Ephesians: Lesson 5 - Day 2

Read Ephesians 3 again today. This time, as you read, focus your attention on the language about "mystery". In your notebook, make notes to yourself about what you learn. Find the verse where the mystery is defined. Then return ...



First, let's consider the word "mystery". The word used by Paul is not the same as the word in English. When we think of a mystery, we think of something that we must figure out. Mystery novels are fun to read because they challenge our mind to put the pieces together and figure out the secret. The Greek word used in this text is mysterion. "In a Semitic context it refers to what is known only because God revealed it." (NIV Application Commentary on Ephesians) The mystery of God's will has been revealed to Paul. He didn't figure it out. God revealed it to him. Paul was not the only one. God had also revealed the "mystery" to Peter. You read about that in Acts 10. Paul explains the mystery in verse 6 so that we can know also ... "that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel."

And that defines Paul's entire mission and ministry. He goes on to say that God had made him a minister (a servant) of that mystery. His task was to share that amazing revelation to the Gentile world. He also felt that his work was a gift of God's grace. God's design to include all of humanity in His love was not an afterthought. Including the Gentile world did not come about because the Jews rejected it. It was His plan all along. What an incredibly beautiful revelation that is!

Is it only Paul's task? Verse 10 includes the church in that mission. That is our task as well - to communicate to a fractured world the inclusion that can come in Christ. Too often the church has added her own exclusivity and division to the mix. We cannot, we must not, perpetuate that idea and practice. Our world is in desperate need of a voice that speaks love, unity and community. It will require "incomparably great power" - the power of the Holy Spirit working in individual believers and in the church in all of her various places and styles.

Klyne Snodgrass says, "Christians in the pews as well as the pulpits need to protest the arrogance, the superficiality, and division that mark our churches. We do not have to agree on all points to respect each other, to be driven by God's love, to recover the meaning of faith, to exhibit life in Christ, and to worship God."

A tall challenge indeed! However, with the power of the Holy Spirit alive and active in and through us, it can be met in the name of our Lord. Will you join me in prayer for Christ's church? Include your own specific congregation of God's people ... and include the church at large all around the world.

We will examine the beautiful prayer that closes this chapter in our next day's work. As you read it ... Again I encourage you to write it out ... include the names of the people you love ... AND include Christ's church.

The mystery of God ............ revealed!

Ephesians: Lesson 5 - Day 1

Today we begin our consideration of Ephesians 3. So ... read Ephesians 3 and then come back to these thoughts.......

We will stay in this chapter for all three days of work in Lesson 5. I want us to reflect on 1) the man, Paul; 2) the mystery revealed; and 3) the prayer offered.

Today, let's think about Paul - this man of giant-sized faith. Notice from verse 1 that Paul describes himself as "a prisoner of Christ Jesus". We know from previous study that Paul is in Rome, as a prisoner, waiting a trial before Nero. He did have certain privileges. He was in a house that he had rented. Friends and supporters could come and go for visits and interaction. But do not forget that he was chained to the wrist of a Roman soldier who was his guard. As he wrote these words, I wonder if the chain continually swept across the parchment. I wonder if it made noise. I wonder how tight it was and if movement rubbed and hurt. I wonder if the soldier read as Paul wrote. But what I find most curious is that Paul does not describe himself as a prisoner of Rome. Why does he describe himself as a prisoner of Christ?

I believe we see a man for whom Christ was all and in all. Christ was his very life and his work. Listen to William Barclay as he says, "If a man is in prison for some great cause he may either grumblingly regard himself as an ill-used creature, or he may radiantly regard himself as the standard-bearer of some great cause. The one regards his prison as a penance; the other regards it as a privilege. When we are undergoing hardship, we may either regard ourselves as the victims of men or as the champions of Christ. Paul is our example ..." Paul is faithfully fulfilling the work that Christ called him out to do. And his steadfastness and faithfulness is indeed a model for us. It is why he can say in 1 Corinthians 11:1 "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ."

