Ephesians A study companion
By Sean Lawrence
Preface:
The motivation behind using books from the New Testament as lesson series is my way of giving back no matter my age, location, or status. This endeavor was a natural extension of research into the Gospel of Thomas over 20 years ago; it was a challenge I gladly accepted and has since included John, Hebrews, Timothy, and now Ephesians.
While there is a question as to the authorship of Ephesians, I am attributing it to the Apostle Paul. If not Paul, then a disciple, which is essentially the same.
A pressing question: What is next for me and fellow believers?
Sean Lawrence 2024
Thanks:
Thank you Jesus!
Note: all Scripture is taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible unless otherwise indicated.
* (HCSB Study Bible © 2010 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, TN)
Book of the Ephesians
[Ephesians 1:1-8] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will: To the faithful saints in Christ Jesus at Ephesus. 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. 4 For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love 5 He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, 6 to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us with in the Beloved. 7 We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
Not a problem! Since I wrote the next lesson prior, having already tackled the issue of predestination, it will be no problem to double back and reiterate the assertion that the knowledge God has is not predestination in the way a Calvinist might want to couch it. Un the contrary, God knowing does not supersede freewill. The important stuff is this:
Praise the God and the Father of the Son
For God chose us in Christ before the foundation
We are holy and blameless in His sight
We have redemption in the blood
Which He lavished on us with wisdom and understanding We have all of this because God chose us to be His before time was time … but please know that because He chose us to be His, He did not force us to be His. Have you ever been chosen to be the recipient of something that you ultimately decided was simply not worth it? We have the same option!
Book of the Ephesians
[Ephesians 1:11-14] We have also received an inheritance in Him, predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will, 12 so that we who had already put our hope in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory.
13 When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
14 He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.
It is interesting that even in the greeting there is the use of the word “predestined.” Ordinarily this would suggest that an individual is divinely chosen, sanctified, and has no real decision-making capacity; the same doctrine would apply to those who did not make the cut, so to speak.
Rather than promoting Calvinist doctrine, which I do not wholly endorse, let me relay to you what my Holman Study Bible Says: Predestination refers to the consistent and coherent intention of God’s will, and eternal decision rendering certain that which will come to pass. Further, this is to be understood as an inheritance which God has chosen for those whom God has chosen, not by chance, coercion or unaided choice, but by the enabling of God’s Spirit. (enabling but not coerced)
From the rich young man to the disciples who came and went saying that following Him was just, “too hard.” It is clear that while God knows the outcome, like a good Father He does not force us accept or reject Him. He offers the gift of grace. It’s up to us to either accept or reject that gift of grace. Either way there are consequences.
It is clear that a choice for Christ changes everything now and eternally in the same way that a rejection of Him will also change everything now and eternally. Are you with Him or against Him; will gather or will you scatter?
[Ephesians 1:15-19] This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.
Author of Ephesians, presumably the Apostle Paul, is praising the faith community at Ephesus located in modern day Turkey. It is believed that this letter was written from prison in Rome toward the end of his ministry or around A.D. 62.
Encouragement from someone undergoing a trial of this magnitude is of great importance because such things are not written frivolously as they may be the last words a disciple or a community will ever read or hear..
Having said that, it’s really a privilege to be included in such a praise-worthy message as there are plenty of opportunities for admonishment, being that we are often far better at sinning than much else it would seem …
So, as it is today we pray for enlightenment and a perception of purpose, revelation and a mustard seed of wisdom. And that we may perceive the “glorious riches” of believing and faithfulness because after all else is stripped away the most important things we have left are the riches in Christ and what He has prepared for us in glory.
Book of the Ephesians
Book of the Hebrews
[Ephesians 1:20-23] He demonstrated this power in the Messiah by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavens 21 far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put everything under His feet and appointed Him as head over everything for the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all things in every way.
Without a doubt it is clear that God’s greatest gift, and His most profound glorification, is the demonstration of His true power in Christ Jesus, the Messiah, by raising Him from the dead and placing that Son at His right hand!
Because of this Savior, His greatest gift, we can expect all goodness to follow no matter what naysayers may utter or what the Devil may plan. We can rest assured that everything is subservient to Jesus, not by chance but because of God’s will and purpose. That being said, let me be more explicit:
It is not that Jesus barely clears the crossbar, so to speak, but that all things are so far below Him that it becomes immediately clear that this sovereignty screams of God, not just an angel or a lesser god.
