Embracing Grace and Unity in Ephesians
Summary
Opening the journey through the book of Ephesians, we begin by exploring the profound significance of the first two verses. These verses, often overlooked as mere greetings, are foundational in understanding the authority and purpose behind Paul's letter. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, writes with divine authority, not as a self-appointed leader, but as one chosen by Jesus himself. This establishes the letter as the Word of God, urging us to believe and obey its teachings.
The letter is addressed to the saints in Ephesus, a term that encompasses all believers in Christ, not just a select few. This challenges the misconception that sainthood is an earned status. Instead, it is a gift of grace, bestowed upon all who have faith in Jesus. The context of Ephesus, a thriving, multi-ethnic, and religiously pluralistic city, mirrors our modern environment. The challenges faced by the early Christians in Ephesus, surrounded by false gods and magical practices, are not unlike those we encounter today. This makes Ephesians relevant for every believer, offering guidance on how to live a Christlike life amidst diverse and often conflicting beliefs.
Paul's prayer for grace and peace is central to the message. Grace is not only the unmerited favor of God for salvation but also the ongoing provision that enables us to live according to His will. Peace, the result of faith in Jesus, is something to be fully enjoyed and evident in our lives and relationships. As we delve into Ephesians, we are called to embrace these gifts, allowing them to transform us and our communities.
The journey through Ephesians promises to challenge our beliefs, call us to unity, and teach us how to be the body of Christ in a complex world. It will exalt Jesus, edify believers, and evangelize the lost. As we embark on this study, let us pray for God's grace and peace to guide us, believing and obeying the teachings of this powerful letter.
Key Takeaways:
1. Authority of the Apostle Paul: Understanding Paul's role as an apostle appointed by Jesus and by the will of God is crucial. This authority means that his writings, including Ephesians, are the Word of God, demanding our belief and obedience. This foundation assures us that the teachings within are divinely inspired and essential for our spiritual growth. [49:54]
2. Sainthood for All Believers: The term "saints" refers to all Christians, not a select group. This challenges the notion of earned sainthood and emphasizes that all who have faith in Jesus are made holy through His grace. This understanding unites us as believers, reminding us of the shared grace we have received. [01:05:38]
3. Relevance of Ephesians Today: The cultural and religious context of Ephesus parallels our modern world, making the teachings of Ephesians applicable to contemporary issues. As we navigate a multi-ethnic, religiously pluralistic society, Ephesians provides guidance on living a Christlike life amidst diverse beliefs. [01:12:20]
4. Grace and Peace as Ongoing Gifts: Paul's prayer for grace and peace highlights their importance beyond initial salvation. Grace is the ongoing provision that empowers us to live according to God's will, while peace is to be fully enjoyed and evident in our lives. These gifts are essential for our spiritual journey and relationships. [01:19:09]
5. Call to Believe and Obey: As we study Ephesians, we are encouraged to believe its teachings and obey its commands. This requires humility and openness to being challenged in our beliefs and practices. By doing so, we allow God's Word to transform us, building us up in faith and unity. [01:23:09]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:01:30] - Introduction and Gratitude
- [00:03:45] - The Significance of Ephesians
- [00:06:20] - Author and Authority
- [00:10:00] - Understanding Apostleship
- [00:15:30] - Biblical Requirements for Apostles
- [00:20:00] - Responsibilities of Apostles
- [00:25:00] - Audience: Saints in Ephesus
- [00:30:00] - The Context of Ephesus
- [00:35:00] - Relevance to Modern Believers
- [00:40:00] - Grace and Peace: Ongoing Gifts
- [00:45:00] - Call to Believe and Obey
- [00:50:00] - Prayer for Grace and Peace
- [00:55:00] - Closing Prayer and Reflection
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Exploring Ephesians 1:1-2
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 1:1-2
Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul identify as his role in the opening of Ephesians, and how does he describe the source of his authority? [49:54]
2. Who are the recipients of Paul's letter, and how does he describe them in Ephesians 1:1? [01:03:11]
3. What two gifts does Paul pray for the Ephesians to receive in the opening verses, and why are these significant? [01:19:09]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Paul's identification as an apostle "by the will of God" impact the authority of his message to the Ephesians? [49:54]
2. In what ways does the description of the Ephesians as "saints" challenge common misconceptions about sainthood? [01:05:38]
3. How might the cultural and religious context of Ephesus, as described in the sermon, influence the relevance of Paul's message for modern believers? [01:12:20]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the authority of Paul's writings as the Word of God. How does this understanding influence your approach to reading and applying the teachings of Ephesians in your life? [49:54]
2. Consider the concept of sainthood as a gift of grace for all believers. How does this perspective affect your view of yourself and others in your faith community? [01:05:38]
3. In what ways do you see parallels between the cultural challenges faced by the Ephesians and those in your own environment? How can Ephesians guide you in living a Christlike life amidst these challenges? [01:12:20]
4. Paul's prayer for grace and peace is central to his message. How can you actively seek and embrace these gifts in your daily life and relationships? [01:19:09]
5. As you study Ephesians, what specific teachings or commands do you anticipate will challenge your current beliefs or practices? How can you prepare your heart to be open to transformation? [01:23:09]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you need God's grace to empower you to live according to His will. What steps can you take this week to invite His grace into that area? [01:19:09]
7. How can you cultivate a deeper sense of peace in your life, especially in your interactions with others? What practical actions can you take to make this peace evident in your relationships? [01:19:09]
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Authority of Paul's Apostleship
Paul's apostleship is divinely appointed, establishing his writings as God's Word. Understanding Paul's role as an apostle chosen by Jesus and by the will of God is crucial for recognizing the authority of his teachings. This authority assures us that the teachings within Ephesians are divinely inspired and essential for our spiritual growth. As believers, we are called to believe and obey these teachings, allowing them to guide our lives and shape our faith. [49:54]
"For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ." (Galatians 1:11-12, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you actively submit to the authority of Scripture in your daily decisions and actions today?
