Part One
This Introduction to the epistle of Ephesians is taken from the
New King James Bible: Personal Study Edition, by Nelson
Publishers (1990, 1995).
Except for the Book of Romans, the Book of Ephesians is the
most carefully written presentation of Christian theology in the
New Testament. For this reason it has been recognized as a highly
important book, and one that richly repays prayerful study.
AUTHOR AND DATE
The name Paul occurs at 1:1 and 3:1 as the author of this
book. Though in the last century some suggested it was written
after Paul's time, both external and internal evidence strongly
support Pauline authorship. There is no good reason to doubt that
Paul wrote this key doctrinal letter.
The apostle wrote from prison, probably in Rome, after
having written the letter to Colosse (see 3:1: 4:1; 6:20 and
Introduction to Colossians). This would put the date at about
A.D. 60-62 during his first Roman imprisonment. It is a high
point in Paul's mature thought.
BACKGROUND
Ephesus was a chief city of the west coast of Asia Minor,
situated at the mouth of the Cayster River. Paul visited the city
on the return part of his second missionary journey (Acts
18:19-21). He stayed with them only briefly, but soon returned to
spend two year, gathering and strengthening the church in that
important city (Acts 19). By the end of that time, Paul had been
so successful in spreading Christianity that he had aroused
strong opposition from those who earned their living making
idols. He moved on, leaving a strong church.
The title and first verse of this book indicate it was
written directly to the Ephesian church. All of the chief
manuscripts - that are preserved have either "Ephesus" in 1:1, or
a blank space. But if the letter had been written to the
Ephesians only, Paul likely would have followed his usual
practice of including personal greetings to many friends there.
Yet the book has none of these usual greetings. The logical
answer to this puzzle is that Paul wrote to a number of churches
in the area, asking each to read the letter and pass it on. As
the letter passed from church to church, the name of each
congregation may have been written in the blank space. Perhaps at
some time the name Ephesus was left in the first verse, and so we
have it today. The chief point is that this book is an important
explanation of the gospel written for the whole church.
Ephesians is closely related to Colossians. No other two epistles
are so similar as these. Bath were written from prison; both
delivered by Tychicus. They are similar in outline and outlook;
both have the same general theme. Half of the verses in Ephesians
contain expressions identical to those in Colossians.
Yet the two books have strong differences. Colossians
emphasizes the deity of Christ; Ephesians, the reconciliation of
Christ and the church. Ephesians also highlights the ministry of
the Holy Spirit. Twelve times in six chapters Paul cites the work
of the Spirit (1:13; 2:18,22; 3:5,16; 4:3,4,30; 5:9,18: 6:17.
18). Some also consider 1:17 a reference to the Holy Spirit.
Yet the similarities are more than the differences. It is as
though Paul wrote Colossians first to meet some special needs of
the church there, and then felt that the letter for all the
churches ought to elaborate on some of the Colossian themes.
CONTENTS
The primary theme of Ephesians is that all Christians are
saved through grace by faith in Christ. We are all made one in
Christ and should therefore all live godly lives. Paul strongly
supports this theme in the first half of the book ... God has
made us all one in Chris by raising us up from death in sin and
making us alive in Christ Jesus. Since both Jews and Gentiles are
saved in this way, we are all now one body in Christ. Therefore,
we must live in a manner worthy of the new life in Christ and
walk in the light of the Spirit of God. We must, by the power of
God, resist all temptation and the wiles of the devil, and show
ourselves victorious in Christ to the end.
PURPOSE
The Book of Ephesians was intended to strengthen the church
and make Christians more conscious of their oneness in Christ.
This purpose is needed much today as it was in the first-century
church.
OUTLINE
1. Salutation 1:1,2
2. All made one in Christ 1:3-3:21
A. Song of God's saving grace 1:3-14
1. Father 1:3,4
2. Son l:5-12
3. Holy Spirit 1:13,14
B. Prayer for spiritual insight 1:15-23
C. The church built by grace through faith 2:1-3:21
1. Saved by grace 2:1-10
2. Jews and Gentiles made one in Christ 2:11-18
3. Built together as a temple 2:19-22
4. Paul's mission to the Gentiles 3:1-13
5. Paul's prayer for the church 3:14-25.
3. Life in the Christian community 4:1-6:20
A. Live as one in Christ 4:1-16
B. The old life and the new 4:17-33
C. Live in love, not lust 5:1-7
D. Live as in the light 5:8-21
E. Christian wives and husbands 5:22-33
F. Other Christian relationships 6:1-9
1. Children and parents 6:1-4
2. Slaves and masters 6:5-9
G. Put on the whole armor of God 6:10-20
4. Final greetings 6:22-24
..............
