Ephesus introduction

The journey

As we begin a new book of God’s word here in Ephesus, Id like for us to think back over the books we have walked through thus far on either Sunday mornings or Wednesday evenings

Jonah, Daniel, Matthew, John, Philemon, James, 1 John and the Revelation

Not to mention the many books we have examined on Tuesday mornings.

As I looked back in my computer, we started Matthew in Oct 2017

We have had some many interruptions in there but every bit if a three year journey

Martin Lloyd Jones preached for 10 years on the book of Ephesians

If you were in second grade, you would have heard the book of Ephesians till you graduated high school

So, good for you, Im no Martin Lloyd Jones

But it does tell us about the richness of the book of Ephesians

Its been considered Pauls greatest epistle

the first 3 chapters are primarily theological and the last 3 are primarily practical

But before we even discuss the book, i think it would be wise to discuss the city

Its been said that all roads lead to Rome but they all go through Ephesus

Ephesus was the third largest city in the Roman Empire

Its population was around 250k during the early years of Christian church

It a variety of major public buildings including a 24,000 seat outdoor theatre on Mount Pion, stadiums, gymnasiums, and most famous was the temple of Artemis (Diana)

The Temple of Artemis was one of the 7 ancient wonders of the world

Rebuilt multiple times but its final dimensions were

Roughly 450ft long, 225 feet wide, 60 ft tall and 127 marble columns

It was destroyed in 401 AD

However, the city was full of cult worship of Diana - goddess of fertility, magic and astrology

Little idols were

Animal bones were were found around temple location indicative of animal sacrifices

Other false gods were worshipped as well such as Roma, Isis and Sarapis

But evidence reveals up to 50 different pagan gods or goddesses worshipped in Ephesus

The city was a hub for magic and demonic activity

Ephesian writings contain multiple documents containing magic formulas and spells

I say all that to describe the world surrounding the church to which Paul is writing this letter but also to describe the world that Paul ministered too

the book of Acts records Pauls time in Ephesus during his 2nd and third missionary journey.

In Acts 18:26- Aquila and Priscilla took Apollos under their wing so to speak as he was teaching in the city but needed some discipling in the Scriptures

Its in Ephesus we see Paul, recorded in Acts 19:1-4, take some of JTB followers and tell them of Jesus and it was there they became followers of Jesus and HS dwelled beings

A little further down, we see Paul reasoning in the synagogue for 3 months about the kingdom of God

But when the unbelievers continued in unbelief and defamed the Gospel of Jesus publiclly- he left he synagogue and taught daily in the hall of Tyrannus for 2 years

Acts 19:10- the residents of Asia heard the Gospel because of Pauls teachings

Acts 19:11-20- Records the story of Gods power in Paul

Handkerchiefs or aprons that even touched his skin were carried to the sick and demon possessed and they were healed

But the sons of a Jewish priest- upon seeing the power Paul thought they could use tap into Pauls power

Acts 19:13–16 ESV

Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Because of this - Paul was given great opportunity to teach the Gospel as Jews and Greek were fearful and praised the Lord

So amazing was this in the eyes and hearts of the people- they brought their magic books and burned them in the sight of everyone

The books were equivalent to 50k days wages or 136 years wages

What an amazing thing that must have been

But just as soon as their was great reaping comes great trouble

Acts 19:21-40- Demetrius the silver smith who makes the personal idols of Artemis gets some other craftsmen together and creates a conflict against Paul and the Gospel because Pauls preaching has cut into the idol business

So they plot against him and create a riot for this very thing

Acts 20:17-36: Records Pauls farewell to the Ephesian church

He speaks of his life and practice over the last three years as the churches pastor but also warns them of the wolves who are waiting to devour the people and the need to put elders in place to protect the church from false teaching

And they do.

