Meditations on Ephesians

After reading the letters of John, I went on to Ephesians, because my church is focusing on spiritual warfare and the authority of the believer.

03 Feb 09
Ch. 1, verse 4 gives us insight into holiness and exposes why some who label themselves as "holy" have such rotten attitudes.

This verse says we were chosen in Him (Jesus) to be "holy and blameless before Him (the Father) in love." This tells us that holiness should be motivated by love.

When holiness is not motivated by love, then those seeking holiness will base their holiness on external things - clothes, hair, jewelry, etc. Even if someone is aware that holiness is not based on what you wear or don't wear, they can still base their holiness on external expressions and activities - such as making a show of how much one prays, fasts, reads the Bible, etc.

True holiness will show itself, but it starts within. It is motivated by love for the Lord and a desire to be closer to Him. You want to be more holy? Then love God more.

04 FEB 09
Ch.1, verses 5 and 8 have similar phrases. First we see "the kind intention of His will." Then we see "His kind intention."

The Father intends to be kind towards us. Religion paints a picture of an angry god who intends to use his power to inflict punishment on a sinful, wayward world. The truth is that the Father would rather use His power to bless people with forgiveness, salvation, healing, health, and prosperity. When we reject His blessings, we are left to reap destruction because we have sown to the flesh.

23 FEB 09
Ch. 1, verses 6, 12, and 14 have variations of an awkward sounding phrase: praise of glory. This sounds awkward because of a possible redundancy in the words "praise" and "glory."

Glory is often defined as fame, and praise is the giving of of fame to someone or something. But glory can also refer to the reason or cause of fame, especially when referring to an intrinsic characteristic that makes someone or something worthy of fame. In the Bible, the word "glory" then applies to the manifest presence of God in this sense of the word.

04 MAR 09
Unity is the major theme of Ephesians. Passages concerning unity stretch from Chapter 2 to Chapter 4, and the theme is implied on Chapters 5 and 6 as well.

First, in Chapter 2, we see that Christ's death opened the door for people of all nations to have access to God, and not just Jews. Gentiles are now no longer separated by the Law. Jew and Gentile are united in His Church, His Body. Next, in Chapter 3, we see Paul explaining how his ministry serves to spread this message of unity.

Then in Chapter 4, Paul points out the importance of unity, and how the goal of the fivefold ministry (all ministry, actually) is the unity of the faith.

The general instructions in Chapters 4 and 5 are meant to preserve unity in the Body of Christ.

The specific instructions in Chapters 5 and 6 are meant to preserve unity in families.

The goal of taking up the whole armor of God in Chapter 6 is to preserve unity in the Body of Christ.