Why Ephesians Is Important for You

 Keith Underhill

In every issue of Grace & Truth we propose to explain consecutive verses and

chapters of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

Why should we want you to pay attention to this letter that was written 2,000

years ago? Because “all Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).

Why is Ephesians in the Bible? It was written by a man named Paul, a prisoner in Rome (3:1), about A.D. 60, to Christians in Asia Minor (western part of modern day Turkey). But it is not only of historical interest because Paul was a very special person, God’s spokesman.

Why explain it verse by verse? Why not pick just a few interesting verses like 2:8 and 5:25? Because it is a letter with a beginning and an ending that can only be understood by reading through it. By considering the whole content you will be exposed to new things, and old things will be more deeply understood.

EPHESIANS IS WRITTEN BY AN APOSTLE OF CHRIST JESUS

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God” (v. 1)

According to custom, Paul identifies himself at the beginning (we sign off at the end). We know much about Paul’s life before he became a Christian – he was a pure Jew, brought up in Cilicia, educated in Jerusalem under Gamaliel, a Pharisee, a persecutor of Christians (Phil. 3:5-6). Then he was appointed by the risen Christ to be His apos- tle (Acts 26:14-18). As an apostle he was sent as an ambassador of the Lord, to bear witness of Him, especially of his resurrection (see Acts 1:22, 4:33). Paul was not self- appointed, not by the other apostles or by the church (so also Gal. 1:1). The herald of the great king Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed the king’s command in Daniel 3 and those who disobeyed reaped the anger of the king himself. Paul may be an ordinary human being, but as an apostle he speaks in the name of Christ Jesus who sent him. When you read this letter you are reading Christ’s word, and if you refuse it you refuse Christ. What a privilege we have to have this letter and many others from Christ’s apostles. It has wonderful teaching about what God has done in Christ for our salvation (chs. 1-3), and how this works out in our daily lives (chs. 4-6). It is about God, His glory and sovereignty, His will and His grace. It is about Christ, how both Jews and Gentiles are saved by Him and united into one body (the church).

Without such words we would not know what to believe, who God is and how we can come to Him, what pleases or displeases Him, or the work He has given us to do. Come to grips with Ephesians! You will be sure what it means to be a Christian, and you will grow in maturity as a Christian to the glory of God.

EPHESIANS IS WRITTEN TO CHRISTIANS GENERALLY

“To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus” (v.1)

Although the letter is addressed to Christians in the town of Ephesus there is evidence that it was intended for a wider audience.

Although Paul had spent 3 years there (Acts 19 and 20:31), the letter has no personal references, no greetings, and the only individual name is Tychicus, the bearer of the let- ter (6:21). Many exclaim that it is one of the most wonderful parts of the Bible. “One of the most significant documents ever written” (O’Brien). Christians are described in 3 ways:

(1) As saints: All Christians are commonly described this way (1:15,18, 2:19, 3:8,18, 4:12, 5:3, 6:18). It is Biblically wrong only to refer to ‘special’ Christians like Paul as saints. A ‘saint’ is a holy one, one set apart by God and for His service, one whose life is devoted to God. Just as many Ephesians were devotees to the pagan goddess Arte- mis, so all Christians are devotees to God in Christ. Is this how you see yourself as a Christian? One purchased by God through Christ’s blood, God’s eternal possession, who lives only to do God’s will (see Ex. 19:5-6)?

(2) As faithful: This word may be translated ‘believing’ as opposed to not believing (as in Jn. 20:27). Out of the population in Ephesus Christians have responded to the gospel message with faith, and have continued in faith. Note that Christians are both saints and faithful. No one is a true believer who is not also devoted to God with the appropriate changes of lifestyle. Imagine someone claims to be building a house but there is no evidence that he has any money, he is never on site, and he never talks about its progress. It is equally doubtful if someone just says he is a believer. If you put your trust in Christ you will be fully and lovingly devoted to Him.

(3) As in Christ Jesus: Christ is not so much the object of faith here, but the One “in” whom Christians live. Just as the branch gets everything from the vine, so Christians get everything by being united to Christ (the language of “in Christ” is repeated from vv. 3ff., see Jn. 15:1-5). The Christian is one who is totally dependent on Christ, and who glories in Him and His cross (Gal. 6:14). If you are a saint and a faithful one, it is only because of Christ, for every spiritual blessing is in Christ (1:3).

EPHESIANS HAS THE ANSWER TO OUR BASIC NEEDS

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 2)

Paul completes his introductory words by a wish that combines the Greek (Jas 1:1) and Jewish greetings (3 Jn. 15). Pay attention to these words as having deep Christian meaning.

• Our basic problem. As Paul goes on to explain, by nature we have no spiritual life;
  we are very active in serving the world, the devil and the flesh; and we are opposed
  to God and objects of His wrath (2:1-3).
• We must receive grace. Deserving only wrath we are without hope, unless God
  deals with us apart from what we deserve. Praise be to God! He is the God of all grace (1 Pet. 5:10), and He saves by grace (1:6, 2:8-9). If God deals with us ac- cording to grace and not demerit, then all blessings can be ours.
• We must have peace. We need peace with God, peace in ourselves, and peace with our neighbour. It is a great need in Kenya. Tribes cannot coexist, and this is an extension of lack of peace in homes, originating in a heart that does not have peace with God. Peace is exactly what God gives in the gospel of His grace (2:13-17, 6:15).
• God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give them. It is God alone who gives, not even the apostle. God gives as our heavenly Father; Jesus Christ gives as our exalted heavenly Lord. Grace and peace are given out of the fullness of divine resources, and with divine power to guarantee reception. Note how easily the risen Lord is made equal with God the Father, equal in person and work. It is Christ who links all together: who appointed the apostle, who makes Christians and blesses them.
  Grace and peace are what you need and they are freely available. If you desperately need a medicine, but it is too expensive, you will struggle all you can to purchase it. As a sinner before God you are in desperate need, you have nothing with which to pay, but you may simply ask God and you will receive (Matt. 7:7-11).
  NOTE: The apostles of Christ are special; there are no such apostles today.

1. Apostles are the foundation of the church (2:20). Christ appointed apostles to give an inspired and thus infallible interpretation of His work of redemption. For this reason the Spirit taught them in a special way (Jn. 14:26, 16:13-15). So the doctrine of the apostles is the only faith of the church, and has the same authority as the Old Testament (1 Thess. 2:13, 2 Thess. 2:15, 3:6, 2 Pet. 3:15-16).
2. Apostles had special powers, confirming they were sent by Christ with His true message (Acts 14:3-4, Rm. 15:18-19, 2 Cor. 12:12, Heb. 2:1-4)
3. Apostles have spiritual authority over all churches (2 Cor. 11:28). Paul wrote letters with com- mands to churches he had never visited, such as to the Romans.
4. No one today can have the necessary qualifications to be an apostle (see Acts 1:21-22). Their work as foundation was completed when the Scriptures were completed.