Thursday: Ephesians – a Christ-saturated Letter
How does Paul announce the theme of his letter? Ephesians 1:9-10.
How can the message of Ephesians be summarized? From prison, Paul sets forth a vision of God’s Christ-centered plan for the fullness of time and the church’s role in it.
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
God has acted in Christ to initiate His plan “to unite all things in him [Christ], things in heaven and things on earth” (Ephesians 1:10, ESV), and He did so by creating the church as an entity composed of one new humanity of both Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 2:14). Believers are called to act in concert with this divine plan, signaling to the evil powers that God’s ultimate purpose is underway (Ephesians 3:10).
As Ephesians 1:9-10, proclaims, the unity God has in mind is centered in Christ. So it is no surprise to discover that Ephesians is a Christ-drenched letter that everywhere praises the actions of God in Christ and celebrates the access of believers to the spiritual resources offered them in Christ. Paul employs the phrase “in Christ” and similar phrases more than thirty times, and everywhere lifts up Jesus. As you read the letter, watch for these phrases and stay alert to the many ways Paul focuses on Jesus.
Paul seeks to reignite the spiritual commitment of believers in Ephesus by reminding them that they are part of the church, which is at the heart of God’s plan to unify all things in Christ. When he uses the word “church” (Greek, ekkl�”sia) in the letter, he means the “universal” church or the church at large (rather than a local congregation).
A principal strategy he uses is to talk about the church, and he does so using vivid metaphors, four of which he develops in some detail:
- The church as a body (Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 2:16; Ephesians 3:6; Ephesians 4:1-16, Ephesians 4:25; Ephesians 5:23, Ephesians 5:29-30).
- The church as a building/temple (Ephesians 2:19-22).
- The church as a bride (Ephesians 5:22-27).
- The church as an army (Ephesians 6:10-20).
Each one of these images, in its own way, reveals what God’s purpose and intention for His church is.
| In the church of which you are a part, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, God is drawing together a transnational, multilingual, multiracial, cross-cultural community (Revelation 14:6-7) that points the way to the fulfillment of His plan to unite all things in Jesus (Ephesians 1:9-10). How can we work in concert with God’s grand plan? |
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In another place and another time, Paul said:
He said that in the context of his discourse on Mars Hill about the "unknown god". Here he was discussing Jesus with a group of Greek philosophers, trying to convince them by reasoning about the importance of Jesus.
In the Epistle to the Ephesians, he is writing to believers in Jesus, many of whom had come to know Jesus through Paul, not only preaching to them but living and working with them. As I alluded to in some of my earlier comments; this is not Paul the evangelist, but, Paul the pastor. He is not telling them about Jesus, he is sharing the relationship.
The centrality of Jesus to the Gospel is particularly evident in Ephesians, but it also infuses the rest of Paul's epistles as well.
Having read this; what sort of persons ought we be?
Be the Sermon by how you live and interact with others in and out of the church fold.
All worshippers from every race were had to have Christ die for them as a ransom. We should not turn a blind eye to racism. Every human being was created in the image of God. We all have a shared heritage from the first human beings, Adam and Eve.
-Friendships have to be established across racial lines.
-You can stay in racially diverse communities or neighbourhoods.
-Try to befriend believers from other races and try to tach them local languages.
-Try to make sure that all presentations in church are done in languages catering for every believer present in the congregation. This can be done through translations and sign language.
-There should not be separate worship services based on racial lines.
-Pray that racism be not rife in our churches.
It seems to me that as the world becomes more fragmented along racial and ethnic lines our Seventh-Day Adventist church should become more united ,across racial , ethnic and national differences . We must relate to fellow members of our church who appear different from us as members of our family even more than blood relatives who are not followers of Christ. Segregation in the church is a denial of the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man . When you and I are in Christ that unity does not deny our differences but they lose their significance. I have attended a multi ethnic , multicultural church for past 40 years What a blessing ! A foretaste of heaven.
"for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." Ephesians 6:20
Have I weak characteristics? If so, how do I react to them? Do I ignore them? Or, perhaps, do I value them too much? Would I be wise to accept the improbabilities that keep me needing a Solution? Am I accustomed to the adrenaline of my perils, thus I run from peace? How do I manage feelings and reality?
Self-analysis might be necessary for a Christian. But above it is a God Who cares about every detail of my life! Who loves me so much that He was able to send His only Son to die for a sinner. Should I cry over my sufferings? Let me be happy, for my fate is nailed on a cross, death defeated by my Savior so I can get abundant life!
What does it mean “that in the dispensation of the fullness of time He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth - in Him” - Eph.1:9-10? This statement points to the Father in whom ultimately all things which are found in Christ will be established; and only those things which are in Christ.
The life of the Ephesians was steeped in the culture of idol worship and all that comes with it - identity, success, comfortable living, recognition as being part of a vibrant city. No need to abandon this lifestyle, right?
Ultimately, 'Christianity' won out and became organized to represent one of the major religions observed world-wide. Though there is still a great need to remove the old 'traditions', supersitions which seek satisfaction through sings and wonders, rites and rituals, creeds and observations of 'holidays', which were incorporated into this new organized religion called - Christianity.
