This is the fourth in our series of the Pauline Epistles, I hope you have enjoyed the preceding books of these epistles to this point. This one presents a balanced approach to fortifying and establishing the believers in a way that each one can fulfill the purpose and calling God has given. The goal being to confirm and to equip a new and maturing church. The answer to who is the author is the opening verse. 

Ephesians 1:1

This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus. (NLT)

The Book of Ephesians was very likely written between A.D. 60-63. Paul was writing this book from a Roman prison and it was his hope that many of the faithful of this ministry would receive this writing. The words within this book provide the discipline needed to bring forward the many maturing faithful to be indeed the true children of God. We have here a balanced view of the state of the church at this time and and its importance to the moving forward of the church. There is much of the foundational instruction needed for the church here. To often readers go to the last part of the book instead of carefully reading the instructions needed to get us there. We must understand and fully appreciate what God has declared us to be and to be grounded in the knowledge of where God is going with this plan…that which he has for all humanity. We must be strong in our present walk, our goal should be to get stronger and strengthen our commitment to prepare for what is coming. There are three main segments in this book and they breakdown as such. 

-Chapters 1 -3…the principals that are part of God’s accomplishments.

-Chapters 4 and 5… puts forth principles regarding our present existence.

-Chapter 6…principles concerning our daily struggle.

Some Surprises… For the Jews…Well for everyone at that time.

-concept of the church as the body of Christ…  

And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.

 -A new mystery..

Ephesians 3:6 

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

-Consider this, the jews had always been God’s people, they are his chosen people.  

Deuteronomy 7:6  For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

The Jews were understandably surprised by this. The Gentiles had equal status? This would cause many disputes among Jewish believers and Gentile converts in the days ahead. 

The book continues to share some things that an ordinary lay person would not think about. Now most of us do respect and value sound doctrine and right practice in our Christian life but  “theology” is not our normal path. We kinda like to only discuss things that are “practical” to our way of thinking. The following says it best and it is taken from an article on Got Questions, a great web sight I go to often.

“In Ephesians, Paul argues that theology is practical. In order to live out God’s will for us in our lives practically, we must first understand who we are in Christ doctrinally.” (gotquestions.org)  

It would be a long road ahead for the Ephesians and for the Church at Ephesus but how did this letter help out in its time? Fast forward to the Book of Revelations… We find that answer in Revelation 2:2-3

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

These are God’s words not John. You might find it interesting to read this chapter in Revelations to increase your understanding of Paul’s letter to these people and the effect it had .Read Revelations 2:1-7.

I can’t put the keyboard aside just yet. I must share with you a section of the Book of Ephesians that I am sure many of you remember from of all places…Sunday School. There was always that part of the school’s program, on that special day or evening when we kids got to tell a bible story or share verses with the congregation that one class would chose to do “Putting on The Amour of God.” 

Ephesians 6: 10-17

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

What a practical way to set forth some very valuable resources to stand strong in the faith. I could add at least another thousand words to this blog…could but I won’t do that. Here are your weapons of Faith… belt of truth buckled around your waist… the breastplate of righteousness in place… feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace… take up the shield of faith… helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 

Thanks for stopping by “The Pew”.

 Life is Good

jk