STUDIES IN EPHESIANS

CHAPTER 2 EPHESIANS 2:1-22

OUTLINE

1. Sinful state of Man - Vs 1-3

2. Salvation thru Grace - Vs 4-10

3. Standing of men outside of Christ - Vs 11-12

4. Standing of the believer in Christ- Vs 13-18

5. Spiritual Temple - Vs 19-22

1. SINFUL STATE OF MAN: vs 1-3

A. Condition: Vs 1-2

Vs 1 – “And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins;” –

This verse shows the awful state of man outside of Jesus Christ and then declares the awesome love and initiative of God in his authority to bring to life that which was dead.

The words “hath he quickened” are in italics in the KJV, which means they are not in the original. However, they are implied since Paul used the word “were”. That is past tense – “and you who were dead in trespasses and sins.” The word “quickened” literally means to “make alive”. It is regeneration pure and simple. Regeneration is not the doing of man but is the work of the Holy Spirit. Thus to be quickened is to be regenerated or “born of God. (John 1:13; 3:3).

“were dead in trespasses and sins” – This is called “total depravity.”

Romans 5:12

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

Romans 5:19

“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” - CF Romans 3:10; 3:23.

By totally depravity we do not mean that man is as sinful as he is capable of being, for this is not true of any man. However, it means that man is dead spiritually and not capable of any good deed whereby he might avail himself of God’s forgiveness. The failure to understand “total human depravity” leads to a failure to understand the need for God’s intervention in our lives, and our need of a Savior.

Vs 2 – “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.”

Before they were regenerated – they walked or lived in a state that followed the course of this world – one that leads downward and away from God rather than to Him. They lived as Jesus once told the scribes and Pharisees after the way of their father the devil – (John 8:44) – “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

“The Prince of the power of the air” - John 14:30 “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.” This no doubt is a reference to Satan.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary says of the word “prince”

“The title generally applied to the chief men of the state. The "princes of the provinces" #1Ki 20:14 were the governors or lord-lieutenants of the provinces. So also the "princes" mentioned in #Dan 6:1,3,4,6,7 were the officers who administered the affairs of the provinces; the "satraps" (as rendered in R.V.). These are also called "lieutenants" #Es 3:12 8:9 R.V., "satraps". The promised Savior is called by Daniel #Dan 9:25 "Messiah the Prince" (Heb. nagid); compare #Ac 3:15 5:31 The angel Michael is called #Dan 12:1 a "prince" (Heb. sar, whence "Sarah, " the "princess").”

Satan is also referred to as “the god of this world”.

2 Corinthians 4:4 - “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

“The spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” – Satan of course is a spirit, a fallen angel who has control of all unsaved people, those who are not regenerated by the power of God.

Colossians 3:6 – “For which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.”

B. Conduct: Vs 3

Vs 3 – “Among whom also we had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature, the children of wrath, even as others.”

Because of our spiritual condition, we therefore followed the course of this world under the control of Satan, with our conversation (conduct) expressing the lusts of our flesh.

The word “flesh” is sarx, the human Adamic, fallen nature. We fulfilled the desires of the flesh and the mind. Sin affected the mind of mankind from the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden and so continues.

Regeneration gives us a new mind that can control the flesh. The believer in Christ has a new mind and a new spirit – 2 Corinthians 5:17- that Paul calls “a new creature or creation.”

We followed the natural course of our Adamic nature that is condemned by the wrath of God, even as all others. To sin is the outcome of the nature of man apart from the regeneration that we have in Jesus Christ.

2. SALVATION THRU GRACE: Vs 4-10

This chapter has a division right down through the middle of it. On the one hand we see all that we are as children of Adam. We see what we are and were apart from Christ. Then on the other hand we see what we became and what we are in Jesus Christ.

A. What we were:

Vs 5: “Even when we were dead in sins” – We were spiritually dead, lost in this world. One who is dead is thus void of life.

We were without God, without Christ, without salvation, without hope, lost in this world.

B. What we are now in Christ:

Vs 4 – But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.”

We became or were also recipients of God’s love. The “us” of whom Paul is speaking is the believer in Jesus Christ. While under the wrath of God as sinners, God displayed his love toward us - John 3:16.

Romans 5:8 – “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

We were yet sinners by nature and by practice when Christ died for us.

Vs 5 - “Hath quickened us together with Christ, (By grace are ye saved)”

God has made us alive with Christ (with his resurrection) - See 1 Corinthians 15:17-22.

Romans 4:25 – “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

The believer’s life is in the resurrected Christ, not in his own feeble attempt at existence. This flesh shall die, the old man, but the new man will live forever.

-By grace are ye saved” – We are saved by grace- God’s riches at Christ’s expense, or unmerited favor. Grace is God’s “free gift” – we do not work for a gift but receive it as from the heart of God and the life of the resurrected Christ.

Vs 6 – “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 1:20 – “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at His own right hand in the heavenly places.”

When Christ rose, the believer in Christ rose also. This is the believer’s position, his spiritual standing. The believer in Christ is in the heavenlies (the word places is in italics and is not in the original. This is literally translated, “in the heavenlies.” We are spiritually now in the heavenlies. Following the rapture we will receive new bodies and until that time we groan in our physical bodies.

Romans 8:23 -_”And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16 – “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”

Note: The believer is now where Christ is – he is in Christ, seated at the right hand of God.

Vs 7 – “That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

What we are and have now in Christ is not just a “pie in the sky religion.” What we are and have in Christ is good for all ages to come. It is in fact everlasting and eternal.

In the ages to come God will put on display the exceeding riches of his grace that is revealed in his kindness toward us through Christ the Messiah, Jesus.

Vs 8 – “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

“Salvation is all of grace” – Charles H. Spurgeon.

We are saved by grace without the works of the law, Galatians 2:16 - “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

If there be but one little thing that we must do to be saved, it would not be “of grace”.

Grace plus anything is not grace. However I hear the Arminian cry out, “what about James and the subject of work?” Very simple, we are saved by the sovereign grace of God and the evidence of our being saved is seen in the works or corresponding actions which we thereafter do. Works is proof of the pudding, so to speak. It is the evidence of what sort of tree we are. Peach trees bear peaches, not in order to become a peach tree, but because it is already a peach tree. How strange if a peach tree where to bear apples? But then the Bible says, “God made everything to reproduce after its kind – Genesis 1:11-12.

“through faith” – Biblical faith is not the reckless life of the man on the street. Saving faith is God given and inspired by the Word of God. Grace is what saves us; faith is the vehicle by the which it connects with God’s sovereignty. Someone has said that grace is the door and faith is the hinges on the door.

Faith is a God-given gift that enables the regenerated sinner to trust in Christ and come to God on God’s terms.

F-A-I-TH – Forwarding all in Thee.

Many great things are done by faith – but salvation is by grace through faith.

Acts 3:16 - “And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”

Romans 3:25 - “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.”

Romans 3:30 – “Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.”

Romans 3:31 - “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”

Galatians 3:8 – “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”

Galatians 3:14 - “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

“And that not of yourselves” – We cannot save ourselves – no we cannot avail ourselves of saving faith.

John 1:13 – “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

If man could do but one thing to save himself, he would not need a Savior. The very fact that we have a Savior means we are lost, hopeless and totally unable to save ourselves.

“It is the gift of God” - One does not pay for a gift, it is FREE! Salvation is God’s gift to his elect, to every believer. If I pay even one farthing towards my salvation, then it is not free and it is not grace.

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Again, Paul says it is a gift and it is called “eternal life.” It cost Christ His life but to the recipient it cost nothing. The repentant sinner who believes is the recipient of God’s grace and given eternal life. My friend if you have eternal life, that is indeed security, for this life is in Christ.

1 John 5:11 – “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”

John 10:28 – “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

In writing to the Romans Paul not only say that salvation is by grace but he calls it “THE FREE GIFT.”

Romans 5:15-16 – “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.”

Romans 5:18 “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”

See – John 3:16; John 3:36; John 5:24.

Vs 9 – “Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Can you see what would happen if our salvation depended up our baptism? When we stand at the gate of heaven we would have our thumbs in our spiritual suspenders and boast of “our baptism.” Why are you here, saint Peter would ask? Oh it is because of my baptism we would brag! The same thing can be said for church membership, singing in the choir, keeping the sabbath day or any other good and noble deed.

The scriptural truth of the matter is simply this, “Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to thy cross I cling.”

“What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

Our sin darkens the sun but the Son shines into our hearts, the light of the world, is Jesus.

“In what can we boast save in the death of Christ our Lord.

All the vain things that charmed me most; I sacrifice them to His blood.”

Vs 10 – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them.”

Salvation does not come with a university degree, nor is it a vocation that we can work up or grow into. We are the workmanship of Christ, a new creation. What Adam could not do, we in Christ are doing it. Note that I say, “in Christ”. This is not of the old creation, not of the old man, the old nature, the old Adam. Christianity is not dressing up Adam in Sunday clothes. Those of the so-called Holiness Movement seem to think that we can dress up the old man but Jesus made it plain when he said, to Nicodemus, “that which is flesh is flesh – that which is spirit is spirit.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Galatians 6:15 – “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.”

“unto good works” – Good works does not make one a Christian, but good works ought to follow as the fruit of the Spirit- Galatians 5:22-23.

Until one becomes a new creation in Jesus Christ, he/she cannot produce saving faith. That old adage, “which comes first the chicken or the egg” is simple if we believe in the Genesis account. God made everything to reproduce. He made the chicken to lay eggs from which the little chick is hatched. He makes Christians first, and the fruit they bear follows.

1 Corinthians 10:31 – “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

2 Corinthians 4:15 – “For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.”

“which God hath before ordained” – The word “ordained” in the center reference of my Bible is “prepared”. This is part of God’s eternal plan and purpose, which he planned before the foundation of the world. God chose certain ones in Christ and determined that these should show forth the glory of God in the works that they do, or the way that they live.

“that we should walk in them” – Here we have the biggest of struggles and often it is because we misunderstand the text. We cannot divorce the word walk from the word “grace” in verse eight. Secondly we must realize that the purpose of God’s “creating us in Christ – ought to take the struggle out of our hands for the most part, and put them into the hands of Providence. Let me use one of my favorite texts to prove my point – Titus 2:11-12 – “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”

The grace of God not only brings us salvation initially but it teaches us how to live and works by the Spirit within us to cause us to grow spiritually.

One more scripture that will illustrate my point – Philippians 2:11-12 – “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

First we can only work out what God has worked in us – secondly it is primarily the work of God (the Holy Spirit) within us that we grow in grace. Our justification is by grace through faith, and our sanctification is likewise the work of God within us.

So you might ask – Is there not anything that I can do to help? Yes- we can submit to the Holy Spirit (and to the body of Christ). We can eat and drink a proper spiritual diet that will enhance spiritual growth.

2 Timothy 2:15 - “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

The problem with most Christians (especially in North America) is that we have accustomed ourselves too much to a diet of junk food. We rely too much on our feeling rather than the truth. Religious emotionalism is rampant in so-called evangelism today. Just turn on your TV on any Sunday and you can see this. What makes me “feel good” is not necessarily the truth of God’s word.

So we must realize that the Christian walk is a walk in the SPIRIT and not in the FLESH. It is first Spiritual, before it is emotional. (I do not wish to infer that true spirituality has no measure of emotion in it – that is not true and the only place totally void of emotion is in the graveyard.)

The Christian walk ought to be spontaneous and our growth like-wise. Again let me illustrate:

I come into the room and my daughter Lois who always wants to be a “big girl” reaches up with her arms to be lifted out of the crib. She is now (at this writing two and a half years old). She never says, “I am going to grow today”, or worries about what she needs to eat in order to become a “big girl”. She just wants the loving arms of her parents around her and she submits to their care. She does not worry if she eats enough or too much. She may complain if she does not get some junk food along the way, the lollipop, a bit of pop in the bottle, some potato chips, or cheezies) but she basically submits to her parents tender loving care. As part of that growing process she will first drink milk, and then eat meat (stronger food) and she will learn to wash her hands, to bathe, and to do all of the things necessary to becoming a “big girl”.

Here in Peter’s words is the application- 1 Peter 2:2 – “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.”

Here then is the basis of our energy, our strength, our growth, that which allows us to grow into the good works that we have to walk in.

Remember that essentially the Christian walk is a walk of faith, not blind faith, but trust in what God hath already told us.

3. STANDING OF MEN OUTSIDE OF CHRIST: Vs 11-12

Paul has been dealing with the before and after effect of the salvation that the Ephesians had in Christ. Here he shows what they were, or what was their spiritual condition before being brought to the grace of verse eight.

Vs 11 – “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands.”

Remember what you were – we should never forget the pit from whence we have been dug.

A. “Gentiles in the flesh” – All nations outside of Israel were called “Gentile nations.”

Dr. John Gill has this note:

“Ver. 11 - Wherefore remember, that ye be in time past Gentiles in the flesh, &c.] This, with what follows in the next verse, the apostle puts the converted Ephesians in mind of, in order to magnify the grace of God in their conversion; and to humble them in a view of their former state and condition; and to teach them that they could never be saved by any works of theirs: particularly he would have them call to mind, that they were in "time past Gentiles"; which does not so much regard the nation and country they were of, for in that sense they were Gentiles still; but their state and condition; they had been very blind and ignorant, were Gentiles that knew not God; they had been very wicked and profligate sinners of the Gentiles; and they had been "Gentiles in the flesh": not according to the flesh, or by birth, for so they were then; but in the time of their unregeneracy they were carnal, and minded the things of the flesh, walked after it, and fulfilled the lusts, and did the works of it; particular respect seems to be had to their uncircumcision in the flesh, to which circumcision in the flesh is opposed in the next clause:”

The word “Gentiles” actually means “nations” and is used throughout scripture to refer to the nations or peoples of the world outside of the covenant that God made with Israel, the descendents of Abraham – However the same word is used when applied to the descendents of Abraham directly - (See Genesis 12:2.).

B. “Called uncircumcision by that which is called circumcision” – Because the sign of the covenant of God with Israel was that of circumcision of the flesh, the Jews referred to all other nations (Gentiles) as “the uncircumcised.” The meaning here is that those who are uncircumcised, that is the Gentiles, are outside of the Abrahamic covenant. (Although provision was made for individual Gentiles to convert to Judaism). Remember that the Abrahamic covenant was first a covenant of “race” as well as one of “grace” – See Genesis 17:1-22; 18:17-18.

C. “made by hands” – It is circumcision, not the covenant that is made by hands. The acceptance of God’s covenant with Israel was seen, by the physical circumcision of the foreskin of every male child. This is the sign of the covenant between Israel and Jehovah God.

In Colossians 2:11 – Paul makes the spiritual application under the New Covenant of physical circumcision to that which is spiritual – “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.”

New Testament circumcision is a work of Christ in our hearts and is spiritual – Ezekiel 36:26 - “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”

Vs 12 – “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.”

The is a very bleak looking picture of the one who is not saved, has not been regenerated by the Spirit of God, and therefore is not a Christian. The good thing here is that Paul says, “ye were.” What we were is not what we are now, unless we are still not in Christ.

Ye were: (so we continue)

D. “Without Christ” – These words underscore the saddest picture of any man. To be without Christ is to be with the love of God, the hope of the gospel, the salvation of God and without eternal life. In one word we are condemned or under judgment.

E. “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel” – The Gentile nations are foreigners, estranged and outlawed from the rights of Israel as a nation.

F. “Strangers from the covenants of promise” – no share in the sacred compacts of the Messianic promise. They were as well totally ignorant of it. The plural use “covenants” refers to all of the covenants, not just Abrahamic but Mosaic, Davidic, etc.- Romans 9:4,8.

G. “Having no hope” – No hope in this life and in eternity, both legally and practically.

How hopeless is the life and destiny of anyone outside of Jesus Christ. - 1 Thessalonians 4:13

H. “Without God” – Strangers with no attachment to the true God. No personal knowledge and acquaintance of God.

I. “In the world” – Living their allotted time in this world, but a victim and slave to its ungodly system, condemned to its same end.

Galatians 4:8 – “Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.”

4. STANDING OF THE BELIEVER IN CHRIST: Vs 13-18

A. The Place: Vs 13

Vs 13 – “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

Spiritually the believer is said to be “in Christ” This is not just some romantic fantasy but a literal and legal spiritual standing. Everything we need is in Christ and brought to us by the blood of Christ.

John Gill says- “who in their state of unregeneracy were afar off from God, and from his law, and from any spiritual knowledge of him and fellowship with him; and from Jesus Christ, and from the knowledge of his righteousness, and the way of salvation by him; and from the Spirit, and any acquaintance with the things of the Spirit, and from minding them, and from walking after him; and from the saints and people of God, and from any love to them, and communion with them; and from any solid hopes of happiness, or real peace and comfort; which distance was owing both to Adam’s sin and to their own transgressions: and yet are made nigh by the blood of Christ: so as to have nearness of access to and communion with God, Father, Son, and Spirit, and the saints, in virtue of the blood of Christ; which gives boldness and speaks peace; by which their persons are justified, the pardon of their sins is procured, reconciliation is made, and their garments are washed, and made white; and so they draw nigh with confidence by the faith of him.”

The blood of Christ brings us into a right relationship with God –thereby we are drawn near to him. How well do we sing “there is power in the blood of the lamb”.

B. The Person: Vs 14-16

1. Vs 14 - “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.”

Jesus Christ is literally our “peace offering”. By the words, “the middle wall of partition” Paul is no doubt referring to the veil in the temple, which kept men from the Holy place or presence of God. That veil in the temple was ripped from top to bottom following the vicarious death of Christ on the cross.

Micah 5:5 – “And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.”

“Both one” – Jew and Gentile are one in Christ. John 10:16 – “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”

The partition between the Jew and the Gentile does not exist in Christ. Neither does the petition between the believer and God. Jesus took care of the sin problem for all of God’s elect or chosen one’s.

The words “between us” are in italics, which means, they are not in the original but were added by the translators. This means that in God’s purpose there never was any difference between the Jew and the Gentile in Christ.

Those who wish to study this verse in depth should pay close attention to the following note by Dr. A.T. Robertson - {For he is our peace} (autov gar estin h eirhnh hmwn). He himself, not just what he did (necessary as that was and is). He is our peace with God and so with each other (Jews and Gentiles). {Both one} (ta amfotera en). "The both" (Jew and Gentile). Jesus had said "other sheep I have which are not of this fold" (#John 10:16). {One} (en) is neuter singular (oneness, unity, identity) as in #Ga 3:28. Race and national distinctions vanish in Christ. If all men were really in Christ, war would disappear. {Brake down the middle wall of partition} (to mesotoicon tou fragmou lusav). "Having loosened (first aorist active participle of luw, see #John 2:19) the middle-wall (late word, only here in N.T., and very rare anywhere, one in papyri, and one inscription) of partition (fragmou, old word, fence, from frassw, to fence or hedge, as in #Mt 21:33)." In the temple courts a partition wall divided the court of the Gentiles from the court of Israel with an inscription forbidding a Gentile from going further (Josephus, _Ant_.

VIII. 3, 2). See the uproar when Paul was accused of taking Trophimus beyond this wall (#Ac 21:28).

2. Vs 15 – “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.”

Jesus Christ did not do away with the law, but rather he fulfilled it. The law was and indeed still is enmity against the sinner. However, for God’s elect we find them on a different standing. The law of Moses provided atonement or covering for the sins of the people for one year. The blood of Jesus Christ provides more than an atonement, but remission of sins forever. Hebrews 9:12; 9:22; 9:26; Hebrews 10:16-22.

Colossian 2:14 – “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.”

Jesus wiped the believer’s slate clean, he paid the price of our sin, so then God tore up the charges against us. They were contrary to us in that they found us guilty with no way of paying except by death. I like this last part of Colossians 2:14 – “nailing it to his cross.” I like to think of those big spikes that pieced the hands and feet of our Lord as the nails that put an end to all charges against Gods elect.

Of the two Jew and Gentile, Jesus created in Himself, a new man, and therein he made peace. Galatians 6:15 – “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.”

3. Vs 16 – “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.”

Note: The reconciliation here is of both the Jew and the Gentile believer in Christ. It is not God that needs reconciliation, but man. God did not break relationship with mankind, this was Adam’s doing. God did not break His covenant; man is the covenant breaker. Man is estranged from God; spiritually dead in trespasses and in sins. God remains the same, he is immutable, unchanging.

The cross – or literally that which transpired upon the cross is God’s remedy for reconciliation. The wooden cross has very little meaning except it being the medium used by wicked men to crucify our Lord. So-called veneration of the cross by Catholicism is pure heresy and hides the truth of Christ’s once and for all sacrifice of Himself.

Dr. John Gill says – “And that he might reconcile both unto God, &c.] This is another end of the abrogation of the ceremonial law: the Jews had run up a long score against the ceremonial law, as well as against the moral law; and Christ by fulfilling it for them, and thereby abrogating it, reconciled them; and the Gentiles could not be reconciled together with them, without the abrogation of it: and this reconciliation of them is made to God, who was the person offended; and who yet first set on foot a reconciliation, in which his glory is greatly concerned; and reconciliation with others depends upon reconciliation with him: and this is made in one body by the cross.”

The cross makes a way for Jew or Gentile to come before God as reconciled.

