The letter Paul wrote to the Ephesians is all about what it means to be “Alive in Christ.”Have you ever wondered what it would take to come truly alive? To be alive in Christ is to be abundantly alive forevermore. In this series through Ephesians, we’ll be exploring this topic in detail.
The Book of Ephesians begins with a salutation that’s typical of 1st century correspondence. The author, Paul, is identified as writing to the church of Ephesus, the recipients. Paul starts the letter with a greeting: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
And that’s how the letter simply begins. But before we get any further into the letter, we need to first understand a bit of the setting and context of this letter. These are real people, corresponding in the real world, in light of real challenges.
1) Splendid Beginning:
The Ephesian church began with Gospel power and transformed lives.
They had transitioned from death to life, from darkness to light, from magic arts to following Jesus. Their conversion was dramatic, radical, and decisive. The truth of the Gospel had won their minds, and the love of Jesus had won their hearts.
2) Sobering Warning:
The Ephesian church was in danger of losing the truth of the Gospel and the Love of their lives.
Paul warns that the church is going to come under attack from fierce wolves from without and from twisted teachers from within who will lead people astray. He implores them to be alert and to pay attention to the direction of the flock.
How are they to do this? By holding fast to “the word of his grace.” And so, Paul writes a letter that will turn out to be their sustaining grace.
3) Sustaining Grace:
The Ephesian church must hold fast to the truth of the Gospel with all their heart as if their lives depend on it.
What’s their secret weapon? The Word of His grace in action: “Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”
Friends, this is our secret weapon, our only weapon; this is our only and all sufficient guide for faith and godliness.
Takeaway: God’s Word is grace.
The Scriptures are the nutrients you need to grow healthy, strong, and tall in Christ. The Bible is your secret weapon against false teaching, growing cultural pressures, and with suffering coming for you.
Read it. Meditate upon it. Study it. Wrestle with it. Memorize it. Surrender to it. Abide in it. Live in it.
Those nutrients will ensure your flourishing. So, take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. It’s your only weapon after all.
Ephesians 1:1-2
