Ephesians is one of the very best letters written by Paul. Like Romans, this letter is not addressing any particular problem that has developed in the church. Rather, it is a shining example of Paul’s greater dissertation on faith. In the first chapter, Paul lays out the doctrines of the gospel. In chapter 2 we move to the Christian experience. Following that, Paul explains the very precepts of the Christian faith.
Ephesians was mainly written for believers in Ephesus and most likely other Christian believers throughout the known world, particularly in western Asia Minor.
This is primarily a letter written for Christians to understand the depth and dimension of their faith, how it lives in one’s life, and how the spiritual ramifications of it cannot be ignored. If we are to live the life, then this is the letter that explains what a life lived for Christ is really about.
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
This introduction is a brief one. Paul normally introduces himself, then lays out his qualifications as a follower of Christ. This letter is addressed to the holy people of Ephesus.
Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. First, Paul calls for praise to be given to God the Father and for Jesus Christ. This is important to note. How often do we make the declaration that everything that we’ve been given is a gift from God? From these few opening words, Paul is already giving us a roadmap for how to stay connected to God: recognize where our gifts come from.
Our blessings, both temporal (temporary, in this world) and eternal (Spiritual, to be used for His kingdom), are all given by God. Often we don’t recognize what a plethora of blessing we have. God wants us to recognize the blessing and move forward in certainty and assurance. As Charles Spurgeon put it, “If you think little of what God has done for you, you will do very little for him; but if you have a great notion of his great mercy to you, you will be greatly grateful to your gracious God.”
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
If God has chosen us, before creation, then the spiritual blessings should be understood and gratefully received with certainty. God wants to take care of us, an he wants us to fulfill our purpose for Him. In that, our main function is to become a spearhead of light, holy and blameless.
This becomes a challenging question of faith. If becoming holy and blameless is the endgame, then we’ve obviously fallen short. None of us live in that capacity, not in this fallen world. And even so, God has blessed us with all of these spiritual blessings. God’s love is fathomless in many ways, and a quick evaluation of your life may make you feel unworthy. But you aren’t. Like a parent loving a child, God loves us despite our faults, actions and mistakes.
The second challenge comes in verse 5, when Paul says that In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus. Here we may be tempted to mull over free will. Does it really exist if God already has a plan for us? Yes, it does. Our free will choice in accepting God is still a choice. God may allow any number of calamities and trials in our life to accept His plan for us, but we still have the free will choice to reject Him.
We also may look at God’s adoption of us and think, ‘that doesn’t sound fun’. But that is terribly short-sighted. If God made us (Psalm 139) with a purpose in mind, then it stands to reason that if we were to live up to that purpose would bring ultimate fulfillment in our life and our destiny. Joining God on this fantastic journey would also guarantee us salvation, transformation, and a close and confident relationship with Him.
Once we accept the grace of God, we are adopted into a family of which we can have true relationship. this is an act of grace, for we obviously don’t deserve the love of the father. But he gives it anyway.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,
Jesus is the only way toward redemption. Through Jesus we have forgiveness (not just a covering of sins but a forgetting of sins). This is a gift from God. It isn’t something we can earn. Lavish is a good word for this. The dictionary terms lavish as sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious. This is God’s love for us. Something we don’t deserve yet is given to us in droves - if we are willing to accept it.
This understanding of God’s love was mysterious before Christ. Christ’s life, how he dealt with mankind, how he laid down his life, are all great examples of how God views us, loves us and wants relationship with us. The redemption of Christ’s sacrifice is akin to a price being paid for freedom. The blessing comes via the sacrifice, and God cannot bless what isn’t in accordance to His will.
9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
God’s will is revealed through Jesus. But what’s God’s ultimate plan? To reconcile everything under Jesus Christ’s saving grace or through his judgment. This unity is to bring all together under him. In Romans, Paul said that society anguishes over this unity under Christ (Romans 8:18-22). This unity, which we fight most of our life is exactly what we need and desire.
For those who follow, God’s plan is revealed in His Purpose through our work. In this work we praise God.
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
A seal, in Paul’s time, denoted ownership. In the same way, the seal (ownership) is given to those who believe in Christ. But there is a distinction to this: Paul says that we were included in Christ when we heard the message and marked with a seal when we believed.
When we hear the word, we are responsible for the word. In Romans, Paul makes this same distinction in chapter 2. He says that people are responsible for belief in Christ when they hear the word. In that moment, there is a choice to be made: either you follow or you do not. Even those who have never heard about Christ are responsible to follow the moral barometer inside them. In both cases, we are obligated to good, love and responsibility.
