A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 6

 

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:11–13 ESV).

 

Since I have begun to have a bit of problem with my memory, I asked my primary care physician at the last visit if he thought I should do some sort of testing for early memory loss. He seemed a bit surprised, though at my age I’m not at all surprised at that. He said the first step would be to take a short verbal test. The nurse came in after the doctor finished his exam and began to ask questions. I’ve done similar tests before, though this one was a bit longer and more detailed. I must confess I did not score a 100. When given five words to remember and asked later in the testing, I only got four of them. And I became a bit flustered that it seemed difficult to name very many animals in a 60 second time period; I only got 45 different animals! Well, after drawing an analog clock reading the time of 10:50, she began to score the test. I confess that if she told me score I don’t remember it at this writing. Though she did say it was well into the normal range for someone of my age. So, I suppose my memory loss is just age-related.

 

Remembering is important. This is the reason the Apostle Paul begins our reading today with a “Therefore, remember.” The “remember” command begins verse 12 as well. “Therefore, remember.” That is, in the light of the glory of what God has done for you in the gospel, outlined in the preceding verses, removing your status as objects of wrath, pouring out grace upon you so that you have faith to believe.… “Therefore,” he says, “in the light of the glory of what has happened to you in the gospel, it is imperative that you remember what you have been saved from.”

 

That point is made implicitly a little earlier (v. 3). “All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.” So, here he again says, “Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.”

 

When you work through biblical passages on remembering and forgetting, it’s remarkable that the Bible tells us there are certain things we should remember and certain things we should forget. For example, in Philippians, Paul says he forgets certain things. He determines to forget certain things. “Forgetting those things which are past,” he says, “I press on for the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus.”

 

In the context, the things he wants to forget are, in fact, the things he might be puffed up with pride over. He wants to forget all his intrinsic advantages. He wants to forget something of the spectacular triumphs he has seen in the gospel, because he knows full well that in the end we’re not more than unprofitable servants. We could all have done better, done more, been more consistent. We’re all debtors to grace.

 

Knowing that brings us to the incredible reality of being chosen in Christ! That prompts us to gratitude and wonder! Then we are truly moved by the Gospel! I am very grateful I have not forgotten that I once was lost and now I am found!

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 5

 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV).

 

Today we come to one of the most familiar passages in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians church. It speaks of grace. That word in the original language is χάρις, (charis, or phonetically: “khar'-ece”). It is used often in the Scripture. Our word here is from chairo; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude); it can also mean acceptable, benefit, favor, gift, joy, liberality, pleasure, and thanks worthy.

 

It shouldn’t surprise us that because we are believers we talk about it a lot, frequently defining it as “God’s unmerited favor towards us.” And indeed, it is. It is by God’s grace that we are saved, and not by anything we have done or could do (v. 8). God’s grace has dealt with our separation from God through sin and we now have a future with him. It is unfortunate however that we often leave it there. We will see much more of this in future readings. Today, however, let’s deal with the grace of God and our salvation.

 

Our salvation is a gift from God. It is something that God, because of his grace, chooses to give to me. There is nothing I can do that would make me worthy of that gift of salvation. Often there is some confusion in the larger community of believers across various denominations about how the grace of God is obtained. The Apostle Paul briefly deals with those questions when he writes “…this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works” (v. 8). John Calvin writes:

 

Having treated of election and of effectual calling, he [Paul] arrives at this general conclusion, that they had obtained salvation by faith alone. First, he asserts, that the salvation of the Ephesians was entirely the work, the gracious work of God. But then they had obtained this grace by faith. On one side, we must look at God; and, on the other, at man. God declares, that he owes us nothing; so that salvation is not a reward or recompense, but unmixed grace. The next question is, in what way do men receive that salvation which is offered to them by the hand of God? The answer is, by faith; and hence he concludes that nothing connected with it is our own. If, on the part of God, it is grace alone, and if we bring nothing but faith, which strips us of all commendation, it follows that salvation does not come from us.