Did not Jesus Christ come to reveal the Father to mankind, to set us free from all encumberments which any form of organized, ritualistic worship places on the believer? Has not Jesus told us that we have a direct access to the Father - Eph.2:18? All major gods of history attempted to lay claim to the titel of being the Supreme God themselves, or an offspring of one of the family members of the gods, regulating their follower's access of how to receive their 'benevolence'.
But then came Jesus Christ to introduce the true God/Creator to mankind - a new god laying claim of the title to be the Supreme God. Now one can find the corpses of many defeated gods and their religions on the spiritual battlefield; but not all want to stay defeated. They seek their resurrection by clandestinely participating in the new religions, being disguised by using new names - this mishmash of old and new religions constitutes Babylon.
But God establishes for Himself the Ekklesia, the called out ones, to assemble in this world the ‘new humanity’ - His Body -to live until ‘He is finished gathering together all things in Christ.’ All believers in Jesus' Gospel are called to stay faithful, occupy until the time is full, living the godly life, humbly but unapologetically seeking to live life according to the Word of God as told by Jesus Christ in whom the believer has its life.
Paul worked diligently to establish the faith of the Ephesians. They did not have the benefit of Scripture to help them stay faithful and strong, but they had the Holy Spirit. What greater assurance than following the call by the Holy Spirit to live his/her life as a Christian who loves God the Father with all ones heart and to do right by his fellow man?
All who are filled with the Holy Spirit, hearing God's calling to seek after righteousness will find the Savior already seated at the table waiting for them to join Him in the wedding feast.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Light which leads to the Father, the Creator, which ‘gathers together in Christ’ all things in earth and in heaven.
"What does it mean “that in the dispensation of the fullness of time, He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth - in Him” - Eph.1:9-10? This statement points to the Father in whom ultimately all things which are found in Christ will be established; and only those things which are in Christ."
When will this be established? Has it been established? Do we wait for the coming of Jesus to see the fullness of the establishment? While we wait, can we continue in our fragmented and differentiated view of ourselves and those not like us? I want to believe that at the Cross, Christ established this; hence a non-Jew like me is a partaker of blessings of the Gospel of peace and find a home in an international church 6000 miles away from home and find love, fellowship and body of faith.
Samuel, it seems that "fullness of time" in Paul's writing means something like "the right time," because He writes in Galatians 3:4-5 that " we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons."
In relation to your question, it seems that the gathering "together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth - in Him” began when Christ came to this planet. Just like we are "in heavenly places" with Him right now. (See Eph. 2:6 and also Eph. 1:3)
How do you see it?
Hello Samuel – in your comment you asked: “when will this be established – has it been established – do we wait for the coming of Jesus to see the fullness of the establishment?”
Paul wrote about this ‘dispensation of the fullness of time’ after the departure of Jesus Christ. May I offer my understanding as an answer to your questions.
Scripture states: “that in the dispensation of the fullness of time, …” - We may be living in the dispensation of the fullness of time now, but no one knows for sure; it might be the time of Christ's return. We are admonished to ‘occupy until He comes’. To me it does not realy matter whether it is now or at His return. We are not to worry about these things but run the race heartedly by faith – Matt.24:36.
All believers, Jews, Gentiles, or any member of any race living on this earth is invited to partake of the “blessings of the Gospel of Peace” regardless where his/her earthly home is. God is no respecter of persons, He is the One who gives the 'seeker of truth' to His Son and so be accepted in Christ. Those who seek to be joined to the body of Christ become part of the international Ekklesia - those called out by the Father to live by faith – John 6:35-40.
Who loves me so much that He was able to send His only Son to die for a sinner.
I just want to clarify that Christ didn't live and die instead of us but as us.
If He did these things instead of us, then it logically follows that He also went to heaven instead of us.
Jesus died a sinner's death (the death we deserve). On the cross, He took our sins onto himself and died our second death (1 Peter 2:24). In Him, we currently sit in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).
Praise God.
Paul the Pastor not the evangelist
I would venture on to say that Epesians 1:9,10 is very much like Jesus words recorded by the Gospel of Matthew in chapter 6:9-13 where Jesus tells His disciples what their prayers should always be about and starts off with showing God's dwelling place and His Holiness as per His Name and then goes on to mention God's will to be done on earth as already accomplished in Heaven etc. and etc.
I have always wanted to know where Paul was quoting from when he says in Ephesians 4:8 "...He led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men." Supposedly he was quoting from Psalm 68:18. But in the Psalm the wording there says, "...thou has led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men;..." Here the Psalm reminds me of when the Magi came to bring gifts to the infant Jesus. This Psalm 68 seems to exalt God as creator, as a benevolent and righteous God even from Mount Zion when He gave Moses the 10 Commandments, and then with all that He did for Israel as a nation etc. and etc. But to quote from here about Spiritual Gifts for God's Church and Spiritual Leaders and Gifts of His Holy Spirit for it, seems somewhat out of context to me. I am not saying that Jesus and His Father did not send the Holy Spirit to His Followers and empowered them and that He still does this even now. But I just do not see the quote from Psalm as bein the same in Ephesians.