Words that Paul uses to articulate this theme of dominion are clearly chosen to let the readers and hearers of the letter know the incredible power of Jesus, and the power that each believer holds in his or her heart and soul. Words that you will read again in chapter 6 … far above, every ruler, every authority, dominion and title over all time and space. To be clear God has put “everything under His feet” which suggests victory and dominance. This in an allusion to wartime.
What about the church, His body: Jesus is head over everything (no exceptions) as is the community of all believers (a remnant because so few abide) which is full of all prosperity and abundance!
Book of the Ephesians
[Ephesians 2:1-10] And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, 5 made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! 6 Together with Christ Jesus He also raised us up and seated us in the heavens, 7 so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace through His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — 9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.
My Holman study Bible makes a distinction between sins and trespasses which, while I understand the rationale, is not very compelling to me. Both terms define people, places and things (actions and events) which separate us from a stronger relationship with God. The difference between a lapse and falling short is almost irrelevant in the greater scheme of faithfulness and obedience.
A sin is a sin!
And yet, though we are children under wrath (we deserve it) our God is a merciful God: we are made alive and truly favored in His only Son, Christ Jesus. We once were dead, but now we have eternal life because of the cross, because of grace, and because of a Father’s love … not because we could work ourselves into a state of grace but because we were given the gift of grace. We do not boast; we are confident, but not prideful, since this position we are in do not come about because of our works, but because of His sacrifice.
Book of the Hebrews
Book of the Ephesians
[Ephesians 2:11-15] So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. 12 At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah. 14 For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh, 15 He made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that He might create in Himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace.
But now in Christ Jesus you who are far away have been brought near. We were once excluded from citizenship, but now were are grafted into the vine which is Israel. Today a believer is know by adherence to the person and deity of Christ Jesus, and whether we get physically circumcised, we are spiritually circumcised so that at the foot of the cross no one stands taller or apart for the ground is level and the cross towers over all!
The most important stuff is not accomplished by human hands, though we have “a hand in it.” God cannot accomplish salvation unless the individual relents. Not that He could not make such a thing happen if He wanted to, but that all of what we believe is predicated on choice and belief and a desire to be known by the name above all names.
He is our peace to Whom we have been drawn
He has torn down the dividing walls of hostility which we should honor
He has terminated edicts and regulations so that grace and freewill prevail
He has created a new man from the composite of the old and the new sifted, pressed down and made whole on the warm hearth of His abiding love
Book of the Hebrews
Book of the Ephesians
[Ephesians 2:16-22] He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross and put the hostility to death by it. 17 When the Messiah came, He proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. 21 The whole building, being put together by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord. 22 You also are being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.
To recapture the previous lesson, and to bring it forward, please consider the themes that follow. These maintain the narrative style of many of the NT epistles, which reiterate themes that operate like embedded creeds; these memorable and familiar belief outlines reassure the faithful and convict those seeking evidence and purpose:
Being uncircumcised in the spirit but made whole; grafted in
Being without hope but found without sin
Being of two natures combined in the blood,: old man and new man, Hebrew and Gentile
Finding peace in our salvation because works do not save us, though they are what may be accomplished in and by Him
We are no longer foreigners but are now kingdom citizens, indistinguishable
Christ is our foundation and cornerstone; He holds the kingdom and the universal church together with the mortar of His blood
We are no longer hostile toward God, but in Christ open to a new life and a new eternity!
Book of the Ephesians
Book of the Hebrews
[Ephesians 3:1-7] For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles 2 you have heard, haven’t you, about the administration of God’s grace that He gave to me for you? 3 The mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have briefly written above. 4 By reading this you are able to understand my insight about the mystery of the Messiah. 5 This was not made known to people in other generations as it is now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 6 The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7 I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of His power.
While this makes me think of an Eagles’ song, because we are all prisoners of our own devices, Paul was being a little less lyrical. He was stating a theological truth for every true Christian: we are prisoners of Christ to Whom we have surrendered our lives.