So in hearing the word, we have a responsibility to it. Belief is different. When we truly believe in the word, we are sealed then with the holy spirit. This is important, for there are many hearers of the word, but they aren’t all believers. This sealing, only given upon true and authentic belief, is, as Paul puts it, a deposit that guarantees our inheritance. The inheritance is this: our redemption. For all of the sins, the broken relationships, the bad choices- that is all wiped away in the redemptive love of God. All due to His glory, given freely by grace.
Thanksgiving and Prayer 15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
The faith and love that Paul sees from the Ephesians isn’t how we earn God’s grace; it is evidence of our participation in it. It is the fruit of our spirit (Galatians 5: 22-25).
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Paul prays for the spirit of wisdom, for the Ephesians to understand God better.
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Paul prays that this spirit of wisdom will give them an even deeper understanding of God, their purpose, what awaits them when their mission is over, all rooted in the everlasting power of God. This power rests in Christ, who’s name must be glorified and exalted.
Ephesians 2
2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
In chapter 1, Paul concluded the chapter by bringing up this central concept: Jesus’ resurrection was the ultimate example of God’s power. Now, in chapter 2, Paul moves to another topic: If Jesus’ resurrection was the ultimate display of power, then what does it mean for our personal life?
First, Paul reminds us of where we came from. He brings us to a time, before our conversion to Christ. It was a time when we followed our own rhythm, intertwined with the world’s system of values. He states that the world is actually controlled by the “ruler of the kingdom of the air”. This is another name for satan.
Why would God allow this? Why wouldn’t God create a world that was free from sin and temptation? This becomes a very intricate theological argument. If God loves us so, why would he allow any sin to even touch us?
We have to return to free will. Free will is the ability for us to make a choice for or against God. For or against his rules. The bible shows us the heart of God, what is important to Him, and gives us guidance to how to live within the auspices of his guidance. But he also allows the free will choice to abandon this. This is where sin comes in. This is where satan lays the trap. If we are allowed the choice to follow or not, why should we follow? What’s the benefit.
The benefit is an eternity in the light and love of Christ. But being earthbound, that prize may seem ambiguous and unattainable at best. Sin, for all its darkness, is much more in reach and the world often applauds it. It is easier to fall into, easier to maintain and often backed by the world. In more ways than one, sin and falling away seems like the great safety net each of us yearns for. Yet that net is filled with holes and often we don’t see that until we fall through, crash to the ground and must rise and hobble on.
We were all in this mode in our early life. A life lived for ourself. For our own desires, needs, wants. We were in charge, we did what satisfied us and thought of others second, or not at all. We forgot what we were taught and decided to live life on our terms. It is this behavior that Paul determines brought us to God’s wrath.
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
But God is a gracious God, and in His mercy, he showed us care and love, even when we disobeyed. Can you remember a time when you were lost in transgression (sin) and didn’t deserve to wriggle out of a situation, but somehow you did? God’s mercy was alive in your life even when you didn’t realize it or deserve it. His mercy is born out of His love for us. Through our sinful behavior God brought us back to Him, reconciled us to Him through Christ. He did not wait until we were lovable; He loved us despite our sin.
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Our citizenship is in Heaven. Our identity is in Christ. God will continue to show His grace to us, to future generations, in order to show the love to those who don’t deserve love, based on our earthly behavior.
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
The gift of grace is a free gift; it isn’t something earned. It is the way we have been designed, and our design is to do good works. These works are items that God has pre-ordained for us.
To understand this concept, we first have to realize that most religions across the world get this backwards. Many relied practices believe in a “work-based” theology. A work-based theology is a religion that believes that the content of your work on earth grants you favor with God. Based on the amount of work you do, it will outweigh your sins and grant you access to eternity.
This is a false teaching that, unfortunately, exists all around the world. It exists in any religion that teaches that you mush climb a ladder of subsequent strata in order to fulfill churchly duties. These duties grant you access to information. The information is not readily available to the masses, only to those who work towards the higher knowledge. You can see this easily in Mormonism.
It also can be seen in ritualistic behavior. Any church that takes you through a traditional gauntlet of practices in order to gain spiritual depth usually can be added to this category. The works are the relentless pursuit of keeping the church bylaws and rituals. These rituals outweigh the relationship God wants, and at the end of the day they are just precepts of the church. Catholicism and Islam are works-based theologies.
But Christianity is different. Christianity is a faith-based theology. This means that Christianity believes that one has to come to trust first. Through this trust we gain relationship. Through relationship we understand the heart of God. From that comes works. When we understand who God is, the works that we perform in this life are organic to the relationship. It isn’t earning; it’s the natural outpouring of our relationship. It’s the way God intended it. If we are in relationship with Him, then we understand what is important to Him. And any work that we do, a natural outpouring of our faith intermingled with our gifts, becomes the exact reason why we are here, and what God intended for us to do before we were born.
Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ 11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
Back in Paul’s day, the Gentiles (uncircumcised) did not have access to God. The Jews enjoyed a relationship with God. God’s plan was not to have these groups at odds, but for the groups to unite under Christ. So, as in the previous verses, we saw that God works with us individually, He is also what work globally.
In our world we see this great division. There are many different counties, nations, political parties, who do not get along. There are differences that seem immovable. But God’s plan is still in focus. He wants to unite all under Christ. In the end times (see Revelation), we see this great division between those under the Beasts control and those sealed by God. But in the end, there is great unity under Christ.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
We were once the Gentile on the outside looking in, working in the structure of the world without ever really touching God. But, even through our sin, God has brought us close. He’s shown us the truth of Christ and shown us a new way.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
God’s plan is laid clear here: His intention is to brings together as one, to create a new paradigm of love and trust, under peace. Through Christ hostility will be gone. Why? Because everyone will have a new understanding of where to build their foundation. If it is built on Christ and not money, sex, attention, entertainment or ambition, then people can truly begin to work together.
17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Jesus came for all people. Not just those who already understood, but for those who were lost in sin. As the one source of light, he guided those back from the bondages of sin and gave an ideal to live up to. And our access to God is through Him as well.
How could this be? Can’t we access God though many ways? What about the Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs? Don’t they all have access to God? Don’t they just call Him something different and worship the same God a different way?
This becomes a big issue in our world. Can’t we all have it right? Maybe it just looks a little different culturally. In John 14:6 Jesus says “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Either Jesus is a liar or He’s telling the truth. Let’s exam it more deeply.
First, Jesus says that no one comes to the father except through me. He is not a way, or one of many ways, but the way. Jesus was chosen by God to save us (1 Peter 2:4), he’s the only one to come down from Heaven and return to it (John 3:13), and lived a perfect human life (Hebrews 4:15). Along with that, he is the only sacrifice for sin (1 John 2:2), fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17), conquered death (Hebrews 2:14-15). He is the only mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5) and is exalted to the highest place (Philippians 2:9).
When we compare this to other religious leaders, we see a stark difference. Joseph Smith was a con man and was eventually murdered. Muhammed was a religious zealot who conquered through blood and died like any other man. Buddha was a prince who created a way to cope with the horrors of life. The Catholic faith has a line of Popes who routinely were corrupt. The list continues.
The point is this: it’s important to understand where we place our foundation. Do we place it on the one who is of God or any one of those who are of man? Jesus is the only way, and to be deluded into following someone else is a deadly mistake.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
When we follow Christ in faith, we belong to a new family. This foundation is not a shaky one; it is built on the teachings of the apostles, of all the prophets that came before them. But all of these me are blocks in the great construction; Christ is the cornerstone. Is construction, the cornerstone is the most important part of the building. It is the point of which the building begins, sets the place where the walls will extend from and eventually from which the building will emerge from. Christ is the main, most essential part of the structure of his body, the church. We are built individually in Christ and become part of the body of his work.
Ephesians 3
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
Paul begins this chapter with calling himself a prisoner. During the writing of this letter, Paul was in fact a prisoner of the Roman government. The reason he was imprisoned was because of his preaching to the Gentiles. Remember, the part of the world Paul lived and preached in was ruled by the Romans. The Roman government allowed religious affiliations to continue as they did before Rome’s oppression, but did not allow figures to speak out against the government. Paul’s actions were viewed as subversive to the nationwide worship of Jupiter, and therefore he was arrested and sentenced to go before Nero for trial (Acts 21:39-22:22).
But Paul is quick to make the distinction about who he truly is a prisoner of. He is a bondservant, a loyal servant to Jesus Christ. In bondage to him alone. His point is not for the followers to feel sorry for him due to the arrest, but to understand that even as he is imprisoned, he still has the ability to do God’s work and understand who his true allegiance is to.
This is striking, because in our daily life, do we allow out circumstances to dictate how we behave? Usually, when a circumstance rolls over us, our mindset is to concentrate on the circumstance, devote our time, energy and thought to it until it is gone. Paul takes the opposite approach. His circumstance is background noise to what the message is. He uses it as a way to reach more people.
In that, Paul begins to justify why he has the insight to deliver the message of God to the people. First, the word of God came to him through revelation. He did not invent it himself, he did not construct a plan and a way to carry it out. God revealed the mysteries to him. But what is the mystery? The union of the Jews and the Gentiles.
6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. 7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.
