Ephesians 4:1-6
Luke 18:9-14
Ephesians 3:20-21
Romans 12:1-2
Ephesians 3:14-19
Ephesians 3:1-13
Ephesians 2:19-22
Ephesians 2:14-18
Ephesians 2:11-13
Paul begins the second half of his letter to the Ephesians with its very crux: unity in the church. Having been saved by Christ from God's judgment, and having been made a new man, the church is to walk in unity with one another because God Himself is unified.
This week, Zach Canjar looks at Luke 18:9-14 where Jesus confronts those who boast in their works with a parable about a pharisee and a tax collector. Only God is righteous, and all men are by nature sinful, therefore everyone ought to humble themselves as the tax collector did and repent, for the Lord will exalt those who humble themselves before Him.
Paul concludes the first half of his letter with a doxology, glorifying God for the working of his great power in the church and in Christ, forever and ever. Amen.
This week, Jack Winsor preaches on Romans 12:1-2 where Paul implores his readers to walk according to all that God has done for them in Christ. Rather than be conformed to the world, the gospel of Jesus Christ ought to transform us so that we might live renewed, righteous lives as living sacrifices to God.
As he nears the end of the first half of his letter, Paul prays that his Ephesians readers would be granted strength through the Spirit, that Christ would dwell within them, and that they would be able to comprehend the love of Christ that surpasses comprehension. Paul prays that these things would take place within the Ephesians so that they might be filled with the fulness of God in Christ.
Paul, himself a prisoner on behalf of Christ, here takes an excursion to elaborate on the mystery of the gospel, namely, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs in Christ. The reality of this mystery has manifested God's manifold wisdom to all heavenly powers, and has provided God's people with complete access to him through faith.
Paul closes chapter two by stating that the church, which is comprised of both Jew and Gentile, is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ as the cornerstone. Because of this, Christ will continue to build his church into a holy temple, and the gates of hell will never prevail against it.
As Paul continues to remind the Ephesian church about who they used to be, here he emphasizes the peace they have with God and the subsequent peace that now exists between Jew and Gentile, for God has made both one new man by abolishing the old Law through Christ, who has established His New Covenant in His blood. By fulfilling the Old Covenant and establishing the New, Christ has made an eternal peace between God and His people.
In the latter half of Ephesians 2, Paul reminds his readers who they used to be before they were reconciled to God: alienated Gentiles, without hope and without God in the world. But now, through the blood of Christ, Paul proclaims that they have been brought near to God, no longer identified with the world, but found in Christ Jesus.
Paul begins chapter two by reminding his readers that though formerly dead in their trespasses and sins, they have now been saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, culminating in their being raised from the dead and seated at his right hand, recreated for good works according to their new nature in Christ.