As prisoners we receive Christ’s grace which has been offered to us as an undeserved gift. As with all things in faithfulness this is also mysterious. It must be taken on faith because there is no way to intellectualize such a lofty thing! I. for one, am not actually able to understand such a thing, but I do believe it will all my heart.
The take-away is this:
Gentiles are coheirs
Members of the same body
Partners of the promise
We serve Him by believing and testifying to His power as often as we are able.
[Ephesians 3:8-13] This grace was given to me — the least of all the saints to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of the Messiah, 9 and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. 10 This is so God’s multifaceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens. 11 This is according to His eternal purpose accomplished in the Messiah, Jesus our Lord. 12 In Him we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. 13 So then I ask you not to be discouraged over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.
Grace, like Trinity and Rapture are the most difficult concepts to understand in Christianity. Why? Because they are paradoxical … self contradicting terms. These are things we must simply believe because they are foundational parts of our theology, those which we must take on faith: they were and are mysterious.
While my study Bible did not elaborate on the “incalculable riches of the Messiah” I think I can take a stab at revealing at least a few of them. I am thinking the riches are facts like eternal life, peace amidst chaos, an abiding love that defies reason, a profound respect for life, and the knowledge that Jesus on the cross did what we could never do for ourselves!
Big question … are you and I “bold and confident” in our belief that Jesus is real and He is God? If so we are called to trust Him in these times, not to be discouraged over our afflictions on His account.
Jesus’ glory is our glory and His persecution is ours. Our stigmata is on the soul because we are co-heirs (+)
Book of the Ephesians
Book of the Hebrews
[Ephesians 3:14-21] For this reason I kneel before the Father 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 16 I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, 17 and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, 19 and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us 21 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Paul suggests that his afflictions are our glory, but more so, to the glory of Jesus Christ. We are confident in knowing that if Paul could withstand the slings and arrows, then so can we.
The Apostle is clear that real power is strengthened within the spirit, and in the spiritual realm, where the battles are being fought and won. For if we love, even imperfectly, then Satan is thwarted and God glorified!
In our imperfection, and in God’s perfect will, we know the depth and breadth of true love because the love of Jesus Christ is absolutely sufficient. Such a love surpasses all knowledge and embodies all reason and purpose. Thus, be firmly rooted! Remember the mustard seed.
Even better news is at hand according to Paul: Jesus Christ in the Father and by the power of the Holy Spirit, is able to do way above and beyond all that we ask or think. Apparently, He does not do this in a vacuum, but through us, of which we are the least worthy! If He can do these wonderful things using an imperfect vessel, just consider what he has accomplished through the Son for whom, and through whom, all things were made. Our God is awesome (+)
[Ephesians 4:1-8] Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another in love, 3 diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us. 4 There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope at your calling 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. 7 Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of the Messiah’s gift. 8 For it says: When He ascended on high, He took prisoners into captivity; He gave gifts to people. (see Psalm 68)
You ascended to the heights, taking away captives; You received gifts from people, even from the rebellious, so that the LORD God might live there. [Psalm 68:18]
I think Paul is drawing a parallel in this passage. He is citing the perspective of a prisoner, not in contemporary terms of secular warfare, but in theological terms and in Christ. In theological terms to be a prisoner or a captive is a good thing, a sought after status; whereas, in military terms, being a prisoner of war is never a good place to reside. No enemy takes care of those who surrender like Jesus does. POW’s often return to secular society physically and psychologically harmed; being a POW, captive to Jesus, however, means being lifted up and repaired, rebuilt and returned for a greater purpose. This is a function of grace.
Grace is mercy given where none is deserved by a faultless God who not only holds no grudge, but sacrifices His own Son that we might be freed at His expense.
Note: This psalm commemorates God's ascension to Mount Zion, another reference to the city of Jerusalem. This celebrates past and future victories won by the power of the Lord. It may be a general reference to Israel's success, or to the conquests of king David. (www.thebiblesays.com)
Book of the Ephesians
[Ephesians 4:9–16] But what does “He ascended” mean except that He descended to the lower parts of the earth? 10 The One who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things. 11 And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head Christ. 16
From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.
An interesting assumption that if He ascended, then He also must have descended. But descended into what? Some have said that Jesus went to hell or hades, but I believe that Jesus “descended” by dying a physical death from which He was resurrected spiritually and bodily!
