Podcasts about ephesians ephesians

Join Pastor Stuart for the tenth lesson in our series, Walk This Way, about following Jesus. This week, we turn to Ephesians Ephesians 5:3-14 to learn how we . . . "Walk as Children of the Light". In this lesson, we learn: Followers of Jesus are to walk as children of light. Walking as children of light entails: Recognizing our undeservedly bestowed identity as light in the Lord. Abstaining from works of darkness. Exposing the works of darkness. We must always remember: our light is utterly dependent on Christ, who is the Light of the world. So because of Jesus and by the power of the Spirit, let's live as children of light. You can learn more about Westminster Presbyterian Church at https://www.westminsterpca.net. Join us Sunday Mornings at 10:30 a.m. at 230 Alice Drive, Sumter, SC. Find us on social media at @WPCSumter.

Ephesians 6:1-4 instructs children to obey and honor their parents, as this aligns with God's command and carries a promise of blessing and long life. Parents, particularly fathers, are urged not to provoke their children to anger but to raise them with godly discipline and instruction, fostering their spiritual growth in a loving manner.

Ephesians 5:22–6:4 outlines Christian household relationships, emphasizing mutual love and respect. Wives are called to submit to their husbands as to the Lord, while husbands are instructed to love their wives sacrificially, as Christ loves the church. Children are to obey their parents in the Lord, and fathers are urged to raise their children with discipline and instruction in the faith, without provoking them to anger. The passage underscores Christ-centered roles, fostering harmony and godliness in the family.

This verse is about how Christians should treat each other with humility and respect. It's part of a bigger section in Paul's letter to the Ephesians about living a godly life (Ephesians 5:1-20) and leads into advice about relationships like marriage and family (Ephesians 5:22–6:9).   "Submitting yourselves" means choosing to put others first, not because you have to, but because you want to show love and kindness, just like Jesus did (Philippians 2:5-8). The words "one to another" mean everyone in the church should do this for each other, no matter who they are. It's about working together as equals to build a loving community (Romans 12:10).   The reason for this attitude is "the fear of God," which means respecting and honoring God. It's not about being scared but about living in a way that pleases Him. When we do this, our actions come from a heart that loves God, not just following rules. This verse teaches that Christians should act with humility and care in all relationships. Instead of trying to be in charge, we should serve others, like Jesus did (Mark 10:42-45). By doing this, we create peace and show the world what God's love looks like. Ephesians 5:21 calls us to live selflessly, making our churches and homes places of unity and support.  

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This Sunday, Gyle continued our series on the book of Ephesians!

Message from Billy Zwart on June 15, 2025

In our text, Paul is telling the Ephesian believers what the Spirit-filled life is all about. He tells them that when they are walking in the Spirit, there will be some evidence of His presence in their midst. It is that truth that I would like to focus in on this evening. I want to share with you the Evidence Of The Spirit Filled Life. When you and I are filled with the Holy Ghost, we will still speak English, but we will be more like Jesus than we have ever been. That is what the Spirit of God wants to do in your life and mine. He wants to duplicate the life of Christ in every saved individual. Are you filled with the Spirit this evening? Let's check the evidence and see where we stand.

Beginning in Ephesians 4:1 and continuing through 5:14, the Apostle Paul has challenged the church concerning her walk before the Lord. We have been commanded: Eph. 4:1-2 - To walk in Humility Eph. 4:4-13 - To walk in Unity Eph. 4:17-32 - To walk in Separation Eph. 4:14-16; 5:1-2 - To walk in Love Eph. 5:3-14 - To walk in Light Now, we are challenged to add to those virtues the quality of wisdom. The word “wisdom”, in our language means, “knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action.” In Scripture, it carries the idea of understanding the will of God as it is revealed in His Word, coupled with the desire to live it out.  

Ephesians chapter 5 is all about change. It is designed to teach us that we are different from the world around us, and since we are different, we should live lives that are different. The simple truth is that believers should be different from those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ. A brief review of the first seven verses of this chapter clearly demonstrate this truth. In verse 1, we are commanded to live like God. In verse 2, we are commanded to love like God. In verses 3-7, we are commanded to leave this world and its ways behind. Beginning in verse 8, the Apostle tells us why we are to be different. This is something we need to hear and heed. After all, we are living in this world. We are “strangers and pilgrims” here, 1 Pet. 2:11. While we are “strangers and pilgrims,” in this world, there was a time when we were citizens of this world. We lived like they live. We thought like they think. We did what they do. We were part of them. But, when we were saved by the grace of God, we were delivered from our old life of sin, and we were given a new life of righteousness.  

