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Category: Ephesians

  • Ephesians, Who is Writing, and Who is Written to

    Who Is Writing?

    Paul begins this letter by reminding the readers who he is and why he has the authority to speak to them.

    “This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.” — NLT

    Paul emphasizes that he is not an apostle by his own decision, but by the will of God. He is a messenger, someone sent with a divine commission to proclaim the Gospel and build the Church.

    What Is an Apostle?

    • One who is sent
    • A messenger with a commission

    Paul’s apostleship began with a dramatic encounter with Jesus Christ in Acts 9:3–16, while he was on a mission to persecute the Church. Jesus Himself appeared to Paul and called him to a new mission: to carry the name of Christ to the Gentiles, kings, and the people of Israel.

    So when Paul writes this letter, he does so as someone commissioned directly by Christ—with divine authority and purpose.

    Who Is Being Written To?

    “I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.” — NLT

    Paul addresses:

    • God’s holy people
    • Faithful followers of Christ Jesus

    These aren’t just casual believers. Paul is writing to those who are faithfully walking with Christ—those who have experienced a transforming relationship with Him. In the verses that follow, Paul unpacks what it means to be God’s holy people and how this identity was made possible.

    Faithfulness Matters

    We are not called to a casual belief in Jesus. We are called to faithfulness—a life fully surrendered to Him. This faith is not static; it transforms. It gives us a new identity and purpose. The message of Ephesians leads us to understand:

    • Who we are in Christ
    • What Christ has done on our behalf
    • How this identity changes every area of our lives

    The faithful follower of Christ will be transformed. There is no other outcome.

    Grace and Peace

    From the beginning of the letter, Paul’s prayer is that believers would experience the grace and peace that come from being in Christ.

    This is not a one-time event—it’s a lifelong journey. A supernatural walk with Christ that began the moment we believed, and continues into eternity.

    The story doesn’t end with belief.

    The story continues.

  • The Church At Ephesus

    The Church at Ephesus – A Deeper Look

    The book of Ephesians is a vital letter for every believer. It helps us understand who we are in Christ and how that identity should shape the way we live each day.

    Paul shows us what it means to be made new — from being spiritually dead to being alive in Christ. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we are now clean before God and called to walk in the new life He’s given us.

    Ephesians doesn’t just give head knowledge — it encourages us to know and experience God personally. And from that relationship, we’re called to live lives that reflect His calling and purpose for us.

    Paul and the Ephesian Church

    • Founder: Paul (Acts 18–19)
    • Initial Visit: On his second missionary journey (Acts 18:19–21)
    • Extended Stay: Returned during his third journey and stayed for about three years, longer than anywhere else (Acts 20:31)

    During that time:

    • He taught daily in the hall of Tyrannus
    • Many people came to faith and the church was planted

    Powerful Ministry and Spiritual Impact

     (Acts 19)

    • God performed extraordinary miracles through Paul
    • People who had practiced sorcery burned their magic scrolls as a sign of repentance
    • Paul’s message disrupted the idol-making industry for the goddess Artemis (Diana), sparking a major riot

    Paul’s Emotional Farewell

     (Acts 20:17–38)

    When Paul later met with the Ephesian elders in Miletus:

    • He gave a heartfelt goodbye
    • He warned them about false teachers who would try to harm the church
    • It was a moment filled with tears, love, and deep spiritual concern

    Why Ephesus Still Matters Today

    The Church at Ephesus is one of the seven churches Jesus addresses in the book of Revelation. That alone tells us how important it is. Paul also prayed in Ephesians 3:19 that we would “know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.”

    Without this love — both for God and for one another — our faith can become dry, lifeless, and purely intellectual. And that leads to dead works instead of living faith.

    Let’s take a look at this great book together!

  • When I Think of All This

    • What is Paul thinking of?
    • Is it important?
      • Eph 3:1 Eph 3:14 Repeated thought! Important?
      • We are blessed with every spiritual blessing Eph 1:3
        • Because we are united with Christ.
      • God Chose us to be holy and without fault in His eyes ( We are innocent) 1:4
      • God has adopted us 1:5
        • Through Christ Jesus
        • It gave Him pleasure
      • He is rich in kindness and grace
        • He purchased our freedom with the blood of Christ
        • forgave our sins
        • Showered His kindness on us
          • along with wisdom
          • and understanding
      • We are under the authority of Christ 1:10
      • We received an inheritance 1:11
      • God makes everything work according to HIs plan.
      • We are identified as His own 1:13
      • He has given us His Spirit
      • We are guaranteed this inheritance.
      • He purchase us so that we can praise and glorify Him.
    • This is our identity.
      • Understand the power of this
      • Paul is praying that we understand this
      • That we understand the implications of who we are because of who’s we are.
    • Christ is now the authority of everything
      • Both in this world
      • and in the one to come.
    • We are made compete in Christ
    • Chapter 2
    • We are alive with Christ
    • We are free from sin
      • We used to be under the power of sin
      • now we are free
      • We used to obey Satan
      • Now we can obey Christ
    • We are seated in the heavenly realms with Christ 2:6
      • Because we are united with Christ
    • We are an eternal testimony of God’s great mercy and kindness
    • We are saved totally by God’s gracious gift. We can not save ourselves
    • We are citizens with the people of Israel (True Jews, sons of Abraham)
    • We have been brought near to God
    • We believers, globally are one with each other and with Christ
    • The Law is done away with. 2:15
    • We are reconciled to God with all believers 2:16
    • We are members of God’s family 2:19
    • We are God’s house 2:20