CHAPTER ONE
Verses 4-5 shows us that God had a plan even before the
world was made. It was a plan to create and bring us humans into
His very own family. The New Testament has much to say on this
truth, a truth not fully or deeply understood by most Christians.
If you read the New Testament carefully you will find the many
verses that show being a child of God is just that - a literal
child. The creation of mankind was intended to become higher than
the angel kind, and there is only one level higher than the
angelic kind, and that is the very God level of existence. God
the Father wants children BORN of Him, who will have the
character, nature, power, perfectness, holiness, of HIMSELF!!
Paul them proceeds to explain that the KEY to all this great
plan lies in Christ Jesus. This plan is now fully revealed to us
and the plan is centered on Christ. It is a plan designed in the
ages past for God's very pleasure. Part of that plan is to one
day bring everything together to be under the authority of
Christ.
This we know will happen when Jesus returns to this earth to
establish the Kingdom of God over all nations and peoples, and
because of Christ we have forgiveness of sins. We are to praise
God for His wonderful kindness and glorious plan of salvation. He
had determined in past ages that a people would be the FIRST to
be called and chosen as His children, and the first ones to trust
in Christ's work of redemption.
When we believed and accepted Jesus as our personal Savior
then we became a child of God, and He gave us His Spirit, His
nature (see 2 Peter 1:1-4). His Spirit in us is our guarantee
that ALL He has promised will be given to us, and is one more
reason to PRAISE Him (verses 3-14).
Paul tells them that they were always in his prayers, and he
wanted them to have spiritual wisdom and understanding, in order
that they would grow in the knowledge of God. He prayed that
their hearts and minds would be flooded with light so they may
better understand the awesome future that God had intended for
them. It would indeed be a rich and glorious inheritance. The
very power in them through the Spirit, was the and is the same
power that raised Jesus from the dead who is now seated on the
right hand of god in heaven. Hence Jesus now has all power and
authority and so that authority and power is to benefit the
church, the body of Christ as Paul called it in other epistles
(verses 15-23).
CHAPTER TWO
Paul makes clear that ALL, Jews and Gentiles lived in sin
before they became Christ's. We all worked the works of Satan,
who is busy influencing all human hearts in one way or another.
So we were all sinners, but God had MERCY or GRACE upon us. Even
as we were dead in sins He raised us up to sit with Christ so to
speak, in the heavenly realm. God saved us by grace, un-deserved
mercy, through faith in Jesus' sacrifice for sins, His shed blood
on the cross. It was God's doing, His mercy, not something that
we could do of ourselves through some "good" works. We could not
"work off our sins" by good deeds, just as we cannot do some good
deeds to have the judge erase a death penalty we have incurred
because we murdered someone. Yet here Paul is telling us that the
judge of the universe has shown MERCY or GRACE to us in forgiving
our sins through the sacrifice of His own Son. Our sins are
washed away in the blood of Christ, when we accept Him as our
personal Savior and have faith in His sacrifice. We are then
saved from death by GRACE and not by any other means.
After being saved by grace through faith we go on to live as
the Lord wanted from the start. It was always His desire that
humans live the way that is good works, the way that is according
to His perfectness and righteous and holy character.
Surely anyone can see and understand that a murderer cannot
go on murdering people, just because he is shown mercy and grace
when the judge's son takes the death sentence on himself instead
of the murderer taking it.
And surely it is not hard to see that the one escaping the
death sentence for murder, cannot continue in the mind-set of
thinking he can murder people at his will. The mind-set must now
be the attitude of wanting to live the righteous way and works of
the perfect judge.
God the Father shows us GRACE - forgiveness of sins -
through Christ, so we will set our minds to do the good works of
the Father, that He desired we should do from the start (verse 1-
8).
Paul told them that we Christians are God's masterpiece, and
has created us anew in Christ Jesus, IN ORDER that we can DO the
things He planned for us long ago (verse 9). Salvation cannot be
"earned" it is God's gift to us by grace through faith in Jesus,
but once we are saved God wants us to walk and do His will, His
pleasure, His way, His commandments. This truth is told to us
time and time again in the New Testament, and especially in the
books of 1 and 2 and 3 John. Grace and Law are not opposed to
each other, they are coupled to each other as like a horse to a
buggy, a hand to a glove.
Starting in verse 11, Paul bring forth a truth that many
simply do not grasp, or will not understand for its simplicity,
and then delve into the Scriptures for the answer to the question
of what happens to millions upon millions who have lived and died
NEVER being called by God to salvation, millions, nay, BILLIONS
of people, young or old, never even having heard the name of
Jesus in their life on this earth, and it is only through Jesus
that you can be saved (see Acts 4:12 for that clear truth).
