8-14)

• WISDOM CORRECTING FOLLY (15-20)

In the wisdom phase we see two clear thoughts for our instruction. The first is in verses 15-16 and seems to be a call to wisdom over living .in folly. It begins with a knowledge of God and a moving away from all that displease God. Paul took this teaching directly from Job 28:28:

" ... Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding".

Wisdom is that outlook which enables a believer to face life, to make sense of it, and to overcome its problems. Overcoming means making moral choices while living in a hostile society. A byproduct of living well toward God is the stewardship of our time, which is G6d's priceless commodity gift. We are to invest our energies effectively in efforts that are worthwhile.

The second phase is a call to self understanding. Here Paul seems to assure us that as men and women living inside our fellowship with the Lord, we then discover the path to wise living. Verse 18 brings a specific warning as to one thing that is unwise, which is intoxication. Rather than be filled with wine, we are to fill ourselves with the Spirit.

The idea here is that we must give much thought to our potential choices before we make them. When we are properly cautious, we take the time to think carefully about our choices, to lower the risk of harming us or others.

Paul has already defined for us in 1:9-10 God's will as the union of all things in heaven and earth under Jesus. Understanding the will of the Lord then means we emphasize the church's need to be united in truth and love. Those who are foolish, meaning those who misunderstand God's will (verse 17) seek to divide the body and engage in the impure acts Paul warns us against in chapters 4-6. Wise people who love the Lord's will promote Christian unity and submit to the principles for sanctified living found in Ephesians.

Holiness and the pursuit of God's will must be displayed in God's people, not falsehood, sexual immorality, theft, coveting, or foolishness. Such ungodliness leads finally to destruction while Spirit filled love, truth, and goodness strengthen us in Christ.

Ephesians 5:22-6:9: God Honoring Relationships

The need to set Christian worship on a right foundation is the starting point for the understanding of the relation between Christ and His church. It will be helpful as we expand our study of that relation to the honor of Christian marriage if we focus on a few important points.

Christ is the head of the church, His body, and this reflects the order of creation itself. Christ was before all things and the church came after Him, filling the role of completing His gospel ministry. Man was first created but was incomplete (alone) and woman came after completing the proper relation God has ordained.

Christ insists on an obedient church to His leadership and the divine order is first His leading and then His church following. Christ gave all in humility for the church to exist. He led by serving and humbling Himself to arrange proper order. This service is reflected in the order Paul teaches for marriage.

Christ looks on His church as part of Himself and cares for it as such. Husbands are to have the same care for their wives.

This order is not to be in domination but focused only upon willing service by both Christ and His church in reverent order. There is a sacred union between Christ and His church and holy marriage is to be led by His example and is to be also a sacred union. Both these unions are God ordained and secured in His Word.

This order goes back inside the Old Testament to the theme ofYahweh's choice of marriage to Israel in the beginning and flows to the new Israel in the New Testament. He chose this ideal relation for Himself in Hos 2:16, Is 54:4-5, Is 62:4-5, & Ez 16:7-8. He sent His Son in a ministry of self surrender to secure this marriage in sacrifice and holy design. God seems to not be willing to expect less of husbands as He teaches us in Genesis because married partners are "one flesh" in His eyes.

It is obedience and submission the church offers the Lord, based only in love. Both marriage partners are to submit (in different ways) in the same theme, in love.

Because of the grace of God shown toward us in Christ and due to the gratitude we experience as redeemed believers, we must "walk worthy of the calling" (Eph 4:1). As members of His holy church, this walk involves serving one another. This service is different for each as each are bestowed with different callings. Pastors serve the Lord differently than a layperson. Husbands and wives are to serve one another according to this principle of mutual Christian service.

Wives must follow the leading of their husbands, and are not required in scripture to follow all other men. A husband's authority in this holy union is not absolute. A wife is taught here to submit to her husband" ... as to the Lord ... " therefore she follows his direction as long as he does not ask her to sin.

