Ephesians
Introduction
The author identifies himself as Paul (1:1; 3:1; cf. 3:7,13; 4:1; 6:19-20). Some have taken the absence of the usual personal greetings and the verbal similarity of many parts to Colossians, among other reasons, as grounds for doubting authorship by the apostle Paul. However, this was probably a circular letter, intended for other churches in addition to the one in Ephesus (see notes on 1:1,15; 6:21-23). Paul may have written it about the same time as Colossians, c. a.d. 60, while he was in prison at Rome (see 3:1; 4:1; 6:20).
Ephesus was the most important city in western Asia Minor (now Turkey). It had a harbor that at that time opened into the Cayster River, which in turn emptied into the Aegean Sea. Because it was also at an intersection of major trade routes, Ephesus became a commercial center. Paul made Ephesus a center for evangelism for about three years, and the church there apparently flourished for some time, but later needed the warning of Rev 2:1-7.
Unlike several of the other letters Paul wrote, Ephesians does not address any particular error or heresy. Paul wrote to expand the horizons of his readers, so that they might understand better the dimensions of God's eternal purpose and grace and come to appreciate the high goals God has for the church.
The letter opens with a sequence of statements about God's blessings, which are interspersed with a remarkable variety of expressions drawing attention to God's wisdom, forethought and purpose. Paul emphasizes that we have been saved, not only for our personal benefit, but also to bring praise and glory to God.
First, God has reconciled individuals to himself as an act of grace (2:1-10). Second, God has reconciled these saved individuals to each other, Christ having broken down the barriers through his own death (2:11-22). But God has done something even beyond this: He has united these reconciled individuals in one body, the church. This is a "mystery" not fully known until it was revealed to Paul (3:1-6). Now Paul is able to state even more clearly what God has intended for the church, namely, that it be the means by which he displays his "manifold wisdom" to the "rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms" (3:7-13). It is clear through the repetition of "heavenly realms" (1:3,20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12) that Christian existence is not merely on an earthly plane. It receives its meaning and significance from heaven, where Christ is exalted at the right hand of God (1:20).
Nevertheless, that life is lived out on earth, where the practical daily life of the believer continues to work out the purposes of God. The ascended Lord gave "gifts" to the members of his church to enable them to minister to one another and so promote unity and maturity (4:1-16). The unity of the church under the headship of Christ foreshadows the uniting of "all things in heaven and on earth" under Christ (1:10). The new life of purity and mutual deference stands in contrast to the old way of life without Christ (4:17 -- 6:9). Those who are "strong in the Lord" have victory over the evil one in the great spiritual conflict, especially through the power of prayer (6:10-20; see note on 1:3).
Week 1: Believers’ Spiritual Blessings (Eph. 1:1–14)
🔎 TEXT - Ephesians 1:1–14 (NLT)
1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.
I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.
2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.
12 God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust
in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. 13 And now
you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves
you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by
giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The
Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he
promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did
this so we would praise and glorify him.
🔎 CONSIDER
In the first-century Roman world of the Ephesians, being adopted meant receiving a new identify and a new name. No matter what had happened in your past, you were given a clean slate on adoption day. It was irrevocable. There was no going back to the way it was before. It was once and for all—a permanent arrangement.
When the apostle Paul compares our life in God to adoption, he is saying, “You are part of the family now.” It’s an invitation to get comfortable and to settle into this new relationship. We need not live in fear anymore because we belong to the Father. He has claimed us as his own. God invites us to relate to him as his cherished children.
No matter what has happened in your past, God sees the person you are becoming. So don’t live like an orphan. Recognize who you are in Christ. You have been preapproved by God. He has adopted you and blessed you, and he is ready for you to join in the work and livelihood of his kingdom. You have been redeemed and forgiven. Your sin is paid for.
Christian
faith is about more than believing certain facts; it means living
into the lordship of Christ and letting that reality permeate every
aspect of life. You are a child of the King, a recipient of the
ultimate act of hospitality—God’s hospitality. Everything has
changed. Thanks be to God!
🔎 THINK
Paul begins Ephesians by revealing that the church is a spiritual entity initiated and formed by Christ, leading to a social identity of earthly relationships. The blessings of the church’s heavenly identity become the basis for the new kind of conduct Paul exhorts the church to practice.
The church is part of the plan of God from all eternity. God forms the church in Christ to bring himself glory. This is a demonstration of God’s grace based on the work of Christ and intended to accomplish God’s will both here on earth and in heaven.
