I'm going to be writing a series that will help people learn to study and understand the Bible. I'm starting with the book of Ephesians. This study is designed to introduce people to the Bible, to teach them how to study and understand it, and to strengthen the faith of those who are following Jesus. My hope is that this study might also be used by people who want to study the Bible with someone else, and would like to use something to explain what they are studying.
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Here is the Table of Contents and the Introduction:
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Understanding Spiritual Life
Contents and Introduction
Contents and Introduction
Table of Contents
1. Ephesians 1:3-14 “What it Means to Be Saved”
2. Ephesians 1:15-23 “Learning to Pray”
3. Ephesians 2:1-10 “New Life by God’s Power”
4. Ephesians 2:11-22 “Reconciling All People by God’s Power”
5. Ephesians 3:1-14 “The Authority of Scripture and the Work of Paul”
6. Ephesians 3:15-21 “Prayer and the Love of God”
7. Ephesians 4:1-6 “Walking Worthy of Your Calling”
8. Ephesians 4:7-16 “Finding Your Place in the Church”
9. Ephesians 4:17-24 “Extreme Makeover”
10. Ephesians 4:25-32 “Touring the new house, part 1”
11. Ephesians 5:1-14 “Touring the new house, Part 2”
12. Ephesians 5:15-21 “Being Filled with God’s Presence”
13. Ephesians 5:22—6:9 “Families Filled with God’s Presence”
14. Ephesians 6:10-18 “Spiritual Warfare and the Christian’s Battle Plan”
Introduction
Ephesians is a fantastic way to get to know the bible. It’s pretty short (6 chapters, 3000 words), but it is a wide overview of how to know God and to follow him as a Christian. 41 times in the 155 verses of this letter (almost once every three verses) Paul uses the phrases “in Christ” or “through Christ.” This shorthand is Paul’s way of emphasizing our need to believe in Jesus. Our faith connects us to Jesus, our Savior. The blessings that God gives come to us through Jesus. That is why it is so important to believe in the gospel! This letter will help you understand and treasure these blessings. These blessings are the source of strength we need to live the lives that God wants us to live.
The City of Ephesus
Ephesus was an important city in Paul’s day. It housed one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: the great pagan temple of Artemis (who was also named Diana). Pagan temple worship was an unbelievably important part of the life and culture of the city. This kind of worship was associated with debauchery and sexual immorality. Some historians rank Ephesus as the most lascivious city of Asia Minor. The fifth-century B.C. Greek philosopher Heraclitus, himself a pagan, referred to Ephesus as “the darkness of vileness. The morals there were lower than animals and the inhabitants of Ephesus were fit only to be drowned.”
Paul spent over two years in Ephesus. His time there is recorded in Acts chapter 19, which shows how much idolatry and temple activities controlled the culture. Paul’s preaching was so powerful, so many people were being converted to believe in Jesus, it made a noticeable impact on the business of the people who made their livelihood selling idols. They even caused a riot to drive Paul out of the town! The power of the gospel changes peoples’ lives and can even change the city! Acts 19 also shows the kind of opposition that the church faced in the town. This opposition is not unlike what the church often faces from the culture today.
The Letter to the Ephesians
Into this church, into the lives of these saints, Paul’s letter comes as a message from God. As you read this letter, this same message from God comes to you, and it acts on you—showing you how the good news of Jesus changes everything about you.
So what does it say? When God opens the heavens to speak to his church, what does he say?
Put simply, this letter can be divided in half. Chapters 1-3 explain the blessings that come to people who follow Jesus. Chapters 4-6 explain the kind of life that people lead who have these blessings. Put in a different way, Paul first tells the Ephesians, “You have all of God’s blessings as his child.” Second, he says, “Live in manner that is worthy of your blessings.”
Paul’s Greeting: The First Two Verses
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: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is no ordinary greeting. This greeting reminds its readers of the entire message of the Bible. What is grace? Grace is God’s blessing and favor to people who don’t deserve it. What is peace? Peace is being in a right relationship with God. Together, having grace and peace from God means that you are his child. He loves you.
Paul also calls these Christians “saints.” “To the saints who are in Ephesus.” This is amazing! These are people who have lived their lives worshiping false gods, committing idolatry, and from a culture that was well known for its sinfulness. But Paul calls them saints. The word saint means “holy one.” Paul looks at these new Christians and he calls them “holy ones,” “saints.” How can he say this?
Paul saw them “in Christ.” “To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus.” None of the Ephesians would have thought that they were “holy ones” on their own. They knew better. But Jesus was perfectly a “Holy One.” He was the one who was faithful to all God’s commands. “Christ” is the title for the Messiah from the Old Testament. For Paul, Messiah means representative. The Christ would come and save people by being their representative. Think about the story of David and Goliath. When David defeated Goliath, it wasn’t just his personal victory, but all of Israel (David’s country) was saved from the Philistines (Goliath’s country), and all of the Israelites enjoyed the benefits of David’s victory.
When you believe in Jesus, you take him as your representative, your Christ. Paul spends the rest of the letter unfolding what it means to be represented by Jesus. To summarize, it means that his death for sins pays for you, and his resurrection conquers the power of sin and death in your life. This is why you are called a saint, because you are represented by the saint. You are a “holy one” because you are “in Christ.”
This is how you are to think of yourself. Take your eyes off of yourself for a second, stop looking at your weaknesses and your failings. Instead, see yourself as Paul sees you, as God sees you. Look heavenward. If you are represented by Jesus, look at him.
Let this thought stay with you. Try reading through this whole letter and see what other things Paul says are true of those people who believe in Jesus.
