Faith and Love: The Foundations of Christian Life

 

Summary

In Paul's epistle to the Ephesians, we find a profound pastoral message that emphasizes the importance of faith and love in the Christian life. Paul, having completed a mighty theological statement, turns his attention to the Ephesians, expressing gratitude for their faith in the Lord Jesus and their love for all the saints. This letter is not merely a theological discourse but a practical guide meant to strengthen and encourage believers in their daily walk with Christ.

Paul's approach is to teach doctrine and then apply it, believing that understanding the truth of the gospel is essential for living a Christian life. He rejoices in the fact that the Ephesians, both Jews and Gentiles, are partakers in the glorious kingdom of God. He ceaselessly gives thanks for their faith and love, which are the true tests of genuine Christianity. Faith in the Lord Jesus is the central, vital test of a Christian. It means trusting entirely in Jesus Christ, recognizing Him as the Savior who came into the world to save us through His death and resurrection. This faith is not merely intellectual assent but a deep, personal reliance on Christ's work on our behalf.

The second test is love unto all the saints. This love is an absolute proof of new life in Christ. By nature, humans are inclined to hate one another, but the transformation brought by the Holy Spirit enables believers to love the brethren. This love is not selective but extends to all saints, regardless of their background or social status. It is a reflection of the love of God and a testament to the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

These two tests—faith in the Lord Jesus and love for all the saints—are inseparable and must be present in the life of a true believer. They are the acid tests of genuine Christianity, providing assurance and solid ground for our faith.

Key Takeaways:

- Faith in the Lord Jesus: True faith is centered on Jesus Christ, recognizing Him as the Savior who redeems us through His death and resurrection. It is not merely an intellectual belief but a deep, personal reliance on His work on our behalf. This faith is the foundation of the Christian life. [19:41]

- Love for All the Saints: Genuine love for fellow believers is a proof of new life in Christ. This love transcends social and cultural barriers, reflecting the transformative work of the Holy Spirit within us. It is an essential aspect of the Christian life, demonstrating our unity in Christ. [35:05]

- Doctrine and Practice: The apostolic approach emphasizes the importance of understanding doctrine and applying it to daily life. True Christianity involves both faith and works, with doctrine providing the foundation for practical living. [12:29]

- The Indivisibility of Christ's Lordship: Believing in Jesus means accepting Him as both Savior and Lord. His Lordship is inseparable from His role as Savior, and true faith acknowledges His authority over every aspect of life. [32:21]

- The All-Inclusive Nature of Faith: Faith in the Lord Jesus encompasses all other aspects of belief. It includes recognizing His divinity, His incarnation, and His redemptive work. This faith is the central test of genuine Christianity. [19:00]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Introduction to Ephesians
- [00:35] - Paul's Pastoral Approach
- [01:16] - The Mighty Statement of Faith
- [02:15] - Doctrine and Application
- [03:30] - Thanksgiving for the Ephesians
- [04:25] - Elements of Christian Prayer
- [05:49] - Analysis of the Chapter
- [06:22] - Understanding and Experience
- [07:19] - Evidence of Faith
- [08:56] - Assurance of Salvation
- [10:29] - The Acid Tests of Faith
- [12:29] - Faith and Works
- [14:18] - Faith in the Lord Jesus
- [19:41] - The Centrality of Christ
- [35:05] - Love for All the Saints

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 1:15-16

Observation Questions:
1. What are the two key qualities Paul mentions in Ephesians 1:15-16 that he has heard about the Ephesians? How do these qualities relate to the overall message of the sermon? [00:13]
2. According to the sermon, why does Paul express gratitude for the Ephesians' faith and love? What does this reveal about his relationship with them? [03:48]
3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between faith in the Lord Jesus and love for all the saints? Why are these two aspects considered inseparable? [12:29]

Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that faith in the Lord Jesus is more than just intellectual belief? How does this understanding impact a believer's daily life? [19:41]
2. How does the sermon explain the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in enabling believers to love all the saints? What does this imply about the nature of Christian love? [35:05]
3. The sermon emphasizes the indivisibility of Christ's Lordship. How does this concept challenge or affirm one's understanding of Jesus as both Savior and Lord? [32:21]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your personal faith in the Lord Jesus. How does your faith influence your daily decisions and interactions with others? Are there areas where you struggle to fully rely on Him? [19:41]
2. Consider your relationships with fellow believers. How can you demonstrate genuine love for all the saints, especially those who are different from you in background or social status? [35:05]
3. The sermon highlights the importance of understanding doctrine and applying it to daily life. How can you deepen your understanding of Christian doctrine, and what practical steps can you take to live it out? [12:29]
4. In what ways can you acknowledge and submit to Christ's Lordship in every aspect of your life? Are there areas where you find it challenging to accept His authority? [32:21]
5. The sermon describes faith in the Lord Jesus as an all-inclusive test of genuine Christianity. How can you ensure that your faith encompasses all aspects of belief, including recognizing His divinity and redemptive work? [19:00]
6. Reflect on a time when you experienced the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in your life. How did it change your perspective or actions towards others? [35:05]
7. How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude like Paul, consistently giving thanks for the faith and love of others in your community? What practical steps can you take to express this gratitude? [03:48]

Devotional

Day 1: Faith as Personal Reliance on Christ
True faith in Jesus Christ is not just an intellectual agreement with the facts of His life, death, and resurrection. It is a deep, personal reliance on His work on our behalf. This faith acknowledges Jesus as the Savior who redeems us through His death and resurrection, and it is the foundation of the Christian life. It involves trusting entirely in Jesus, recognizing Him as the one who came into the world to save us. This kind of faith is the central, vital test of a Christian, as it goes beyond mere belief to a profound personal commitment. [19:41]

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find it difficult to rely entirely on Jesus? How can you begin to trust Him more deeply today?


