Ephesians- Halftime

As we come to the half- way point on this journey through Ephesians, it is good to review what we have seen so far.

As in most of his letters, Paul start with the big picture issues such as the nature of salvation, Jesus, God, the church and so on. Only after talking about these issues does he move on to the practical issues such as relationships in the church, and how to relate to others in the light of what has gone before. In other words, we need good theology to establish good practice.

A few things stand out in the first half of Ephesians.

Firstly, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. There is nothing that the Father would hold back from us. In fact, He can do more for us than we can ask or even imagine. We need to walk in the knowledge that He is a good Father.

Secondly, our relationship with God is His doing, not ours. We were chosen and predestined, and God sent His Son to be our Saviour. All we can do is believe and receive His gift.

Thirdly, God is building His church. In Christ, He has united Jews and Gentiles by providing the one means of salvation, that is, the cross of Christ. The church is the household of God, the temple of the Lord.

Fourth, the Good News of Jesus Christ is a new revelation. In the past, it was a mystery to be revealed. It was clear that we needed a remedy for sin, but nobody could imagine how it would come to pass. There were hints and unclear pictures given in the Old Testament, but after the death and resurrection of Jesus, it became obvious at last.

Finally, in his prayer at the end of chapter 3, the concept of the measureless love of God becomes the focus. We can be rooted and established in this love, and we can gain an appreciation for it. As we learn to receive this love, we can be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.