A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 19

 

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1–2 ESV).

 

The Apostle Paul now turns to a more general result of the grace of God. We are enjoined to “walk in love” (v. 1). In response to the free gift of salvation that God offers us and enables us to receive, Christians are called to live a life of gratitude that displays itself in good works (cf. Ephesians 2:8–10; 4:17–24). Paul paints the contours of this life in broad strokes in yesterday’s reading (Ephesians 4:25–32), emphasizing the importance of truth-telling, purity in speech, restraint, kindness, and forgiveness. Today’s passage describes life in Christ even more succinctly. Simply put, we must “be imitators of God, as beloved children.”

 

It should be noted that the first verse of today’s reading is the only verse in Scripture to command us explicitly to imitate the Lord. Nevertheless, throughout the Bible we find passages from which we may deduce our Father’s desire that His people would copy His character, insofar as creatures are able. Leviticus 19:2, for example, calls us to model our holiness after the holiness of God: “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” Jesus also tells us to be kind, for that is the way in which our Creator treats His creatures, even those who are ungrateful (cf. Luke 6:35–36). Since we are made in God’s image, all human beings have the capability to imitate Him. Due to the fall, however, only those who belong to Christ — the perfect representation of God (cf. Colossians 1:15) — can now put this imitation into practice.

 

Of course, being creatures, we cannot imitate the Creator in every way. We cannot make something out of nothing, nor are we sovereign over all. The ways in which we imitate God are primarily ethical in nature. The church father Jerome comments: “Admittedly much that God has done we humans can hardly be said to imitate. But in the way he is merciful to all and rains on good and bad, so we may pour out mercy upon all we meet” (ACCNT 8, pp. 172–173).

 

That our imitation of the Lord is chiefly ethical is confirmed in the second verse of our reading, where we are commanded to “walk in love, as Christ loved us.” This love was supremely demonstrated in His willingness to give Himself up for our sake, to pay the price necessary to save us. God’s love cost Him much — the death of His only begotten Son — thus, costly love is what pleases Him most. Imitating our Creator means that we will pay a price — that in love we will have to surrender our own well-being at times in order to advance the good of others.

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 18

 

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:25–32 ESV).

 

Today we will examine one of the most important passages in Scripture on Christians and anger. I must confess this passage is one of the most challenging for me to apply practically and consistently. I have often told people that I do have a “long fuse” but the explosion at the end of it is like that which took place in Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of WW2! It is not pretty, nor is it Biblical. Even after five decades of personal work, it still presents itself from time to time.

 

We do have an incredible model in the life of Jesus. He has shown us that being angry, in itself, is not evil. The Apostle Paul takes this idea a step further. Paul tells us not only that we are permitted to be angry, he also says there are times when we must be angry. That the Lord would command us to be angry at times is understandable when we consider biblical ethics. In the same letter Paul summarizes what we need to know about Christian virtues by telling us to be “imitators of God” (cf. Ephesians 5:1). Our Father in heaven can only be perfectly holy if He gets angry when His righteous standards are violated (cf. Deuteronomy 32:4; Isa. 6:3). If we are to imitate Him, we too must get mad at those things that make God angry. We must grow incensed when we see the weak and helpless exploited, because the Lord’s wrath is kindled against the oppressor (cf. Exodus 22:21–24). Hypocrisy in our lives and in the church must disturb us because of Jesus’ anger at those who honor Him with their lips only (cf. Matthew 15:8; 23).

 

Yet we are imperfect, and while we must sometimes get angry, we must also take care that we do not sin in our anger (v. 26). Every time we are mad, we should check ourselves to see if we are upset at the things God hates. Otherwise, we may be angry without just cause and give opportunity to the Devil (v. 27). Anger is the emotion most prone to sinful abuse, and this is why Paul also tells us to put anger away in this same passage (v. 31). This is not a contradiction of earlier verses. Paul is only recognizing that our anger, even if it is godly at first, is too often perverted into feelings of malice instead of a longing to see offenders repent. When this happens, we are in danger of giving root to the bitterness that destroys (cf. Hebrews 12:15).