 

Others push back against such a position with the issue of free will. Calvin goes further in this part of his study into this epistle by writing:

 

Ought we not then to be silent about free-will, and good intentions, and fancied preparations, and merits, and satisfactions? There is none of these which does not claim a share of praise in the salvation of men; so that the praise of grace would not, as Paul shews, remain undiminished. When, on the part of man, the act of receiving salvation is made to consist in faith alone, all other means, on which men are accustomed to rely, are discarded. Faith, then, brings a man empty to God, that he may be filled with the blessings of Christ. And so he adds, not of yourselves; that claiming nothing for themselves, they may acknowledge God alone as the author of their salvation.

 

Just as a baby is born without any personal effort or participation, so the believer is born again without any personal effort or participation. That is not to say that our sanctification is without participation or effort. Paul goes on to say that the result of redemption is that we “… we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (v. 10). None of those “good works” produces our redemption; rather, the reverse is true. God’s work of redemption in us produces those good works.

 

It is indeed an Amazing Grace!

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 4

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:15–23 ESV).

 

Today’s reading is a prayer of the Apostle Paul on behalf of his readers and beloved members of a church he began and ministered to for nearly three years. It calls to my mind one of the reasons I write these little devotionals each day. It is my sincere desire that you hear what the Bible has to say to all of us who been called into the glorious adoption of our Heavenly Father. I hope that by reading these God would grant you to see the truth of Jesus and the infinite and eternal value of your relationship through him.

 

The specific truth that I desire for you to embed in your life is the result of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and what became of him after his resurrection. This is what shows the greatness of God’s power toward us now in this life. Perhaps you can remember three words to capture this message: resurrection power now. This is what Paul means in the phrase: “the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe” (v. 19).

 

I know that many of you may not feel that power. It sounds idealistic. It sounds like religious hype. It sounds vague and theoretical. It does not correspond to experience, and so you instinctively feel like this message is like a piece of fiction. I don’t blame you for feeling that way. But I hope that by God’s grace the word of God may change your mind and your heart. I can’t. God can.

 

The Apostle Paul wants us to know three things, and I merely want to point you to the third of these: “… that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and, [the one we are concerned with] what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe.” He’s not praying that we get the calling, or become heirs, or get the power. He is saying: You have the calling; you are heirs; you have the power of God toward you, and you don’t know them as you could and as you should. I want you to know them. I am praying that you may “know …the immeasurable greatness of his power toward you who believe” (v. 19). Paul is praying that we would be spiritually experientially conscious of God’s power toward us as believers now. Read the last two verses of this morning’s text. Paul lists these things Jesus has and are now ours through Him.

 

Declare those in your life. Trust the truth that God does not turn on His promises. He does not take back that which is given. I close with one application. You have read my thoughts of the dangerous powers of sin, especially the sin of pride in my life—and your life. Now I add this. Mary and I are not unaware of our enemy. We know that Satan and his hordes are real. They hate us. They hate our faith. They hate our worship. They hate our marriage. They hate our children. They hate our ministry. If you want to know—experientially know—what verse 19 means, if you want Paul’s prayer answered in your life that you will “know the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe,” then wake up to the demonic battle that rages for your soul, your marriage, your children, your ministry every day. Declare what has already happened… we have won the victory in Jesus!

 

 

  

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 3

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:11–14 ESV).

 

Proof of ownership is usually required for the recovery of a lost possession. If your vehicle is stolen and then recovered, the police department will typically ask for evidence that the car belongs to you before releasing it into your care. Should your dog or cat be lost and picked up by local animal control, they may require a tag or some other identification before it allows the animal to come home with you. Remarkably, God has proof that He owns His people. Of course, this evidence is not presented to anyone else to secure our release, for, as the Creator and highest authority, no other stands above Him to whom He must appeal. Instead, His proof of ownership exists for our benefit, to assure us that we belong to Him. This proof is the seal of the Holy Spirit (v. 13).

 

In the ancient world, written correspondence, cattle, and other objects were imprinted with specially designed seals that identified their owners via symbols, letters, or stamps of family insignias. “The promised Holy Spirit” has sealed us in this sense, burning in us the image of our Savior. Knowing that we have the Spirit assures us that we belong to God, that He possesses a love for His people that He does not have for the rest of the world. This seal protects us from divine judgment, for it shows that we are forgiven in Christ (cf. Ezekiel 9:4–6; Revelation 7:1–8; 9:4). It also comforts us with the knowledge that God is our Father, for “the Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). The Father and Son gift Him to all believers at conversion, for the sealing happens when receive the gospel of salvation.

