The book of Ephesians is a most beautiful book, I know people who have memorized it in its entirety. This post is the first of many based on notes I have made from sermons on this book by Paul Dowling of Whiteabbey Congregational (Reformed). I hope that these posts will be a blessing.
Understanding Ephesians, Introduction
Acts 20:17-38
Ephesians 1:1-4 "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.:"
Ephesus was the most important city in Asia Minor, modern day Turkey. In those days Ephesus had a population of over 600,000 people. It had a harbor in which trade ships traveled. Ephesus was the commercial center of the whole region, built on major trade routes. Ephesus also boasted the temple of Diana, which is the Greek god Artemus, the huntress. This was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. The amphitheatre could seat 25,000 people with excellent acoustics. In this city there was a Christian church, a body of believers and the first mention of Paul the apostle visiting the city is in Acts 18. They wanted him to come back again and he said that he would, God willing.
This church was founded or planted by the apostle Paul. Acts 19:1 "And it came to pass, that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus:.." He came and preached and lived in Ephesus for two years, Acts 19:10 "And this continued by the space of two years.." When he lived there he was their pastor and taught them sound doctrine. That is why in the book of Ephesians you will not find Paul correcting any faulty doctrine that the Ephesians have because they were well instructed in the word of God. They were a doctrinally sound church. They also were saved from paganism, some of them from witchcraft. When they were saved, they made a clean break with their worldly occultic practices in the past. Acts 19:18-20 "And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed." When they were saved they burned their magic books to a value of 50,000 pieces of silver. They burned them because they were converted and the books were evil. They would not sell them because they did not want to pass on that which was evil, they did not want to make financial profit. They did not want other people to read it, they wanted other people to be saved. What is more valuable to you, money or people's souls? Evil and the promotion of evil must be destroyed to obey the bible. Some modern professed Christians love money more than souls, but the Ephesians would not do that because they loved Christ so much. They wouldn't promote anything contrary to Christ.
In all the churches that the apostles planted, the biblical tactic was that when the apostle wanted to reach a country with the gospel, where did they go? they did not begin by planting churches in the outlying area, no, they went first to the major cities of a region and planted a church there. And when that church was established and taught, then they moved on to another major city. Once they moved on, the local church was responsible to reach out to that region. The apostles knew that the capital city influences that region. If you want to reach the region you must first reach the capital cities. They wanted to fill the capital city with converts that would influence the region. If you lose the city, you lose the region.
The apostle Paul had a bond with the Christians at Ephesus. He left after two years and then returned on his last journey to Jerusalem. He called the elders of the Ephesian church, (one church, many elders). He called them to say goodbye for the last time. He met them and told them it was God's will for him to go to Jerusalem. He told them that he had done his best and that they had to look after the flock (the church) He warned them to beware of heretics in the church, and to protect the sheep. He commended them to God's grace, and prayed with them all, and they were sorrowing that they would see him no more. It was a bond of agape (action) love. These men had listened and learned from Paul, and that is why there was a special bond.
Paul wrote this letter (under inspiration of God) from prison in AD62 in Rome to those Christians he loved in Ephesus. It was Paul that wrote the letter. Critics try to say that it was not Paul, they question his writing because critics question the author of every letter. They question it because Paul ends this letter differently than he ends other letters. Critics are unbelievers and it is their job not to believe. But what does Ephesians say in 1:1? "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God to the saints which are at Ephesus...." Eph. 3:1 "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles," I wonder which Paul was famous enough that he would just sign Paul and the whole church would know who it is.. Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ and there was only one apostle by that name. It is plain that Paul wrote the letter.
Paul's purpose in this letter: There is no correction of false doctrine, the purpose is to strengthen the church and make Christians more conscious of their unity with Christ. Good, positive, lovely doctrine. When a Christian begins to understand Ephesians, something wonderful happens to his spiritual life, he becomes filled with joy and thankfulness. he never envies non-Christians again, he becomes stable in doctrinal understanding. Ephesians produces Christians that we most need.
The division of the book: Ephesians divides into two halves. Chapters 1-3 is the doctrine, chapters 4-6 is the application of the doctrine. 1-3 is the teaching, 4-6 is what it means practically.. "because you believe this, therefore this is what you do in life" First the doctrine, then he shows how the doctrines affect their lives. 1-3 we are this, we believe this 4-6 therefore this is how we live. You don't jump immediately into Christian practice, you need to know the theology first and then that is why you live in a particular way. In 4-6 Paul is applying the doctrine he teaches in 1-3. The problem with many modern Christians is that they want a quick fix and they jump into the practical passages 4-6 but it doesn't work for long because they don't understand the doctrine and it is believing the doctrine that leads to wanting to do those things and live that way. Belief then obedience and practice.
We are meant to understand Ephesians.. some of us may look at the weighty doctrines of 1-3 and think they will never grasp or understand it. they think it is not for them.. that is precisely why you are meant to understand it, because you and I are simple ordinary believers, that is why we are meant to understand it. This letter was not addressed to a great scholar or to teachers, or to specialists, but a letter to ordinary church members. All the high doctrine is something that every member of the church is meant to understand.
These introductory to the book of Ephesians notes were made by myself from the sermon by Paul Dowling of Whiteabbey Congregational (Reformed) at sermon audio.
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=9100713111
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