Day 2: Sainthood as a Gift of Grace
The term "saints" refers to all Christians, emphasizing that sainthood is not an earned status but a gift of grace bestowed upon all who have faith in Jesus. This understanding unites us as believers, reminding us of the shared grace we have received. It challenges the misconception that sainthood is reserved for a select few and calls us to live out our identity as holy people through the grace of Christ. [01:05:38]
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)
Reflection: How can you embrace your identity as a saint today, and what specific actions can you take to reflect this grace in your interactions with others?
Day 3: Ephesians' Relevance in a Pluralistic World
The cultural and religious context of Ephesus parallels our modern world, making the teachings of Ephesians applicable to contemporary issues. As we navigate a multi-ethnic, religiously pluralistic society, Ephesians provides guidance on living a Christlike life amidst diverse beliefs. This relevance calls us to engage with the world around us, holding firm to our faith while showing love and understanding to those with differing views. [01:12:20]
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: What is one way you can demonstrate Christlike love and understanding to someone with different beliefs today?
Day 4: Grace and Peace as Sustaining Gifts
Paul's prayer for grace and peace highlights their importance beyond initial salvation. Grace is the ongoing provision that empowers us to live according to God's will, while peace is to be fully enjoyed and evident in our lives. These gifts are essential for our spiritual journey and relationships, calling us to embrace them daily and allow them to transform us and our communities. [01:19:09]
"May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." (2 Peter 1:2, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively seek and cultivate God's grace and peace in your life today, especially in challenging situations or relationships?
Day 5: The Call to Believe and Obey
As we study Ephesians, we are encouraged to believe its teachings and obey its commands. This requires humility and openness to being challenged in our beliefs and practices. By doing so, we allow God's Word to transform us, building us up in faith and unity. This call to action is a reminder that our faith is not passive but requires active engagement and obedience to God's Word. [01:23:09]
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific command or teaching from Ephesians that you can commit to obeying today, and how will you hold yourself accountable to this commitment?
Quotes
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Father, that's my prayer for us as a church—grace, your endless unabounding grace, grace for those who don't believe but even the grace for us who do, that continuous provision of grace that we need to believe all that's going to be taught to us through this letter. [00:45:56] (51 seconds)
He does a similar opening to the letter in the churches of Galatia. It says, Paul, an apostle, not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead. He said, first sentence, establishes who wrote this letter and the authority with which he wrote it. Now, I know this may seem merely academic, but it is of extreme importance, not just to the first century audience, but to every Christian audience, whoever reads this letter, because it establishes the authority of this letter for us today. [00:50:38] (38 seconds)
The apostle Paul possessed this unique, divine authority. Even the other apostles recognized this. Second Peter chapter 3, verses 15 and 16, Peter wrote this, and count the patience of our Lord is salvation. Just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction as they do the other scriptures. [00:59:31] (38 seconds)
As we work through this letter, I want to encourage you to do two things that I would encourage you of every other book of the Bible. The first one is believe the teachings of Ephesians. As we study through this letter and dive into some of the deep doctrines of our faith, doctrines that some of you will disagree with, doctrines that some of you will have a difficult time completely comprehending, I encourage you to believe them. [01:00:21] (31 seconds)
We have this tendency when we read the word and we can't grasp something or we don't like the way it says it to make up other things and to try to wrench it so it fits with something we want it to say. We don't have that authority. It's the word of God written by an apostle of Jesus Christ. I encourage you to believe everything that Ephesians is going to teach us because I can tell you this, it will build you up. God will edify you through the letter of Ephesians. [01:00:40] (33 seconds)
Now there is much confusion about who the saints are in the church today. There is no confusion about who saints are in the Bible. All Christians are saints. All Christians are saints. The New Testament refers to us as saints. A guy by the name of Ananias who was talking about Paul one time and how Paul used to persecute the church in Acts chapter 9 verse 13, Ananias answered talking to the Lord, I've heard from many about this man, he's talking about Paul, how much evil he has done to you. [01:04:17] (33 seconds)
Ephesians is going to challenge some of your beliefs I guarantee it. Ephesians is going to call out some of our practices. Ephesians is going to challenge and call us to unity amongst such great diversity. Ephesians is going to command us to love and forgive. This letter is going to teach us how to be the body of Christ in our Ephesians environment. It's going to exalt Jesus, it's going to encourage and edify us, it's even going to evangelize the lost amongst us. [01:16:33] (38 seconds)
Grace is the unmerited favor of God in providing salvation for sinners. Well, later in this letter, Paul reminds us that we are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. But even though he wrote this letter to the saints, those who've already been saved by God's grace, his prayer is for them, God would give them more grace. One man said God's grace is not only his unmerited favor in providing salvation for sinners, God's grace is also his ongoing provision from God that enables his people to live like Christ. [01:17:06] (38 seconds)
I pray for God's grace, his ongoing provision of grace for us as we dive into this letter, to believe what it says and obey what it commands. I pray for God's peace, that we will believe all that we are taught through Ephesians and that his peace will be evident in our lives and in our relationships with one another as a church. [01:18:27] (25 seconds)
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