Paul tells the Gentiles that when they lived APART from
Christ, they were outsiders, did not know the promised of God,
did not know God. They lived in the world without God and WITHOUT
HOPE!!
They were once FAR from God, but now have been brought near
to Him through the blood of Christ. It is simple. No Christ Jesus
in your life and no salvation. You cannot gain eternal life by
your good works, your man made "religion" - your being a good
Muslim, Communist, New Ager. or through Yoga, or whatever else
you follow. If you do not know Christ Jesus as personal Savior,
you are FAR apart from God, you have no hope in this life time.
Only through Jesus Christ is their salvation and eternal life. It
is that simple! Are such people who are far from God then lost
for all eternity? Not at all! We have seen through the previous
pages of this New Testament Bible Story, that God has a PLAN of
salvation for ALL who have ever lived or will yet live. That plan
includes giving everyone a plain view of Jesus and saving grace
through faith. For some it is in this life time, for the others
left in spiritual blindness it will be in a GREAT resurrection
AFTER the 1,000 years of Jesus' reign on earth (often referred to
as the Millennium). This is seen from chapter 20 of the book of
Revelation and from other sections of the Gospels (we have
expounded already) and from the verse in 2 Peter 3:9 where the
Lord tells us that He is not slack but LONGSUFFERING, and WILLS
that NONE should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
God will take away the spiritual blindness from all minds,
He will give all hearts the ability to see clearly His truth as
to the way of salvation, and that it is only through Christ
Jesus. Some it is now for others it is later. Jesus truly did say
that the first shall be last and the last shall be first (verses
11-13).
Starting in verse 14, Paul brings forth the great and
wonderful truth of the "peace" of God for ALL people, Jews and
Gentiles.
This passage has been often misunderstood and hence given a
completely wrong interpretation. some have said Paul was teaching
the law and commandments of God were now abolished in Christ. A
little meditation and some in-depth Bible study reading would
show how silly and how dangerous such an idea would be. Just
think how the world would be if there was no Ten Commandments, or
at least nations following some of those laws. There would be
total anarchy, everyone doing "their own thing" when and how they
pleased. Even secular nations understand there must be laws to
maintain order and functionability, people doing whatever,
whenever, and however, for whatever reason of their own, would
soon bring a full collapse of any good normal function to that
nation and its people. Nations that have civil war tell the
horrible scene of anarchy.
God's laws, commandments, precepts, statues, are GOOD. Paul
taught so in Romans chapter 7. They are spiritual, holy, just,
and good, is the way Paul wrote about them. This passage in
Ephesians has NOTHING to do with abolishing God's laws or
commandments. It has everything to do with MAN'S false laws and
dogmas, and commandments, that DIVIDE people from people, and
people from God. The best Bible Commentaries will give the truth
of what Paul was saying in verses 14 to 18.
Paul was alluding to a Temple wall in the structure of the
physical Temple in Jerusalem that DIVIDED the Jews from the
Gentiles. On this wall was a sign written that if any Gentile
went beyond this wall into the next section of the Temple, they
did so with possible life threatening consequences. This was a
man made law of the Jews. There is nothing in the Old Testament
to establish such a law within the Sanctuary of God. Though
Gentiles could become part of the Jewish nation by embracing the
Jewish faith, the Jews nevertheless had established man made laws
and commandments that in many ways still separated the Jews from
the Gentiles.
Then there were the many laws and dogmas contained in
commandments of both the Jews and Gentiles, that divided both of
them not only from each other, but from God. Many "religions"
today have their own man made laws and commandments that are not
part of anything written in the word of God, or they have wrongly
interpreted certain verses in God's word, and so established
teaching and ideas and laws, within their own religious community
that are sometimes CONTRARY to the laws and commandments and
overall way of life that God sets down in His word. This has
often come about by taking a verse out of the immediate context,
and certainly the context of the whole Bible. Some religions have
condemned the using of jewelry for women, or they have ordered
their followers to dress only in black, or wear a veil over their
faces at all times when in public. Such commandments of men have
NO authority from God, but come from the false ideas of men or
from using a verse out of context with the whole Bible.
God, through Christ, has broken down that wall that divided
Jew from Gentile, and mankind from God. Through Christ, all laws
and commandments of men have been broken down and abolished, so
ALL people can be ONE in God through Jesus. Christ took all sins
and wrong doings of mankind through their own vain ideas and
traditions, and washed them away in His blood. Thus ALL people
can be brought to God the Father, reconciled, justified, declared
sinless, forgiven of sins, which came about by either directly
breaking God's laws, or by living contrary to God's way by
following their own man made ways, which not only divided them
from God, but often divided themselves from each other.
