Modern society has lost all sense of definition and direction. Its moral grounding has been largely erased. Who are we really, and what holds us together? We all have a need to belong, but to what? Is there anything that merits our commitment? What is human life for anyway?
The answer is Jesus, and nothing short of an attachment to Him will rescue us from our plight. To be united to Jesus means to share in the great events of the gospel. But God’s actions require our response. We must make choices to change the pattern of our lives. This cannot be achieved through an easy believism; it requires a deep discipleship to Jesus and His call on our lives.
The Christian faith is not an attractive set of ideas or a nice avenue to follow. Rather, it is so deep an engagement with Christ, so deep a union with Jesus, that Paul can only describe it as living in Christ. To live in Christ is to be determined by Him. He shapes who we are. –Klyne Snodgrass
In the letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul presents his supreme exposition on the doctrine of the Church, what he calls here “a new humanity.” God’s purpose was to create in the middle of human history a people who lived a different kind of human life. A unified people who demonstrate God’s eternal purpose to the world. Today more than ever we need to recapture a Biblical vision of the Church.
Ephesians is that Biblical vision. The letter is sent through the congregation in Ephesus, one of the churches founded by the Apostle Paul as recorded in the book of Acts (chapters 19 & 20). Yet no individuals are addressed, no theological issues are raised. The letter was not meant for the Church in one time and place, but the Church of all time. It reveals that the purpose of God leads straight into the purpose of the Church. Over the next twelve weeks, culminating in Easter Sunday, we will take a closer look at this letter and the valuable truths it has to teach us.
Paul’s view of salvation is not about being rescued from the world, but about the coming together of heaven and earth in Jesus the Messiah, and in the life of His followers. –N.T. Wright
The worldview being represented here is not the dualistic one of ancient or modern history (heaven and earth, the spiritual realm and the material world) but that seen in the Jewish temple—the place where heaven and earth come together.
In Ephesians, the view of salvation is not about being rescued from the world, but about the coming together of heaven and earth in Jesus. It’s about the salvation of all creation – heaven and earth and everything in between. The whole universe is to be reborn, and the Church now has a cosmic role to play. It is to be a small model of a new creation, a new humanity, a new promised reality.
His intent was that now, through the Church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to His eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 3.10-11
The first three chapters of the letter are focused on worship, the final three on the mission and vocation of the Church. First there is praise to God for what He has done, then a prayer for the hearers to ingest that great work in their lives. I encourage you to read this letter slowly and prayerfully over the next 12 weeks as we study it together. You may find this a helpful outline:
The new life God has given us – Eph. 1.3-2.10
The new society God has created through the Church – Eph. 2.11-3.21
The new standards of the new society God has created – Eph. 4.1-5.21
The new relationships God has brought us – Eph. 5.21-6.24
We fail to praise God because we do not see the world as the theater of His wonders, but a vast machine running on mindless human laws. –John Piper
As is our practice, along with each sermon we will publish a study guide for small groups and individuals at browncroft.org/sermons as well as weekly recap videos, Between 2 Sermons, which will be available starting next week on our YouTube channel. Beginning with this series we will also have the sermon points outlined with spaces to fill in key words or ideas on our church app.
As we begin the new year together I encourage all of us to commit to the daily reading of Scripture. If you do not have a reading plan I highly suggest you follow one. It will be much more likely you’ll read consistently and intentionally with an organized plan. You can find some suggestions on our Resources page.
For some years, many, including myself, have used the Two-Year Bible Reading Plan (2 volumes). This year we are reading Volume 2.
Every Saturday morning, I do a short devotional on Instagram on one of chapters for that day. The main purpose of these videos is to model how to read and apply the Bible to everyday life. If you would like to watch these, you may follow me @cattalani.
Looking forward to taking this journey with you.
Pastor Rob
