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!

 

The Holiness God Desires

 

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1–2 ESV).

 

Almost every time I speak or write about the grace of God, I am asked something like “But what do I have to do?” My answer is always the same: “We don’t have to do anything; however, we get to do everything.” In our reading today the Apostle John says Jesus is the “propitiation” for our sin. That word, “propitiation,” in the original language is ἱλασμός (pronounced hē-läs-mos'). It means an offering to appease (satisfy) an angry, offended party. Hhilasmós is only used twice (cf. 1 Jn 2:2, 4:10) in the New Testament. Both times it speaks of Christ's atoning blood that appeases God's wrath, on all sin. By the sacrifice of Himself, Jesus Christ provided the ultimate hilasmós ("propitiation").

 

Rober Murray M’Cheyne wrote the following in his Memoir and Remains: “Lord, make me as holy as a pardoned sinner can be made.” God’s desire for our holiness burns through the Scriptures like a purifying fire. Paul would have us think so: “This is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Peter would have us think so: “As he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1 Peter 1:15–16). Hebrews would have us think so: “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). There can be no doubt that God’s desire is the holiness of all His children. Since we had no mean by which we could accomplish that, the Father sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to do so on our behalf.

 

We must understand what this holiness truly looks like. It is breathtakingly beautiful. It participates in God’s own glory — a glory bursting with life and majesty. It is not religious ritual: food laws and temple sacrifices, perhaps, or a devotion to churchly routines. Such was the mistake of many Pharisees — those punctual, precise, “worshiping” bundles of corruption (cf. Matthew 23:25–28). True holiness pierces to the deepest parts of a person; it touches and transforms “spirit and soul and body” (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:23). Holiness is a hand that plucks the heart’s hidden strings, filling all of life with heavenly melody. It is not smoke arising from the altar, but faith and love arising from the soul that has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus.

 

God desires one thing only… that is our relationship to Him through the blood of Jesus! We are holy because Jesus is holy. Trust in Him and Him alone. Then we are set free to do what is holy!

 

 

The Delight of God

 

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. [30] And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (Genesis 1:27–31 ESV).

 

Having come to the end of our exploration of the Apostles, I decided to look at the “good” of God. Our reading today is taken from the end of the Creation story as God surveys His handiwork and pronounces it as “very good” (v. 30). The Hebrew word is טוֹב (pronounced “tove”). It is used throughout the Old Testament and means beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, fair (word), (be in) favor, fine, glad, good, graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, loving, merry, most, pleasant, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well-favored), and delight. It could be translated that God saw His creation and was “delighted by its goodness.”

 

Knowing the rest of the story we might scoff at this reaction. There is very little “good” or delightful in the world we know in its now fallen state. Yet, we so often forget that is not what it first was; and we fail to understand that, even now, God is working His purpose and will through Jesus to finally return us to that creation (cf. Revelation 21:1-4).

 

Recently I listened to a podcast by John Piper that reminded me of this truth. I struck me as an important and often overlooked truth. In the podcast, John Piper said:

 

“Human beings are created for joy in God, for admiring God, for being amazed at God, for standing in awe of God, and wondering at God.”

 

I think we become so bent toward doing things that might somehow impress God, or at least satisfy God, that we fail to recognize that He needs nothing from us, but desires us to simply be “good”… delighted in Him.

 

Listen to the prophet Zephaniah: “The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17 ESV).

 

Read that again and shout the word “he”… it is the Great God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth who stands in our midst. He is rejoicing over us with delight! He is quietening the storm that rages around us by His love! He is singing praise and exaltation over us with loud singing! All of this because of who He is, not what we do or don’t do. Ponder that and think of the incredible gift Jesus is in making us God’s children!

 

The Last Apostle, One as Untimely Born - Paul

 

For I [Paul] delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15:3–10 ESV).

 

The Apostle Paul, originally known as Saul of Tarsus, is widely regarded as the most influential figure in the history of Christianity after Jesus Christ. Born a devout Jew and a Roman citizen in Cilicia (modern-day Turkey), he initially worked as a zealous Pharisee who actively persecuted early followers of Jesus. His life took a radical turn during a dramatic encounter with the resurrected Christ on the road to Damascus. Following this pivotal event, he transformed into the premier "Apostle to the Gentiles," dedicating the rest of his life to spreading the gospel across the Roman Empire.

 

It is worth noting the stages in his life. Born around 5 AD in Tarsus, he inherited prestigious Roman citizenship. He later moved to Jerusalem to study Jewish law under the highly respected rabbi Gamaliel. There he was a witness to the martyrdom of Stephen and ultimately became one of the most feared individuals in the early church. Armed with authority to arrest Christians, Saul was struck blind by a brilliant heavenly light while traveling to Damascus. Jesus spoke to him directly, a moment that completely redefined his purpose and identity. It was through that experiences that he launched three major missionary campaigns through Asia Minor, Greece, and Macedonia. He successfully established numerous local churches and argued that non-Jewish converts did not need to follow traditional Mosaic laws. He set the tone of inclusivity for the church. However, since his teachings caused civil unrest, Roman authorities arrested Paul in Jerusalem. He spent his final years under house arrest in Rome before being executed, traditionally by beheading under Emperor Nero around 64–67 AD.