The Gentiles were at one time FAR away from God, at least
the Jews did have the written word of God, though most of the
time they did not live it or they misapplied it. The Good News of
reconciling peace had now come to the Gentiles who were FAR away,
and to the Jews, who were somewhat nearer to God, in a relative
way of looking at it.
But BOTH were still cut off from God because of following
their own ways, yet now, Jews and Gentiles could come to the
father through the same Holy Spirit, because of what Christ Jesus
had done for ALL mankind.
Gentiles, those outside the nation of Israelites, were now
citizens, along with Israelite citizens of ONE NATION, BOTH WERE
NOW one FAMILY - THE FAMILY OF GOD. All in Christ are now God's
house, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, the
corner stone being Jesus Christ Himself.
All BELIEVERS are now carefully joined together, becoming an
Holy Temple for the Lord. This is the Temple of importance, not
some physical building in some physical city called Jerusalem,
with its physical walls that divided people from each other (the
physical Temple even had a wall that divided Jewish men from
Jewish women - that was how far out the man made laws of men had
developed by Jesus' time).
The Gentiles could now through the Spirit be part of the
spiritual building where God lives in this New Covenant age. As
we have seen in other sections of this New Testament Bible Story,
there is only ONE way to salvation, only one way to become a part
of the family of God, only one way for BOTH Jew and Gentile, the
exact SAME way for all peoples. That way is through Jesus the
Christ, accepting Him as personal Savior, repentance, faith, and
receiving the Holy Spirit (verses 14-22).
This is the TRUE way of the true peace of God.
CHAPTER THREE
This plan of God, to bring Gentiles into His family (whereas
before it was mainly the Israelite nation that God was dealing
with) was not fully understood in its depth by most in Israel in
the past ages. Though sections of the prophets did FORETELL this
plan, most were spiritually blinded to understanding it, as it
was intended to be implemented by God in His set time. That time
had come. Paul was especially to be a large part in teaching this
plan of God, this GOOD NEWS to the Gentiles. Paul we have seen
from the book of Galatians, was called and was taught by Christ
Himself for a period of time. This was a one on one teaching
class, and then Paul was to go out and preach this good news of
peace to the Gentiles.
The plan was that Gentiles could have an EQUAL share in God,
an equal share in the riches of God with Jews or Israelites.
Those that BELIEVE from both groups (Jews and Gentiles) have
equal share in all the promises and blessings of God through
Christ.
Paul admits he thought himself least deserving of any
Christian. Yet, he knows and he tells them, that he was chosen
for this special joy of telling Gentiles about the endless
treasures that they can have through Jesus the Christ. He tells
them that he especially was chosen to tell this plan that was in
most part kept secret for generations. The plan included that ALL
the universe of any authority in the heavenly realms (including
then the angels) would see the wisdom of God in His plan of
salvation for all peoples. The joining together of Jews and
Gentiles would also show forth this wisdom, of making all people
as one people in the church. This was God's plan from eternity,
and it had now come to fruition through Christ Jesus the Lord.
And because of Christ and our faith in Him, we can come
fearlessly and boldly into God the Father's presence, assured of
His glad welcome.
Paul ends this section by telling them to not despair
because of his sufferings. It was for THEM that he was going
through trials, tests, and even sufferings. They were to feel
honored and encouraged (verses 1-13).
When Paul meditated on the wisdom, scope, and plan of God,
he often fell to his knees in praise to the Father, the creator
of all things (verses 14-15). He also prayed that through the
unlimited power of God, He would give them inner strength through
the Holy Spirit, and that Christ would be more and more at home
in them. He wanted their roots to go down deep into God's
wonderful love. And that they would understand more and more
just how deep, how wide, how high, His love really was. He wanted
them to experience in a deeper way the love of Christ, although
he knew it was so great that they would never in this life time
come to understand it all. But in so deepening their
understanding of this love they would be filled with the fullness
of life and power that comes only from God (verses 16-19).
He finishes chapter 3 by glorifying God, and tells them that
by His mighty power in them, in all of us, we can accomplish more
than we ever dreamed of or even dared to ask or hope for. Paul
wants all glory to be given to God through the church and also by
means of Christ Jesus, in all His past and present work. Paul
wants this to be so forever and ever through the endless ages
(verses 20-21).
..................
TO BE CONTINUED
Written August 2005
  Chapter Eighty-seven:Paul writes Ephesians -Part two
Part Two
CHAPTER FOUR
PAUL'S DESIRE FOR THE EPHESIANS
Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter to the
Ephesians. He tells them he was in prison because he served the
Lord Jesus. During that first century age it was not uncommon to
be imprisoned for religious faith. Even today in some countries
in the world, believing in Jesus Christ could get you imprisoned
and/or physically punished or even put to death. We in the
Western "Christian" world often do not realize that other
Christians in other parts of the world are sometimes harshly
persecuted and at times are killed for being a Christian.
