Ephesians

One of the constant themes throughout the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is that of love. This is entirely appropriate because love is the overriding theme of the entire Bible, especially the New Testament. The entire Bible, including Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is inspired by God. As the Apostle John reminds us, “...God is love...” (1 John 4:16) Since God is love, we would expect love to suffuse His Book.

As human beings we have a bias towards action. When confronted by a problem we like to feel that we can actually do something to solve it. But the followers of Christ sometimes forget that the battle in which they are engaged is spiritual, not physical. In his inspired letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul reminds them that victory is achieved, not through their own power, but by God’s.

After writing about the salvation that Christ has given to His followers, their glorious inheritance, the purpose of the church and giving instructions about how to live, the Apostle Paul concludes his inspired letter to the Ephesians with an analogy to warfare.

There are some who try to keep their religion separate from their everyday lives. They are quite willing to acknowledge God in their place of worship but wish to leave Him there. In contrast, no true follower of Christ will live like this. His relationship with Christ affects not only his worship but every aspect of his life. Christ is Lord of all or He is Lord of nothing. If we truly believe in Christ it will change not only our worship but also our business dealings and our family life.

While instructing the followers of Christ how to live, the Apostle Paul writes in his inspired letter to the Ephesians that they should be filled with God’s Holy Spirit. Among the characteristics of a Spirit-filled life are speaking to one another in song, singing to God from the heart and being thankful for everything. He gives a fourth characteristic when he writes in chapter 5, verse 21, “subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.”

The thing which makes the followers of Christ unique from all other people is that God has re-created them in His own image. It follows, then, that they should possess a God-like character. This has practical consequences for one’s day-to-day lifestyle.

All those who choose to follow Christ are changed. As the Apostle Paul writes in chapter 4, verse 24 of his inspired letter to the Ephesians, they are created anew to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. This is why Paul goes on to say in chapter 5, “Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.” (5:1) But what does it mean to be like God? How does one imitate God?

In his inspired letter to the Ephesians, Paul tells the followers of Christ that they have been created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (4:24) In view of this he instructs them to put away or put off their ‘old man’ and to put on the ‘new man.’ But how does one do this?

In chapter 4, verses 11 through 16 of his inspired letter to the followers of Christ in Ephesus, the Apostle Paul writes that the spiritual maturity and growth of Christ’s body, that is the church, is not merely the responsibility of the leaders with which Christ has gifted it. No, the church is built up by the individuals who are a part of the body. But the question is, how can a follower of Christ grow?

The Apostle Paul writes that leaders are among the gifts which Christ has given to His followers. In chapter 4, verses 11 through 16 of his inspired letter to the Ephesians, he writes: “He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;