As sinners, we have offended God, broken his laws, disobeyed his commands, and rebelled against his will. This puts a sepeation between our Maker and us. If this breach is not repaired, the sinner remains in jeopardy of punishment from God. But in the death and resurrection of Christ, the Lord himself has provided for our forgiveness. (Matt. 27:28). It is an act of his grace toward us (Eph. 1:7–8).
Although mentioned directly only once in Ephesians 1:3–14, the death of Christ is the centerpiece of spiritual blessing. As the Levitical code states, “It is the blood that makes atonement by the life” (Lev. 17:11; see Heb. 9:22). Christ’s life-giving act provided the blood sacrifice that atones for the sins of believers. The cross of Christ is central to all the spiritual blessings we read about in Ephesians.
🔎 SIMILAR
1 Timothy 1:4,7 – The church of Ephesus was hounded by some false teachers who were interested in endless myths and genealogies, but not of sound biblical teaching.
Acts 19 – Paul’s made a trip to Ephesus and started the church there. Key factors are the riot by the silversmiths and Artemis’ temple.
Deuteronomy 7:6-7 – For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.
Matthew 24:22 – If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
John 6:44 – No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.
Acts 13:48 – When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 – But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:29-30 – For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Romans 9:11 – Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand.
On adoption:
John 1:12 – Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
2 Corinthians 6:18 – And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
On grace:
1 Timothy 1:14 – The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:24 – And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Colossians 2:13 – When you were dead in your trespasses and sins, He made you alive together with Christ.
Week 2: Prayer for Revelation (Ephesians 1:15–23)
🔎 TEXT - Ephesians 1:15–23
Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom
15 Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, 16 I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.
🔎 CONSIDER
Marina heard the gospel of Jesus Christ for the first time while she was in the hospital. Another patient there, Antonina, explained to her what Christ did for us on the cross and how to be spiritually healed by his wounds. Soon Marina trusted in Jesus for her salvation.
Later in her letter to us she shared, “When I entered the hospital, I was so depressed. But I learned about Jesus and was encouraged by his gospel. I’m so thankful to Antonina, who cared enough to talk to me.”
Are you thankful to people whom God sends into your life? The Bible teaches us to love both God and our neighbors. The daily practice of this love includes thanks both to our heavenly Father and to the people around us.
When the apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians, his main objective was to explain God’s eternal purpose and grace. He sought to share with his readers God’s high goals for the church. Yet against the background of this monumental task, the apostle remembers to say how thankful he is for the ordinary believers in the city of Ephesus. He compliments them for their devotion to Jesus and for their love for all God’s people. He encourages and prays for them.
In
our daily interactions with people, are we doing the same?
🔎 THINK
Paul states that all that the Lord has done for the church in Christ is a mystery now being revealed (Eph. 1:9). But without the working of the Lord to reveal his will, much of the significance of these spiritual blessings will remain hidden and ineffective in the life of a local assembly. Paul therefore prays for illumination. The prayer has as its focus the fullness of Christ in the church.
The spiritual blessings granted in Christ and the report of the believers’ faith in Christ and love for all believers give Paul reason to pray. If the Lord has provided every spiritual blessing in Christ in the heavenly places, and many in Ephesus have believed on Christ, why does knowledge of these two truths move Paul to pray? Paul asks God to reveal more of himself in wisdom—to give knowledge that will change believers through the power of what the Trinity has done for us in Christ.
In Ephesians 1:20, Paul makes reference to Christ’s ascension, including Christ’s position at the “right hand” of God, a symbol of sovereign rule (Ps. 110:1; Acts 2:33; 1 Pet. 3:22). What, then, is Paul expecting the Spirit to reveal about the power available to believers?
Prior to our salvation, we were doomed to perish. Many attempt to cover such hopelessness with temporal joys and achievements that seek to avoid the inevitability of their own demise. The gospel brings hope—assurance of resurrection and inheritance. Because Christ canceled sin and defeated death, those in him have the certain hope of eternity. Peter describes our hope in Christ as a “living” hope (1 Pet. 1:3).
Related to the concept of hope is the resurrection of Christ. Without the resurrection, believers have no more hope than anyone else (1 Cor. 15:14, 17–18). John indicates that the “second death” has no power over those who believe in Christ (John 11:25–26; Rev. 2:11; 20:6, 14; 21:8). Life after death, including a bodily resurrection, is promised to all believers.
🔎 SIMILAR
Colossians 1:3-4 – We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people.
1 Chronicles 29:11 – Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.
Psalms 24:10 – Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty – he is the King of glory.
James 3:17-18 – But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
Ephesians 5:8 – For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.