 

Finally, though evil should anger us, we should not pour wrath on others. Jesus castigated the Pharisees because of their hard hearts (cf. Matthew 23), but He was kind and gentle to the adulterous woman because she was humble and contrite (cf. John 7:53–8:11). We cannot condone sin, but we must also imitate our Savior and seek to restore the repentant in lieu of showing wrath.

 

We can too easily fall back under the sway of sin, which makes our hearts “deceitful beyond all things” (cf. Jeremiah 17:9). We can trick ourselves into thinking our anger is godly when it is not pleasing to the Lord. Being honest with other Christians is essential in differentiating between godly and ungodly anger. If you are mad today, confess this anger to the Lord and seek the wisdom to know whether it is justified. Then, seek the good of the person with whom you are angry.

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 17

 

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:17–24 ESV).

 

I have often heard people exhort believers to “let go and let God.” There is a great danger in this advice. It can lead to an entirely passive belief for their sanctification (growth in holiness). The best intentions lie behind this advice. After all, we know that our works contribute nothing to our righteous standing before the Lord (cf. Galatians 2:15–16; Ephesians 2:8–9); thus, many people think that giving ourselves a role in sanctification comes perilously close to denying grace.

 

Certainly, it is easy to confuse the process of sanctification with the once-for-all declaration of justification. Even Protestants might believe, implicitly, that our works secure our place in heaven or make God love us more than believers who are “further behind” in their sanctification. To avoid this problem, we simply need to maintain the biblical distinction between justification and sanctification. It is unnecessary to deny our role in sanctification altogether. God’s justification of a person, the starting point of Christian living, relies solely on the work of Christ (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21). Sanctification, as our reading explains, requires cooperation between the Lord and individual believers.

 

God’s “job” is to renew our minds. Note the passive voice (v. 23): we are to “be renewed [by the Lord].” He performs the work of inward transformation, renewing our affection for Him and giving us an ever-deepening understanding of His ways. The Lord works through the circumstances of life and the path of our journey to accomplish this, but only He can perform the work of transformation. The Apostle Paul encouraged the Philippians to be grateful for the Lord’s work, for His power guarantees that we will fulfill our role and advance in holiness (Philippians 2:12–13).

 

Our job is to live out God’s transforming work and “put on the new self,” which means putting His ways into practice. In other words, it is to live in conformity to Christ. Gregory of Nyssa was one of the fourth-century Cappadocian Fathers who helped codify the language of orthodox Trinitarianism. He comments on Ephesians 4:24: “There is but one garment of salvation, namely, Christ. Hence the “new man” created in God’s likeness is none other than Christ. One who has put on Christ has thus put on the new person created in God’s likeness”. That is how we achieve balance in our sanctification!

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 16

 

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV).

 

Having referred in the abstract to the gifts that Jesus has given to His people, in today’s reading the apostle Paul identifies several of these gifts specifically. Actually, he does not refer to what we ordinarily consider spiritual gifts but rather spiritual offices. Yet this is not unusual, for he also mentions specific offices when it discusses the giftings of Christ through His Spirit to His church (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:27–30). The lists in these two passages, along with the lists of gifts found elsewhere in the New Testament, are representative and not comprehensive. They are given to indicate the types of blessings Christ gives to His people, not to define every grace Jesus might give to the covenant community.

 

Today we see five specific offices (v. 11) — apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers. We should remember that these two groups constitute the foundation of the church laid in the first century. Since the foundation has already been established, some theologians believe there is no longer any need for apostles and prophets as in the early church. As far as an “officer of the church” these interpreters may be correct; however, I believe that a part of the problem of some denominations is that there is no sense of administration in the use of these giftings. My good friend and mentor, Bill Shamburger, said many times that “anything with more than one head is a monster, and anything without a head is dead.” There is great wisdom in that statement. I believe there are those in our community that are gifted to be such leaders.

 

He also mentions evangelists. These are those who are especially gifted to proclaim the gospel persuasively and intelligibly. Although they carry out their work primarily among unbelievers, there is an ongoing need for believers to hear the message of the evangelists. Timothy, after all, was exhorted to do the work of an evangelist even though his ministry was primarily to an established church (cf. 2 Timothy 4:5). We do not lose our need for the gospel at conversion; rather, we must hear it repeatedly so that we might turn daily from our sin and rest on Jesus alone for forgiveness.