In our previous study of Ephesians 5, we explored verses 1-2, where we were instructed to be "followers of God, as dear children." This means we should emulate God in the same way a child mimics a parent. We are called to love as He loves, walk as He walks, speak as He speaks, and live as He lives—in essence, to reflect the Father in every aspect of our lives. This is a challenging directive, yet it is the standard we are urged to pursue daily.   In the verses we'll examine today, another command is given. Verse 7 states, "Be ye not therefore partakers with them." Just as we are to mirror the Lord in all possible ways, we are equally called to reject the behaviors, mindsets, and patterns of the world. This passage will guide us on what we should avoid as we navigate life in this world.   It's all too simple to slip into the world's routines and rhythms. It's tempting to just go along with the crowd, adopting the ways of those who do not follow God. It's easy to echo the sentiment of Ambrose of Milan: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”   Many Christians fall into this trap. We take on the world's styles, its language, its values, its forms of entertainment—nearly everything it offers. Yet, the Lord calls us to stand apart, to be distinct from the world in every way.   The Lord Himself addressed this clearly: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” (2 Corinthians 6:17).   If we are to model ourselves after anyone, let it be the Lord. If we seek a pattern to follow, let us look no further than the Lord God Almighty.

As we begin to study the 5th chapter of this great book, we are immediately confronted by a passage the demands that we do the impossible. We are called to be like God. We are called to love like He loves. It sounds like an impossible task. How can we, sinful, human, frail, failing people ever be like Him or love like Him? This text has much to say about this call to be like the Lord.  

This passage builds on what Paul has been saying about the new life we have been given in Jesus. The word “wherefore” calls our attention back to verses 17-24, which are a basic overview of the new life we have in Jesus. Since the old man of sin has been “put off,” v. 22, since the mind has been “renewed,” v. 23, and since the “new man,” has been put on, v. 24, the child of God is expected to life a transformed life. I would remind you that the putting off of the old man, the renewing of the mind, and the putting on of the new man, are events that took place in our lives when we were born again. When the Lord saved us, He changed us. We were made “new creatures,” 2 Cor. 5:17, at the moment of conversion. Everything changed! A life the had never existed began at that very moment. That is the essence of the new birth. You were born again as a new creation of God at the moment of conversion.

In the first phrase of verse 17, there is a word that beckons to focus our attention backward. It is the word “therefore.” Anytime you see “therefore” in the Bible, you should stop and see what it is “there for.”  This word calls our minds back to what Paul has been teaching us about our high calling in Christ Jesus. Because we have been given all the benefits mentioned in verses 1-16, we are not to be like the lost, pagan Gentiles who live around us. What benefits is Paul talking about? Our calling to “salvation by grace” through faith, vv. 1-3. Our unity in the body of Christ, vv. 3-6. Our unique gifting by the Holy Spirit to serve the Lord and His church for His glory, vv. 7-10. Our being built up through the ministries of gifted individuals in the church, vv. 11-16.  Because we have been given all these advantages, and made the partaker of such gifts from God, we are to walk in a manner that is different from the world around us.  In the verses that are before us today, we are called to A New Walk For A New Life. Paul issues some very specific challenges for all those who are saved. These challenges teach us how we are to walk, and how we are to be different from those who have not been saved.

The word E Pluribus Unum appear on The Great Seal of the United States. Until 1956, E Pluribus Enum was the unofficial motto of the United States. In 1956, the official motto of the United States became In God We Trust. E Pluribus Unum, while not the official motto of our nation, still appears on our Great Seal and on other currencies and documents produced by our government.   E Pluribus Unum is a Latin phrase which means “out of many, one,” or “one from many.” This phrase pictures the United States as a melting pot. It envisions our nation as one nation, made up of many individuals. While there is diversity and division among the people that make up the United States of America, at the end of the day, we are all still Americans. Regardless of the country of our origin, the color of our skin, the type of politics we embrace, or where we stand on many social issues, we are “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” The United States is a unity made possible by, and in spite of, great diversity.   I want you to see that the phrase “out of many, one” could also be applied to the church. Paul has just told us that we are one on the Lord. That we stand together as one in the Lord. We are in the same body. We are indwelled by the same Spirit. We share the same hope. We serve the same Lord. We believe the same faith. We have experienced the same baptism. And, we are children of the same Heavenly Father.   As I mentioned when I preached from verses 4-6, we are made one through our relationship to the members of the Holy Trinity. The same Spirit lives in each of us. The same Lord died to save each of us. The same God has saved us and brought us into His family. We are on in Him!   Yet, as the first word of verse 7 points out, we may be one, but we are still many. The word “but” in this verse is more than a simple conjunction. It literally means “in spite of that,” or “on the other hand.” The idea is that, while we may be united in Jesus, but we are still expected to be different people. We are expected to be individuals for the glory of God. We may be commanded to do everything in our power to maintain the unity of the body of Christ, v. 2-3, but, at the same time, we are to celebrate the diversity that makes our unity possible.  