He wanted them to live a life worthy of their calling. To be
humble, gentle, and patient with each other. He wanted them to
make allowances for each others faults because of their love. He
wanted them to keep united in the Holy Spirit, and bind all of
this with peace.
Paul told them, "We are all one body, we have the same
Spirit, we have all been called to the same glorious future.
There is just one Lord, one body of faith, one kind of baptism,
and there is only one God the Father, who is over all, and living
in us all" (verses 1-6).
Why would Paul need to say this to Christians? Many would
say that such a life style of living would be automatic for
Christians to live, but as we have seen from some of Paul's other
letters to other churches, the way of living Paul directs and
wants to see in all Christians is not automatic. Paul had to tell
the Corinthian church that they were more carnal minded than
spiritual minded, more as babes in Christ still feeding on
spiritual milk and not mature in spirituality. Even today, sad
to say, many Christian churches are riddled with people that show
anything but humbleness, gentleness, and patience, with each
other, and are quick to make no allowance for the faults of
others.
Far too many who call themselves "Christian" have no love
and are not peaceable people. This is indeed shameful.
We need to remember that in the long run of the Christian
race we have all been called to the same glorious future. We are
all at different levels of spiritual growth, we all have
different trials, problems, weaknesses. We all come from various
backgrounds, with various past influences and up-bringing, some
good and some not so good. Patience and love with each other is
VERY important.
Paul goes on to say that each person has been given a
special gift or gifts according to the generosity of Christ.
When Christ ascended to heaven He led captivity captive. He took
what held us captive - sin and the power of Satan and the demons,
and took all that captive in Himself. The power of His death on
the cross and the power of the resurrection, made us free from
the captivity of sin, so we may be given the gifts and
grace of Christ as He gives according to His will to each
Christian. Yes, though He ascended to heaven, He first came down
from heaven to earth, to live and die, to take captive in
Himself, the sins of all people, who were themselves held captive
by sin and Satan. It was the same person that descended who also
ascended far above all heavens, and so He did fulfil all things
written about Himself in the Scriptures (verses 7-10).
Paul is reminding them that all that are called by God are
precious to the Father and to Christ, all are given a gift or
gifts according as is the will of both the Father and Christ.
GIFTS OF SPIRITUAL SERVICE IN THE CHURCH
With all that Paul has told them, he proceeds to mention the
spiritual gifts of those in the church who have been called and
given gifts of various teaching ministries. He breaks it down
into FOUR categories - Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, and
Pastors and teachers. Pastors and teachers are really one
category. Note there is not the word "some" between Pastors and
teachers as there is before the other three functions. A Pastor
is a shepherd of the flock, a spiritual Elder in the church (as
we can see from Acts 20:17-38; ! Tim. 3 and Titus 1), who
according to Paul in 1 Timothy 3, MUST be able to "teach." An
Elder, shepherd, pastor, may not be the greatest "preacher" (as
we think of the word "preacher" in sermon presenting) but he must
be a good sound teacher, skilled in being able to teach the word
of God, in correct faithful soundness. As we read through 1 and 2
Timothy and the letter to Titus, all this becomes very clear.
The word "apostle" means "one who is sent." We can gather
the meaning by the example and ministry of Paul himself. He
travelled around preaching and teaching, and often raising up
congregations in various parts of Asia Minor (known today as
Turkey).
The word "prophet" can mean "one who speaks the oracles of
God" - yet the NT church did have "prophets" - people who could
for-tell future events. This gift is not very evident today in
our modern age. Maybe the best evidence of "prophets" in the
church today is found by looking at the function of the Old
Testament prophets. They were inspired to teach, to instruct, in
the ways of true righteousness, as well as proclaiming to
people the dire consequences that would come IF they did not turn
to God in repentance from sins and live according to the
commandments of the Lord.
The word "evangelist" is understood by most from the well
known people of the last few centuries, who would and still do,
hold "evangelistic meetings" in large tents or auditoriums around
the country. Some call this "revival meetings" - the speaker
usually has a gift to speak powerfully the words of God to mostly
the un-converted or none Christian. The evangelist will clearly
show what sin is, what repentance means, and will call and move
people to accept Jesus as personal Savior.
The "pastor and teacher" are the local Elders - spiritually
mature men in local congregations who function as shepherds,
guides, and instructors of the word of God, teaching the way of
everyday life that all Christians should be directing themselves
as they live and work in their society, and in their homes, as
husband and wife and/or parents towards their children. The
Pastor or shepherd, will help and guide the single persons and be
a general overseer to such things such as "teenage activities."