 

This mark of ownership is very important to grasp. In ancient times, a king or owner pressed a royal signet ring into hot wax to mark an object as their own. God places the Holy Spirit inside you as His official mark. Therefore, because we belong to God, His seal means we are safe. No person or mistake can break God's personal seal on our life. It is also a promise for tomorrow: The Holy Spirit inside us acts as a down payment, proving that God will finish what He started and give us eternal life.

 

It is one of the clearest declarations of the work of God from beginning to end in the believer’s life. It is not our work. That is what concludes for us our redemption is a permanent position. That is the basis of our hope!

 

  

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 2

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him. (Ephesians 1:3–10 ESV)

 

Never let it be said that the Apostle Paul was subtle in his teachings! Our reading today is one of the most profound New Testament passages written by him and functions as an opening hymn of praise, outlining the eternal plan of God to redeem humanity and unite all creation under Jesus Christ. In the original Greek text, verses 3 through 14 actually form one single, continuous, and breathless sentence celebrating God’s grace. For centuries there has been a great controversy surrounding these verses. It centers on the theological debate between Calvinism and Arminianism, specifically focusing on the doctrines of predestination, unconditional election, and human free will.

 

The Calvinist view understands this passage as stating that God "chose us in him before the creation of the world" and "predestined us for adoption" means that God sovereignly and unconditionally selects specific individuals for salvation before birth, independent of any human action or merit. The Arminian/Non-Calvinist view argues that God's predestination is corporate (ie. choosing the "body" of Christ rather than individuals) or they say the choice of God is based on divine foreknowledge of who would freely choose to believe in Him, protecting human responsibility and free will.

 

As a reformed believer, I prefer the first view of interpretation. Perhaps going to the principal author of the Calvinistic view would be helpful; John Calvin writes:

 

“In the word predestinate we must again attend to the order. We were not then in existence, and therefore there was no merit of ours. The cause of our salvation did not proceed from us, but from God alone. Yet Paul, not satisfied with these statements, adds in himself. The Greek phrase is, εἰς αὑτὸν, and has the same meaning with ἐν αὑτῷ. By this he means that God did not seek a cause out of himself, but predestinated us, because such was his will.” (Calvin’s Commentary on Ephesians).

 

The Apostle Paul is going to clarify this even more later when he writes: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10). Critics of strict predestination argue that choosing some for salvation while leaving others behind paints God as an arbitrary or cruel tyrant; however, Paul explicitly anchors these choices "in love" and expressions of God's "good pleasure", emphasizing grace and humility over human boasting

 

For me it all comes down to the complete dependence upon God rather than anything we may or may not do. If I’m responsible for being good enough to gain eternal life, or do enough to gain God’s favor, I have no hope. The good news is it all depends on Jesus, and, He has finished it on my behalf! Now… that’s good news!

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 1

 

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:1–2 ESV).

 

Before we begin to dig a bit deeper into the wonderful letter from the Apostle Paul, a bit of history and context is helpful. We should understand the story of how Paul came to the city of Ephesus. Some of this is related by Luke in Acts (cf. chapter 19). Ephesus was a huge city, acting as the epicenter for worship of most of the Greek and Roman gods. For over two years, Paul had an effective missionary presence there and converted many people to Christianity. Years later, during his imprisonment in Rome, he wrote this letter to the church there (sometime between 60-62 AD).

 

The movement of thought in the letter divides it into two distinct halves. In the first half (cf. chapters 1-3), Paul explores the story of the Gospel, how all history came to its climax in Jesus, and his creation of a multiethnic community of followers. The second half (cf. chapters 4-6) is linked to the first part by the word “therefore.” Paul explores how the Gospel should affect the way we live our lives, personally, in our community, and within our families.