Paul has been teaching us in Ephesians that God, by His grace, and through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, has brought together people from every imaginable background, and has made them one in Jesus Christ. Jews who were born under the Law and who are subject to the Law, and Gentiles who were given over to dumb idols, have been brought together in one body.   The ground of our unity does not rest in our ability to get along with one another. Our unity in the body of Christ rests upon the common elements that we share as members of His body.   All of the elements Paul mentions in these verses are freely given to us by the grace of God. They are the fruit of our relationship with Him. It is these elements that make unity within the church a real possibility.  

In verse 3, we are commanded to walk in unity as a body. In these human bodies we inhabit, there is wonderful unity. If you don't believe me, take a hammer and strike your thumb. You will be amazed at the unity your body can summon in a moment of crisis like that. Paul illustrates this great truth in 1 Cor. 12:12-26. Verse 3 is The Plea For Unity.   These verses do not state the next truth, but it is implied here nonetheless. If we must do as verse 3 says and “endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit” it must mean that the unity we are supposed to keep can be broken. Sadly, it can, and quite easily at that. The greatest challenge to the unity of the body of Christ are the very people who are the members of that body. The real problem with our unity is in our diversity. We are a different and diverse people with differing opinions, ideas, wants, and methods, which are unique to each individual in the body. The greatest threat to the unity of the church is not the devil or the world, it is the very people who make up the body. Thus, we have The Problem Of Unity.   In the middle verse of this section, verse 2, Paul speaks about The Path To Unity. In this verse, Paul mentions five qualities that each member of the body must possess if there is to be true, lasting unity in the church. The first of those qualities we have already considered. It is the word “lowliness.” This word means, “to think or judge with lowliness; to possess lowliness of mind.” It speaks of “humility.” Humility, as we learned last time, is “the quality or condition of being humble;  modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc.” The word used here for “lowliness” literally means, “a deep sense of ones littleness.” It is not thinking little of oneself, it is not thinking of oneself at all! Genuine humility, or lowliness, is the absolute antithesis of pride, which is thinking only of yourself.   The other qualities that Paul mentions in this verse flow from a humble spirit. When we come to the place where we are truly humble, these other qualities will naturally be a part of our lives. Unfortunately, we seem to be in a constant search for humility, thus these other qualities were lacking as well. As elusive as humility and these other qualities are, they are essential if there is to be true unity in the church. When these qualities are a part of each of our lives, unity will be the result. When they are not part of each of our lives, it is an evidence that there is pride within our hearts. When there is pride within us, the very unity of the church is threatened.   I would like to spend our time today in the remainder of verse 2. I want to talk about the four qualities that remain. We have talked about “lowliness.” Now, let's consider “meekness,” “longsuffering,” “forbearance,” and “love.” Let's study these qualities together as we consider The Path To Unity.

In our last study of this chapter, we talked about the unity of the church. We spoke specifically about the plea for unity issued by Paul in verse 3. In that verse, Paul challenges the church to work toward the goal of “unity”, or “agreement”, within the church. He goes on to tell us that this is only possible when we allow the Spirit of God within us to cause us to walk together as one.  

This week, Pastor Anthony leads us in a teaching on what Paul's encouragement to the Ephesians to pray in the Spirit and what that looks like for us as a part of the Beloved Community in Flagstaff. 