Dr. John Gill says further – “in one body by the cross; by which "body" is meant, the human body of Christ, which the Father prepared for him, and he assumed, and that in order to make reconciliation for his people; and is said to be "one" body, because it was in one and the same body, which he reconciled both Jews and Gentiles unto God, and in or by one sacrifice of that body; reconciliation being so effectually made by it that there is no need of a reiteration: or the sense is, he reconciled them into "one body"; into one mystical body, the church, of which he is head; and this he did "by the cross," that is, by his blood shed on the cross, or by his suffering the death of the cross; which shows that reconciliation is made in a way of satisfaction to the law and justice of God, by Christ’s bearing the penalty of the law, and suffering the strokes of justice on the cross; and expresses the efficacy of his blood and sacrifice, and the greatness of his condescension and love:

having slain the enmity thereby; the ceremonial law, as before; and the slaying it is the same with abolishing it; unless the enmity between God and man is meant, which was slain by removing the cause of it, sin; and which laid a foundation for the slaying of it in the hearts of his people in regeneration, when sin is made odious to them, and they are reconciled to God’s way of salvation; hence being slain in both senses, peace with God can never be broken.”

There is now no enmity between both God and man, and Jew and Gentile, in Christ. There is no nationality bar, no color bar, in the kingdom of God, and in the churches of Jesus Christ. Any enmity that was there, was taken care of for the believer in Jesus Christ.

C. The Peace: Vs 17-18

1. Vs 17 – “And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.”

You (Gentiles) who were far off concerning God’s covenant, and the Jew who was within God’s covenant. Peace was “preached” or declared to both. Christ’s death does not bring peace, but it makes the way for peace. Salvation is not automatic just because Jesus died. Jesus made the provision for our salvation and the Holy Spirit regenerates us, and grants us the gift of repentance and faith whereby we can take hold of the gospel of our salvation.

2. Vs 18 – “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”

Through Jesus Christ both Jew and Gentile have access to God by (in) one Spirit.

Dr. A.T. Robertson has this note –

“{Through him} (di autou). Christ. {We both} (oi amfoteroi). "We the both" (Jew and Gentile). {Our access} (thn prosagwghn). The approach, the introduction as in #Ro 5:2. {In one Spirit} (en eni pneumati). The Holy Spirit. {Unto the Father} (prov ton patera). So the Trinity as in #1:13. The Three Persons all share in the work of redemption.”

The modern ecumenical idea that all religions are just different roads to God is not only “stupid nonsense” but it is most unscriptural as to the teaching of Christ, the apostles and the Bible itself. All religions teach us that the only way to God is through our own good deeds, or in other words, “picking ourselves up by our own bootstraps.” The Bible teaches salvation by grace alone, and that Jesus Christ is the one and only way to God. There is no hope in Islam, Hinduism, Confucius, and Buddha etc. – John 14:6; John 8:24.

Romans 5:2 – “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

This then is the standing of all people in Jesus Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, bond or free as Paul said was pictured in our (water) baptism - 1 Corinthians 12:13.

5. SPIRITUAL TEMPLE: Vs 19-22

A. Position of the Believer in Christ:

1. Vs 19 – “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.”

This is the position of the believer in Christ – no longer a stranger (exile) and a foreigner to the covenant of God, for there is a New Covenant written in the blood of Christ and stamped by his vicarious death and literal bodily resurrection from the dead. Under the Old Covenant (Mosaic) all men are condemned; under the New Covenant, a remnant known as God’s elect are redeemed.

Paul is telling these Gentile Ephesians that they are not only NOT foreigners but are indeed fellow-citizens (in the kingdom) and members of God’s household (family relationship.) This is the official and legal standing of all true believers in Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:20 – “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:”

Paul uses the term “household of faith” in – Galatians 6:10 – “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. This is not to teach the Protestant idea of a universal church or mystical body. It is simply a term that includes all believers in Christ within the family of God – Ephesians 3:15.

2. Vs 20 – “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” - See Psalm 118:22.

The reference here is first to the Ephesian Church to which Paul addresses this epistle. This church is built upon the same foundation with the apostles and prophets.

This should be the direct and literal translation of this verse. The foundation is not the apostles and prophets, but rather is Jesus Christ. The apostles and prophets (these are not the Old Testament but New Testament prophets) are built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. Paul made that plain in his letter to the Church in Corinth –

See - 1 Corinthians 3:9-17

Jesus Christ is both the foundation and the chief cornerstone. Literally this is “Christ the chief foundation stone.” Generally even today in our building the cornerstone is laid within or as part of the foundation.

This verse would exclude all churches that are not built upon Jesus Christ as being New Testament Churches. Those churches that removed themselves from the foundation of Christ and are today known as “Catholic” have no Biblical foundation.

There is a Biblical conflict between Popery and Jesus Christ Himself as the true foundation. One might be built upon Rome, but Jesus Christ is the foundation stone of any true church.

1 Corinthians 12:28 – “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”

When were apostles appointed to the church? Luke 6:13 – “And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles.” This is well before the Day of Pentecost of which Protestants and Pentecostals erringly call “the birthday of the church”. There had to be a church in existence for Jesus to name apostles to – that church he instituted on the shores of Galilee with the calling of his first disciples. By the time Christ ascended, this church numbered well above 500 members (1 Corinthians 15:6.)

Note: There are many other reasons for believing that the Church Jesus instituted was already in existence before the day of Pentecost.

The church that Christ instituted was made up of those who made profession of faith in Jesus Christ and had received (Baptist) baptism. (Christ Himself and all of his disciples had been baptized by John the Baptist.) One is not a member of the New Testament church until “added” there unto – Acts 2:41.

There is a difference between being a member of the family of God, and membership in a New Testament Church.

B. Position as a New Testament Church: Vs 20-22

I will discuss verse 20 further here but from the standpoint of the New Testament Church, which of course is made up of professing baptized believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Vs 20 – “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”

This verse is directed as part of the letter to the Ephesian Church. This church had been properly planted in Ephesus, probably by believers who had scattered from persecution in Jerusalem or those who were converted following Peter’s preaching in Acts 2. Paul had spent much time in Ephesus (Acts 19:9-10) and was very dear to the Ephesian Church. The institutional and doctrinal foundation of this church was indeed on Scriptural ground. They were “built on the same foundation with the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the foundation stone. This was their standing as a New Testament Church. They had proper authority because they had a proper foundation.

The Greek text of Vs 20 reads –

“epoikodomhyentev epi tw yemeliw twn apostolwn kai profhtwn ontov akrogwniaiou autou ihsou cristou

The apostles are on the foundation stone (Christ) but are not the foundation itself. That is a serious error of Catholicism and much of Protestantism as well.

The foundation is “the lowest part of a building upon which it rests- Luke 14:29; Acts 16:26” – Easton’s Bible Dictionary.

The apostles were then “added” by Christ to the foundation (Himself). This foundation is clear in 1 Corinthians 3:11 and does not undermine the teaching of apostolic authority – Acts 2:42; 2 Peter 3:2.

Matthew Poole says – “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets; the foundation that the apostles and prophets laid by their preaching, viz. Christ, whom they held forth as the only Mediator between God and man, the only Savior and head of the church: see #1Corinthians 3:11.

2. Vs 21 – “In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.”

“In whom” - This reference is directed to Jesus Christ the cornerstone, not to the apostles which Roman Catholics use as part of their doctrine of apostolic succession claiming for their Pope the succession of Peter. I do not deny apostolic authority but I do deny that it existed after the last apostle died or that it is somehow continued in the foundation itself.

1 Corinthians 12:28 – “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”

Apostles were set in the church but not in the foundation, but rather upon the foundation.

I disagree with John Gill here who claims the “prophets” were Old Testament prophets. While Old Testament prophets certainly had their place in prophesying about Christ, the prophets that Jesus set I were in the church as a New Testament Church ministry. These gifts no longer functioned after the completion of New Testament Scripture.

Matthew 11:13 “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. –

For New Testament prophets - See - Acts 13:1; 15:32; 11:28; 21:10.

“all the building” – All of that which is truly built upon that same foundation of Jesus Christ. The church was instituted by Christ Himself who said, “I will build (dome up) my church… Matthew 16:18. The Holy Spirit leads New Testament Churches in building upon the foundation of Christ – 1 Corinthians 3:9-10; Acts 1:1-2.

“fitly framed together” – The whole structure of a Scriptural church is bound, welded, joined together harmoniously. God’s word comes to his people precept upon precept, line upon line - Isaiah 28:10.

“growth unto an holy temple in the Lord” – continues to rise, grow, increase into a holy temple in the Lord – a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord. It is within the function of this body/church that God’s elect believers in Christ are to grow and be fitted together. In today’s church world the importance of membership and regular attendance to the local New Testament Church is played down as of lesser importance. The great enemy here is the teaching that makes the family of God and the church as if they are one and the same. This is simply not true and is not historic Baptist doctrine. See - Hebrews 10:25.

Again, the idea that it does not matter what church you belong to as long as you are saved is the devil’s lie.

3. Vs 22- “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

God has a purpose in the New Testament Church – it is here that the saved, baptized believer is built or welded together with the body. It is in the church that God the Holy Spirit resides for the purpose of functioning in the world at large.

It is true that every believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit at conversion, but he/she is not to function alone, but to be welded (built together) as the place where God dwells through the Spirit. One can work alone but a body of believers can better function as the habitation of God and the place of enrichment to all of the body and outreach to those who are yet to be brought into the kingdom. Can we see what one loses and the danger of not being a part of a true scriptural New Testament Church? And only Historic Baptist Churches truly fit that description.

Many theologians play down the proper interpretation of this verse and want to fit it into a so-called invisible, mystical body of Christ. Let me say this concerning this verse-

a) It is written first to the church in Ephesus even though likely shared with other sister churches of like faith and practice. (At his point in history I doubt if there were any other kind of church.)

b) A mystical invisible body cannot very well function in a real world and carry the Great commission to visible people with visible needs. Invisible people cannot baptize visible people nor share in the Lord’s Supper with visible members. As well the word “mystic” belongs with mysticism and has no place in the New Testament Church. It belongs to the cults and to Catholicism.

c) The work of the Holy Spirit in believers and through the New Testament Church is spiritual but not mystical. The word “mystical” or “mysticism” means –

“The two main elements in mysticism are indicated by the two-fold derivation from “myeo” (initiate or consecrate) and “myo” (close the eyes or mouth). Mysticism is thus the higher consecration of man, which secures by exercising towards the external world, both passively and actively, the greatest possible reserve. Or it is the passive and active reserve towards the external world, which is at the same time dedicated to higher consecration of man.” (Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics,1,2 p. 319)

According to this definition, mysticism presses beyond the external forms of religion to an attempted direct knowledge of God, more especially in prayer and medication, although sometimes too in trance-like conditions. It is not necessarily hostile to form and tradition. Indeed, it is usually prepared to endorse and use them for their symbolical value. But it finds the core of religion in an inward identity or communion, which is ultimately indifferent to and negates the external. (By Geoffrey W. Bromiley in Baker’s Dictionary of Theology.)

Mysticism is not peculiar to Biblical Christianity but in the early centuries was taken up by the Roman Catholic Church and is found much in her daughters. In its so-called Christian form it adheres much to the doctrines of Pelagius who taught that all men have within them a little spark of divinity, which only needs to be fanned by the gospel. This is contrary to the doctrine of total hereditary human depravity. The idea of mysticism that is that one might find deep within their spirit that which can indeed communicate with God and thereby correct themselves and ultimately find salvation. This is a far cry from the doctrine of the absolute sovereignty of God and His offer of free grace in the Person of Jesus Christ.

d) Finally it needs to be pointed out that this temple is “in the Lord (Vs 21) and through the Spirit (Vs 22) and that Scripture teaches – That the Spirit and the word agree- See 1 John 5:7-8; Matthew 4:4.

End of Ephesians Chapter Two

STUDIES IN EPHESIANS

LESSON THREE Ephesian 3:1-21

OUTLINE

1. The Prisoner of Christ Vs 1-10

2. The Purpose of God Vs 11-19

3. The Power of God Vs 20-21

1. THE PRISONER OF CHRIST: Vs 1-10

A. The Cause: Vs 1-6

1. Vs 1 – “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles.”

The cause Paul relates to goes back to the previous chapter and particularly verse 22. Paul was a prisoner of Christ for the body of Christ the local New Testament Churches that as an apostle of Christ, Paul helped to establish. His special or particular calling was to the Gentiles or specifically to those churches of the Gentile nations.

Paul had been captured by Christ on the Damascus Road, but was now captivated by Him, his desire was to please Christ.

The word Greek translated “prisoner” means “slave” and is also translated “minister” and “deacon”. The idea is as a “waiter”, one who waits upon others.

Matthew 20:26 – “But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister.” Paul would have absolutely nothing to do with the clergy idea that produces oligarchy in churches today.

Paul was a prisoner of a person, the one who captured him on the Damascus Road, the person of Jesus Christ. The whole idea of Biblical Christianity is more than the letter of the word, or a set of rules and regulations, of do’s and don’ts. It is build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ and its life is in and by the Spirit of God.

True captivation is on behalf of other – “Lord let me live from day to day in such a life forgetting way; that even when I kneel to pray, my prayer shall be for OTHERS. Paul said, I am captured of Christ for you Gentiles.

Acts 9:16 – “For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name‘s sake.”

2. Vs 2 – “If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward.”

If you have heard (with understanding) of the dispensation (stewardship) of God’s grace (unmerited favor) that (was and is) entrusted to me on behalf of you Gentiles (Ephesus and elsewhere). Paul regarded himself as a steward of God’s grace. He was a custodian, with a message from God to be shared and taught to others. Paul taught the Ephesian Church and that church in turn would be involved with the proclamation of that same message of sovereign grace.

3. Vs 3 – “How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,”

“By revelation” – Some of our modern versions leave this word out but that is wrong to say the least. The apostles received their teaching of course from the direct ministry of Jesus Christ, but they (including Paul) wrote by inspired revelation.

2 Timothy 3:16 - “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” See - Romans 16:25.

This mystery that is revealed by Paul is no longer a mystery since it is revealed by Paul. The saints of the Old Testament times did not understand this revelation, it was not revealed to them fully. They simply trusted in God’s word to send the Messiah who would be the Deliverer - Psalms 18:2 - “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”

Isaiah 59:20-21 – “And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord.

As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever.”

Romans 11:26 - “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.”

Paul spoke by revelation from God, but we today do not have any new revelation. We do however have “illumination” that is given us by the Holy Spirit, through God’s written word the Bible. –Hebrews 10:32; 2 Timothy 2:15.

Television preachers today who claim revelation from God are not standing on a scriptural foundation. They speak blasphemy or to say the least require a good dose of Alka-Seltzer.

4. Vs 4 – “Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)”

By reading this letter, you will understand better my insight into the mystery of Christ. Paul received revelation from God, but the Ephesians would receive insight as they read the written word Paul penned. That too is how we are illuminated by the Spirit, through the Word of God, the Bible.

5. Vs 5 – “Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.”

This mystery was never disclosed to human beings in past generations as it is now revealed to His holy apostles (consecrated messengers) and prophets by the (Holy) Spirit. Again the reference to prophets here is directly to New Testament prophets, since the Old Testament prophets did not give forth the mystery of Christ in a clear revelation. The New Testament scriptures make clear the prophecy of the Old Testament prophets.

The purpose (or one of the purposes) of the Holy Spirit is to reveal the Word of God to God’s elect - John 15:26 – “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:”

John 16:13 – “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

6. Vs 6 – “That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:”

This then is the cause of Paul’s captivation, having been captured by Christ – he had a message of deliverance for the Gentiles. The mystery is now revealed! There would be a new body, a new creation with a new covenant that would include men and women of all nations, Jew and Gentile. All such people would become fellowheirs in one body, partakers of God’s promises in Christ, and the medium by the which God would do this is “the gospel” or the embodiment of good news of the teachings of Christ concerning Himself.

The basics of the gospel as taught by Paul, is found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8.

B. The Call: Vs 7-10

1. Vs 7 – “Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.”

God calls men and churches can and should only call “God-called” men. The Christian ministry is first a call from God. It is true that all preaches ought to be ordained by a scriptural New Testament (local) church, but it is God who first ordains. Paul did not in the slightest suggest that he chose to become a minister of Jesus Christ. No not even an apostle! He was “made”, he was arrested, captured by Christ and became His prisoner (vs 1). The Christian ministry is not a vocation in the sense of men who become lawyers, doctors, dentists, policemen, firemen, gardeners, etc. These are vocations but the Christian ministry is a calling for all members of the New Testament Church but especially for those who are among its leadership. It is a calling with a definite purpose- See - Romans 15:16-19.

Notice then what Paul calls the Christian ministry:

a) A making or calling of God.

b) A gift of the grace of God.

c) Given effectually.

d) Given by God’s authority

True ministers are God-called and Spirit directed, commissioned by the local church of their membership. Paul at least started out from Damascus Church -(Acts chapter 9).

I must say a word here about the word “effectual” – “the effectual working of His power. Arminians need to stop here and take a good look that this verse – it plainly means that “God works his calling, even his salvation within the sinner. It is effected in the sinner by the Holy Spirit who regenerates us and enables us to receive the things of the Spirit. Jesus taught this plainly in John 6:44 and 65 – “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

2. Vs 8 – “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.”

Paul was not just acting humble here, he continually considered himself to be the least of all saints. We too – like the apostle Paul should never forget the pit from whence we have been dug. Notice that Paul refers to himself as a “saint”, which means, “separated one’s”. This is the Biblical meaning of the word and is used of all Christians, contrary to the Roman Catholic idea of “sainthood.”

Paul refers to his calling, his ministry, as “this grace”. To many today of the so-called clergy it is “disgrace” not grace. Paul received his calling by the grace of God and he ministered in accordance with that same grace.

2 Corinthians 12:9; 1 Corinthians 15:10

Paul’s reference here to the gospel is seen in the phrase, “the unsearchable riches of Christ.” This includes the whole gospel, not just that which is applied to our conversion, but as well to our sanctification and perseverance.

Christ is our life- the bread of life and we live the Christian life in, by and through Him or we do not live it at all.

3. Vs 9 – “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.”

“All men see” – The reference must clearly be to the elect – but the elect do not walk around with a badge on their chest saying “I am elect.” Certainly only believers will see and only those chosen by God from before the foundation of the world will believe. All men do not believe though we certainly ought to do what we can to bring every person possible under the sound of the gospel. The gospel that saves some, in effect damns others – See John 3:18-21; 2 Corinthians 2:14-17.

“the fellowship of the mystery” – hidden plan of God hitherto not seen concerning the Gentile nations. The word fellowship means “gathering” and is used in reference to Gentile believers being gathered together first in the kingdom of God and then in the churches of Jesus Christ.

“hidden from the beginning of the world” – not revealed or made plain (although alluded to by the prophets) from the beginning of the world (of time).

“who created all things by Jesus Christ” – Reference here is made to the eternal Word (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16; Psalm 33:6.) These and other scriptures show Christ’s involvement in creation. They declare that Jesus is indeed the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus Christ is the focus point of God’s plan and purpose for man – he and the cross stand central in Scripture. The reference here is to creationism, not to a so-called evolution.

4. Vs 10 – “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.”

The purpose is that through the church, the complicated many-sided wisdom of God in all of its infinite and innumerable aspects might be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities in the heavenly sphere.

Dr. John Gill says - “By whom are meant, not civil magistrates, much less evil angels, but the good angels, the angels in heaven; See Ephesians 1:21".

This was the result of Paul’s call to ministry and the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles and planting of New Testament Churches among them, of which the Church in Ephesus was one.

2. THE PURPOSE OF GOD: Vs 11-19

God is not one who operates on a whim, but has a plan and purpose decreed in eternity past.

A. Purpose in Christ: Vs 11-12

1. Vs 11 – “According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

a) God has a purpose -

b) God’s purpose is eternal, beyond the confines of time.

c) God’s purpose is centered in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s purpose is His will absolute, decreed in eternity, and worked out in time, centered in the Person of Jesus Christ.

2. Vs 12 – “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.”

In whom (Christ) because of our faith in him, we have boldness to access God.

Christ or our faith of him which means, the God given (gift of) faith –(see Ephesians 2:8-9) Knowing our standing in Christ gives us boldness to come before God having then free access to the Father.

Romans 5:2 – “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Ephesians 2:18 – “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”

Faith begins in regeneration and comes to us through the Word of God - Romans 10:17 - “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Through Jesus Christ –Jew or Gentile has free access to God’s mercy and only Jesus Christ gives us this hope.

B. Position of those in Christ Vs 13-19

1. Vs 13 – “Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.”

So, Paul is asking them, not to lose heart – not to faint or become despondent through fear – at what I am suffering in your behalf (or because he is faithfully carrying out his God given ministry to the gentiles - (Read Acts 9). These are the things Jesus said that Paul would suffer for His names sake. It was to their glory – because through Paul’s suffering (tribulations) they were able to hear the gospel and respond to the saving of their souls. Salvation does not cost the recipient one-penny, but it cost God His Son, Jesus Christ His life, and many gave their lives as martyrs of the faith in order for you and I not only to be free, but also to have a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

There is a high price to pay in order that others might come to know Jesus Christ who alone is the way, the truth and the life – John 14:6.

The apostle Paul endured tribulation for the sake of the gentiles receiving the gospel.

3. Vs 14 – “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,”

For this reason Paul submitted himself to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul had submitted to the will of God, even though at one point he sought the Lord to remove this “thorn in the flesh” 2 Corinthians 12:7ff.

4. Vs 15 – “Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,”

In this statement Paul goes beyond the church and includes the whole family of God, those in heaven and earth. The new creation of faith in Jesus Christ; Old Testament saints having looked forward to Christ, included all saints in heaven and those on earth. This is the “Jesus family”, those given a new name that is written down in glory. Isaiah 62:2 – “And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.”

Revelation 2:17 - “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”

Revelation 3:12 – “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.”

5. Vs 16 – “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.”

Out of the rich treasury of His glory is where Paul prayed the Ephesians would receive strength in the inner man. His prayer was that they would be strengthened and reinforced with the mighty power of the Holy Spirit (Himself) who indwelt their innermost being and personality. This ”inner man” is also the new man, the Holy Spirit name of the new birth as opposed to the old man, the Adamic nature, the flesh.