Husbands must love their wives humbly even when they do not submit themselves to his leading and wives must love their husbands even when the husband is not showing love. Wives are never called to remain in a situation where they or their children are abused in any way. The union is based upon love, not submission to evil things not so based.

Wives are not required to keep silent when a husband is about to make a foolish decision. Good husbands realize this and lead their wives with love that puts the interest of the wife and family ahead of this own; just as Jesus did. Christian husbands are accountable to love their wives as Christ loves the church, and a strong concern for the spiritual well being of the wife is essential to this love. Christian spouses rightly loving each other as the Lord has approved in holiness is a beautiful relation modeled upon the perfect beauty of Christ and His church.

We must not forget that Jesus submitted Himself to the Father's leadership but not because He is inferior to the Father (John 5:19 & John 12:49). After all, the two share one essence (with the Holy Spirit) and one is not greater than the other even if each has different roles. Husbands and wives are also equal in dignity in the same manner. In verses 28-30 Paul commands (inspired by God) husbands to treat their wives as well as they treat themselves. In verses 31-32 he teaches that doing so creates a relation that properly mirrors the bond between Jesus and His people.

Husbands who sacrifice themselves for their wives, physically or emotionally, depict the nature of the Lord in redeeming His people. Wives who rightly submit to the leadership of their own husband's authority remind all people how we are to live under God's Word. Believers must maintain firmly that marriage has a divinely determined purpose, and that purpose is to follow the example given us of our Savior and His church.

God's call is for love and respect to be the basis of the holy union of marriage. It is a call for two people to set aside their own preferences in the interest of living before the face of God in such a way that shows the world why the Christ-church bond is the most beautiful relationship in all creation.

In like manner children are to obey parents honoring the original fifth commandment (the command with promise of long life if obeyed). That obedience comes from the nurture of our children in loving kindness, not in wrath. Proper treatment of children who then properly respond is the desire of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:10-17: Spiritual Warfare

As we draw close to the end of the letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul focuses our attention on the ultimate conflict that happens after we become children of God, the constant spiritual warfare waged on the body of Christ and each member of that holy body.

The call in this last chapter is for each member to remain. steadfast under the trials sure to come. There is a teaching in this passage that all must accept, which is that we alone within ourselves are not able to withstand this warfare but because we are His after conversion He provides spiritual gifts to each believer which allow us to stand against evil. We notice quickly in verse 10 that we are to be strong "in the Lord" which is our true strength. Here we are challenged to grasp that not only are we pilgrims on a spiritual journey, but we are also soldiers called to battle in the land of the enemy; Paul several times reminds us that this adversary is the prince of this world.

Paul uses heavy emphasis on power words to make his point in verses 10, 11, 13, and 16, and provides the actual category of the demon agents in verse 12. As we accept and begin the use of the spiritual gifts of defense, we are called to "resist" & "watch" & "pray" & "be alert", all tactics of war to be able to withstand the attacks of Satan.

Our first need is taught in verse 11 as we are warned to "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil". The armor is a figure of speech, a metaphor, and it denotes different armor parts which are spiritual graces to allow us to avoid the snares placed ahead ofus.

First, we are to gird our loins with truth, the first of seven pieces of armor given by the Lord to allow us to prevail in the battles that wait for us. The girding actually recalls the belt used to hike up the long cloak worn in ancient days that had to be raised up to allow the legs freedom of movement. The truth must be first because if it is lacking, all else is of no value. This truth is sincere faith that the Lord allows to defend His own. The belt of truth signals that the mind is ready for the battle, guarded by the truth of the Word, protected against Satan's temptations and guile.

Second, we are to put on the breastplate of righteousness which means to maintain the power of holiness over our affections and conscience. Paul further teaches of this item in Acts 24: 16 when he says his conscience is void of offense toward God. This breastplate stops the effort made by the devil to corrupt our affections or defile our conscience. Without it, we soon yield to his evil ways and fall in the battle as just another of his victims.