Imagine God offering you anything you ask for. What would you choose? Ephesians 2:10 reveals three transformative truths: we are God's workmanship, created for good works, and called to walk in them. This passage answers life's big questions about identity, purpose, and fulfillment, urging us to align our desires with God's work and live a life of eternal significance. Visit us and find more at: https://www.friendshipsturgis.com and facebook.com/fbcms Helpful Links: New Here?: https://friendshipsturgis.com/connect Announcements: https://friendshipsturgis.com/announc... Online Giving: https://friendshipsturgis.com/give Kids: https://friendshipsturgis.com/kids Family: https://friendshipsturgis.com/family CCLI#: 2902454 CSPL# 055762

This week pastor Wayne Wynter from Beloved Community Alhambra comes up and takes us through the section in Ephesians where we are told to put on the armor of God. It was a great reminder of the sort of life we are called to as followers of Jesus. 

What does it mean to be in Christ?What is predestination? What does it mean to know the Father?This week, Chris and David being their journey through the Letter to the Ephesians. In this episode, they read through the first chapter, discussing the city of Ephesus at the time of the letter, the value of reading scripture anew, and the meaning and significance of the opening of Ephesians. So grab your Bibles, and come read with us. Please note - due to some tech issues on our end, the audio is a bit less polished than usual. This should be fixed for next week!We need your support! Support from listeners like you keeps Come Read with Me going, so please consider donating at www.burningheart.org/comereadwithme.If you're not already, make sure to follow Chris on instagram for 60 sermons on @revchris7, and make sure to give David a follow on @burningheartorg.Come Read with Me, with Rev Chris and David Ingall is produced by the Listenarium. Original music by Jack Gionis.

We look at three characteristics Paul gives the Christian commuinty in Ephesus to pursue and to be. What it means to be wise people, Spirit filled people, and mutually submissive people. 

INTRODUCTION TO EPHESIANS (EPHESIANS 1:1-2) The epistle of Ephesians presents the church which is Christ's body. This is the invisible church of which Christ is the Head.  Ephesians reveals the church as God's masterpiece, a mystery not revealed in the Old Testament.  The church is more wonderful than any temple made with hands.  It is constructed of living stones and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. It is the body of Christ in the world to walk as He would walk, and to wrestle against the wiles of the devil. Someday, the church will leave the world and be presented to Christ as a bride. Paul's ministry to the church at Ephesus was probably the high-water mark in the missionary labors of Paul. He considered Ephesus his great opportunity and stayed there longer than in any other place. The people of Ephesus heard more Bible teaching from Paul than did any other people, which is probably the reason he could write to them the deep truths contained in this epistle. Paul loved this church in Ephesus. His last meeting with the Ephesian elders was a tender farewell.  A great company of believers turned to Christ. I think the gospel was more effective in this area than in any place, and at any time, in the history of the world. I believe the Ephesian church was the highest church spiritually. It is an amazing thing to me that there were people living in that pagan city who understood this epistle.  This must be true, for Paul wouldn't have written it to them if they couldn't have understood it.  Furthermore, in the Book of Revelation we find that Ephesus is the first one of the seven churches of Asia mentioned in a series of churches that gives the entire history of the church. Ephesus was the church at its best, the church at the highest spiritual level. Click on the play button to hear a message that introduces us to the book of Ephesians, and sets the historical context that this epistle was written in. This is a live recording of The Master's Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS. Amen.

The fourth chapter of Ephesians introduces a change of direction for the book. The word “therefore” in verse 1, signals this change. Paul is saying, “because of what I have said, this is what I want you to do.” The first there chapters of this book are among the most thrilling and most profound in the Bible. Over the course of just 66 chapters, Paul lays out a wonderful catalog of divine truth.  In the first three chapters of this book, Paul's focus has been on doctrine. He has been telling us about the doctrinal truths we believe. He has also been teaching us about our positional standing in the Lord Jesus Christ. Join us as Pastor continues this powerful study in the Book of Ephesians.  

This week we look at how God's call and rescue of us is rooted in his restablishing what our true identity is as humans. We look at two things that Paul talks about this week; Identity and Sin. 

Pastor Aaron Dailey from Alhambra Beloved Community takes us through a passage that continues to encourage us as Christians to choose love in our community rather than the things that tear our communities apart. 

This week, Pastor Anthony shares with us how our relationship with Jesus transform our identity as a people. As you listen, you might want to consider: what does the "old humanity" mean for me? And how can I step deeper into this "new humanity" that Jesus is offering?

This week the teaching team walked through Paul's second prayer in the book of Ephesians. There is much here to fuel our hearts and prayer lives! You can watch this message here.