2 Corinthians 4:16 – “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”

Romans 7:22 – “For I delight in the law of God after the inner man.”

See also Colossians 3:9-10.

6. Vs 17 – “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,”

Paul’s prayer is that Christ might settle down and make His permanent home in their hearts through their ongoing faith.

“Rooted and grounded in love” – Love is what holds the foundation stone in place in the Christian life. Love drew salvations plan and spanned the mighty gulf between the sinner and a holy God. Paul’s prayer is that the believers roots might grow deep, be rooted deep in the love of Christ. The New Covenant of Jesus Christ is based upon the blood of Jesus but its first source is in the “Love of God”. New Testament law is based upon the law of love. Just to mention a few scriptures that teach this:

Mark 12:30 – “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

Mark 12:31 – “And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

Matthew 22:40 – “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Mark 12:33-35 – “And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

John 14:15 – “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

John 17:26 – “And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Romans 13:10 - “Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

1 John 4:7-12 - “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.”

Read the entire chapter of 1 John 4; also 1 Corinthians chapter 13.

7. Vs 18-19 – “May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

I am putting these two verses together (18-19) because it is very difficult to separate them; they go together. Actually they are the outcome of the love of verse 17. When we are rooted together in LOVE we can expect to grow into the following-

a) A spirit of understanding with all of the saints (saved separated ones).

b) To know, appreciate and grasp hold of the truth concerning the perimeters of our

faith in Christ (which are really limitless.)

c) To know practically through experience yourself – the love of Christ.

d) The love that passes knowledge – far surpasses mere knowledge without experience of that love.

e) To be filled continually with all of the fullness of God possible and available to you today.

This ought to be the aspiration of every true believer in Jesus Christ. We ought never stop growing in grace or aspiring to be more Christ-like in our daily deportment. True love puts Christ first, others second and “me” last. The “me-first” attitude or ego centeredness is foreign to a true Christian walk. The whole Christian economy is built upon the one word, LOVE.

3. THE POWER OF GOD: Vs 20-21

A. God’s Power in Us: Vs 20

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

The hymn writer starts out his song – “I am weak but Thou art strong” – Mr Macho man of the twenty-first century hates to admit this truth. We in our hedonistic society bow down to the god of sport and to some extent our arenas are no different than those of the Romans in Caesars day. We too call out for blood and pay homage to the strongman who can draw blood on either an animal or a man. Paul’s lesson here is the opposite to what they had in the Roman Coliseum, or that, which is the main thrust of today’s society. No, Paul taught that the way up is down and that only when one is brought in humility to the foot of the old rugged cross could he/she be brought to the light of God and come to know Him who to know aright is eternal life.

God is able – He who created us (yet many deny creation) and He who alone while we were yet sinners, loved us and gave His Son for us before the onslaught of wicked religionists. When all is said and done, God is able to do much more than we think He can do. Paul here puts somewhat of a limit on what God can do. Paul says, it is, “according to the power that worketh in us.” You see, even Jesus was limited in what He could do because “only sheep hear His voice” (John 10:27). Jesus never cast away a single person who ever came to him and yet he said of some, “ye will not come to me that ye might have eternal life” – John 5:40. In Nazareth Jesus could do no great work because of their unbelief (Matthew 13:58. See also John 10:22-27.

I have shown you these Scriptures (and there are many more) so that you might see that these words of Paul are directed to the elect – God works in the elect- His sheep. The power that worketh in us is the new man, the new nature, the new creation, the Spirit of the new birth, which is from God - (John 1:13; 3:3).

Colossians 1:29 – “Whereunto I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily.”

Notice the word “striving” and that it is associated with the inworking of the Holy Spirit in Paul? This is Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians, that they would not be like Israel and limit God’s work within them. There needs to be a full surrender to the will and purpose of God. True, God will chasten His children, but it goes a lot easier on us if we just submit ourselves and humble ourselves under the might hand of God. We need to let God live His life in us and through us for His glory.

B. God’s Power in the Church: Vs 21

“Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

We must give God the glory, and cannot take it from Him. The main place for that glory is “in the church”. Where can we find God every Sunday? True He is omnipresent and is out at the lake, at the country club, on the golf course! That however is not where he directed the Christian to meet Him. Paul says, “unto Him be glory in the Church”. This cannot by any stretch of the imagination be any other kind of church than that which was first instituted by Christ Himself on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. It is called a New Testament Church, made up of people the world called “Christians”. They were called “believers: and “brethren”. Down through the centuries they were called (because of persecution) by many names, but today they are called “Baptists”. They preach the same gospel, hold to the same ordinances, the same basic doctrines, and hold to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the absolute sovereignty of each local church. Here Paul says, that Christ receives glory and he in “in” such as church. He even teaches the perpetuity or succession of such churches when he says, “throughout all ages, world without end” or to the end of the world-age.

To this we would say with Paul – AMEN! That is “so be it, or let it be so.”

End of Ephesians Chapter Three

STUDIES IN EPHESIANS

Lesson Four Ephesians 4:1-32

ONE LORD-ONE FAITH-ONE BAPTISM

OUTLINE

1. The Believers Foundation – Vs 1-6

2 The Believers Gift of Grace – Vs 7-16

3. The Believers Walk – Vs 17-32

Introduction:

We must remember that Paul is writing first to a church and as it is believed this letter was shared, to churches (plural). Therefore in understanding it’s meaning we must understand the nature of the New Testament Church. We must understand that the New Testament Church is first an foremost a local assembly or gathering of saved, baptized believers in Jesus Christ, covenanted together for the worship of God and the carrying out of the Great Commission. We must also realize that sometimes, the church is referred to in an institutional or generic sense. For example, if I were to say, “the Canadian family is in trouble today”, one would not believe that there is one big Canadian family, but rather I am speaking in a generic sense and that the term Canadian family simply is representative of individual families across the nation.

Some of these verses are largely misrepresented first by the universal church doctrine of Roman Catholicism, and secondly by the Protestant idea of a mystical invisible universal Church or Body of Christ. Neither of these is taught by Scripture and is not a part of Historic Baptist faith.

Let us now therefore look at this chapter for what it basically is, a letter to a local church in Ephesus.

1. THE BELIEVERS FOUNDATION: Vs 1-6

A. The Believer: Vs 1-3

Vs 1- “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,”

Paul begins with himself, as an apostle who had spent much time in Ephesus (Acts 19) but still respecting the sovereignty of the local church, puts his statement in the form of a request or plea to the conscience of the church. He begins with his own standing and relationship in Christ.

a) Paul – the prisoner or slave of Jesus Christ. Paul is one who had been captured on the Damascus Road (Acts 9) and captivated by the love and person of Jesus Christ.

b) Beseech you – appeal to – in fact beg you for the cause of Christ Himself. Paul’s appeal was not self-assuming but rather he spoke on behalf of the cause to which he labored as Christ’s slave/minister.

c) That ye walk worthy of the vocation – lead a life worthy of the divine calling with behavior that is a credit to the summons to divine service.

d) Wherewith ye are called – That same or similar summons as Paul himself had been called – the calling that effected their standing in Christ as believers. Paul’s reference here is to effectual calling, that which is of God.

Vs 2 – “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;”

When God truly effects a work of grace in one’s heart, there is then an outward effect. This is a reference to the fruit of the tree, the Christian life, the outcome of that work of divine grace in the heart of a sinner.

a) All lowliness and meekness – humility and unselfishness, gentleness and mildness -the Christian is not his own for he has been bought with a price -1 Corinthians 6:20 – “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

1 Corinthians 7:23 – “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.”

The idea that I sometimes hear today, that “it is our soul that is saved, it does not matter what the body does” is shear heresy and is contrary to Scripture.

The true believer in Jesus Christ lives for Christ and not for Himself. There is no room or place for the idea, “what can I get out of it?”

b) With longsuffering – patience that endures over time. Patience that is willing even to suffer while waiting for the outcome.

c) “Forbearing one another in love” – bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another. Paul says the outward effect of God’s grace in the believer’s life has its roots in LOVE. The positional side of salvation has its practical side. This is the other side of the coin, so to speak.

The word “love” used here is clearly the Greek word “agape’” that is used in reference to “the love of God.” God’s love in us covers a multitude of sins-

1 Peter 4:8 – “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”

I am not sure why our KJV translators use the word “charity” here when it is the same Greek word “agape” and clearly should be translated “love”. (Also in 1 Corinthians chapter 13).

Note: I am sure I do not have to remind you of the vast difference between God’s love and the Hollywood variety that is really licentiousness or morally unrestrained lasciviousness – See Galatians 5:19; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Ephesians 4:19; 1 Peter 4:3. (The Greek word for lasciviousness is – “aselgeia” which basically means unrestrained indecency.) This is almost the direct opposite to the love that Paul talks about in this verse.

Vs 3 – “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

The word endeavoring means – to eagerly strive to carry out. Yes, this leaves room for failure for we are still within the confines of our human fleshly (limited) bodies. However, if we fail to keep the unity of the spirit it is not for lack of trying our very best to assure it. King David certainly had his battles and yet we read his words –

Psalms 120:7 – “I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.”

We must take caution here and stand on guard – It was Dr. Bob Jones Sr. who said, “unity at the expense of truth is treason.” It is said of Mark Anthony, that he yoked two lions together to pull a chariot around the walls of Rome. However there are two lions of which we can never yoke together and that is, “the lion of the pit” and “the lion of the tribe of Judah.”

God said to Israel - Deuteronomy 22:10 – “ Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.” Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth – 2 Corinthians 6:14 - “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”

Having said this, let us look more closely at our text in Ephesians 4:3

a) Unity of the Spirit – The Greek word for Spirit is “pneuma”. Pneuma is never capitalized in the Greek scriptures. However, the KJV rightly capitalized the English translation as the context reveals reference to the Holy Spirit, the second being of the Godhead. The spirit of the church is the Holy Spirit.

Dr. A.T. Robertson says –

“{The unity} (thn enothta). Late and rare word (from eiv, one), in Aristotle and Plutarch, though in N.T. only here and verse #13. {In the bond of peace} (en tw sundesmw thv eirhnhv). In #Col 3:14 agaph (love) is the sundesmov (bond). But there is no peace without love (verse #2).”

Dr. John Gill says –

“That is, a spiritual union: there is an union between God and his people, and between Christ and his members, and between saints and saints, and the bond of each union is love; and that it is which knits and cements them together; and it is the last of these which is here intended: the saints are united under one head, and are members of one and the same body, and should be of the same mind and judgment, and of one accord, heart, and affection: and this may be called "the unity of the Spirit"; because it is an union of spirits, of the spirits or souls of men; and that in spiritual affairs, in the spiritual exercises of religion; and it is effected by the Spirit of God, by whom they are baptized into one body. Now to endeavor or study to keep and preserve this, supposes that this union does already exist; that it is very valuable, as making much for the glory of God, the mutual comfort and delight of saints, and is worth taking some pains about; and that it is very difficult to secure, there being so many things which frequently arise, and break in upon it, through the devices of Satan, and the corruptions of men’s hearts: but though it is difficult, and may sometimes seem to be impossible, yet it becomes the saints to be diligent in the use of means to keep it up, and continue it; and which they may be said to endeavor after, when they abide with one another, and do not forsake each other upon every occasion; when they perform all offices of love to one another, and stir up each other to the like.”

Note: The one baptism of which the Holy Spirit brings believers into a spirit of unity is “water baptism”. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit happened corporately on the Day of Pentecost and the believer is brought into this relationship following their water baptism – Acts 2:41.Cf - 1 Corinthians 12:13.

b) “In the bond of peace” – peaceable living which is affected by LOVE –vs 2.

Only Christ (not the United Nations) can actually effect peace in the world and it ought to be in the churches of Christ. Peace that has its roots in love is a binding power.

There are many things that hinder peace in the church (and in the world and can best generally be categorized under one word-SIN. The world cannot ever know peace apart from the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:3 – “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”

Jeremiah 8:11 – “For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.”

Isaiah 57:21 - “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.”

Jeremiah 6:14 - ‘They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.”

B. The Building: Vs 4-6

1. Vs 4 – “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.”

“There is one body” – That is “there is one kind of body” – Paul is referring to the church, which is the Body of Christ in any given locality, with first reference to the Ephesian Church (body). Jesus instituted but one organization to carry out His work, it is called a (local) church, which is His body. All churches mentioned in the New Testament were connected to the first (mother) church. Any church that deviated from the basic doctrines of Christ and the apostles was not recognized as one of the Lord’s Churches. Those churches that formed an ecclesiastical union with the Church of Rome and set up a man as its head (Papa) deviated from the doctrines of Christ as to the way of salvation, baptism, and church organization. After that this Roman Church gradually apostatized more and more into the woman of Revelation chapter 17.

One body does not mean “one universal church.” One body does not mean “one invisible worldwide mystical body.” One body is simply just one church in any given locality, and when Paul wrote his letter to the churches (plural) in the Province of Galatia, he used the plural form of the word “ecclesia” – See Galatians 1:2.

There is no centralized headquarters church such as Rome. If there was, I am sure that it would have been in Jerusalem. However Jesus shows the sovereignty (independence) of each specific local church in his instruction to the apostle John in Revelation chapters 2-3. Each local church is addressed sovereignly.

So in scripture there is one kind of body – whether in Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Philippi, Colosse, or Thessalonica, etc.

We will learn more of this one kind of body as we proceed through the remaining verses of this letter to the body of Christ in Ephesus.

“And one Spirit” – Again this is “one in kind” -The Greek word for spirit is “pneuma” and is never capitalized in the Greek. It’s direct reference is found within the context of writing as to whether it is used with reference to the Spirit of God, the spirit of man, or to an evil spirit.

The Bible uses the term “Spirit of God, Spirit of Christ, and the Holy Spirit with reference to the one of a kind or same Spirit. We need to be careful how we use this word “one” for it does not always mean one numerically but sometimes refers to one in unity or “oneness”.

Remember that - John 4:24 - “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

It is difficult for finite human beings to understand the language of an infinite God.

We use human language to express spiritual truth – and it is best to stick close to the scriptures and use the language that God has given to us in His Word.

For example: We speak of the Trinity as “God in three Persons” and yet the Bible while it teaches that each of these “Beings” has personal attributes or attributes of personality, the idea of God being a person (excluding the incarnation) is ludicrous and contrary to scripture.

The only scripture that refers to God as a “person” in the KJV is as follows-

Hebrews 1:3 – “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

However of the word translated “person” – Young translated it as “subsistence”- The RSV translates it as “nature” – Weymouth is probably the closest with his translation as “being”.

W.E. Vine says, In Hebrews 1:3. A.V., hupostasis, substance, is translated “person”.

- (An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words-W.E. Vine.)

Marvin R. Vincent says “Being – Representi8ng absolute being. See John 1:1 Christ’s absolute being is exhibited in two aspects which follow:”

Vincent again says – “The express image of his person- the very image (or impress) of his substance The primary sense of substance is something which stands underneath; foundation, ground of hope or confidence, and so assurance itself; in a philosophical sense, substantial nature; the real nature of anything, which underlies and supports its outward form and properties.” –(Vincent’s Word Studies Volume 4, Pg 382.)

“One hope of your calling” – Again this is “one in kind” The word hope used here means guarantee. The Christian hope is God’s warrantee. There is no guesswork involved in God’s plan of salvation. God’s offer of salvation to His elect or chosen ones in Christ is guaranteed. We are secure in Christ for eternity.

Christian hope is not like young Johnny talking to his girl friend Sue. Sue asked, “Johnny do you love me?” “Of course I do,” replied Johnny. “I love you more than anything else in this whole world.” “There is nothing I would not do for you.”

Sue answered him, “that is so nice to hear Johnny, and are you coming over this evening?” “Of course, I am,” replied Johnny, I will be there with bells on … that is if it don’t rain!”

The Christian hope is in Christ is not like that, it does not depend on the weather, or feelings, or good works. The hymn-writer says, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.” Our hope is in THE LORD!

(An Irishman once said, “On Christ the solid Rock I stand – all other rocks are shamrocks.”)

What I am trying to point out to you is that our salvation depends only and solely upon the immutability of God. What He says He will do, He will do, He never changes His mind.

Our calling is unto eternal life - 1 Peter 5:10 - “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” See Romans 5:21.

2. Vs 5 – “One Lord, one faith, one baptism”.

One Lord – There can be only one LORD – the Lord Jesus Christ and the Lord God is the same LORD. I have ready the Roman Catholic description of the Trinity many times and every time I read it, I am sure that most Catholics believe that the Father-the Son and the Holy Spirit are so distinct one from the other as to be three separate God’s. To hear some pray, they sometimes say to God the Father and to God the Son and to God the Holy Spirit as if they are all three different persons. However, when we get to heaven we will surely not see three God’s. First of all the word “person” when used in reference to the Godhead (deity) is better translated (as we have already pointed out) as “Beings.”

The Trinity can be explained in human terms as a “triangle” – each corner representing a part of the triune deity. However, let me point out that if you remove any one corner from that triangle it is no longer a triangle.

The Irish love to use the three leafs of the Shamrock to illustrate the Trinity – but let me again point out that if you remove any one portion of that leaf it is no longer a Shamrock.

Again some would prefer the substance of water in its three forms- Water-vapor-ice.

I think I like this illustration best as an illustration of the Triune God.

Each part has its own “personal” distinctives and offices while keeping the one basic substance of being.

Jesus Christ is God manifest or revealed in human flesh. He is LORD and when one is saved, he/she owns Christ as Lord and Savior.

One cannot be a true Biblical Christian and reject the LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST.

Following are a few of the many scriptures that show that Jesus Christ is LORD:

Matthew 12:8 – “ For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.”

Matthew 22:45 – “If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?”

Matthew 24:42 – “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”

John 9:38 – “And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.”

John 11:27 – “She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”

John 13:13 - “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.”

John 20:28 - “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.”

Acts 2:21 – “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Acts 2:36 – “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Acts 9:5 – “And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”

Acts 15:11 – “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.”

Romans 1:3 – “Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh.”

2 Corinthians 3:17 – “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

2 Corinthians 4:5 – “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.”

Philippians 2:11 – “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Philippians 3:20 – “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:”

Revelation 17:14 – “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”

Revelation 19:16 – “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Revelation 22:21 – “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

DEFINITION OF THE WORD LORD:

“The usual Greek word for Lord, kyrios, is used in a wide variety of ways extending from polite address to a superior, through subjection to the master of the house, the head of a family, or the supreme authority in a state, up to religious obedience to God. In the first century there were “lords many” (1 Corinthians 8:5), the title being used for each of the cult deities as well as for the Roman emperors.

As applied to God in the Old Testament, Lord denotes the active exercise of his power over the world and men, as the Creator and Ruler, the giver of life and death. Thus Lord is a term expressive not of the metaphysical nature of deity, but of the sovereign authority of the Most High.

In the LXX, Kyrios directly translates Adonai, “Lord.” Moreover, since Adonai was also read by the rabbis for the personal name of God, Yahweh, Kyrios in the LXX became also the translation for Lord or “Jehovah.” In the New Testament, at times God the Father is addressed as the Lord of heaven and earth (e.g., Matthew 11:25; 9:38; Acts 17:24; Revelation 4:11). Generally, however, Lord is used in the New Testament of Jesus. And when he is addressed as the exalted Lord, he is so identified with God that there is ambiguity in some passages as to whether the Father or the Son is meant (e.g., Acts 1:24; 2:47; 8:39; 9:31; 11:21; 13:10-12; 16:14; 20:19; 21:14; Cf –18:26;Romans 14:11).

Old Testament texts written of Adonai and Yahweh are applied to Jesus in the New Testament (e.g., Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1 in Mark 1:3; Jeremiah 9:22f in 1 Corinthians 1:31 and 2 Corinthians 10:17; Joel 2:28f in Acts 2:17-21 and Romans 10:13; Psalm 102:25 in Hebrews 1:10; Psalm 34 in 1 Peter 2:3; and Isaiah 8:13 in 1 peter 3:15). Moreover, in the Old Testament background of some of the cases there is the identification of Kyrios with ho Theos (e.g., Isaiah 45:22f with Philippians 2:9-11; Numbers 21:5f with 1 Corinthians 10:9; Deuteronomy 6:4-9 with Ephesians 6:4; Cf – also Exodus 4 with Acts 7). On the road to Damascus the Lord, the God of Saul’s fathers, spoke to him in his native “Hebrew dialect” and identified himself as Jesus whom Saul was persecuting (Acts 9:5; 22:8; 26:14-15; 9:17; 22:13).

Likewise the term "despotes", with its connotation of absolute ownership and unlimited power and its strict correlative doulos, “slave” is used both of God (Luke 2:29; Acts 4:24,29), and of Jesus 2 peter 2:1; Jude 4 – See also Eusebius Ecclesiastical History 1 7:14). – (From William Childs Robinson – in Bakers Dictionary of Theology.)

“One baptism:” – There is also only one baptism or one kind of baptism. We believe the reference here to be to “water baptism” for the following reasons-

a) Because of the nature and meaning of the word – baptizo identifies with burial or immersion- Romans 6:4.

b) Baptism identifies with the Gospel.

c) There is only one baptism writes Paul to the Ephesians – If this is not water baptism, then why did they continue to practice water baptism. 1 Corinthians 1:14-17; Acts 19:1-5 also the household of Cornelius, the Samaritan believers and the Ethiopian Eunuch as well as others.

d) The Baptism in the Holy Ghost was a corporate baptism given by Jesus on the Day of Pentecost to the Church. There is only one Calvary and likewise there is only one Pentecost. This baptism did not continue in practice as Pentecostals today claim.

e) Baptism of the Holy Ghost – 1 Corinthians 12:13 -This is one isolated Scripture that is misinterpreted. The one spirit (pneuma) is the spirit of unity shown in their water baptism. Unity of church is Paul’s theme in Chapter 12 and in most of His letter to the Corinthian Church.

f) If these other baptisms are indeed in affect, there is more than one baptism. Water baptism continues today as it did throughout the apostolic age as a symbol of agreement with the gospel. It is a sign that the cross has done its work, an outward symbol of an inward work of grace.