 

Lastly, the apostle mentions shepherds (or pastors) and teachers. They are mentioned side by side because both types of officers provide instruction. Yet while all pastors are teachers, not all teachers are pastors. Teachers and pastors alike clarify and apply Scripture to their hearers (cf. 2 Timothy 2:2), but pastors have more of a leadership role than teachers, especially in soul care. Imitating the Good Shepherd, pastors guide us through hazardous terrain to green pastures (cf. Psalm 23:1; Peter 5:1–3).

 

Notice the reason for these giftings: “… for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God” (v. 11). Every child of God is gifted with the Holy Spirit and though Him we find that specific part of the entire body that is essential to wholeness. Far too few people today recognize how important they are to the health of the community of faith!

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 15

 

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) (Ephesians 4:7–10 ESV).

 

Our reading today is one of the most difficult passages to definitively interpret. We do know that it serves as a vital theological transition in the Apostle Paul's letter, moving from the overarching corporate unity of the Church to the individual diversity of spiritual gifts. However, theologians have debated the “descension” and “ascension” of Jesus. So, we will look briefly at these verses from a reformed perspective and draw a brief conclusion to encourage us as we look at the gifts God bestowed on His church.

 

Because of the brevity of this format, we will look at Christ’s ascension today. It benefits us in many ways. First, it marks His formal assumption of His kingly office. Because the Son humbled Himself, took on our flesh, and fulfilled His mission, the Father highly exalted Him (cf. Philippians 2:5–11). Having eternally enjoyed an authority equal to the Father’s with respect to His deity, Christ ascended to heaven to execute authority over all in His humanity as well. The God-man now reigns over all, putting all His and our enemies under His feet (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:25). This is no small thing, but there is more.

 

Christ’s ascension also furthers the good of His people. The Apostle tells us that Jesus ascended above all the heavens “that he might fill all things” (vv. 9–10). John Calvin comments on this filling, explaining that “while [Jesus] is removed from us in bodily presence, he fills all things by the power of his Spirit.” According to His human nature, Christ is in heaven, for that is where His human body and soul are present. But through the Holy Spirit, Christ is present with His people here on earth.

 

Calvin continues: “Did [Christ] not fill them before? In his divine nature, I own, he did; but the power of his Spirit was not so exerted, nor his presence so manifested, as after he had entered into the possession of his kingdom.” So, it is better for us that Jesus is not presently among us in the flesh. Jesus Himself said, “It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you” (John 16:7). For the Holy Spirit (the Helper) to fully exercise His ministry among God’s people, Jesus had to ascend to heaven. His ascension and His sending the Spirit mean we are in the last days before the renewal of creation (cf. Joel 2:28–32; Acts 2). Moreover, by His Spirit, we can now fellowship with the whole Christ, in His deity and in His humanity, for by the Spirit Christ bridges the distance between us and His physical body in heaven. Christ is omnipresent according to His divine nature, so He has always been at hand everywhere. But until Jesus ascended to heaven and sent His Spirit, only the people who came into direct contact with Him as He ministered in Galilee and in Judea encountered Him in His humanity. Since His ascension, we can fellowship with Christ in His humanity no matter where we live.

 

This is the great gift and strength we may possess for every circumstance and difficulty of life. Because He has ascended, victorious and Lord over all things, now we have One who is always with us to give us that same power and victory. Nothing we face can ever do more than hurl empty threats toward us. And, as we will see later, we have also been equipped with the necessary armor to ward off all of those attacks! What a GREAT God we have! Grace is not an empty word!

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 14

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1–6 ESV).

 

Our reading today serves as the structural and thematic turning point of Paul’s letter, shifting from theological doctrine (Chapters 1–3) to practical Christian living (Chapters 4–6). Writing from prison, the Apostle Paul issues a passionate plea for believers to live out their high heavenly calling through concrete relational virtues and an unwavering commitment to church unity.