Romans 8:24-25 – For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Colossians 1:23 – If you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Titus 2:13 – While we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 6:12 – Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Week 3: The Dead Alive by Grace (Ephesians 2:1–10)
🔎 TEXT - Ephesians 2:1–10 (NLT)
1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
🔎 CONSIDER
When my sons were little, sometimes I would pretend to get confused as I was telling them a familiar story. I would insert absurd plot changes into a favorite fairy tale, just to see if they were listening. They were never fooled: they knew how the stories were supposed to go. As soon as a main character headed off-track, they would correct me: That’s not how the story goes!
Sometimes I end up trying to change God’s story for me into another, more appealing, story. Here’s one of my favorites: “How I Become Famous and Wealthy Without Ever Having to Work Very Hard.” And another: “How Everyone Comes to Agree with Me on Just About Everything.”
But I’m discovering that much of the stress in my life comes when I try to redirect God’s story for me. The experience has always been frustrating.
Perhaps you’ve done the same thing: like trying to force God into providing you with a relationship or a career that simply wasn’t part of his story for you. We get so frustrated at such times that we almost miss God’s still, small voice saying: That’s not how the story goes.
God’s
been helping me discover that it doesn’t really matter whether
my story goes where I think it should. What matters most is whether I
end up where the story goes. Understanding this about our stories
allows us to follow God in faith.
🔎 THINK
Our salvation is not due to ourselves. Did Lazarus take credit for his resurrection? A dead person gets no credit. Our salvation and life transformation is completely due to God’s grace in our lives. Therefore we should be humble. We should give Him the glory. And we should not think that we can finish by our own efforts that which He started in our lives with His power. Therefore we must live by the strength and wisdom which He provides.
Believers must be wary. We need to understand that Satan is active and using these resources to undermine Biblical truth. Therefore we must always practice discernment. Whatever we hear must be compared to Scripture. And those things that disagree with Scripture must be discarded no matter how many people support it.
Believers’ spiritual blessings come with access to the power of the sovereign ruler of the present and future ages. These blessings include riches that make earthly wealth pale in comparison. Such a lofty position could create a temptation to boast about these blessings or one’s role in acquiring them. In Ephesians 2:1–10, Paul will abolish all cause for human boasting in salvation, leaving all the glory for salvation to God alone.
The starting place of Christian belief is our recognition that we are spiritually dead before God. Mankind is subject to the influence of three great enemies: the greater cultural worldview, one’s natural desires and inclinations, and the Evil One (Gen. 3:1–7; 4:7, 23–24; 6:5; 11:4). All three work in harmony to keep mankind in happy disobedience to the Creator. As unbelievers, we seek the approval of other people, prefer our will to God’s, and live as those deceived by Satan about sin and its penalty. Only the power of grace in Christ breaks into these arenas to bring a new view of the world, holy desires, and the truth.
🔎 SIMILAR
John 3:3 – Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.
John 15:19 – If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
Romans 12:2 – Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
1 Cor 5:10 – Not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.
Titus 3:3 – At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
1 Timothy 1:16 – But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
Week 4: One New Man (Ephesians 2:11–22)
🔎 TEXT - Ephesians 2:11–22 (NLT)
11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
A Temple for the Lord
19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
🔎 CONSIDER
If we follow Christ, we have a relationship with God that is bound to be expressed in our relationships with other people. But we often forget that. We can easily create barriers in the name of race, religion, gender, churches, communities, families, friend groups, and more. While these differences can help us think about who we are, our sinful nature distorts them in such a way that we put up walls that divide us. We should celebrate diversity, but it should not lead to division.
The apostle Paul says we can find unity in the foundation that has already been laid in Christ. Being connected to one another increases our effectiveness as God’s people. It increases our strength as well as our worth. In the ultimate act of hospitality, God sent his Son, Jesus, making reconciliation possible between us and God.
Through Christ’s work on the cross, we are united as his people once and for all. Unless this is the case, there is no good news. Unless this is the case, we are lost in our sin — excluded from the kingdom and separate from Christ.
We
celebrate that the dividing wall has come down. Paul urges us to
remember that we were once excluded but that God drew us near to
himself so that we can become "one new humanity," inviting
everyone to join God’s household in Christ.
🔎 THINK
The Jews were specially chosen by God but had become prideful in this – They looked down on everyone who wasn’t circumcised and called them the “uncircumcision.” To them, others were unclean, low, worthless. They had forgotten that true circumcision was circumcision of the heart. It was an attitude of holiness and separation from the ways of the world, an attitude of dedication to God.
