Have you ever been in a relationship that seems to be predictable: cycles of peace for a while and then an outbreak of trauma or some painful outburst? Your life seems to cycle in predictable ways; you may find yourself in a job you love only to discover the same pattern as the previous work experience. Perhaps your marriage is in a cycle of love and war. You may have ended a painful friendship only to discover the same toxic cycle in a new friendship.
At the time, all you could see was the pain and inconvenience it produced. When things settle down, you might glimpse the peace you crave, and perhaps you might begin to question why these patterns occur. As the dust settles further, you can see a bigger picture you missed in the storm.
If you were to take an aerial view of your life, You would first see a person and their need. Then, you would recognize areas of weakness and how their belief systems and ways of living might be contributing to the toxic cycles, which would cause more profound spiritual issues behind the whys of those cycles.
This is what Paul has done in Ephesians. Paul wanted us to know that God did not leave us on our own, nor did He leave us ignorant of how to live a believer's “victorious” life. Paul emphatically declared, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37). If we are to experience this victorious life here on earth, our understanding of Jesus and our position in Him is vital. We must know who we are, how to live in light of that truth, and how to defeat the enemy's lies.
The cross was the victory against sin and death; the cross declared you righteous and empowered you to be the light in the darkness and to live from a place of “more than” conqueror. You are participating in the triumph of God.
The Apostle Paul wrote this letter sometime around 62 AD. Although entitled “Ephesians,” it was not written for that church. Paul wrote it while he was in a Roman prison with the intent that it be distributed to the churches in that area. Paul was very close to the Ephesian church, having spent much of his time there, so it makes sense that this letter was not addressed to them as it has no tender addresses or specific people he wants to greet.
Because Paul was schooled in the finest philosophical ways of Greek reasoning and logic, his writing can be combative in thought, dense, and challenging to understand in modern English. Ephesians is not written in his typical philosophical bantering; it is more thoughtful and follows a pattern of careful thought.
While written during the first century, like all other letters, we must first read his letters in light of the historical and cultural context. However, Ephesians almost needs no historical interpretation as the truths Paul wrote about to first-century believers are still easily translatable today.
As we study through Ephesians, we will first learn to rest in the finished work of Jesus, what He accomplished on the cross, and what that means for us.
Second, we will discover how we live in light of that truth. We do not live for God’s approval. We live from it. Under the New Covenant, we are hidden in Christ. As Jesus is, so are we in this world. Paul wanted the churches to understand the realities of the new Spiritual man and how we, as New Creations, should live.
Third, we will learn how to stand in the authority of Jesus against the forces of darkness to live a life of “more than conquerors” here on earth.
Note: We will be taking Ephesians slowly. One way to get the Word in you is to write it out as you go. This slows your mind down to focus on the passage. Another option, especially regarding Ephesians, is to create an “In Him” list. Write down every time an “in Him, in Christ Jesus” is mentioned.
Know: Truth
Know: Truth is an in-depth Bible study approach. It fosters knowledge of the Word and a slowed-down process of carefully observing what the passage means in context before applying it to our lives.
As a helpful tool to remember what to look for as you study is to use KNOW as an acrostic.
K- Knowledge
N- Notation
O- Observe
W- What
Knowledge comes with reading the scripture.
Note - Slow down and mark keywords. Ask questions that require some digging. Six helpful questions that students of the word should ask are who, what, where, when, why, and how?
Some ways of asking these questions can be:
Who is the author and to whom is he writing?
What was happening in that time period?
Where do you see Jesus?
When was this book written?
Why is the author writing this letter?
How does this apply to me today?
Observe what the passage says in context and as a whole. Context is King.
What does this mean for me today?- Apply God’s word to you.