Timothy is put in place at Ephesus as elder for a period of time of which Paul tells him to be brave and bold and not let anyone look down on him for his youth

Because it would be very easy for a younger Timothy to be easily swayed, pushed and conformed to the pagan Ephesian world view

The other place we cannot forget that mentions Ephesusin the bible is Rev 2:1-7

The church has toiled and endured with patience

It has rejected false teachers and hates the idolatrous teachings of the Nicolaitans

Its been roughly 30ish years between Pauls letter and Johns letter and they have been faithful

But one thing they have lost is the their first love

Most believe this is two fold- Love for Christ and love for others

The Love of Christ that was proclaimed will Paul that infected all of Asia had grown cold

They know what they arent but not what they are

Great in theology, but lost touch with Love of God and his mission

So its Jesus who sends the Message through John to a church that John was a fellow elder at as well at one point in time.

Will they listen? Will they remain?

We have history on our side to answer that question

There is no longer a city named Ephesus anymore but their is a nation of Turkey

Ephesus was the strongest church in Asia Minor but now Turkey is one of worlds most fervent propagators of Islam

99.8% Islam, .2% Christian and fading fast

As we read through this book, may this very fact weigh upon us

Just because our nation was framed on biblical principles doesnt mean it always remains that way

Ephesus gives us that reality

The hub for Gospel outreach in AM, theologically sound for many years, but yet time created equated to a coldness

Lack of Love for God and his mission to love others

Evangelism- was their heart

Now- its virtually non Christian

Beloved- this book isn’t for others, this book is as relevant for us as it ever has been for anyone on the planet

The Equality act is the greatest attack on religious freedom that we have seen in our lifetime

Sweeping legislation to remove all discretionary means from churches based on biblical truth

How did the nation, set up by the Framers, lose sight and grip on morality?

They lost their love for God and love for His mission to see others to be obedient to His commands and glorify Him

This is the world we live in, this is the world the Ephesians lived in

So with the longest introduction I have ever had, we will look at two verses today

Ephesians 1:1–2 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: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Vs 1- for years Pauls authorship was never debated clearly because he identifies himself in the opening and refers back to himself with personal pronoun, I

But his apostleship is certain by Father and Son

This is not the same as the “Apostle Bobby Joe” down the road at some church

Paul was a genuine apostle, the guy down the road is a liar

To be an apostle- meant that you must be directly commissioned by God to speak God authoritative word on His behalf

OT prophets- when they spoke the words of God- “ Thus says the Lord God...”

It is recorded in the biblical narrative

The NT- the apostles are the 12 disciples counting Matthias and Paul- all commissioned by God himself to authoritatively speak thus saith the Lord God

Because there never is a time when God does not speak authoritatively

If thats the case then we need to add whatever the self proclaimed apostle says in the back of the bible

This is why, every time I hear God told me or God gave me a word today, I wanna say- no he didnt

He gave the inerrant Word years ago and closed it so 2k years ago with the book of Revelation

Apostles- called by God to speak authoritatively on behalf of God

We learn the recipients- the saints who are in Ephesus

then he gives a qualifier- “and are faithful in Christ Jesus”

So now we know who he is speaking to and what a saint is

Its one who is faithful to Jesus in that local church

Whether Jew or Greek- all faithful God fearing and following people are saints

Beloved, it seems clear that one major mark of being apart of the body of Christ is the faithful commitment to follow Jesus

Thats the primary audience of this book

By virtue of the Word being living and timeless, it is also speaking to us

VS2- as with typical greetings Paul use the terms grace and peace

Grace is Gods kindness to the undeserving

Its getting what you don’t deserve

-Paul is reminding this very church he served faithfully of the immense gift they have been given through Jesus

-Its because of that very grace that we can have peace with God and the peace of God

God has given undeserved kindness to you through Jesus and because of that we have peace with God

The catechism ask this question: What is the atonement? God regarding sinners as if they never sinned and granting them righteousness.

Because of that act of grace we are at peace with God and we have the peace of God

That we are now whole, complete and reconciled back to and in God.

This is a letter to specific people that will bring encouragement and joy to them

The qualification of the joy and encouragement is - saints who are faithful, those have the grace of God applied to their lives, who have been made right in the eyes of God and now can be at peace, complete and whole in Christ

As we embark on this study- if your here today and you are not saved, apart of the family of God- as we read this it will wont be applying to you

This isnt a letter for the encouragement of all people, but the encouragement of Gods people

Gospel and close