Up to this point, the book of Ephesians has been one long theological exhalation. Paul has emptied the contents of his soul as he has revealed mysteries that were hidden from the foundation of the world. The first three chapters of Ephesians are a theological goldmine. The verses we have studied to get to this point in the book are so embedded with heavenly nuggets of spiritual truth that it is impossible for mortals to fully grasp all they teach.  After this great outpouring of truth, Paul concludes this chapter by giving voice to the praise that dwells in his heart. As Paul writes the words of this great book, he is overwhelmed by the truths he has been privileged to learn. So, after he prays for the Ephesian saints, he lifts his voice in praise to the One Who made all this possible.

This week we see three things in the passage; 1. Jesus gifts the church with the church. 2. Jesus has work for us to do. 3. Jesus wants to grow us up in all kinds of ways. We get a great picture for what Paul's vision for the church was in the first century. 

The verses before us today reveal a man in prayer. Beginning in verse 14, Paul turned his heart toward the Lord to pray for the believers in Ephesus. In our last study, we looked at verses 14-15 and talked about Paul's Pattern In Prayer. Today, we way to consider verses 16-19 and think abut Paul's Petitions In Prayer.   As Paul prayed for the Ephesians believers, he made some very specific requests on their behalf. It is interesting to note what he did not ask for when he prayed. He did not pray for anything physical, material or financial. He did not pray for the healing of their sick. He did not pray that they would be delivered from persecution. He did not pray about the economy in Asia Minor. Paul did not occupy his prayer with so many of the things that seem to mark our own prayer lives.  

Rand Habegger has us look closely at how passionate Paul is about the unity of the church. He looks at four aspects of Unity seen in this passage; the core, the command, the character, and the cost. This is a sermon that challenges us with God's own heart for our own unity together as believers. 

If you are a praying person, you know the difficulties associated with prayer. The flesh hates to pray! Not only that, but the mind is easily distracted during prayer. Have you ever stopped to pray and started off well enough, only to have your mind get sidetracked? Have you ever found yourself thinking about matters that are not even remotely connected with your prayers? If you have, welcome to the human race. We are a short-minded people who are easily distracted.   It seems Paul had this issue as well. He started to pray back in verse 1, and then he became sidetracked and spent the next twelve verses describing the “mystery” of the church. Just for the record, Paul was not distracted by any fleshly motives. His mind did not lead him down some primrose path. The Holy Spirit distracted Paul. He was so overwhelmed by the truth that he had been given that he spent some time both exalting and exulting in the revelation of the “mystery” of the church.  

This week, Anthony shares with us what many scholars call "Paul's High Priestly Prayer" and highlights God's boundless nature and never ending love for us as His creation. Please feel free to take some time to pray with Jesus today and reflect on these 3 questions:1. Where in your life do you need strength from God to continue walking out the Christian faith?2. What part of God's love would you like to grasp more deeply? Or do you simply want to embrace God's love for the first time?3. What aspect of God's character do you want to be filled with?

This week we look at Paul talk about how Jew and Gentile together in the church is the manifold wisdom of God. We spend a lot of time looking at the implications of the Gospel in this sermon. 

Pastor Anthony shares with us how Paul's letter to the Ephesians explains God's renewal of His people, what that means, and how it applies to the way we live our lives today. 

So far, Ephesians 3 has given us some insight into the man we know as Paul. In verse 1, Paul tells us that he is “the prisoner of Jesus Christ.” Paul was imprisoned by the Roman beaded on charges made by the Jews. Yet, Paul did not see himself as the prisoner of either Rome or of Judaism; Paul understood that he was where he was by the will of God. Paul was the prisoner of Christ.  He was in prison by the will of God, for the glory of God, for the good of the church, the body of Christ. In verses 2-6, Paul tells us that he is a pioneer. That is, he was given the revelation of truth that was hidden from all the great prophets, preachers, teachers and leaders of the past. Paul was allowed to understand some thing that Moses never understood. He was given truth that was never made clear to Abraham, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah or Daniel. He understood things that John the Baptist had no knowledge of. Paul was a pioneer preacher, blazing the trail for the church, the body of Christ. In the first six verses of this chapter, Paul reveals the “mystery” he has been given. He writes about the amazing truth that the church of Jesus Christ, or His body, is made up of both saved Jews and saved Gentiles. The “mystery” is that in Jesus Christ; those who were on opposite sides of religion are made one in the Lord. The “mystery” is that, in Jesus Christ, all people, regardless of their race, their heritage, or any other considerations, are made one. Having revealed the “mystery”, Paul now exults in that “mystery.” He wants us to know why He is preaching what he preaches. Let's take a few minutes to walk through these verses together today. There are some wonderful truths in these verses that we need to notice. Let these verses encourage you as we look at another facet of the life of Paul.

