Truth and How To Live It
"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 1:1-2
While I was in college I began to realize that I really loved two things: theology and the church. I was growing in my faith, a young man out on my own, and I began to realize there was an especially strong desire within me to understand and also to teach and describe theological and biblical truths. During this time I began to serve God in the local church in a variety of ways, from teaching fourth grade Sunday school on Sunday mornings, to serving as a ‘ranger’ in Boys Brigade (a Christian version of Boy Scouts) on Sunday nights, as well as working with our college ministry through the week. Through my growing understanding of God’s Word and my growing love for God’s people, God called me to ‘full-time’ service of the local church. As a pastor I get to do the two things I love: think deeply about God and His Word and help God’s people believe and live out all these wonderful truths.
In Paul’s salutation to his Christian brothers in Ephesus he describes them in two ways: they are “saints who are in Ephesus” and they are “faithful in Christ Jesus.” Paul is introducing the two great themes of his letter in these two clauses. Ephesians is about what it means to be a ‘saint,’ one who has been blessed “with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” (1:3) It is also about what it means to be “faithful,” one who lives according to these blessings. Ephesians is immensely theological and immensely practical. John Stott makes this helpful summary statement about Ephesians, “the letter focuses on what God did through the historical work of Jesus Christ and does through his Spirit today in order to build his new society in the midst of the old.”
Paul was addressing people who lived in a specific place and at a specific time: they are in Ephesus. They lived in Ephesus just as you and I live in Tallahassee. Living in the world brings a host of struggles, opportunities, challenges, and even crises and trials. Amidst all of this we must remember we have been set apart by the work of God. Though we are in the world, we are not to be of it. Likewise, though we are not of the world, we are called to live in it. Paul spends the first three chapters of Ephesians describing and encouraging believers with the glorious truths of who we are and what God has done through Christ for us. He lays out at length the deep theological realities that are to anchor our lives as Christians.
Paul commends the Christians in Ephesus in verse one by calling them “faithful in Christ Jesus.” What does it mean to be a faithful Christian? Paul commits the second half of his letter describing what this faithfulness looks like. In 4:1 he says, “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” We have a wonderful calling; we have wonderful blessings in Christ; we are anchored in such deep rich truths of God’s Word. Now, how are we to live ‘worthy’ of such things? How are these truths to shine forth in our language, in our behavior, in our relationships, in our priorities, and in every corner of our lives? We are called to be faithful in all of these things, because we are saints of God. And as we pursue faithfulness, we must remember that we are faithful only in Christ Jesus- by His work, and through his power, according to his grace.
Many people make a false dichotomy between the theological and the practical. I hear people say things like, “I am not a very theological person; I just want simple, practical truths.” I also know many who live in the world of theological minutia, yet seem to have a very little grasp on the application of these truths in everyday life. The Apostle Paul calls us to be people who think and believe deeply about God, about who he is and what he has done for us in Christ. Paul calls us as well to be people who act on these truths each day. The heavenly blessings of Christ are to shine out in every part of our lives. For us as Christians, what is theologically profound becomes practically true as we walk in a manner worthy of our calling. One of the great parts of my job as a pastor is to help Christians to be theologians, and remind theologians that they are to be Christians! As we walk through his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul will hopefully make better theologians and Christians out of us all.
While I was in college I began to realize that I really loved two things: theology and the church. I was growing in my faith, a young man out on my own, and I began to realize there was an especially strong desire within me to understand and also to teach and describe theological and biblical truths. During this time I began to serve God in the local church in a variety of ways, from teaching fourth grade Sunday school on Sunday mornings, to serving as a ‘ranger’ in Boys Brigade (a Christian version of Boy Scouts) on Sunday nights, as well as working with our college ministry through the week. Through my growing understanding of God’s Word and my growing love for God’s people, God called me to ‘full-time’ service of the local church. As a pastor I get to do the two things I love: think deeply about God and His Word and help God’s people believe and live out all these wonderful truths.
In Paul’s salutation to his Christian brothers in Ephesus he describes them in two ways: they are “saints who are in Ephesus” and they are “faithful in Christ Jesus.” Paul is introducing the two great themes of his letter in these two clauses. Ephesians is about what it means to be a ‘saint,’ one who has been blessed “with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” (1:3) It is also about what it means to be “faithful,” one who lives according to these blessings. Ephesians is immensely theological and immensely practical. John Stott makes this helpful summary statement about Ephesians, “the letter focuses on what God did through the historical work of Jesus Christ and does through his Spirit today in order to build his new society in the midst of the old.”
Paul was addressing people who lived in a specific place and at a specific time: they are in Ephesus. They lived in Ephesus just as you and I live in Tallahassee. Living in the world brings a host of struggles, opportunities, challenges, and even crises and trials. Amidst all of this we must remember we have been set apart by the work of God. Though we are in the world, we are not to be of it. Likewise, though we are not of the world, we are called to live in it. Paul spends the first three chapters of Ephesians describing and encouraging believers with the glorious truths of who we are and what God has done through Christ for us. He lays out at length the deep theological realities that are to anchor our lives as Christians.
Paul commends the Christians in Ephesus in verse one by calling them “faithful in Christ Jesus.” What does it mean to be a faithful Christian? Paul commits the second half of his letter describing what this faithfulness looks like. In 4:1 he says, “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” We have a wonderful calling; we have wonderful blessings in Christ; we are anchored in such deep rich truths of God’s Word. Now, how are we to live ‘worthy’ of such things? How are these truths to shine forth in our language, in our behavior, in our relationships, in our priorities, and in every corner of our lives? We are called to be faithful in all of these things, because we are saints of God. And as we pursue faithfulness, we must remember that we are faithful only in Christ Jesus- by His work, and through his power, according to his grace.
Many people make a false dichotomy between the theological and the practical. I hear people say things like, “I am not a very theological person; I just want simple, practical truths.” I also know many who live in the world of theological minutia, yet seem to have a very little grasp on the application of these truths in everyday life. The Apostle Paul calls us to be people who think and believe deeply about God, about who he is and what he has done for us in Christ. Paul calls us as well to be people who act on these truths each day. The heavenly blessings of Christ are to shine out in every part of our lives. For us as Christians, what is theologically profound becomes practically true as we walk in a manner worthy of our calling. One of the great parts of my job as a pastor is to help Christians to be theologians, and remind theologians that they are to be Christians! As we walk through his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul will hopefully make better theologians and Christians out of us all.
Labels: Ephesians
posted by Pastor Erik at
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