 

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians stands alongside Romans as a classic example of the apostle’s thought. Ephesians is heavenly in its content and expansive in the truths it proclaims, while remaining approachable and pragmatic in its instructions. Here are three things you should know when you read Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

 

§  First, Ephesians is deliberately broad and general. Unlike Colossians, where Paul had not met the people to whom he was writing, he had pastored the Ephesians for three years (Acts 20:31). During that time, he regularly taught in a public lecture hall, laying a broad foundation of Christian teaching in Ephesus before this letter was written (cf. Acts 19:9–10). So, what Paul writes is not a reaction to heresy (as in Colossians) or to public scandal (as in 1–2 Corinthians), but the essential gospel. This is one of reasons many theologians begin with this letter in their teaching. If ever there was a time for the essential gospel in our world, this is such a time.

 

§  Second, the Ephesian believers lived in the shadow of paganism, and because of that were marginalized. Ephesus was a large city perhaps with a population of 200,000–250,000 people. Only Athens and Rome were larger. The most prominent religion in Ephesus involved the worship of Artemis. However, there were many different cults, including emperor worship. While other religions were welcomed, Christianity was not. It was viewed as a threat to the honor and majesty of Artemis (cf. Acts 19:27). Ephesian Christians carried in their recent memory the silversmiths’ riot, where some of them had been attacked and dragged into the great theater. Some of them had been there when a mob of fifty thousand angry people shouted, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” (Acts 19:23–41). The Christians in Ephesus lived their lives outnumbered, in the shadow of the Temple of Artemis, surrounded by the occult, and under the threat of renewed violence. The apostle knew this first-hand and sought to equip these early believers with the understanding of the truth of God found only in Scripture. That was to be their weapon against these forces seeking to destroy their faith. If ever we needed such knowledge to be equipped in our world, today is such a time.

 

§  Third, the Ephesians were in a spiritual battle that many today deny exists. Paul warns about “rulers,” “authorities,” and “cosmic powers” (cf. Ephesians 6:12). Most Christians are familiar with the “armor of God” (cf. Ephesians 6). Perhaps lesser known are the circumstances that form the backdrop to this text. Ephesus was a center for the practice of magic (cf. Acts 19:18–19). It welcomed magicians and sorcerers. These were believed to draw power from the worship of Artemis and other occult practices. We might be tempted to say that a false god is “nothing” and therefore no threat (cf. 1 Corinthians 8:4), but Paul corrects a dismissive approach and warns that demons stand behind idols and receive their worship (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:20). Hence, Ephesus was a hub of spiritual darkness and demonic oppression. That is true today, though many deny this in our world.

 

So, as we begin, let each of us determine to receive the grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 2).

 

The Difference a Day Makes

 

Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:19–24 ESV).

 

I almost hesitated to center today’s devotional around my birthday, but as I began thinking about it, the lord gave me a direction that might be helpful and encouraging to each of you. Since I have been a part of eight different decades I have seen many changes in culture, technology, and practice. Change has become an integral part of life and almost a guarantee. I’m always a bit surprised when I read one of those memes so often posted on social media that reference something from the past that was once very common and now is nearly non-existent. They’re still fresh in my memory, but then those things were very common in my experience.

 

However, “change” is not what drew my attention to a topic today. Our reading from Psalm 118 declares, “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (v. 24). I think we don’t do a very good job of that. At least I find myself taking this day for granted all too often. That leads to missing the wonder of God’s daily gifts and experiences.

 

Let me expand that thought a bit. Today’s attached picture was taken from the bypass from Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg when Mary and I visited the mountains in the fall of 2022. The colors were beautiful and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. I remember thinking as we stopped often along the way through the mountains that that moment might be our last. It was not a maudlin thought; it was more of a thought about how unique each experience of life truly is. There have been many of those times in my life. My last deer hunt in Tennessee; my last day as an active pastor; the last day that my children would truly call “our” home “their” home. As your thoughts wander through your life’s experience, I’m sure you can think of many of those moments as well. I believe we need to be more intentional about the uniqueness of “this day.” No wonder the psalmist says, “Rejoice!” It is special because it is happening, not because it happened before.

 

Birthdays are not special because of our birth; they are special just as every day is. After all, this is the day the Lord has made! Celebrate that in your life, regardless of the actual circumstances you are experiencing! He has seen it, ordained it, and is making it so that it will produce good in your life! That’s the difference a day makes!