He will visit and serve the "shut-ins" and elderly, visit those
of his congregation in hospitals and nursing homes. He is a
loving shepherd, as like a shepherd who cares for, looks after,
protects, and serves a flock of sheep.
The focal point of all the above functions in the church is
spelled out in some detail by Paul in verse 12 through 16. For
the perfecting of the saints, which in the Greek means, setting
straight as you would to mend a broken bone. It is for the
general work of ministry, or serving, to show all in the church
how service in Christ should be done. It is for the edifying of
the whole body of believers. And all that in turn is so we will
all come into the unity of the faith, and to greater knowledge of
the Son of God, to an ever stronger maturity of the spiritual
stature of Jesus.
All of this then leads to God's children being no longer
tossed around and carried off on the wings of crazy, twisted, and
clever cunningness of false doctrines and deceivable theology of
men, who too often are lying in wait, ready to pounce on people
to lead them off on the wrong path, the path of unrighteousness,
and that path, as Jesus said, is wide and leads to spiritual
destruction.
On the contrary, the function of those mentioned in verse
11, is to lead to God's children speaking the truth in love,
growing up into all good things that is in Christ Jesus,
who is the head of all things, especially the Church of God.
Paul finishes his thought here by stating that all in the
church are like parts of the physical body. Each part working
according to its particular function will build up and edify
and strengthen with health, the whole body. So it should be
likewise in the Church of God. All working towards a maturity in
Christ, to edify all, and all done in the bond of LOVE.
APPEAL TO PUT OFF THE OLD NATURE
As with so many of the letters of Paul, in verses 17 through
32, he calls for a dedication of his readers to constantly turn
from sin, unrighteousness, and carnality, and do the will and
perfectness of God.
The people Paul is writing to (and of course Christians
everywhere today) were not to be like the world, with closed
minds to the truths and ways of the Lord, who don't care about
God, who have no conscience towards wright or wrong, and have
given themselves over to immoral ways, to impurity and to greed,
who are only concerned with satisfying the physical self in any
way they choose.
Paul tells the Ephesians to throw off their old evil nature
and former sinful ways of life, based upon lust and false
deceptions. They were (and we also) are to be spiritually
renewed in our minds and our attitudes. We are to be like God
because it is God who is working in us to create a new person - a
person like He is - righteous, holy, true. We are to put away
falsehood, to speak truth, not to sin my allowing anger to
control us. In fact Paul says we are to not let the sun go down
on our anger, for if we do it becomes a weakness that Satan can
use to get a foot hold in our lives and so destroy us. Paul said
in another letter, "...be angry but sin not." There can be a
time for anger, righteous anger, but we had better be careful
indeed that anger does not consume us. Many a sin is committed
when we are out of control with anger, resentment, jealousy, and
even the attitude of utter disgust towards someone. It is a true
saying, "Hate the sin, but love the sinner."
Paul tells them (and tells us at the same time) that if they
are a lazy type, who resorts to different forms of thievery
(living off other people, family, relatives, our government, not
just a thief in the literal sense of breaking into buildings and
homes and stealing things), we are to stop, and get out and work,
so we can then give to others in need. Paul is not here talking
about someone with a physical disability or sickness that
makes holding down a physical job just about impossible. He is
talking to those who are ABLE to work, yet do not, but live off
others, either by obtaining hand outs or by literally being a
thief.
We are not to use foul or abusive language, but our tongue
and words are to be helpful, uplifting, and basically the
language that brings happiness, peace, joy, comfort, inspiration,
to those who hear us speak.
Paul tells us not to bring sorrow to the Holy Spirit that is
in us, by the way we live. It is the Holy Spirit that gives us
the guarantee that we are God's children and will be saved on the
day of complete redemption at the return of Christ, when we will
be redeemed into glorious immortality. Paul addressed that
wonderful time in his 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians. A good
chapter to read often for hope and inspiration.
Paul finishes this thought in these verses with, "Cast off
all bitterness, bursts of rage, uncontrolled anger, harsh words,
slander (falsehoods and lies about the character of people),
together with any kind of evil behavior towards anyone. We are
instead to be kind to each other, tenderhearted, having a
forgiving nature towards others, just as God has towards us,
through Christ Jesus.
CHAPTER FIVE
Paul proceeds with his line of thought as to why they are to
live a godly life. First, the example is God Himself, as we are
His children, we should then follow God's example. We are to live
a life filled with love towards others, just as Christ loved and
gave Himself for us as our sin sacrifice - to take away our sins.
God was very pleased with this sacrifice and it was like a sweet
perfume to Him..
