Why will Ephesians help you?

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

Paul was made an apostle by Jesus.

CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 1

An apostle was a person whom the resurrected Christ had commissioned and sent on special service, and who was gifted by the Holy Spirit for that service.

Jesus intentionally chose certain people to be witnesses to His resurrection and have authority unlike others within the church.

The reason we can trust this, is not because Paul, in himself was a credible person. It’s because Jesus chose him. Paul’s credibility comes directly from the credibility of Jesus.

The one who had power to heal the sick, multiply bread, raise the dead, and even defeat death completely.

This letter has a credible source

#2 - It was written...

For People Like Us

1:1b

The things it addresses are going to be directly applicable to your life because the people who first received it weren’t that different from you.

Ephesians 1:1b ESV

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

Paul calls the people who make up the church in Ephesus “saints”.

A lot of traditions within the church have severely twisted the title “saint”.

They use it as a title for someone who has worked very very hard to earn it.

The reality is that this title “saint” is a gift given to anyone who places their faith in Christ. A saint doesn’t have to be a priest, a homeless nun, or someone who’s championed a great moral cause.

A saint is a normal, every day Christian.

The word for saint, in the original languages, finds its root in the word for holy.

It essentially means, to be someone set apart from all others.

If you’ve placed your faith in Christ, then you are a saint! You’ve been set aside by God. You have been made holy.

This letter addressed to saints, is not a letter to people who have ascended to the next level of Christianity by there own merits.

If your tempted to think this letter isn’t for you and is something meant for people long removed from you… Look at this...

It’s a rendition based upon archeological discoveries in the city of Ephesus.

This letter is intended for people who go to school, work jobs, and live in a world that is full of idolatry.

It’s a letter for people living in the middle of the struggle to honor Christ with their lives while everything around them cries for their attention.

Things in Ephesus

Sports arenas

Places for entertainment

Schools

Temples - three total

Technology has changed a lot, but the types of temptations mainly remain the same.

Christians in Ephesus had to walk past and engage in places similar to what you guys do, every day.

This letter is for people like us

#3 - This letter has...

An Intended Purpose

1:2

Paul knew what we, and the Ephesians, need to know in order to find strength, courage, encouragement, and endurance.

Ephesians 1:2 ESV

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

This customary greeting was normal for Paul’s letters because it briefly captures the main purpose for which Paul wrote.

To reveal to us God’s grace. And things that are available and real for us by God’s grace.

Paul didn’t just write this phrase at the beginning of every letter because he “needed” some catchy thing to start the letter with.

Paul really meant what he says here… “grace and peace to you”. And everything mentioned after this opening greeting will prove that Paul means for us to find Grace and Peace from God.

What Paul unpacks in this letter have everything to do with the grace of God and provides peace with God.

Topics we will address in this letter

God’s countless gifts and blessings to us

God’s sovereign work in our salvation

God’s incredible plan for our future

God’s preparation for our good deeds

God’s provision for us to have peace with one another

God’s mystery that he revealed in Christ

God’s spiritual strength available to Christians

God’s prescription for combatting sin

God’s plan for the family

God’s weapons and armor for spiritual warfare

This is a great letter, with a great purpose.

So, as we get ready to dive into this book, here are some applications for you based on what I just showed you.

This letter...

Has a credible source

Is for people like us

Has an intended purpose

Trust this book we study. It has a credible “ultimate” source.

This book, the Bible, was gifted to us by God.

Allow this book to help you view everything else you see in the world.

Don’t try to ascend to some higher spiritual position

Remember, your position in Christ is a gift from God. You can’t do anything to earn a more privileged position in heaven.

You can’t do anything to make God love you any more or any less. Jesus has done it all.

Reflection Questions

Why is it important for us to know that Ephesians and other books of the Bible have credible sources (authors, eye witnesses, prophets, etc?

Why is it important for us to see the entire Bible being from one “ultimate” credible source?

What is a saint?

Why is it important to know that being a saint is a gift and not something that can be earned?

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