Paul’s assertion is this: The Jews and the Gentiles will be united under God through Christ. The Gentiles, formerly not part of the covenant between God and Israel, now have a place in God’s family. This can only take place through the gospel. He is an example of this power. Through grace, Paul, a Jew, found his footing in Christ and was used powerfully to administer to the Gentiles.
8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
Paul is amazed at the grace God has given him. The announcement of the good news, which in the Old Testament was kept hidden, is now something that all men can hear, understand and bring into their life. The gospel and its principles isn’t just information to be ingested but to be lived daily. But why was it hidden? Why would God not allow this from the beginning? The covenant of old, between God and Israel, left something lacking in humanity. No man could ever live up to the law. To follow it perfectly was impossible. But when Christ came, he changed the process. The world would not be under the auspices of the law, but under the mercy of grace. This free gift, if accepted, freed the sinner of his sins and brought the entire world into a New Covenant, where relationship was the primary focus. This was only achievable through Christ.
10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
God’s intention is to reveal his wisdom through the church. This manifold wisdom (Polupoikilous) is a wisdom of intricate beauty. This wisdom is to be made known through the work of the church, of which Christ is the head. Because of this wisdom, we can approach God with confidence. There is no need for intermediaries. God is the God of relationship.
13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Paul did not want people to be discouraged by his current situation.
A Prayer for the Ephesians 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
Paul kneels in prayer. This is a position of humility. He prays with purpose. He knows God’s eternal plan and submits to it.
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians is prayer of strength. First, he prays that God’s glory will strengthen them in their core. The foundation must be strengthened first. The only way to do that is to first establish Christ there.
Second, he reminds them that love is the foundation of all things they do. The love must be rooted in Christ as well. But once rooted in Christ, it is important to bind themselves to each other. Together, Christ’s love is magnified. The love, when magnified, surpasses knowledge. This fills us all with the depth of love that God desires to fill us with.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
The power of God resides in us today. When we as individuals, and part of the body of Christ, walk with the intention of fulfilling God’s purpose, an amazing thing happens: God meets us there, in our willingness and through his power, and we can achieve more than we ever thought possible. But it has to begin meeting God there, in the depth of our being, submitting, trusting, growing, believing.
Ephesians 4
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
As we saw in chapters 1-3, God, through His grace, has rescued us from a life that brought us to ruin. It is a rescue we don’t deserve, but because of His great love, it is offered to us. The call is simple: because of what God has done for us, there is an obligation to live for God, a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Humbleness and gentleness: Although Christians should stand in fiery opposition to evil, our main focus is to be humble. Humility is an evidence of our submission to God. When we submit to God, through Jesus, we are committing to Him leading our life. We begin to trust. From all of this comes a gentle nature, one that sees that those around us come from the same bleak history, are offered the same gift, and hence struggle forward, just like we do. In Galatians 5:22-25, Paul lists the Fruits of the Spirit. The fruits are evidences of our walk with Christ. They are those things present within us, showing others that the Holy Spirit is inside.
Patience: Patience is one thing no one seems to have a lot of. But patience here is in direct relation to others. Our patience for others learning, growing, and living in the spirit is part of our job as Christians. Our patience should always evolve from the relationship we have with Christ, remembering that God too was patient with us long before we understood the path to Him.
Unity of spirit through the bond of peace: In the sermon of the mount, Jesus has this to say about peacekeepers: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9). Fighting for peace is part of the Christian identity. When we have a humbling and gentle spirit, we are already working toward the unity of spirit - peace. But peace is not a given. It must be worked at.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
The unity that Paul speaks of is all-inclusive. There are many parts to it, but the unifying spirit of it is God.
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
God works the unity of the church through dispensation of spiritual gifts. The church, the receiver of these gifts, dispense them to others in various ways. God’s grace makes this possible. The evidence of these dispensed gifts is when Jesus ascended to heaven (john 16:7). Once Jesus ascended, the Holy Spirit was given to believers as an indwelling, a helper, to help guide those willing to follow and believe.
Lower parts of the earth: this could refer to Jesus’ work in Hades after the resurrection (1 Peter 3:9, 4:6), which were prophesied in the Old Testament (Isaaiah 61:1-2) and the New (Luke 4:18).
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
A part of the unity Paul refers to is the dispensation of gifts to the leadership of the church. Christ himself points the leaders of the church, those in ministry, those meant to build up the church in the ways they are gifted. The leaders, along with the followers, are all swimming toward the same island. It is a wonderful picture of symbiotic faith, both ends working toward the same goal of teaching and learning, both meant to bring a deeper relationship with Christ and a maturity that builds over time.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work
If we are to build and allow to be built into maturity, then we will grow in faith. Paul uses a few metaphors that have deep and lasting picture.