Again Paul gets into specifics. There is to be no sexual
immorality, impurity in general and no lustful greed. There is to
be no obscene story telling, no coarse jokes (dirty jokes to put
it in modern language), or any foolish talk that would not become
the mind of the Christian. People who engage their life with much
of this kind of language, will not inherit the Kingdom of God,
Paul frankly exclaims. He says that at one time our hearts may
have been full of these things, and our life spent on such
unrighteous ways of living and talking, but now we have been
called to the light, and so our lives are to show forth this
righteous light, and so this light coming forth from out of us
will produce a life of goodness - what is true and right in the
sight of God (verses 1-9).
Paul admonishes us to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.
To not take part in worthless deeds of sin and evil and darkness,
but on the contrary, to rebuke and expose them. We can certainly
do this by living a life completely opposite to sin and evil, and
dirty talk. The apostle even says that it can be shameful even to
talk about the nitty-gritty of the things often done by evil
people in secret. Some sins of people are just too filthy to
talk about at times. Just knowing the type of sins committed by
some in secret or in their closed secret clubs, is enough to know
without going into details in our conversation as to those sins.
Living in the light of God and letting that light shine,
will expose those sins of darkness. We are to "awake from sleep"
as it is written and shine our light. There are probably going to
be times when we can "stand up and be counted" as the saying
goes. It may be in school, in a club we belong to, in a "town
hall meeting" on certain issues of our community, in a "parent
and teacher" school meeting. There will be times in our lives
when we can stand up for what is right, decent, good, honorable,
and godly.
Once more Paul comes back to saying we are not to act
thoughtlessly, but to understand what the Lord's will and way of
life is all about (verses 10-17).
We are admonished to never be drunk with wine or alcohol,
but let the true "spirit" fill us and control us (verse 18).
Being then filled with the Spirit, will mean our attitude
is like that of singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
making music in our mind and life, and always giving thanks for
everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
(verse 19-20).
SPIRIT GUIDED RELATIONSHIPS
HUSBANDS AND WIVES
Being in this mind-set - filled with the Holy Spirit, it
will effect our relationships towards each other, and so will
effect our attitude as a wife towards her husband and a
husband towards his wife. Wives, Paul says, are to submit to
their husbands as they do to the Lord, for the husband is head of
the wife as Christ is head of the church, and gave Himself for
her - the church - to save her. As the church submits to Christ
so the wives should towards their husbands (verses 21-24).
If we will but stop and meditate on this "submission"
teaching, as in the relationship the church and Christ have
towards each other, we will see it is not the submission of
"trembling and fear." It is not a submission of a dictator over
a trembling mob of people. It is a loving submission - a so
loving and respectful attitude of mind towards the one
respected and admired and loved, that it would just be a natural
thing to do, a willing thing, a mind-set that WANTS to do and
please the one being looked up to in loving affection. If we
truly love Jesus, it is not a hard thing to submit to Him,
knowing He is not a tyrant with a whip, barking out commands, and
taking pleasure in seeing us shake - rattle and roll in our
boots. As the word says, we love Him because He first loved us
and gave Himself for us.
So then is the relationship and submission of the wife
towards her husband. It is like the relationship of the church
towards Christ.
Paul is here talking about the Christian home, where both
wife and husband belong to the Lord, and where no one is trying
to demand the other breaks any commandment of the Lord. The
apostle Peter addressed the issue in his letters of the wife
obeying her husband "in the Lord" (no wife has to obey and submit
to a husband's wishes where he is trying to get her to disobey
God or her godly conscience of right from wrong), and winning her
husband by her Christian conduct, not her clever theological
arguments. Here Paul is talking to BOTH Christian partners - the
Christian wife and the Christian husband.
The apostle takes a number of verses (verses 25-33) to show
clearly what must be the attitude of the husband. It is anything
but a dictator, anything but a horrible slave-master type
individual, who gloats at having some kind of rulership over
another person or persons. The husband is to have the same kind
of love that Jesus has towards the church, a giving, serving
love. They are to love their wives as they love and take care of
their own body. In fact Paul says a man is loving himself when he
loves his wife. Just as Jesus loves the church, cares for it,
protects it, serves it, wants the very best for it, so should the
husband love and care for his wife.
Paul turns to the very beginning, where he quotes from
Genesis that a man will leave his father and mother and will be
joined to his wife, making two united into one. He says this is a
wonderful mystery, but it illustrates the way Christ and the
church are one. He reiterates that each man must love his wife as
he loves himself, and that the wife should show respect to her
husband.