    3:14-21

    • Paul is praying that we would truly understand and receive all of this
      • That we would be empowered by the Spirit of God
      • From His unlimited resources
      • Through His Spirit
    • That we would understand the Love of God for us
      • How great it is
      • That we would experience it
      • Then we would be made complete
        • With the fullness of life
        • and the power that comes from God
    • God wants us to understand who we are
    • God wants us to understand Who’s we are
    • God gets all the glory for what He does in and through us
    • If we don’t understand who we are we can’t bring glory to God
    • If we understand who we are and walk that:
      • What would we do
      • How would we behave
      • what would life be like?

  • Authority Eph 1:1-2

    Authority

    A while ago when I was a little less wise. I was to make my way to a place to prepare for being a missionary to unreached peoples. Being from the Bahamas I didn’t have many contacts in the USA, nor did I have a home base to set our from.

    I had one contact in upstate NY, so I reached out to him, and he helped me to find a vehicle. I needed a vehicle because this training institute was in a rural part of the United States, then once I was done there I needed to move myself to another part of the USA to continue on with training.

    He helped me find a vehicle that would get the job done, I purchased it and got on my way. Things would happen that I was not prepared for.

    This car had New York plates, and had been used as a winter commuter vehicle for some years, so it was not in the best of condition. I got in this car, and made my way to Pennsylvania, got settled into the training institute, and began to get on with life.

    Several months later I was pulled over by a policeman. He was a bit curious I suppose. This was a kind of beat up vehicle and I’d bet he’d seen it before. In the course of this encounter he discovered that I was living in PA studying and my vehicle was registered in NY with NY plates. It ended up in a fine, but I was left perplexed. As far as I was concerned the vehicle was legal because it was a licensed and insured vehicle. I knew nothing of “Separation of States.” NY plates meant nothing in PA.

    Each state sets its own laws concerning the use and operation of vehicles on the roads of that state. I was in violation of the laws of PA, but totally unaware of that fact.

    We as people fall under the laws or authority of what ever municipality we reside in. Not knowing those laws cannot excuse violation of those laws. Many times we live under the authority of law that we have no understanding of. Or sometimes we may travel to a place that has different laws in place, but while we are there, we too fall under the authority of those laws. Not knowing the law will not save you from an infraction of any of the laws of that place.

    A few years ago there was a high profile cace involving a WNBA athlete Britney Griner. She was allegedly in possession of CBD oil in a vape canister. That was a major drug offense in Russia, even though it may not have been where she had left from. She had fallen under the authority of a different land. Ignorance of their law cannot excuse us from the law.

    How does this relate to Ephesians?

    Vs 1 NLT

    This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.

    • This letter is from Paul,
      • Who is Paul?
      • He will now set his authority to write this letter.
    • chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.
      • Chosen by the will of God.
        • Paul is chosen by the ultimate authority
        • This means that what he is about to say is a message from God Himself
        • You must listen.
      • to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.
        • An apostle is a messenger. One sent with a message.
        • So Paul is establishing that he is Christ’s messenger, chosen by God for this job.
        • His authority is established to delver the message.
        • His purpose is given.
    • Writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus,
      • The recipients of the message
        • They belong to God.
        • They are under the authority of God.
        • They are set apart for God(holy).
      • who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.
        • Pauls message is for those who are FAITHFULLY following Jesus.

    So Paul in verse 1, Introduces himself, states the authority under which he will give the coming message, and alerts those for whom the message is meant.

    Without belonging to God, the words of these messages are not possible to keep. They are not just wise words to live by, but they are words, instruction to a group of people set apart for God, dedicated to God, Faithful in their lives for God.

    Vs 2 NLT

    May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

    • our Father here is interesting. It would seem to indicate that God is the father of all mankind.
      • This is all people, those who believe Him, and those who don’t trust Him.
      • God is the God of all mankind, regardless of our belief.
      • Since God is the God of all, He is the final authority over all.
      • He is the one who decides right from wrong, just from unjust.
      • This is like going into a country and without knowing it being subject to law that you don’t know.
        • Ignorance of that law will not excuse you from that law.
    • Christ’s grace and peace is also available to all mankind.
    • To receive this grace and peace, one has to follow God’s way to receive that grace and peace.
    • It cannot be won by ignorance, or the rejection of God’s way cannot be excused by ignorance.

    God is the God of all mankind, His being God is not dependent on our belief of that fact or not. We all fall under His Devine authority, if we believe we do or not.

    He is a gracious God, who has provided for any who believe to be forgiven of all sin, and for those who believe to be adopted by Him as His own children.

    His authority stands! There is no way out from under that authority. The question is, what do you do with it?