ETERNAL RICHES

Imagine having a million dollars in the bank.

Walking everywhere you go.

Not heating your home in the winter

Having no air conditioning in the summer

Living like a pauper

Too many Christian believers today have limitless wealth at their disposal, and yet they live like paupers. Paul wrote the Epistle to the Ephesians for this kind of Christian.

I. THE SAVIOR’S POWER (1:1A)

We immediately identify some names in history, and "Paul" is one of them.

The Conversion

His name was originally "Saul" (Acts 7:58), and, since he was from the tribe of Benjamin (Phil. 3:5), he was likely named after the first king of Israel (1 Sam. 9). Unlike his namesake, however, Saul of Tarsus was obedient, and Gichfully served God. As a devoted rabbi, Saul became the leader of the anti-Christian movement in Jerusalem (Acts 91 1-2; Gal. 113-14), but in the midst of this activities Saul was "arrested" by Jesus Christ and was converted

(Acts 9:3 Saul of 'Tarsus became Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:1-15 );

while he was ministering in the church of Antioch, the Spirit called him to take the gospel to the Gentiles,

and he obeyed (Acts 13: 11-3).

The book of Acts records three missionary journeys that took Paul throughout the Roman Empire in one of the most significant evangelistic endeavors in church history: About the year 53. Paul first ministered in Ephesus bur did nor remain there (Acts 18:19-21).

Ten years later, while on his third journey, Paul stayed in Ephesus for at least two years and saw that whole vast area evangelized (Acts 19:1-20). During these years, he founded a strong church in the city that was formerly dedicated to worshiping the goddess Diana. For a description of Paul's ministry in Ephesus, read Acts 20, and for an explanation of the opposition to Paul's ministry there, read Acts 19:21-41.

Nearly ten years later, Paul wrote to his beloved friends in Ephesus. Paul was a prisoner in Rome (Eph. 3:1; 4:1; 6:20), and he wanted to share with these believers the great truths the Lord had taught him about Christ and the church. Compare Ephesians 6:21-22 with Colossians 4:7-9 and Philemon to better understand the historical background.

Onesimus, a slave, ran away from Philemon, his master, who lived ar Colossae. While in Rome, Onesimus met Paul and was converted. Tychicus, one of the pastors of the church at Colossas, which may have met in Philemons house, was also in Rome to discuss some problems with Paul.

So Paul took advantage of the presence of these two men to send three letters to his friends: the epistle to the Ephesians, the epistle to the Colossians, and the epistle to Philemon. At the same time, he sent Onesimus back to his master.

So, the letter was written from Rome about the year AD 62.

The Comfort

Though Paul was on trial for his life, he was concerned about the spiritual needs of the churches he had founded. As an apostle, "one sent with a commission," he had an obligation to teach them the Word of God and to seek to build them up in the faith (Eph. 4:11-12).

II. THE BELIEVER’S STATE (1:1B-2)

Are you surprised to find Paul addressing his letter to the saints? After all, saints are dead people who have achieved such spiritual eminence that they have been given that particular title, saints. Or are they?

No word in the New Testament has suffered more than this word saint.

The dictionary defines a saint as a "person officially recognized for holiness of life." Who makes this official recognition? Usually, some religious body, and the process by which a person becomes a saint is technically known as canonization. The deceased person's life is examined carefully to see whether he qualifies for sainthood. If the candidate's character and conduct are found to be above reproach, if he has been responsible for working at least two miracles, then he is qualified to be made a saint.

As interesting as this procedure is, we do not find it authorized in the Bible. Nine times in this brief letter, Paul addressed his readers as saints (Eph. 1:1, 15, 18; 2:19; 3:8, 18; 4:12; 5:3; 6:18). These saints were alive, not dead, though once they had been "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1-3).

And it is clear that they had never performed any miracles, though they had experienced a miracle by trusting Christ as Savior (Eph. 2:4-10).

The word saint is simply one of the many terms used in the New Testament to describe "one who has trusted Jesus Christ as Savior." The person is "alive," not only physically, but also spiritually (Eph. 2:1). You will find Christians called disciples (Acts 9:1, 10, 19, 25-26, 36, 38), people of the Way (Acts 9:2), and saints (Acts 9:13, 32, 41).

The word saint means "one who has been set apart." It is related to sanctified, meaning "set apart." When the sinner trusts Christ as his Savior, he is removed from "the world" and placed "in Christ." The believer is in the world physically but not of the world spiritually John 17:14-16).

Like a scuba diver, he exists in an alien environment because he possesses special equipment, in this case, the indwelling Holy Spirit of God. Every true believer possesses the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 6:19-20), and it is through the Spirit's power that the Christian can function in the world.

Now for the critical question: How did these people at Ephesus become saints? The answer is found in two words: "faithful" and "grace" (Eph. 1:1-2). When Paul addressed his letter to the "saints ... and faithful in Christ Jesus,” he did not address two different groups of people. The word faithful carries the meaning of "believers in Christ Jesus." These people were not saved by living faithful lives; instead, they put their faith in Christ and were saved. This is clear from Ephesians 1:12-14, 19.