Infants: An infant is a helpless child that needs constant care. The infant knows nothing of the world around him. He is learning and growing. An infant does not have a deep idea of how the world works around him. Tossed back and forth by waves: As those growing up in a sinful world, we were often pulled along with corrupt teaching. It may not have been religious. Maybe it was smoking, drinking, swearing - things that seemed right at the time and we willingly followed to our own detriment. As bigger infants, we spent a life discovering, learning and experimenting. Teachers tried to wrangle us one way our another. Some said life is all about work. Others claimed the eastern religions were correct about life. Gurus came and went in our life and we were convinced, each time, that we staggered down the correct road for us, only to understand later that it wasn’t the right road.
Paul is saying this: when we are infants in understanding Christ, the threat to fall into false teaching is greater. When we become more mature in Christ, we are less susceptible. Why? Because when you learn, connect and grow, you begin to see the truth and it is easier to see the lies. Paul speaks of cunningness and craftiness of these teachers. What does that remind you of? Perhaps someone who has his own schemes at heart, is willing to trick you into a false idea of truth to suit his own needs.
The difference is clear: when we connect with the truth and speak it into our lives, we become more mature over time. Christ, the head of the body (1 Corinthians 12:12-31), is the foundation of the entire system. Each one of us has a function. Our functions in this body are not all the same, yet they are equally important for the entire body to function. But the key is to build the body in love.
Instructions for Christian Living 17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
Paul’s insistence is strong: don’t live like the people who are still lost in the darkness. Why are people still locked in the darkness? They have hardened their hearts against God. Paul discusses this same concept in Romans 1:18-32. The idea is this: God has made his existence plain to everyone, but it becomes a choice to follow. There are those who do not want to follow. So they must ignore God. This is a hardening of the heart. They want to live life on their own terms without the accountability. In doing so they march further away from God. God allows this so they can experience the self-destructive nature of sin, in hopes to come back to the light.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
We were taught differently. That teaching permeates our soul. This truth is with Christ as the foundation. This teaching is a contrast to how we once operated. Paul says make the choice: take off the old self - walk away from that life because it is killing you. Put on the new self, the one shining with Christ’s light; renew your mind (Romans 12:1-2). Repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of action. Realize your true nature…God desires a purity and holiness in you.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
This is the next step in accepting a new life. Don’t be dragged back into corruptive behavior. One of the reasons Paul starts with falsehoods (lying) is to make a larger point: when we are in corruptible behavior, lying often comes right along with it. If we are in the business of breaking others down through deception, we are committing a sin against ourself. In Galatians 5:19-21, Paul lists the Acts of the Flesh, which are corruptive behaviors common to people who aren’t walking in the light with God.
Next, he talks about anger and sin. Because we are angry, sometimes we fall into all sorts of sinful responses. James says “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak ad slow to become angry because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires (James 1:19-21). This is important in Paul’s thoughts because anger has a way of making us react. As James teaches that we should consider the other person, or situation, before we react to it, Paul takes it to another step. He says that we shouldn’t dwell on it. The reason is simple: because if we allow ourselves to stew in our anger, it gives the devil traction in our life.
Lastly, Paul reminds us of our priorities. If we are to turn the page on our life effectively, we must put away the very things that trip us up. Instead, reallocate the energy. With the energy put into sinning, being angry, whatever the problem is, find a way to take that energy and refocus it into helping others.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
These instructions for Christian living is powerful and practical, and Paul finishes with a flurry of issues that attack our life subversively. Why does he end on unwholesome talk? Because it’s such a big problem. It is an easy sin, a sin of convenience and a sin of capitulation. It’s easy to group up with friends and drag a fellow acquaintance through the muck of imagined facts. Paul teaches this: take that energy and use it for building people up instead.
What is grieving the Holy Spirit? Grieving the Holy Spirit, in its most basic terms, is when we choose something worldly over something spiritual. The Holy Spirit, left for us from Jesus, is meant as our helper in this world. Charles Spurgeon puts it like this: “I think I now see the Spirit of God grieving, when you are sitting down to read a novel and there is your Bible unread.... You have no time for prayer, but the Spirit sees you very active about worldly things, and having many hours to spare for relaxation and amusement. And then he is grieved because he sees that you love worldly things better than you love him.”
Paul continues with bitterness, rage, anger, brawling and slander and malice. Again, why is he ending with these things? If we have put on the new self, then we should have some semblance of control over these very basic, humanistic problems. These trip us up the easiest, they are the ones we fall into and feel justified by, and they end up staying with us the longest, festering over time, becoming part of us. If we are to master the new self, we must master these.
Finally, Paul congrats the new man with the old man. The new self is marked with kindness and compassion for one another, forgiveness, and remembering that wonderful grace that was afforded to us. We didn’t deserve it. We were lost in our sins. But God came for us, presented us Jesus, gave us the gift of grace, and allowed us a new beginning.