What is it that Paul would have us imitate? In what arenas does he link himself with Christ? Listen to Jesus in John 17:4 ...

"I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do." (NIV)

Read Paul's own words in 2 Timothy 4: 4 - 8.

Paul was unyielding in faithfulness. He would not allow set-backs, hardships, conflicts and controversies, mean-spirited people, opposition, tiredness, imprisonment ... he would not allow anything to lure him off course. He was singularly driven to share the message of grace and inclusion to the Gentile world.

Is there application for you and me? Remember what we read in Ephesians 2:10 ... "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." What have you been "called" by God to do? What good works do you believe that God has laid out before you? You won't earn your salvation through them ... Paul is painfully clear on that point! But are you faithful to them? Am I? Do you persevere in the face of hard times? Do I? Are you persistent? Or do you get discouraged easily? (I am writing for myself, believe me!) Let's learn from Paul.

We are indeed all prisoners of Christ Jesus ... if we are "in Him". So the challenge I leave with each of us today ... walk faithfully. The message, the good news, of the grace of God and the inclusion into the family of God is worthy of hardship and struggle ... it is worthy of perseverance and pain.

Keep telling the story!

Ephesians: Lesson 4 - Day 3

One more time ... read Ephesians 2: 11 - 22. Let your mind focus on the beautiful pictures in verses 19 - 22.



As Paul continues to encourage his readers to understand more fully the beauty and the inclusiveness of their position in Christ, he uses the images of citizenship and family in verse 19. In our country currently there are intense debates on the situation that exists with people who are in our land illegally - they are not citizens. Should they have the same rights and privileges that citizens enjoy? How far should our government go to help and support people here illegally? The debates are important, serious and intense. The problems are huge, costly and far-reaching. And I pray for the wisdom of those in authority to handle the difficult questions. But at its core ... this is an "inclusion" question. Move into the spiritual realm and you will better understand what Paul is saying. He is telling the Gentiles (you and me) that we can have citizenship ... we can be "legal"! So the arguments about inclusion and privilege and rights can be laid to rest. The rights and freedoms of this country belong to her citizens. We must never loose sight of the fact that along with privilege comes responsibilities. So it is with the Kingdom of God. Paul tells us that we are no longer strangers, illegals ... because of the blood of Christ, because of the cross ... we are citizens of the Kingdom of God. Amazing!

But don't stop there. He then uses the picture of family. That picture is even more intimate. We are of "God's household." Again there are freedoms and rights and privileges that come with being a part of a family. There is a name to wear. And there are responsibilities to carry. The concept of being adopted into God's family is used often in scripture. (examples: Romans 8:15; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 4: 5-6) We have already looked at some of what Ephesians says to us about inheritance. That language makes sense in the concept of family. God is my Father ... you are my brothers and sisters in the Lord ... Jesus is my brother ... I am a co-heir with Him. A very privileged position indeed! Let us not follow the human tendency to begin to act as if ... or to even think as if ... that position makes us better than anyone. Remember - it is by grace alone!

The final picture Paul uses in this discussion is that of a temple. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 3:16 that we are the temple of God. Indeed - each of us that is indwelt by the Spirit of God is a temple. However, we are also part of a greater temple, Christ's church, and every Christian is a living stone built into that temple. Look again at the language in verses 20 - 22. Paul speaks of this temple "having been built" (the past), "being fitted together" (the present), and "growing into" (the future). As a part of the body of Christ, we are allowed to participate in the greatest work of God - showing Christ to the world around us.

You are the temple ................................. and You are a part of the temple.

Ubi Christus, ibi ecclesia

Where Christ is ... there is the Church.

Congratulations on walking through the first 2 chapters of Ephesians.

For our review ...

Remember ...

Chapter 1 - Possessions in Christ

Chapter 2 - Position in Christ

Spend some time in prayer over these most remarkable truths ...