The word grace is used twelve times in Ephesians and refers to "the kindness of God toward undeserving people." Grace and mercy are often found together in the Bible and belong together in the experience of salvation. Grace and faith go together because the only way to experience grace and salvation is through faith (Eph. 2:8-9).

The phrase "in Christ Jesus" is used twenty-seven times in this letter!

It describes the spiritual position of the believer: He is identified with Christ, is in Christ, and, therefore, is able to draw on the wealth of Christ for his own daily living.

III. THE ETERNAL SOURCE (1:3)

Each book in the Bible has its special theme and message, even thou it may deal with many different topics. Genesis is the book of beginnings Matthew is the book of the kingdom; Galatians is the book of liberty. Ephesians 1:3 states its theme: the Christian's riches in Christ.

The source of our blessings.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." God the Father has made us rich in Jesus Christ! When you were born again into God's family, you were born rich. Through Christ you share in the riches of God's grace (Eph. 1:7; 2:7), God's glory (Eph. 1:18; 3:16), God's mercy (Eph. 2:4), and "the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Eph. 38). Our heavenly Father is not poor; He is rich—and He has made us rich in His Son.

J. Paul Getty, one of the wealthiest men in the world, was worth an estimated $1.3 billion. The weekly income of some of the "oil sheiks" runs into the millions.

Yet all this wealth is but “pennies” when compared with our spiritual wealth in Christ. In this letter, Paul explained these riches and how we may draw on them for practical Christian living.

The Power of our blessings.

We have "all spiritual blessings." This can be translated as "all the blessings of the Spirit," referring to the Holy Spirit of God. In the Old Testament, God promised His earthly people, Israel, material blessings to reward their obedience (Deut. 28:1-13). Today, He promises to supply all our needs "according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19), but He does not promise to shield us from poverty or pain. The Father has given us every blessing of the Spirit, everything we need for a successful, satisfying Christian life. The spiritual is far more important than the material.

The Holy Spirit is mentioned many times in this letter because He is the One who channels our riches to us from the Father through the Son.

Not knowing and depending on the Holy Spirit’s provision means living in spiritual poverty. No wonder Paul began his Ephesian ministry asking some professed Christians if they knew the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-7). We might ask professed Christians today, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" If the answer is no, then you are not saved. "Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Rom. 8:9). Unless you have the witness of the Spirit (Rom. 8:15-16), you cannot draw on the wealth of the Spirit.

The Position of our blessings.

Our blessings are "in heavenly places in Christ." and “in the heavenlies in Christ. The unsaved person is primarily interested in earthly priorities because this is where he lives. Jesus called them “the children of this world” (Luke 16:8). Christians lives are centered in heaven. His citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20); his name is written in heaven (Luke 10:20); his Father is in heaven; and his attention and affection ought to be centered on the things of heaven (Col. 3:1ff.). Evangelist D. L. Moody used to warn about people who were so “heavenly minded they were no earthly good," but that is not what Paul was describing. "The heavenlies" (literal translation) describes that place where Jesus Christ is right now (Eph. 1:2) and where the believer is seated with Him (Eph. 2:6). The battles we fight are not with flesh and blood on earth, but with satanic powers "in the heavenlies" (Eph. 6:12).

The Christian operates in two spheres: the human and the divine, the visible and the invisible. Physically, he is on the earth in a human body, but spiritually, he is seated with Christ in the heavenly sphere, which provides the power and direction for the earthly walk. The president of the United States is not constantly seated at his desk in the White House, but that executive chair represents the sphere of his life and power. No matter where he is, he is the president because only he has the privilege of sitting at that desk. Likewise with the Christian: No matter where he may be on this earth, he is seated in the heavenlies with Jesus Christ, the basis of his life and power.

When she was young, Victoria was shielded from the fact that she would be the next ruling monarch of England lest this knowledge spoil her.

When her teacher finally let her discover for herself that she would one day be Queen of England, Victoria responded, "Then I will be good!" Her position would control her life. No matter where she was, Victoria was governed by the fact that she sat on the throne of England.

The fact that Paul is writing about wealth is significant to his readers because Ephesus was considered the bank of Asia. One of the world’s seven wonders, Diana’s great temple was in Ephesus and was not only a center for idolatrous worship but also a depository for wealth. Some of the greatest art treasures of the ancient world were housed in this magnificent building. In this letter, Paul will compare the church of Jesus Christ to a temple and will explain the great wealth that Christ has in His church. Paul has already used the word riches, but you may want to check other "financial" words such as inheritance (Eph. 1:11, 14, 18; 5:5) and fullness, or filled (Eph. 1:10, 23; 3:19; 4:10, 13; 5:18). Paul is saying to us, "Be Rich!"

THE ANALYSIS

Paul's letter to the Ephesians is as carefully structured as that great temple of Diana, and it contains greater beauty and wealth! We inherit wealth by faith and invest it by works. Without this balance, our spiritual riches do us no good.