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EPHESIANS - Be Filled With The Spirit
Meditations, Reflections, Prayer and Questions over the Epistel to the Ephesians

The Recipients of the Letter (Ephesians 1:1)


Ephesians 1:1
1:1 To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus

The address of this letter, “to the saints in Ephesus” probably at first reminded Jews and Jewish Christians in the Roman provincial capital on verses in the Old Testament, for the New Testament, either as a scroll or as a bound book, was not available in the Mediterranean regions at the time of Paul. His letters, however, were proclaiming the dawn of a new age.

The Lord said to His people: “Now, therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice, and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Ex. 19:5-6). He commanded them: “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Lev. 19:2). He revealed His holiness to the Prophet Isaiah: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” (Is. 6:3).

Whoever reads these and similar verses, along with their expositions, recognizes that the children of Jacob, as well as all other nations, were not to kill anyone, nor commit adultery, nor steal, nor lie, honour their parents, practice no idolatry, love God and overcome all lusts in their hearts. Therefore, when Paul used the term “saints” for the church members in Ephesus and surroundings, the elders understood these commands as a foregone conclusion.

Beyond that, Orthodox Jews avoid foods that are forbidden them, such as pork or the meat of four-footed carrion eaters and birds. All animals must be slaughtered according to Jewish ritual and the meat cannot be offered together with milk products. Jesus annulled these extra prohibitions and declared: “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man…whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated, But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man” (Matt. 15:11, 17-20). Paul steadfastly gave heed to these ordinances of Jesus and fought against the attempt to, through special dietary abstinences, create any kind of special and imagined holiness. For the sake of love, however, he desired the Greek Christians to refrain from everything that would be an abomination to the Jewish Christian church members.

With the coming of the Messiah, there dawned a new realization of holiness. When He caused the empty net of the experienced fisherman Peter to suddenly be filled with fish, the latter could only react by falling to his feet and stammering: “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, o Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken (Luke 5:8-9).

The demons recognized Jesus quicker than most men. In a synagogue there sat a man with an unclean spirit, which cried out: “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are – the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” (Mark 1:23-27)

One of the two criminals who were crucified alongside Jesus on the cross recognized the sovereignty of Christ. In his plea of supplication he said: “We receive the due rewards of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:41-43). The guilty one had recognized his own sin and sinfulness through the sinlessness and holiness of Jesus on the cross. He then entrusted himself to the holy majesty of Christ. “Faith” justified the unholy criminal, even while many pious and seeming righteous blasphemed their crucified King.

Jesus promised His disciples before He ascended to heaven: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The coming of the Holy Spirit into the disciples of Jesus sanctified them, opened the eyes of their heart and gave them the power to do His will. Since that time they recognize and confess that they are lost sinners, even while trusting in the justifying and healing power of the blood of Christ. They see the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their lives ripening by grace. By nature they were all unholy. Their faith in Jesus, however, made them into saints.

It is in this sense the Apostle John writes: “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:7-10). This important confession of the later Patriarch of Ephesus, written in the “we” form, sheds light on the necessary self-recognition of all saints. It makes clear what the blood of Christ and the faithfulness of God have done for the penitent faithful. However much a believer in Jesus is drawn into the holiness of the Trinity, all the more does he recognize his spiritual deficiency in the dreams he dreams and in the inclinations and evil nature of his heart. Nevertheless, he is continually cleansed by grace and commissioned with new service emanating from the love of God. Whoever has his deceitful pride broken is renewed in holiness through the mercy of God. He is not holy in and of himself, but by the grace that clothes him with the holiness of Jesus. He is assured of the salvation that has redeemed him, just as the writer of Hebrews confesses: “Foy by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Heb. 10:14).

Believers in Christ

Paul had recognized the justification that proceeds from the risky undertaking of faith. Its holy fruit he had personally experienced: “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom. 5:1-5). Believers in the New Covenant receive something that goes far beyond their understanding: “the power and love of the Holy Spirit!” They dare not, however, confuse this experience with a shot of adrenalin, for it has to do with the indwelling holiness of God´s Spirit in a repentant believer. It comes from without – renewing his substance and strengthening his being.

Paul confirmed this saving action of God with many allusions and references: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). The ambassador of Christ explained with this testimony not only faith in Christ, but pointed to the mystery of the fact that believers in Jesus live “in Him”. They have received admittance into His spiritual existence. They live with Him in a spiritual realm and experience His power. Jesus becomes their firm bulwark, their protection and their hope. He has given them a portion and share in His eternal life, so that something completely new enters their being.

Faith in Christ, however, does not represent a ticket to heaven that never expires. Such a great trust desires a courageous and continual renewing. Faith remains the certainty of something not seen. Our trust in the living Christ is being tested again and again and needs to continually be boldly practiced. Because of His love and great mercy to the downtrodden, we trust the words of Jesus. He is absolute truth and His promises are never shaken. His Spirit, whom He gives to His followers, remains our comforter and advocate. He carries us through spiritual battles victoriously, for in Him we are kept safe and secure. Jesus went on to assure us:

''These things have I spoken to you,that in me you may have peace.In the world you will have tribulation;but be of good cheer,I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

The saints in Ephesus nearly 2,000 years ago truly realized their justification through the atoning sacrifice of Christ. They were justified through their faith in the crucified and risen One. They had received the power of the Holy Spirit and were born into the communion of His saints. The responsible leaders in and about Ephesus who received this letter were no newcomers to the faith. Rather, they were men of God who had suffered and endured many a storm and beating. Therefore, the letter to them did not just represent the evangelistic endeavour of an outsider, but rather, served more to strengthen the believers in Christ.

In his parting address Paul witnessed to the responsible leaders of the house churches in Ephesus a summary of his experiences with them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; and how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

I have coveted no one´s silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by labouring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, `It is more blessed to give than to receive`.

And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul´s neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship” (Acts 20:18-38).

Questions:

  1. How could the saints in Ephesus be holy?
  2. What is the meaning of “faith and life” in Christ?

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