There are five areas where Gentiles were worse off than Jews in the Old Testament:
a) They were separate from Christ. Christ was promised as the deliverer of the Jews. He was their King, their Savior. In fact, He was a Jew Himself.
b) They could not be citizens of Israel. They were always referred to as aliens or foreigners. The best they could do was be second-rate residents of Israel.
c) They were strangers to the covenant of promise. God made a covenant with Abraham and renewed it with Isaac and Jacob. In this covenant, The Lord promised specific things, such as land, a priesthood, many people, and a nation. Since Gentiles are not descended from Abraham, this covenant is not for them.
d) They were having no hope – All people without God are without hope. Gentiles in Old Testament times were almost universally without God. We learn from Romans 1 that this lost state is because of their willful disbelief in the one true God. They had many false gods but rejected worship in the one true God.
e) They were without God – They didn’t know God. They didn’t follow God. That’s why they didn’t have any hope.
Christ takes the central role in this dramatic reversal of events – The words “But now in Christ” are infinitely important. In short, our entire situation has changed. We are no longer in the desperate, hopeless situation depicted in verses 11-12.
The benefits of the Gentiles’ new-found relationship to God – Gentiles were no longer outcasts, aliens, or foreigners. They were accepted into (and actually formed the majority of) the church. They became full-class citizens with full perks. They could actually be members of God’s very household, His own family.
🔎 SIMILAR
Romans 2:29 – No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
Colossians 2:13 – When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.
Jeremiah 9:25-26 – “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh— Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab and all who live in the wilderness in distant places. For all these nations are really uncircumcised, and even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.”
Genesis
17:7-9 – I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant
between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations
to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will
give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after
you; and I will be their God.”
Then God said to Abraham, “As
for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after
you for the generations to come.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 – Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:5 – Not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God.
Galatians 3:28 – There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 1:20-22 – And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.
John 10:16 – I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
Galatians 6:15 – Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 – All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Hebrews 10:19-25 – We can enter the Most Holy Place through Christ. He opened the way for us. Because of that we should draw near to God and each other (spur one another on in love and good deeds.)
Week 5: The Mystery of Gentile Inclusion (Ephesians 3:1–13)
🔎 TEXT - Ephesians 3:1–13 (NLT)
God’s Mysterious Plan Revealed
1 When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles . . . 2 assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. 3 As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. 4 As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. 5 God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.
6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. 7 By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.
8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.
10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. 13 So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.
🔎 CONSIDER
Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians with great praise to God for all the blessings we receive in Jesus. Back in eternity before he created the world, God worked out “the mystery of his will” with “all wisdom and understanding.” Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—three persons in one God working together—designed a way to include us humans in their family. Though we are imperfect and weak and even sinful, Christ came to give up his perfect life to pay the debt of our sin. And when we believe in him as Savior, we receive the Spirit of God himself to work in us as the guarantee of our inheritance with God forever.
One cannot read words like “the mystery of his will” without wondering, “Can we even begin to understand God’s will?” Books have been written in attempts to understand the will of God. And when it comes to ideas like “predestined” and “adoption” into God’s family, we have to admit this is a mystery. We cannot comprehend it.
Still,
we have the assurance of knowing we’re included—in Christ—having
heard the message of truth, the gospel of salvation! We have received
the Holy Spirit as a seal of our salvation. And with joy and delight
we can see the work of the Spirit bearing fruit in us— “to the
praise of his glory”!
🔎 THINK
Verses 2-13 are a break from Paul’s thoughts which he began in verse one – The point he started discussing in verse is taken up again starting in verse 14.
Although Paul was a prisoner of the Romans for a total of about four years, he didn’t say he was a prisoner of the Romans – He said he was a prisoner of Jesus Christ. He recognizes that Jesus is sovereign. Jesus is in control. When everyone told Paul not to go back to Jerusalem because they feared for his safety, he did anyway, knowing he would end up as a prisoner. Being a prisoner was just the next step of Christ’s plan for him.
In Old Testament times, the concept that the Gentiles and Jews would be one was a mystery – There were some hints (Genesis 12, Isaiah 49:6) that all people would have the opportunity to receive salvation, and salvation would be for all people. But even so, Jews did not expect that Gentiles would have exactly the same level or position as they did. The prophets tried to understand these things, but they were hidden even from them at that time. God’s plan cannot be known apart from His special revelation, and at that time, for whatever reason, He had not yet revealed it.
Paul was a minster not because of any special qualities he had – There was nothing he had done. He didn’t earn this position. It wasn’t a reward for his hard work. It was all God’s work. We see the words “gift,” “grace,” and “working of His power.” All the glory goes to God because He transformed Paul into who he was. When we do ministry, we will do well to remember this truth. It is all God’s work both in us and through us.
🔎 SIMILAR
2 Corinthians 11:23-29 – In these verses Paul lists out his sufferings as a believer serving the Lord.
2 Timothy 1:8 – So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
Matthew 13:17 – For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
1 Peter 1:10-12 – Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
Romans 15:15-16 – Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 4:1-2 – Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
Colossians 1:26 – The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people.
