The Letter to Ephesus
Text: Ephesians 1:1-2
By: Ken McKinley
(Read Text)
We are beginning a sermon series on the book of Ephesians and in doing so I hope that we can dig out all the truth of this great letter from the Apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus. Now just like when you read any kind of book, its important to take a little bit of time and go over the introduction. It’s important because the introductions usually lays a foundation; a historical and contextual foundation if you will. In order to interpret any book of the Bible properly, it’s important that we understand who the book was originally written to, who wrote it, and the cause for writing the book.
So lets take a look at that quickly; The book was originally a letter (epistle) and it was written to the church in Ephesus, by the Apostle Paul. The book naturally splits into two sections; the 1st is chapter 1 to chapter 3. Chapters 1, 2, and 3 deal with doctrine or teachings. Then chapters 4 – 6 are practical application. In other words, the working of our faith, how we should live our lives as Christians.
The two key verses in both of these sections are found at the start of each of the sections. Look at chapter 1 verse 3 (Read). The second key verse for the second section is found in chapter 4 vs. 1 (read). So what Paul has done in this letter is to briefly discuss in the first 3 chapters all that we are in Christ, all that we have in Christ, the blessings we have inherited through the blood of Christ, and then, in chapter 4 he says, “Now that you know who you are and Whose you are, ‘Walk worthy of your vocation and calling.’”
A reoccurring theme you find in the book of Ephesians is that Paul is speaking of mysteries. Chapter 1 vs. 11 we see a mystery concerning the will of God. Chapter 2 there is the mystery of the church – how God has grafted into the vine people from all nationalities and backgrounds, and reconciled man to Himself. Chapter 3 vs. 4 we see a mystery of Christ, the mystery of His person, of His being, and His duty presently in heaven. Chapter 4 we read about the mystery of the unity of the Body of Christ. Chapter 5 we find the mystery of Christ’s love for the church. Chapter 6 we see the mystery of the Gospel, about how it will be proclaimed with boldness, even if the one proclaiming it is a prisoner.
And like I said, this letter was written to the church in Ephesus. Ephesus was one of the largest Mediterranean cities of that time, with a population of about 500,000 people (which was considered huge for those days). Paul first came through Ephesus on his 2nd missionary journey (see Acts 18). He wasn’t there long, only a few nights, but he did manage to debate with the Jewish leaders at the synagogue. The Bible tells us that they were so impressed with what Paul had to say that they begged him to stay, Paul had business in Jerusalem but he promised that he would be back, God willing. The book of Acts tells us that Paul did make it back through Ephesus and spent 3 years in the city. About ten years after Paul had left he wrote this letter to the church in Ephesus. Paul was imprisoned in Rome at that time. And if you think about it, that may have been a good thing. Prison slowed Paul down enough so that he could write several of the New Testament books.
So lets look at our text again (Read). Now days we finish our letters with our name and address in those days the letters began with them. So Paul begins by stating his name and then he goes on to say that he is an Apostle of Jesus Christ. The word “apostle” means “one who is sent,” but Paul is using it in the restrictive sense of one who has been specifically chosen directly by God, for God, to be a foundation for the church. That’s what Ephesians 2:20 tells us; that the church is built upon the foundations of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ being the Chief Cornerstone. When Paul calls himself an apostle here he is equating himself with the original disciples of the Lord. Paul had seen the risen Lord Jesus Christ and was chosen by Him on the road to Damascus.
That’s what he’s saying. He’s stating his authority and the source of his authority, “An apostle of Jesus Christ – by the will of God.”
Paul understood God’s will. I wonder how many people out there are trying to do something or be something that they shouldn’t? It’s their will not Gods, they are doing it in their own strength not in the power of the Lord.
So Paul was writing to the church in Ephesus, and this place had seen the best of both worlds. Paul had preached there, Apollos had preached there after Paul, Timothy preached ther, and even the last living disciple, John the beloved preached there. But the Bible also tells us that the city of Ephesus was a place of iniquity and sin. They had the temple of Artemis where they worshiped Diana. There was an amphitheater that seated 25,000, history tells us that it was a place where people thought they could learn divination and necromancy and sorcery. Materialism and idol worship was rampant. It was Marde Gras in New Orleans, October Fest in Pittsburgh, and St. Patricks Day in Boston every day in Ephesus. It was the original sin city. Yet Paul was a saint in this sin city. And I want you to get this. We can also be saints in Ephesus. Maybe your job is filled with secular minded people, cussing, hostility towards God, or your school, and day in and day out you have to face it. And if we are going to be saints in Ephesus we have to do what Paul did. We have to look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, we’ve got to spend time in His Word, and in church.
Paul knew that he was writing to Christians who were living in this city, saints in Ephesus. Look at verse 2 (Read). Grace and peace… that is the Greek and Hebrew greeting (charis and shalom – grace and peace). Then he makes it personal “Be to YOU, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” And I’ll tell you something else… those two blessings, grace and peace… they come in that order and only from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. You must experience the grace of God in Christ through faith before you will ever have true peace in your heart. Turn with me to chapter 2 and look at verses 8 – 9 (read), now turn a little further along and look at verses 14 – 17 (read). That’s the peace that passes all understanding, and it only comes from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
You notice that Paul calls Him THE LORD… today it seems that there are many people who want Jesus to be their Savior, but not their Lord, “God I don’t want to go to Hell, I just want to live like it while I’m on earth.” He is the Lord Jesus Christ. We are not our own, we have been bought with a price, and that price was His precious blood that He shed in order to redeem us from our sins. That word redeem means to buy back. The Bible teaches that before we were Christians, sin was our master. We were owned by sin, but Jesus shed His blood in order to purchase us, buy us back, and in doing so He has become not only our Savior, but our Lord, our Master, our Redeemer. That’s one of the reasons I believe in eternal security, because it’s not up to me. Jesus is my owner and He isn’t selling.
He’s the Lord, Jesus. He’s the Savior. He shall save His people from their sins, and if you don’t know Him by faith, He can save you now.
Now before I close today, I’m going to give you all an assignment. A sort of Bible homework lesson.
I want you all to go home and throughout the week take the time to go through the New Testament and read all the passages that speak of our blessings in Christ. Just look at all the passages that say, “In Him” or, “In Whom” or, “By Him” or “In Christ” and take note of them, if you mark in your Bibles, underline them or highlight them, if you don’t write them down on a piece of paper. But just take the time to see the riches you have as a believer in Christ.
It will blow you away.
Now I’m not talking about material riches or anything like that, I’m talking about the blessings of being a Christian, of being in Christ. Things like peace, and faithfulness, and goodness, and patience, and long suffering, and love. Things like; forgiveness, redemption, justification, righteousness and salvation.
And as you’re reading these passages just take the time to realize that you’ve inherited them all. These blessings from God are not of ourselves, and not of works. They are not of him who wills, nor of him who runs. They are ours because of the grace of God. It’s pretty amazing when you think about it, when you read those passages and realize your inheritance in Christ. But that’s the key there, this inheritance is only found in Christ. You see, you don’t get the riches of heaven, the blessings of forgiveness, the comfort of peace and being justified with God outside of Jesus Christ. You don’t get eternal life outside of Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that we have become the righteousness of God in Christ, but it’s only in Christ that God declares a sinner righteous, outside of Christ our righteousness is as a filthy rag.
So the question you have to ask yourself this morning is – are you in Christ? Have you been saved by the grace of God? Have you trusted in the forgiveness and redemption found in the blood of Christ for your salvation?
INVITATION