Ephesians 5
1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
This is the conclusion of Paul’s thoughts from Ephesians 4: be an imitator of Christ. God must be our example (1 Peter 15-16). Christ is the great example of this love.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
Paul contrast the idea of imitating Christ with the problem of sin and hypocrisy. If we are to represent and imitate Christ, we need to walk in holiness, not be pulled down by the worldly traps around us. These items which he lists are not in alignment with God and holy people.
Sexual Immorality: this covers a wide swath of behavior. Sexual sin is devastating to God’s followers because it can easily rob us of the purity God desires in us.
Impurity: this is a broad term, but refers to a type of unfitting moral behavior, again with a hint of sexuality.
Greed: Greed isn’t just about wealth. Greed is the unquenched desire for something that is idolatrous.
Obscenity: Again, a broad term for dirty or unfitting behavior.
Foolish Talk/ Coarse Joking: unclean, inappropriate hurry that aims to drag down the object as well as the person making the joke.
5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
Paul makes two very important points here. First, he makes the case that anyone who indulges in this behavior does not have an inheritance in the Kingdom of God. Why? Why is any of this so bad? What about when we occasionally do it, but aren’t consistent about it?
The distinction Paul makes is a clear one. If we are indulging in any of this (meaning if we have made room for these things in our life), then we have already made a choice about holiness. We are in opposition to it. In 1 Corinthians 10:3, Paul says this: whatever you do, do for the glory of God. If we are to put that into practice, it would help clear up those gray areas that we sometimes think are there. Is the joke I’m going to make for the glory go God? Is the action I’m going to take glorify Him?
In Galatians 5:19-21, Paul talks about the Acts of the Flesh. These acts are a variety of practices in opposition to the holiness that God desires in us. He makes the same case there: if we are to indulge in those acts, then we forfeit our inheritance in the Kingdom of God. The reason is simple: we choose to act in opposition to God, rather than obey Him.
The second point Paul makes in these verses is in verse 7. He cautions being partners with them. To partner with people who live like this has a detrimental effect on us. It can tempt us away from God. It can lure us into a place of conforming with the darkness when we should be in light. In the story of the Israelites, we see this very clearly when the Israelites take the Promised Land. Although they start out strong, they grow tired and begin to make compromises with the very people they are supposed to drive out. Before long they are marrying them, creating alliances with them, and worshipping their gods. When we get to the end of the book of Judges we see that the Israelites, because they had no leader, decided to do whatever they thought was right. God’s holy people, who were promised the land of Israel, ultimately became a nation lost immoral relativity. It was because they partnered with people who lived against God’s wishes.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
Paul implores that we are reminded of God’s grace and mercy in our life. The very things Paul described in the previous verses (Sexual immorality, greed, obscenity) are the very things we were once lost in. Remember those things of no value that God rescued you from. As we are enlightened, we are to live as children of light. The fruit of the light is a call to The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) which are evidences of someone walking in the light. It is evidence of the Holy Spirit. In this, we should avoid the works of darkness and administer to the people lost in the dark.
13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Avoiding the unfruitful activity that interferes with our purity is a smart option. Since all is exposed by God’s searching, the follower must make an effort to avoid, fight and conquer those things that fight against his/her purity.
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
In conclusion, Paul states that it is important to use our time wisely. But how do we do that, with so many options open to us? First, we look at the opportunities to do God’s will and do them. Since there is always a choice involved, our choice must be weighed toward purity. Since the days are evil, we have a unique opportunity to do God’s will when we can, making the most of our time and energy. We do this first by understanding God’s will, and we can only do that through authentic relationship, through reading and studying the word, making the most of our opportunities as they arrive.
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul asks us to consider a contrast. “Don’t get drunk on wine” he says, eluding to the world system. Instead, be filled with the spirit. His plea is for us to disconnect from the world system and connect with the spiritual system, using our time, energy and focus to connect with God rather than fall into the traps of the world. In using our time wisely, we are to connect with others, with God, give thanks to God for everything, always through Christ.
Instructions for Christian Households
In this section of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he outlines one of the most important concepts of the new testament: God’s plan fo the family. More pointedly, how each person fits into the family dynamic, and when all of the members are living up to their mission, how the family flourishes. In our times, we see an assault on the family that God says is the cornerstone of developing proper society.
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
First, it is important to note the submission of both husband and wife. First, the relationship with Christ must be the standard. Only then, is submission to one another proper. A spirit-filled life is marked by mutual submission. But it can only be truly effective if that submission to God happens first. This is a mindset that thinks of other first, cannot be self-seeking, and must be focused and happy about the others’ success. Our motivation for submission must be centered on Christ. We have to remember that once married, we cease to be an individual. We are melded with our mate, and the individualism that we grew accustomed to in our early years is now gone. Our submission, in this union, must be first because we love Jesus.