Psalms 103:20 – Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.
Week 6: Prayer for Love (Ephesians 3:14–21)
🔎 TEXT - Ephesians 3:14–21 (NLT)
Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth
14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
🔎 CONSIDER
Today the declaration glory to God alone resonates as a clear call to glorify God completely in salvation and in all things. But for Martin Luther and the other Reformers, this call focused on some specific charges against the church of their time.
The Reformers believed that God’s gracious gift of salvation had been diminished by intermediaries who detracted from God’s glory. They strongly reacted against setting the virgin Mary as a mediator between sinners and God. They also objected to the practice of venerating and praying to saints according to the church calendar. Above all, the Reformers railed against a power-seeking church that itself stood in the way of offering glory to God alone in salvation.
Mary’s faith, humility, and willingness to serve God should continue to be a powerful testimony to us. So too should the witness of faith and obedience of the many followers of Jesus who make up the church of all ages. But, like the Reformers, we should be aware that anyone or anything diminishing or even deflecting God’s glory in salvation risks becoming an idol.
The
Holy Spirit graciously uses many people to bring us to Jesus and to
strengthen our faith. Praise God for them—while giving glory
to God alone.
🔎 THINK
Paul marveled at God’s eternal purposes and perfect plan for the Jews and Gentiles. His response is to bow in worship. God is sovereign. He has good plans for His people. This should also cause us to bow our knees before Him and praise Him with all our hearts.
It is very important to read verse 15 in context – As with the rest of the chapter, the context is believers in the church. Therefore it doesn’t mean that unbelievers derive their name from God. Only followers of Christ bear His name. In Christ, every believing family is God’s, regardless of ethnicity.
What does it mean that we derive our name from God? Well, we are Christians, believers. Our relationship with God forms the foundation of our identity. When people see us, they see God in us. If we do right, they may give glory to God. If we do wrong, they say that our God is not good. It’s like my son. He is called by my name “Dexter.” What he does reflects on me. Jesus Himself said that the world would hate us because they hated Him first. Our actions stem from our relationship with Christ and reflect back on Him.
The rest of this section is a benediction – It closes out the first half of the book of Ephesians before the second half begins. The first half is focused on doctrine, and the second half is focused on life application of that doctrine. Most of Paul’s books end with a benediction giving glory to God and invoking God’s blessing on or exhorting the believers he is writing to. This is like a two-part sermon with a benediction in the middle.
In verses 16-18, Paul is invoking God’s blessings on the Ephesians – We may not notice it, but we also invoke God’s blessings on others when we say things like “May God bless you.” “God’s peace be with you.” “May God comfort you during this time.” etc. When we do this, we should also pray for the person as Paul did for the believers he taught. Paul wants them to be strengthened, their faith to increase, and to fully understand the love of God. In verses 20-21, he concludes the benediction with praise for God. Notice also in verse 20; he recognizes that God can do much more than he had even asked him for.
🔎 SIMILAR
Psalms 95:6 – Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker
Ephesians 1:10 – To be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
Ephesians 2:19 – Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.
Psalms 107:43 – Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.
Romans 11:33 – Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
Week 7: Christian Maturity (Ephesians 4:1–16)
🔎 TEXT - Ephesians 4:1–16 (NLT)
1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God
and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through
all.
7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 8 That is why the Scriptures say,
“When
he ascended to the heights,
he led a
crowd of captives
and gave gifts to his
people.”
9 Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. 10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
🔎 CONSIDER
I met a man who ended many of his criticisms by saying, “And that’s the way it is!” He apparently had great confidence in his own discernment. And if you challenged him, he would say, “But it’s true!”
But if he spoke the truth, it was not spoken in love. Instead, he used truth as a blow-torch, scorching anyone who crossed his path.
In some ways he might have kept God’s law by telling the truth, but he broke it when he did not speak in love.
So how do we know if we are speaking the truth in love?
Here are some considerations to make before speaking:
Is it helpful? Will saying this bring about good?
Is it necessary? Must I say this?
Is it loving? Will it build someone up in Christ?
These are the goals we should seek. The apostle Paul urges us to “keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace,” “so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity.” Paul sees words in a way like construction materials that can be used in building—so that we can build a house of peace. Only with such a goal in mind may we speak the truth.
🔎 THINK
Chapter 4 begins the second part of Ephesians, which is focused on the application of the doctrines taught in the first half.