The idea that Jesus went to the underworld is not beyond Him, but would appear to be unnecessary as a literal event. To say He died and was raised; now that makes perfect. sense . My Holman Study Bible says that there is every reason to believe that the focus on descent may be referring to descending from the heavenly realm to the earth as a physical being.
I am convinced that it is a literary device to reinforce the notion that He really did die, and was raised from the dead. He did not go to hell even though He could have without consequence. Nevertheless Jesus Christ conquered death and sin so both have no lasting victory.
Knowing this, and not being distracted or confused, allows us not to be “blown around, tossed by the winds of false teaching, or by human cunning.”
Book of the Hebrews
Book of the Ephesians
[Ephesians 4:17-24] 17 Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their thoughts. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. 19 They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more. 20 But that is not how you learned about the Messiah, 21 assuming you heard about Him and were taught by Him, because the truth is in Jesus. 22 You took off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires; 23 you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds; 24 you put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.
What really stands out to me are verses 22-23. I guess it hits me where I live. Taking off the former way of life sounds easy and it seems like a great way to just slough things off and move on … but I have to say that while it sounds easy, and looks easy on the page, it is not! Taking off the old self is more of a work in progress than it is just shedding your skin or, like a butterfly, shedding the old ways altogether, and in a moment becoming something brand new and often unrecognizable.
In Christ I absolutely know this can happen and I have used the metaphor many times in the past as a preacher. But I have come to realize that some things are just not that easy to remove. The best image I can think of is the term “human stain” which is actually the title of a novel by Philip Roth which has subsequently been made into a movie.
The human stain which is so difficult to remove is our sin nature. It is often hard to move on with certain lingering sins dragging one down like dead weight. Even with our sin (which in the name of Jesus is removed as an obstacle to eternal life with Him) we no longer walk as unbelievers walk, and our purpose is not one of futility. Our truth is in Christ who taught us to be children of everlasting light even though we may shine much less brightly than we would like.
[Ephesians 4:25-31] 25 Since you put away lying, Speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another. 26 Be angry and do not sin.14 Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and don’t give the Devil an opportunity. 28 The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need. 29 No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. 30 And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by Him for the day of redemption. 31 All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. (see Zechariah & Psalms)
One of the most lingering and damaging aspects of our modern lives is the consumption of lies that pass as truths. The aspect of lying as truth has become so normalized that no one even blinks or gulps when a flagrant lie is marched out as a veritable truth. A lie willingly believed is the father of various conspiracy theories whether linked to reality or not: such as the sustained high cost of fuel, the demonizing of certain immigrant peoples, one emergence of a world order, the deep state or the origin of California’s wildfires. Lies create confusion, anger and violence.
The worst lie is the one that tells us that if we can solve the symptom of a problem, the problem will disappear. We know in our hearts that such logic is faulty but it is nevertheless very tempting to believe because it is an easy out.
So, when we lie I believe the Devil has the greatest opportunity to undermine our spiritual gains. Of course, the damage to our spirit quickly translates to damage in every other realm: i.e. the physical, the emotional and the relational. We must do our best to be better … not to steal, not to carry our anger, to be discerning, speaking the truth and doing honest work, and being as kind and as compassionate as we are able … always in the name of Jesus.
[Ephesians 5:1-5]
Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. 2 And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
3 But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints. 4 Coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks.
5 For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and of God.
Who among us is not an idolater? Does this mean that idolatry and immorality will obliterate grace as a means to glory for the sinner? I don’t think so, but on this sphere those who honor such things to the exclusion of Jesus will not fit into the kingdom experience because their priorities are at odds with those in believing communities. I am one of those people.
Here are the obsessions which divide us:
Sexual immorality
Impurity and greed
Foolish talking and crude jokes
What should we be doing?
Being imitators of God
Walking in love
Giving sacrificial and fragrant offerings
Giving thanks
I, for one, am grateful for the boundaries and the guidelines … but I realize that I am one of the people the author was writing to. From the standpoint of making this a confessional I will admit to all of these things. Though, by God’s grace I will be able to join my kingdom people at the Feast of the Lamb. Thank you Jesus that my temporal condemnation is not eternal! I will try to do better ...