Third, we are taught to have "your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace". This portion of the armor may be the most difficult to understand. Here the Holy Spirit carries forward the first two parts of armor toward a more complete defense. Just as the belt of truth has to do with the mind, and the breastplate of righteousness has to do with the heart, the shoes for the feet have to do with the will. The feet are to the body what the will is to the soul. The feet carry the body from place to place, preparing for moving the body from battle to battle, and the will carries the activities of the soul, for what the will decides, we do.

The will is to be regulated by the peace of the gospel. The gospel is more than a message of good news. It is also a divine command of conduct. Our will must be bent toward God as we become sanctified and we gain peace by denying ourselves becoming more and more His, allowing us to walk not in disobedience.

Fourth, we are to "take the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all of the fiery darts of the wicked". Notice here we are taught to take this shield "above all" which tells us that is is to be overhead in figure of protection, shielding as a canopy the heart, mind, and will. Faith must be exercised if these three important parts are to be kept safe. In the days of Roman warfare, the shield of a Roman soldier was immersed in water and taken damp into battle so as to withstand the arrows of fire sent against the army by the enemy. If the fiery darts were withstood, close order combat could commence, which was the main strength of the Roman army. Without the shield we could not look up toward our Lord during temptations. The shield is of faith but is also of confidence in that faith that it will protect and deliver. The actual shield in the every day warfare is the Word of God, kept in our hearts to use at the moment of great tempting, just as Jesus taught when He was tempted and said three times "it is written".

Fifth, we are to take the helmet of salvation, connected to the shield by the word "and" which means it is linked with faith. Paul clarifies this part of our teaching in 1 st Thes 5:8.

" ... let us ... be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for an helmet, the hope of salvation".

Here we see the final confidence that all believers keep close to our hearts, that hope that rests in our salvation. We should recall that Hebrews 11 partially defines faith as the substance of things hoped for.

1st John 3:3 teaches us:

"And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself ... " ‘

Hope of sure salvation, in which we rest, delivers us from discontent and despair, two of Satan's most powerful weapons. Often, Satan tries to cast gloom over our soul, or worry about our future to cause anxiety, dampening our spirits. He works hard to attack our "joy of the Lord, which is our strength" (Neh 8:10). To defend against these weapons, we take on the helmet of salvation, which is our final hope.

Sixth, we are to also take the "sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God".

Here the Lord provides an offensive weapon. This gift is an active and aggressive weapon given to counter attack evil. All the graces of gifts mentioned before must be exercised before we can use the Word profitably in the spiritual war. Even when the Christian has reached maturity in faith, he still needs the Word. After all the other pieces of the armor of God are fastened on the soldier still must pick up his sword to strike because without it he can only duck or dodge, but with it can cut and defeat the enemy.

This sword is called "of the Spirit" because the Holy Spirit is the author, and the teacher who gifts us understanding to use it wisely.

Seventh, we are granted the last grace needed to gain victory. Prayer is that which alone gives us the necessary strength to use the other pieces of the whole armor. After the Christian soldier has taken on himself the other six pieces· and is ready to stand against the enemy, he still needs the help of his commanding general. For this help, so much needed, the Apostle tells us to pray "always".

Paul's helpful explanation prepares us for what he himself experienced, perhaps more than any other man ever converted. He knew well the evil that attacks the believer.

Seven hundred years before Paul, Isaiah told us in 11 :5 that the Lord's redeemer would wear a belt of righteousness and faithfulness. He explained that Israel had failed miserably to follow God, and the Lord's patience grew thin. Abraham's seed had gone off course. How could the peace of the long held fellowship be restored? The chosen people suffered terribly for their sinful turning away. They were unwilling to admit their falling away and seemed to wonder where the Lord was when other nations invaded and took them captive. Through Isaiah the Lord answered all these questions. He would act to send messengers to announce His will (Is 52: 1-7). This prophecy is filled in the coming of the kingdom of God in the person of Jesus. While He defeated Satan, overcoming death, hell, and the grave, but He did not yet remove Satan from the world.