 

Paul shaped Christian doctrine more than any other early church leader. Out of the 27 books in the New Testament, 13 epistles (letters) are traditionally attributed to him. These theological texts—including Romans, Corinthians, and Galatians—laid the groundwork for core Christian tenets such as salvation by faith through grace rather than by keeping strict religious laws. His writings represent some of the earliest surviving Christian literature ever recorded.

 

Of all the many things we may learn from Paul, it is that grace is never late, but always on time! His life serves as a testimony to what God can do in the life of anyone placing their faith in Him!

 

 

The Replacement of Judas Iscariot - Matthias

 

In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’” So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:15–26 ESV).

 

When Jesus began his public ministry, he chose twelve disciples to follow him for three years (cf. Luke 6:12-16). However, when Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus and thereafter killed himself (cf. Matthew 27:1-10), the disciples needed to find a twelfth man to replace Judas. They’d narrowed down the candidates to two people: Joseph (also known as Justus) and a man named Matthias. Both of these men had followed Jesus during his public ministry – since John the Baptist baptized Jesus and witnessed his resurrection. They just didn’t have the title of the original twelve. After praying and doing a practice known as casting lots, the lots landed on Matthias. He was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. We can learn a very important principle from this disciple.

 

Our timetable doesn’t always match God’s timetable. Perhaps Matthias was disappointed when Jesus hadn’t chosen him as one of the original twelve, though there is no indication of that in the Scripture. He seems to have been both willing and happy to be paired off in the 72 followers who ministered to the Jews and stayed long after Jesus’ resurrection, even after several followers deserted Jesus throughout his time on earth.

 

He certainly fit all the qualifications. So, it is natural for us to ask why did it seem like Jesus had overlooked him? First, we simply must understand it was not his time. We may feel the same way. Maybe we were perfect for a role on our church’s worship team or someone else got a position we felt we deserved. After all, Judas Iscariot didn’t seem like a great candidate. At least, not a candidate as good as Matthias. Second, our path is not chosen based on what we believe; rather it is based on the will and purpose of God.

 

We must, like Matthias, defer to God’s timing. God may have a surprise in store for us in the future, but we must trust his decisions. That timing is always correct!

 

The Call of the Apostles - Judas Iscariot

 

And he [Jesus] went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. (Mark 3:13–19 ESV).

 

Today we come to the last of the Twelve Apostles, Judas Iscariot. Judas Iscariot is a name that many people know, even if they have never opened a Bible. The betrayal he represents is akin to men like Benedict Arnold, Brutus, and Aldrich Ames. As with many figures in the Bible, the early life of Judas Iscariot is not well known. Reviewing the Greek of his name, Ioudas Iskariōth, we can deduce a couple things about this infamous traitor. The first is that he held a common name used in first-century Judaism. Ioudas is the Greek form of Judah, which means “praised.” However, his last name, Iskariōth, is a little more complicated to place. The most common explanation is that it refers to his origins, identifying him as a man from Kerioth. When we look at sites with that name in the Bible, this could put him as being from a town in Moab or a location known as Kerioth-Hezron. Another possible explanation for his last name is that it could have been added later to describe his actions, as the Greek word for assassin or bandit is sikarios.

 

Though the origins of “Iscariot” may be disputed, Judas’ role as the disciple who betrayed Jesus is not. All four Gospels make clear that he is Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Christ (cf. Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:13-19, Luke 6:12-16, and John 12:4). John goes on to highlight another of Judas’s evil characteristics:

 

“He [Judas] said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.”  (John 12:6, ESV).

 

Judas’s greed played a part in the betrayal, as Judas would go on to hand Jesus over in exchange for silver. However, this verse also highlights Judas’s role as one of the disciples. He oversaw the group’s finances.

 

It is easy to wonder why Jesus would pick such a man to be one of the original Twelve Apostles. The simple answer is that this was what God had already determined. For the longest time, only Christ knew about that identification. Judas’s story ends tragically (cf. Matthew 27:3-10). Filled with the remorse of sending an innocent man to His death, Judas returns the money to the religious leaders and goes and hangs himself from a tree. We also see how the story concludes and what happens to him; putting together the Matthew account and the Luke account, it seems that his body decays as apparently no one ever removed him from the tree, and it falls, smashing onto rocks (cf. Acts 1:18).

 

There is a very sad thought that often runs through my mind when I think of the tragedy of Judas Iscariot. His sin was no different than that of Peter. Both denied and betrayed Jesus. However, the path after the betrayal was significantly different. One was remorse and the other was repentence. Most orthodox scholars maintain that Judas was not saved. This argument rests on several points. Jesus refers to Judas as the "Son of Perdition" (cf. John 17:12), and noted that he was "doomed to destruction" so that Scripture would be fulfilled. While Judas felt extreme guilt and returned the thirty pieces of silver (cf. Matthew 27:3-5), theologians argue he felt worldly remorse rather than true, godly repentance, ultimately leading him to despair and suicide rather than seeking God's grace.

 

What we can know is that God makes that determination unltimately and finally. Whatever grace we receive comes from Him. The most important note for us is that while we yet have breath there is opportunity to respond to His grace. He is a forgiving God who desires our repentence. Trust in Jesus today!