About the Christian life: My take from Ephesians
Note: The italic sentences are quotes from the Explore book, and the bold are biblical verses
Explore the Christian life, based on the book of Ephesians in the bible, was the last course in the Explore Programme of George Whitefield College.
A program I commenced around six years ago (I know six years is a lot, but 4 of them were a break). Overall, it was a privilege to be on this journey to read the bible in detail and understand some pieces. The reading journey continues. It is the tested one that ends!
Though I rarely remember all I read, I feel privileged to have embarked on this path, constantly learning and having such a valuable reference!
Coming back to Ephesians. A concise book in the Apostolic writings, with only six chapters, which you can listen to in 10 minutes or read in 30 minutes at a moderate pace! Unlike other writings by Paul, this was not addressed to Ephesus solely, based on the fact that it doesn’t respond to local problems or emphasize Ephesians as a community. The book addresses Gentiles-turned-Christians, and Christians can relate to the message to this day!
In Ephesians, Paul talks about the before, during, and after of a person on the journey to meeting Jesus, and he explains the how at each stage.
- Before
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins 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. Eph 2:1-2
The status of a person who has not listened to and accepted the gospel (God’s announcement of his Kingdom headed by Jesus) is spiritually dead. The when, who, and how a person meets Jesus is all God’s doing, so no one can boast because the whole process or result is not anyone’s work.
This is where we usually have questions and arguments on God’s fairness; a little change in perspective could make us recall Potter and Clay’s story and remember that everyone’s sins were bought. When and if anyone receives the good news that was not shared, ours is to believe, and this, too, is God enabled. We just don’t have to harden our hearts. #GraceJust!😀
- During
“In Him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, by the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us” Eph1: 7-8
Now to Christians (whom Paul recognized based on their faith and love for other Christians); and using words such as # inheritance, #blessing, Paul highlights the package that comes with being a Christian. Paul stretches on the spiritual blessings that are found in Christ: selection, predestination, redemptions, the forgiveness of sins, wisdom, and understanding of God’s plans for eternity. The eternal plan is about God establishing His kingdom by placing all things under the headship of Christ. Here, I also learned that Jesus is the head and the church is the body. The two make a full body or a complete kingdom, which are alternately used illustrations to describe God’s family.
The order is that when a person becomes a Christian, they join a community of other Christians; it is called a Church. Paul talks about the church, a gathering of God’s people where people live in unity through humility. Each member of the church is to serve other members using their gifts and ministries, which are God-given for the sole purpose of service! So, at the end of the day, it is not about what you or I can do; rather, it is about whether we use what we have to grow the church and not break it! And yeah, it is not about denominations either.
Paul also said something about personal conduct once a Christian and in a church. Using workplace and family structure as a reference, he instructed Christians to learn from Jesus. To submit to the authority and not to abuse power. This advice on how we should live as Christians made me think of how I am living as a Christian. Do I submit to the authority easily, or it is with some resistance? Also, do I treat those I am in charge of right? #Foodforthoughts. 🤔He also recommends always seeking wisdom and sobriety. This one is for one own good.
- After
When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, which is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession.
In business terms, this means that the Holy Spirit is the deposit, but our full inheritance does not come to us until Jesus comes again to rescue us from this age by raising us from the dead.
I don’t have more on this; I have not yet been on the other side, but for me, this means #fullness in one word.
In the form of prayer or best wishes, Paul prayed for the Christians to know God deeply. I wish and pray the same to everyone, myself included, because then we can know the hope to which He has called us, the riches of our inheritance, and the greatness of God’s power for Christians. I find this more important than my usual prayers of health and wealth.
As I conclude, please note that most of the time, I was not good at grasping all important points of the course for some reason 🤦🏾, so, yeah, please go ahead and read Ephesians for all about the Christian life!
“When one reads the bible as a duty, it can be dull, but if it is seen as listening to God speaking to us, it gets interesting.”
Have fun reading Ephesians, and be blessed.
Lise