 

We should not miss the reference Paul makes to be a "prisoner for the Lord," emphasizing that his chains are a direct result of his alignment with God's purpose. As such he adds authority and example of his teaching that many cannot. These practices resulted in his imprisonment, yet he holds they are worth every sacrifice.

 

The phrase "live a life worthy" (or "walk worthy") uses the Greek word axiōs, which carries the imagery of a balancing scale. Paul is urging that daily conduct must match the heavyweight identity given by God's grace. It is not a way to earn love, but a response to being loved. He then lists five attitudes of this unity he calls them to live. He desires us to exhibit humility, seeing ourselves accurately in relation to God and putting others first. He encourages gentleness. This is power under control, mimicking Christ's own meekness. He also encourages patience. Paul understood personal the long-suffering endurance under difficult or provoking circumstances that describe such a practice. This leads him to say we ought to practice bearing with one another; consciously making allowances for each other's flaws and quirks. And last, he says we are to love one another which is the motivating framework that binds all these virtues together.

 

In today’s culture which is rife with division and an ever widening gap between, I wonder if we have lost these characteristics completely. I urge all of us to take seriously the call to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to be the children of God!

 

  

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 13

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20–21 ESV).

 

We cannot leave the third chapter of Paul’s letter without a mention of the benediction he ends it with. It declares that God can do far more than we ask or imagine through His power working in us, and gives Him glory forever through the church and Jesus Christ. The words translated “far more abundantly” (v. 20) use a Greek word for “abundantly” that is very interesting. It is ὑπέρ (pronounced “hoop-er'”). We get our English word “hyper” from it. It is usually best translated "for the betterment (advantage) of" (i.e. focusing on benefit). The apostle wants to leave no doubt that what he see in the grace of God is far exceeding any imagined benefit we might hope for or think. God's power has no limits. It goes past our highest prayers and biggest dreams.

 

This declaration must always follow any discussion of theology. Knowledge of the Lord’s character and His work should inspire heartfelt praise, for why learn about God if we are not moved to fulfill the purpose for which we are created — to worship and glorify the Creator (cf. Isaiah 43:7)? When studying theology does not prompt us to adoration, we must question whether we are more concerned to puff ourselves up with knowledge than to glorify God.

 

Besides exalting the name of our God, Paul’s doxology also comforts us with the knowledge that the Lord “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us”. There is no limit to what God can achieve for His people, and it is impossible to ask Him to do too much, so we should not fear asking Him for too many blessings. He can and will grant us wonderful things — in accordance with His will, of course (cf. James 4:2b–3; 1 John 5:14). That is the basis of our prayer life. We must know we can’t ask for more than God is able to grant.

 

C.S. Lewis writes in his introduction to St. Athanasius on the Incarnation: “I tend to find the doctrinal books often more helpful in devotion than the devotional books, and I rather suspect that the same experience may await many others. I believe that many who find that ‘nothing happens’ when they sit down, or kneel down, to a book of devotion, would find that the heart sings unbidden while they are working their way through a tough bit of theology with a pipe in their teeth and a pencil in their hand.”

 

Whether you use a “pipe” or not while studying the Scripture, please know that knowledge of God brings us to the praise of God. Always look for that revelation given to you as a means to know the wonder of His grace and character!

  

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 12

 

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:14–21).

 

For the third part of this great mystery now revealed the Apostle Paul tells us of the riches we have found in the FAMILY OF GOD. Our reading today is the next paragraph in the section of this letter. Here Paul comes to the last verb of his thought in this section. He tells them that it is for a specific reason that he kneels before the Father and prays for them. This petition contains four specific requests:

 

He asks that they be strengthened with power (v. 16). He asks that the target of that strength be their “inner man.” That is the seat of intellectual and spiritual life. It is the point of influence in our lives. Unfortunately, it is often just the opposite. It is there we are most vulnerable. It has become a point of feebleness rather than power in so many Christian’s lives. Paul asks that their power be increased in those areas of faith, trust, humility, love, patience, joy, and perseverance, all those things that come through our intimate walk with the Holy Spirit.

