Why should we study Ephesians

Today we will cover Pastor Sam Merigala's sermon in which he provides a profound exploration of the book of Ephesians, emphasizing its significance for believers and non-believers alike. The sermon begins by asserting the foundational belief that "Where Scripture speaks, God speaks," and since the Bible is considered God-breathed, authoritative, inerrant, sufficient, understandable, necessary, and timeless, it demands that the pastor speak from that Word. This divine utterance through the written Word is central premise of Sam's sermon.

Pastor Sam explains that the Bible has a "Christ-centered trajectory" from Genesis to Revelation, which naturally leads to a "global-missions thrust". God's ultimate mission, as revealed in Scripture, is to make worshipers of Christ from every tribe and tongue. Paul, the author of Ephesians, exemplified this by preaching the Word, and his letter to the Ephesians reflects his pastoral heart. The main idea of the letter is to focus on the Ephesian believers' identity in Christ and how they are to live in light of this new identity. It also describes the nature and appearance of the church and challenges believers to function as the living body of Christ on earth.

The book of Ephesians consists of only six chapters, about four pages in some Bibles, and 155 verses, taking approximately 20 minutes to read aloud. Despite its brevity, pastor Sam highlights its divine beauty and power. He echoes Klyne Snodgrass's sentiment that "Pound for pound, Ephesians may well be the most influential document in history," prompting the question of why it holds such sway and why it should be studied.

Here are some key reasons for studying Ephesians:

*   Deepens Understanding of the Gospel: In an era of superficial Christianity and shallow teaching, Ephesians invites readers to "dive in deep and discover the true meaning of the gospel," exploring what Paul calls "the incalculable riches of the Messiah".

*   Magnifies the Importance of the Church: Pastor Sam observes that many people do not value the church today. However, Ephesians profoundly emphasizes the church's centrality to "God’s eternal purposes," revealing that God has chosen to make known His "multi-faceted wisdom" through the church. This vision paints the church as the dynamic center for the consummation of unity, a "token" and "guarantee" of redemption's work.

*   Provides Grace-Filled Encouragement: For those feeling tired, discouraged, beat up, lonely, or confused, Ephesians offers a "description of the glorious grace of God". The sermon stresses that Christians need the gospel every day, noting that Paul dedicates three chapters to explaining the gospel to Christian churches. The letter was written to ordinary people - employees, port workers, servants, wealthy, villagers - who first needed to understand their identity in Christ and then how to live that reality.

*   Offers Practical Answers to Basic Questions: Ephesians functions as a "mini theology book" beneficial for all Christians and even non-Christians interested in Christian beliefs. Pastor Sam lists a series of questions addressed within the book, such as "Why worship?" (1:3–14), "What should we pray for?" (1:15–23, 3:14–21), "What is so amazing about grace?" (2:1–10), "Who are we?" (2:11–22), "Why is the church a big deal?" (3:1–13), "How can we be unified?" (4:1–16), "How do “new” people live?" (4:17–32), "How can we imitate God?" (5:1–14), "What is God’s plan for marriage?" (5:15–33), "How should we parent?" (6:1–4), "How should we see our vocation?" (6:5–9), and "How do we fight?" (6:10–24).

*   Addresses the Struggle for Meaning and Deliverance: In a world seeking meaning, Ephesians offers a "divine purpose" accomplished by God's mighty acts in Christ, providing relevance beyond "little lives". It acknowledges the human awareness of a "higher life" and a struggle against "hostile forces". Paul's concept of "personal agencies," or "principalities and powers," provides a framework for understanding these struggles, assuring readers that "liberty through Christ" can be obtained.

*   Profound Impact and Historical Significance: Pastor Sam highlights that "Lives have been forever changed by the exploration of this little book". John Mackay, former president of Princeton Seminary, recounted how studying Ephesians at age 14 opened a "new world" to him, making "Jesus Christ the center of everything" and quickening him to be "really alive". The letter is considered "one of the most significant documents ever written," called 'the divinest composition of man', 'the crown of St Paul’s writings', and 'the quintessence of Paulinism' for summing up leading Pauline themes and revealing the cosmic implications of Paul's ministry. Only Romans, among Pauline writings, might rival Ephesians in its influence on Christian thought and spirituality. Its profound influence stems from its "magnificent sweep of God’s saving purposes," the place of the exalted Christ, God's victory over powers, its grand presentation of the church, and its ethical teaching. It speaks powerfully to the contemporary world, offering God's "gracious and comprehensive salvation" as the "only hope" for a directionless society.