The Romans Catholic Church changed the mode of baptism to that of sprinkling but baptism is neither - “rantizo” – sprinkling, or “echeo” – pouring. Rather it is “baptizo” – immersion. Paul said, there is “only one baptizo” – only one immersion - Matthew 28:19.

(For more on the subject of baptism see my book –Baptist Polity.)

3. Vs 6 – “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

Paul continues his message of spiritual unity. This is much the same as he brings to the Corinthian Church in 1 Corinthians 12.

Mankind it seems has a penchant for disunity. This is seem from the time God knocked down the tower of Babel to the spiritual Babylon and the scarlet woman of Revelation 17. (Babel is where we get our word “babble) and it means confusion.

Paul says – There is one God. The idea of a plurality of God’s is absolute ludicrous. The word God means Supreme deity. How can we have two Supreme deities and both be supreme? It would be like having two Presidents of the USA or two Prime Ministers of Canada. What country could stand to have two Presidents?

The God of Creation is the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob the one who is revealed to us in our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the God of the BIBLE, the Scriptures.

He is called here, “Father of all” – certainly not all creation since even Jesus told certain religious leaders, “Ye are of your father the devil” – John 8:44.

A literal translation here is that “there is one God and father of (us) all.”

This one God is above all – He is sovereign and again, only one can be sovereign.

He is above Buddha, and Confucius and the God’s of Hinduism and the God of Islam.

Our God is omnipotent –omniscient and omnipresent!

“Who is above all, and through all, and in you all” – pervading and sustaining all and living in us all. The God that made this world lives in the believer in Christ by the Holy Spirit. He is the one who fills the church with His presence and we ought to remember this in our behavior in the house of God - 1 Timothy 3:15 – “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15 – “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

How we need to humble ourselves before the all seeing eye of God! See 2 Chronicles 16:9.

2. THE BELIEVERS GIFT OF GRACE: Vs 7-16

We now leave the more doctrinal section of Paul’s letter to the Ephesian Church and for the most part deal with the practical side of it. Doctrine and its practice should never really be separated as we no doctrine is worth anything if it does not result in good practice in those who espouse it. We indeed ought to practice what we preach, or to use an old adage, “put our money where our mouth is.”

God’s grace is a gift from God and God is always a practical giver.

A. Measure of Grace: Vs 7-10

1. Vs 7 – “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Each of us as Christians received God’s unmerited favor individually. God gives without discrimination; but in different ways, in proportion to Christ’s rich and bounteous gift. Dr. A.T. Robertson says- {According to the measure of the gifts of Christ} (kata to metron thv dwreav tou cristou). Each gets the gift that Christ has to bestow for his special case. See #1Co 12:4; Ro 12:4-6.”

2. Vs 8 – “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”

When Christ ascended up on high He the risen victorious Christ according to Scripture (Psalm 68:18) brought forth them that were hitherto captive, and gave gifts to men.

Dr. A. T. Robertson says – “{Wherefore he saith} (dio legei). As a confirmation of what Paul has said. No subject is expressed in the Greek and commentators argue whether it should be o yeov (God) or h grafh (Scripture). But it comes to God after all. See #Ac 2:17. The quotation is from #Ps 68:18, a Messianic Psalm of victory which Paul adapts and interprets for Christ’s triumph over death. {He led captivity captive} (hcmalwteusen aicmalwsian). Cognate accusative of aicmalwsian, late word, in N.T. only here and #Re 13:10. The verb also (aicmalwteuw) is from the old word aicmalwtov, captive in war (in N.T. only in #Lu 4:18), in LXX and only here in N.T.”

Christ led a train of vanquished foes and distributed gifts to certain men.

Jamieson Fausett and Brown Commentary reads as follows:

“8. Wherefore—" For which reason, " namely, in order to intimate that Christ, the Head of the Church, is the author of all these different gifts, and that giving of them is an act of His "grace" [ESTIUS].

he saith—God, whose word the Scripture is (#Ps 68:18).

When he ascended—GOD is meant in the Psalm, represented by the ark, which was being brought up to Zion in triumph by David, after that "the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies" (#2Sa 6:1-7:1 1Ch 15:1-29). Paul quotes it of CHRIST ascending to heaven, who is therefore GOD.

captivity—that is, a band of captives. In the Psalm, the captive foes of David. In the antitypical meaning, the foes of Christ the Son of David, the devil, death, the curse, and sin (#Col 2:15 2Pe 2:4), led as it were in triumphal procession as a sign of the destruction of the foe.

gave gifts unto men—in the Psalm, "received gifts for men, " Hebrew, " among men, " that is, "thou hast received gifts" to distribute among men. As a conqueror distributes in token of his triumph the spoils of foes as gifts among his people. The impartation of the gifts and graces of the Spirit depended on Christ’s ascension (#John 7:39 14:12). Paul stops short in the middle of the verse, and does not quote "that the Lord God might dwell among them." This, it is true, is partly fulfilled in Christians being an "habitation of God through the Spirit" (#Eph 2:22). But the Psalm (#Ps 68:16) refers to "the Lord dwelling in Zion for ever"; the ascension amidst attendant angels, having as its counterpart the second advent amidst "thousands of angels" (#Ps 68:17), accompanied by the restoration of Israel (#Ps 68:22), the destruction of God’s enemies and the resurrection (#Ps 68:20,21,23), the conversion of the kingdoms of the world to the Lord at Jerusalem (#Ps 68:29-34).”

3. Vs 9 – “ (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?”

Before Christ ascended he first of all descended into the lower parts of the earth, that is, he died and went to the grave – the meaning being perhaps much more than mere death but that he descended to the very doors of hades (Acts 2:31) freeing all of the Old Testament saints, and that Paradise was removed to heaven.

Some commentators think this Scripture simply refers to the condescension of Christ in the incarnation and that may well be included but I do not think that is the primary interpretation here. It is true that Christ came down from the Father (heaven) and humbled himself being obedient unto death, but it is also true that he went to Hades and set the captive saints there free. See Psalm 63.9; 139:15; Luke 23:42-43; 2 Corinthians 12:4; Revelation 2:7

Easton’s Bible Dictionary says - (odrp, Pardês: paradeisov: Paradisus).

It is therefore reasonable that the word “Paradise” is the original Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve dwelt. That place of course was removed by God, bcame a part of Hades called Abraham’s bosom and is in New Testament scripture identified with “the third heaven.”

Genesis 2:8 – “And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.”

Genesis 3:22-24 – “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”

Dr. A. H. Strong says – “Paradise is none other than the abode of God and the blessed, of which the primeval Eden was a type. If the penitent thief went to Purgatory, it was a purgatory with Christ, which was better than a Heaven without Christ.” (Systematic Theology-Page 999).

The word “paradise” comes from a Persian word for park or Garden and came to be used in later Jewish and Christian thought as the abode of the blessed dead. The word occurs only three times in the Old Testament (See especially Ezekiel 31). It is used more frequently in the LLX.

In Christian theology the word is commonly used as identical with heaven or a part of heaven. Paradise is thought to have been a part of “hades” in the Old Testament times and when Christ entered hades, he conquered death and led out all of the Old Testament saints who were then transferred to heaven (this may be seen in those who were seen in Jerusalem about that time (Matthew 27:52-53).

Bakers Bible Dictionary gives this in part on the subject of Paradise -

“Because the remaining references to paradise in the New Testament are to heaven, some have concluded that since the resurrection and ascension of Christ, paradise has been removed from Hades to the third heaven, and that the “host of captives” who ascended with Christ were the Old Testament saints (Ephesians 4:8, RSV). If paradise means heaven as the dwelling place of God in all New Testament instances, then the choice of the term “Abraham’s bosom” may have been deliberate. Then Jesus promised to the thief the bliss of heaven on that very day, which prospect belongs to all Christian believers (Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8)

-Homer A. Kent Jr. – Baker’s Bible Dictionary.

4. Vs 10 – “He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)”

The same one that died was buried and descended down not only into the grave but into “hades” is the same one who ascended up far above the heavens (place of the sun, moon and stars) – beyond the universe. Paul is showing here the exalted position of the Jesus the Christ as the Son of God. This in order that His presence might fill the whole universe.

B. Ministerial Function: Vs 11-16

1. Vs 11 – “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”

These are the ministerial gifts that Christ gave to the church – His gifts were varied He Himself appointed and gave men to the church to carry on the work with Him.

Some to be apostles- special messengers whom Christ appointed to the church earlier in Galilee (See Luke 6:13 and Cf 1 Corinthians 12:28.) These are called the apostles of the Lamb (Matthias was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot-Acts 1:23-26.) These 12 apostles were built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ and their ministry ceased with the death of the last apostle (John). Paul was a special or thirteenth apostle – said to be to the Gentiles.

The ministry of New Testament prophets – inspired preachers and expounders of the Word – were necessary until the Scriptures were complete. See Acts 13 and 14; 1 Corinthians 12:28.

Some were evangelists – traveling missionaries. Some think that these evangelists were different from the usage we have of that term today. Today pastors are often called by other churches to hold protracted revival meetings and evangelistic crusades. There are still some who carry on such a ministry of evangelism full time.

General the word evangelist is in reference to a missionary – The word “evangelist” comes from the word “evangel”

Some are Pastor teachers- Pastors (shepherds) who also teach.

These follow in the train of the “Good Shepherd” who cared for the sheep.

Dr. A.T. Robertson says –

“{And he gave} (kai autov edwken). First aorist active indicative of didwmi. In #1Co 12:28 Paul uses eyeto (more common verb, appointed), but here repeats edwken from the quotation in verse #8. There are four groups (touv men, touv de three times, as the direct object of edwken). The titles are in the predicate accusative (apostolouv, profhtav, poimenav kai didaskalouv). Each of these words occurs in #1Co 12:28 (which see for discussion) except poimenav (shepherds). This word poimhn is from a root meaning to protect. Jesus said the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (#John 10:11) and called himself the Good Shepherd. In #Heb 13:20 Christ is the Great Shepherd (cf. #1Pe 2:25). Only here are preachers termed shepherds (Latin - "pastores" -) in the N.T. But the verb poimainw, to shepherd, is employed by Jesus to Peter (#John 21:16), by Peter to other ministers (#1Pe 5:2), by Paul to the elders (bishops) of Ephesus (#Ac 20:28). Here Paul groups "shepherds and teachers" together. All these gifts can be found in one man, though not always. Some have only one.

2. Vs 12 – “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

Paul states here the purpose of these God called Christ ordained ministries given to the churches of Jesus Christ.

a) For the perfecting of the saints: full equipping, as an army requires equipment so the churches require the God given ministry. If our army is not equipped then it cannot fight. The first ministries given to then New Testament Church were foundational – Paul said, “I have laid the foundation”. We today just build upon the same foundation – we follow Jesus and the apostles. The prophets were like a spiritual flashlight pointing the way in the things of the Spirit.

We should not mistake New Testament prophets with Old Testament prophets. Beyond being forth-tellers their ministries were much different. Old Testament prophets were very much more foretellers.

b) For the work of the Ministry: To do the work of the ministry – that is to lead in the ministry. This does not leave such ministers doing all of the work. The New Testament Churches operated in “Body ministry (1 Corinthians 12:12-31). Every member of the church/body has his/her function. All are not pastors any more than all the members of our own physical body is any one particular member.

Today’s idea of “let the pastor do it” is unscriptural and akin to the worlds adage, “let George do it.” The Christian church is as one dear Jamaican man once told me, “a Christian function” where every member of the body functions in its God-given place. Paul used the right word when he said “the WORK of the ministry.”

We have too many shirkers and not enough workers’ in our churches today.

c) For the edifying of the body of Christ: For the spiritual building up of the church which is His body. See 1 Corinthians 14:26; 12:7; 2 Corinthians 12:19.

In putting up a building many ministries are required. All are not architects; all are not carpenters, or masons. All do not drive nails or any one thing in the building of a house. Likewise in the Church – if all preach who will listen or who will be taught? We can and ought to all exhort one another in the Spirit of love, but we all have different gifts and calling of the Lord. Our goal however is the same, to glorify God and build up the church which is His Body- Ephesians 1:22-23.

3. Vs 13 – “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:”

Again- let us look at this verse in four different sections or phrases-

a) Till we all come in the unity of the faith – This is believe is reference to the whole of the Ephesian Church but is applicable to all Christians. Through the ministry that Christ gave, first the apostolic churches and then all succeeding churches might have an “oneness or unity of THE FAITH.” This is a reference to that body of teaching (doctrine) that constitutes the faith of Christ. This is referred to elsewhere as – the “doctrine of Christ” Matthew 7:28; Mark 1:22; John 7:16-17; 1 Timothy 6:3; Titus 2:10; Hebrews 6:1; 2 John 1:9; - “the apostles doctrine” – Acts 2:42. Paul’s doctrine – 2 Timothy 3:10; Romans 15:17-21.

b) And of the knowledge of the Son of God – The comprehension of the full and accurate knowledge of the Son of God. Of this we will not graduate until we are in heaven. The ministry given by Christ is to “feed His flock/sheep/church with that which will make them grow in grace and become more Christ like. The following Scriptures out of many will suffice to prove my point-

See Acts 2:41-47 and then read carefully the following –

Acts 20:28 – “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

Acts 15:41 – “And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.”

Acts 16:5 - “And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.”

2 Corinthians 11:28 – “Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.”

1 Corinthians 3:2 – “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.”

1 Peter 2:2 - “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”

2Peter 3:18 – “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

c) Unto a perfect man – Unto really mature spiritual manhood – the maturity of a true Christ-like follower of Jesus Christ. This is accomplished by proper spiritual nourishment. Today, especially in our big cities people jump around from pillar to post, from one church to the other. If they do not like it in one church for whatever reason (usually carnal and immature) they hop across the street or across town to another. These churches should not readily receive such members but this is a reality in our modern society. Disgruntled church members from one church do not usually or readily become much of an asset to another church. This hinders individual and church growth.

The word perfect here simply means mature.

d) Unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ – of the completeness found in Jesus Christ. Colossians 2:10 – “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.”

Colossians 4:12 – “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”

The standard height is Christ’s perfection from which standard all outside of Christ fail or fall short – See Romans 3:10-23.

4. Vs 14 – “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”

God ‘s purpose in the ministry is further seen in the next two verses from a more practical side – this is how it is to work in our churches and in our individual lives.

a) That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro – Does this sound like anyone you know? Unfortunately I have known too many like this and I can think of only two possible reasons for it. (1) they were never truly regenerated in the first place, or (2) they are lacking in commitment to Christian discipleship. They are not in a true and Scriptural New Testament (Baptist) Church and have not submitted themselves to the authority of the church. To use a Biblical example, they are Corinthians or they are like “just Lot”. Lot was “saved as it were by the skin of his teeth.” They are in effect “double minded” - See James 1:2-8. Paul’s use of the word “children” here is that of immaturity.

b) Carried about with every wind of doctrine” – Never satisfied with the truth of God’s word but ever looking for some new thing - Acts 17:21 - (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) – this is in contrast to the Berean’s of whom we read - Acts 17:11 “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

Hebrews 13:9 – “Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.”

c) By the sleight of men and cunning craftiness – the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men (gamblers engaged) in every form of trickery (A.B.) Men who are often caught up in their own unscrupulous ways, often seek to lead others in their train.

Example: No doubt Eve thought she was being liberated – but instead she was bringing both herself and her husband into a terrible bondage called (SIN). We also see the example of the Judaizers (covenant mixers) that troubled the churches of Galatians, with whom Paul contended (See Galatians 2:11-12).

Acts 15:24 – “Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment.”

d) Whereby they lie in wait to deceive – they lie like vultures waiting to pounce upon – they invent errors – their own fleshly ideas of deception. Like a trapper using a snare to catch an unsuspecting animal.

Romans 16:17-18 – “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

18 - For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

5. Vs 15 – “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”

Two things go hand in hand like twins (not identical but in every way similar)- that are necessary for proper spiritual growth –

a) Speaking the truth – This does not mean “not telling a lie” but rather, speaking the true Word of God and not some concocted ideas of men. Express truth in all things. The truth here is much more than the opposite of a lie but the body of revelation from God as given in His word. As the old country preacher said, “Brother make sure it is BOOK!” Don’t speak your own opinions as if they were the infallible Word of God. The preacher should never be afraid to say, “I do not know – but this is my opinion.”

b) In love – Loving express – preach and teach the truth from the heart that is filled with the (agape) love of God. Love is the basis of the Christian life – love drew salvations plan – grace brought it down to man. If we cannot preach with the love of Christ – we should not preach at all! Go find something else to do. We should speak truly – deal truly – live truly.

“Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him, Who is the Head, (even) Christ, the Messiah and Anointed One.” – (AB)

Our growth is spiritual – it is in Christ.

He is the Head of the Church (no Popery) the Christ (Messiah or Anointed One).

6. Vs 16 – “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

Jesus Christ is the vocal point here and none else:

a) From whom – That is, from the Person of Jesus Christ. We are either in and with and under Christ or we are out in the field somewhere else. The believer’s life is in Christ - See 1 John 5:11-13 and 20.

b) The whole body – The whole (local and visible) church/body. Paul is first addressing the Ephesian body but the application is generically or institutionally applied to all local church bodies. Protestants, who teach a universal mystical body here, rob true churches of any meaning of individual importance. Is it any wonder that many of their churches struggle for survival? Everything is moved from the realm of reality over into the area of mysticism and symbolism. Thus many today think they are all right because they have a Christian symbol hanging around their neck or on their living room wall. The whole body here simply means all of the local church body as opposed to each individual member. The individual member and the Spirit of God work for the well being of the whole body/church.

c) Fitly joined together – Knit as it were together stitch by stitch or piece by piece to form one body.

d) And compacted by that which every joint supplies – held very closely together by the life and gifts supplied by each member. The reference here is to the ministerial function of each member of the body. For example, the heart has its particular function – the kidneys its own individual function – the intestines have their own particular function- etc, etc. While each is different as to its own identity, they work together particularly for the overall healthy function of the whole body. The diversity of gifts work together by the same Spirit. (See 1 Corinthians 12:4). This I call, “every member participation” – 1Corinthians 12:14-27. Our North American society at the time that I am writing (and I don’t expect it to improve much) puts its emphasis more upon the individual achievement. It is expressed in terminology such as –“I did it my way” or “I am my own person” – or “my gift my talent”. While Paul is certainly not playing down one’s independence here (and certainly not the independence of the local church) he is definite showing the “interdependence of each particular member of the body of Christ. My God given gift is not for me alone to gloat over, but for the overall function of the local churchy/body of Christ.

e) According to the effectual working in the measure of every part – My God-given gift does not depend upon me, but upon the daily and effectual working of the Spirit of God in accordance with the limits and proper function of that gift. Each member supplies a ministry of the body and to the overall function of the body. The heart cannot do the function of the kidneys, or the lungs the function of the brain.

f) Maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love – This then allows the body to function wholly – to increase in its function and grows to full maturity, building itself up in love. When this does not happen, the body becomes retarded and is limited in its function. For example – I can hop around on one leg, but I can run on two.

Unity in the church will lead to a maturity that is then expressed in love.

Paul talks about this in the love chapter of the Bible- 1 Corinthians 13.

Love never fails – 1 Corinthians 13:9

Whole denominations have been built upon tongues and healing, but I have never heard of any that was built upon LOVE.

3. THE BELIEVERS WALK: Vs 17-32

Having shown the need for unity of the body in love, Paul now goes to the proper outward function of the church through her individual members. Paul divides those things necessary to the proper function of the body into two categories – the negative and the positive. The things to do and that which we should not do. Liking it to the dress code, what we should put on and what we should take off.

A. Walk not as other Gentiles: Vs 17-19

In other words, do not walk as the unconverted world around you.

1. Vs 17 – “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,”

Based upon what Paul has said about the unity of the church in Christ, he then exhorts the church in the name of the Lord, that from now on they walk and live no longer as the other Gentiles do in the perverseness – in their folly- in their vanity and emptiness of their souls and futility of their minds. There ought to be a vast difference in the walk and life of a true Christian, a believer in Jesus Christ, in whom He dwells. The church and the world are and should always be vastly different in their very nature, but also in their daily living.

The word “vanity” in this verse can be literally translated as “empty headedness.”

2. Vs 18 – “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:”

Paul’s reasoning is given here as he describes the “other Gentiles”, that is those who are not saved, have not been converted to a personal and saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

a) Having the understanding darkened – Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. The unsaved person (alone) is not capable of comprehending spiritual things. Such a one thinks in fleshly terms rather than spiritual.

1 Corinthians 2:14 – “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

The sin of Adam left mankind in a state of total human depravity, which is hereditary – Romans 5:12,19. All men apart from Christ are spiritually dead-

Romans 6:23; 3:10,17 – separated from the life of God.

b) Being alienated from the life of God – alienated- separated- cut off from that life which is eternal – they are in a state of death. Paul speaks of this in his letter to the Church in Thessalonica (4:5) where he uses the term, “even as the Gentiles which know not God.”

Like a branch that is cut off from the main plant and source of life, the sinner is already in a state of death – and physically will die as well unless they can be grafted back into the main shoot. This is what happened to Adam and all of His prodigy after him. Our sinful nature separates us from God, even if we ever did manage to otherwise keep God’s law (which is highly unlikely).

