Whatever else it might be, Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is filled with fundamentally rich and glorious truths about the church that should transform the way we think about the community God has created through Jesus. Written to a first-century congregation comprised of people from starkly different backgrounds (Jewish and Gentile), the topic of community would be an area where theyContinue reading “God At Work”
Category Archives: Ephesians
What Makes a Church Special?
“I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” Paul to the Ephesians in 1:16 of his letter. Here’s one of those verses that’s easy to rush right past. It’s not hard to think of Paul’s statement as being the first century equivalent of asking someone today, ”How are you doing.” We don’tContinue reading “What Makes a Church Special?”
The Walk of Life (3)
Paul has more to say about the disciples’ walk in Ephesians 5. He begins by telling us we are to “walk in the way of love” (v. 2). Love has a way (1 Corinthians 13:1-8) and despite what popular culture tells us, it has very little to do with our feelings. If you look Paul’s listContinue reading “The Walk of Life (3)”
The Walk of Life (4)
They had known each other since they were ten years old. They went to the same school, grew up in the same neighborhood, played ball together, spent the night at each other’s house, and did all the other things that good friends do. Somewhere in their early to mid-teens, they began to drift apart. SomeContinue reading “The Walk of Life (4)”
The Walk of Life (1)
Paul’s letters often fall into a basic, two-part division. The first part is theology while the second is about turning theology into biography. Paul follows this pattern in Ephesians with the first three chapters focusing on teaching and the last three on living. Paul could reach up into the heavens on subjects, but he wasContinue reading “The Walk of Life (1)”
The Walk of Life (2)
2. They are to walk differently than the world. In addressing what appears to be a largely Gentile church, Paul tells them they can’t be saved by Jesus and yet live like they don’t know Him. They can’t live like their unredeemed friends and family. That was how they used to walk when they “followed theContinue reading “The Walk of Life (2)”
Scale & Scope (1)
Our grandsons like to fish. The verdict is still out on the granddaughter (she’s six years old), but the boys are locked in. The ones in Arkansas are blessed in that they have a regular place to fish, so we get a quite a few pictures from their outings. I taught them early on whatContinue reading “Scale & Scope (1)”
Scale & Scope (2)
So how is the church involved in this? That’s what Paul is addressing in Ephesians 3. He begins by talking about the church as the place where God is accomplishing the reconciliation of humanity. Not just part of humanity, but all of it—Jews and Gentiles. They have all became “sharers together in the promise inContinue reading “Scale & Scope (2)”
Rescued!
Paul says some amazing things about Jesus towards the end of Ephesians 1. He tells us about how God has “raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms far above” any and every power and authority in the heavenly realms (v. 20-21, see also 6:12ff). Furthermore, HeContinue reading “Rescued!”
Ephesians and the “Heavenly Realms” (1)
“Heavenly realms” or “heavenly places” (ESV) is a phrase unique to Ephesians. It is comes from the Greek word, epouraniois. This word is found in other places in the NT, but only in Ephesians is it translated this way. Paul uses it five times in Ephesians, so it’s an important term to understand if weContinue reading “Ephesians and the “Heavenly Realms” (1)”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 