Book of the Hebrews
[Ephesians 5:6-14] Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things. 7 Therefore, do not become their partners. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light — 9 for the fruit of the light results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth 10 discerning what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them.
12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. 13 Everything exposed by the light is made clear, 14 for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said: Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you (see Isaiah)
Believing that there is not a vast difference between earthly disobedience and eternal disobedience keeps me honest and prayerful, because above all I want to be pleasing to the Lord … even though I am aware that my actions probably trouble Him.
Fortunately for me and all sinners, God’s wrath was mitigated by Jesus’ death on the cross. I am aware that such an intervention does not prevent me from knowing darkness or having my light dimmed when it should shine brighter. But by the blood of Jesus we shine brighter than we ought to and walk in greater peace than we deserve. Knowing that we have a greater help in times of trouble is my fortress!
We are children of Light
Light produces goodness, righteousness and truth
We are discerning people
We are bound to speak out against the darkness
Everything done in darkness will be exposed to the Light
Darkness is overcome by the Light.
Book of the Hebrews
Book of the Ephesians
[Ephesians 5:15-21] Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk — not as unwise people but as wise 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:
19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music from your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.
Isuppose that one of the most pressing questions of the day has to be: what is wisdom?
1.) the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment (online dictionary)
2.) the ability to use knowledge and experience to make good judgments and understand what is true or right (Ai overview)
As we see in a dictionary definition, and an Ai overview, the net result is pretty much the same: It is not simply being smart or intellectual but the ability to use knowledge and experience to do what is right and beneficial. The beginning of true wisdom, then, is the spiritual awareness that only YHWH God is God and all others are but idols.
In these ending days one of the benefits of wisdom is discernment and the ability to know a false prophet and a misguided teacher when one encounters them. The days are evil; understand what is the Lord’s will; do not be reckless; comfort one another with Scripture and songs; give thanks and treat each other well in the name of Jesus. Do not conform, but be informed, and know evil when it is normalized and celebrated!
Book of the Ephesians
[Ephesians 5:22-33] Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord, 23 for the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body.
24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. 27 He did this to present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless. 28 In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, 30 since we are members of His body. 31 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.
32 This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church.
33 To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.
Submission is one of those words that is a trigger in modern culture. Control freaks laud it while selfassured folks seek a view that is not rooted in dominance and submission as though it is a win-lose arrangement.
Biblically, I do not believe it was meant to be punitive even though it was produced in a patriarchal culture. Remember that even though these Scriptures were written in a highly patriarchal time and place there is the Jesus factor which was antithetical to the notion that women were only to be seen as sub missives. In fact, if we are honest, we all are asked to submit to Christ and to the Godhead, not as a dominant/ submissive role, but as outward evidence of obedience to the seen and the unseen. Obedience is good for us because it offers boundaries and guidelines to model our personal behaviors after. To reiterate Scripture:
This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. Obedience is not an analytical exercise; it is a beneficial theology.
Book of the Hebrews
Book of the Ephesians
[Ephesians 6:1-9] Children, obey your parents as you would the Lord, because this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, 3 so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land. 4 Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. 5 Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ. 6 Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart. 7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. 9 And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him. (see Exodus)
The inclusion here of both messages about authorities and subordinates makes sense as children and parents, as well as slaves and masters, are age-old discussions about how to humanely managed the relationship of the master and the laborer.
I have never felt that in either the OT or the NT God ever suggested that an individual in authority had the right to abuse or mismanage a subordinate. This goes also to marriages as we read in the previous lesson. I hate to put it in corporate terms, but bluntly speaking, subordinates are valuable assets, even resources. This is a contrary message to the one often lofted in the secular realm where those with money and authority can do whatever they please with what they claim to own God puts in place moral guardrails making it clear that slave are human being also and are worthy of God’s mercy … therefore worthy of the master’s mercy. Jesus clearly demonstrates this in His relationship with the body and with individual believers.
Often Jesus asks us to imagine a role reversal whereby the master actually makes a sacrifice for [his] laborers that they might have an abundant and prosperous life. For most that is a financial sacrifice. For Jesus it was His life.
Book of the Ephesians
Book of the Hebrews
Ephesians 6:10-13] Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics7 of the Devil. 12 For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. 13 This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.
Fortunately this passage precedes the list to come which describes the armor to protect us piece by piece.