See - Romans 11:17-24.

c) Through the ignorance that is in them – In a day and age of such vast human knowledge especially in technology – it is strange that man has made such strides as to put a man on the moon, but we have never learned to deal with the “old man within us, our Adamic nature. Crime rates sore – almost every day of the week someone in the City of Toronto alone is murdered, wives and children are abused.

Man cannot accomplish spiritual advancement while in a state of spiritual death. Sin leaves us “ignorant” – Just look at Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Following their sin they ran about looking for “fig leaves” to cover their nakedness. Only God could take care of their problem but they did not come to God. God came to them and He covered their nakedness. This ignorance is multiplied again and again in our society today as men grope in their darkness for something to cover their sins.

“What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

The ignorance Paul says keeps men apart from God.

Ignorance- the want of knowledge and perception – the willful blindness that is deep-seated with them.

d) Because of the blindness of their heart – they (the other unsaved Gentiles) cannot be sensitive to sin because of their hardness of heart due to the insensitiveness of their moral nature.

See – Romans 1:21; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

4. Vs 19 – “Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”

Paul continues to define the life of the unsaved man as shown in the lives of the “other Gentiles”, those not converted to Christ.

a) Who being past feeling – In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling with regards to God’s law and righteousness. Adamic sin can never be changed – man needs a new (spiritual) birth. Man can get worse but never better spiritually apart from Christ.

Note: The influence of the true churches of Christ and the power of the gospel in our society will keep at bay the power of sin and Satan. All of our society can be affected in a limited sense by the presence of true Christians in society. When that presence is absent, or weakened, sin will go on a rampage.

2 Thessalonians 2:7 - For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.”

b) Have given themselves over to lasciviousness – Faith in Christ is never the outcome of the Adamic nature – Faith in Christ is the outcome of regeneration, divine intervention (as in the case of Adam and Eve.) The sinner can get worse and sin not only can abound – it is abounding in our own day and time.

Being spiritually reckless they have given themselves over to or abandoned themselves (as a prey) to unbridled sensuality. They allow the five senses to dominate their flesh. It looks good, feels good tastes good, sounds good, and even smells good, therefore it must be right even though God says it is not. Does this not sound familiar? If not –just go back to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden – and look at the moral decay in Hollywood and the movie industry. (We won’t even mention the corruption in politics.)

c) To work all uncleanness with greediness – eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity, (that which their depraved desires may demand of them.)

B. Walk as Taught by Christ: Vs 20-24

The Ephesian Church/believers had been quickened by the Spirit of God. Now indwelt by His Spirit they have a new teacher living within them, a new nature that is in the image of Jesus Christ, the Second Adam (1 Corinthians 15:22,45).

1. Vs 20 – “But ye have not so learned Christ;” - You did not so learn of Christ- Christ as our example to follow – Christ as our new life in whom we live by the Spirit. The new nature is that of Christ who teaches us in grace how to live.

2. Vs 21 – “If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:”

Assuming that you have really heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as all truth is in Jesus Christ – embodied and personified in Him.

This life Paul is talking about is conditional to having been quickened by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:1) Jesus told Nicodemus (John 3) that in order to understand spiritual things one needed to be “born again- born of the Spirit.” A sure sign of regeneration is the life of Christ we now live. See 2 Corinthians 5:17.

3. Vs 22 – “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;”

Here then we see the outward evidence of grace in the heart of the believer.

Repentance is a change of heart and mind – conversion is a change of direction and lifestyle. Strip yourselves of your former nature – put off and discard your old unrenewed self –that which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion.

The old man is the Adamic nature the inherited nature of Adam - Romans 5:12.

4. Vs 23 – “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;”

That you are constantly and continuously renewed in the spirit of your mind – I like that old Negro spiritual that says, “I woke up this morning with my mind stay on Jesus!”

Because of that tug-o-war between the two natures (Romans 7)- between the old man and the new man – between Isaac and Ishmael (Galatians 4:28-30)- we need to be renewed (not born again) continually. Our standing if in Christ is eternal – our state involves our fellowship and requires a daily cleansing, a daily trip to the laver.

Read - 1 John 1:5-9; Colossians 3:10.

5. Vs 24 – “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

Don’t dress after the old fashion but after the new. Physical Christian dress ought to be dictated by the Spirit of Holiness, not by Hollywood, New York, London or Paris. Physical dress is associated with the level of one’s spiritual dress – we cannot expect anyone to live physically above the level they are at spiritually.

Paul says, “put on” – that is “dress yourselves” in the new man. Far too many Christians follow the new man for the most part only on Sunday and follow the dictates of the flesh the rest of the week. The new man is created in righteousness and that righteousness is Jesus Christ – 1 Corinthians 1:30; Revelation 19:7-8;

True righteousness results in right living – true holiness is the outcome of that holiness which is ours only in that we received it from Jesus Christ.

“Which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

The new nature is the new creation of God in Jesus Christ – The words “true holiness” can literally be translated - “holiness of truth”.

Jesus taught – “I am the way, the truth and the life” - John 14:6.

The Christian walk is the walk of Christ – it is Christ in YOU the hope of glory-

Colossians 1:27 - “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

Paul speaks of this in the symbolism of water baptism-

Romans 6:4 – “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life.”

C. Wherefore Put Away: Vs 25-32

1. Vs 25 – “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.”

“putting” – continuous action. Can a Christian lie? -YES but we are to put away lying- it is not the Christian practice. No little white lies – no blue lies- NO LIES!

We are to speak with our neighbors in truth - James 5:12 – “But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.”

Colossians 4:6 - “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

Because we are all parts of one body and members one of another.

See -Zechariah 8:16

2. Vs 26 – “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”

The Christian is permitted to be angry within limitation – that we do not sin in our anger. We become angry over wrongdoing – Jesus was angry over the abuse of “His Father’s house” the temple. He took a chord and chased the moneychangers out of it.

Psalm 37:8 - “Cease from anger and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”

Our admonition here is to never go to bed angry. Anger is like standing on the edge of a cliff – we are only a step from falling off.

4. Vs 27 – “Neither give place to the devil.” Leave no such room or foothold for the devil, make no room for him. Many years ago I sold “Fuller brush” for a short spell.

In our training sessions we were taught that if we can just get our foot in the door, we can usually make a sale. Paul is saying, “keep the door closed to the devil.” Before Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, she first listened to the Serpent before she saw the fruit looked good.

1 Peter 5:8-9 – “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”

The old saying is well applied here, “if you give him an inch he will take a mile.”

5. Vs 28 – “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.”

“Let the thief steal no more, but rather let him be industrious, making an honest living with his own hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need” A.B.

I like the Amplified version here – The thief when converted has embarked upon a new direction. He no longer takes what is not his or is given to him. Our society today at the highest realm of politics, is corrupt and dishonesty abounds everywhere. On the other end of the spectrum is they who live off of the government and refuse to work or cannot hold down serious employment for any length of time. Our western society is forgetting the old Judeo/Christian work ethic. I do believe that socialism plays a large part in this trend away from free enterprise. Paul includes all such in this verse as he says, “let him be industrious” and “making an honest living with his own hands.” Welfare ought to be only for those who cannot work for reasons of mental and physical disability.

6. Vs 29 – “let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

Let no foul or polluting language or evil word, nor unwholesome and worthless talk ever be heard to come from your mouth.

The Christian ought to speak that which is truthful with a view to edification. We ought to be in the construction business, not the demolition business! Christian speech ought to be for the use of edifying or literally “to edify profitably.”

Our speech ought to be good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others.

That it may be a blessing giving God’s unmerited favor to those who hear it.

7. Vs 30 – “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God – Note that the Holy Spirit may be grieved. Something that is a mere force, without feeling or emotion cannot be grieved. The thought here is to offend, vex or sadden the Spirit of God - See Isaiah 7:13. In another place Paul wrote, “do not quench the Holy Spirit” – 1 Thessalonians 5:19.

The difference between the two is that to “grieve” is to cause sadness while to “quench” means to cut off (pinch) the supply of Spirit blessing and power.

“Whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” – This is a phrase that Arminians no doubt like to overlook. It means to be branded or marked as God’s own, secured for the day of redemption – of final deliverance through Jesus Christ from evil and the consequences of sin.

Ephesians 1:13 – “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,”

2 Corinthians 1:22 – “Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”

Sealing is God’s work, not that of any man or minister. Sealing is said to be unto the final redemption that final aspect of redemption- that of our release from our fleshly bodies.

Romans 8:23 – “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our bodies.”

Dr. John Gill has this good note on “the sealing” of the Holy Spirit:

Ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. - This cannot have respect to the Father’s sealing his people in election, with the seal of his foreknowledge, #2Ti 2:19 for that is before faith, and is within himself, and not on them, and is distinct from the Spirit’s work; and for the same reasons it cannot design the Son’s affection to them, setting them as a seal on his arm and heart, #So 8:6, or his asserting his property in them, and the security and protection of them, #So 4:12 Re 7:3, nor the Spirit’s finishing and completing his own work of grace upon the soul, in which sense the word is used, #Ro 15:28 for this as yet was not done upon these believing Ephesians; nor the confirming the Gospel, and the saints in it, by the extraordinary effusion of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, or by his extraordinary works which attended the ministry of the word, to the establishing of it, and the faith of men in it; since these were not common to believers, nor did they continue; whereas the believing Ephesians, in common, were sealed; and the Spirit of God continues still as a sealer of his people, and as an earnest and pledge of their inheritance until the day of redemption; but it is to be understood of the confirming, certifying, and assuring the saints, as to their interest in the favor of God, and in the blessings of grace, of every kind, and their right and title to the heavenly glory; see Gill on "2Co 1:22", and the seal of these things is not circumcision, nor baptism, nor the Lord’s supper, nor even the graces of the Spirit; but the Spirit himself, who witnesses to the spirits of believers the truth of these things, and that as a "spirit of promise": so called, both because he is the Spirit promised, as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions render it, whom the Father and Christ had promised, and who was sent by them; and because he usually seals, or certifies believers of the truth of the above things, by opening and applying a word of promise to them: and which he does also, as the "Holy" Spirit; for this sealing work of his leaves a greater impress of holiness upon the soul, and engages more to acts of holiness; wherefore the doctrine of assurance is no licentious doctrine; no persons are so holy as those who are truly possessed of that grace; and as for such who pretend unto it, and live in sin, it is a certain thing that they in reality know nothing of it.”

8. Vs 31 – “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.”

Nothing is worse than a person who claims to be a Christian and possesses a spirit of bitterness – this ought not to be.

a) Bitterness – sourness of spirit – the opposite to sweetness.

b) Wrath – indignation- passionate rage- bad temper. A piece of steel that loses its temper is worthless- like wise a Christian.

c) Clamor – Quarreling- brawling clamor-contention.

d) Evil speaking – abusive slander- evil speaking- blasphemous language.

e) Malice- spite-ill will or baseness of any kind.

Let all of these be banished from your assembly

9. Vs 32 – “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

a) Kind – useful and helpful – (as in ministering to one another)

b) Tenderhearted – compassionate, caring, understanding, loving hearted.

At times we cannot sympathize with a person because of wrongdoing but we can empathize with such a one as to understanding the reason behind the action.

c) Forgiving – where one has wronged you- be forgiving. We cannot forgive one on behalf of sins done against another but we can forgive them for wrongful actions against us.

d) Remember that God has forgiven you your sins because of Christ; therefore you ought to be forgiving of those who sin against you.

Conclusion to Chapter 4 –

Thus we indeed become more and more – the children of light!

End of Ephesians Chapter 4

STUDIES IN EPHESIANS

Lesson 5 Ephesians 5:1-33

Introduction:

The first chapters of the Epistle to the Ephesian Church are doctrinal but from mid-way through the fourth chapter and throughout the fifth and sixth, we have the more practical side of our Christian faith. Chapter five is certainly the “How to do it” chapter. It lays down some clear points and principles for the believer in Christ and the churches of Christ to follow.

Paul exhorts them and us to follow God, “as dear children” – and not as estranged orphans but in a family relationship with God. The true believer is in a relationship with God, brought there by Jesus Christ, and now Paul will tell us how to put some meaning into that relationship and to enhance our experience of God on a daily basis in this world.

We there fore look at chapter five under the following headings:

1. The Flesh and the Spirit – Vs 1-10

2. The Fellowship in the Spirit – Vs 11-19

3. The Foundation of Spiritual Living- Vs 20-33

1. THE FLESH AND THE SPIRIT: Vs 1-10

One is not saved for very long before he/she discovers that they still possess the old Adamic nature. In Romans chapter seven, and in Galatians chapter four, the apostle Paul shows the tug-o-war battle between the flesh and the Spirit, between the old man and the new man, allegorically seen in the struggle between Isaac and Ishmael in the tents of Abraham. This struggle is seen in these verses from a more practical aspect. It is Paul’s “How to do it” book on Christian living. So we begin where it starts –

A. Follow God: Vs 1-8

If one has never been born again, is therefore not a saved person, these verses make no sense whatsoever. It would be like a peach tree trying to produce a can of fruit cocktail, it could produce the peaces but that is as far as it can go. That is why Jesus told Nicodemus, “ye must be born again” - John 3:3.

Chapter five is the continuation of chapter four and is written to those who are “forgiven” of their sins.

To those therefore who are God’s children by faith in Jesus Christ the exhortation is –

1. Vs 1 – “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.”

Ye- the forgiven one’s of 4:32 – “be” this is an action word here associated with the word “followers” which is continuous action. Do not stop being what you are made to be by God’s grace – “be followers” – followers, not of the denomination, not even of a particular doctrine, but active and continuous followers of GOD.

Not only are we followers of God but we follow Him in a particular fashion, “as dear children.” This speaks to us of relationship, for one cannot be a child of anybody without some sort of relationship.

When we do not behave or walk after the fashion of our creation, we are as a fish out of water.

Scripture often uses the term “children” in reference to God’s people. Jesus used this term frequently, sometimes in reference to literal children but also in reference to the manner of trust we ought to display in our God and Savior. The apostle John uses this term in his epistles.

Mark 10:15 - “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.”

1 John 3:18 - “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

2. Vs 2 – “And walk in love as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.”

“And walk in love” – The new covenant believer does not walk after Mosaic Law but walks in the Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, under the New Testament law of LOVE.

The believer in Christ has a new law written within him and living within him by the Spirit of God.

The believer’s walk is –

a) A walk of faith – 2 Corinthians 5:7 – “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”

b) A walk in the Spirit –Galatians 5:25 – “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

c) A walk of love – Ephesians 5:2 - 2 John 1:6 - “And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.”

d) A Walk in Wisdom - Colossians 4:5 – “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.”

e) A walk in the Light - 1 John 1:7 - "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

f) Walk in the Truth - 3 John 1:4 – “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

Jesus Christ is both our example and measuring stick of LOVE – We are to love one another unselfishly or without thoughts of remuneration. “As Christ also hath loved us” is the guideline for our love. The hymn-writer wrote:

“I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene.

And wonder how he could love me a sinner condemned unclean.”

Again another hymn-writer wrote:

“Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small;

Love so amazing so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.”

Christ became an offering (no doubt a reference to the offering of the lamb and other offers under Mosaic Law) – a sacrifice – literally “the sacrifice” – Hebrews 9:24-26; 10:10-12.

“For a sweet smelling savor” – 2 Corinthians 2:15 – “For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved and in them that perish.”

The believer who walks in love is a sweet smelling savior to those around him, both saved and lost. Christ’s love is that “sweet smelling savior” offered in himself, and seen in those who walk after him in love.

1 John 3:14 – “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”

1 Peter 1:22 – “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.”

3. Vs 3 – “But fornication, and all unclean, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints.”

Paul wrote to the Roman Church-

Romans 6:13 – “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”

“Fornication” – Immorality: the Greek word for fornication used here is “porneia”, which is used in a wide variety of ways to include both physical and spiritual adultery and all sexual uncleanness outside of the bonds of (agape) God’s love. The word “fornication” is not a synonym for “sex” as taught by the Roman Catholic Church, with their idea that all sex is sinful, therefore all babies are born in sin. The scriptural reference to “being born in sin-conceived in sin – is to the fallen spiritual nature of all men in Adam – not to the act of sexual intercourse itself – (Psalm 51:5; Psalm 58:3; Job 15:14; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:3).

“And all uncleanness” – "all uncleanness" takes in adultery, incest, sodomy, and every unnatural lust; all impurity of lustful, rich wasteful living.

Covetousness - an immoderate desire after worldly things, as a greedy and insatiable appetite after the above lusts. It is an intense desire to have what is not yours. The spirit of covetousness includes a driving desire for materialism.

Let none of these things be even once named among you, it is unbecoming of saints-those separated or set apart as holy unto God and Christ.

4. “Vs 4 – “Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.”

“filthiness” – obscenity, indecency. Obscene language, stories, jokes.

“Nor foolish talking” – silly and corrupt. Do not talk like a fool, an idiot.

“Nor jesting” – coarse jesting-the idea of making others look bad in order to make ourselves look good in the eyes of others.

The reference here is not against the use of light humor. Billy Sunday once said, “God likes a little humor as evidenced by the fact that He made the monkey and the parrot and some of you people.” Christians ought to have a good and balanced sense of humor. Ethnic jokes ought to be avoided in my humble opinion. That would probably come under the heading of those things “which are not convenient”- that is not fitting or becoming of a Christian.

“But rather the giving of thanks” – voice your thankfulness and praise to God.

A positive attitude of thankful praise is better than a negative attitude that is unclean, unbecoming, and degrading.

5. Vs 5 - “For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”

You can be sure of this that no person habitually and continually practicing immorality; no immoral person, no greedy for gain or covetous person, who worships idols is showing any evidence or fruit of inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. An intense greed for material things is a form of idolatry.

Our modern word for whoremonger is “pimp” or one that lives off of the money made by prostitution (whores).

The kingdom of God and of Christ - is one and the same kingdom, not two kingdoms. A.T. Robertson says that Paul may be trying to emphasize here the deity of Christ.

6. Vs 6 – “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.”

Do not be deluded by anyone with empty excuses and groundless arguments for those sins.

Let know man deceive you - Can a truly regenerated person be deceived? The first verse to come to the mind of any serious Bible scholar is that of the words of Jesus-

Matthew 24:24 - For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

I think it wise to balance this verse out with many others that indicate that to some degree God’s people can be deceived. How else can we explain such variety of doctrine within the realm of evangelical Bible believing Christianity? Some might excuse this as to say they are all wrong but “me” but such egotistical nonsense is not warranted in Scripture.

The word “deceive” means to delude. Dr. A.T. Robertson says of Matthew 24:24 –

“These charlatans will be so skilful that they will, {if possible} (ei dunaton), lead astray the very elect. The implication is that it is not possible. People become excited and are misled and are unable to judge of results.”

So there is a limit to the extent of delusion one of God’s elect can be taken.

The difference in these two texts appears to be that one may be deceived in some things but not in the basic fundamental faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Our guard then should ever be up against such doctrines of men that deviate from the simplicity of faith and love of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Matthew Henry says- “#Eph 5:6. Let none flatter you, as though such things

were tolerable and to be allowed of in Christians, or as though they were not very provoking and offensive unto God, or as though you might indulge yourselves in

them and yet escape with impunity. These are vain words."

Observe, Those who flatter themselves and others with hopes of impunity in sin do but put a cheat upon themselves and others. Thus Satan deceived our first parents with vain words when he said to them, You shall not surely die. They are vain words indeed; for those who trust to them will find themselves wretchedly imposed upon, for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. By children of disobedience may be meant the Gentiles, who disbelieved, and refused to comply with, and to submit themselves to, the gospel: or, more generally, all obstinate sinners, who will not be reclaimed, but are given over to disobedience.”

God’s wrath is upon the children of disobedience – This is a general reference to the unsaved gentile peoples.

Dr. John Gill says – “In temporal judgments, and in eternal ruin; there have been instances of it; it is usually the case, and always if grace prevents not; this wrath comes down from above, and sometimes suddenly, with great force and power, like a mighty flood; and there is no standing up under it, and against it; and though it falls upon the children of disobedience, such as are disobedient both to law and Gospel, are unbelievers in Christ, and not persuadable by his ministers, are stubborn, obstinate, and rebellious; yet it shows how much these things are displeasing to God, and resented by him, and therefore should be avoided by his people; and the consideration of their not being appointed to this wrath, though deserving of it as others, and of their deliverance from it by Christ, should engage them the more to abstain from these sins.”

7. Vs 7 – “Be not ye therefore partakers with them.”

True Christians ought not to follow the ways and philosophy of the world about them in following an ungodly lifestyle. We are to be in the world but not of it.

Philippians 2:15 – “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.”

1 John 2:15-16 - “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

1 Corinthians 10:21 - “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.”

8. Vs 8 – “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.

You were at one time in the same darkness as the rest of the world, but now you are the light of God in the world around you. You ought therefore to walk as those who are in the light, not as those that are still in darkness.

John 9:5 “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Matthew 5:14 - “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”

The New Testament Church is Christ’s light in the world today, but remember that churches are made up of individuals or lesser lights. These lesser lights put together make a larger light in any given locale.

Note: Babies do not walk, they have to be carried and nursed– however one is not to remain in the baby stage forever. We learn to walk, to talk and to do more mature things as we grow.

1 Corinthians 3:2 – “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.”

B. Fruit of the Spirit: Vs 9-10

Have you ever noticed that it takes more time, energy and verses to explain what and why we should not do something, than it does to do it. Yet obviously it is necessary for us to know some things that we are not to do in order that we might know how to do it right.