 

He asks that they know the indwelling of Christ. This is far different than an occasional visit or influence of Jesus in our lives. Paul wants them to know the constant power of Christ within them. It is the same power he knew when he faced so many trials and difficulties in his life. It gave him his unwavering knowledge of pardon and acceptance; it molded his will, emotions, enlightening and confirming his conscience that he had been truly forgiven! No wonder he could face death itself and laugh at its consequence. For Paul it was just another doorway to another part of life! That’s a treasure!

 

He asks that they be rooted and established in love. The picture is one of both a tree and a building. The growth of a living tree and the stability of a firmly founded skyscraper are the pictures! He wants god’s love to be so apparent that they are like a tree stretching to the sky and standing against the storms of life like a skyscraper on an indestructible foundation!

 

He asks that they really understand the love of Christ. Isn’t this the great mystery? How and why god would send His only begotten Son to die for us is incomprehensible. Yet, he prays they may both comprehend (a mental grasp) and “know” (an experiential knowledge) that love. It is like placing a teacup on the shore of the ocean as the tide comes in. The teacup cannot hold the entire ocean, yet it holds the ocean’s full character as it is filled with the tide rolling in over it.

 

It staggers the imagination. However, we must not, we dare not, make the mistake of thinking that it is impossible. Paul says we have found the code that releases the treasure into our keeping! He breaks out into this doxology because of his absolute confidence that whatever we ask of God He is able to do:

 

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

 

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 11

 

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. (Ephesians 3:7–13 ESV).

 

Today we look at the second great “mystery” is a part of the unsearchable riches of Christ that the Apostle Paul notes: “… so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known” (V. 10). He is saying we have found the riches in the WONDER OF THE CHURCH. Now, of course, he is speaking of the real body of Christ, not individual organizations or denominations as we know the church to be today. In fact, there are times when I wonder if we even have a frame of reference to understand the concept Paul did. We have become so fractured and divided in our petty differences that a unified Church is hardly recognizable today.

 

That does not negate the truth Paul cites in this text. We should look at three singular principles Paul outlines in this section:

 

One of the greatest treasures is the Church, the body of Christ (v. 10). AS I have written above, there are many who would argue with that statement. If we look at the church merely as an institution there is a basis for such an argument. The church has had a checkered past with its sins and wars. Yet when we truly look within, the marvelous nature of the church cannot be exaggerated. At the heart of the church’s existence is a covenant, a “testament” as the familiar title pages of our Bibles clearly tell us. To create heaven and earth was a wonder in itself. It was a further marvel to create man as a rational being, a being free to turn into a rebel against his Creator. But then to woo him back to a relationship of love and obedience, to create a people who live emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually in a similar relationship of grace and forgiveness is a wonder indeed!

 

The apostle then says it was according to his eternal purpose (v. 11). The emphatic nature of Paul’s argument is clearly shown here. We have gained this great gift through no accident or work of our own doing. It is through the eternal will and purpose of the almighty Creator, Lord of all creation!

 

Then Paul places a capstone on this truth as he writes: In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence (v. 12).  These three concepts of access, freedom, and confidence are bound together. The word translated “approach” is a word that would be used in the phrase “freedom of speech.” It means we can come to Him and say whatever is on our heart and mind. In fact, he emphasizes that truth with the next descriptor of “freedom.” It speaks of the notion that there is no need for fear of rejection. We won’t be turned away from His presence for any reason. And, last he uses the word “confidence.” It really indicates assurance. The three words together form one complete idea that through faith we have free, unrestricted, confident access to God!

 

But wouldn’t you expect that? Surely that’s what Jesus meant when He used the comparison of God as our Heavenly Father and said:

 

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11 NIV).

 

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 10

 

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. (Ephesians 3:7–13 ESV).

 

As I wrote yesterday, we continue with this passage and the first of three incredible declarations of the Apostle Paul concerning the “mystery” within this unsearchable treasure we have been given in Christ. The apostle says we have found the riches in the FELLOWSHIP of the mystery (v 9).