22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
This is a widely misunderstood and, frankly, abused pair of verses. Many men have used this as a way to keep their wife oppressed. When taking this verse out of context, it is easy to see how it can be maligned. These verses speak of the divine order in which God requires each person the family to be in. First, the wife is to submit to the husband. But the submission first needs to be based in the Lord. She submits to her husband out of love for the Lord. This does not mean inferiority. It means equality, but there are different jobs to do. In your work life, often times there is a department manager and many underlings. Of the many different jobs in the company, many of them are of equal importance. Production is not more important than Sales. Sales may argue that they bring in the money, but unless Production produces the product, there will be no sales. In effect, the jobs are different but of equal importance. At the end of the day, everyone does their job individually for the purpose of making the business succeed. It is the same in a marriage. There are 3 reasons why a wife should submit to her husband: 1.It is part of her obedience to Jesus 2.It is appropriate for the order of creation 3.It is the model of relationship between Christ and His Church
In the Garden of Eden, Adam was first created. He was created in the wild tundra of creation and paced into the garden. Soon it became obvious that he was lonely, so a mate was constructed for him. Eve. In that, the husband (The man, Adam), is the leader of the household. For the women reading, this may be tough to reconcile. But let me share this with you: if the man doesn’t step into his role as leader, it is very difficult to follow. If the man doesn’t step into a loving relationship with God, then it is even harder. If the man chooses the path to God and leadership, then it is easier to follow his lead, right? That is what Paul is saying. As a woman, you need a man who is willing to step up and lead, and lead properly. It is the proper place for a man, and if he doesn’t step up, then how can you follow effectively?
When Paul says that a woman should submit to their husbands in everything, this can be another gut-punch. But again, if your husband is leading effectively, following God and His will, then will your husband be asking anything terrible? If he is following God and respecting the relationship, he has your best interests at heart. He wants you to succeed. If that isn’t the case, then should you submit to his demands? You are to submit out of love, but not out of ignorance. Submission is always based in God first, so if the demands are not for your well-being, then you have to go to God about it.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Just as a wife is supposed to submit to her husband out of her love for Jesus, husbands must love their wife with a deep, abiding love, just as Jesus loved the church. The word here for love is Agape, meaning instinctive, spontaneous, self-sacrificing. This is how we are to live, and if a husband doesn’t have his wife’s best interests at heart, then he is not performing his mission, and thus the crux of the problem. Christ had a special love for the church, a constant, enduring, hearty and unselfish love for the church. Husbands must take an active, caring interest in his wife and family’s spiritual health. Husbands cannot be effective leaders if we aren’t actively stepping into the role God wants us to be in. If we cannot take that role, then the wife will have trouble submitting. Because who can submit to someone who is not stepping up into the role they are supposed to take?
Ephesians 6
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Children have a responsibility to obey their parents, but the parent also holds a responsibility: to bring the child up in the Lord. This is taught through obedience. This is important because a child needs to understand how to obey God, even when they may not want to.
Honoring and obeying are two different things. As we grow older, a child may not have the need or desire to obey their parents anymore, but they do owe honor. Deuteronomy 5:16 shows the promise of honoring their parents.
4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Paul continues this thought with the parental responsibility. Parents bear the responsibility of not provoking their children to wrath. This could be constant criticism. It could mean unending nagging. The child’’s feelings must be taken into account. This speaks to training. Parents must take an active roll in teaching their children the right path to take in life. It is not only good training as they develop relationships, but it gives them a foundation to return to.
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. 9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
Paul uses the example of a slave and master as a metaphor for how we should serve God. Our true citizenship is in Heaven and our true allegiance is to Christ, but remembering that our circumstances are an extension of what God allows in our life, it should give us deeper perspective about how we are to navigate through our situations. Serve wholeheartedly, he says. In other words, give all of your heart to the task at hand, to those above and below you. When we understand that our true citizenship is elsewhere, then our perspective changes. We are reminded that we are to be humble and kindhearted to others, whether slave or master.
In Paul’s day, slavery was real; there needed to be guidelines based on honoring God. But in today’s society we can substitute employee and employer and use the same guidelines.