CHAPTER SIX
CHILDREN AND PARENTS
Children of Christian parents are to then be respectful and
obey their parents, as they also are within the family of God in
a manner of speaking. Paul reminds them that one of the great Ten
Commandments is to do with honoring your parents. And with this
commandment comes a wonderful promise of long life and a
blessing. Obviously this is a general statement, not every single
child that honors their parents lives to a ripe old age, but in
general there is a mighty blessing for children that are
respectful towards their parents. Nations who have CLOSE family
structure, with mother and father being worthy of respect, and
children who respect their mother and father, do generally
prosper in a healthier way. Their society is healthier in mental
attitude and so less crime, less violence, less mistrust, less
stress and tension, more loving and giving, and serving and
wanting the best for each other. Truly the home is the foundation
of any society, when the home breaks down, into mistrust, hate,
anger, jealousy, bitterness, strife, and no respect among
its members, the society at large soon falls into the same
breakdown and reaps the fruit of what its families have sown
(verses 1-3).
Paul gives an admonition to "fathers" in verse 4. They are
to raise their children in such a manner that will not make their
children bitter and angry at them. The way children are taught
and shown right from wrong, the way they are disciplined, the how
and why of it all. The words fathers use (and mothers) and even
the tone of voice used towards children, all of this is part of
the ingredients that will make up the end result of children
either not being angry or being angry, with their parents and
their father in particular. The Christian parent should be
raising their children from God's perspective, from the
instructions of the Lord.
There are many fine Christian books written from the
experience of many Christian parents, on the subject of Christian
childrearing. All parents need to have some of those books in
their home library, and of course the most important point is for
them to read and study and put into practice the many fine
principles and insights those books provide for Christian
parenting.
FOR ALL CHRISTIAN WORKERS
Paul in verses 5-9 gives the godly principle that all
workers should have who claim to be Christian. If you work for
someone else, then as a Christian, work as if you work for the
Lord, work with enthusiasm, work hard, not just when the boss is
watching, your boss the Lord is always watching. Be respectful
towards those who employ you, serve them sincerely.
All this can be hard to do when the boss is a harsh, not
very polite person. But the Christian is to love their enemies
and do good to those who are not so good to them. Christians are
to remember as Paul said, that God will reward the good that they
do.
All of this is not to say we must stick with the job we have
under all and every situation. The Christian is free to leave and
find another job where those he works for are of a more kind
nature. But while they are working for whom they are working they
must work as if working for the Lord, and the Lord will not leave
His child without a reward for working according to God's will.
For those Christians who employ people to work for them,
Paul also leaves instructions. They are to treat their employees
with kindness and with what is right and proper. They are to use
no threats, and to remember that both they and their employees
serve the same Master in heaven. As He has no "favorites" per se,
earthly Christian employers are to have no favorites per se with
those they have working for them.
THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD
The final word from Paul in this letter to the Ephesians is
again to do with the spiritual fight that Christians are in as
they battle the foes of Satan and his host of demon helpers. The
WHOLE armor of God is required to be PUT ON, if we are going to
withstand the onslaught of this mighty evil foe. He is cunning,
he is clever, he is devious, he can appear as Paul said in
another letter, as an angel of light, his ministers coming
to us as ministers of righteousness. Satan does not always come
in a red garment with a pitch-fork and long horns protruding out
of his head. He often comes as a sweet, as a desert, as a
chocolate bar, looking nice for our taste buds.
If we are to resist him we will need the whole armor of God.
We do not fight Paul said, against flesh and blood, we are not in
some physical battle, but a spiritual battle. We are in a fight
against powerful foes, powers of darkness and foes of the unseen
spirit world, who exist in the heavenly dimension that is (unless
God grants a miracle to our eyes) invisible to the human eye.
We must use every piece of God's armor to stand in the day
of temptation and evil. We must have on the sturdy belt of TRUTH,
the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS. Our shoes and feet must be the
PEACE that comes from God and His power and assurance of the
Gospel message. We will need the large shield of FAITH to stop
all the fiery darts that Satan and his host can throw at us. The
helmet of SALVATION, what is in our minds, is a vital piece of
God's armor, as is the sword of the WORD of God, knowing it from
cover to cover, reading it all, studying it, searching it.
We are to PRAY and be in a constant prayer attitude of
communication with God the Father through the Holy Spirit. And
last we are always to be ALERT, and to pray for fellow
Christians.
Paul once more tells them that he is in chains, in prison,
for preaching the message of the Gospel of God, the good news of
salvation through Christ and the Kingdom of God.
Paul says that Tychicus, a much beloved brother, and fellow
helper in the work of the Lord, will relate to them how he is
getting along. Paul was sending him to them for just that
purpose. He would let them know how things were for Paul and
others and would encourage them.
The final words of Paul to the Ephesians were: "May God give
you peace and love, with faith, from God the Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ. May God's grace be upon all who love our Lord Jesus
Christ with a sincere and undying love.
...............................
Written October 2005
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