Notice it begins with the word “therefore.” This means “based on everything you have just read.” The doctrines taught in the first three chapters should directly impact how a person lives. In fact, doctrine is useful. Paul told us many specific reasons why we should love those who are different than us in the first three chapters. Doctrine is the why and application is the how. If we don’t know why we do something, eventually we may stop doing it.
🔎 SIMILAR
Philippians 1:27 – Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Colossians 1:10 – So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.
1 Thessalonians 2:12 – Encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 – Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Romans 15:1 – We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
Galatians 6:2 – Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
John 17:21 – That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Psalms 68:18 – If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
John 3:13 – No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.
John 6:33 – For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.
Romans 10:14-15 – How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Colossians 1:28-29 – He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-14 – Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
James 1:6 – But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Week 8: Walking in a New Life (Ephesians 4:17–32)
🔎 TEXT - Ephesians 4:17–32 (NLT)
17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.
20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
🔎 CONSIDER
Most of us dislike disappointing someone or making them sad. But if we don’t like to disappoint or sadden others, we should really hate to disappoint God.
Disappoint God? Yes, we can disappoint, grieve, or sadden God the Holy Spirit.
That we can sadden the Holy Spirit teaches us something important about him. Although the Bible uses some impersonal images of the Holy Spirit (such as wind, or a dove), the fact that the Spirit can be grieved reminds us that he is a person and not some impersonal force.
How do we grieve the Holy Spirit? We do this by failing to live holy and righteous lives.
Paul reminds his readers—and that includes us—that they should no longer live like unbelievers in the darkness and “futility of their thinking.” All who believe have been purchased with the precious blood of Jesus, and now they are called to live in his light. Living in Jesus’ light means following him in our thoughts, words, and deeds.
That we can grieve the Holy Spirit implies that we have a certain power over him. This is not power to manipulate, but to cooperate—or not.
Do you want to work with the Holy Spirit in the world today? Don’t grieve him. Instead, work with him by living in holiness and righteousness as a witness for God’s glory.
🔎 THINK
These verses show a clear picture of the old way of life. It is separate from God, foolish, hardened to sin, and given over to sinful desires. It is depraved both in mind and in behavior. This is a bleak picture of the human race. But there is hope. This is the old way of life, but there is also a new way of life.
We have to make the choice to lay aside the old self as if one is taking off a set of clothes. In the last passage, I gave an example of a beggar who was adopted as a prince. That prince can make the decision to lay aside his beggar clothes and wear the ones of a prince. Or he can go back and become a beggar. After his adoption, he has a choice every day about who he wants to be. When he was a beggar, he did not have a choice. He was a beggar and could not, through sheer willpower, choose to be anything else.
Paul qualifies his statement “to be angry.” Even when you have righteous anger, you should not remain in that state and you should restrain some of your impulses. Be kind to one another – Paul concludes this section with a positive command. Through our words and actions, we are to pass on God’s kindness to those around us. In a family, each member is a sinner. The same is true in God’s family. Christ has forgiven us much. We should forgive others too.
🔎 SIMILAR
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
2 Corinthians 4:4 – The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Romans 1:21-23 – For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
Galatians 4:8 – Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
John 3:19-21 – This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Titus 2:11-12 – For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.
Romans 12:2 – Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Psalms 51:10 –Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Titus 3:5 – He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
On lying/truth:
Proverbs 12:19 – Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
John 8:44 – You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Ephesians 4:15 – Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
On anger:
Romans 12:19 – Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
James 1:19-20 – My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
Proverbs 19:11 – A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
On speech:
Colossians 4:6 – Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
James 3:2-12 – This passage teaches us about the importance of bridling the tongue.
On kindness:
Romans 12:10 – Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Colossians 3:12-13 – Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Week 9: Walking in Love (Eph. 5:1–14)
🔎 TEXT - Ephesians 5:1–14 (NLT)
1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,
“Awake,
O sleeper,
rise up from the
dead,
and Christ will give you light.”
🔎 CONSIDER
An old poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson says, “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.” There’s a lot of wisdom in those words. They teach us that choices have consequences.
That’s certainly true when it comes to practicing goodness. People who want to grow in goodness try to obey the command in today’s Scripture to “find out what pleases the Lord.” And, as we can see, that command has both a positive and a negative application. Living as children of light means both doing what is good and not doing what is evil.
Good and evil actions are radically different from each other, as much as light is different from darkness. But there is one thing they have in common: the more we practice them, the more skilled we become at doing them. That’s because the things we do shape the kind of people we are. Choices develop character.
When you tell a lie, for example, you not only say something untrue; you become a liar. This explains why honest people don’t cheat. They know that only cheaters do that, and that is not the kind of person they want to become.
Place a high premium on the fruit of goodness! You’ll discover that the bigger it gets, the sweeter it tastes.