The great conclusion of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is found in Ephesians 6:10-20. 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Breaking down this portion of scripture is important, because Paul hits on a number of salient and important points that need to be addresses.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Our call is not only to follow God, but to be strong. Not strength as we know it, but strong in God’s strength. In other words, the foundational piece of this scripture is to understand where true power derives from. Not from us, but from God.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Paul tells us to put on a set of armor, like a soldier who is going to war might. Why? To stand against the devil’s schemes. We have to understand something about life: there is an oppositional force to our faith, a force that wants to marginalize us, to cause doubt and chaos. But the scripture reveals that we are to STAND against such attacks.
You may say to yourself, shouldn’t we just run? Doesn’t it say, somewhere in scripture, to run from evil? You may be thinking of James 4:7-8:
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
God calls us to RESIST. Resistance is a form of stance. It also tells us that upon standing (resisting), the devil will flee. If we continue to stand against evil in our life, then it will become easier to stand when the time comes.
In verse 12, Paul brings our current struggles into a larger scope. He tells us that these physical struggles aren’t physical at all, but spiritual. Now, if we are to believe this, then it causes a great dilemma: does that mean all of our struggles are of a spiritual nature? I believe yes. Maybe one day you are hitting every red light on the way to work. Surely that doesn’t have a spiritual component to it. It is so random and arbitrary. Yet, what does hitting every red light produce in us? Anger, frustration, hopelessness? Maybe the very things we have to work on in our life. Maybe it teaches patience and acceptance. Maybe lots of things.
In this sense, Paul is delving into the greater spiritual battle we all face. He says our struggle is against the powers of another realm, the “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Meaning that there is a a system in place working against you, eager for your downfall. The question is: what are you going to do about it?
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
He says there is a solution to this: Put on the full armor of God. He will explain just what that is in the next verse. But understand what claim he is making here: he isn’t saying IF the day of evil comes, but WHEN it comes. Now, if the day of evil is indeed to come, how should we meet it? Paul says to put on the armor after you have done everything you can do in your own power.
That means that we have a hand in our fight. It isn’t purely God, but we have to prepare ourselves for warding off evil as much as we can. In other words, create barriers to evil so that we minimize our chances of confronting it. Remember, if we resist, then the devil will flee.
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
The belt of truth- in the old days, a belt needed to be worn in order to cinch up all the long garments men would wear. This was important because long garments could trip someone up who was running or fighting. It is applied under the armor of a soldier. When we look at this in a spiritual sense, Truth- the word of God- must be a foundational element of our strategy against evil.
Breastplate of Righteousness- The breastplate, in ancient warfare, is the piece that protects the heart and all the vital organs. A warrior, going into battle, wouldn’t last long without this protection. Spiritually, when up against evil, we have to remember that when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have His righteousness, not our own. Our righteousness is covered through Christ. To remember this, in battle, is crucial. It repels the lies and shots from the evil one.
15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Boots are essential. In the old times, these boots were often fit with spikes to hold them in place when a force came up against them. A warrior can’t go out to war without proper footing. He wouldn’t last long. Spiritually, we have to be ready and mobile in our faith. The volleys of the evil one can come from a variety of directions. If we are mobile with the gospel of peace, then we can use it in any given situation. Whether under attack or evangelizing, the truth can be used effectively.
The shield of faith- In old warfare, a long oblong shield was often used by soldiers. When the archers of an enemy would send flaming arrows at the approaching army, soldiers would hunker behind the shield and be protected from the volley of arrows. This is how we are to use our faith. Use it as a shield. When evil attacks, it sometimes uproots us. That’s its intention. But if we can return to our faith and use that as defense, then whatever evil throws at us, we can use it as protection.
The helmet of salvation- Helmets, in olden times, were basically a leather cap studded with metal. It was meant to protect against shrapnel and blows. Spiritually, we have to understand that satan often attacks our thoughts and tries to discourage us in various ways. But when discouraged, to fall back on the fact that we are saved, our ultimate future is with God, can be very reassuring.
Sword of the Spirit- the only offensive part of the protection, the word, given by the holy spirit, can be used to repel and attack evil. The right thrust, at the right time, can do untold damage to the attacker.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Prayer is the last part of the defense. You’ll notice that Paul asks us to pray in two different ways. First, he wants us to pray continually to God for our needs. This speaks to a deep and constant connection with God. If we have that connection, then tumbling away and falling into situations where we can be attacked will fade.
The second part is to pray for others. Often times we forget this part and center on ourselves, but Paul calls us not only to pray for our needs but for those in every capacity, the greater community of believers, for the advancement of God’s kingdom.
Final Greetings 21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you. 23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
This letter concludes with a reference to Tychicus (Acts 20:4,Colossians 4:7, 2 Timothy 4:12, Titus 3:12). He was probably one of Paul’s messengers. The main idea of the letter to the Ephesians is one of comfort and understanding of God’s great plan and how the Ephesians are to bring it into their lives. He ends the letter in the same way he began it: with grace.