1. Vs 9 – “(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)”

Paul here sort of switches metaphors from light to fruit – but both are the work of the Holy Spirit within the believer and within the New Testament local church. The fruit of the Spirit is the evidence or outcome of the Spirit’s work in the heart and life of the true believer. Peach trees produce peaches, not in order to become a peach tree, but rather because it is a peach tree. The fruit then is the effect or product of the Spirit of God within the believer.

The fruit of the Spirit produces many things in the believer – three of them are listed in this first –

a) Goodness – the doing of kindly good things

b) Righteousness- Right living – uprightness of heart - the life of Christ in you.

c) Truth – Trueness of life - That which is honest and opposed to that which is a lie- John 14:6. The Christians motive for doing things is far different from that of the world. The world says, I cannot help because I see nothing in it for me. The true Christian walks in love without a desire to appease the flesh (self).

2. Vs 10 – “Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.”

The fruit of the Spirit shows proof of that which is acceptable to the Lord. We are to learn in and by our experience of walking in the Spirit what is pleasing to the Lord.

Our lives as we walk in the Spirit are constant proof of what is acceptable to Him. It is born out in the fruit we produce.

See - Galatians 5:22-26.

The fruit of the Spirit is therefore the direct opposite of the lust of the flesh.

2. THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT: Vs 11-19

The walk in the Spirit is one of communion or fellowship, of walking in the light of God.

The emphasis here ought always to be on “light” not “darkness.” Some get so taken up with the negative side that they lose sight of the positive. They spend all of their time in fighting false cults without preaching the gospel that will deliver them from their clutches. The emphasis here is the fellowship of the Spirit not the fellowship of the works of darkness. It underlines the battle of the ages between the forces of good and evil – Jesus Christ against the Satanic evil forces.

A. Reproving Darkness: Vs 11-13

1. Vs 11 – “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

New Testament Churches come into conflict with false doctrine on every side. One of the greatest hindrances to the truth is the idea called “ecumenism”. It is a diabolical idea that everyone is really on the same side and saying the same thing.

This doctrine is preposterous and downright stupid – how can darkness and light work together. If you mix black and white paint, the best you can get is grey. Paul does not encourage such movement – in fact he and all scripture oppose it.

So we see here:

a) Fellowship – close communion with the works of darkness is discouraged, in fact forbidden.

Amos 3:3 – “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

Deuteronomy 22:10 – “Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.”

b) Unfruitful works of darkness – Note: This does not say the workers of darkness but rather the works themselves. True it is often hard to differentiate between the worker and the works – however let me illustrate my thoughts here by saying this- “I oppose the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, but I do not oppose catholic individuals themselves.” We ought to love sinners while hating sin.

The meaning here is “the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness.”

See – Romans 1:24; Romans 6:21.

c) But rather reprove them – Reprove or refute the false works not the workers. We are to be separate from the works of iniquity, from false doctrine and heresy. Such should be rebuked by the use of the truth and by the churches separation from such unholy unions. This we call Biblical separation and we cannot be rebuke and be part and parcel with them in union. Union is not unity – we can tie a dog and cat together by their tails, that is union but it will not be unity. A man and a woman may be united in marriage and still fight like cats and dogs. Union is not unity. It is said of Mark Anthony that he harnessed two lions together to pull a chariot around the city of Rome. However, there are two lions that can never be united and that is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and the lion of the pit (Satan).

I would like to state here that I do not believe in or hold to the so-called doctrine of secondary separation. By that I mean, we will separate from false doctrine but not necessarily from those true brethren who do not see as we do and separate from those holding false doctrine, as we believe they should. God has his people in Babylon (confusion) but we must be ready to receive, even encourage them to, or when they should separate.

Revelation 18:4 - And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”

What then should be our basic attitude towards the works of darkness?

1. Earnestly contend for the faith – Jude 3

2. Do not receive false preachers – 2 John 9-11

3. Walk not in the counsel of the ungodly – Psalm 1:1

4. Have no fellowship- reprove them Ephesians 5:11

5. Do not be unequally yoked- come out from among them- 2 Cor. 6:14-18.

6. Rebuke them sharply – 1 Timothy 5:20; Titus 1:13.

7. Thou shalt not plow with an ox and ass together – Deuteronomy 22:10;

2 Chronicles 19:2.

(From- The Jew -The Gentile - and The Church by D. Paul Tuck Sr.- Page 54)

2. Vs 12 – “For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.”

It is a shame even to speak of or mention the things that such people practice in secret. Obviously Paul is talking about the vice that is carried on by some religious groups as was then found among the Gentiles. Paul speaks of this in reference to homosexual conduct in his letter to the Roman Church - (Romans 1:18-32).

3. Vs 13 – “But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.”

When anything is exposed and reproved by the light of God’s Word and truth, it is made visible and clear. And where everything is made visible and clear there is light. Jesus made this clear when he said:

John 3:19-21 – “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”

When the light shines there can be no darkness- turn on the light and the darkness vanishes.

John 1:4 - “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

John 1:5 - “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

John 1:7 - “The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.”

John 1:8 – “He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

John 1:9 - “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”

John 8:12 - “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

John 9:5 - “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Matthew 5:14 - “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”

B. Redeeming the Time: Vs 14-19

The New Testament church is the light in a sinful world. As we plant New Testament Churches, the light shines in another part of the sin-darkened world.

The challenge that Paul gives to the Ephesian Church is to wake up and let our light shine.

1. Vs 14 – “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

A church does not have light in herself but only as she is in connected with that higher power can she shine in the dark world. Therefore the challenge is to “awake thou that are sleeping” and you will be wakened as dead men to receive light. Day will dawn upon you and you will know the light of Christ.

Isaiah 60:1-2; 26:19.

2. Vs 15 – “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,”

Because the church is the light of the world we are to shine as lights – to walk uprightly – being wise and not foolish.

Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Philippians 2:15 – “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.”

3. Vs 16 – “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

Buying up every opportunity – not being wasteful of our time – because the days we are living in are evil times. This was so in Paul’s day and is moreso in our time. We are not to waste our time with too many frivolous things.

Romans 13:11 – “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”

Our redemption of time is related to Christ’s redemption of us - 1 Peter 1:18 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers.”

1 Corinthians 6:20 – “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

1 Corinthians 7:23 - “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.”

4. Vs 17 – “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

Do not be unwise-foolish and unlearned – but be knowledgeable as to what the will of the Lord is for you. God’s will for the believer and for the church is not hidden or unknown to us. The basis of that will is to be found in verses 18-19.

5. Vs 18 – “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”

Do not be drunk – that is overfilled and under the control or spell of wine. This is excessive. Paul is not being a so-called tea-totaller or prohibitionist, but is talking about excessive use of strong drink; wine being the main drink of the day. The Bible does not forbid the use of wine, but it does condemn drunkenness. DO NOT BE DRUNK! That may be negative but it is an order. No man, especially a Christian ought to get drunk-EVER! There is no room for argument or debate here. There are then two parts to this verse-

a) Negative – Be not drunk with wine.

b) Positive – Be filled with the Spirit.

Let me translate this verse literally from the Greek – it goes like this –

“Be not drunk, intoxicated or under the control of wine- fermented drink, for this is excess- debauchery; but always be filled up to the brim and constantly overflowing stimulated and controlled by the Holy Spirit.”

The Christian ought not to be like an old open well where you drop a bucket into and have to pull the water out. Neither ought the Christian to be like an old pump well that needs to be primed most of the time and pumped hard to get at the water.

Jesus spoke in terms of an artesian well in John 7:38-39 - “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

This is God’s will for the Christian. Let us look at one more thing with regards to this verse. Is it a sin to disobey God and get drunk? You will readily agree and say “yes”. Then let me ask you another question. Is it a sin to not be filled with the Spirit? We have two commands in this verse, one a negative, the other a positive. Yet, if a deacon came into our church on Sunday morning drunk, there would immediately be and correctly so, a cry for dismissal and discipline. However, when one comes into that same service not filled with the Holy Spirit, is it not as great if not greater sin?

Perhaps it is because it is not preached on as it should, and there are many abuses within the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements to discourage us. Nonetheless, we ought to be obedient and be sure we are walking in the Spirit with the resultant evidence of the fruit of the Spirit - (Galatians 5:22-26.)

6. Vs 19 – “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”

Paul is not encouraging Christians to talk to themselves but rather to communicate within the church worship service in the following basic manner-

a) Psalms – The use of Psalms in the early church was quite prominent as it was under Jewish worship – The Psalms were written for use with instruments- particularly those with strings and with tambourines.

See - Colossians 3:16; Psalm 150.

b) Hymns- Dr. Gill thinks that this is just a general title for the whole of the book of inspired Psalms, since this word is set between Psalms and spiritual songs. The title Book of Hymns is also used of the Book of Psalms. Jesus sang a hymn with his disciples following the Lord’s Supper, which is also known as a Psalm. We are lacking for good spiritual hymns today in the contemporary sense. Many so-called “gospel songs” are very shallow in doctrinal and spiritual content. My most favorite four hymns are –

1. “Amazing Grace.”

2. “Our Great Savior.”

3. “Praise the Savior (Ye who know Him)”

4. “My Faith has found a Resting Place.”

c) Spiritual songs – Dr. John Gill says- “Scriptural songs, written by inspired men; and which are called "spiritual," because they are indicted by the Spirit of God, consist of spiritual matter, and are designed for spiritual edification; and are opposed to all profane, loose, and wanton songs.”

d) Singing – offering praise with voices and instruments.

e) Making melody in your heart to the Lord – in and with all of your heart- directed to the Lord Himself. Music in the church is foremost unto the Lord and not just to appease a fleshly sense of human emotions.

3. THE FOUNDATION OF SPIRITUAL LIVING: Vs 20-33

These last verses then underline the foundation of spiritual living, the life of Christ in the believer.

A. Submission to One Another: Vs 20-23

1. Vs 20 – “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Our awakened spiritual life in Jesus Christ ought to result in melodious praise to God (Vs 18-19) and then is expressed in a spirit of thanksgiving. If anyone ought to be thankful, it is the born again child of God, the believer in Jesus Christ. Most of us are thankful sometimes, or for some things, but the apostle says we ought to be thankful “in all things”. We should be thankful in so-called bad times and in good times as well. We ought to say with the hymn-writer, “Our heavenly Father doeth all things well.” I do believe that only the thankful heart can lead to true submission both to God and to other church members. A submissive Christian is a thankful Christian and vice versa, they go together. Therefore “at all times and in everything we give thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

The world knows nothing much of really thanksgiving – it is relatively easy to be thankful at Thanksgiving time when we have a big turkey on the table with all of the trimmings. But what about the times when we cannot afford a turkey and just have a plate of rice and a little fish to eat? Or maybe we do not even have that? We could be like the little woman and her son as recorded in 1 Kings 17:12-16 – this woman was about to give up and die, she had but a handful of meal and a little oil in a cruse. She was about to bake her last meal before she and her son died. However, in obedience to Elijah she made a little cake first for Elijah and according to Vs 16 - “And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which He spake by Elijah.” I tell you I have been in that same spot and it is hard to be thankful. Many years ago, I was in my first pastorate in Orillia, Ontario. My wife and I sat down to supper with nothing to eat but potatoes. We gave thanks and as we began to eat a knock came at the door. When I went to answer it, there was no one there, but looking down I found a large box filled with groceries. God heard our prayer but I do believe He honored our “thanksgiving.”

2. Vs 21 – “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

The more literal translation here is – “Be subject one to the other out of respect for Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One.”

Submission- this is a nasty word in today’s society. Our society today gloats in the “me-first syndrome.” We are told today to let everyone do their own thing. If it feels good do it! It is symbolized in the song Frank Sinatra made popular, “I did it my way!” My friends that is not the way of Christ. That is the way of the flesh and is part of the reason we are having so much trouble with our young people today. The world’s philosophy is “Do others before they do you.” Or – “get all you can, and can all you get.” Is that really what Jesus meant when he said - Matthew 7:12 – “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

Luke 6:31 – “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.”

See- Mark 12:30-31.

Submission is contrary to the whole worldly scheme of things and is against the oligarchy of denominationalism. Remember the story of Mrs. Zebedee coming to Jesus on behalf of her two sons. She wanted to put in a good word so that they would be sure to have the best seats in Christ’s kingdom, the one on the right and the other on the left. Jesus reply is the basis for our Baptist doctrine of equality in the church.

Matthew 20:25-28 “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Jesus is our great example of submission in that he submitted Himself unto the will of the Father that led him to the death on the cross of Calvary.

When Jesus washed the disciples feet, he was not setting up an ordinance but drawing a picture for them as to how they ought to treat one another in submission rather than in lording it over others. I feel so sorry for those who cannot see this truth beyond the act of an ordinance. It is so much more than that and ought to be the reality in the life of every believer.

Philippians 2:3 – “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Then Paul goes on to discuss the “mind of Christ” that took him to the cross.

We ought to look on our lives each day in light of “what can I give, not what can I get?”

I will never forget the words of the late President of the United States, John F. Kennedy when he said, “Ask not what can my country do for me, but rather what can I do for my country?” I would like to spiritualize those words in the light of the church and kingdom of Jesus Christ. “Ask not, what can my church do for me, but what can I do for my church and for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?”

3. Vs 22 – “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.”

If I did not get myself into trouble with verse 21, I surely will with this verse.

Paul is talking to the wives and there is no way of spiritualizing this word and making into anything other than the woman that is married to a husband. To begin with, the Bible nowhere teaches that a woman can take the place of a man or a man can take the place of a woman. Or, for that matter, no two of the same sex can ever hope to constitute a Biblical marriage. Now Paul is here talking to the wives but don’t you husbands run and hide because he will not leave you out.

“Wives submit” – Right away I hear some little lady cry out – but God does not make men dictators! To this I fully agree – no man can properly fulfill his position of husband and be a wife beating dictatorial beast! But let us not get off our topic. Again Paul says, “wives submit!”

Let me rephrase this verse if I may – “Wives, be subject-be submissive and adapt yourselves –to your own husbands as a service to the Lord.”

Again, some woman cries out, but my husband is not as well educated as I am! That may be true, but still Paul says, “Wives be subject.” Subjection here is within the family relationship and has nothing to do with how well gifted or talented one or the other may or may not be.

Those of you who work for some firm no that if you are smart you will submit to the authority of your boss and any one placed in superior authority over you. You may be wiser, better educated, and be more on the ball than all of them, but you are to submit or you will soon be on the unemployment line.

In the army, each private is in subject to the Sergeant and on up the latter to the General. If the private does not like peeling potatoes on KP then he had best be in subjection to the loud mouthed Sarge!

God has seen fit, and we see it from the beginning of the Bible with Adam and Eve, to give certain authority to the man. God held Adam responsible both for his wife and for the activity that went on in the Garden of Eden. Therefore the effect of sin and its consequences came to Adam and his prodigy. Eve was judged but differently than Adam and the serpent as well. Eve received her own judgment but basically she was judged in Adam. See - Romans 5:12; 5:19.

4. Vs 23 – “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.”

“For the husband is the head of the wife” – Note that Paul does not use the word “Adam”. The husband is the head of the (literally his) wife. While the husband is to be head of the whole family, Paul is restricting the use of headship here to “the wife”, or to “the husbands wife” and there is only one wife mentioned.

Dr. A.T. Robertson has this note on verse 23 –

{For the husband is the head of the wife} (oti anhr estin kefalh thv gunaikov). "For a husband is head of the (his) wife." No article with anhr or kefalh. {As Christ also is the head of the church} (wv kai o cristov kefalh thv ekklhsiav). No article with kefalh, "as also Christ is head of the church." This is the comparison, but with a tremendous difference which Paul hastens to add either in an appositional clause or as a separate sentence. {Himself the savior of the body} (autov swthr tou swmatov). He means the church as the body of which Christ is head and Savior.

Paul is not saying – the husband is the “boss” of the wife – He is not saying- the husband is the dictator of the wife. In other words the husband does not tell the wife what to do and she just automatically replies- “yes sir!” In the strictest societies on earth today, it just does not work that way and last very long. That is not the meaning of “headship”

1 Corinthians 11:3 – “But I would have you to know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of every woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.”

What then is “headship?” (Greek-kefalh) This word is used symbolically in many places in the New Testament. Its basic meaning is that of “authority” It is used of Christ (Matthew 21:42) as head of the corner – See – 1 Peter 2:6-7; Psalm118:22.

In being the head, it means that the husband is judicially responsible for the affairs of the family unit. The head does not make final decisions without some dialogue with the rest of the family, especially the wife. There are strict guidelines imposed upon the husband, as Paul will show by the words “love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it.” This is also underscored by 6:4, where Paul talks of the relationship of the father with the children. Headship then has the ring of authority with it. Today we have too many yellow-stripped men who want to boss the situation without being held accountable or responsible for their families. Also in many situations the wife usurps the authority of the husband and renders the family unfunctional, especially spiritually. Of course where there is no man in the picture, the wife or mother has to struggle in this most difficult situation. However the Lord does give special grace in such a situation.

“Even as Christ is head of the Church” – In the same way that Christ is head of the church, so the husband is head of the wife. Jesus Christ is head of the church (generic or institutional sense). Pastors are not heads of churches- there is no Pope in scripture- not even a Baptist Pope! Pastors are the under-shepherds of Christ. They labor or minister in response to Christ Himself. Jesus Christ is the head and he has never given this responsibility to any other except the administrative end, which is given to the Holy Spirit. If there is a vicar of Christ, it would be the Holy Spirit, not some mortal man - Acts 1:1-2.

Colossians 1:18 – “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

Ephesians 1:22-23 – “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.”

1 Peter 5:4 - “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

And he is the savior of the body – No man is truly in the church without a Savior.

Christ is the savior of the body – Acts 20:28 – “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” (Ephesians 1:7,14; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:12; 1 Peter 1:19; Revelation 5:9.)

B. Subject unto Christ: Vs 24-33

1. Vs 24 – “Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.”

Therefore – Because of what I have already said concerning the relationship of the wife to the husband and of the church to Christ.

As the church is subject to Christ – Because or in the same manner as the church is subject to Christ - The example of and authority of headship is set.

Jesus Christ is the head of the church, no man, no Pope, no King or Queen can or will ever take His place.

Ephesians 1:22 – “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.”

Colossians 1:18 - “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

So let the wives be to their own husbands in everything – Even so or in the same manner, the wives (every individual wife) ought to be subject or submissive to the headship of their own husband, (without exception) in all things. The movement today to make the woman absolutely equal to the man is diabolical and sinful. (It is also rather stupid.) We see this in the unisex dress and hairstyles and most certainly on the labor front. Man has ever sought to withstand the ways and purpose of God. God did not make men and women the same and it is very sad when a woman tries to act like a man or vice versa for that matter. When our youngest daughter was born I remember being asked by a certain person, “so you had a baby?” I looked at the person and replied, “no I did not have a baby, my wife had a baby, if I had a baby I would not be standing here right now.” It is true that we had a baby, in the family sense, but trying to make us equal in this is like trying to lock up darkness and light in the same room. This world works far better when everyone knows their place in it. The husband is the head the woman is at his side and the children play in respect at both their feet until they learn and grow up to be adults. I am sorry, but I am not a believer in having the inmates run the asylum.

As well it should not be as one man once put it; “I am the head of my house, my wife is the neck that turns the head.” The perfect picture here is that the husband is the head of the wife, but he is under Christ, as we shall soon see in these verses.

2. Vs 25 – “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”

Lest some man gets carried away, or some woman be in despair, Paul gives a very basic order concerning the “husband.”

This verse is sometimes misunderstood in two directions. Paul is not saying –

a) Husbands love your wives exactly as Christ loves “us” – the church. That is really not possible completely while we are in this body of flesh. Only one man ever loved that much and His name is Jesus.

b) Paul is not saying that you do not love your wife unless you die for her.

The comparison here is symbolic – In the same or similar manner, as Christ loved the church, even so the husband is to love his wife. Make no bones about it my friend, as someone has said, “that takes a heap of lovin!”

Scripture is clear that the husband is to love his wife and be responsible for her and for their children. To care for his family even as Christ also cares for us.

Christ not only was prepared to die for the church – He DID DIE, and gave Himself in the fullest sense for His church/body.

Christ is our example in all things – he set aside his own fleshly feeling for the greater good of redeeming His sheep. The husband is therefore to love his wife to the extent that he puts her ahead of himself.

We will deal with this verse momentarily but let me quote it here –

Ephesians 5:29 - For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church.”

3. Vs 26 – “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.”

Christ’s love for the church went beyond the “immediate”. He loved the church and proved that love in the way he lived and died, that he might –

a) Sanctify it – That is to “set it apart as holy unto God.” Just as the vessels of the tabernacle and temple of the Old Testament were sanctified, so the vessels of the church are set apart unto God.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1 Corinthians 7:23 -”Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.”

b) “Cleansed it” – (Gr. Kthatharizo) to make clean. Used of physical utensils, to cleanse from leprosy, and in a moral sense (as in this text) from the guilt of sin. It is sometimes translated as “purge” as in John 15:2 RV. (from W.E. Vine.) Christ, through his blood made the church clean or purged her from the blight and filth of sin.

c) With the washing of water by the word” - John 15:3 – “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”

This verse is sometimes abused as to mean water baptism, however baptism is but symbolic or an outward symbol of an inward work of grace in the heart and life of the repentant sinner.

Some would also refer this verse to John 3:5 – however in that scripture the word for water is “hudor” which is natural water and reference is to the water of the first (natural) birth, while spirit is in reference to the work of regeneration by the Spirit, the (second) birth from above or of God. In John three the subject is the distinction between, “flesh and spirit.

Regeneration is unconditional in the heart of the sinner, since he is wholly depraved and incapable of faith until that point.