 

Various translations have used different words to convey the meaning of the word “administration.” The Revised Standard Version uses “dispensation”; The King James Version uses “fellowship”; and The Message simply says, “… things that are way over my head”! The emphasis ought to be on the word “mystery.” One of the great riches of Christ is found in the “mystery” that “while we were yet sinners” He would come and die for us (cf. Romans 5:6-8). That’s what captivated Paul! He had found this great treasure and become a steward in the worldwide distribution of God’s message of grace.

 

It is not a trifling matter. To think of the lengths that God went in order to redeem us is incredible. I have heard others explain away this mysterious blessing by charging that God had no other choice. Somehow, He had to save man from the consequences of his sin. His nature demanded that He send Jesus. How dare we cheapen the great gift of God’s only begotten son with such a declaration! As if the almighty Creator and Sustainer of the universe had no other choice! He had a choice and He chose grace!

 

Since the very beginning when Adam and Eve chose to live in opposition to God, He has been working this great mystery of grace on our behalf. Surely you remember the story. God comes to the garden to walk with them as was His custom. He calls out to them, knowing well they were hiding in their shame and guilt, “Adam, where are you?” do you believe for a moment that God did not know where Adam was? Can you not see the impact of his gentle compassion for Adam and Eve? Adam finally answers, “We’re over here.” He’s hiding behind some bushes because he is ashamed of his nakedness. I’ve always found that a little humorous! Like God did not know what they looked like! But still god is patient. He asks, “What happened?” And the blame game begins. Adam blames Eve; Eve blames the serpent; and God speaks. He allowed the curse of death to fall on them. He allowed them to reap what they had sown even though it must have broken His heart. God told them of the promise of the Savior:

 

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head. (Genesis 3:15 NIV).

 

He spoke the promise to them with clarity as He said their “seed” would “bruise the head of the tempter’s “seed.” Through humanity God would allow Himself to become the perfect sacrifice to pay the full and final price for our redemption. But He didn’t stop there. God’s plan would take thousands of years to unfold and finalize their redemption. God also ministered to their immediate need. He made garments for them to go out into the world from the “skins of animals.” Even then God was showing them the tremendous price that would be paid for their choice. Only the blood of God’s only begotten Son would be sufficient!

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 9

 

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. (Ephesians 3:7–13 ESV).

 

I honestly do not know how many sermons, homilies, devotionals, or Bible studies I have written and/or spoken. Over the last five-plus decades it numbers in the thousands. Of all of those my wife, Mary, has heard/read them all. Of that number only one has managed to garner the title of her “favorite.” It is taken directly from our reading today and titles “The Unsearchable Riches of Christ.” And dare I say that I have preached this sermon on multiple occasions in many different places literally all over the world. The reason it is her favorite is not in my delivery; rather, it is in the impact of the Scripture itself.

 

The Apostle Paul says that he has now become privy to a far greater treasure than any man may have discovered. It is the treasure of grace that is unsearchable in its depth or height, breadth or length. It is the content of Paul’s message to the Gentiles then and to us today. This phrase, the unsearchable riches of Christ, uses a very vivid Greek word. It literally means “untrackable,” or “inexplorable.” It is simply too vast to be measured! I remember vividly how my Greek professor, Curtis Vaughn, described it:

 

It suggests the figure of a man standing, with uplifted arms, in a posture of great amazement, before continuous revelations of immeasurable and unspeakable glory. It is as if a man were tracking out the confines of a lake, walking its boundaries, and when the circuit were almost complete should find that it was no lake at all, but an arm of the ocean, and that he was confronted by the immeasurable sea!

 

That is his message! That is the treasure! And when we begin to hear it ourselves we must be struck by it as well. That God would love us so much that He would send His only son to die on our behalf, giving us access to fellowship with Him again is the most incredible treasure any man could possess! The Apostle Paul details three specific parts of this treasure we now have found in Christ. We will look at one of these in each of the next three devotionals. For now let me simply list them so you may begin to ponder each of them today:

 

§  First, we have found the riches in the FELLOWSHIP OF THE MYSTERY (verse 9).

 

§  Second, we have found the riches in the WONDER OF THE CHURCH (verses 10-13).

 

§  Third, we have found the riches in the FAMILY OF GOD (verses 14-21).