🔎 THINK
Chapter 5 covers obedience to the example of Christ, and the relationship between husbands and wives. Paul discusses how believers are to be imitators of God through a focus on the love demonstrated by Christ.
Believers are to find out what pleases God (Ephesians 5:10). Believers should take no part in sin, but rather expose sin (Ephesians 5:11).
In
the greater context of Ephesians, Paul's intent is to make a
distinction between the lives of believers and unbelievers. Believers
are supposed to live distinctly differently. Instead of sexual
immorality and vulgar speech, believers are to exhibit pure lives and
live with gratitude. Unbelievers are marked by their evil actions and
will not inherit the kingdom of God. However, believers are certainly
given the gift of eternal life (John
3:16; Ephesians
2:8–9). Because of this, they should live in a way that
imitates God (Ephesians
5:1), turning from the sinful practices of their life before
Christ.
🔎 SIMILAR
Matthew 5:48 – Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
1 Peter 1:15-16 – But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
1 John 4:11 – Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Colossians 3:12-14 – Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
1 Peter 4:8 – Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Matthew 25:35-36 – For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
Proverbs 12:23 – The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.
Matthew 12:34-37 – You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.
Ephesians 5:19-20 – Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3:17 – And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Revelation 21:27 – Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
1 John 3:7-8 – Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
John 8:12 – When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
John 12:46 – I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
1 Peter 2:9-11 – But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Philippians 2:14-15 – Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky
Matthew 18:15-17 – “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
1 Timothy 5:20 – But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.
2 Timothy 4:2 – Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction..
Week 10: Walking in the Spirit (Ephesians 5:15–6:9)
🔎 TEXT - Ephesians 5:15–6:9 (NLT)
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Spirit-Guided Relationships: Wives and Husbands
21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. 24 As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.
25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. 27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. 28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. 29 No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. 30 And we are members of his body.
31 As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” 32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. 33 So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Chapter 6 Children and Parents
1 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”
4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. 6 Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. 7 Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 8 Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.
9 Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.
🔎 CONSIDER
A great benefit of the Christian community is that believers in Christ pray for one another. Our reading today urges us to pray “on all occasions” and “for all the Lord’s people” always. This is important because amid all the activities and busyness we may face each day, we’re in a struggle against evil. The forces of evil do not want us to love one another.
Praying for others is a pattern seen throughout Scripture— from Moses’ praying that God would be merciful to his people (Deuteronomy 9:26), to various psalms of David, to Daniel’s prayer that God’s people be freed from exile (Daniel 9), to the prayers of Jesus throughout his ministry, and to the prayers of his apostles for believers everywhere. The apostle Paul, for example, begins his letter to the Philippian Christians by assuring them that he is praying for them (Philippians 1:3-6).
There are so many people and situations we can pray for. When someone comes to mind, it may be that the Spirit is nudging you to pray. Praying may come more naturally to some than to others. But all of us can pray for others. All we need is to be open to the leading of God’s Spirit.
Do
you pray for others? It’s an important part of fulfilling Christ’s
command to love one another each day.
🔎 THINK
Paul encourages believers to walk with wisdom (Ephesians 5:15). Believers are to make the most of their time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16). Paul encouraged readers to understand the will of God (Ephesians 5:17) and not become drunk on wine (Ephesians 5:18). Instead, believers are to be filled with the Spirit, praising the Lord and giving thanks to Him (Ephesians 5:18–20). Believers should also submit to one another out of respect for Christ (Ephesians 5:21).
The second part of this chapter (Ephesians 5:22–33) addresses mutual submission between husband and wife. Ephesians 5:22–24 focuses first on wives. They are called to submit to their husbands as to the Lord (Ephesians 5:22), with Paul using the analogy of Christ and the church as an example (Ephesians 5:23–24). Husbands are then addressed and called to love their wives as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25). They are to love their wives as they do their own bodies, teaching that the man who loves his wife loves himself (Ephesians 5:28). Paul transitions to a reference to Genesis 2:24, noting the mystery is profound between Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:32). In summary, Paul reminds husbands to love their wives as they do themselves and for wives to respect their husbands (Ephesians 5:33).
In Chapter 6, Verses 1 through 3 offer a brief set of instructions for children. This verse offers a summary clearly written to children still living under the authority of their parents. The emphasis here is on godly obedience. This is not blind or mindless cooperation (Acts 5:39). Rather, this is submission grounded in a love for God.