Pastor Sam further details several distinctive characteristics and core teachings within Ephesians:

*   The "Once–Now" Distinction: Ephesians consistently draws attention to the "sharp contrasts between believers’ former way of life and their new life in Christ," exemplified by the phrase in 5:8, "For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light". This distinction reminds believers of their "privileged position" and urges them to pattern their lives on the character of God and Christ, distinguishing their lifestyle from surrounding society.

*   Truth and Love: In a postmodern world, Ephesians provides refreshing "strong affirmations that truth is important," specifically the "truth of God and his gospel". This emphasis on truth is not at the expense of love; instead, "the love of God and of Christ is regarded as foundational," and believers are urged to imitate God by living a "life of love" (5:1–2). The sermon notes that Ephesians arguably has more references to love or believers living in love per page than any other Pauline letter, aside from 1 Corinthians 13.

*   Unity: The concern for truth and love is intrinsically tied to unity. Given God's plan to bring all things together in unity in Christ, recipients of "every spiritual blessing" are exhorted to "live a life worthy of the calling they have received". A central admonition is to "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (4:3), motivated by a series of "seven acclamations" that remind readers of the fundamental unities of Christian faith". The sermon confidently affirms that Ephesians was written to promote unity, especially between Jew and Gentile.

*   Practical Exhortation Based on Union with Christ: While the second half of the letter (chapters 4–6) contains considerable exhortatory material, including teaching on marriage (5:21–33), pastor Sam clarifies that Ephesians "does not provide us with lists of rules to follow; nor does it suggest slick and easy solutions". Instead, based on "our union with Christ, and thus our relationship with God," the letter urges a "radical" change in "our inner being and character". Every aspect of life is to be lived with reference to the Lord, giving thanks always to God the Father through Jesus Christ.

*   Christians are to grow in their understanding of God's revelation in the gospel to know Him better (1:17–19). Divine empowering is needed to understand the "love of Christ which surpasses knowledge," so that believers "may be filled to all the measure of the fulness of God" (3:19).

*   Pastor Sam points out that Ephesians introduces a series of "highly significant images describing the church," including "body, building, temple, in Christ, bride, new humanity, family, and marriage". These images challenge superficial, worldly, self-centered, and individualistic tendencies within contemporary churches.

*   Ephesians is described as a "circular letter" reviewing core gospel themes: God's program, the church, the mystery, hope, riches, power of the gospel rooted in grace (not works), and reconciliation. It presents salvation by grace (Ephesians 2:8–10) and reconciliation bringing Jew and Gentile together (2:11–22) as core themes. It originally served as an exhortation to the early church about salvation and how to live it out.

*   Equipping for Service and Distinctive Life: The letter reminds the church that "God in his grace has already given them all they need" to reach their destination and serve others, making reconciliation and equipping central. The letter urges a life lived by drawing on the "in Christ" identity, relying on Christ’s power and strength, resulting in a "distinctive quality of existence" in a "dark world" where the main challenge is spiritual. This Christ-rooted approach is a powerful testimony to God's presence, especially as believers live distinctively together in multi-ethnic communities. Ephesians is described as a "gem well worth the study".

Pastor Sam encourages listeners to love and even memorize Paul's instruction in this letter, viewing it as "a gift from God to us".

Regarding the authorship and context of the letter, pastor Sam discusses the opening verses:

*   Author: The sermon affirms Paul's authorship, citing his self-identification in 1:1 and 3:1, his exhortations to "speaking the truth" (4:15, 25), and the early church's universal acceptance of his authorship until the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. While some argue against Pauline authorship due to its unique style or perceived impersonality, pastor Sam finds these arguments weak, suggesting Paul might have chosen a reflective tone or not known all believers in the region, especially since it was likely a "circular" letter.

*   Paul's Apostleship: Paul, formerly a persecutor (Acts 9:1–2), was radically transformed by God's grace into "an apostle to the Gentiles" (Rom 11:13). His life, marked by this dramatic conversion, serves as a powerful reminder that "God can radically change anyone". Paul's authority came directly from Jesus Christ, and his apostleship was "by God’s will," emphasizing God's purposes.

*   Writing Location and Time: Paul mentions his imprisonment three times (3:1; 4:1; 6:20), leading pastor Sam to believe the letter was written near the end of Paul's two-year imprisonment in Rome, around AD 62, concurrently with Colossians and Philemon. During this time, Paul was chained but could receive visitors, including a secretary to record his words, and sent these letters via Tychicus.

*   Weight of Apostolic Teaching: Pastor Sam stresses that Paul's words, written "under the inspiration of the Spirit," carry the same weight for believers today, demanding humility and attention. He quotes Charles Hodge, stating, "The epistle reveals itself as the work of the Holy Spirit as clearly as the stars declare their maker to be God". The sermon references Ephesians 2:20, stating the church is "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone," and reminds the congregation that the early church "devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching" (Acts 2:42).