 

I pray you will recognize these are your treasures as well! Take heart in whatever circumstance your journey has presented. Your treasure is secured by the Holy Spirit of God living within you!

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 8

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (Ephesians 3:1–6 ESV).

 

What a whirlwind of theology and spiritual understanding the Apostle Paul has written thus far in just two chapters! We have seen Paul describe our blessings in Christ, his prayer for us to further know those blessings, his articulation on how we have been reconciled in Christ both to God and to one another, and the wondrous reality of belonging to Jesus’ church. Chapter three is the final section of Ephesians’ doctrinal first half and the first of Paul’s detailing the unsearchable riches in the kingdom.

 

With our reading today we begin another path of the understanding of who we are in this marvelous, mysterious gift of God in Christ Jesus. The key word within our present text is indeed “mystery”, which Paul has already used once before in this letter. Clarifying and expounding upon the themes of chapter two, the apostle now presents to us what is the long-hidden mystery of Christ.

 

Remember that Paul was a Jew of such pedigree that he called himself “a Hebrew of Hebrews” (Philippians 3:5). This most Jewish of all Jews now claims to be imprisoned on the Gentiles’ behalf, even though he was actually imprisoned by Gentiles. We should understand why he would say this. John Chrysostom strikes at the very heart of the matter:

 

“This is a very emphatic statement. Not only do we not hate you; we are even imprisoned on your account!”

 

So far has Christ removed the hostility between Jew and Gentile from Paul that he is happily in chains on their behalf.

 

This is the truly uniting work of the gospel. The world seems to promote counterfeits of unity by calling us to be tolerant, respectful, and nice toward one another, which rarely seems to play out. The gospel, however, does not merely call us to tolerate one another; it calls us to love one another, even sacrificially. This is love that the world cannot imitate because it only flows from the One who is love. The same love displayed through God the Son giving His own life in our place is also displayed in Paul the Jew being imprisoned for the message of grace that he proclaimed to the Gentiles. This grace knows no imitation!

 

What a contrast to today’s culture! The name calling and vitriol that passes for the passion of our belief and our effort to right the wrongs of our culture has no place in true Christianity. The gospel is a unifying force among all peoples. Of course, Paul is not condoning an acceptance of that which is clearly not God’s will and purpose; however, he is condemning the hatred of the sinner instead of the sin. That is our calling today! 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 7

 

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:14–22 ESV).

 

I love the first verses in today’s reading: “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both,” so he’s now thinking of Jews and everybody else, “us both one and has broken down in his [own] flesh,” by dying on the cross, “the dividing wall of hostility,” all the hostility that was engendered by the Jews having a Law and the others being passed over, is over (vv. 14–15). That’s over, in Jesus Christ.

 

“By abolishing the law of commandments,” that is, these commandments are not how you come in to favor with God (v. 15). Christ is how you come into favor with God. What a message we have for the world. Christianity is a universally relevant religion. There’s nothing in the essence of Christianity that makes it unintelligibility in any culture on the planet. There are overlapping human needs and divine realities that correspond in every culture. He’s torn away everything that would make it impossible to do global evangelism.

 

“That he might create in himself one new man in place of the two,” just thinking of Israel, and then the world. That’s not the way to think about it anymore. “So, making peace, reconciles us both to God,” that’s got to happen first, “in one body through the cross” (vv. 15–16). Picture it like this. Here are these two camps, Israel and the world, and here’s the cross, and here’s God. And Israel and the nations are alienated from God. Both are broken, neither can fix that brokenness. The apostle then says “a new man” has come in place of the of two and is making peace. The Gentiles have to be reconciled to God. Israel had been rebellious all their history. They’ve got to be reconciled to God. That reconciliation happens here. No end run around the cross, like, “Oh. God can get reconciled to God, Mr. Gentile, and have your nice little tribal religion. And Jew, you can get reconciled to God, and have your little tribal religion.” No, that’s not the way it works.

 

Jesus Christ comes, and you go to God like this, so that, here you have become one new man. This brings massive implications, all over the world, today. Most wars in the world are ethnic-driven, religion and ethnic, religion and ethnic. And if this message were made clearer, perhaps there would be more understanding of what Christianity is all about.

 

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!