Does anyone doubt that there is more going on than what meets the eye? The truth is this: our existence is analogous to 3-legged stool consisting of the Physical, the Mental/emotional and the Spiritual. We tend to overlook the Spiritual because it is the more ethereal of the 3. Yet, our spirituality is probably the most important aspect of our existence. First and foremost, our spiritual nature lasts beyond the physical body or the mental distress of the moment into the eternal.
So, while we may not be able to easily see the spiritual unfold on the battlefield of souls, like we do in Ukraine or Gaza, it is no less real and tangible.
Truth is this: we see the effects of it in the same way we (cannot see the wind but) detect the breeze and calculate its effect by watching trees bend and leaves scatter with its force.
There are so many things we cannot see with our eyes, but detect the presence of: like God, like Evil, like one’s spirit, like knowledge and even life itself. The most important and influential things we cannot quantify, or measure with any accuracy, but we understand their impact on the quality of our lives.
Thus, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence ....
[Ephesians 6:14-17]
Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest,
15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.
16 In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word.
Book of the Hebrews
Book of the Ephesians
We can not overstate the importance of how we protect ourselves in a battle that is relentless, unseen and profoundly impactful to our existential well-being. As suggested in the previous lesson, just because it is unseen does not mean it is nonexistent. We cannot readily “see” thoughts, and mental health metrics, but we do know when things do not go according to plan!
So, stand with truth, righteousness and readiness. Putting on our armor is a metaphor we often use for preparing to work in corporate America, but is is the protective gear for a soldier. At large. The term “suit up” means more or less the same thing.
Are we really ready for what is coming at us? Are we truly prepared to fight a good fight, one that will have eternal consequences? Are we willing to prepare accordingly in ”faith” for something we cannot observe?
Is your shield of faithfulness protecting you from the slings and arrows of the enemy, the unseen foe? Fear not; in a state of salvation, faithfulness, and with the sword of God’s word, you and I are more than protected in the Holy Spirit. Our flesh may not endure, but our transformed bodies will live on in eternity victorious in Christ Jesus!
Book of the Ephesians
Book of the Hebrews
[Ephesians 6:18-24] Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.
21 Tychicus, our dearly loved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed. 22 I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage your hearts.
23 Peace to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pray for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.
This is as important now as it was then to literally let the name of Jesus pass our lips “in boldness” whenever and wherever we can. These ending days are risky for believers . Those who truly love Jesus more than religion and more than institution. Jesus is the only reason we have that gives us eternal purpose. Everything else is window dressing, so to speak.
I have always been inspired by the passage, For this I am an ambassador in chains. As believers we are ambassadors to a world that rejects Him more often than it accepts Him. But as ambassadors, even if we are chained or otherwise restrained, even with chains, we must speak the truth.
As I write this it feels as though my faith experience has come full circle and my faith is all that I have; I no longer have a church or an ordination or any standing. Yet I do have Jesus and in this new beginning He must be all that I really need.
What I pray is that this book of understanding will touch at least one life. And I pray that the name of Jesus will always be on the tip of my tongue. Amen (+)
Book of the Hebrews
Book of the Ephesians
For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.
[Ephesians 6:20]
Book of the Ephesians
Afterward:
This is a letter that I recommend all students of the Bible read in concert with John, Acts and Romans, Psalms, Job, and the books of the Torah.
It is uniquely instructional, and leaves us with the sense of a supernatural legacy, a legacy directed and fulfilled by God’s own hand. Along with its keen sense of instruction regarding the pride of informed Zionism, the most compelling part of the book is its unabashed preeminence of Jesus Christ, and in Him we are victorious.
As well, there is the familiar narrative style that is in keeping with other Pauline epistles. Whether Paul wrote it or merely influenced it, it is my opinion that his style is unmistakable. The final passage seems all-too-familiar …
The author lives in Ohio with his wife Rebecca and their 5 cats.
Other works of Sean’s can also be found on the ISSUU website; they include, …
In the Beginning: a study on the Gospel of John Diet of a Madman: a collection of poetry
Thomas: The Gospel of Thomas researched The Voice God Gave Me: Meditations for a Year and … Various photo collections
Copyright 2018
Photo taken by Rebecca Lawrence