Ephesians: Lesson 4 - Day 2

Read Ephesians 2: 11 - 22 again today. I find reading out loud helps my mind to focus. As you read this time pay particular attention to what Paul says about "peace". What do learn about this most elusive quality?

When the New Testament uses the word, peace, it means much more than absence of conflict. From the NIV Application Commentary: "Peace is not merely the cessation of hostility; it is a comprehensive term for salvation and life with God. The background to this use is the Old Testament concept of shalom, which covers wholeness, physical well-being, prosperity, security, good relations, and integrity." Isaiah 9:6 calls the coming Messiah, the "Prince of Peace".

Did you notice in verse 14 that Christ, Himself, IS our peace? Not that He brought it ... but that He IS it? "This suggests that not only ‘He alone’ but ‘He in His own Person’ made peace. It is not only that the peace was made by Christ and ranks as His achievement, but that it is so identified with Him that were He away it would also fail,—so dependent on Him that apart from Him we cannot have it.” (from: Wuest, K. S. Wuest's word studies from the Greek New Testament : For the English reader)

We learn in verse 17 that Jesus preached peace - to those near (the Jews) and to those far away (the Gentiles). The word used for "preach" here is not the usual one that means "to proclaim". A different Greek word is used that means "to bring good news". And it is good news, is it not?! There can be peace ... there really can be a hope for shalom among peoples.

William Barclay says, "It is in a common love of Him that people come to love each other. That peace is won at the price of His blood, for the great awakener of love is the Cross. The sight of that Cross awakens in the hearts of men of all nations love for Christ, and only when they all love Christ will they love each other. It is not in treaties and leagues to produce peace. There can be peace only in Jesus Christ."

Imagine using a telephoto lens and pulling back as far as possible so that you get a full view of our world. The brokenness, the warring, the hatred - it is overwhelming. The magnitude of the problems and the conflicts leave me speechless and dumb. I have no voice on that world stage. And so I begin to bring that lens in - focusing on a much closer world, my immediate world. I do have a bit of a voice in my immediate world and my immediate circles. When you focus your eyes on the world that directly surrounds you, what do you see? Is there any warring going on? Is there any hatred? Is there any brokenness and loss? Where do you need to experience peace more fully? Is it in your home, your family? Perhaps in your church? Maybe you long to experience peace in your workplace? Those are the practice fields my friends. That is where the "rubber meets the road" so to speak.

If you are "in Christ", He IS your peace. And in getting to know Him better (as Paul prays for us in Ephesians 1:17) we grow in our ability to experience peace. That will not mean that all conflict and controversy will magically disappear from your life. But it does mean that you will handle those things is a very different way. You will grow in your ability (through the Spirit of God) to handle them with love.

Remember - Christ is our peace. He has extended grace and forgiveness, inclusion and hope to us. We are called to extend that grace to others (not just the people you like!) in His name.

So ... this week ... practice with me ... living in peace, living in Christ.

Ephesians: Lesson 4 - Day 1

Ephesians 2: 11 - 22

As you read these verses today, watch again for the "before - after" scenarios. In your notebook, make two columns ... one side for the "formerly" and one side for the "in Christ". Spend some time reflecting on those things. Don't just write them down as an exercise or an assignment ... think about yourself ... how those phrases described you before you were "in Christ" ... and what it means to you to be "in Christ." It will lead you into a beautiful time of worship. Immerse yourself there! Are you not "in Christ"? Let me hear from you ... let's talk!

Now focus on verses 11 - 13. Paul tells us to "remember". This is the only imperative that Paul gives in the first 3 chapters of this letter - the only direct instruction. Why does it matter - remembering? We love to remember the good things, the joyful times, the successes. And they are important to remember because they remind us of joy and strength and victory. However, we are not as ready to remember the painful, the abusive, the failures. In fact, many of us may suppress those memories deep down never to be thought about again! But Paul calls these Ephesians to remember how bad it was! I can think of a couple of reasons to remember the painful ... First, it stands in stark contrast to the now, in Christ. The contrast keeps us from becoming so familiar with the current that we forget how far we have come! The contrast helps keep us from becoming jaded. Secondly, remembering the painful allows us to see the scars, and see how the hand of God held us or walked us or carried us through tough times and circumstances. So remember ... it is good.

