Ephesians

Ephesians: Your Guide to Living the Christian Life

What is Ephesians?

Ephesians is a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the Christians living in Ephesus, an ancient city. Even though it was written long ago, its message is still super relevant for us today!

The Big Idea

The main theme of Ephesians is that we are all united in Christ. No matter where we come from, what we look like, or what our background is, we are all part of God’s family if we believe in Jesus. This means we need to treat each other with love and respect.

Key Points

• God’s amazing plan: Ephesians explains how God always planned to bring us together as one big family through Jesus. It’s like a huge puzzle, and we all fit together perfectly!
• Grace and faith: We are saved by God’s grace (His undeserved love) through faith in Jesus. We can’t earn our salvation, it’s a gift!
• Living as God’s children: Now that we are part of God’s family, we need to live in a way that honours Him. This means loving each other, forgiving others, and living a life of integrity.
• Spiritual warfare: We have an enemy, the devil, who wants to destroy us. But God has given us everything we need to stand strong against him. We need to put on the “armour of God” (Ephesians 6:10-18) – truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God.

Questions for Reflection

1. What does it mean to be united in Christ?
2. How does knowing we are part of God’s family change the way we see ourselves and others?
3. What are some practical ways we can live as God’s children?
4. What are some challenges we might face as Christians, and how can we overcome them?
5. How can we put on the armour of God in our everyday lives?

Challenge

Take some time this week to read the book of Ephesians. Ask God to help you understand its message and apply it to your life. As you do, you’ll discover that this powerful letter holds the keys to living a life that is full of purpose, joy, and victory!

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Unlike several of the other letters Paul wrote, Ephesians does not address any particular error or heresy. Paul wrote to expand the horizons of his readers, so that they might understand better the dimensions of God’s eternal purpose and grace and come to appreciate the high goals God has for the church.

This epistle was written when St. Paul was a prisoner at Rome. The design appears to be to strengthen the Ephesians in the faith of Christ, and to give exalted views of the love of God, and of the dignity and excellence of Christ, fortifying their minds against the scandal of the cross. He shows that they were saved by grace, and that however wretched they once were, they now had equal privileges with the Jews. He encourages them to persevere in their Christian calling, and urges them to walk in a manner becoming their profession, faithfully discharging the general and common duties of religion, and the special duties of particular relations.

Matthew Henry