Let's learn to pray by paying careful attention to Holy Spirit inspired prayers in Scripture. And Paul's model prayer in Ephesians 1 is a great place to go! You can watch this message here.

Welcome to another episode of Gospel Dynamite. In today's message, we delve into Ephesians 3:1-7, exploring the profound insights of Apostle Paul, the pioneer preacher. Paul unveils the mystery of the church, a divine secret hidden for ages but now revealed through his ministry. Discover how Paul, under the sovereign control of Jesus Christ, conveys the unity of Jews and Gentiles in one body - the body of Christ. This episode emphasizes the importance of understanding that every believer, irrespective of their background, shares the same blessings and promises in Christ. Join us as we learn about Paul's unique calling and the stewardship entrusted to him by God, and how we, too, are called to fulfill our divine purposes. Be inspired to embrace your spiritual gifts and serve for the glory of God, knowing that the same Spirit that empowered Paul empowers us today. Don't miss this powerful teaching on the grace, unity, and mystery of the church. Tune in and be edified by the profound truths of God's Word.

Today, Pastor focuses on Paul's statement in Eph. 3:1. In this verse, Paul reveals his identity as “a prisoner of Jesus Christ.” In this small, but powerful verse, Paul gives us some insights into life that we do not want to miss. We share with you the insights into being a prisoner that not only helped transform Paul's time in prison into a ministry, but that also served to transform his life for the glory of God. The insights given here have the potential to do the same for us. Let's take a few minutes to consider Paul the Prisoner.

Paul's emphasis in chapter 2 has been on the grace of God in salvation. He describes our lost condition in verses 1-3. He talks about God's amazing salvation in verses 4-10. Then, Paul reminds us that we were Gentiles. As such, we were separated from the provisions and promises of God, v. 12. Not only that, but we were separated from the Jews, who were God's chosen people. They had the Law of God and they held the keys to pleasing God. The Gentiles had nothing but condemnation and hopelessness. In our natural condition we were lost and headed to Hell, but so were the Jews. They might have had the Law of God, but they did not know the God behind the Law. Both the Jew and the Gentile were lost. In Jesus, Paul tells us that we have been reconciled to one another and to God. Jesus broke down the walls that separated the Jew and the Gentile, and He broke down the walls that separated lost sinners from God, v. 13-18. When Jesus died on the cross, He opened the door of salvation to all who would believe, whether they are Jew or Gentile.

In this chapter, Paul is attempting to teach us that in Christ, all our differences are put to death. While the world may fight their wars, society may argue over their different agendas, and homes may be divided, the church is a place where unity and peace should prevail. In Jesus Christ, there is a oneness that that brings all believers together on common ground of faith in Jesus Christ.   Having told us in verses 1-12 about the richness of our past and our loss condition, Paul tells us in verse 13 that we “who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” I would remind you, that this section of chapter 2 is dealing with the body of Christ. It is doing with the fact that the body of Christ is made up of both redeemed Jews and Gentiles. These two groups were the avowed enemies of one another. This is illustrated in verse 11. The differences between the Jew and the Gentile are driven home clearly by the words of verse 12. Then, verse 13 gives us the glorious news that Jesus, through shedding of his blood, has reached out to those who were lost in sin, and has brought them near to God.

Paul is writing to the Ephesians, and to us, to let the church know that, in Jesus, the walls are all taken down. In Jesus, there is no master or slave. There is no male or female. There is no rich or poor. There is no Greek or Barbarian. And, there is no Jew or Gentile. In Jesus Christ, we are all made one! That is the whole point of these verses.   In verse 11, Paul reminded us of The Divisions Of The Past. He reminds us of the wall between the Jews and us.   In verse 12, Paul reminds us of The Devastation Of The Past. He reminds us of just how bad the situation was on our side of the wall. In that verse, Paul reminds us that we had five huge problems. We were “without Christ” We were “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel” We were “strangers from the covenants of promise” We were without “hope” We were “without God”   In our lost condition, we were separated from God. We were hopelessly lost and headed to Hell without Jesus Christ. We were in a desperate condition from which we could not save ourselves. In the verse we will look at today, Paul tells us how the wall was broken down between the Jews and the Gentiles. He tells us how we who were on the wrong side of the fence, were brought “near.”  