Most commentators see a veiled reference to the Temple in Jerusalem in verse 13. The Temple had several courts before you came to the actual Holy Place. And the most outer ring was the court of the Gentiles. A Gentile could not go past that court. In Josephus's description of the Temple, he says: "When you went through these first cloisters unto the second court of the Temple, there was a partition made of stone all round, whose height was three cubits. Its construction was very elegant; upon it stood pillars at equal distances from one another, declaring the law of purity, some in Greek and some in Roman letters, that no foreigner should go within the sanctuary." (from: The Wars of the Jews) In fact, for a Gentile to go past the wall was his death sentence! This wall, this barrier, shut the Gentile out from the presence of God.

Imagine it ... shut out. No access. Paul knew that barrier very well. In fact, his final arrest in Jerusalem which led to his being in Rome and in prison, was because he was accused (falsely) of bringing an Ephesian Gentile, Trophimus, into the Temple beyond this wall. (Acts 21: 28 - 29)

But "in Christ" ... the barrier walls are down. You can be "brought near". No longer excluded because of country or culture or ethnicity or economics or education or history or sin or ... You can be brought near to God because of Jesus ... in Him ... through the Holy Spirit ... access to the very person of Jehovah God. Astounding. Remarkable. Awe-inspiring. Gratitude enhancing. And the "message" that our world desperately needs to hear. It is the "message" that our churches desperately needs to REMEMBER!

Do you need to remember?

Ephesians: Lesson 3 - Day 3

Today, read again Ephesians 2: 1 - 10. Pay special attention to verses 8 - 10. In your notebook, write those 3 verses out ... but write them in the first person, and include your name. I write ...

For it is by grace Gail has been saved, through faith -

and this is not from herself, it is the gift of God -

not by works, so that she cannot boast at all.

For she is God's workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

which God prepared in advance for her to do.

We find ourselves at another one of the great paradoxes in Christianity.

On the one hand ... Paul makes it quite clear that our salvation is totally a gift by the grace of Jehovah God. You and I do not earn one bit of it. We do not deserve it. It is pure gift ... and our only task is to accept it.

After all, God is perfection and only perfection is good enough to be before Him - not pretty good, not almost terrific, not close to perfect - perfection. Our very nature, the hamartia (sin) which permeates our flesh guarantees our "short of perfect" stature. The only way man will ever return to the presence of God is if and when God gifts the privilege. God gives ... man receives.

Secondly, God is love, pure love. Therefore, sin is a crime - not against the law so much as against love. Imagine with me the horrific scenario of a drunk driver crashing and killing a child in another car. Let's assume he is convicted and sent to prison and heavily fined. After the years have been served and the fines have been paid, he is released. We then say of him, "Well, he has paid his debt to society." The matter is finished. He is restored to society. However, that does not mean that he is restored in relationship with the mother of the child. The only way any restoration happens between him and the mother ... is if and when that mother offers him her forgiveness. There is no payment that repays the depth and magnitude of the loss. It's the only way. We are in the same position with God ... there is nothing we do or can do that repays the magnitude of our violation of His pure love . And yet He offers forgiveness.

Paul is clear ... it is by grace we have been saved - through faith - not of ourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works.

Then there is the other hand. Those saved by grace are created to do good works? I thought works did not matter. So what is this "works" talk?

It really is not mysterious ... Barclay says, "All the good works in the world cannot put us right with God; but there is something radically wrong with the Christianity which does not issue in good works." It is the law of love. It is the response to love. Therefore, we spend our lifetimes doing good works, patterning our lives after our Lord, doing the things that He did, as we long to be worthy of that magnificent love ... as we long to bring joy to the heart of God. We will be examining that more closely when we move into Ephesians 4 - 5.