Thomas Paul Simmons says-

“However it needs to be understood (as we have before implied) that in the first phase of regeneration (quickening) the Spirit operates on the soul independent of the Word. The spiritually dead soul must be given life before it can see and act upon truth. It is by quickening that one is enabled to come to Christ (John 6:65). It is thus that God gives men over to possession of Christ (John 6:37). (A Systematic Study of Bible Doctrine-Page 287.)

Therefore we would agree that in this sense the Word of God is used in the salvation of the sinner.

Hebrews 4:12 –“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” See Romans 1:15-17; 1 Corinthians 1:18, 21-24.

4. Vs 27 – “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

Here we have God’s “Ultimate Purpose in the Church”:

a) Presentation: This is Christ’s ultimate gift to the Father. 1 Corinthians 15:24 – “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.”

b) Glorification: This is the ultimate glory of the church. To be sure that even now the Lord’s church is to be preferred over any that was instituted by man and in the name of man, as is the case in denominationalism.

John 17:10 – “And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.”

Romans 8:17 - “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

Romans 8:30 - “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

2 Thessalonians 1:10 – “When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.”

John 17:24 – “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”

Romans 15:6 – “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

c) Graduation: This is ultimate perfection.

2 Corinthians 11:2 – “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

Colossians 1:22 – “In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.”

Jude 1:24 “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.”

Revelation 19:8 – “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”

5. Vs 28 – “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.”

So now Paul suddenly brings us back to earth having talked about the union of Christ and the church, he now talks again about the union between the husband and the wife. If we expect the wife to be in subjection to the husband (Vs 22) then the husband ought to love his wife even as he loves his own body for indeed, first of all Eve was taken from man and presented by God as a help-mate to Adam. Secondly the union of Christ and the church is similar because the church is taken from Christ, and Christ came from God.

He that loves his wife also loves himself because of the spiritual union created in marriage. We will see more on this when we come to verse 31.

6. Vs 29 – “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church.”

No man ever hated his own flesh; in fact it is quite the opposite. I am sure you have noticed how men love to flex their muscles before the young ladies? Men can only be outdone by some women who spend an over abundance of time before the mirror in the morning while their husband is waiting to get into the bathroom. We nourish our body and most of us have proof of this right around the middle and moreso, as we get older.

7. Vs 30 – “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”

Again the spiritual union between Christ and the church. We are members of his body, of his flesh (humanity) and his bones. Our union with Christ while spiritual is also physical as seen in our union in the (local) New Testament Church.

Dr. A.T. Robertson has this usual note: {Of his flesh and of his bones} (ek thv sarkov autou kai ek twn ostewn autou). These words are in the Textus Receptus (Authorized Version) supported by D G L P cursives Syriac, etc., though wanting in Aleph A B 17 Bohairic. Certainly not genuine.” I personally would accept these verses if they are rightly (and they are) in the Textus Receptus (received text) and do not have any problem with them as I explain here.

The New Testament Church or Body of Christ is local and visible, and it is like Christ was, both physical and spiritual as long as she is in this world. Christ was both Son of God and Son of Man in one body. The church in this world is certainly limited by the flesh of each believer in it. Why else would we be urged to walk in the Spirit and such expressions as this?

Dr. John Gill says - Of his flesh and of his bones: for so the church may be called, his own flesh, his flesh and bones, on account of the marriage relation she stands in to him, and that spiritual union there is between them, which these phrases are expressive of; and which the near relation of man and wife is an emblem of; these words are wanting in the Alexandrian copy, and in the Ethiopic version.”

I think Dr. Gill has expressed somewhat if not altogether as I have above.

8. Vs 31 – “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.”

Man then leaves home even as the rib of Adam left his side and is then “joined” unto his wife, and the two will become by that union, one flesh.

The word “joined” does not stand alone, but is qualified by the word “be” which is a direct action. The action for the uniting the two together is called “marriage”. In other words, the two do not just do and as we say today, “shack up”. There is a spiritual and physical bonding in the act of marriage.

Hebrews 13:4 – “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”

We see from the following scriptures that marriage involves more than two people –

Matthew 22:4 – “Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.”

Matthew 22:9 “Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.”

Matthew 22:30 - “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.”

Matthew 24:38 – “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,”

1 Corinthians 7:38 – “So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.”

Scripture then implies that more than the man and the woman are involved in the wedding or marriage of a couple. Scripture is silent as to the particular customs of a wedding as to place and ceremony, but strictly teach that the woman is the wife and the man is the husband. There is no such thing as same sex marriage in scripture except in the case of Sodomy, which is wickedness.

Once joined to the wife, the man is no longer attached to the apron strings of mother, the wife in a limited sense here replaces the mother. However man should not expect to be mothered any longer but to take his place in the home has spiritual head of the new family unit, his wife being the help-mete.

9. Vs 32 – “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”

Paul says, “this mystery is very great, but I speak concerning the relation of Christ and the church.” This is his actual aim in this letter. In other words he is using marriage to illustrate church truth and not vice versa.

10. Vs 33 – “Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”

However, or just the same, let every one of you (every individual husband) so love his wife even as he loves himself and see that the wife shows reverence towards her husband. The word “reverence” means – to notice, regard, honor, prefers him, venerates and esteems him. That she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly. (AB)

This then is the “Believer’s Walk” in the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

End of Chapter Five

STUDIES IN EPHESIANS

LESSON 6 Ephesians 6:1-24

CHRISTIAN SERVICE AND REWARD

Fighting the good fight in the might of the Lord

Ephesians Chapter 6

We are well into the practical side of Paul’s letter to the Ephesian Church. He will now deal with the subject of duties of family life and how to withstand the wiles of the devil in our battle for right.

We will examine this chapter under the following headings:

1. FAMILY LIFE AND ITS DUTIES: Vs 1-9

2. FINAL DUTIES FOR CHRISTIANS: Vs 10-18

3. FULFILMENT OF PAUL’S MINISTRY IN ROME: Vs 19-24

1. FAMILY LIFE AND ITS DUTIES: Vs 1-9

Dr. John Gill outlines this chapter as follows:

In this chapter the apostle goes on with his exhortations to relative and domestic duties, and considers those of children and parents, and of servants and masters; and next he exhorts the saints in general to constancy and perseverance in the exercise of grace, and the performance of duty in the strength of Christ, and with the use of the armor of God described by him; entreats them to pray for him; gives the reasons of sending Tychicus, who brought them this epistle, and closes it with his apostolical salutation. He begins with the duties of children to their parents, which are submission and obedience to them, honor, fear, and reverence of them; the arguments engaging thereunto are taken from the light of nature and reason, from the command of God, and the promise annexed to it, #Eph 6:1-3. Then follow the duties of fathers to their children, who are exhorted not to use them with too much rigor, and so provoke them to wrath, but to bring them up in a religious manner, that they may serve the Lord, #Eph 6:4. Next he observes the duties of servants to their masters, which are subjection and obedience, which should be done with reverence of them, with simplicity of heart, as unto Christ, not with eyeservice, as menpleasers, but with the heart, and with good will, as doing the will of God, and as if it was to the Lord, and not men; to which they are encouraged by a promise of reward which is given without respect to bond or free, #Eph 6:5-8. And masters, they are exhorted to do what is right and just to their servants, and not terrify them with menaces; to which they are moved by the consideration of their having a master in heaven, who is no respecter of persons, #Eph 6:9. From hence the apostle passes to a general exhortation to the saints to behave with firmness and constancy of mind, though they had many enemies, and these mighty and powerful, and more than a match for them; relying on the power and strength of Christ, and making use of the whole armor of God, which he advises them to take, that they might stand and withstand in the worst of times, #Eph 6:10-13, the several parts of which he enumerates, as the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the Gospel of peace, the shield of faith, whereby the fiery darts of Satan are quenched, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit the word of God, and spiritual prayer of every sort for all saints, attended with watching and perseverance, #Eph 6:14-18, which last part of the spiritual armor being mentioned, leads on the apostle to entreat the Ephesians to pray for him, that he might freely and boldly preach the Gospel; which he commends from the mysterious nature and subject of it, from his character as an ambassador for it, or for Christ, the sum and substance of it, and from his being in bonds for it; which showed how great an esteem he had of it, and how heartily concerned he was to preach it without fear, #Eph 6:19,20. And then adds, that the reasons of his sending Tychicus, whom he describes by his relation to him as a brother, and his affection for him, and by his office as a minister, and his faithfulness in it, were, that they might be acquainted with his circumstances, in what state and condition he was, both with respect to things temporal and spiritual, and that their hearts might be comforted by him, #Eph 6:21,22. And the epistle is concluded with the apostle’s salutation; and the persons saluted are the brethren of this church, and all that love Christ Jesus sincerely; and the blessings wished for are peace, love, with faith and grace; the persons from whom they are desired are God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, #Eph 6:23,24 - (John Gill-Expositor)

A. Children: Vs 1-3

1. Vs 1 – “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.”

One might well ask, why Paul begins with children and not the parents. Perhaps it is because the children are the center of the family and that no family is really complete without children. The Bible has a lot to say about children and on one occasion the disciples wanted to chase the children away from Jesus. Jesus action then, should be well noted by all pastors and churches today.

Mark 10:14 – “But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”

In this verse the family is described in terms of children and parents. Liberals today would rearrange God’s plan and bring in legislation in favor of “same-sex-marriage. This however is contrary to the normal plan of a Christian family that includes mother-father- and children. Jesus and Paul taught-

“Obey your parents in the Lord” – In other words, parents ought to be Christians, followers of our Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that the best parents are those who are “in the Lord”. Parenting is not an easy thing for anyone and much more if one does not have the leadership of the Holy Spirit and to be part of a family established upon the Word of God.

Colossians 3:20 – “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.”

The home is God’s first institution – God created Adam and then Eve and then told them to “be fruitful and multiply. In order to properly fulfill this word, we need a man and a woman (Adam + Eve) to produce children. Adam and Steve cannot produce children and is not a family. Madam and Eve cannot in themselves together, produce children, and again this is not a family.

The Greek word “Hupakouo” – to listen, attend, to submit, to obey as used of obedience.

Dr. Gill includes here Grandparents, stepparents, teachers, and all those in place of authority.

“For this is right” – obedience to your parents is right or a part of right living.

Such obedience is right because it in honors and respects those who have the wellbeing of the children in their interests. Problems of teen age delinquency today result from lack of authority first in the home. This has become a serious matter where the inmates are running the asylum and our Police cannot keep up with the problem. If this verse is taught and practiced in the home, we will solve much of the problems of juvenile delinquency.

2. Vs 2 – “Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

I think perhaps this verse gets a bit of abuse so I will say right off that the idea of honoring parents does not give parents the uncontrolled right of abuse. Some other false ideas that come to mind here are:

a) “Do as I say and not as I do.” Children learn by example (or lack of a good example). Parents should never tell their children that when they are bad, they "are acting like dad or mom". For one reason, it puts the parent in a wrong light in the eyes of the child. Secondly, the parent is too close to the action to be or not to be, fair in their assessment.

b) “Children should be seen and not heard” – While this may sound good, it is not, and children ought to be encouraged to ask questions within reason. I mean reasonable questions, and at a reasonable time, and with an answer that fits their age bracket and level of understanding. You may have to arrange for a time to explain your answer in an appropriate manner. Children should not be adhered to just to stop a temper tantrum, and that will only teach them that if they just holler loud enough they will get what they want. I have known too many adults that are the product of this type of behavior.

Honor thy father and they mother: You will notice that the honor is one of equality here. The word honor means to esteem and value as precious.

Terms such as “my old man or my old lady,” not only break this commandment, but also is vulgar and downright disrespectful of the people that brought you into the world. It is more than “worldly” it is downright sinful.

“This is the first commandment with promise”: Paul relates this statement to that of Mosaic law, and while we are not under law, we are under grace, which is no less disrespectful. Paul is not dealing with law here but with a plain and simple Bible principle, under the New Testament law of LOVE. The reference is to Exodus 20:12 – “Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”

God has no spoiled children (brats) and if children want God’s blessing, they need to show respect to their parents. Notice that this verse is followed by “thou shalt not kill.” Children can kill their parents with lack of respect. By the way, I see no reason why this verse should not be continued into old age. We need to respect our parents even when we are grown and they are old in age. To not do so is to lessen the blessing of God in our lives.

3. Vs 3 – “That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”

If you did not get what I said in the previous verse, listen to this one.

You want it to be well? You want God’s blessing? You want to live long on the earth? Don’t commit spiritual suicide and take yourself out from under the umbrella of God’s shower of blessing.

B. Fathers: Vs 4

1. “And ye Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

Those of you who are fathers – all men are not fathers – but those of you who are fathers or about to be.

Provoke not your children to wrath: Do not irritate and provoke to anger. Do not exasperate them to resentment. This means continuous loud nagging irritable negative language that is not productive in a teaching way. This does not mean that it is all right to give in to a temper tantrum, in such cases we will reap the result in a spoiled child. Do not make your children mad at you and cause them to become discouraged and lose their self-esteem, as well as their respect for you. Father you may be right but if you abuse this right you will win the battle but lose the war.

2. “But bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”: Paul does not say, “beat them up” – Do not misunderstand me here – I believe there is a place for corporal punishment. Some children seem to need it more than others.

However, Paul here says, “bring them up” – No man stoops lower than one who will help a child. In order to bring a child up, the father needs to stoop down to the level of the child. We need to do this with anyone we would hope to bring up to a better and more positive level of understanding and living.

“Nurture” – This means to rear them with tender affection – be firm when it is needed – but learn to be tender hearted. It is no less masculine or a slight on your manhood if you get down with your children and play their silly little games. But do so with an application to learning. Teach them to apply simple things to their daily living for God and country. You can do this in teaching them to read, write or count. Among the first words that our daughter Lois has learned to read and recognize is God – love- and Jesus. With tender nurturing (and this is not just for the father) they can be taught properly and brought beyond the “me first – this is mine” syndrome. We see the idea of nurturing in the words of Jesus as he looked down over the Jewish capital of Jerusalem.

Matthew 23:37 – “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” We also see this spirit of nurturing in Jesus gathering the little children up onto his lap and blessing them.

Matthew 19:13-14 - “Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

I am sure you have all noticed how many times that Jesus refers to his own as “children?”

“Admonition of the Lord” – The training, discipline, counsel, teaching of the Lord. We need to be careful as to what we teach our children, and remember that they learn more from our example than from what we tell them. Children pick up on our sins, our bad examples, our lack of faith and practice. There was an old song that Roy Rogers and Dale Evans used to sing – I remember only one line- “Don’t send your children to Sunday School, get out of bed and take them.” They learn from our example that the “house of God is for the whole family, not just for little kids and Grandparents.

We need to guard the television – even some of the kids programs are “new age” or filled with too much violence. Even Christian videos (so-called) can be harmful to a young child and give them a distorted picture of that which is real. I viewed the Mel Gibson film, “The Passion of Christ” and the first thing I noticed was that the graphics and image of Christ hanging upon the cross was just too vivid for little children. There are good videos displaying the purpose of Christ’s death upon the cross that are more suitable for children (and even for adults.)

Do not leave your child’s education up to the state or their state will become a one-way ticket to hell. The best of their education is what they learn at home and in church. Their best teachers are their mother, Father, and pastor. Home schooling and Christian schools are great but not substitutes for the basic teaching of parents. Children need to be admonished in their social actions, how they respond to other people and other people’s property.

I wonder what happened to the old way of “yes sir” or “no sir”, or “yes ma’m” and “no ma’m?” Since when is “yep” and “nope” even good English let alone good manners? How did it become the “in thing” for children to call adults by their first name?

In Old Testament times there was a tremendous emphasis upon the training of children within the home. No it was not limited to the home but was continued under the rabbi.

Deuteronomy 6:7 – “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

Deuteronomy 12:25 – “Thou shalt not eat it; that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.”

Deuteronomy 12:28 – “Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.”

C. Servants: Vs 5-8

1. Vs 5 – “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;”

Servants – First we will examine the meaning of the word.

The word “servant” – Greek- doulos – signifies in bondage. This word is sometimes translated as bondservant. Another similar word “diakonos” is translated sometimes as servant and others as deacon and minister, one who serves. This word is used here of one who is a legal slave. Paul’s teaching regarding slavery does not directly conflict with the laws of state, but gives certain guidelines for both masters and their slaves as to proper treatment and conduct for both.

Today, slavery as such is not legal or even deemed as right by society in general. However the principle of “servanthood” remains and what is taught here and elsewhere of servants and masters is applicable to the employer/employee relationship today.

“be obedient” – obedience is taught in scripture at every level of society. We are to obey those over us and govern us.

“masters according to the flesh” – Those in authority over you in this world. This is not here a reference to spiritual leaders such as pastors. The case of pastors is dealt with elsewhere by Paul.

“With fear and trembling” – Showing the utmost respect for those who are in place of authority.

“In singleness of your heart” – With a singleness of motive and with all of your heart”. One should not have an ulterior motive in working as if they were only interested in their paycheck. Or in the case of the slave, in paying his debt and being free again, which one could do under Roman law.

“As unto Christ” – Work for your employer as you would and are working for Christ. Honoring Christ in all that we do ought to be foremost in the heart and life of every employee. Do the best job we can possibly do.

The Christian ought to be the best worker because he /she has a Christlike attitude towards others and to the work ethic itself.

2. Vs 6 – “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.”

Not with the way of eyeservice - as if they were always watching you. Some employees are great works when the boss is there and watching them. But as soon as the boss leaves they slack off and the others have tom carry their load.

Don’t just do what pleases men – but work as you are the servant (slave) of Jesus Christ. The Christian worker ought to work as unto the Lord and not just to please men. Our work habits ought to be a good testimony of our faith. How we conduct ourselves on the job shows what we really believe in our hearts with regards to the Christian faith and life.

“Doing the will of God from the heart” – work from your heart as unto God. Work in accordance with God’s will and way.

3. Vs 7 – “With good will doing service, as unto the Lord, and not to men.”

Render our service to and for others readily with goodwill, as to the Lord Himself and not just to serve men.

4. Vs 8 – “Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.”

No this, that whatever good thing a person does, they will be rewarded according by the Lord.

The good deeds that men do will not be overlooked by God. Remember that Paul is first of all talking to the members of the Ephesian Church; therefore God’s elect and not the non-elect are being addressed. On the other hand, I do believe that the Bible teaches that even the unredeemed will have degrees of reward or judgment. No, they will not have a second chance, or finally be redeemed. That is a fact of scripture and we must allow scripture to speak. Secondly, these rewards are not meritorious to salvation. Salvation is all of grace, plus nothing – minus nothing – Jonah 2:9; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5.

Revelation 20:11-13 –

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books,

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works” – See Acts 17:31.

God’s elect are not found at this judgment – their sins are judged in Christ on Calvary’s cross – their reward is given at the Bema of Christ in heaven during the tribulation on earth – See- Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 25:32-46. We must be sure to distinguish between the judgment of believers and that of unbelievers.

“Whether he be bond or free” – Whether he be a slave or a free man, God is no respecter of persons. The slave and the master both stand on the same ground before the justice bar of God - CF – Romans 3:23.

D. Masters: Vs 9 –

“And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.”

1. Here Paul deals with the subject of master in relation to the Master/slave or employer/employee relationship.

2. Masters or those owning slaves or having servants – any one who employs others ought to treat them as they themselves would want to be treated should the role be reversed. “Do unto others what you would have them to do to you.” NOT – as the world would practice – “do others before they do you.”

3. The employer should not work his employees in a threatening manner as with a whip in his hand. This is the picture we have of many slave owners of the days of slavery. This is wrong and is inhumane, and much less Christian in practice.

4. Jesus taught proper conduct in his parable regarding forgiveness – See Matthew 18:21ff

5. God treats all men equal in judgment and reward. This is seen in the set up of Christ’s New Testament Church – it is not an oligarchy but one of congregational and democratic government – Mark 10:42-43.

2. 2. FINAL DUTIES FOR CHRISTIANS: Vs 10-18

A. Power of the Lord: Vs 10

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

1. Paul is writing to Christians – to saved people (my brethren) not unsaved. This is the summation of his letter to the Church in Ephesus.

2. “Be strong in the Lord” – Be empowered through your union with Him.

1 John 4:4 - “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

“And in the power of His might” – draw your strength from him – that strength which His boundless might supplies.

While we are to do certain things in order to be prepared for the battle or Christian warfare, the battle is not ours it is the Lord’s. Zechariah 4:6 - “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”

2 Chronicles 20:15 – “And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

B. Prepared for Battle: Vs 11-18

1. Vs 11 – “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

God’s way and the way of the world are not the same – this is pictured for us in David’s facing the Philistine giant Goliath. Saul’s brothers wanted him to dress in Saul’s armor – Saul was the king. However, David not only was not at home in such a situation, the armor did not fit him. All David needed was a slingshot, five smooth stones, and a prayer that connected to the throne of God.

“Put on the whole armor of God” – God has armor for the Christian to wear and be protected in battle. Paul says to put on “the whole armor” – do not leave anything off. Too many Christians treat this armor as a gift or talent of God. Not so, it is one of equal necessity for all believers in the battle of life. This is God’s protection against the enemy of your soul.

“That ye might be able to stand” – David could not stand in Saul’s armor, but the Christian must have God’s armor in order to just stand. Vs 13 – “and having done all, to stand.” God’s armor is provided for us by the sovereign grace of God.

Not one time do we ever find the Christian standing alone against the wiles of Satan. Jesus did it, but now he promised to be with his elect through thick and thin, come hell or high water, He is with us. In Scripture we find that every time the disciples found themselves in difficulty, Jesus was there. He was there to rebuke the wind and the stormy sea; He was there for everyone that ever came to him and said, “I will in no wise cast out.” Jesus was there for the despondent disciples on the Emmaus Road and in the upper room and visited with them as their resurrected Savior.