In the ancient world, glory was the crowning achievement of a life—to test oneself against the best of the best and come out on top; to risk your life for your people on the battlefield against a common enemy and to triumph. To seek glory was to seek eternity: to be known throughout the land and through the ages. But what is the glory that is bestowed on us from “the Father of Glory”? When we consider rightly the long arc of human becoming, the human longing for glory can be understood differently through Paul's letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 1:15-23). Then, when the eyes of our heart are opened, we can see that true glory is gifted from the One who is himself radiant, selfless love. It is a gifting of a new selfhood, a glory that flows to us from the divine Father. Then a longing grows within us to shine His light into the world for the sake of another.Support the Show.Many thanks to Camilla Lake for show notes and Podcast/Patreon production and communications. Thanks also to Elliott Chamberlin who composed our theme music, “Seeking Together.” The Light in Every Thing is a podcast of The Seminary of The Christian Community in North America. Learn more about the Seminary and its offerings at our website. This podcast is supported by our growing Patreon community. To learn more, go to www.patreon.com/ccseminary.

Everything we possess as believers is ours through and by the grace of God. We earned nothing we have received. We deserved nothing we have received. We purchased nothing we have received. Everything we have in Jesus Christ has been given to us by the free grace of Almighty God.   God has given us the gifts of His grace without asking for a single thing in return. He doesn't expect us repay Him for grace. While God does not expect any return payments from us; He does expect a return on His investment. The work of grace in us results in some very real changes in our lives. These changes allow us to live for God. Our living for Him, according to His will brings glory to His name, and that is all He wants from us!   When grace comes to a lost, dead sinner, that sinner is born again as a “new creature” in Jesus, 2 Cor. 5:17. The old appetites and ways of living are laid aside for a brand new life in Jesus. What God works in us by His grace will work its way out in our lives. Not only are we saved by His grace; we are changed by that same grace. As the grace of God works itself out in our lives, it manifests itself in us through our works.   Verses 8-9 made it very clear that works have no part in our salvation. We are not saved by what we do or by what we produce. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone! However, the proof that God's grace has worked in us to save us is our works after we are saved. John Calvin said, “We are saved by faith alone, but he faith that saves is never alone.”   In other words, works do not save us, but we are saved to work. James 2:18 says it this way, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” James is reminding us that while faith brings us into God's salvation, Acts 16:31, our works prove the reality of our profession of faith.   The verse before us today is about the work of grace in our lives. This verse tells us what the Lord does in us when He saves us, and how He works through us to accomplish His will in the world. This verse is a challenge to all of God's people to be the examples of grace He saved us to be.

In clear, concise language, the Apostle Paul lays out God's way of salvation. This few verses are among the most important in the whole Bible. They teach exactly how people can be saved. They teach us about the Way, and the Wonder of salvation. These verses show all people, in all generations, in all places, and in all religions, what they must know in order that they might be saved from their sins and from the fires of Hell.   I want to take these verses and show you the truths that are exposed here. When these verses are taken at face value, they clearly reveal the way of salvation and how it is obtained.

Verse 4 describes a Divine Intervention. It describes God intervening in our lives to bring us to Jesus Christ by His grace. When God intervened in our lives, He brought us out of spiritual death, spiritual deception, spiritual depravity and spiritual doom. He literally took us out of Adam and placed us in Jesus. Col. 1:13 says it this way, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” Thank God He has because, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive,” 1 Cor. 15:22. When we are placed “in Christ”, we become the exact opposite of what we were before. Everything changes, and it changes forever. These verses we will consider today describe the wonderful changes that are suggested in the word “but”. That word is a word of contrasts. Here, Paul contrasts what we have become “in Christ” with what we were before we met Christ. Not only has God intervened in the lives of the redeemed by loving them and saving them from their lost condition, He also identifies those who are redeemed with His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, when God looks upon His redeemed ones, He never again sees us like we are. He sees us just as we are in Jesus. He does not see our sins, but He sees the righteousness of His Son. He does not see us as we are, but He sees us as He is! When God interrupted our march toward Hell and saved us by His grace, He changed our relationship with Jesus Christ. In our sins, we were separated from Him. In grace, we are placed into a vital relationship with Him. Notice these verses: “with Christ”, v. 5; “in Christ”, v. 6; “through Christ”, v. 7.