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Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesians
Introduction:
Paul had much to say to the Christians at Ephesus. He
finished his letter with a fond farewell to them. We will
look briefly at those closing remarks and then focus on the
theme of the book.
Text:
Ephesians 6:21-24
Body:
I.
Farewell
Verses
21-22 Paul was sending Tychicus to them to give a
first-hand report of Paul’s affairs. The brethren there
were doubtlessly concerned about how Paul was doing. Recall
the final scene with the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:36-38.
Tychicus would comfort their hearts and rid them of fears
they may have had about Paul’s condition. Tychicus was
called beloved brother and faithful minister “in the Lord.”
Paul obviously thought very highly of him. (Colossians
4:7-8) Verses 23-24 Paul closed with a wish
for peace [how very necessary this is] and love with
faith [linked together]. Finally, he sent a desire
for grace to all who love the Lord in sincerity.
II.
A Summary of the Letter
Primary Theme
Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual
blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”
NKJV Every spiritual blessing is “in Christ.” Notice how
that phrase runs throughout the letter.
A.
Chosen in Him (Ephesians 1:4)
“just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him
in love,” NKJV The chosen ones are those who are
“in Christ.” God decided in the past ages that “in Christ”
would be the location of those God finds “accepted.”
(Ephesians 1:6) “to the praise of the glory of His grace,
by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” Notice
II Thessalonians 2:13-14 “But we are bound to give thanks
to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because
God from the beginning chose you for salvation through
sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To
which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the
glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” and Revelation 17:14
“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will
overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings;
and those who are with Him are called, chosen and faithful.”
B.
Redemption is in Christ. (Ephesians
1:7) “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”
Colossians 1:14 is a sister passage. “in whom we have
redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
Redeemed – we are bought with a price. (Acts 20:28)
“Therefore take heed to ourselves 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.” Those who are in Christ are those who are in His
church! They have been forgiven of their sins – washed away
at baptism. (Acts 22:16) “And now why are you
waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins,
calling on the name of the Lord.” The location of
forgiveness is in Christ. (Ephesians 4:32) “And be kind to
one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as
God in Christ forgave you.”
C.
Our inheritance is in Him. (Ephesians
1:11) “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being
predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all
things according to the counsel of His will.” Read I Peter
1:3-4. “as His divine power has given to us all things that
pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him
who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given
to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through
these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having
escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
Only those in Christ have this promised inheritance.
D.
God’s exceeding riches are shown to those in
Christ. (Ephesians 2:13-16) “But now in Christ
Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by
the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has
made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of
separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that
is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as
to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making
peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one
body through the cross, thereby putting to death the
enmity.” It is only in Him that we can be reconciled
to God and enjoy peace. (II Corinthians 5:18-20) “Now all
things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through
Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of
reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling
the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them,
and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now
then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were
pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be
reconciled to God.”
Invitation:
As we close our study of Paul’s letter to the church at
Ephesus, let us read Ephesians 1:22-23. “And He put all
things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all
things to the church. which is His body, the fullness of Him
who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 5:23, 25-27) “For
the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of
the church; and He is the Savior of the body.” “Husbands,
love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and
gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her
with the washing of water by the word, that He might present
her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle
or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without
blemish.” Salvation is only found in Christ’s church –
nowhere else. God’s Word informs us clearly how one is
saved from his sins: hear and believe, repent, confess, and
be baptized. (Galatians 3:26-27) “For you are all sons of
God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as
were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Bobby Stafford
September 21, 2014 |
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