In 62 AD, Paul wrote four letters from a Roman prison that would shape the Christian faith forever. The letter to Ephesus presents the identity and mission of the Church — chapters 1–3 reveal our heavenly calling from God's plan to peace through Christ, while chapters 4–6 show the practical outworking in unity, marriage, authority, and the spiritual battle we face. An overall theme in Ephesians is love. Paul uses love as either a verb or noun more frequently here than in any other letter. This agape love was so notable and transformative in the young Ephesian church that later, Jesus' most condemning critique in Revelation is 'that you have left your first love.' The Church exists to express the love of God — and Ephesians shows us how. Are we ready?
The Plan
In 62AD, four letters were sent from the dark Roman prison to the province of Asia. These works would prove to be instrumental in the understanding and advancement of the Christian Faith. If Rome had known the significance of these letters, the messengers would have been apprehended and the documents destroyed. When these four messengers said goodbye to Paul, they each carried an epistle bound for Ephesus, the Church body, Colosse, the Church Head, Philippi, Christian living and Philemon, Christian living in a pagan society. The letter to Ephesus presents the identity and activity of the Church. Chapters 1-3 reveal the heavenly calling from God’s plan to the peace through Christ and the eternal purpose revealed in God’s wisdom. Chapters 4-6 show the practicality in the unity with the Spirit, walking the walk, marriage, authority and the ever-raging war between God’s people and a scheming saboteur. An overall theme in Ephesians is “Love”. Paul starts and ends the epistle with this concept. He uses love as either a verb or a noun more frequently in Ephesians than any other of his letters. God is love, and he has chosen to express it through the people he calls to himself, the chosen. This agape love was so notable, profound and trans-formative in the young Ephesian church that later the most condemning critique by Jesus in Revelation is “that you [Ephesus] have left your first love.” The Church exists to express the love of God. God has equipped and empowered people to carry on this mission. Ephesus was the model example. Paul recognized that. That is why Ephesians is one of the most sophisticated theological letters in the Bible. Ephesus was mature enough to handle it. The question is, are we? If not, then we have some growing up to do. Are you ready? GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH 515 George Washington Hwy., Charlotte Court House, VA 23923 Robert Perrin, Pastor | 434-609-1168 | PastorRAPerrin@gmail.com
THE Plan part 2
Have you ever seen that guy, maybe on YouTube, that tossed a basketball from half court at the goal behind his back and made the shot. Was it planned? A coincidence? A miracle? Maybe it was a planned coincidence that looked like a miracle. (Yeah, I think that sounds silly too.) No human could honestly say that he made that shot without some sense of chance. The Church was no chance coincidence. God planned it...and by His supernatural intervention (miracle) it is still around today with all the potency that God intended. Because God chooses people to be His Church through Christ and who are protected by the Holy Spirit, it will thrive to the end of time. Once you are part of the Church, then you are no longer the mission, but on mission to show others the love of Christ. That is the way God planned it. Do you have a better plan?
Grace
Peace
Jesus is our peace. Formerly, we were at odds with God – rebels really. We were at war with God. The Law of Moses taught us that we lived far from God’s perfect character. Lost and hopelessly alienated from God. But now we are the product of God’s workmanship through Jesus Christ, reconciled to him in peace. Therefore, we are no longer enemies of God abandoned to eternal separation. Now, we are built together as a holy temple with God at our center through Holy Spirit. Peace brings us together with God. We become One with Christ, his beloved Son.
Wisdom
God has revealed a mystery to us. That whether Jew or Gentile – anyone who partakes of Christ – may experience oneness with God through Christ. Many today cannot fathom how and infinite mysterious God could love people enough to draw them to himself. This is the mystery, “How can God love me”? But, “how” has been answered in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This was always God’s “eternal purpose”. Through faith in Christ, we gain boldness to approach God in humble assurance of his eternal purpose. This wisdom is what God revealed to Paul and the Ephesians and now to us too. The wise thing to do is to let God love you!
Unity
God has called us all to “preserve the unity of the Spirit”. But how? God in his foreknowledge knew that we would need guidance and instruction. Even though Holy Spirit is accessible to all of us, we still stumble and fall short. Therefore, God has appointed apostle, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to help us. Unity in the Spirit is God’s goal for the Church as a whole beginning with the local church. We are one body in Christ. When we realize that, then we will begin to move as one like a body does. Because there is no division in God. There is “one body and one Spirit” which are the same through Christ. Are you ready to move as one?
The Walk
God has called each of us to a new life. Put off the old ways of carnal living and be renewed in the spirit (attitude) of your mind. It is a “new self” in the likeness of God. The “old self” lived according to lusts and deceitfulness. Now we have been (re) created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. We must be on guard not to fall back into old ways. Always tell the truth, don’t let anger cause you to sin, don’t steal and instead put your hands to good use. Let no harmful words come from your mouth. This reveals a bitterness that lies within. Instead, be kind, tender and forgiving. This is how we imitate God – walking in love. Christ is our example. This may mean that you must make some hard choices about who you associate with. Some will lead you astray. Instead, seek the will of the Lord and do that. God’s will is that we love each other as he has loved us.