God made us ... created mankind from the dust of the earth. We were stolen from Him by Satan and sin. God wanted mankind back in relationship with Him so badly that He paid everything, His very life through the blood of His Son, Jesus, on the cross, to buy us back ... that is redemption.

So we are His workmanship ... everything about us that is good and pleasing and beautiful is by His hand. Paul tells us in verse 10 that, as God's workmanship, we are to be about the business of doing good - doing the kinds of things that God did when He walked here in flesh through the person of Jesus. That is the appropriate response to life, love and freedom.

It is as if God has done THE work so that we can be free to do the works of good.

We must close today with time for self-examination. You must do your own ... I must do mine. Where am I (you) doing good? Celebrate that before God - it is His life we are reflecting!Where am I (you) ignoring the good we could do because we just don't want to be bothered? Take that conviction to the Father with confession ... and a prayer for wisdom and strength to do the good that He places in our paths. Remember, God prepared these things for us so that we would WALK in them ...

Ephesians: Lesson 3 - Day 2

Ephesians 2: 1 - 10

We are going to spend two days reflecting on this passage. As you read those verses, focus on the word "formerly". In your notebook, make two lists side by side. On the left side, write down where a person is "formerly". Then on the right, make a list of where a person can be "in Christ". It is good to see these things "side by side". After making the lists, come back.

I find it interesting that Paul uses two words - trespasses and sins. We often lump these two concepts together and use the words interchangeably as if they were identical things. This is where it is helpful to look back and see the words in their original language and usage.

The word that has been translated, sin, is the Greek word hamartia. Some of you reading may be marksmen, or hunters. This word fits in that scenario. Imagine someone at a shooting range doing target practice. I have seen this portrayed in movies quite a lot - the marksman with pistol in hand ... the target far away ... taking aim ... firing. If that shooter misses ... he/she has just experienced hamartia - missed the target. In the spiritual realm, that is sin. We miss being all that God intended us to be. We miss living life as God intended it to be lived by this humankind He so carefully crafted.

The word Paul uses that is translated, trespasses, is the Greek word paraptoma. The sense of this word is a little different. I am writing this in the midst of the U.S. football season. From children's leagues to high schools, from colleges to pros ... many of us are caught up in the excitement of that particular game. Picture a receiver having just made a fabulous catch ... running hard down the field ... one foot steps out of bounds ... just barely! ... but out of bounds. The play is dead. The ball stops right there. No more progress on that particular play. That is the sense of paraptoma. It is falling ... getting off course ... stepping off the track.

Paul covers all bases ... there is not one of us that he misses in his descriptions of sin ... regardless of how upstanding a citizen we may be, or how good a church member we may be. Once he has "nailed" us all, Jew and Gentile alike, he reminds us that sin is "death". William Barclay, in his commentary on Ephesians, says that Paul is not talking about the life to come - he is talking about life right now in the present. Barclay identifies 3 ways that sin is death ...

1. Sin kills innocence. And with the death of innocence comes the birth of guilt.
2. Sin kills ideals. And with the death of ideals comes the birth of careless living.
3. Sin kills the will. And with the death of the will comes the birth of living in slavery to habits, compulsions, and indulgence.

Only Christ has a remedy for that "death". Only Christ can resurrect us to life again ... a life free of guilt ... a life driven by God's ideals ... a life of intentional choices that bring glory to God, and allow His glory to encompass us.

Do you have a "guilt" problem? Has the idealism that may have characterized your early days with Christ been tarnished? Are there habits you are succumbing to that you know do not glorify your God? Take heart, my friend ... we close today with Ephesians 2:4 - 5

BUT ... because of His great love for us,

God, who is rich in mercy,

made us ALIVE with Christ

even when we were dead in transgressions -

it is by grace you have been saved.

And that is the good news!