Sabbath: Paul and the Ephesians
Sabbath Afternoon
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study: Acts 18:18-21; Acts 19:13-20:1; Acts 20:17-38; Ephesians 1:1-2; Ephesians 6:21-24; Ephesians 3:13; Ephesians 1:9-10.
Memory Text: “Making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth” (Ephesians 1:9-10, ESV).
When we write something, we have a purpose for doing so, sometimes a weighty one. Abraham Lincoln, for instance, wrote his famous Gettysburg address in 1863, after the terrible devastation in the American Civil War battle there, which left about 7,000 soldiers dead. In that address, invoking the founding fathers, Lincoln expressed his belief that the Civil War was the ultimate test as to whether the nation created in 1776 would endure or would “perish from the earth.”
Paul has a profound purpose that motivates his letter. Partly because of his imprisonment (Ephesians 3:13, Ephesians 6:20), and partly because of ongoing persecution and temptations, the Ephesians are tempted to lose heart. Paul reminds them of what happened when they were converted, accepting Christ as their Savior and becoming part of the church. They have become Christ’s body (Ephesians 1:19-23, Ephesians 4:1-16), the building materials in a temple (Ephesians 2:19-22), the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:21-33), and a well-equipped army (Ephesians 6:10-20). They play a strategic role in fulfilling God’s grand plan, to unite everything in Christ (Ephesians 1:9-10). Paul writes to awaken the believers in Ephesus to their full identity and privileges as followers of Christ.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 1.
(25)
Why was the book of Ephesians written:
-We are saved by grace through faith(Ephesians 2:8-9)
-We must put on the full armor of God as we wrestle against spiritual forces of evil which want to destroy our faith(Ephesians 6:12).
-There is need for unity in Christ.
-There is also a call to spiritual maturity in Christ(Ephesians 4:1-16).
We must conduct ourselves in a manner worth our heavenly calling on daily basis.We are to grow spiritually in community with other believers.
I asked myself the question as to why I write so much on Sabbath School Net. Partly, it is because writing things down helps me to understand how I am thinking. And I wonder if that is the reason why Paul wrote so much. Was he trying to figure things out? We sometimes look at "inspiration" as though the written word is a carefully crafted statement of truth. Perhaps it is more a record of a growing Christian being guided by the Holy Spirit.
It may be useful for us as we study Ephesians to treat Paul as one of us, learning and growing in spiritual understanding, rather than an elder spiritual statesman, or prophet, delivering an oracle.
You are right Maurice. Now we do find Paul in prison some of the time, during the time he had Ephesus on his mind. He could see the toughness of not only being a Christian in a city where the emphasis was on the goddess Diana, he also could see if he spent extra time writing to the Christians in Ephesus, he could recruit more Christians to carry on God’s work, or plan for expanding Christianity if you will. When out of prison and as soon as it was possible Paul spent three years or more with the Ephesian Christian’s. Nothing like being there in person.
When I was in collage listening to professors like your self, 200 of us had the opportunity to drive down to San Francisco, from out of our mountain top in Angwin California, to listen to Karen Carpenter, brother and band in person. Yes it was better than listening to our reel to reel tapes, 70’s era.
I imagine the Ephesian Christians felt the same when Paul arrived. Paul was a real pastor to the Ephesians. To be in person, is a better way to get things accomplished, as you testified sometime ago about your relationship with your wife in the beginning. Happy Sabbath.
You just thought you wrote to learn. You write because it helps us understand. I’m glad God blesses you by it also.
Thank you for sharing your heart and your understanding.
You are right. As the Spirit works through us, we are always learning and growing.
I work at listening through the Spirit rather then the flesh. Then everything I read that is truth in Christ seems to leap out and work at my spiritual growth. It doesn't matter where I'm reading from. It could be a writer that isn't in the bible, like yourself, as well as the Bible itself. I don't see it as coming from any human being or any book, but from the Holy Spirit, himself, especially because I hear the voice of God in the writings.
He uses His children to speak His Word. The Word was in the beginning. It was with God before creation, and it is God. (John 1) He is still speaking His Word today through His gifts in us. (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)
We, who are baptized in the Holy Spirit need to discern what is coming from God in what we read. As Paul said, not I, but Christ. Galatians 2:20.
Paul went out to teach and preach the ‘Gospel of the Grace of God’ – ‘preaching the Kingdom of God’ –
‘Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His blood’ –
‘Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me’ -
'I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak’ – ‘and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give then to receive.’
Eph.1:5-10:
To our heavenly Father -
”Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will; to the Praise of the Glory of His Grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved;
in Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His Grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hat purposed in Himself:
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and on earth; even in Him.’ -
belong Honor, Glory, and Praise! Amen
We are to take a lesson as well ,we christians in the following sides;
Most christians we fall weak when the leader who have made us to see the light(the truth) has left, we fail to stand on our own, like Paul, Ephesiasans suffer for their faith and lost hope just because Paul was in prison. This tendency is what is killing us, we fail to stand ,even to seek ways of how we can sustain our christianity lives without the guidance of a pastor.
Jesus said
"...,No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."-Luke 9:62 KJV.
We need to know and understand whom we are serving(Jesus, Son of God) and where we are heading(The Kingdom of God).
Yes, Brother Fredrick, I see your point.
However, what about Acts 20:17-38, which we will study later this week?
When Paul finally was able to go to Ephesus, the first thing he did was call a meeting of the Elders of the church, verse 17. He is not going to allow them to use his absence as an excuse for falling weak or falling away from their first love, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Paul told the elders plainly in Acts 20:28,
Paul was an Evangelist (the title of our Sabbath School lesson), or a missionary; he was not supposed to be the shepherd for the Ephesian church. But he was moved by the Holy Spirit to go back to Ephesus, and remained there for three years, to shepherd the flock.
What does that say about us, about our service to God?
Paul said to them and us, in Ephesians 2:19-22:
We need to stop blaming the problems of our church on the Pastor, the conference leaders, and the General Conference. We all have a role to play, in service to our Lord Jesus Christ, to the unity the church, and to spread His last day message about His second coming to all the world.
God's blessing to you all.
I'm Paul's fan... he is articulate, cunning, and good with words, which must have earned him some title in Jewish law. Let's also seize this trimester's studies! And may we grow in the knowledge of goodness, upgrading our souls every step higher.
I think it would be beneficial to read John's depiction of the Ephesian church (Revelation) 2:1-7 as an integral part of our studies this quarter to gain a clearer insight into the church and its problems. Reading the whole of Paul and John's writings on Ephesians at the beginning of our study each week should be a priority.
Yes, Brother Kevin!! I already added that as a part of my introduction for teaching this Sabbath School lesson on Sabbath.
As John wrote in Revelation 2:1-7, this church did have a lot of good qualities as well. The Lord just had one thing against them, "because thou hast left thy first love." That is the central theme for this quarter, in my opinion, and we will all learn how we can rekindle the flames of "thy first love", our faith in Jesus Christ, and remember back to when we first fall in love with Jesus.
God blessings to you!!
There may be some benefit in reading about Ephesus in Revelation but keep in mind that Revelation was written about 30 years later. A lot can change in churches and communities in that time, so keep that in mind. In Revelation, the Ephesians have lost their first love but I don't get the feeling that Paul saw that as an issue when he wrote Ephesians. Ephesians really does not focus much on glaring issues at all. It is a very joyous, positive letter, though it has guidance. (I say this thinking in contrast to books like Galatians, I Corinthians, Colossians, where key problems are identified)