“Against the wiles of the devil” – We do not stand there looking like an accident trying to find a place to happen. This verse, and others teach us that there is an enemy out there who acts as a roaring lion some times, but other times more like a subtle serpent.

“Wiles” – This word means strategies and deceits. I always admire the Old Testament saints such as those we read about in the faith chapter of the Bible (Hebrews 11). They did not have all of the spiritual resources or means of grace that we today possess. Yet, these dear men and women of God stood for truth and against the wiles of the devil. We today in this dispensation of grace have much more than they had under the dispensation of law. Most certainly they had “grace” and no man ever saved in the Old Testament or in the New Testament was saved but by the sovereign grace of God. However, they did not have all of the means of grace that we have today. They did not have the completed Bible that we possess today and therefore did not possess the degree of knowledge that we have obtained under the New Covenant.

We do not have to be tricked by the subtle ways of Satan as Adam and Eve were. I suppose that in all fairness to Adam and Eve, they too did not have the blessings of the New Covenant relationship way back there in the Garden of Eden. On the other hand, if God judged Adam, will he not judge us in light of what we know and have today? This I believe will be taken care of at the Bema of Christ.

2. Vs 12 – “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

“For we wrestle not” – We do not struggle – we do not battle or fight. We are not in a warfare – we do not contend with.

“With flesh and blood” – With physical opponents – Others of the humankind species. Those made of flesh with life giving blood flowing in their veins.

“But against principalities” – despotisms – the word “principalities” here is the Greek word “arche,” which is used of supramundane beings who exercise rule. It is used of holy angels, Ephesians 3:10; an expression of the church in its formation being the great expression of “the manifold or much varied wisdom of God, Colossians 2:15. It could also be rendered as “rule” or “rulers”.

“Against the rulers of the darkness of this world” – the master spirits who are the world rulers of this present darkness or darkened world.

“Against spiritual wickedness in high places” – the spirit forces spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly supernatural sphere. The born again Christian is not in a battle against mere fleshly or physical forces but against evil spiritual forces that are presently in (God-permitted) control of this present world system of things. In other words, it is not your husband or your wife, or your mother-in-law, or your boss that you are battling against, but rather Satanic forces that are presently operating in the (physically unseen) spiritual sphere of this world.

A.T. Robertson says this concerning the “high places”-

{In the heavenly places} (en toiv epouranioiv). Clearly so here. Our "wrestling" is with foes of evil natural and supernatural. We sorely need "the panoply of God" (furnished by God).

See- Ephesians 1:21; Romans 8:38; Daniel 10:13.

Satan is referred to by Paul as the god of this world -

CF – Matthew 4:8ff; John 12:31; John 16:11; 1 Corinthians 10:20;

Ephesians 2:2; 1 John 5:12; Revelation 20:2-3; Acts 28:18.

3. Vs 13 – “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

Wherefore – or because of this and “as I have already said” – or this is the reason I said: “Put on God’s complete armor, that you might be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day of danger, and having done all the crisis demands, to stand firmly in your place” – AB.

4. Vs 14 – “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;” –

This is how to do it – to be prepared for any spiritual crisis –

“Put on” – Take to yourselves – clothe yourself. This is something that the child of God must do himself. This is how we can and must “walk in the Spirit – Galatians 5:16ff.

“Stand therefore” – Remain still – hold your ground - do not move from the Spirit way. Don’t run ahead of the Spirit – don’t back up from the challenge before you. Some have put it this way – “Let go and let God have his wonderful way; let go and let God have His way. The burdens will vanish, the night turned to day; let go and let God have His way.”

Oh Pastor the devil is after me what must I do? Do nothing – the battle is not yours, it is His. Do nothing and when Satan knocks at your door, send JESUS to answer it. Do nothing; remain firm with these things that the apostle Paul lists for you to guard against spiritual defeat. But should I not do something else? What work can you do, what work can you add to the finished work of Christ on Calvary’s cross? That is utter foolishness! That is just what the devil wants you to do – try and work it out yourself.

“Having your loins girt about with truth” – tighten the belt of truth around your loins. Jesus is the essence of truth- John 14:6. Truth is the exact opposite to a lie.

God’s word is truth - Ephesians 5:9 - (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)”

Isaiah 11:5 – “And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.”

Luke 12:35 - “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;”

2 Corinthians 6:7 - “By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,”

1 Peter 1:13 - “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”

Isaiah 59:17 - “For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.”

1 Thessalonians 5:8 - “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”

“And having on the breastplate of righteousness” – the breastplate of integrity and moral rectitude, and right standing with God. Notice that the breastplate protects a very important part of the anatomy, “the heart.” The heart in scripture is often used as a metaphor for the seat of our being and is general coupled with our soul, as in “heart and soul.” Thus we use this metaphor, “let Jesus come into your heart.” The breastplate of righteousness is that of “right living”.

5. Vs 15 – “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;” – And having shod your feet in preparation to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness and readiness produced by the gospel (good news) of peace. See Isaiah 52:7.

Paul’s use of the word “shod” is slightly different than we today use it. We do not often speak of people being shod, but rather horses, and that with nails to keep the shoes on firmly. The idea however is much the same – to keep the shoes firmly in place with the gospel of peace. Feet are for walking and running – therefore what better place to have the gospel. The gospel is for going – “Put the GO into Gospel”, remove it and we have the word “spel” or “spell, a trance. The gospel keeps our feet busy and while we are occupied in the gospel, we do not have time to think of other foolishness. The gospel is the “good news” of why Christ came into the world but it does not stop at the wooden manger but goes to the wooden cross upon which Christ’s blood is shed for the remission of the sins of God’s elect.

There are but two basic reasons for the existence of a New Testament Church, firstly for the worship of God and secondly as a vehicle for the carrying out of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20.)

6. Vs 16 – “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

The meaning here is (not more importantly) but to lift above all things –

“The shield of faith” – a shield is lifted up for protection. Bible faith is given to us by God, through the word of God.

Let no man think that he possesses faith within himself. Bible faith is God-given and comes first to the regenerated man, and secondly through the Word of God. Faith is also increased within us through several mediums such as our Christian experience and application of the many hundreds of promises in the Bible, the Word of God. It is one thing to find the promises within the pages of the Bible and quite another thing to take them to ourselves, believe them, and act upon them. This requires the daily operation of the Holy Spirit within us in accordance with the will of God. Faith here in simple terms means “trust.”

An old missionary once said in a chapel service when I was in Bible school (1958)- “If you trust you don’t worry, if you worry you don’t trust.” How true that is, for we cannot do both at the same time.

This is something we must do (God did not make His elect a robot nor does the Bible teach fatalism) – we “take” the shield of faith and if we are smart, we will use it.

The Amplified Bible uses the term “saving faith” and I think that is right, in this sense. Scripture urges men to “flee from the wrath to come”. Peter said, -

Acts 2:40 – “And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.”

This does not take anything away from the doctrine of sovereign grace, but it certainly teaches us about human accountability. God saves us by his absolute sovereign grace and having done so, enables us to do certain things that we could not do before we were regenerated. He also gives us the grace and the tools to do what we could not and cannot do in ourselves. Paul saw this and taught it in Romans 7:21-15. – See also Philippians 2:11-12.

Note: Remember that the word “salvation” is a more general term including the whole of the Doctrines of sovereign grace from beginning to end -

Romans 13:11 – “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”

“Wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”- With the shield of faith we can ward off, defend ourselves from all of Satan’s weaponry.

The word “quench” as used here does not necessarily mean “stop”, but to protect us from the enemy of our souls. We use “faith” to come between Satan’s missiles and our heart. “When doubt and fear come knocking at our door, send faith to answer it.”

7. Vs 17 – “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” -

“The helmet of salvation” - Sports players wear helmets to protect their heads. The Roman soldier likewise wore a helmet. Our salvation is in our Savior Jesus Christ. This is the Christian’s helmet our protection in the Christian warfare. We ought therefore to wear it proudly - See - 1 Thessalonians 5:8.

If we do not have or possess salvation, we have no hope. See Romans 5:1-5.

The sword of the Spirit” - Our head is covered, and in our hand ought to be the Sword of the Spirit.

I believe there is something here that our English Bible does not show – The Amplified Bible translates this verse very well –

“And take the helmet of salvation and the sword the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.”

The battle is the Lord’s – the Spirit uses the Word. I have heard some unlearned individuals when caught in a difficult situation scream and rant out some Bible verses and phrases, such as “I plead the blood of Jesus.” My friend, the Spirit wields the sword we just have to learn to be settled by the Word of God. If the battle is the Lord’s then my part is simple - 1 Peter 5:7 - “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” The word cast means “to dump”, as a dump truck would dump a load of gravel or dirt.

“Which is the Word of God” - Hebrews 4:12

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

To us today, we have the completed canon of scripture. When these scriptures were written, believers had only the Old Testament and maybe some of the New by the time Paul wrote his epistle to the Ephesians.

Note: - We today have much more than the early church had with our electronic gadgets, computerized Bibles (such as I am using here) and still we are not much better off when we do not trust in the God of the BOOK.

8. Vs 18 – “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” -

Here we enter the actual battle as we learn to pray in the Spirit. This is not a reference to mere child’s prayer- “Now I lay me down to sleep” – or to the oft-repeated “Our Father, which is in heaven”. These prayers are fine in their place and the latter one was never intended as a means of communication between God and His elect ones. The so-called Lord’s Prayer is more correctly called, “The Model Prayer”, as that is what it is. Communication with God in the Spirit is both from the heart and soul of God’s children, and verbal. When we address men and women in the natural or physical realm, we do not communicate by reading from a written script. At least this is not the normal means of communication. Neither is it with God.

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” – To pray is to beseech or communicate. All prayer and supplication ought to be in the Spirit and not just from our intellect. “In the Spirit”, means, by and under the leading of the Spirit. Therefore we are exhorted to pray at all times, on every occasion, with all manner of prayer and entreaty.

Supplication- entreaty, make a humble request. Do you remember the old weigh scales we used to have with two sides to them that were to balance. Prayer is like that old-fashioned weigh scale. On one side are our requests (I call this the give me basket) and on the other side is worship of God (this is our praise and thanksgiving basket.) Unfortunately, most of us have the give me basket sitting on the table while the praise and thanksgiving basket is high in the air, badly outweighed by the first. There is a real need for a balanced prayer life.

Praying in a public or church meeting is not always easy for the new Christian, but we need to persevere here and conquer the fleshly fears that often make this effort seem insurmountable. I well remember when I first encountered this in my Christian life. Growing up, I was never a good public speaker; my gift was more to the written page and composition, not the oral. I struggled with this for several weeks, each time going to prayer meeting (the general one and that of our church Youth Group) I was determined to pray, and I had many things I wanted to share with my brothers and sisters in prayer to our heavenly Father. Finally, one evening with the Lord’s help, I broke through my shyness and prayed a short but clear-cut prayer petition to the Lord. From that point on each time I was confronted with public prayer it became easier. It was similar in fashion with my public speaking that began with simple testimony and then advanced to sermons.

Now we are not all called to be public speakers but we should not be bound by an unnatural fear of man (and what will I say syndrome).

Proverbs 29:25 – “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”

3. FULFILMENT OF PAUL’S MINISTRY IN ROME: Vs 19-24

A. Ambassador In Bonds: Vs 19-20

The last chapters of the Acts of the Apostles reveal Paul’s journey to Rome. Sometimes the Lord uses what may seem to our finite minds as strange means to transport us from one place to another, or the circumstances He allows us to get in, just to be in a position to do His calling. We should really take do care in complaining about our lot in life for it may well be that the Lord has “called us to the kingdom for such a time as this” - (if I might borrow this phrase from Esther 4:14.) I am reminded of our “Sentence Sermon” that we sent out to our Web Group. It seems to fit well here to illustrate our point -

"The greater the trial, the greater the opportunity to see God for real." -
Brent Riggs.

1. Vs 19 – “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,” -

Paul personalizes his theme on prayer concerning himself and his ministry in declaring the gospel of the grace of God.

“Utterance”– Both the ability to speak and the substance or contents of our message.

Dr. A.T. Robertson:

“{That utterance may be given unto me} (ina moi doyh logov). Final clause with ina and first aorist passive subjunctive of didwmi, to give. See a like request in #Colossians 4:3. Paul wishes their prayer for courage for himself.”

“That I may open my mouth boldly” – I have never regarded Paul as having a problem in speaking either publicly or otherwise. However, perhaps he did have a problem along this line. Many preachers of God’s Word are not great speakers until anointed by the Spirit of God. Perhaps some of Paul’s trails made him what we would call, “a little gun shy” in speaking to the masses of pagan people that he generally confronted. As well Paul was speaking and teaching under limited conditions in Rome. This is a prayer we need to make on behalf of every pastor and preacher of the gospel of sovereign grace. (For others perhaps we need to pray that they might be silenced!)

Notice that Paul would open his own mouth but needed boldness in doing it.

Psalms 81:10 – “I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.”

“To make known the mystery of the gospel” – To declare through his teaching and preaching ministry in a clear fashion.

“Mystery” – The gospel is in fact a mystery to the lost but revealed to God’s elect in Christ Jesus. Paul uses this word “mystery” in several places. It should not ever be thought of in terms of the word “mystical”. The gospel is a mystery until we come to Paul, but it is never mystical. The term mystical is used in Romanism and in some parts of Protestantism but is cultic in its true meaning. Paul opposed mysticism especially in his letter to the Colossians. The Gnostics and Ascetics were rooted in mysticism and in crept into aspects of Christianity through Catholicism very early in Church history.

Mark 4:11 – “And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables.”

1 Corinthians 2:7 – “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.”

Ephesians 1:9 – “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself.”

Ephesians 3:3-4 – “How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

Ephesians 3:9 – ‘And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.”

Note: The word “mystery” is quite a study in itself and not just used of the gospel, but of the Godhead and of Babylon etc. The student should look this word up in a concordance and see how it is used in scripture.

“Of the gospel” – Basically this word means “good news”. One should never cease to proclaim good news, especially in regard to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

A good illustration of this is found in - 2 Kings 7:9 – “Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.”

2. Vs 20 – “For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

“For which I am an ambassador in bonds” – Paul’s reference is back to verse 19 and “the gospel.” It was the gospel that got Paul into trouble. He would have no problems if he would keep quiet concerning the good news of Jesus Christ. However Paul could not keep this message to himself and neither can we.

An ambassador is an official representative of government. Paul was an ambassador of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God. All of Christ’s minister and churches have a royal mandate to preach the gospel to every creature.

“That therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” – Paul’s reiterates his previous request “that he might speak boldly” but now adds, “as I ought to speak.” The meaning here is, “that I might speak in a worthy manner, honoring the office of ambassador that I fill. Many good well meaning Christian’s speak out on varying issues of the Christian faith, but sometimes our speech is not as becoming to the office of “Christ’s Ambassador” as it ought to be. Our speech ought to be as Paul so ably states -

Colossians 4:6 – “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

A good steak is best eaten when it is seasoned. Salt is often used for seasoning- it has both cutting and healing qualities. One should never speak in a dogmatic fashion giving the impression that they are right and everyone else is dead wrong.

To do so, they will find themselves dead of friends as no one will want to be around them. Our speech ought to go forth under the banner of the same love wherewith Christ loved us – Romans 5:8.

B. Affairs Reported Through Tychicus: Vs 21-24

Paul was about to send a personal report to the Ephesians Church, brought to them from Paul in Rome, by Tychicus. This letter and report would be no doubt shared with the other churches, at least of Asia Minor. This report (may not necessarily be written) would be brought to Ephesus with this epistle, (letter) which Paul is now bringing to a close.

1. Vs 21 – “But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:”

Paul wanted them to have an update about how he was doing under confinement in Rome. They would be updated on his ministry in Rome as well as his personal affairs as they knew that he was taken to Rome as a prisoner of Caesar.

Tychicus Paul called a brother who was beloved, faithful and a fellow minister (servant) in the Lord. Tychicus was faithful to Paul and to the Lord.

Tychicus: As well as what Paul says here concerning this fellow preacher and servant of Jesus Christ – See Acts 20:4; Ephesians 6:24; Colossians 4:7; Colossians 4:18; 2 Timothy 4:12; Titus 3:12.

“An native of the province of Asia, like Trophimus, and a companion of Paul on the journey to Jerusalem (Acts 20:4). He was the bearer of the circular letter to Asia, which we call “Ephesians” (Ephesians 6:21), and of Colossians (Colossians 4:7). In later years either he or Artemas was to have been sent to Crete, apparently to take Titus place (Titus (Titus 3:12); but he was sent to Ephesus, probably instead of to Crete (2 Timothy 4:12). (A.J. MacLean - Hastings Bible Dictionary).

Note: Tychicus could still have gone on to Crete from Ephesus. –DPTSr.)

Dr. John Gill- “His name signifies "fortunate," and is the same with "Fortunatus" in Latin, which name is mentioned in #1 Corinthians 16:17.”

2. Vs 22 – “Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.”

Three reasons for Paul’s dispatching Tychicus to Ephesus:

a) Of course he would be delivering this letter to the Ephesian Church.

b) That you may know our affairs – how we are doing here in Rome.

c) That he might comfort your hearts – both through ministry and the knowledge of conditions in Rome within the church and with regards to the ministry and welfare of Paul.

Note: Colossians is a somewhat similar letter to Ephesians and both thought to be written from Rome in the same period –AD 60-64. It is then possible that Tychicus delivered both of these letters at the same time even though in Colossians he is said to be accompanied by Onesimus. This of course is conjecture on my part and open to debate.

3. Vs 23 – “Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

It is significant as to how Paul always closes his letters with such words as “peace, love, faith and grace”. These are truly Christian greetings first brought to the New Testament era by the angels, “Peace on earth, good will toward men.”

Paul directs his remarks to all of the brethren in Ephesus-

1 Peter 5:14 – “Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity (love). Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.”

Biblical Christianity is the only religion that truly offers one peace and its Christ is the only one who can bring it. Peace must precede love in the life of the sinner for we cannot know God’s love experimentally until we come to terms of peace with God. – See – Romans 5:1-8. Of course peace is based upon the love of God.

a) Peace – the opposite of war- David said – “Psalms 120:7 – “I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.”

b) Love - An attribute of God – God is love – the basis of the New Covenant Law of Christ. One of three gifts that are to remain – Matthew 7:12; 22:40; Mark 12:30-31; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8; Galatians 6:2; 1 Corinthians 13:13.

c) Faith – Faith is God given – Ephesians 2:8-9 – it means to trust in and rely upon God – Faith also is used of the embodiment of Christian doctrine called “The Faith.” However it is used here in its more common meaning of trust and total reliance upon Christ. To have faith in God in simple terms means to “believe”. Thus Paul said to the Philippian jailor, Acts 16:31 - “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

Faith is given to us by the Holy Spirit in regeneration enabling our conversion or salvation and then more fully inspired by His work within us as through His Word. See - Romans 10:17 – “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Faith is listed as a spiritual gift in – 1 Corinthians 12:9.

Definition of faith – “Forward All In Thee.”

d) Grace – Vs 24 - Grace has been defined as “unmerited favor” – or even better as “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.”

Salvation is all of Grace and none of man. It has its basis in the Love of God and His decree from eternity past. God’s grace is absolute and it is sovereign.

4. Vs 24 – “Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity”.

Paul implores the grace of God upon all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. This is a form of prayer on behalf of all who are sincere in their love for Christ. Many might claim Christ but not be of those who love him in sincerity. Some would seek salvation without the Savior; healing without the Healer; sanctification without the Sanctifier; etc.

All of these graces are found in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ who is not seated on the right hand of power in the heavenlies. Thus an epistle that begins with the sovereign grace of God ends in that same grace.

Isaiah 57:15 – “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

“In sincerity” – “with incorruption.

Thus ends Paul’s epistle to the Ephesian Church – Paul’s ministry does not end here but continues a few more years and from him men whom he taught in Rome took the gospel of saving grace to many other places in Europe, Great Britain, and throughout the Roman world from where it spread even further.

END

OF STUDIES IN EPHESIANS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

STUDIES IN THE EPHESIANS

1. Holy Bible- King James Version

2. Picture Studies in the New Testament- A.T. Robertson

3. Bible Expositor – Dr. John Gill

4. Studies in the New Testament – Frederic Godet

5. Systematic Study of Bible Doctrine- Paul Thomas Simmons

6. Amplified Bible

7. Textus Receptus

8. The Greek New Testament- Samuel Bagster

9. An Expository Diction of New Testament Words- W.E. Vine

10. American Commentary on the New Testament- Vol. 5

11. In the Heavenlies –Commentary on Ephesians- Harry A. Ironside

12. Commentary-Ephesians-Jamieson, Fawcett and Brown

13. Commentary on Ephesians – Matthew Henry

14. Baker’s Dictionary of Theology

15. Church Dogmatics – Karl Barth

16. New Jerusalem Bible

17. Baptist Polity – Dr. D. Paul Tuck Sr.

18. Introduction to the New Testament Church- Dr. D. Paul Tuck Sr.

19. The Jew-The Gentile and the Church- Dr. D. Paul Tuck Sr.

20. The Sovereignty of God- David Allan Shortt

21. The Church that Jesus Built – David Allen Shortt.

The works alluded to above are not necessarily used, nor does it mean that in quoting from them that the author necessarily believes everything that author wrote or endorses other books he/she may have written.

Use of references to other than the KJV does not mean we endorse that version but that the particular translation used is valuable to our present study.

END

STUDIES

“LIVING IN THE HEAVENLIES WITH YOUR FEET STILL ON EARTH”

By

By

DEDICATION

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

COPYRIGHT BY THE AUTHOR

All rights to copy and reprint these notes

STUDIES IN EPHESIANS

Romans 5:12

Romans 5:19

STUDIES IN EPHESIANS

Lesson 5 Ephesians 5:1-33