Key word: Riches
Paul was a prisoner, because of the gospel, in Rome around 62 A.D. At that time, he wrote four inspired letters – three to churches and one to an individual. These letters are now known as the prison epistles, and Ephesians is the first. Ephesus was a very important Roman city located in modern day Turkey. The church was founded by Paul on his second missionary journey. Paul stayed 3 years at Ephesus, longer than any other place, preaching the gospel and teaching the truth, so that Ephesus became the hub of Christianity in Asia and in much of the Roman Empire. Later, both Timothy and John would minister there; Paul called the Ephesian elders to his location for final instructions before his imprisonment (Acts 20) and it was the first church addressed in Revelation (of seven) (Revelation 2).
Not only was the church important, so was the epistle’s message – perhaps the most valuable of any letter except for Romans. Ephesians follows a normative pattern of Paul’s in which he begins with theology and concludes with application. This is especially noticeable in Ephesians as the first three chapters lay out essential truths, especially concerning our position and identity in Christ. No command is given in these three chapters except an injunction to “remember” our spiritual condition before salvation (2:11). Everything else in these chapters describe our positions, privileges, and riches in Christ (1:7). Riches will therefore be our key word. In particular, the opening paragraph lists some of these riches: We have been chosen, adopted, redeemed, informed, been given an inheritance and sealed by the Holy Spirit (1:3-14). Chapter two clearly lays out the salvation process: the need: dead in sin (vv. 1-3), God’s merciful provision (vv. 4-7), God’s grace/gift received by faith (vv. 8-9), and God’s purpose – that we might live out the Lord’s masterpiece (v. 10).
The applicational section begins in 4:1 with the word “therefore.” On the basis of our provisions and riches in Christ, how should we live? The final three chapters inform us. Some highlights in this portion include:
1. God’s method to equip us for spiritual maturity (4:11-16, esp. vv. 11- 12). Route 66 17
2. The importance of putting off our former manner of living, replacing it with the new regenerated self, and being renewed in the spirit of our minds (4:22-24).
3. What does such a life look like – (4:24-32)? Living truthfully, without anger, honestly, with wholesome speech, and in kindness.
4. We will walk in love, following the example of Christ (5:2).
5. We will walk in light (5:8) not darkness.
6. We will walk in wisdom, understanding the will of the Lord (5:15-17).
7. We will have marriages patterned after God’s design (5:22-33).
8. As well as family and personal relationship (5:4-9).
9. We will see our need to put on all the provisions of Christ (6:10-18), called here the armor of God, so that we can stand against the schemes of the devil.
With so much material, it is difficult to pick a key verse but 2:8-9 gets our nod, since everything in the book centers around God’s redemptive plan.
Key verse: Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