Day 2: Love as Evidence of New Life
Genuine love for fellow believers is a proof of new life in Christ. This love transcends social and cultural barriers, reflecting the transformative work of the Holy Spirit within us. By nature, humans are inclined to hate one another, but the transformation brought by the Holy Spirit enables believers to love the brethren. This love is not selective but extends to all saints, regardless of their background or social status. It is a reflection of the love of God and a testament to the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. [35:05]

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God." (1 John 4:7, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone in your church community who is difficult for you to love. How can you show them Christ-like love this week?


Day 3: Doctrine as the Foundation for Practice
The apostolic approach emphasizes the importance of understanding doctrine and applying it to daily life. True Christianity involves both faith and works, with doctrine providing the foundation for practical living. Paul teaches doctrine and then applies it, believing that understanding the truth of the gospel is essential for living a Christian life. This approach ensures that believers are not only knowledgeable about their faith but also equipped to live it out in their daily lives. [12:29]

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate a specific biblical doctrine into your daily routine this week to strengthen your walk with Christ?


Day 4: Christ's Lordship in Every Aspect of Life
Believing in Jesus means accepting Him as both Savior and Lord. His Lordship is inseparable from His role as Savior, and true faith acknowledges His authority over every aspect of life. This means that every decision, action, and thought should be submitted to His will. Recognizing Christ's Lordship involves a commitment to follow Him and obey His commands, allowing His teachings to guide every part of our lives. [32:21]

"And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent." (Colossians 1:18, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?


Day 5: The All-Inclusive Nature of Faith
Faith in the Lord Jesus encompasses all other aspects of belief. It includes recognizing His divinity, His incarnation, and His redemptive work. This faith is the central test of genuine Christianity, as it involves a comprehensive understanding and acceptance of who Jesus is and what He has done. It is not limited to a single aspect of His identity or work but embraces the fullness of His person and mission. [19:00]

"For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority." (Colossians 2:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: How can you deepen your understanding of Jesus' divinity and redemptive work this week? What steps can you take to ensure your faith encompasses all aspects of who He is?

Quotes


Paul's approach is to teach doctrine and then apply it, believing that understanding the truth of the gospel is essential for living a Christian life. He rejoices in the fact that the Ephesians, both Jews and Gentiles, are partakers in the glorious kingdom of God. [00:03:30]

The Apostles believed that the best way to help Christians is to teach them the doctrine and then to apply the doctrine to them so that we must never lose sight of the fact that this is a pastoral letter as all the other New Testament epistles are. [00:02:15]

The Apostle offers up his constant praise and thanksgiving to God and then having done that he begins to offer his pitiful and he goes on to tell us what the petition is from verse 17 to the end of the chapter. [00:05:49]

The Apostle presents us with a test which we can apply to our cylinders how do we know that we are Christians how can anybody else know that we are Christians what are our grounds for thanking God this morning but we are Christians. [00:09:29]

The Apostle reduces the mode to just two and we can be quite sure that when he does that that they are the true test so that we may call the acid tests so that we needn't trouble to apply all the various tests to ourselves. [00:11:01]

Faith in the Lord Jesus means that you trust him utterly, entirely, and absolutely to a faith in the Lord Jesus means that you believe that he came into this world to save you and that it is he himself who really does save you that's the point. [00:22:00]

The Apostle in making the same point to the Corinthians in the first epistle the twelfth chapter in the third verse says no man can say that Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Ghost the natural man can't say this. [00:28:46]

The Apostle was very concerned about this he puts it specifically again you see in writing to the Colossians as here therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so in him you can't receive him as anything but the Lord and therefore the Lord of your life. [00:33:37]

The Apostle says so and I think he's saying the truth it's absolutely true let me give you his exact words in his epistle to Titus in the 3rd chapter this is how he puts it for we ourselves also where sometimes disobedient, foolish, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures living in malice and envy. [00:35:05]

The Apostle had heard that these Ephesians now were loving all the saints they liked to be with them they liked to spend time with them they were the people they liked above all others he says it's an absolute proof that you've born again you've got a new nature otherwise you couldn't possibly do it. [00:37:52]

The Apostle doesn't worry with all the others he says let's come at once to the very center the analogy you see that I obviously have in my mind is the sort of analogy from the realm of when you're trying to identify your substance there are certain substances to be had there's a one specific test. [00:19:41]

The Apostle says your faith in the law of Jesus a Christian is a men in whose life and in whose whole being the Lord Jesus Christ is at the center he sees everything in him he starts with him he ends with him Jesus Christ has become controlling. [00:20:05]

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