Trusting in God, lifting up His shield of faith given as as one of His gifts of grace, is to rest in Him as our protector, the one who provides armor for us to stand against this raging adversary who seeks to devour. He cannot overcome our salvation as once we are in the mighty hand of God, none can pluck us out. There is none greater to do so.

However, we must never forget the two main objectives Satan pursues. First he seeks to capture and keep the souls of the lost, and to diminish and harm the souls of the saved.

God knows these things, allows these things, permits these things to try and strengthen our faith. He also grants gifts to allow us to stand against the evil and inspired Paul to send us understanding to guide us in the warfare. Finally, we must remember that the only portion of our spiritual body not granted protection is the back. We are not to retreat from evil; but to meet and battle it forward. We are to STAND!

Ephesians 6:18-24: Prayer

We are to be constant in prayer, both for our own needs as well as supplications for others in honor of those whose names we send up to the heavenly court of the Lord.

We must pray:

• in the Spirit / being alert / persevering always.

We must proclaim:

• asking for words from the Spirit / asking for courage to speak out.

We must remember:

• we are ambassadors for Christ / appointed by God I

• to serve others as Christ served / to spread the Gospel /

• to love as He loved.

We have a partnership:

• as a beloved brother or sister in Christ /

• as a faithful brother or sister in Christ /

• as a serving brother or sister in Christ /

• as an encouraging brother or sister in Christ.

Finally, as we conclude our study of Paul's letter to Ephesus with proper focus on the last and best teaching, that we have the greatest spiritual gift of all which is to commune directly heart-to-heart with our Lord. He split the veil of the Temple from top to bottom just so that our access is from that moment forever direct to Him. Now we are to come BOLDLY to His throne.

Let us never forget that the purpose of all prayer is NOT to get our will done in heaven. It IS to get His will done on earth through us.

MATTHEW 6:10

" ... Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."

A PRAYING CHURCH

Now that we have studied each component of the armor of God, we understand that we cannot succeed against the devil if we rely only on ourselves. We need the belt of truth to keep the daggers of false doctrine from penetrating our body. The breastplate of righteousness allows us to have a Spirit developed character guarding against the powerful blows of sin that try to destroy our heart. The shoes of the gospel of peace give

us solid footing and ready us to stand for the battle. Faith acts as a shield that drives us to seek shelter in God against the flaming arrows of enticing temptation. Salvation, our helmet, protects our minds, enabling us to remain focused on the kingdom. God's Word, our mighty sword, a weapon that brings tb.e Lord's enemies ( demons of evil) to submission in defeat and keeps us on the narrow way by forcing us to use our knees in gratitude for salvation and in sorrow for sin.

Our ultimate reliance on Christ f9r success in spiritual warfare is highlighted in today's verses. The interesting phrase used in verse 18, " ... praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit...", covers everything that came before it in our study chapters. It indicates that we put on the armor of God, and we clothe ourselves in Christ Himself, by consistent and persistent prayer.

Prayerful dependence must be the consistent attitude of our heart, both in difficult times that seem to make us run to God and in prosperous times that sometimes seem to make us forget about our need for Him.

Now Paul closes his letter by naming his courier, Tychicus, who was a good friend and close companion. Acts 20 tells us he joined Paul in the Asia missionary journey. He was important as Paul mentions him in 2nd Timothy 4, Titus 3, and Colossians 4. As a note, the text of Colossians 4:7-8 and Ephesians 6:21-22 are almost identical in the Greek, leading us to think both letters were written at the same time or very close to each other.

Paul's final thought in the letter is "peace and love" coming to us from God the Father as well as Lord Jesus Christ. This conclusion reminds us that the letter was started with the theme of unity and that unity, when found, brings both peace and love. This peace and love is what unifies the people of the Lord who are to glorify God with their lives after salvation. We do that by full trust in the one who came to light our way and by understanding the gifts of grace that are the whole armor of God are our only means of defense against the strength of evil that surround us.

He has given us all we need to stand for Him and it is up to us use it well.