Verses 5 through 9 provide Paul's instructions for servants and masters. In this verse, Paul notes the importance of obedience to one's master: Three specific aspects are noted. First, Paul mentions "fear and trembling." The terms do not imply terror or living in dread. Rather, this carries the idea of respect and reverence. Second, Paul adds that service should be done with "a sincere heart." A servant should not attempt to deceive a master, but rather genuinely work hard to do his or her best. Third, Paul sets the highest standard possible in stating that a servant's obedience should be as serving Christ. This would have been a difficult challenge, especially for servants under the rule of harsh masters.
🔎 SIMILAR
Ecclesiastes 9:10 – Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
Galatians 6:10 – Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
James 4:14 – Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
1 Peter 4:2 – As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
Proverbs 23:20-21 – Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
Acts 16:25 – About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
Colossians 3:16 – Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
James 5:13 – Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
Colossians 1:11-12 – Being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
1 Peter 5:5 – In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
1 Peter 3:1 – Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives.
Titus 2:5 – Subject to their own husbands.
Colossians 3:18 – Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Genesis 3:16 – To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
1 Corinthians 11:3 – But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
Colossians
3:19 – Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
1
Peter 3:7 – Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live
with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner
and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing
will hinder your prayers.
Colossians 3:20 – Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
Exodus 20:12 – Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Deuteronomy 5:16 – Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Proverbs 1:8 – Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
Proverbs 22:15 – Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.
Hebrews 12:5-11 – For more on discipline, you can read this passage which discusses it extensively.
Week 11: Standing Firm in the Real War (Ephesians 6:10–24)
🔎 TEXT - Ephesians 6:10–24 (NLT)
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.
21 To bring you up to date, Tychicus will give you a full report about what I am doing and how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper in the Lord’s work. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you.
23 Peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters, and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. 24 May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.
🔎 CONSIDER
Greetings of hello and goodbye are expressions of -civility in conversation. But our words can often become ordinary. An impersonal greeting can simply be a way of acknowledging another’s presence as you walk by.
Expressions that offer a blessing are more meaningful and powerful. Paul began his letter to the Ephesians with “Grace and peace to you …” and he ends it with “Grace to all who love …” So Paul doesn’t just sign his letter. He brackets it with prayers for grace. Paul desires that the church members in Ephesus experience the reality of God’s grace in their lives.
There is a lesson in this for all of us. To wish someone well is more thoughtful when it is for something substantial and meaningful. Only people who know the depths of God’s grace in their own lives can meaningfully wish it for someone else. It is a wish to acknowledge that God is sovereign and never absent from us. Having God’s grace-filled presence does not mean that we will be perfect in our conduct or that everything will always go our way. But it does mean that we come to realize “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28) so that we can focus on loving “our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.” All of us are encouraged to live life in that awareness.
Grace
and peace to all of you!
🔎 THINK
Paul
wraps up his practical teachings with a series of analogies,
comparing aspects of the Christian faith to the equipment carried by
a soldier.
This verse introduces the overall motivation for
Paul's instructions. Namely, this is strength, through the Lord, and
of the Lord. Paul opened his letter with a prayer for the Ephesian
Christians to receive wisdom and knowledge (Ephesians
1:15-23). Here, after discussing the real-world application of
that wisdom, Paul notes that the believer does not rely on his or her
own strength, but on the power of God to win victory in life's
battles.
The following verses offer an outline of each part of
the metaphorical armor of God. Each piece connects to an area of
spiritual life important for reliance upon God's strength. Paul's
depiction of these components will conclude with a focus on prayer
(Ephesians
6:18–20), again asking God for strength and success in battle.
Only by relying on God, through these spiritual tools, can we
overcome spiritual evil and succeed at living out God's will.
Paul
personally saw himself as a spiritual warrior as well. In fact, he
was often a prisoner of war, in a sense (Ephesians
6:20), yet still involved in the battle to reach others with the
good news of Jesus.
This verse begins the concluding section of the letter, extending through 6:24. Paul expresses a desire to offer additional information about his situation in Rome. In addition to this letter, he seems to be sending a particular person, Tychicus, to the Ephesian church. Tychicus more than likely delivered additional information, along with Paul's written greetings.
Every soldier needs to be well trained in their weapons. Are you well trained in God’s Word? How can you become more familiar with this weapon? The more you use it the sharper swordsman you will be.
The “Hand of the Word” refers to five ways to get a grasp of the Bible and never let go. The five methods are:
- Hear
- Read
- Study
- Memorize
- Meditate
🔎 SIMILAR
Isaiah 40:31 – but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 – But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Colossians 1:11 – Being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience.
1 Peter 5:8-9 – Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Romans 13:14 – Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Colossians 3:10 – and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Romans 8:38-39 – For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Colossians 1:13 – For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.
Colossians 2:15 – And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Romans 8:26-27 – In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Romans 12:12 – Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Colossians 4:2 – Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
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